Many years ago...
As morning came upon Dodge Junction, Big Red's alarm clock went off. He leapt out of bed, an air of determination on his face.
"Today's the day." He said firmly.
Big Red was currently in his late teens, and was preparing to apply for his first job. His target was Cherry Hill Ranch, where an opening for a cherry bucker had just opened up. He had always loved cherries, and working as a cherry bucker was his dream job. Hay, his cutie mark would be his testament to that fact. However, there was one major perk that came with the job: he would get to spend more time with Cherry.
'Ah, Cherry.' He thought. 'Just think, if Ah get this job, Ah'll be able to get closer to you and yer pa...'
Of course, in order to get the job, he had to look his best. He washed, shaved, combed his mane, and ate a hearty breakfast. He looked himself over in the mirror before leaving the house.
"Perfect." He smirked.
He made his way over to the Cherry Hill Ranch. Cherry was sitting outside on a deck chair, sunning herself.
"Mornin', Cherry." He waved.
"Why, Big Red, what's happened to you?" Cherry smirked. "It's not often you get all gussied up. What's the occasion?"
"Ah'm applyin' fer the cherry buckin' position." Big Red declared. "Ah wanna make a good impression on yer pa, so Ah went the whole hog. Ah was actually a gettin' a little chin fuzz, so Ah shaved it off." He snickered. "Can ya imagine me with a beard?"
"I think you'd look good with a beard." Cherry smiled.
"Ya do?" Big Red gaped.
"Yeah." Cherry nodded. "Very... distinguished. Not to mention rugged."
"...Ya don't say." Big Red murmured.
Before Big Red could fully process this information, Maraschino emerged from the house.
"Morning, Red." He smiled. "Come to see Cherry, I trust?"
"Actually, I'm here to see you." Big Red declared. "Ah'm here ta apply fer that cherry buckin' vacancy a' yours."
"I see." Maraschino nodded. "Come with me, please."
"You got it." Big Red nodded. "See ya later, Cherry."
"Good luck, Red." Cherry waved.
Maraschino led Big Red out to the orchard.
"Red, I'm going to get straight to the point." He said matter-of-factly. "If you want to be a cherry bucker for my ranch, you'll have to demonstrate your skills right here and now."
"Really? No interview or nuthin'?" Big Red raised a brow.
"Come now, Red, I knew you from when you were a baby." Maraschino smiled, "I know for a fact that you're a decent, dedicated and dependable guy. However, I can't just hire you just because I like you. So, if you would kindly..." He gestured to the tree.
"Alrighty then." Big Red nodded.
Big Red went over to a tree and bucked it. A shower of cherry cascaded onto the ground. Maraschino walked forward and counted them.
"Almost three dozen in one buck." He nodded. "Not too shabby. Once you've started work, you'll probably get even better."
"Ya mean Ah've got the job?" Big Red smiled.
"That you do." Maraschino nodded. "Welcome aboard."
"Thank ya kindly, Maraschino- Ah mean, sir!" Big Red shook his hoof.
"No need for that." Maraschino chuckled. "Plain ol' Maraschino'll be just fine."
Big Red returned to Cherry to share the good news.
"That's wonderful, Red." Cherry beamed.
"Ah know." Big Red grinned. "Mah dream job..."
The Present...
One morning, Globe descended the stairs. He had woken up before Eclipse and Huckleberry, and felt like stretching his legs. The ground floor seemed empty. Globe had overheard Big Red saying he had some business in town that morning, so he wasn't surprised the large stallion wasn't there, but Cherry's absence seemed odd.
As he wondered where Cherry could have gone, Globe picked up a delicious scent coming from the kitchen. Following his nose, he entered to find Cherry inside, rolling dough, with bowls of cherry and cinnamon on the table. A cherry pie slowly baked in the oven. Globe lost himself in the heavenly scent. Cherry turned around, and noticed the young colt.
"Well, good morning, Globe." She smiled, snapping him out of his daze.
"Oh, sorry to disturb you, miss Cherry." Globe apologised. "I was just wondering what that delicious smell was."
"That would be the trial version of my entry into this year's Dodge Junction bake-off." Cherry declared.
"Bake-off?" Globe asked, perking up. "As in pies, cakes, and all sort of yummy treats?"
"Right-o." Cherry chuckled, "Have you ever been to one before?"
"Well, I think me and the others walked by one last year…" Globe recalled. "All that delicious food... It smelled so great... But I never got the chance to actually go... Pa didn't like crowds."
"Not a pony griffon, was he?" Cherry frowned.
"You could say that." Globe shrugged. "I always wished I could go... I love pies, and fritters, and all that good stuff."
"Here's an idea: how would you like to be my little helper?" Cherry offered.
"Really?" Globe asked.
"Really." Cherry nodded. "You look like you know your way around a kitchen. And it never hurts to have another set of hooves. Not to mention you'll get to come to the bake-off with me. So, what do you say?"
"I'd like that, miss Cherry." Globe nodded.
"Just one thing: don't call me 'miss Cherry.'" Cherry added. "Just Cherry."
"Okay, mi- I mean, Cherry." Globe caught himself.
"Great," Cherry smiled. "Now, let's get started. See that bowl of cherries there? When I finish rolling this dough, start putting some in the middle."
"Yes, ma'am." Globe nodded, picking up the cherries and placing them in the dough. He felt the urge to eat some of the cherries, but managed to resist, not wanting to let Cherry down.
"Good." Cherry smiled. "When you've done that, we can move on to the cherry eclairs."
"Why are we baking so many pastries?" Globe asked, "Looks like there's enough here to feed a parasprite swarm."
"All of these are just the appetisers." Cherry explained. "For all the regular folks to enjoy. The pie's my main entry."
"Oh, right." Globe nodded.
It was at that point that Big Red returned.
"Honey, Ah'm home!" He entered the kitchen, instantly noticing Globe. "...Globe? What are you doin' here?"
"He's helping me with my work for the bake-off." Cherry declared. "Is it okay if he takes time off cherry bucking for a while. I could really use the help."
"Well, Ah know how important the bake-off is ta ya..." Big Red mused. "Okay, Globe gets a li'l time off. Use it well, kiddo."
"I will, sir." Globe nodded.
"That's the spirit." Big Red ruffled his mane. "Happy baking!"
As Globe and Cherry went to work, Big Red explained to Eclipse and Huckleberry what was going on.
"...So as ya can guess, he won't be buckin' with us fer a while." He finished.
"He's baking?" Huckleberry snorted. "Really? What a pansy!"
"Watch yer mouth, boy." Big Red glared. "Bakin's a fine pastime fer both genders. Stallion or mare, don't make no difference ta the pastry that's bein' baked."
"…Sorry, sir." Huckleberry frowned.
"Buckin' nonsense..." Eclipse muttered under his breath.
"Yer darn right ya sorry." Big Red declared, as he gestured outside. "Now, let's get ta buckin'."
As they left the homestead, Eclipse had a foreboding look on his face.
"What's up, Eek?" Huckleberry asked.
"It's weird, isn't it?" Eclipse frowned. "Globe spending all that time with the old gal."
"No kidding." Huckleberry nodded. "Like pa used to say, spending too much time around a mare will make you go soft."
"It's not that." Eclipse countered. "She's probably trying to win him over with all that food. Clever old crone, ain't she?"
"I like my theory better." Huckleberry deadpanned.
"This is serious, Huckleberry." Eclipse grunted. "That old broad and Big Red are probably trying to divide and conquer us. That's even more clever, given their age, don't you think?"
"…Well, I dunno." Huckleberry admitted. "I mean, just the other day, Big Red taught me how to get girls."
"Probably another one of their tricks." Eclipse growled.
"Hey, not all ponies are scumbags like Pa." Huckleberry snapped... before realizing what he just said. "Oh sh-"
Eclipse got up in his face.
"Don't you ever disrespect pa." He growled. "Pa raised us. He's done more for us than that old hillbilly ever has or ever will. Big Red just sees us as free labor, but pa loves us." He glared at Huckleberry. "Am I right?"
"Y-yeah." Huckleberry gulped.
"Hey, are you two comin'?!" Big Red called back.
"Come on, traitor." Eclipse followed Big Red, his tail smacking Huckleberry in the face as he turned.
Huckleberry followed, a little shell-shocked by Eclipse's tirade.
Back at the homestead, Cherry pulled her practice pie out of the oven.
"My cinnamon and cherry pie." She smiled. "Try some, Globe."
Globe cut a slice, and took a bite. His face immediately screwed up in disgust.
"What's wrong?" Cherry asked.
"It's a little spicy..." Globe gagged.
"Too much cinnamon, I'm thinking." Cherry declared.
"Well, there's that." Globe nodded. "But you know what would really make this pie great? Put a little powdered sugar on the cherries before you put on the top. That should help balance it out."
"Good idea, Globe." Cherry nodded. "I knew you had a taste for fine cuisine."
"Thanks." Globe blushed. "This is really fun. I... like working with you, Cherry."
"I like working with you too." Cherry smiled. "I couldn't ask for a better helper."
"Aw, shucks..." Globe said humbly.
"If you don't mind my asking, what happened to Eclipse's mother?" Cherry asked. "You boys mention your pa now and again, but never your ma."
"Because we don't know anything about her." Globe sighed. "We never even met her. Pa told us she left him and Eclipse when Eek was just an egg."
"Now why would she do that?" Cherry asked, appalled.
"I can't say." Globe replied. "Besides, I've told you too much already. Eclipse doesn't like it when I talk about our folks. He always looks out for me and Huck. I don't want to upset him."
"I understand." Cherry nodded. "I won't ask again until you're all ready. Now, let's get back to work."
Over the next few days, they continued perfecting their baked goods. Before long, the day of the bake-off arrived. As they gathered their entries into a basket, Big Red and the others came to see them off.
"Good luck, you two." Big Red smiled.
"Thanks, Red." Cherry pecked him on the cheek.
"So you're really doing it, huh?" Huckleberry asked Globe. "Going out in public and saying 'I'm a baker'?"
"Yep." Globe nodded proudly.
"Just don't get creamed, okay?" Eclipse sighed. "How do you think we'll look by association?"
"Thanks for the words of encouragement, guys." Globe snarked.
"Seriously though, good luck." Eclipse smiled.
"Come along, Globe." Cherry urged.
"Okay! See you guys!" Globe went to join Cherry as the two head down to Dodge Junction.
The bake-off was being held in Dodge Junction's town square. Lone Starr, who had become mayor in the years since leaving the sheriff's office acted as head judge. Aside from the streaks of gray in his mane, he looked quite good for his age. His son, Marshall, was also a judge.
"Cherry Jubilee, so nice to see you again." Lone smiled. "Every year you're here, like clockwork."
"I wouldn't dream of missing it." Cherry smiled.
"I certainly hope so." Lone smiled. "Hate to lose such a wonderful baker." He turned to Globe. "And this must be one of the little troublemakers I've heard so much about. Glad to see at least one of you is applying him in more wholesome activities."
"Thank you, your honor." Globe said politely.
Marshall came over to join them.
"Cherry!" Marshall smiled. "So glad you could make it!"
"You know I always come here." Cherry smiled.
"My boy, so forgetful." Lone joked.
"Seriously Cherry, this place wouldn't be the same without you." Marshall declared
"Why thank you, Marshall." Cherry beamed.
Then Marshall noticed Globe.
"Cherry... might I ask what he's doing here?" Marshall asked, pointing to Globe.
"Hehe... hello." Globe waved nervously.
"Oh, he's with me." Cherry declared. "I thought I could use a helper this year. You don't mind, do you?"
"Well, I suppose one won't be too much trouble." Marshall mused. "And I know I can trust you to keep a lid on things, Cherry."
"I knew you'd understand, Marshall." Cherry smiled. "Well, we'd better get set up."
As the two left, Lone turned to Marshall.
"Looks like a good turn-out this year, eh, Marshall?" He asked.
"Yeah, sure." Marshall tensed up.
"Should be quite a challenge, picking a winner." Lone smiled.
"Seems like it." Marshall said dully.
Marshall held some resentment towards his father for past instances, something Lone was unaware of. Marshall could barely bring himself to speak to his father most of the time, only agreeing to be judge after another fell ill.
Meanwhile, Cherry and Globe found their allotted table, and set up their entries. As they did, an orange-coated, pink-maned Earth Pony mare with blue eyes, and a Cutie Mark of half a peach walked over.
"Hello, Cherry." She said courteously.
"Hello, Peach." Cherry nodded.
"Who's this, Cherry?" Globe asked.
"This is Peach Cobbler." Cherry declared. "She owns the peach orchard to the west."
"An assistant, Cherry?" Peach frowned. "What's the matter? Getting too old to bake by yourself?"
"Certainly not." Cherry snorted.
"Good to hear." Peach smiled. "You're the only half-way decent competition around here. It'd be far too easy to win without you."
"You may have won last year, but this year will be different." Cherry declared.
"We'll see about that." Peach smirked. "You thought last year's entry was good? My spiced peach cobbler will blow the judges away."
"Not if our cinnamon cherry pie doesn't blow them away first." Cherry countered
"Keep dreaming." Peach chided as she walked away.
"Whoa." Globe gulped. "Are you two... enemies, or something?
"Of course not." Cherry chuckled. "We're more like... professional rivals. We may get a few digs in, but we don't hold grudges."
"Well, that's good. Pa always said that the only place worse than being stuck between a rock and a hard place is between two mares." Globe mused, before frowning. "No offense."
"None taken." Cherry smiled indulgently. "We mares can be pretty stubborn when we want to be."
Over time, passers-by tried some of the appetizers.
"Mmm, good!"
"Delicious!"
"Thank you very much." Cherry smiled.
Ultimately, the time came for the main judging. The judges took a bite of every dish, including Cherry and Globe's pie and Peach's cobbler.
"What do you think, son?" Lone asked.
"Well, the cherry and cinnamon pie was so tasty, and the cobbler was so tangy..." Marshall declared.
"I know." Lone nodded. "This is one tough decision..."
Cherry and Globe shared hopeful looks as the judges deliberated.
And the winner is: Cherry and Globe's cinnamon and cherry pie!" Lone Starr announced.
"YES!!" Globe hugged Cherry. He quickly let go. "Sorry."
"Don't be." Cherry gave him a hug back.
Peach walked over to them.
"You win this round, Cherry." She declared.
Not just me." Cherry grinned. "My little helper played his part too."
Globe beamed proudly.
"You won't be so lucky next time." Peach declared. "Next year, I'll be taking the blue ribbon."
"Keep dreaming." Cherry echoed.
"Thanks for this, Cherry." Globe smiled. "I had so much fun."
"So did I, dear." Cherry patted him on the head. "So did I."
"Can we do it again next year?" Globe asked.
"Why wait until then? Cherry chuckled. "I've got a new recipe I've been dying to try out. And I could use some help."
"I'd be glad to lend a hoof." Globe nodded.
The two trotted home, eager to get to work.
Not so many years ago...
Big Red was sitting in the waiting room of Dodge Junction hospital, wracked with worry. Mist had been struck down with a nasty case of pneumonia. She had passed out during dinner, and Big Red had rushed her to the hospital. The doctors were examining her.
'Good thing Shine's at a sleepover.' Big Red thought. 'He'd take this worse than me.'
"Red?"
Big Red turned to see Cherry standing before him.
"Cherry?" He gaped. "What are ya doin' here?"
"I saw you running through town." Cherry declared. "Is poor Mist...?"
"I dunno." Big Red sighed. "The docs are still lookin' her over." He let out a deep sigh. "This is all mah fault."
"How do you figure?" Cherry asked.
"Ah'm s'posed ta be takin' care a' her." Big Red declared. "Ah ain't s'posed ta let stuff like this happen ta her. Ah've failed as a parent, failed Mist, failed White and' Silver, failed everypony."
"You stop that talk right now." Cherry said firmly. "You're a wonderful parent."
"Yeah, right." Big Red snorted.
"I mean it." Cherry declared. "No parent can be prepared for everything, especially with a filly as sickly as Mist. But you've done a great job where it counts, giving Mist love and care. You shouldn't blame yourself for something that's beyond your control."
"Yer probably right, Cherry." Big Red smiled for a moment... before frowning. "But none a' that matters if Mist don't pull through."
"She will." Cherry smiled. "She's a fighter."
After a few minutes, a doctor entered the waiting room.
"Doctor!" Big Red rose up. "What happened? Did Mist pull through? Did it get worse? How long 'til she recovers? Fer the love a' Celestia, tell me!"
"Mist is going to be okay." The doctor announced. "Fortunately, you got her to us just in time."
"Wooo, dawgies!" Big Red cheered in relief.
"Thank goodness." Cherry smiled.
"She's a little groggy, but she should be awake soon." The doctor smiled. "Now, if you'll excuse me..."
The doctor went back the way he came, leaving Big Red and Cherry alone.
"Thanks, Cherry." Big Red smiled. "You always seem to know how to cheer me up..."
"For you, Red, anything." Cherry chuckled. "You just keep on being a wonderful father."
"Will do." Big Red chuckled, as he went to check on Mist.
Mist was lying on a hospital bed. Her eyes fluttered open, just in time to see Big Red enter.
"Howdy, darlin'." He smiled. "You feelin' better?"
"Yeah, a lot." Mist smiled. "Sorry I worried you."
"Don't be." Big Red grinned. "Ah'm jest glad yer okay, li'l lady."
"Thanks, Big Red." Mist hugged him. "You're the best."
"Ah surely am." Big Red said proudly.