//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: Extra Sugar // by IceCubeCat //------------------------------// “We can’t go back to Canterlot High, Sonata,” Aria sighed. “Those girls are there.” “We’re still enrolled. What else are we going to do without our magic anyway?” Sonata lifted a hand to her neck, feeling the absence of a pendant that was there for thousands of years before it was destroyed. Aria rolled her eyes. “What a stupid idea, Sona―" “For once I think Sonata has a point,” exclaimed Adagio. “If we go, we could try to find a way to get our magic back.” “For realsies?” Sonata jumped from her chair. “Yes, Sonata. We will get our magic back and take the equestrian magic we truly deserve.” Adagio smirked and waved her hand for the girls to follow. Adagio, Aria, and Sonata walked proudly into the entrance of Canterlot High, only to find that everyone was giving them angry glares. Not a single person in the school forgot the anger and suffering the Dazzlings caused them. Adagio and Aria brushed off the stares they were getting, while Sonata was completely oblivious to the hatred around her. They had approximately seven minutes left to get to class, although none of them seemed in too much of a hurry. After walking for a few minutes, they decided to take out their class schedules and go to their classes to seem as inconspicuous as possible. Each of them had very unique reactions to their classes assigned to them. “Do I have to take chemistry class? What use does a Siren have for science?” grunted Aria. “Cooking? Food is my favorite!” Sonata made a beeline for cooking class without saying anything to the others. “Relax Aria. You’ll get through it. Just act calm and we’ll figure out our next course of action with time.” Adagio looked down at her schedule. "Great, not only do I have Chemistry, I have to take it with you." "Better me than Sonata." Aria and Adagio walked down the hall, already dreading this decision to return to Canterlot High. *** Sonata walked into her class to see a seating chart on the board. A look of surprise hit her face as she saw who would be sitting next to her. “Hi! Remember me? I was one of the ones who destroyed your magic and made it so you sing terribly now and can’t make us all hate each other anymore!” Pinkie Pie said cheerfully with a small giggle. “Hi?” Sonata gave her a confused look. Shouldn’t she hate me? thought Sonata. “Sit down, silly. I don’t bite. Unless you’re made of chocolate, then I might bite.” “You’re not scared of me? But I tried to steal your magic.” Sonata nervously twirled a pencil around in her hands while looking at Pinkie Pie. “That’s okay. You aren’t stealing it now, and that’s all that matters.” Pinkie saw an uncomfortable look on Sonata's face. "Come on, turn that frown upside down!" Pinkie Pie put her fingers on the corner of Sonata's mouth and pushed up. The bell for class to start rang and the teacher silenced the class by clapping her hands. “Alright class, today is the first day of the second semester. Are you all excited to start your day with making some delicious food?” “Yes, please!” yelled Pinkie. The teacher handed out a sheet of baking instructions to each student. “Today we are going to do something very fun; we are going to make cupcakes. I want you to work with the person sitting next to you.” Sonata’s eyes widened at the thought of working with Pinkie Pie. Pinkie grabbed her hand and pulled her to the nearest cooking station. Sonata started to relax as she realized Pinkie wasn’t holding a grudge against her. Not able to figure out what kind of plan she could use to get her magic back, she focused on baking with her former enemy. Pinkie Pie whisked together the flour, baking powder and salt. Sonata heard Pinkie Pie humming something quietly to herself. "All you have to do is take a cup of flour, add it to the mix..." Sonata giggled. "What are you singing?" "Just a little song I came up with years ago to make baking cupcakes even more fun. I can teach it to you later if you want." She continued singing. "That'd be aweso―" Sonata paused and looked down at her feet. "I mean, that'd be great, but I can't sing anymore, remember?" "I'm sure you can't be that bad. Grab the butter, will ya?" Sonata looked at the baking instructions. "Six tablespoons of butter, got it." She threw the butter into a large mixing bowl. "And 3/4 cups of― Only 3/4 cups of sugar?" Sonata ignored the instructions and put in an extra half-cup of sugar. "What kind of cupcake recipe uses that little sugar?" “I like the way you think, Sonata. The sweeter, the better.” Pinkie Pie giggled. Sonata added the eggs and milk and stirred the batter evenly. "Am I doing it right?" "Of course, silly!" "It's just, usually by now Adagio or Aria would have taken the batter away from me because I wasn't doing it right." "That's not fair at all. Clearly you know what you're talking about. Only a master cupcake maker would add extra sugar." “Really?” Sonata blushed. “Thanks.” "Remember," Pinkie Pie continued singing. "Add a teaspoon of vanilla." Sonata added the vanilla and finished mixing the batter with a smile on her face. Pinkie Pie took the batter from Sonata and poured it into the cupcake tins and stuck the tray into the oven. Pinkie Pie and Sonata gave each other a look of accomplishment, as if this was the greatest thing they've ever done. “These are going to be the bestest most superific delicious cupcakes I've ever made!” Pinkie stared through the small window of the oven. "Best that we've ever made."