Stifling sunlight streamed through the windows of Sugarcube corner. Mrs Cake was taking her third bathroom break that hour, dampening herself down at the sink in an attempt to cool herself off. Mr Cake wasn’t faring much better in the oven-heated kitchens, to say the cakes were baked with his own sweat and blood was half true that lunchtime.
It was as if the entire bakery was wilting. The customers trickled in and out and talked of friends and relatives in Canterlot, buying very little of the meagre stock.
The Cakes had been too concerned over Pinkie to do muck cooking. Their custom had also been dwindling. Mrs Cake blamed the heat, though Mr Cake wondered if some of the stallions who came in on days Pinkie was at the counter, really just just wanted to buy a few muffins.
The familiar jingle of the bell summoned Mrs Cake back to the counter as two of Pinkie Pie’s close friends came through the door, one orange and one blue with a striking prismatic mane. She knew their names of course, she heard about them A LOT. The orange one, Applejack was kind, honest, caring and often fed Pinkie delicious food. The other one, Rainbow Dash, was so many extravagantly favourable adjectives the Cakes had lost count, though to them she looked like a sweet filly. Athletic, a little messy.
“Hello, dears.” She greeted them, her voice a bit flat.
“Mornin’ mrs Cake.” Said Applejack. “Ah take it yeh’ve heard the news?”
“Yes we have, dear. Pinkie wrote to us this morning.” She dropped her voice. “We’re so worried. The papers said it was an assassination attempt. And in the same building as our Pinkie, it doesn’t bear thinking about!”
“Ah know.” AJ’s expression was consoling. “She’s with the princesses though, ahm sure she’ll be safe.”
She looked to Rainbow for support, but her friend looked distracted. Rainbow kept shuffling her feet and looking over her shoulder at the door.
AJ sighed. “If there’s anything we can do for you, jus’ say the word.”
“That’s very kind of you dear.” Mrs Cake was very touched, she felt just a little less worried, knowing Pinkie had two wonderful friends looking out for her. “Just tell us if you hear any news, we’ll do the same.”
“We can write I guess.” Said Rainbow.
Mrs Cake looked confused.
“Ah, um we thought we might go help out in Canterlot, ahm sure they’re lookin’ fer volunteers.” Applejack supplied the missing information.
“Oh.” Mrs Cake was silent for a moment… could I?...
For one wild moment Mrs Cake considered accompanying them, it was a cracked wail from upstairs that brought her back to reality.
She had foals to look after and customers to serve.
“I have to go and attend to something.” She said gesturing vaguely in the direction of the crying. “Thank you for coming, I know you’ll do everything to bring Pinkie home safe… as well as the rest of your friends. In a few days you’ll be coming here to visit her as usual!”
She made to go upstairs.
“Carrot! Some muffins to go for these two fillies please, on the house!”
*
After a moment’s polite chit-chat with Mr Cake, Applejack and Rainbow Dash stood outside the door.
“Can we go?” Rainbow had lost any ability to stand still and was jogging on the spot, waiting irritably for Applejack to start showing some urgency.
AJ was hesitant.
She wanted to be prepared, she wasn’t sure how she and the pegasus were going to achieve anything in Canterlot. She knew that Dash wanted to save their friends, but if all the queen’s horses hadn’t yet made any progress, she doubted two non-magical, non-military trained ponies would.
Though she supposed they were as ready as they’d ever be.
“Yeah… lets go.”
****
Lunch wasn’t particularly momentous by the standards of recent events, Spike managed to spill an entire shaker of pepper into Cadence’s tea in his eagerness to pour some milk into Rarity’s cup. Cadence assured him it was fine and nopony made a big deal of it, but seeing the frown on Spike’s face Pinkie heroically took a sip of the peppery mixture claiming it was ‘A new delicacy!’. And then of course everypony had to try a little pepper in their tea. Violin was the most eager, Rarity got away with not doing so, subtly enough that no one noticed of course.
****
Shining Armor stood contemplating the black mass before him.
He had tried everything.
He was tired, frustrated. He knew the smoke was impenetrable for the moment, it was depleting slowly. It would be weeks before he saw Cadence again.
If I ever see her again.
It was funny, how much more crucial the danger seemed outside the Castle than within. Almost as if the pony press had exaggerated the events enough to cause widespread panic just to drive up sales. Shocking.
****
Not long after their meal, the ponies received a quickly written-up note from Applejack, explaining she and Rainbow were on their way to try and help.
Pinkie’s ears perked up.
Twilight expressed her doubt that their friends could be of any assistance in freeing them from the castle.
Fluttershy commended them, assuming they were coming to help with the relocation procedures.
Spike assured them he would still be able to deliver notes, directly to them instead of the post box. He looked in Rarity’s direction, obviously hoping to be praised, but Rarity was suddenly distressed.
“Pinkie dear, are you feeling alright?”
Her friend had gone completely white.
Everypony rushed forward as Pinkie dropped to the ground like a stone.
****
Shining Armor was getting desperate, shooting beams at the fog with abandon, tears of frustration running down his face. He hadn’t slept properly since Cadence had received her first threat weeks ago.
He sank to the ground, muzzle buried in his hooves.
****
Rarity just stood there, the sound of rushing water blaring in her ears.
She heard Celestia assure them that Pinkie was breathing.
She watched her and Luna cast their spells.
And Pinkies eyes flicker open.
Her friend was coaxed upstairs, and then Celestia mentioned poison.
“This is really important, did Pinkie Pie eat or drink anything that we didn’t?”
Everypony was at a loss, except Spike.
“Well, she drank Cadences tea.”
And just like that it dawned on everyone, they weren’t supposed to be sitting around and having a good time. The danger was real. Their adversary was the only pony who could get into the Castle. Luna would later pose the theory that he had never left, and was in fact hiding somewhere in one of the many rooms, but not before the poison was studied, and recognised, and an antidote was given.
Rarity swore she would never drink tea again.
She would go on to keep that promise for almost an entire week.