//------------------------------// // Prologue // Story: Pinkie Pie and the Chocolate Factory // by Cora Zone Unicorn //------------------------------// The schoolhouse bell rang, allowing all the fillies and colts to run out with their saddle bags in tow. Many of the children ran out of the building, towards the downtown of Ponyville. Everypony on the streets quickly moved out of the way as a stampede of children came through. All of the little ponies chatted amongst themselves as they made their way toward the little candy shop near the local bakery. A little grey pegasus colt was the first to make it to the candy shop. He grabbed the handle with his hoof and pulled the door open with all of his strength. He then, quickly ran inside, the door staying open long enough for the next pony to come in, along with the rest of the school ponies. A couple of fillies and colts took the last few available seats at the counter whilst the rest stood behind, chatting rather loudly. A few moments later, a male unicorn, along with who seemed to be his older, twin brother, came out from the back. Their eyes widening before smiling. “Alright! Alright,” one of the unicorn stallions shouted. “Settle down! Settle down!” The crowd of children began to calm down as the two stallions gave some of them their usuals. “Let’s see,” the pony with the mustache, began, “a Neighsley Crunch bar for Pipsqueak,” he said, levitating the bar of chocolate to the colt. “A Breezie Stick for Dinky,” the other stallion said, giving the little unicorn filly her candy. “Kit-Colt for Liberty Belle,” the facial haired unicorn said, causing her to smile as she received her treat. After giving some of the children their usuals, the two brothers lightly slammed their forehooves on the counter. “Flim, would you like to tell them the news?” “Why certainly, brother of mine,” the mustacheless pony replied. He looked over to the children who all happened to have curious looks on their faces. “Pinkie Pie’s got a new one today.” All of the fillies and colts’ eyes widened in excitement. “What is it?” Flim walked over to a shelf on his left. His horn began to glow a dark green magical aura around his horn and the newly wrapped, rounded, foot long bar. His brother, Flam, walked over to him, waving his hoof below the candy. “This is called an ‘Orecticious Bar.” “Orecticious Bar? How does she do it,” a young colt, by the name of ‘Rumble,’ asked. “My dear young boy, do you ask how Celestia raises the sun,” Flim asked. “No,” he replied. “What about Princess Luna helping you to rid of your nightmares,” the other asked. “No.” “No, son, you don’t. They do it, not only because it’s their jobs…” “But also because they were born to do it,” Flim finished for him. “Just like how Pinkie Pie was born to be a candy mare,” Flam began, “and you look like you were born to be Pie Ponies.” All the fillies and colts chuckled at the nickname that they were given. The two stallions smiled before giving the rest of the children their treats. This was normal for the both of them. Almost five times a week, ninety-nine percent of the students from the local schoolhouse come to Flim and Flam’s Candy Shop and Ice Cream Parlor to get their daily dose of sweets. They were the only store that sold candy made by the famous Pinkie Pie. Pinkie Pie’s candies were what sold the most; especially her chocolate. About a good fifteen minutes later, most of the kids had left after they had bought their sweets. Flam was putting up the last of the money that they had made in the cash register, whilst Flim was wiping the counter. As he was cleaning the wood, the unicorn’s eyes glanced up for a brief moment before focusing back to what he was doing. However, he lifted his head once again once he noticed that there was a filly staring through the window, with a rather sort of glum look on her face. Flim knew that filly. He would recognize that red mane and faded pink bow anywhere. “Flam, I’ll be right back,” he told him, moving his head to the side a bit. “Alright, brother,” Flam replied. The young stallion levitated the rag down neatly onto his back. He then made his way over to the front door of the store, the little welcome bell ringing as he opened it. Turning to his right, the little filly came down from looking through the window, giving him a shy little grin. “Hey, Apple Bloom,” he greeted her. “Oh, hi Flim,” she greeted in return, although not sounding too cheery. “Shouldn’t you be on your way home,” he asked her. The little earth pony, looked away from him. “Uh, huh…” Flim crouched down to her level. His hoof went below her chin and lifted it gently, causing her to look him in the eye. “What’s the matter, then? Hmm?” Apple Bloom sighed. “It’s just it’s the same thing everyday for me,” she told him. The stallion raised an eyebrow. “Oh,” he said, letting her chin go. “How so?” “Well, I get up, go to school, try to help out on the farm even though I don’t have any strength in my legs to buck any of the apples from the trees, eat dinner and go to bed,” she explained rather quickly. “Hey, what about what’s happening right now? You talk to Flam and I all the time,” Flim assured her. The country filly did nothing but roll her eyes a bit. “That’s only when I’m feeling down or you needing a delivery in order to make candy apples for the shop.” He gave her a little smile before looking down at the sidewalk. “Or even, sometimes, try to be with my sister,” she said rather loudly. That comment caused the unicorn’s face to blush a red much like the color in his peppermint mane. He tried to clear his throat of nervousness and embarrassment. She smirked. “W-well…” he stuttered, “um… aside from that...” The young little pony giggled as she watched her friend try to pull himself back together. “Look, I know that everything in your life may seem dull right now, but don’t worry. I’m pretty sure that things are going to be much better.” Apple Bloom tilted her head to the side. “You really think so, Flim?” He gave her a big smile. “I know so,” he said, lightly punching her face with his hoof. “Now why don’t you head on home?” The little filly nodded before giving him a hug. She then turned to the direction where the farm was as she heard the sound of the store’s door bell ringing. Apple Bloom only made it a few feet before she heard him say her name once more. “Oh, Apple Bloom!” The earth pony turned around to the sound of her name. “Yeah?!” The candy shop owner blushed lightly. “Um… tell Applejack that we’re going to need a delivery of 100 apples…” he said, chuckling nervously. A smirk came across her face. “Alright, lover boy,” she teased. His face then quickly went from nervous to unamused. “Hey, don’t you start that. Besides, she and I are engaged after all.” “Like that’s gonna stop me,” she replied, in a sing-songy way. She then ran away from the store, laughing as she headed home. Flim did nothing but chuckle before shouting “Say ‘hello’ to your Granny Smith for me!” The pony then went inside the little building, shaking his head as the door closed behind him.