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// Cupcakes 
// Story: Sky Blossom 
// by SnoringDragonProductions 
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     “Sugarcube Corner!” Rarity proclaimed proudly. Her snow white hoof was pointed toward the delicious looking building Sky Blossom had noticed earlier.
“It looks nice.” Sky Blossom said with hunger in her eyes. 
“Oh it is darling. It is absolutely divine! The treats are the tastiest in all of Equestria.” Rarity said as she opened the door for Sky Blossom. The fashionable Unicorn was dressed in a pale pink gown studded with baby blue gemstones along the hem. Her sleeves were long and flowing so she made sure to keep them away from the door so they would not be torn. “You were such a good model that I am paying.”
“Thank you so much Rarity.” Sky Blossom said quietly. She was silently grateful that Rarity offered to pay because she had no idea what was considered valuable in Equestria. ‘Even if I did know, I don’t have anything with me anyway.’
The aroma coming from the inside of the building seemed to race straight for Sky Blossom’s nose. She inhaled deeply, her chest bulging with every breath as she tried to distinguish the different delights she was smelling. Her brain told her cinnamon, then strawberry, and finally honey. Her mouth curved into a large smile as she approached the counter. The treats seemed to glisten in the light as she examined them. Sky Blossom made careful observations about flavor, amount of frosting, decoration, and price. After all, if she was not going to pay she wanted to make sure that she bought something equal to or under the price of whatever Rarity ordered.
Rarity took less time examining the treats for tastiness and seemed to spend her time commenting about how desirable the decorations made them look. She muttered about the spacing of the pink roses and the way the sprinkle colors never clashed in Sugarcube Corner. Sky Blossom was sure she heard the name Pinkie Pie but soon dismissed the idea. She couldn’t possibly run into the pink pony so soon after leaving her.
“Welcome to Sugarcube Corner! How can I help you… RARITY!” A shrill voice called out from the kitchen. A pink mane began to peek out from the doorframe. Soon a pink head followed with big blue eyes and a bright smile. She had a tray of cupcakes carefully balanced on the tip of her nose. The cupcakes were covered with bright blue frosting and decorated with purple sprinkles that glittered in the light. Although they were stacked in a tall pyramid, they did not wobble in the slightest as Pinkie Pie trotted over to the two ponies.
“Rarity it is so good to see you!” Pinkie Pie said with a cheerful voice. “Oh! You know Sky Blossom that is so great! I can throw a big, all my friends know my newest friend party!” 
“How exactly do you know Sky Blossom dear?” Rarity said with a raised eyebrow. 
“Well…” Pinkie Pie began to explain the events that had happened up until that very moment. “Then I saw you walk in with Sky Blossom and I said hi to you and then I said…”
     “I already know that part darling.” Rarity quickly intervened.
“Oh, right.” Pinkie Pie said without the slightest amount of embarrassment.
Rarity turned toward the blushing Sky Blossom who was clearly embarrassed. She giggled slightly while trying to hide it behind her clean hoof. “Do you know what you want Sky Blossom?” She asked politely while waiting for the pegasus’s face to lose its bright pink color.
“Oh, um… you can order first Rarity.” Sky Blossom said hastily.
“All right darling.” Rarity gave a knowing smile as she turned back toward the tasty treats. Rarity knew what Sky Blossom was doing. It was the old ‘wait until the payer orders something and then get something of equal or lesser value’ strategy. She had seen it many times in Canterlot when she was in the presence of Fancy Pants. Rarity sighed as she remembered the absolute wonderful time she had in Canterlot. The fashion, the food, the architecture, and most of all… the Fancy Pants. He had been the most gracious host she had ever had the pleasure of meeting. Playing the host game with grace and skill had been only one of his many amazing qualities. She smiled as her hoof pointed to the most expensive item for sale. Now Sky Blossom could get what she wanted without feeling guilty about the price. 
“Oh! Good choice Rarity!” Pinkie Pie said as she carefully pulled out what Rarity had ordered. It was a delicate piece of vanilla cake covered with rich, creamy buttercream frosting. It was carefully decorated with large white roses and edible fake pearls. It was definitely one of the more sophisticated sweets there and fit Rarity nicely. 
“Can I have one of the cupcakes please?” Sky Blossom asked Pinkie Pie quietly. Although she felt that she might be feeling more at ease around the hyper pony, she realized that she was not nearly enough at ease to talk in more than a murmur at that moment. 
“Of course you can silly!” Pinkie Pie giggled as she took the cupcake with the most frosting off of the pyramid. Although the pyramid had a crucial cupcake missing in the center it remained standing tall. Pinkie Pie was unfazed by this and neither was her good friend Rarity, who was used to the strange things that tended to happen around the party pony. 
Sky Blossom however remained staring at the pyramid as Pinkie Pie put her cupcake into a little bag for her to carry over to a seat. She remained staring as she carefully walked back to a comfortable chair. She also remained staring as she opened the bag. The only thing that broke her deep concentration was the delicious smell that wafted towards her nose. It reminded her of the sweet she would stare at in the baker’s shop at home. Although the treats had looked delicious, none of them had looked nearly as good as the cupcake that was in front of her. Her tongue tingled as she looked at the thick layer of creamy frosting. The sprinkles sparkled on top of the tiny cake as if they were violet stars sparkling in a bright blue sky.
Sky Blossom smiled as her hoof gently nudged the cupcake. Rarity gave a joyful laugh as she watched the small pony admire the treat. It was as if she had never had a cupcake at Sugarcube Corner before. The fashionista remembered what Pinkie Pie had told her and realized that Sky Blossom never had. Biting her lip in anticipation, Rarity watched with moist eyes as Sky Blossom took a timid bite. The next bite became more aggressive and the next one until the cupcake was only a small pile of crumbs on the table. Rarity’s eyes danced as she tried not to laugh at the smeared frosting on Sky Blossom’s face. It looked as if the pony had smashed her face into the treat rather than simply devouring it. Her tiny tongue was gingerly trying to clean the area around her mouth but utterly missing everywhere else.
“Here, let me help you darling.” Rarity said as she used her magic to lift a napkin and wipe off her new friend’s face. “I must admit that I had forgotten that you had never had a treat from Sugarcube Corner before. So…” Rarity disposed of the soiled napkin in the trash and turned to see Sky Blossom’s clean face. “How did it taste?” 
“It was amazing…” Sky Blossom’s voice trailed off as she remembered the taste first hitting her tongue. It was as if she was tasting the color of the blue flowers she would stare at, the fluffiness of the clouds that would pass over her, and the stars she would admire at night. Her face broke into a large grin as she noticed the expression on the white pony’s face. It was obvious she was trying not to laugh. Sky Blossom however, did not try at all and broke into a fit of laughter. Rarity soon joined in. The laughter rose and rose until both ponies were clutching their stomaches in an attempt to quiet themselves. 
Rarity wiped a stray tear from her eye and looked out the window. “Oh my. I had not realized it was so late. Come dear, I will escort you home.” 
“Home?” Sky Blossom echoed. Her ears drooped as she realized that she was not going to be sleeping in her own bed that night. ‘That might not be a bad thing.’ She thought bitterly as she remembered the run down building she unfortunately called home. 
“Yes dear. Don’t you have somewhere to stay tonight?” Rarity asked with concern.
“Um… no.” Sky Blossom answered honestly. Fear took hold of her as she imagined wandering the cold streets at night. The ponies seemed friendly enough in the daytime, but who knew what sinister characters could be found lurking at night. Her body trembled as she watched the sun set unnaturally fast. Her pupils got smaller as the sky turned a shade darker. Sky Blossom hated the night. Closing her eyes, she tried to shut out the nightmares.
“Darling, you look petrified.” Rarity said as she gently took Sky Blossom’s hoof in her own. “There is no way I am letting such a delicate mare like yourself wander the streets at night. Why, I don’t know anywhere safer than Ponyville, but still it is unacceptable. You will stay at Carousel Boutique tonight.” 
“That is very generous of you Rarity.” Sky Blossom said as she slowly opened her fearful eyes. A small tear trickled down her cheek as she looked into her warm, dark blue eyes.
“Well, I am the Element of Generosity.” Rarity chuckled as she led the still trembling pony out of the building. 
They slowly began the walk to Carousel Boutique. Occasionally, Rarity would have to give Sky Blossom a small nudge when she faltered. Her eyes would glaze over and she would suddenly stop walking. Whimpering and trembling, she would stand there motionless until she felt the gentle nudge from Rarity’s nose. Sky Blossom would blink a few times, realize where she was, and continue walking as if nothing had happened. The only clue about her difficult time, a faint blush in her cheeks and a dull look in her eyes. Rarity watched the small pony with concern. She was used to dealing with timid ponies before and considered herself an expert in getting ponies to do what she wanted but she had never dealt with any pony that had such a deep fear of something before. Even Fluttershy had only froze for a few moments. It seemed like Sky Blossom would stand there until whatever horrific nightmare she was seeing concluded. She sighed in defeat as Sky Blossom stopped for the fourth time. Patient and gentle, she placed a hoof around the trembling pegasus’s shoulders and led her through the door. 
“You can stay in Sweetie Belle’s room tonight. She is at a sleepover with her friends.” Rarity said as she showed Sky Blossom the frilly room.
Sky Blossom gave her a grateful smile before lying down on the soft bed. “Thanks Rarity.” She paused a moment before continuing. “For everything.”
“Of course.” Rarity smiled before turning and leaving the room. Her eyes dulled as she turned away and became absorbed in the storm clouds that came when a pony worried.
Sky Blossom looked around the room and smiled. ‘This sure isn’t home.’ She thought as she felt the soft comforter beneath her. Snuggling under the covers she yawned before closing her eyes. She could have sworn she heard faint laughing but shrugged it off when she realized how exhausted she was. 
Sky Blossom was soon...