//------------------------------// // Sweet Tooth // Story: My Little Universe: Season 3 // by EquestrianKirin //------------------------------// Happily going through Beach City, with some special supplies in hoof, Pinkie Pie was happily hopping along through the Beach city amusement park, known as Beach City Funland. Behind her, Pinkie Pie had a number of delicious baked goods she'd been making for a good while, being pulled along in a wagon. Being spring and all, and the weather warming up, Pinkie Pie decided to go with a spring theme for her yummy baked goods. Ponyville had gotten plenty of them already, so, giving some of this to Beach City residents would be a nice change not just to herself, but for the residents and customers she can ring on in. If she knew one thing; anybody would love some delicious sweets! At the moment, Funland was pretty busy with many people going about their time at the park, so getting some customers should be easy. Steven was happily following her, agreeing to help her out. Both of them got a stand set up already, so the two simply got right to the stand, getting Pinkie's treats set up for sale. Soon the stand was lined with cupcakes, muffins, and even some mini cakes. "Come one, come all! Anybody hungry for some yummy equestrian treats?!" Steven called, advertising the delicacies to those who'd listen. "Freshly baked, straight from Sugarcube Corner!" added Pinkie Pie. For the first few minutes, nothing really came about, but the two remained hopeful. The first customer to come about that day was actually Sadie, who was visiting Funland for some time off from work. For Sadie, she hadn't spoke with Steven in far too long, not seeing him all winter much like everyone else. When she saw the two, she went right on over to the stand, catching their eyes. "Hey, Steven, Pinkie! What's going on?" Sadie asked. "Steven and I are selling some equestrian goodies! Freshly baked and ready to serve, straight from Sugarcube Corner! Free sample?" Pinkie offered, holding a cupcake with green frosting and an apple slice on it. It didn't look too bad really, and getting a free treat wasn't bad either. "Oh. Well, thanks, but, I already ate," Sadie insisted. Pinkie looked bummed out, but waited a bit before she decided that it was going to be her final answer. "Suit yourself," Pinkie said, tossing the cupcake up in the air, and landing it on her tongue for a quick gobble, chew, and swallow. Still, Sadie was more interested in talking to them, and catching up rather than have a cupcake from Sugarcube Corner. Sadie rested her arms on the stand, looking to Steven. "So, how was the big trip, Steven? Haven't got a chance to talk to you all winter," Sadie said. "It was awesome! Homeworld has so much cool future stuff all over the place, and the Gems saved Homeworld!" Steven said, arms out as if presenting the news to Sadie. Sadie was happy that Steven had a good time, but was more surprised that all of Homeworld was saved by the Crystal Gems, giving him her applause. "Congratulations, Steven! I'm glad you had a good time," Sadie replied. Soon, Pinkie slid up in between them. "You sure you don't want a sample?" Pinkie asked, with an exact copy of the cupcake in her hoof. Sadie began to notice that Pinkie didn't want to have any cupcakes go to waste. "You know what, I'll have it for later," Sadie decided, taking the cupcake in her hands. Pinkie smiled sweetly as Sadie moved off from the stand. However, with both human and pony eyes, the stand and its treats were being eyed by one particular customer from high up in the air. Soon after Sadie had walked off, the next customer soon came around, landing nearby the stand. This customer? A crafty Seagull. "Oh, hey there, birdie," Pinkie said, as the Seagull walked right on over, hopping up onto the stand. Obviously this bird wasn't worried about this multi-colored pony and human right there. The white bird looked over the treats, and began to eye a small batch of Oatmeal Hayseed cookies. "Shoo, shoo, that's not for you," Steven said, trying to shoo the bird away. The bird gave a quick squawk at Steven, before suddenly grabbing the cookie in its beak, and flying off. "HEY, you didn't pay for that!" Pinkie snapped, bolting after the flying bird. However, since their stand was over on a dock (the Funland park was all out to sea on a thick sturdy dock), that meant that the Seagull flew right out to sea with the cookie. Pinkie rushed right off the dock, comically stood there for a few seconds ... and fell into the water. The Seagull landed at the edge of the dock, eating the cookie while watching Pinkie down below. The pony popped her head out of the water, her mane soaked and over her face. The Seagull squawked up a bit, as if laughing, as Pinkie looked up to the bird, and getting herself out of the water, ala a ladder on one of the dock beams. By the time the wet pony got to the dock, the bird was gone already. Pinkie's mane and tail were soaking wet, stretching out like Fluttershy's would. Pinkie did quick shake, getting her poofy cotton candy mane and tail back to normal. After that malarkey though, something else fell from the sky. a dollar. Looking up, Pinkie saw that same Seagull, as it flew away ... "Have a good day!" For the rest of the day, stuff went fairly well for Steven and Pinkie when it came to the stand. By around five, they've got a good amount of money from their little trip in Funland, using this to have some fun on the rides and some arcade games (you didn't think they'll pass that up, did you?). They did a pretty good job, and Applejack would be happy with this result if it was her who did it. With what they got left, Steven and Pinkie first arrived back to the Beach House to see if anyone else wanted to have some. Their wagon for when they first showed up was a lot smaller than earlier, leaving two small cakes and a batch of cupcakes to boot. By the door, Lion and Blue were chilling out until Steven and Pinkie showed up, with Blue happily getting up onto his paws, wagging his tail, and barking once he saw Steven. "Hey, boy," Steven said, happily fluffing the dog's head, as they went inside. Inside, some of the Ponies were there as well, along with the Gems. Rarity was calmly braiding Star Quartz's hair, the gem wondering how it worked, and found it relaxing really. Lion waited outside, as Blue went right on in. One Gem who was more than eager to see them was Amethyst, seeing their tasty treats. "Hey, Pinkie, Steven! You got those scraps?" Amethyst asked. Steven promised Amethyst to give her any sort of scraps they had left. Pinkie Pie moved the wagon over to her, the eager hungry Gem licking her lips. She grabbed the wagon, lifted it up, and quickly gobbled down every last crumb in under ten seconds. Rarity didn't want to watch, though Pinkie was ecstatic for seeing somepony enjoy her treats so much. After gobbling them all up, she gave Pinkie two thumbs up. "Goodie, goodie, goodie!" Pinkie beamed, hopping in place. "... Is it normal to consume like that?" Star Quartz asked. she'd been seeing Amethyst eating like that for a while, and it was bugging her a little bit. "Not entirely. It's her own way of helping herself," Rarity explained, though personally, she wished Amethyst didn't. Still, Pinkie didn't seem to be bothered by Amethyst's beastly eating, as she got her key out of her mane, and the door opened up where the screen door would be. "See you all tomorrow everypony!" Pinkie said, happily hugging Steven and Amethyst, before heading through. ~~~~~~ The next morning came around fairly quickly for the bright-eyed, pink mare. She had really been antsy about selling her goods again, and that morning Pinkie Pie was already busy baking up a storm of goodies in the kitchen. She wanted to get everything made, and everything to give out to the residents of both Beach City, and Ponyville. At the moment, Pinkie Pie was happily humming a tune to herself to go with her cupcake making, stirring up a bowl of dough for her next batch to be baked up. Pinkie had on a chef's hat as well, better looking the part of a baker pony. Nearby was a cookbook, a bit dirty from stray flour landing on it, which was opened to the recipe she was working on. She glanced back and forth a few times, going along the recipe as she went with fast speed from her hooves, busily at work. As she was getting the recipe working together, the front doors opened right up, the pink pony hearing it loud and clear. Standing at the front, by the counter, was actually Applejack. She was waiting at the front, hooves on the counter. "Pinkie Pie?! Where is that mare?" Applejack wondered. Seconds after that, Pinkie popped up behind the counter, a plate of freshly baked cupcakes sitting proudly on her head. "Morning, AJ! Wanna cupcake before I start my sale to Beach City?" Pinkie Pie offered. Applejack though wasn't there for a morning cupcake, as Pinkie Pie had hoped for. "Actually, Pinkie, that's what I wanna tell you about. See -" "They don't like my cupcakes?!" "Eh, no -" "I can't sell at Funland?!" "No, Pinkie -" "The local shops are mad at me, and want to drive me out with pitchforks and torches in an angry mob?!" "What the hay - No!" Applejack calmly sighed before she got to the point with the over energetic mare. Pinkie was full of nutty ideas, and Applejack just had to calm down and get on with it. "Look, let me just show you. C'mon, follow me." ~~~~~~ Pretty soon, with what she had gotten, Pinkie and Applejack went from Ponyville, back to Beach City. The door had got them straight from the Sugarcube corner, and straight over to the Beach City Funland. As it turned out, some of the Mane Six were there too soon after they got the news. Applejack didn't put too much of a rush into it, but Pinkie Pie hopped right off in a humming tune, plate bouncing up and down from her head. Pinkie was stuck wondering what was up, when - "OOF!" Wouldn't you know it? She hopped right into a wall. She didn't loose any treats from her plate, but she didn't remember such an object in this particular spot. It took Pinkie a moment before she got her mind straight, and see what was there. As for what she hit, the object looked like some new building, red exterior, and about as big as a side road diner, or something similar. It wasn't like Pinkie's stand, although it seemed to operate in a similar way (as in no indoor seating). In the front, above the front counter, a neon display of some sort of velvet frosting pastry shined up for all to see. The thing was though that it hadn't been very long, and yet it was basically packed, many people in line and waiting to get their share. Pinkie and Steven didn't get this much hubbub this fast yesterday. But then came the big surprise. A pony working the counter! It may not be the first time a different pony had came to Beach City, but not only did they not know this pony, but she wouldn't have had any method to get herself to Beach City from Equestria. This pony had red orange fur, with a mane and tail that were pink with white highlights, like flowing ice cream as it were. She didn't appear any taller than Alicorn Twilight either, and her head was covered with a white chef's hat. On her flank, her cutie mark didn't seem to involve baking in anyway, as it just showed a few shooting stars, similar colors to her mane. Both her mane and tail flowed down, like Fluttershy but shorter. As for what the pony was selling, she was bringing out a number of different pastries or doughnuts, though many of them had the velvet red frosting on it, or had velvet filled jelly in them. Regardless of each one, everybody there was pretty hyped for it. "Wow, who's the new pony?" Pinkie wondered. Oddly, as she was watching the treats being sold, she was getting suspicious of the seller in charge. Even her baked goods didn't sell immediately on the first day. "I more wonder how she even got here. Did anypony bring her over here?" Twilight asked. However, none of the Mane Six recalled even knowing her, nevermind bringing her over. For Pinkie though, she wondered more on what could be in those sweets that would make everyone this psyched over it. the pink mare soon spotted one of the customers go off, chewing away at the jelly filled doughnut she had gotten with a big smile on her face. That was when Pinkie went right over to the crowd, as the others tried to figure it out about the new pony showing up. As the crowds began to move aside, the pony getting quite a bit of cash for the sale, Pinkie looked up to the counter with a rather serious look on her face. When the crowd left, Pinkie saw the pony putting her money away. "Ahem," Pinkie said. However, the pony didn't seem to hear her at first, trying to count how much she made. "A-AHEM!" The more prominent *ahem* got the pony's attention. She looked over to the counter after putting the money away, seeing Pinkie. "Oh, hello. Can I help you?" She asked. Pinkie Pie hopped up onto the counter, startling the other pony a bit. "Yeah; what're you doing here?" Pinkie demanded. A bit overboard, and rather jumping the gun, but seeing this happen after the first day of her own selling did get to her quickly. The other pony, though a bit spooked, got her nerves together. "Uh ... selling treats?" "OH, are you?" Pinkie questioned, uncomfortably close to her (right in her face with hers to the point of pushing snouts). "... Uh, yeah." "Oh." Pinkie said, suddenly much calmer than before, backing off, and sitting on the counter. The other baker pony straightened herself up. "What're you selling?" Pinkie asked, tilting her head. Her mind was more focused on the treat selling rather than the obvious fact that another pony was in Beach City aside from the Mane Six. The other pony brought out a pastry with the same velvet frosting on it as she had been selling. "Oh, just pastries, doughnuts, the usual stuff. Do you like to try one?" She offered, getting out a velvet jelly-filled doughnut for the pink mare. Pinkie gave a sniff or two at the treat, and gave her a suspicious glare again. "... free sample?" Pinkie asked, not changing her expression. The baker pony nodded yes to the pink mare. So, not changing her expression, or stare even once, Pinkie slowly took the velvet treat from the baker pony. Pinkie did a "I-got-my-eye-on-you" gesture with her free hoof, before going away. The other pony was just left completely awkward, but eventually she relaxed herself, as Pinkie walked back to the others with the velvet treat, sitting down right next to Twilight Sparkle. "She's a tricky one," Pinkie whispered to Twilight, who was flat out confused with this reaction. The pink mare though was for sure in her assumption. Instead of jumping to it right away, Twilight decided to check it out herself. Since the crowds weren't around for the moment, Twilight went over to the stand, and went over to the pony with a much friendlier demeanor. "Hey there, can I help you?" she asked. Twilight brought her front hooves up onto the counter to have a better view to the pony she was talking to. "Hello there. I guess you already met my friend?" "You mean the pink mare?" Before their conversation could continue, Pinkie suddenly popped into frame, a serious look on her face. She gave the "I'm keeping my eye on you" thing again, as she slid away from them both. Twilight regained her composure before continuing on. "Right. Anyway, I was wondering how did you get here? This isn't exactly "Equestria"." "I know it isn't. Somepony gave me some directions and tricks while going pass Appaloosa, one thing lead to another, and here I am," she answered. not too detailed honestly. "And who might this somepony be?" "Not sure. He just looked like a regular grey pony to me," she replied. Twilight thought about it for a moment or two before changing the subject on it. "Well, thanks anyway, ms ..." "Oh, Velvet Sugar," replied the pony, properly introducing herself. "Twilight Sparkle," replied Twilight, shaking hooves with her before heading back to the rest. Pinkie still had her doubts over this newcomer, yet the other ponies seemed content with her for the most part. The only confusing thing was that a random pony just came in and told her how to get here, apparently without the use of any key. ....... "Another pony?" Pearl questioned. Obvious choice; the Mane Six (after Twilight told them about Velvet Sugar) went off to the Beach House, and told the Gems about it. After all, with this being their world, and their city, they might as well be told of what was going on with the newcomer Velvet Sugar. At the moment though it was mainly Steve, Pearl, Amethyst, and Garnet, the others not seeming to be around for the moment. They were sure though they could tell Garnet, and she'll get the word around. Still, hearing that a new pony that arrived in Beach city was fairly different news. "She just showed up without any way," Rainbow answered. "Eh, it's not the first time this happened," Amethyst shrugged, remembering the only other pony that got himself in their world without Discord involved in the introduction. Before anyone could add anything else though, Pinkie barged in the conversation. "But it IS the first time twenty five pastries and doughnuts were sold in ten minutes on a Tuesday. A. TUESDAY. HOW?!" They were used to it at this point. "I don't see anything wrong with her, Pinkie, really," Twilight insisted. Pinkie then went to the Gem who can be sure with it. Pinkie leaped up, grabbing Garnet by the shoulders and staring her in the face. "Garnet, you got the psycho powers, Velvet Sugar going to wreck Beach City with her evil velvet frosting?" Pinkie asked. Again, they were used to it, but it was still weird. Still, Garnet got Pinkie off of her in a way Jasper would do, and dropped her on the floor. Garnet took a breath, and brought her hands up to the sides of her head, focusing on the future vision she got going. Everyone waited (Pinkie chewing away at her hoof, with nail clippings flying, like she was chewing corn). After a bit though, Garnet nodded. "You'll be fine. I don't see anything catastrophic in the future because of Velvet Sugar," Garnet revealed. Pinkie then gave a sigh of relief, laying on the ground like she was a balloon, the air going out of her mouth. Then another thought hit her head, as she pulled out the surprisingly clean pastry from her mane. "But what about these?" Pinkie questioned. Garnet took the pastry from her, looking it over. "If it makes you feel better, Pinkie, I'll have it," Garnet decided. She needed more proof, and Garnet just decided to do it. "Hey, what about me?" Amethyst complained. "You eat garbage in your room, Amethyst." Amethyst does eat a number of odd things, so, getting an accurate taste test from her may not be as well. Before anyone could stop her, Garnet opened her mouth, and ate it up in one bite. Pinkie, once again, went back to chewing her hoof nails, waiting for a response from Garnet. Garnet took a moment to take in the taste, not saying anything to them. "Not bad. Nothing wrong with it," Garnet announced. Pinkie exhaled again, as Twilight went over to her. "Pinkie, don't worry. It's not like she's here to cause trouble right?" Twilight assured her, a wing around her. Pinkie thought it over, and in the end, she might as well give her a chance at least. ~~~~~~ So, it'd been like that for the next few days since Velvet Sugar had showed up. At first, Pinkie Pie didn't really feel too bothered with Velvet Sugar selling her goods, and making a pretty good profit, but as time went by, things began to get slower and slower for Pinkie and her own goods. Ponyville was fine, sure, but Velvet Sugar seemed to really leave her mark on Beach City with her sweets. Seriously, everyone in the city, whenever Velvet Sugar had a batch ready, there was always a chance that she would sell at least seven or more would get a decent sized batch of her treats, compared to Pinkie Pie's two or so sales. For the pink mare, it began to beat her down bit by bit, seeing her treats go uneaten, while seeing everyone else happily gobble up the red velvet of Velvet Sugar's cooking. Sure, Pinkie would get a decent sale time to time, but not only would they fall short, but usually they were from closer friends (Amethyst in particular). She began to notice something else with these people; how much it was affecting them. To put it simply, they were getting bigger from coming back for more, and Pinkie easily took note of it as she was watching them go by with either a doughnut or pastry by the new chef on the block. They seemed to be more quick to the treats too; she noted one customer coming back about five to six times after just four hours or so. At this point, Pinkie Pie was sadly sitting at another stand, some of her treats sitting on the counter. Pinkie rested her head on one hoof, the other lazily hanging off the front of the counter. Aside of her was a rather odd guest; a small alligator, Gummy. Gummy just chilled out next to his owner, same blank stare, as Pinkie Pie just sighed. "Oh, Gummy. What am I doing wrong? I make so many super duper yummy sweets, but everypony's getting full and plump with Velvet treats. Is there something I'm missing?" Pinkie asked Gummy, looking at him with ears folded back, chin on the table. Gummy was looking right at Pinkie Pie, his tongue licking Pinkie's nose. Normally that'll be good, but it wasn't enough to cheer her up. For such an energetic and happy pony, this was just degrading. She'd already dealt with her party passion almost a year ago, and now her baking was being overlooked. One of these, a pair of teenage twin sisters, walked nearby her stand. One, more stern looking, didn't look too bad, and didn't had any treats. But the other, more laid back, went all out and got herself a full dozen of velvet doughnuts in her possession, happily munching away on one of them in one hand, and holding the box with the other. Pinkie had seen her time and time again, and she could've swore the girl had put on a few pounds to her frame, a bit wider in the hips than before, though it also looked like she didn't care much either. "Anypony interested?" Pinkie asked, catching at least one of the sister's attention. "Sorry, spent all my money. Maybe next time," she said. Pinkie noted that she glanced to her hungry sister, telling the mare that she spend her cash on her twin's food. Pinkie waved goodbye to them with one of her fake smiles ... And then her face hit the counter, a groan escaping her. Another customer not stopping by. As she was sitting there, she looked back to the stand, seeing Velvet Sugar selling her latest bit to a plump customer, but Pinkie Pie also noticed that Velvet Sugar had no more on display for sale. The thing though, Velvet Sugar took a glance around, before going in, and closing the main door to the stand. The pink pony saw this and got a bit suspicious over what that Velvet Sugar was up to. "Gummy, hold down the fort for me," Pinkie whispered, bolting off as Gummy just stood there. Like a spy, the mare quickly rushed closer to the other stand, hiding behind some dock boxes nearby. Soon, she was right across from it, conveniently having some binoculars because Pinkie logic. She tried to see what was going on, but it was hard to tell with the front closed off from sight. The mare kept trying over and over again, but without much luck. Pinkie went for broke, and slid right to the building, her back to the wall, and binoculars around her neck. Pinkie just noticed a tiny little window, which Velvet Sugar opened to get some smoke out, and get some air. Pinkie hopped right up to the window, just keeping herself up, and got her binoculars through the window. Pinkie Pie just managed to look inside, seeing Velvet Sugar making some more goodies, and restocking. It didn't seem to be anything special, basically making average doughnuts and pastries. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, as the baker pony got out her latest batch, and readied to put on the velvet frosting. Before she did though, she gave it a lookover first, and then removed her chef's hat. A horn! Pinkie watched Velvet Sugar's horn glow slightly, as she seemed to sprinkle something into a jar of frosting she was using, and it wasn't until after that did she cover the pastry batch with the frosting. Pinkie's eyes widened, pupils shrinking as she made a huge, dramatic gasp. It wasn't enough for Velvet Sugar to hear her though. Pinkie fell down onto her back, the binoculars landing on her chest. "That cheater!" Pinkie gasped, shocked and angry. Got leaped up to her hooves right away, rushing straight back to her stand before Velvet. She looked right back to the other stand, to which Velvet Sugar opened up again, and got the treats out for sale. As expected, whoever smelled the treats went on over after a while, money in hand and ready to buy some of the fresh goods. Pinkie glared in the direction. "Did you see that Gummy? She used magic to make her treats taste so good! She's a cheater - a baking cheater," Pinkie said, though Pinkie remained unchanged in appearance as Pinkie held him close. Pinkie put Gummy in her mane, got all her treats together, and bolted away as Velvet Sugar was distracted with her many customers. Rushing off at high speed, it didn't really take Pinkie very long to rush right through Beach City, and right to the Beach House, Gummy gripping her mane the whole time with his toothless mouth. Pinkie didn't hesitate to rush right up to the door, swinging it open fast. Inside the Beach House; Steven, Lapis, Pearl, Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow, Blue, and Lion. "Everypony, I need help!" Pinkie yelled, getting their attention (if the door didn't). "Pinkie, what's wrong?" Lapis asked, urgently. "Velvet Sugar's cheating in cooking!!" The tenseness immediately went away upon hearing that straight from the pony's mouth. "Uh, Pinkie Pie? You still going out at Velvet Sugar?" Rainbow questioned. Pinkie felt insulted, grabbing Rainbow by the shoulders, holding her face to face. "SHE'S USING MAGIC TO CONTROL EVERYPONY WITH HER EVIL FROSTING!" Pinkie yelled, shaking Rainbow as if trying to get her to see sense better by doing so. All that did was make her dizzy, eyes spinning. "That's ridiculous! Garnet said it's fine, remember?" Applejack said, trying to give Pinkie some sense. "The frosting must've infected her as well! Don't worry, AJ, I'll protect you from her mind-altering ways!" Pinkie promised, sounding rather sincere and trusting with her promise. It would be sweet if the situation made any sense; they seen Velvet Sugar, and they never saw her use magic once. Lapis flew down to Pinkie, though the pink mare began to notice something about her ... "Pinkie, wait a minute. Are you sure you saw her use - AH!" Suddenly, Pinkie was going around her, feeling her body with her hooves, trying to feel some sort of difference. Even if it wasn't seem by her outfit, Pinkie began to feel that Lapis's body was ... slightly more soft. Lapis blushed bright blue, as Pinkie went right up to her face, her eyes squinting to get a closer look to her face. In particular, she looked very closely at Lapis's lips. With a very keen eye, Lapis had something very small on her face ... a very tiny bit of velvet frosting. "NOOO! Lapis, not you too!" Pinkie cried out, over-dramatic in her crying, and sliding down until she had her head on her knees, crying. Lapis was simply speechless with Pinkie Pie. "Okay, I had a few, I'm fine," Lapis insisted. "Don't try to make me feel better!" Pinkie whaled, her tears comically pouring out like sprouts on a water fountain. Rainbow, hoof to face, flew down, picked Pinkie up, and went right ahead to meet her hoof to the side of her face. Pinkie stopped crying almost immediately, eyes spinning for a few seconds until she shook her head. "Better, Pinkie?" Rainbow asked, setting her down. While not crying her eyes out, she still was on her mindset about the magic in the frosting by Velvet Sugar. "Can somepony help me, please?!" "Pinkie, there's nothing wrong with her. No one in town's getting physically harmed in anyway because of Velvet - though they had been looking ... different, as of late," Pearl said, thinking about the last statement a bit. Pinkie was suddenly in Pearl's face. "SHE'S EFFECTING THEIR BODIES AND THEIR MINDS!" Pinkie screeched, slowly backing off with an equally serious stare. Pinkie wasn't exactly making things any better, or gaining much help this way. Looking around, Pinkie began noticing that most of them weren't exactly believing in her. "Don't worry, I'll help you," Steven suddenly decided. This made Pinkie feel a lot better, hugging him tightly. Steven was a bit unsure with the whole thing, and he too had been noticing this change going on lately, so he might as well help Pinkie out. "I knew I can count on you! Come on," Pinkie suddenly said, picking Steven up (much to Pearl's surprise). Pearl couldn't move fast enough to get her though, before Pinkie rushed out the door. They all were sure this wasn't going to end well ... ~~~~~~ "Okay, everypony here?" Pinkie said firmly, walking to a board like a general to the army. As for her "group", she got Steven, Blue, and Gummy into the idea, though the only one who [probably knew what was going on fully was Steven. Pinkie got them over in an alley, and Pinkie managed to get herself a clipboard and some chalks ... somehow. Hard to question it really. The first picture on her board was showing Velvet Sugar herself. "This is the enemy; Velvet Sugar, with her tongue-twisting, taste bud altering magic ingredient! If we don't fix this -" Pinkie quickly drew out one of the twin sisters she saw earlier, comically round as a ball. "- everypony in Beach City will become round, bouncy balls of Velvet's jelly and frosting! - which would be funny but - NO! -" She then drew out what she saw in terms of the frosting Velvet Sugar was using. "- That ingredient has to be taken from Velvet, before she can infect anypony else with her addiction Kickstarter of a ingredient! Any questions?" Everyone was lost at this point. Blue had his head tilted in confusion, Steven didn't know what to say, and Gummy was just staring off into space, licking his eyeball. Steven didn't realize thievery would be involved in this. Steven raised his hand. "Yes, Steven?" "Do we have to steal her ingredients?" Steven asked. He didn't want to make any enemies, or cause trouble for this. Pinkie got right in Steven's face, far more serious than he was used to. "Steven Universe, all of your favorite treats; the doughnuts of the big donut, the pizza of fish stew, the fry bits, all of them will crumble because of the Velvet treats! ALL OF THEM, EVEN COOKIE CAT!" "NO, not Cookie Cat!" Steven gasped. His favorite treat? Gone?! He will not have that happen to his favorite ice cream treat, and neither did Pinkie Pie. Blue and Gummy didn't had anything to say, even if they could talk. Pinkie Pie got their attention back to the board, which Pinkie wiped clean, and drew out the building where Velvet Sugar was working. "Alright, everypony! Here's the plan!" ~~~~~~ Plan A: "Thank you, come again," Velvet Sugar said, as she made her latest sale. The happy baker (who had her hat on to cover her horn) took a moment to count out her cash, which from this sale was about ten dollars total. Velvet Sugar had been doing fairly good in terms of business, but, she hadn't heard much about Pinkie Pie in quite sometime. She'd been seeing Pinkie at her stand, but not much chit-chat with her in particular. As her next customer had went off away, somepony else started to come over. What Velvet Sugar saw was a pink furred Pony, but with a large bowler hat, and one of those fake mustache and big nose glasses. Velvet Sugar was left a bit bemused at first. "Excuse me, Madame. I am mister hoofington; stand inspector. I've heard of such a charming place, and I'm here to inspect. And stuff." Obviously this was Pinkie Pie, no doubt - trying to disguise, and keeping a slightly masculine voice. Velvet Sugar eventually gave a giggle, hoof over mouth. "Is this some kind of joke, Pinkie?" Velvet asked. "Pinkie? Pinkie who?" Pinkie asked, trying to be oblivious to obvious. Velvet Sugar leaned in, and simply removed the glasses from Pinkie's face. "Pinkie you," Velvet said with a smile. All Pinkie did was groan, and bolted off before she could do anything. Velvet found that moment a bit weird, but also quite funny in the end of it. Velvet took a moment, looking at the funny glasses. Meanwhile, Pinkie went back to her stand, where Steven, Gummy, and Blue were waiting. "I knew she was a tricky one," noted Pinkie Pie. ....... Plan B: "Excuse me, mis. Sugar? Mind if I ask you some questions?" Steven asked, dressed as a news reporter, having a notepad in hand. Velvet Sugar found this simply adorable, and looked down from the counter. "Oh, how cute! Of course, ask away," Velvet replied. Pinkie Pie, meanwhile, was sneaking off around so she can get at the ingredient. Steven was the distraction for Velvet Sugar, as the pony listened to each question. The sneaky mare went around to that same window she saw Velvet Sugar earlier, and tried sneaking her way though. She struggled through the window, narrowly slipping through. As she was, Velvet Sugar, as she blabbered on with Steven, moved something right under the sneaky mare ... A slippery rag. Sure enough, one step got Pinkie slipping and sliding around, until she ended up rocketing out the back door ... "Okay, continue," Velvet Sugar insisted, again with a happy smile. Pinkie just laid outside, hoof tapping the ground as she tried to think. ....... Plan C: It was getting later in the day, and Velvet was getting good with what she got going. Her pastries were getting low here, after selling the latest batch, so, she took the moment to get some more. As she had her back turned though, Pinkie popped her head around the corner, and quickly placed Gummy on the counter. "Okay, Gummy, look fierce," Pinkie whispered, pulling back out of sight. Self explanatory. When Velvet Sugar turned back around, she suddenly found Gummy staring directly in her face, the baby gator hissing a little bit. Pinkie waited for the pony to run away from the fierceness that is Gummy, but ... "Oh, hello little guy. Here, you want something?" Gummy looked to one of the cookies (not having any frosting yet). "Here you go," Velvet said, happily lending Gummy a cookie with her hoof. Gummy got the cookie in his mouth, Pinkie looking on, ready to pull her mane out with both hooves. "Who's side are you on, Gummy?!" Thought Pinkie Pie. ....... Plan D: Velvet Sugar, on break, was happily wiping her counter clean with a cloth. She made sure to put an "on break" sign so her customers don't storm her while she was cleaning up for the next sale. The pony began to feel another attempt at her shop by the pink mare and her group. Sure enough, after wiping her counter clean, her ears picked up a sort of creaking from her roof. Velvet Sugar took it in stride, a content smile, as she began walking to the center of the building. The floor itself was pure wood, and Velvet Sugar pinpointed exactly where the sound was before she began moving the floorboards. Velvet Sugar ended up making a hole in her floor, and she simply moved aside, and leaned on the nearby wall. Sure enough, she heard a pony open up a spot on the rooftop ... "HIYAA!" Pinkie leaped down, but instead of landing on the floor, she fell right through the hole, right down to the water below the dock. All Velvet sugar did was re-cover the hole, and went back to her business. As for Pinkie, the pink mare got her head out of the water, her eyes stuck in a annoyed, bored expression, ears down, and only the top of her head above the water. "She's good." ~~~~~~ Soon, they were pretty much back at square one. Pinkie Pie tried to think on what the hay to do next, pacing back and forth, as the others stood by, trying to figure things out. Pinkie Pie got her hair dry, but the pink mare wasn't planning to throw in the towel just yet. However, for Steven's sake, it was pretty late at this point, so Pinkie allowed Steven to head back home as Pinkie tried to think on their next approach. Steven and Blue got themselves back home, dark by the time they did so. The lights were off, and they both were pretty tired by the time they got themselves inside. Whatever Pinkie Pie had planned, Steven and Blue at least hoped it won't be until tomorrow morning. None of the Gems, nor Ponies were inside the place at the moment when Steven turned on the light, except for Garnet who was sitting on the couch, apparently waiting for them. Garnet, although she too had been enjoying Velvet's treats, didn't look too different on the surface unlike the people in Beach City. "Hello, Steven." "Hey, Garnet," Steven yawned, heading off to the bathroom to start his night time routine. Garnet already had his PJs for him, so, Steven thanked her, and went off into the bathroom with them. Blue simply went up the steps, and fell right asleep by the foot of Steven's bed. Garnet could hear the water run from the otherside of the wall, as she got up and waited by the bathroom door. "How did your plans go?" Garnet asked. "Not very good; Pinkie wanted to get her frosting so she'll stop, but we got nothing," Steven answered, as he switched into his PJs, and basically did his nightly routine. "I see. is Pinkie coming back soon?" "She'll be out for tonight. Hey, Garnet? Are you a bit worried about Velvet Sugar?" Steven asked, before he started brushing his teeth. Garnet took a moment before answering. "Not at all." "But, what about her being here? How'd she do that?" Steven asked, though his voice was muffled as his toothbrush and toothpaste was in his mouth. "If I'd guess; Discord wanted to show Beach city around to a few ponies, and Velvet Sugar so happened to be one of them," Garnet figured. It wasn't too farfetched, and something Discord would do, though honestly it was a pure guess. Steven spat out the access toothpaste, and continued with the rest of his stuff before stepping out in his PJs. Garnet moved aside to let Steven go by, as the kid went upstairs to his bedroom. "Steven, Where'd you see her last?" "Near Funland. Why, you want to help?" Steven asked. Garnet then opened the door to outside. "I'll help in my own way. One important thing before I go," Garnet said. Steven turned to look to her, only for her to have her hands in a heart shape. "I love you. Bye." And with that, Garnet went out the door, turned off the lights for Steven, and left. Steven just smiled, blushing. ~~~~~~ Back with Velvet Sugar, the baker pony herself was just finishing off another day's work, putting up a closed sign on the door, as Velvet readied herself to go off. It'd been a pretty interesting, and admittedly fun day thanks to Pinkie Pie's antics. Yeah, they were annoying to some, but, Velvet Sugar found it different from the regular growing customers. A nice sale can be fun when somepony decides to make it interesting somehow. Anyway, Velvet Sugar began to close up shop, making sure the door was locked and shut tight. Hiding off in the shadows farther away though, a particular pink mare (who was in a black thief's mask and suit), kept just out of sight from the unicorn in disguise. Gummy was hidden himself, somehow also in a black thief's mask. Pinkie snuck around the best she can ever do, tip-toeing, sliding, and leaping behind cover time and time again so Velvet Sugar couldn't see them. Pinkie was soon one jump away from getting into the building, as Velvet Sugar began to move off a bit. Pinkie got herself right on the wall, her back right to it, and she quickly did a mix of tip-toe and side-step until she slipped inside. Quick, quiet, and clean. Pretty soon, Pinkie and Gummy both were inside the building, immediately seeing the working area, and kitchen in the place. Pinkie Pie began to look around a bit, though being much darker, Pinkie found it a bit troubling to figure out what's where. Gummy was set down by the door. "Keep watch, Gummy," Pinkie whispered. Gummy just sat there with his aimless stare, as Pinkie tried to look over the place, top to bottom, searching high and low for that stuff Pinkie saw being hexed by Velvet. All she had to do was get rid of it and be off on her way. However, Pinkie began to have some trouble. She looked in the oven - nothing. The counter - nothing. The drawers - nothing. Where'd it go?! "I know I saw it somewhere," Pinkie told herself. Pinkie looked down in a cabinet, only her flank and tail out as the rest of her was in it, looking around as best she could. As she kept moving around stuff inside, Gummy began to move away, as the door suddenly opened slightly. Suddenly, someone flicked on the lights, but Pinkie didn't had much time to notice. In fact, it was at this point when Pinkie managed to find a jar at this point, being the stuff that Velvet stored away earlier. Just what she needed! "Pinkie." The sudden voice made Pinkie jump, hitting her head. Pinkie scrambled like crazy to get herself free from the cabinet, and soon popped out with the jar in her hooves. As for who was at the door ... Garnet, and Velvet Sugar. "What're you doing?" Velvet asked. Pinkie thought Garnet was there for backup, so Pinkie went on with it. "Getting rid of your hexed treats!" "Wait, what? Hex?" "Yeah Hex! I saw you use magic to make this stuff super tasty - that's cheating!" Pinkie accused. Velvet Sugar looked shocked. "Cheating?! Pinkie, I made those treats with my bare hooves, I didn't -" before Velvet Sugar could say anything, Gummy suddenly got his gums on her hat, and pulled it off to show her horn to everyone present! Velvet looked surprised and exposed. "AHA! I got you! I told you -" "I already know, Pinkie, calm down. I think this has gone long enough," Garnet suddenly cut in. There was some bit of silence before Pinkie broke it. "WHAT?! WHY DIDN'T YOU STOP HER THEN?!?!" Pinkie yelled. Garnet took a moment to adjust her shades. "The treats were good. I didn't want them gone yet." An even longer silence filled the air, Pinkie's expression blank for a bit. So Garnet knew what Velvet did, yet didn't bother to stop her due to her own liking to the treats. Oh boy. However, before this could continue, Velvet Sugar felt a bit guilty. "Okay, I admit it! I used my magic to make them taste great, but I can't help it; it's so hard to make treats right, it's unbelievable! I try so hard, but I can't ever get it as good as others had," Velvet explained, sitting down with her head lowered. Pinkie Pie and Garnet both continued listening. "So your magic makes your baked goods better," Garnet said. "You can't cheat around cooking! You won't build up your skills as a baker if you just zap your treats to make them tasty," Pinkie added in. Velvet Sugar didn't look to them. Pinkie Pie then got an idea in her quick mind. "IDEA! I'll show ya how!" Pinkie decided. It was rather quick, but then again, Pinkie was a quick kind of Pony. Velvet looked up to her. "You will?" "ONLY if you stop this hexing stuff on your treats," Pinkie advised, hoof forward. Garnet found this fairly decent, and pretty nice to see with Velvet and Pinkie now on better terms. "It's a deal!" Velvet Sugar replied, shaking hooves with Pinkie Pie. Happy that things worked out, albeit fast. Either way, it was nice that things worked themselves out. ~~~~~~ After some talk, Pinkie got her and Velvet Sugar back into Equestria, stand and all, thanks to some power of the magic key, and Garnet ended up back at the Beach House. It'd been a pretty nice result, as she expected it to. Garnet went right off back to her room, making sure not to wake up anybody else. She didn't want to wake up Steven, as she settled down in her own room. Normally, she'd just chill out as Garnet until the morning, but this time she felt on trying something different; splitting up. In a flash of light, Garnet split up, and was back to Sapphire and Ruby. Sapphire looked fairly normal, but the pastries did affect Ruby, leaving her comically round, and laying on the floor. Considering the number of trips Garnet had made to have some, under Velvet's magic trick, it was Ruby who was mainly the one affected ... "You surely enjoyed yourself, did you?" Sapphire giggled, though Ruby was a bit dazed to really say anything to her, both hands resting on her frame. "I'll get back to normal later," Ruby promised. She didn't want to stay this way, and she can switch back soon enough. Now though, she was too tired to do so. Still, Sapphire patted Ruby's midsection, as the red Gem started to fall asleep. Sapphire knew it won't be too long before she was back to normal (and longer for everyone else, really). Still, Sapphire settled down next to her sleeping Ruby. "Goodnight, Ruby."