//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 - Baking Apprenticeship // Story: My Little Pony: Legends of Equestria // by GundamBrony //------------------------------// Golden Flare POV Ugggh.......I flopped around the bed while covering my face with the pillow, trying to cover the noise from a rooster. Yet the sun's warmth glare caught my eyes as I open them slowly. I stretch my body and hooves as I got out of the bed and head to the bathroom to wash them. I sighed while I wiped my eyes with a towel. I open the window and glanced at the town of Ponyville. Most of the virtual ponies begin getting out and setting up their stores normally while many players left Ponyville to live in other place from Las Pegasus to Manehatten to find jobs and rent a apartment or house they can find using their bits they got from monster drops. Guess things are setting after the Void event for now. I glanced at the Castle of Friendship and thinking about my buddy and best friend. It's been 3 weeks since all of us are trapped here as I see players were doing their daily life here in Ponyville while some are forming Parties, Guilds, or Army. As much as we want to get out, we just had to wait for now. We don't know what we'll do until we got information from the Princesses. Just rushing in without knowing will be suicidal and reckless. A knock was heard as I turned and saw Pinkie Pie doing her trademark hopping enter in. "Good morning, Golden!" Pinkie said, "How did you sleep?" "I slept well" I stretched myself, waking my body while also stretching my wings. "Although I got to admit it, I never slept this well even when I share a bed with Shining Hazel at Sweet Apple Acres." "Well I'm glad that you got some rest," Pinkie said as she turned to the door "I'll meet you downstairs so I can introduce to Mr. and Mrs. Cake!" With that, she hopped down into the stairs as I fixed up the bed and headed downstairs. Upon coming down, the inside of the Sugarcube Corner is filled with so many treats. Cupcakes, Large Cakes, Muffins, Pastries, all the baking goodness is filled at the front glass window like those you seen in Marie's Calendar and Starbucks. A cerulean mare with a light crimson mane swirled up like a frozen yogurt was holding a batch of cupcakes decorated with white frosting topping with rainbow sprinkles and placed them on the glass window. She turned and gave a warm smile "Oh, good morning! You must be Pinkie's friend, Golden Flare." She came to me and hold her hoof "I'm Cup Cake, the owner of the Sugarcube Corner, but you can call me Mrs. Cake." I grasp it and shook it "It's nice to meet you." Another pony came to this time light brilliant amber stallion with a light brilliant orange mane appeared with another batch of muffins. "Oh and this is my husband, Carrot Cake." He turned and gave a warm smile "Nice to meet you, Mr. Flare. But you can also call me Mr. Cake." "Likewise." I look around and noticed that one pony is missing. "Say, where's Pinkie Pie? " I asked. "She's watching over the twins while we're getting ready to open our store." Carrot Cake point to the twin's room as I nodded and head in that direction. "She's a lucky mare is she?" Mr. Cake whispered to his wife. "To have a stallion sleeping here." "Now now, dear, let's not rushed into things." Mrs. Cake gave a sly smile "Besides, we need to give them some time so they can get to know each other more." "Like you been spying on me since the Equestria Baking Academy?" he asked as she blushed red. "That was one time ago!" As I enter inside, I see Pinkie Pie playing with the twins as she playing the game of peek a boo which she covered her face then open them with a silly face which the twin baby foals laughing. I gave a kind smile after seeing Pinkie making the twins happy. If I remember correctly, one of the episode, Baby Cakes, Pinkie tried to be responsible by watching over the twin toddlers, thinking it would be a piece of cake. Sadly, it wasn't but she now knows that she's taking it seriously. Decided to break the ice, I spoke: "I see that you're having fun with the twins." Pinkie turned and gave her usual smile "Yep, the twins love to have fun when I'm around." I walked towards her as she carried them and holding them in her arms "Goldie, I would like to meet Mr. and Mrs. Cake's twins, Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake." The twins cooed as they tried to reach towards me. "Hello, Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake." I cooed as they laughed as they latched onto me as they starting to playing my face. "Awww, they like you!!" Pinkie said as I gave a small smile even with Pound's little hoof playing with my mouth. Pumpkin crawled on my back as she's playing with my blond like mane then placing her face into it like a pillow. "Ohhh that's adorable!" Pinkie quietly squealed on that cute moment. I gave a chuckled as things begin to warm up - 'CRASH!' "Oooh!" a loud voice was heard as we turned to the source as Pinkie got the twins back into their cribs, we headed out and saw Mrs. Cake on the floor with a swollen hoof along with the spilled baking treats. "Mrs. Cake, are you all right?!" Pinkie asked as I helped her get up with Mr. Cake helping me. "Oh, yes, I'm fine- ow!" she grunted as I looked and saw her hoof being swollen ."I just slipped from the crooked wood floors." "I'm no doctor but it looks like you got a swollen in your hoof." "Have you been working overnight again?" Mr. Cake as his wife nodded slowly then sighed "I told you can't do that, dear. You know that we can't work overnight." "Yes I know, but I'm been busy with setting up the cakes." then she looked at the clock and gasped. "Oh dear, this can't be good," Mrs. Cake caught her on his arm "The store is almost about to be opened! I got to-!" Mr. Cake holds her as he replied "Dear, you can't do with the swollen hoof. You need to see the doctor!" Mrs. Cake looked at him as she sighed "Well, we may need to close down for now and-" She got an idea as she turned to Pinkie "Pinkie, dear, do you think you can work here until today?" "I don't know, should I watch over the twins?" Pinkie asked. "Oh you're right, and since Twilight, Starlight, and Spike is busy helping Shining Hazel with magic problems, we should find an additional babysitter." Pinkie thought for a moment "Well, Rainbow's busy with her job as the full fledgling member of the Wonderbolt, Rarity got a huge order for Sassy Saddles, Applejack is away with delivering the apples to Appleloosa, so Fluttershy is the only one who can watch them. She's got time to watch over the twins." "In that case, we better go see her," Golden said as both headed out of the front door but not when a couple of wailing from the twins annoyed the Cakes. "All right, I supposed I got some time to watch over the twins." Fluttershy said, "They can stay with me at my cottage." We nodded upon arriving at Fluttershy's cottage and explained the situation as we all walked back to Sugarcube Corner "I hope that Mrs. Cake will be all right," Fluttershy said "I'm certain she will." I said, "Mr. Cake is going to bring her to the hospital." We arrive at the bakery place as Fluttershy explained to the Cakes as they sighed. At least, we don't have to worried about baking and watching over the twins. "One question, Golden," Pinkie asked, "have you ever baked before?" Upon thinking about it, my eyes widened like dinner plates after one single realization: I have no experience in baking! Aw for Pete sake, why didn't I think about that?! I was so focused on getting used to this place that I didn't even think about that! My parents never taught me how to bake mainly because they never did try it as they mostly buy from a bakery place. I have seen videos or tv shows like Food Network of baking chef baked some baked goods but to actually try it I never got the chance. "Helloooo? Golden?" Pinkie's voice snapped out as I glanced at her with Fluttershy looking at me. "You okay?" she asked, "You just spaced out a bit." "Well, the truth is......." I rubbed my mane and looked away before gave a sighed. "I never baked before." After a few silence, Pinkie gasped loudly as she places her hoof on my cheek. "YOU NEVER BAKED BEFORE?!" I slowly nodded as she let go of my face. "Oh my gosh, that means that I need to teach you how to bake a cake, cupcakes, muffins, and other baking goods but we won't have enough time to do it!" Pinkie tapped her muzzle then got an idea "I know, how about you work for me as my baking apprentice?" "Really?" I asked as she nodded "Sure, you can help me gather the ingredients and once in our break time, I'll teach you!" Pinkie said. "What do you say?" I was surprised how Pinkie offer me a position of a baking assistance, consider that you need baking experience from technical school or college but still, from what my friend, Shining Hazel told me, he said that back at earth, his parents talked about some people taken apprenticeship on certain job entry as they learned a few skills which helped them on the career they picked as once they master it and grew from it, they offer a position of that job. It's worth a shot, after all, me and Shining Hazel are struggling to find jobs and careers that we want to find. "Thank you Pinkie, I appreciate your offer." I gave a smile as she smiles back. "Pinkie are you sure you can handle it?" Mrs. Cake asked, "It would take a few days maybe even weeks or month to get this young stallion to learn about it." "Don't worry about it, you guys helped me when I was your apprentice when I came here." Pinkie said. "Well yes, but...." "So can't I do the same for him?" she asked "Besides, I know he'll learn in a jiffy just as I learned how I able to learn. Sure it will take time, but I know one thing is that I have faith in him." I was surprised at Pinkie's words. Sure Pinkie is very hyperactive, party loving, and bubbly, yet she believed in me even though I have no baking experience or any job experience. After a few minute, the Cakes sighed. "All right, I trust you Pinkie." Mr. Cake said then turned to me "Golden, I hope you do your best on it. Hopefully, on the closing time, can you and Pinkie pick up our kids please?" We nodded as the Cakes headed out to the hospital while Fluttershy got the twins. "You sure you know how to babysit foals?" I asked "Don't worry, I already have some experience with the Crusaders, so I know I can handle two lovely foals," Fluttershy said as the twins nuzzle her which she giggled as she exited out the door. "Well, we better open the store, it's almost time." Pinkie said as I nodded and she flipped the sign from 'closed' to 'open' as we enter the kitchen to begin my apprenticeship. "Okay, the first we're going to make is some cupcakes!" Pinkie turned the pages of the cookbook "Let's see......nope......nope......aha! Red Velvet Cupcakes!" "Okay, to start, we need to gather the ingredients for the cake. I'll handle on doing the cream cheese frosting." I nodded as she continued "Okay, 2 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour......" Pinkie showed me where the flour are the cabinets as I got the measuring cup and scooped some. Pinkie also showed me how to use a spatula to remove the extra on top and I placed on the bowl. "1 1/2 cups of sugar....." I got the sugar from the cabinet and measured it, then pour on another bowl. "1 teaspoon of baking soda......." Got it into another bowl. "1 teaspoon of salt......" Salt, check. "1 teaspoon of cocoa powder......." Found a huge bin of it on the cabin and scoop some. "1 1/2 cups of vegetable oil......." Check. "1 cup of buttermilk at room temperature." Room temperature? I stopped upon gotten the milk and glance at her. "Uh, Pinkie, what do you mean room temperature?" I asked. "Oh, right." she rubbed her head in embarrassment "Forgot to tell you about it." "Sometimes, the ingredients need to be in between of hot and cold, so that the eggs, milk, and other dairy ingredients can form an emulsion or a sweet shield to trap the air so when you baked in the oven, it would expand it and produces a fluffy texture goodness!" Pinkie gave an example when she microwaves the buttermilk for 15 seconds as she got it out, it was bit warm yet not cold. "Okay, next is 2 large eggs also at room temperature." she turned to me "Just leave the eggs out on the counter for now for at least 2 minutes and it should be good." I got the eggs and placed on the counter. "2 tablespoons of red food coloring...." Using a tablespoon and pour it into another bowl. "1 teaspoon of white distilled vinegar......." Another one, check. "And finally, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract." I got the last bowl and pour the vanilla extract into it with precision cautions. Looks like we got everything we need to make the cake. Pinkie checked with her eyes squinted on each ingredient as she gave a nod. "Looks like we're on the roll!" I smiled as she continued "Okay, I turned the oven on to 350 degrees F" she turned on the oven "Then lined it up with some cupcake wrappers on the muffin pans." "Okay, let's get baking!" If there's one thing I learned when it comes to baking, it's taking your time to fully complete the steps. While ponies gathered into the shop and Pinkie working on the counter, she made her time to see my progress. There are some hiccups a bit on the steps I did like I don't know how to sift the dry ingredients powders which I created dust clouds as she taught me how to use the sift correctly using a sifter tool. Another is I was beating the wet ingredients roughly which she show me how to beat it gently like I was 'massaging' a pony's back. One point, her hoof accidentally touched mine while helping me with beating the ingredients as we blushed a bit but got back to work. As I placed the finished cake batter into the oven, I began working on the cream cheese frosting as I used a magical beater to beat the respective ingredients. The confectioner sugar mixed with the soften butter and pound of softened cream cheese along with another teaspoon of vanilla extract blended well turning it into a delicious white creamy frosty sugar goodness. Upon hearing the timer, I got my oven mittens and pulled out the baked cupcakes. Pinkie told me that baking often take more or less time than the one written on the recipe and she told me to use a toothpick to check each of the cakes to see if the cake stick or not. If they stick, give it more time approximately 5 or 10 minutes and if they aren't, they're good to go. Using one of the toothpicks, I checked each of them and none of the cake batters stick so I got them out of the oven and placed on a cooling rack. "Okay, frosting is done and the cupcakes are set to go," I said. "Awesome, Goldie, you're really on the roll!" Pinkie said, "Now we just need to put the frosting and filled the cupcakes!" She got a large plastic bag and a set of pastry tip with different designs on the end as she scooped up the frosting using a spatula onto the large bag, closed it, snip the very tip of the bag, and put one of the pastry tips into it. "Okay final lesson, we want to fill in the frosting onto the cupcake but we want to have a clean design to it." she explained, "Here let me show you with a curve tip." I came to her as she points the pastry bag and points the pastry tip above the cupcake. "First you need to point the tip above the cupcake with one of your hoof pointing down like you're writing, then squeeze a bit so you can see a dollop of frosting down, then make a curve motion, not too fast or slow, just in the middle." I nodded in understanding upon seeing her frosted the cupcake into a curved shaped cone like. "Give it a shot." she gave me the bag to me as I tried another cupcake. Remember what she said, I point my right hoof and squeeze slowly as a dap of frosting squeezed out as I gently curved it around. Unfortunately, I didn't get the one that Pinkie did. I sighed in disappointment. Pinkie came up and looked at my frosting technique "You did your best on it, Golden. Don't get discouraged by it." "But I-" "Listen, for me, baking takes lots of practice, even I had trouble upon working at Mr. and Mrs. Cake's Sugarcube Corner. Practice always make it perfect, just do your best and I'm certain you'll be a master baker!!" My mouth opened a bit upon understanding her words then gave a smile. "Okay, thank you Pinkie." Upon Pinkie selling the baking goods pastries, I kept practicing on new pastry recipe as I able to get used to it. Upon night time, after selling the last one, Pinkie came to me while I was cleaning out the kitchen. "Welp, it's closing time, so we should head to Fluttershy's cabin to get the twins." I nodded as we head to head to her cabin as we knock on the door as Fluttershy opened it. "Hello, Pinkie and Golden, I assume that you come to pick up the twins right?" We both nodded as we enter in upon Fluttershy told us to come in. "The twins are very nice to the animals even Angel is having fun with them," Fluttershy explained as we saw Angel hiding behind the couch, scared. Then the twins found him as Angel backed away and running towards her and hid behind her. "Oh Pumpkin and Pound, Aunty Pinkie is here to pick you girls up." she told them as the twins crawled up towards the party pony and hugging her. "Awww, I miss you two!!" she cooed while she hugging them. After saying goodbye to Fluttershy, we headed back to the Sugarcube Corner and got the twins to their cribs and Pinkie sang a lullaby different from the one I heard from Fluttershy's in Stare Master. The soft yet gentle tone of Pinkie is totally different from her usual bubbly self yet it was something that you can hear from her songs. Not too cheesy or corny, only a heart like the others music of MLP. Ever music from MLP isn't like the others songs you heard from other tv, movies, or the music company since it grew to be very.......upsetting, it had a heart of warmth, gentleness yet spirited that motivated the characters. But most of all, Pinkie's songs were the best cause of how uplifting and positive she sang. Upon the twins fast asleep, Pinkie gave them a kiss on the forehead and whispered "Good night, my little twins." The twins gave a small cute smile while cooed as we walked quietly and Pinkie softly closed the door. Then we heard the front door open and we saw Mr. and Mrs. Cake with Mrs. Cake having a bandaged on her sprain hoof. "Mr. and Mrs. Cake." Pinkie quietly cheered as we walked towards them. "Well, I see that you guys are pretty busy." Mr. Cake said. I nodded as I asked, "Mrs. Cake how's your hoof?" "It's fine now, dear. The doctor said that I need to not excess it too much so I won't able to bake for a while until 3 months." Mrs. Cake explained, "But that means that Pinkie will have to take my place while I'll watch the twins." We both nodded as I yawn, seeing how late it is. "Well, I better get some rest, if that's okay with you?" I asked as they nodded. "Okay, good night, Mr. and Mrs. Cake, good night Pinkie." "Good night, Goldie!" I chucked at that nickname as I headed back upstairs to the bedroom to sleep. Pinkie Pie's POV After seeing went upstairs, I yawned too feeling my energy drained after working at the cashier and helping Golden baking. "Well, I better get some rest too. All that work really tired me out." Mrs. Cake gave a smug look as I looked at her confused. "What?" "Nothing dear, but to tell me, how it was having Golden trained under your baking apprenticeship?" "Oh it was amazing, Goldie was having trouble at first, but I able to help him and despite his mistake, he able to bake in a jiffy!!" I pulled a tray of Red Velvet cupcakes "Look, he able to cook the Red Velvet cupcakes and boy, it was awesome!!" "Tell me, dear, do you really enjoying having Golden around?" Mrs. Cake asked as I thought of it. "Well, yeah, seeing his smile always brighten me up. Sure I got smiles from other ponies, but seeing his is something I never felt it. Not to mention his gentle eyes, his blond mane...." I stopped upon what she meant as I have a red blushed on my cheek."Mrs. Cake, wh-what?! No, it just I've like having him around and......." "If my mane institution is correct, I believe you have a crush on him." Mrs. Cake teased. "Crush? I don't want to crush him, he's my friend." Pinkie said. "Not that crush, I mean romance crush." My face was beet red as I felt my heart beating like crazy upon thinking about Golden. But I shook those off and gave sighed. "Look, I know you want to tease me but I'm very tired, so I need some rest please," I said as they nodded and I dashed quickly to my room and closed softly on the door. "She isn't denying it." Mrs. Cake giggled. Upon resting my bed, I stare at the top ceiling as my mind is thinking about Golden. The warm smile, his mistakes that we both laughed, the way he taking care of the twins.......Oh, I don't know what to think, what's wrong with me?! Maybe a good night rest will help me to forget that and it will be like it was used to be. I turned off the lights and went to sleep. Maybe I can ask Twilight or Rarity about this when I get the chance. LIFESTYLE SKILLS UNLOCKED: BAKING APPRENTICESHIP WHEN YOU UNLOCKED A LIFESTYLE SKILLS, THE SKILLS WILL BE USED ON EVERYDAY LIFETIME IN LEGEND OF EQUESTRIA. COMPLETE IT AND MOVE TO THE MASTER RANK. BAKING SKILLS RANKED UP! GOLDEN FLARE: BAKING TRAINER NEXT RANK UP: BAKING TRAINER 2 Ending- Unfinished (Accel World)