//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Soarin's Pie // by gcsmith //------------------------------// OK, so you guys wanted it and here it is, chapter 2. Thanks a lot to aroptua for grammar checking. In the end the bakery wasn't too hard to find, try missing a shop shaped like a cake when Pies are your favorite food. 'It's an interesting shop', Soarin thought to himself, reminding him of old fairy tales. As he flew closer he couldn't help but be hypnotised by the tantalizing shape of the building, he hoped the cakes inside looked as good as the shop did. When he got there he found there was a rather long queue. Looking at his watch he realised it must be the lunchtime rush. He looked nervously around. He didn't consider queuing, the thought of being swamped by fans on his day off didn’t appeal to him. Eventually, he decided it would be best to queue like everyone else, even if it gave more ponies the chance to recognize him. 'I just hope most ponies don't recognize me without my Wonderbolts uniform on.' He remained at the back of the queue for a while,the line getting shorter, hoping he was the last of the rush. Unfortunately, just before he could enter the shop, two particular Pegasi flew down and landed behind him. "Oh man, Fluttershy, this show is going to be so awesome. I can't wait to see their moves, and if I'm lucky maybe I'll get a chance to show off my own." "Um, I'm sure it will be good, Rainbow, I just hope there are no accidents. I can't bear to think of other ponies getting injured." Beads of sweat began to form on Soarin's neck, he recognized that voice. It was one he had heard at the best young fliers competition, and again at the Grand Gallopin' Gala. If he remembered her name right, it was their number one fan, Rainbow Dash. Curses, he just had to hope she was too busy thinking of the show to notice him. He felt a tap on his shoulder and he nervously swallowed. "Hey buddy, the line's moving you know, we haven't got all day." Rainbow said, a scowl across her face. "Um, right, sorry." said Soarin, moving forward to take his place in the queue again. He let out a sigh of relief, that was a close call. Soon he was inside the store, grateful for the air conditioning. What with the heat and the nervousness he was sweating like a mule. Then he saw her, the reason he had come to the bakery, that bright-pink mare. His insides twisted and his heart started beating a samba at the sight, with all his day-dreaming Soarin had almost forgotten what a true beauty she was. Eventually reaching the front of the queue, the mare turned to him, her eyes looking at him made him want to blush. "Welcome to Sugarcube Corner..." Unfortunately she didn't continue as she looked behind him. "Dashie, how are you? Looking forward to tomorrow?" Soarin was stunned, her attention span was almost shorter than his was, when he was around Pies at least. "Pinkie!" said an older mare who came from the back room carrying a new load of cakes to place in the display. "Deal with customers first, friends later." "Oh right, sorry Mrs Cake, I just get so excited when friends come to visit. Anyway, mister, what can I do you for?" He looked around nervously, his neck was being renewed with sweat and his throat felt incredibly dry all of a sudden. It was all he could do to say. "Pie." "Ooh Pie, I love Pie. So what flavour? We have plenty to choose from. We have apple; cherry; bannofee, plumb, apricot, strawberry, summer fruit,. and for a short time curtesy of my friend Applejack, zapp apple." By the time she had finished the list, he was licking his lips and had completly forgot his nervousness from before. "Zapp Apple," he blurted out, "I’ve heard amazing things about that stuff, and, if I'm not mistaken, this is the only place that grows them commercially, right?" Pinkie Pie nodded enthusiastically. "Yessirree, Her gran, Granny Smith, was the first person to find seeds to plant and discover all the things you need to do to process the fruit." Pinkie cut up the pie that Soarin wanted. Looking around the bakery he noticed all the full tables. "Looks like you're really busy today." He commented. "Yes indeedy, we're always busy when we get special events in town, like when we had the summer sun festival, we were busy like bees. Although, I think that's a good thing since bees make honey and make an awesome buzzing sound. BZZZZZ, see, awesome." Soarin just stared as she went off on various tangents. "Anyway, you going to the show tomorrow?" he asked. "Nopsy lopsi," she replied frowning, "I would love to but I can't afford to go." Soarin smiled, seeing an opportunity to make an impression on the mare. "Well, I have a spare ticket you can have if you want?" he said taking a ticket out of his saddlebag. "Really?" her face lit up. "But I can't just go taking something from a stranger, besides why would you give it to me?" "Just think of it as payment for giving me a lot of information about bees." "Well, thanks, mister..." "Soarin, and see, we ain't strangers no more so you can accept it." "Ohmigosh, you’re right! Thanks Soarin..." Pinkie paused for a moment realizing the name sounded familiar. "Anyway, here's your pie." She handed him a box with a napkin and a fork. "Hope you enjoy it." "OH, I'm sure I will, hope you enjoy the show." He said as he picked the box up and left, leaving Pinkie to dance up and down, a ticket in her teeth. "Woah Pinkie, what's the big song and dance about?" asked Rainbow now able to approach the counter. "Wait a minute, is that a ticket to the wonderbolts stunt show?" "Yes, indeedy-doo. That nice guy who was before you gave it to me, said it was for giving him loads of information about bees. Which reminds me, did you know the Mexican honey bee..." She was shut up quickly by Rainbow's hoof in her face. "Let me have a look at that," Rainbow demanded snatching the ticket from the air. "Woah! This is a box ticket, Pinkie." "It is? What's a box ticket? Do they put you inside a box to see the show? 'Cus I've seen a show from inside a box before and while it was fun to begin with it gets really sticky and cramped." "No, no, no, Pinkie, the box is where all the stuck up ponies get to sit. It's where they provide you with loads of food and drink. These tickets cost a fortune! Did you say he just gave it to you?" "Yep, I told him I couldn't afford a ticket and he gave me one. Are you sure its a box ticket, because I'm not sure the bee facts I gave him were worth a fortune." "Yes, I'm sure, Pinkie." said Rainbow who was pratically hyperventilating, she was unable to believe her friend Pinkie had managed to secure a box ticket. From a random pony no less. "Um, what was his name?" asked Fluttershy, who had up until this time been sitting silently, listening to the conversation. "He did give a name didn't he?" "Yes, he did, it was..." Pinkie screwed her face up trying to remember. "Soarin, that was it. Soarin." "SOARIN!" Rainbow screamed. "You mean Soarin from the Wonderbolts just gave you a box ticket?" she was unable to believe this turn of events. "I'm not sure about him being from the Wonderbolts, Dashie. After all, he wasn't wearing the blue suit remember? But I thought I recognized the name." Rainbow just collapsed to the floor wishing she as dead, she had just been in line behind Soarin and she hadn't even asked for an autograph. What was worse, he had just given one of her friends, Pinkie for goodness sake, a Box ticket. Seeing her eye twitching, Fluttershy poked her friend gently and asked "Are you alright Rainbow?" The scream of “No!” could be heard all the way in Canterlot.