*Crash* a loud metal banging sound rang out from the back room of Sugar Cube Corner. "Pinkie how many times have we told you, no bouncing in the kitchen!"
"Sorry, Mr.Cake."
The stallion sighed as he turned back to the register.
"I'm sorry miss Lyra," He looked down at the three cookies and ice cream cupcakes, " That will be six bits."
"Heh, no worry's Cake, Bonbon is used to waiting," Lyra grabbed the bits from her bag, then tossed them onto the counter.
"Thanks for stopping by." he hoofed her the bagged up goods.
"Anytime." Lyra picked them up, then headed over to table four.
Mr.Cake walked into the back to see the disaster area it had turned into.
There was cake batter hanging off the ceiling, bowls scattered all over the area, burn marks around the sink, chocolate chips scarred about... it was the usual scene he had come to expect.
"Well there goes my plans of saving up for a vacation with the wife," he sighed dropping his head down, "Pinkie..."
Pinkie Pie head popped up from behind the counter, spreading more chocolate chips around her. "Yes Mr.Cake?" she stuffs a hoof full of candy in her mouth.
"I'm going to go check on the remaining stock in the cellar, please take over the counter... also, take care of the clean up." he readjusted his white hat.
Pinkie quickly gave him a salute, " Okie doki caption, Operation Sugar Whirl will commence."
Mr.Cake trotted down to the cellar with a worried look in his eyes. Pinkie immediately after grabbed her tail in her hooves. "Gummy, be prepared!" She then yanked her tail with her teeth.
The pink tail made a Zip noise, then whipped around like a propeller. Ziiiiizzzzzz. Pinkie pie was lifted off the floor as her tail spun around at high speeds. The winds from this motion had kicked up a small storm of junk. Once the dirty items hit her tail though, they were cleaned then put away. Pinkie flew around the room at a frantic pace, her tail cleaning up everything it touched.
"Woooo, Wooooooooooo," She cried out as she rounded a table. She licked a cake batter bowl clean, tossing it with the rest of the finished objects. she noticed doorway crack open. "Waaaak Waaak Waak," she cried out, sounding like a emergency alarm.
She flashed a red light at it before it opened anymore. The door opener gasped, feeling the danger. The door immediately closed back. Pinkie used her tail to fly back to the final few messy spots, taking them out with her fly by.
The kitchen sparkled like Rarity's gems, then a ding rang out from the oven. Pinkie trotted up, then opened it. she grabbed the mitts in her mouth, finally taking out the fresh batch of muffins. She closed it with her hind leg, then trotted to the front of the shop.
*Ding*
The door of the shop burst open as a cheerful customer trotted forward.
"Mmmmmm, Muffins," the customer said.
Pinkie stopped at the counter, bagged up a dozen while smiling at the mare.
"Right on time as always Derpy." she placed the bag down.
"hehehe, I just dropped off my little Muffin at school, of course I had to pick up some more," Derpy dug around in her saddle bags.
"Well that will be thirteen bits, as always."
"Alright,Pinkie," her brow frowned as she started to move faster to search her saddle bags.
Pinkie looked around, noticing the state of the shop. There were three ponies sitting at the many seats. Two sitting together while one ate solo. The sun shined in from the windows as the morning dew slid down outside. A pack of three foals passed by, one orange, one yellow, while the last one was white. She smiled at that scene in front of her. Speaking of things happening...
"Ohhhhh, I'm sorry," Derpy looked up at her with big watering eyes, " I seem to have lost my purse, I just don't know what went wrong."
Pinkie hopped over the counter. She wrapped her hooves around the pouting mare. "hey, don't cry," she patted the pegasuses mane, "This batch will be a gift, from me to you."
Derpy's golden eyes gleamed in the sunlight,"Really?"
"Of course you silly filly," She held the Pegasus face a few inches from hers, "Now let me see that smile."
The mares lips moved forward, then up, to form into a pearly white smile. "Thank you so much Pinkie."
The pink mare scooped up the bag from the counter. "Don't worry about it," she pressed the bag into Derpy's waiting hooves.
The mare bowed as she trotted out the door. *Ding*
Pinkie Pie trotted behind the counter with a pep in her step. Her left ear wiggled as she turned on the Coffee maker. The steam of hot water on freshly grounded coffee beans filled the air. She took a big whiff of the scent. Exhaling the next moment, she plucked a cup from under the counter. Quickly checking over at table seven in the corner, for the sugar packets and creamers.
She looked at the door expectantly... Ding! The caffeine machine was done as the door gently opened. Revealing a disheveled Purple Princess. " Morning Twilight!" Pinkie chirped.
The mare in question just grumbled shaking her head at Pinkie. She flapped her wings once, while dragging herself to table seven. Spike ran in behind her, making his way to the counter.
"Hey Pinkie, Twilights real busy today and we ran out of coffee," the young dragon looked away, " How was I spouse to know Rainbows last crash destroyed our supply."
"ohh, that's too badd... but don't worry Spike, Coffee Sugar Wake Up Expert Pinkie Pies on the job."
Pinkie quickly filled up the cup, picked up a round pound cake, grabbed a sapphire one, then dragged the dragon over to table seven.
"Here you go sleepy head." She placed down the drinks, followed by the cakes. Spike sat down staring at his food, the saliva dripping from his fangs.
"Thanks Pinkie." he reached into his scales, then tossed her twelve bits.
Twilight grabbed the creamer, adding in a moderate amount. She then scooped up seven spoons of sugar into the mix. She continued by rotated her spoon no more than seven times. After that she took a sip, she sighed in satisfaction.
"Thanks Pinkie," she took another sip, " It's wonderful."
The Pink mare giggled then bowed, " Anything for you, Ohhh Princess."
Twilight frowned at her, "None of that Pinkie, I already have the whole town asking me for favors... Then to solve their problems. Thennnn to bless their foals... Ugh, the foals. They have been lining up by my door for days. Not to mention they don't follow the schedule-"
Pinkie smirked at Twi as she let out all her problems, taking breaks only to sip at her coffee. Spike was chowing down on his cake like the last jewel in Rarity's shop.
" - I would get back to the Library, only to find out that somepony had left me a list of the chair legs they needed fixed in their house! Not to mention the list this one filly gave me. She demanded that I give her five hundred new toys, a shop painted in pink-"
"I like that color." Pinkie added
a small smile graced Twilight's face as she continued, "- A new little sister, and flashing lights that showed her name across my throne room." She waved her hooves, "I don't even have a throne room and I don't even want one."
Pinkie giggled " Silly Twilight, you're a princess. You will get one eventually."
The Purple mare sunk down into her cup, finishing it. She then stated on the perfectly round pound cake. She took a bit out of it, smiling after.
"Thanks for listening to me Pinkie, it's just been so stressful lately."
"Well duh, Of course I would gladly spend time with my friend."
At that moment the doorbell rang, while a new customer stepped in. Pinkie bounced over to the new arrival. "Welcomeeee, to Sugar Cube Corner Blossomforth,"
The mare only nodded, then walked over to the counter display. Pinkie followed. " We have soooo many great treats for you this-" Pinkie looked out the window the sun was still high in the sky, " morning, we have cupcakes, vanilla,chocolate, Ohhhh I just love me some chocolate rain... oh, we even got the best cakes, not Cakes like Mr. And Misses Cake, but cake, like the super tasty melts in your mouth-"
Blossomforth pointed to a chocolate chip, blueberry muffin, and a Banana nut swirl. "I'll take these."
Pinkie picked up each one mid bounce, bagging them on the way down. Putting the swirl on the counter. "Will that be all?"
The mare nodded,"Yes, me and the the girls will be meeting soon. We have a very busy schedule to keep."
"Well then, don't let me keep you here. The total is fourteen bits." The bits were handed over as the mare made a brisk trot to the door.
Pinkie looked back over at table seven to see her friend approaching.
"Well Pinkie, thanks for the morning. I have some more things on my schedule to do. Spike!"
The dragon that had cake crumbs around his mouth, pulled out a scroll. It unraveled on the floor, making seven circles around the room. A mare at table one cried out in distress as it completely covered her.
"Our first task of the day, Meet with Candace's new guards at the train station for temporary, Princess Guard services," Spike read off in his most official voice.
Twilight chuckled nervously, "Well if you will excuse me."
Pinkie cupped her hooves over her muzzle, "Ooooohhhhhhhhh. Rarity's gonna lovvve this,"
Twilight shot her a disapproving glare as she headed out. Spike snapped the scroll shut and ran after her. "Heyyy, waitt for meee."
Pinkie smiled, while settling behind the counter once again. Looking over she could see Lyra laughing with Bonbon at table four. She looked backed at the window and noticed a mummy sitting at table one. Hmmm that's strange, when did my mummy come in?
Pinkie giggled, "I guess she's just a pony under wraps,"
Pinkie grabbed a glass of water. Guess I better go help them get rid of all that dry humor. She bounced over as the sun moved over to the middle of the day. "What a morning."
The door burst open, as a trio of customers blazed a trail into the store. They all were panting for just a drop of air, while covered in sweat. The first filly hit the floor, she reached for the counter in dire need. The second filly crawled over the downed white one. She only made it a tiny bit closer to the counter. The final filly had caught her breath, but she was a total mess. She trotted forward on shaky hooves, passing the orange one.
With one hoof raised to the counter, she summoned up the last of her strength to speak, " Ah need a Triple Sour Apple Milk Shake compleeete," Her whole body shook as she ran to the end of her breath, "Right naaaaooowwww,"
Then all went dark as she too, hit the floor.
Pinkie pie zipped over the counter, stopping to check each one. " Casualty count three Commander Gummy,"
The alligator blinked in confirmation. "The cure is three milkshakes compleeete," She reached over the counter grabbing three ice cubes, depositing them on her changes.
"Gummy, I'll fetch the cure, you watch the victims," Gummy jumped off her hair biting onto the white filly's flank.
"OUCH!," she shrieked wiggling once more.
Pinkie nodded, then zipped back behind the counter. She grabbed all the needed items, eventually dumping them in the blender. Turning it on the sound of crushed Ice filled the shop.
Pinkie took one look back out the portal from which the fillies entered. She could see steam rise off the ground as the sidewalk danced in her eyes. "Situational cause has been deducted," she reported to Gummy.
Filling the three shakes, she added the straws in half way. Snatched them all up, then bolted over to the three in need of her services. The commander continued to keep them conscious.
"Oww, not the wings you idiot," The Orange one tried to swat at him.
"Hey, watch where ya put dat mouth of you'rs," The Yellow one blushed.
"You're not being very professional," The White one didn't even move.
Pinkie supplied the life restoring liquids to the fallen trio. "Good job General," Gummy looked at her, then bit the orange ones wings one more time before jumping back into Pinkie's mane.
"HEY, what gives," she waved her hooves with a scowl.
Two of the three fillies giggled as they reached for their last hope. Straw slurping was heard echoing in the shop. Steam rising from their bodies as the cure worked it's magic. The late Orange filly frantic slurps echoed as she tried to catch up.
Pinkie looked upon her work with pride, "Mission complete Gummy, lets get these girls to a table."
The two of the girls let out a contented sigh,
"Ahhh, that was sweet,"
"ahhh, ah outta hug you right now,"
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, BrainFreeze," The Orange one who was trying to catch up fell back on the ground, kicking her hind legs.
"Ha ha ha, that's what' ya get fur try'n ta go so fast Scoots," The Orange one grinned at her.
"Apple Bloom, shut up," Scoots spat while she curled up in a ball.
The White one looked at their savior, "thank you, Pinkie."
Pinkie smiled, "aww Sweetie Belle, anything to help, you silly filly. Now let's get you to table three over there."
Sweetie Belle looked over to table three, causing her to cringe in horror. The table sat next to the window, their normal seat. Now though it was bathed in the ruthless sunlight, steam rose off the chairs as water dripped onto the floor.... she could see the heatwave move back and forth.
"Iiii was thinking table seven," she turned her hopeful eyes on Pinkie.
"hmmm, " Pinkie looked deep in thought. She hopped over to table three and dropped a cupcake on it. The moment that treat made contact it caught flames, ending in a crispy husk... It reminded Sweetie Belle of something.
The three ponies watching all picked up their drinks, scrambling to table sevens cool shade for dear life.
"I guess not," Pinkie said as the husk re-lit it self. She smothered the cupcake with a wet cloth, quickly scooping it into a trashcan.
"That was a close one," Sweetie said
"It's mighty hot outside," Apple Bloom waved a hoof of air in her face.
"That looked like something Sweetie Belle Cooked."
"HEY," Sweetie jumped up.
"It's true," Scoots follows suit.
"Is not," Sweetie took a step towards her.
"Is to," Scoots one upped her.
"is not," She puts her face two inches away.
"is too," she puts her face one inch away.
"is-" she move half a-
"Girls!" Apple Bloom jumps in between them, "Ain't we got better things to complain about."
Scoots sat back down in her seat, sliding half way down. "ugh, tell me about it, Diamond, Idiot, Tiara,"
Sweetie who had also taken her seat, sighed. " I don't know what we did today, but she was extra mean today."
Apple Bloom frowned, " Yeah couldn't get a moment of peace three feet away from Cheerlee."
"I say, we toss her in the Lake."
"Scootaloo, that's mean!" Sweetie gestured with her hooves at Scoots.
"And she isn't?" She shot back crossing her fore hooves.
"Mah sister says th'at two wrongs don't make a right," Apple bloom glared at Scoots.
"If I was Rainbow Dash, I would fly right up to her and buck her into next week. "
"Then you'll just make her angrier! We would get three times the payback." Sweetie panics, hooves flailing everywhere.
"Psh, she wouldn't be able to touch me in the sky,"Scoots grins with a smug look.
"An ya just gonna leave us like that?" Apple Bloom raised her brow.
Scoots spirits fell, "Oh, sorry, I didn't think of that."
"We should just tell my sister." Sweetie Belle muttered looking over at her friends.
Scoots put a scowl on her face, but didn't bring attention back to herself. Apple Bloom just shook her head. This silence lasted a few seconds, until Sweetie sniffed the air.
"Hey girls," She looked around.
"ugh,what now?" Scoots shoots her a glare.
"huh?"
"Don't you smell muffins?" The crusaders all sniffed the air. The Scent of fresh baked chocolate chip, banana nut, muffins, hit them- just as the door burst open. A gray steaming wild beast drenched in sweat, stepped inside. The three filly's hearts jumped.
Pinkie pie just bounces out the kitchen with a piping hot try of muffins. The beast steps crack the floor as it approached the unsuspecting prey. Pinkie gets to the counter, then bags up a dozen muffins.
The steaming beast reaches into it's bag producing thirteen, golden bits. Pinkie places the muffins on the table,which instantly disappears. *Riiiippp*
The bag turns to shreds as it feasts on the delightful treats. The fillies all shutter as chills run all over their body. Pinkie takes out another bag as the beast... changes into Derpy?
"ohhh, these muffins are so lovely," The Golden eyed angel chirped.
"Of course, Derpy. Sugar Cube Corner is the best sweets shop in Ponyvill after all."
"Thank you soo much Pinkie." She flashed a smile that makes companies put warning labels on their products.
"No problem Derpy." She winked at her as the gray mare turned around.
When the gray mare's smiling face glanced at the three, they all fell out of their seat. Derpy trotted out the door with a pep in her step and a wiggle in her flank.
Scoots looked over at Apple Bloom, "Remind me never to be here when Pinkies out of muffins."
A dark figure infiltrated the shop, chilling every strand of air it touched. Pinkie poked her head from behind the counter as it approached. A trail of ice was seen forming as it made it's way in. Gummy popped his head out of Pinkie's mane. His eyes were wide open, like being trapped in a silent scream.
It reached a blue icy hoof out of it's shroud. Slamming it down on the counter, leaving a snowflake pattern. It dropped a note,then turned around. The ice cold wind whipped against Pinkie's face. Covering her muzzle in a frosty mustache. It turned to the door leaving. Both times when it entered or left never making a sound.
Pinkie fell backward, "Wooo," then landed on the floor.
She turned her head quizzically, "was that the Ice-cream Colt? If it was I should of asked him for Rocky Road, Maud was coming over in a few days."
Pinkie bounced back up from her downed position, then peaked at the counter. The counter top had a blue ice trail from the top to the bottom. The coldness radiated off it, Like it was chilling the air itself and not just a left over present from that mysterious pony. She read the note out loud. “Tonight... you.”
A chill ran down her back. The mare shook in place for a whole sixty seconds. She looked outside at the path of ice. “I think he forgot something.”
Pinkie shouted out the door, “Hey mister! you forgot your ice!”
The door stayed shut tight, not opening to reveal any pony to take back the lost ice.“Well ok,” Pinkie pulled out a rag to wipe the counter.
“Mr.Cake wouldn't be to happy if he sees this,” she continued to defrost her work area.
*Ding
The door popped open-
“Wait,” Pinkie cried out.
“Waaaaa,” a female voice answered.
It was too late, when the mare entered she slipped on the ice trail. Hoof over wing, she fell flat on her face. She didn't stop there, as her momentum slid her into a table.
*Boom, table one flew to the side.
She continued on her path flailing her hooves all the way. “aahhh, Ouch, ahhhh.”
Eventually she came to a stop, banging right into the counter. Pinkie slid her head over the counter, to look down at the mare. Her mane was sticking out in six places, feathers rustled, tail frozen to her hind leg, and her tongue was stuck to the icy counter. “Ohhhh, that looked like fun! My turn my turn!”
Pinkie hopped out the door.
“Mmhmmhmh,” The stuck pegasus wildly trashed around, unable to get herself loose.
*Ding
Pinkie zipped in at full speed, sliding on the ice. The fallen mares eyes widened. Pinkie sat down an raised her hooves in the air, waving them. “Woooooooooooo.”
She kicked table one as she past, setting it back up. Her hooves went down on the ice as she approached the counter. The stuck mare closed her eyes, accepting her fate. Like a foal who didn't get off the slide, after they had reached the bottom.
She felt a hoof touch her flanks, knowing that the rest of the pink mare was soon to follow... … …
She didn't feel hurt or squashed. There was a feeling of warm air, not the bite of cold ice. She peaked out of one eye. Pinkie pie was under her, holding her up with her fore hooves.
“Hey ya Cloud Chaser, wasn't that fun?” Pinkie's hooves tickled her sides.
“Ha, ha, ha, no Pinkie. It wasn't,” Cloud chaser flew her stiff body out of Pinkie's grasp.
Landing on the floor, she looked back at the ice slide. She scowled at it, cursing it's misdeed against her. Then she turned back to the pink mare. “So, who put the slip 'n slide down?”
Pinkie hopped, “The Ice-cream Colt!,”
“What?”
“The Ice-cream Colt! You know, dark, shady, brings ice everywhere with him. Then lures over all the little foals with music, to follow him! So when they get inside the wagon, they get free candy!” She threw open her hooves, eyes smiling.
Cloud chuckled while looking away , “he he he, righttttt.”
“Oh, he also left me a note.”
Cloud chaser stared down a few mares at the guest tables. Ignoring what ever the pink mare was saying. She licked her lips, “mmmhmm,”
“gasssspp, I'm so sorry Cloudy. What would you like today? We have some very nice Twi-lacakes! There today's spec-” Pinkie stops mid bounce when Cloud's hoof, is put inside her mouth.
“No worry’s, I just wanted to get a Cherry cupcake... hmm, an apple juice too.” she removed her saliva covered hoof with a 'slick'.
“Coming right up,” Pinkie hopped back over the-“waitttt.”
She grabbed a mop from the back, defrosted the ice slide, then jumped over the counter. Reaching under the glass she grabbed the cupcake. Plucking a cup from the other cabinet, she checked to see if Cloud was still there. The mare's eyes were busy elsewhere, but her body was still there.
So Pinkie went back to grabbing the apple juice, filling the cup up to the top,“here you go Cloudy.”
The mare turned back around, “Hehe, all right Sweet Cheeks.”
Pinkie tipped her head to the side, “Sweet Cheeks?This your order of juice and cake, no cheeks here.”
“eerrr,” Cloud chaser just placed five bits down, “Thanks anyway Pinkie.”
The pink mare smiled, then tipped her head quizzically as a thought popped up in her head. “Hey, do you know what, 'Tonight... you' means.”
Cloud's wings popped out with a 'pomf' sound, as a smile climbed on her face. “All right Pinkie, guess I'll see you later, we'll bang ok.” She grabbed her stuff and trotted out the door.
“Wait, you didn't answer my question!” Pinkie raised her left hoof, but the other mare had already left. ...
“Dearie, It's closing time,” Mrs. Cake's voice called out from behind pinkie.
Pinkie turned around as the mare came out the back room.
“Thank you Pinkie, for doing such a splendid job today.”
“Oh no problem Mrs. Cake, I love seeing my friends smile.”
Mrs. Cake chuckled, “hehe, don't we all.”
The mare looked at the shop as the moon light filtered in. The tables had a few things left on them, from the busy day . Pinkie trotted over to the window and flipped the sign.
“Well dearie, Carrot and I have to head out to a night time catering. Will you be okay by yourself?”
“Gaaaassssp, What about Pumpkin and Pound Cake? Don't I have to foalsit for them?”
“Not this time dear, we wanted to give you a break this time around. Miss Fluttershy has offered to take care of them.”
“Oh, I see,” Pinkie sank down to the floor, “I'm sure she will do a great job.”
“Please don't worry dearie, You're still our favorite foalsitter,” Mrs.Cake smiled at Pinkie.
The door to the back burst oven. Mr.Cake walked out with the twins. “Honey, we reallllly should get going now. Once we drop off the twins, there won't be much time left.”
Mrs.Cake nodded to him, “Alright, Pinkie stay safe.”
The Pink mare saluted, “Of course Mr. and Mrs.Cake. I'll stay so safe, that Twilight will have to put a picture of me in the dictionary, Next to her picture of Celestia.”
The Cakes chuckled worriedly as they trotted out the door. It swung wide open for a moment, letting in a breeze. Pinkie stood there as all traces of other ponies left the area.
“Well Gummy, It looks like it's just you and me tonight... I better start cleaning up for tomorrow.”
Pinkie trotted around the corner, looking at the once lively tables. She grabbed a broom to start sweeping. Her eyes fell upon table one. The closest to the door, it was a likely spot for those who wanted to meet somepony.
Table two was often used by foals who wanted to be noticed. She chuckled, Diamond Tiara would often order there. Always with a friend. She scratched her head, Thinking about why the CMC would sit right next to her anyway. Maybe it was the other way around.
Swiftly moving the broom she came upon table seven. This was Literally a seat of royalty. Twilight and her friends would gather around it like 'Knights of the Round Table'. Not to mention the many mornings anyone of her friends had come here to chat.
Now though... the parties were over. The lights turned down low and the moonlight filtered in the windows. Pinkie sighed as she finished up the sweeping. “Well I better check my party planer later Gummy, our weekly get together should be soon... If everyponys not busy again.”
Pinkie whipped out a rag, then shined a few tables. Stopping once at each to stare at the empty seats, her smile faltered.... flashes of smiling ponies were replaced, with a cold, dark, empty chair.
Pinkie finished her duty with out a word. The mare trotted to the living area, then up the stairs to her room. She opened her door, the balloons inside lay there deflated. Not caring in the least she trotted past them, to sit on her bed. She pulled out a dusty old photo album. Opening to the first page, a old farm house rock field peered back.
Pinkie ran a single pink hoof through her mane. The smooth texture provided no tangles, no resistance. She tried to smile, but that didn't even reach half of her face. “Well Gummy, It's time that Pinkie got her me time.”
The toothless gator was brought down with her hoof. He blinked his eye, then moved to snuggle up to his owner. The mare petted him a few times, while turning back to her pictures. Inky, Blinky, Maud and her parents stared back. No lights of joy shown in those old days.
She remembered when Maud had wanted to show her a special rock she had found. –
“Pinkamena, I have something to show you.” Maud's voice called out from behind.
Pinkie placed the pickaxe she had, upon the ground. She blew her flat hair out of her face, then looked to her sister.“Yeah? Is it something gray?”
Maud nodded, “It's on the other side of the Rock Sauna.”
She turned around, showing Pinkie the way. They walked through the west field that housed the mature rocks. Coming upon the edge of the 'Silo of Sleeping Boulders', they tipped hoofed around it. Maud put a gray hoof out to stop Pinkie's advance.
“shh,” she pointed to the right. A group of aggressive rocks glared out at the area they needed to pass.
Pinkie nodded back at her, “how?”
The gray filly pointed to a near by stack of hay, that sat next to the sleeping silo.
They made their way to over, avoiding the gaze of the aggressive field. Maud lifted up the haystack to duck inside. Pinkie followed her guide. Together they used light hoof steps, too pass through the dangerous area un-seen. The pink filly almost slipped a few times, trying to match the gray one's pace.
“You move too slow,” Pinkie whispered.
“It's paced-” All chatter stopped as they both felt a glare on them.
The inside of the haystack felt like it was on fire. Both fillys sweated, but it evaporated before it touched the surrounding hay. Sixty painful seconds past as they stood there, a tingling feeling in their hooves. All of the sudden, it faded.
“Let's go,” was whispered, by who... they didn't know. The only thing that happen, was them making it to the other side... safe.
Their Father had warned Pinkie about that part of the field. Only when she was older, or accompanied by her elders was she allowed to transverse it.
The two fillys were now able to see their destination, after that brush with danger. A red fence, taller then a grown stallion, surrounded a steaming area. They had arrived at the right side of the Rock Sana, where the sediments stress was relieved.
“It's over here,” Maud motioned to the back of the fence.
“Ok, let's see it.” Pinkie trotted after her sister as Maud showed her the way.
Once around to the back, the shade made it hard to see much. The steam from the Sana, Seeped out thru the small cracks in the fence. Pinkie stumbled through the shade as she continued to follow her sister. Maud on the other hoof, navigated the zone with out any trouble.
“So, where is it?” Pinkie asked.
“Close.”
The two fillys had walked two thirds of the way around the sauna, when they came upon a rocky out cropping. Maud brought Pinkie over to a big gray rock, that towered over the fillys.
“We're here,”
“So, what am I looking for?” Pinkie scanned the area, with a frown.
All she saw was a bunch of rolling stones, the same as any other field.
“This,” Maud pointed to the thing towering over them.
“What's so special about it.”
“It's a Rock.”
Pinkie looked at her sister, deadpanned “I can see that, why-”
Maud turned around, then proceeded to smash the rock to pieces... using her bare hooves. Each strike precise and deadly. It produced a timed rhythm, without a second of delay.
Pinkie watched as her sister destroyed the rock with ease. Don't want to ever be on her bad-side.
Once it was shattered, she picked up a small piece. Taking a look at the rock, it seemed a bit different. The outside was still gray, as normal rocks are... but the inside of this rock was pure white.
Maud presented the white inside to Pinkie, “Here eat this,”
The pink filly blinked, “What, you want me too... eat rocks?”
Maud nodded, no more words were said as she held out the bite sized rock. Pinkie moved her hoof to the offered item with the speed of disbelief. She only hesitated once more as she popped it into her mouth.
A sweet taste crashed into her taste buds, like a rock slide. The sugar rotated from the entry point to the back, creating a electric circuit of over powering sweetness. Pinkie's hair did a wave as it flowed through her body. A smirk graced her muzzle and a twinkle in her eye.
Pinkie opened her mouth, “Sweet,”
Ho-
*Boom
–
Pinkie Pie sprung out of bed, awoken from her dream of the past. Her mane also gone back to her bouncy curls of pink. The photo album dropped to the floor with a 'thump'. “Gummy, what was that?”
She looked over to her to find her pet. The messy bed was empty. Obviously he must of fallen off right? Removing the fallen covers, she searched for him. “Gum-”
*Boom
A loud sound from down stairs echoed into her ears. Pink hair stood up for a moment as she jumped in surprise.
“Ok, I know I heard that, Gummy catch up with me later, I want to see what that was,” Pinkie dropped the side of the covers she was holding.
The pink mare opened her door into the dark hallway. Looking both ways she wondered why the light was off. 'Did I turn those off? Or did the power go out? Oooo If its not fixed by morning the cakes are going to be mad.'
She trotted out into the hallway, every step a floorboard creaked. She frowned, but continued to move forward. Just before passing the twin's room, it flung open. “Hey,”
Pinkie was able to stop the door an inch from her face. Sticking her head around it she felt a cold wind. The dark room had the twins stuff neatly put away. Trotting into the room, Pinkie saw an open window across the room. Narrowing her eyes, she crept across the room to close it. With it now shut, the night air was stopped from intruding. She scanned it for any signs, noticing the corner had a small encasing of ice.
“Wow, I didn't know it was that cold outside,” turning back around she dismissed it.
After trotting out of the room, she closed the door behind her. “Good Night, Pumpkin and Pound Cake.” she whispered as a thought hit her.
'Oh yeah they're not here', She chuckled to herself as she stated down the stairs. She hopped down them two at a time. Arriving at the bottom, she looked around the living area. “Helloooo, Is anypony there?”
The chairs in the living room didn't give her an answer, so she shrugged. No use talking to an empty room, though it had worked that one time.... 'Thunk'. A sound came from the store front. Pinkie shot through the door into the next room, “Gasp.”
On the floor in front of the counter, Gummy was fallen on his side, his jaw open in a silent scream. “Gummy,” The mare rushed over to him touching his side. He was ice cold, his tongue was blue frosted partly in ice.
Pinkie picked up the unblinking gaiter. “what happened Gummy, why are you soo blue?”
The gaiters leg twitched, alerting her to his condition. “Oh we have to warm you up quick.” She wrapped him up in her mane. This provided him a warm blanket that he loved to stay in.
“Don't worry I'll get to the bottom of this.”
*Boom
The sound reverberated out of the kitchen, causing Pinkie to shake in place. Once she stopped, the mare went right over to the kitchen door. Fling it open with a hoof, peering inside. A single light was on above the open door to the cellar as it creaked. The counter tops were clean. Only other thing she noticed was that the sink looked a little white.
'Hmmm,' She grabbed a magnifying glass out of her mane.
She examined every inch of the floor on her a way to the cellar. A chilly wind tickled her flanks as she arrived at the door. After putting a hoof on the door, she looked down the stairs. The light above the door was swallowed by the darkness inside.
“I can't see anything down there, I have to check.”
She trotted down the steps. Aiming to get to the bottom quick, each step was a blur after the next. Arriving at the bottom- “Waaaaa,” She slipped.
A cold seized her hooves, as she laid out on the ground. Pinkie shook her head to get rid of the stars in her eyes. Looking at her hooves, she noticed that the ground was frozen... “Well, ok.”
Pinkie looked around her, towards a cold wind that was hitting her. The door to the cold food storage area was open, sounds of shuffling came from inside. One hoof after the other, she stood up. 'I got you now,'
Pinkie Pie zipped right into the freezer.
Pointing her hoof at the shadow.
“Don't move.”
Silence.
Just then, the door came swinging to close.
Pinkie turned around to stop it.
A cold object touched her from behind.
“Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh,”
She ran around the freezer, “he got me , he got me, nooooo, I'm it.”
When she finally stopped she noticed the area was empty of anything unusual, except for a big metal box. “hehehe, what's wrong with me. I'm jumping around like Fluttershy.” She booped her own nose.
Taking a look at the side of the box she had noticed a second ago, she read the words on it. “Ohhhhh, Ice-cream!”
Pinkie smiled hopped over to it, then proceeded to pop it open. Peering inside to check out the delicious flavors. The flavors peered back. She blinked, they blinked.... “Wha-aaaaaaaaaa.”
Pinkie hopped back from the living ice-cream. It followed her out of the box. Pinkie watched as it stood there, with a blush on it's face. Waaaaittt, It looked like a pony.
“Sorry, chu scare you,” it said in a male voice, “just delivering emergency Ice-cream.”
Pinkie examined him. The pony top half was light blue, but the bottom was crystal pony see through. He looked like-
“Name's Shaved Ice, the Ice-cream colt.”
Pinkies eyes lit up as she trotted over, “ Oh I just knew you were real.”
Ice shuffled his hooves, “Well yes I-”
*slurp *slurp *slurp
He frowned, “What are you doing?”
“Just trying to test your flavor,” She got in one more lick of his mane before hopping away, smacking her lips, “Hmmm Blue Berry.”
Ice backed away from the mare, “eerr, well Mr.Cake ordered a emergency restock, but I wasn't able to do it until just now.”
Pinkie shook her head then approached him, “Uh huh, then why all the sneaking around. HUH.”
“I can't go outside when it was so hot, so I had to wait. Then when it was finally dark, I made sure to inform you with a letter.”
“Ah ha,” Pinkie jumped up, pointing a hoof at him, “You where the pony in that dark cloak. You left ice all over my floor.”
“Sorry, it happens every now and again, my ice cools a lot of the things I touch. Like when I tried to get in the door, a no go, even tried to get at a window, didn’t make it.”
“You opened that window!,”
“No, It was open when I got there, So I used that to opened the door, to make the delivery.”
Pinkie put a hoof to her muzzle, “Then who opened that window.”
Ice shrugs, “I just deliver the ice.”
“And Gummy,” She pulls out the now toasty gaiter out of her mane, “What did you do to him.”
“Nothing really, he just followed me and ate a blue berry drop delight. He was on the counter last I saw him.”
Pinkie looked at Gummy shocked, “ And you didn't share? Gummy, shame on you.”
Ice looked back at his box. “Well I better get going, got a few more to deliver tonig-,”
--
*bink, bink bink bink bink
The sound of glass being tapped echoed into the home, which was unnoticed in the cellar.
A pegasus mare sighed as she looked into a pink room's window.
She turned away, flying off to an empty bed.
–
“All right them Mr. Ice-cream colt, thanks for the tasty treats.” Pinkie hopped around him.
Ice put up a protective hoof over his mane, “Anytime... bye.”
Pinkie waved at him, as he picked up his box... “Wait, what was up with all the Boom sounds?”
Ice scratched his head, “Heavy box?”
Pinkie nodded her head with a serious face, “With all that Ice around your neck, It must be one heavy Boom Box.”
Pinkie Pie jumped outta bed and slammed her bedroom curtains onto the ground with fervor. She sucked in a load of air and stuck her head out the window. "Goooood Morning, Ponyville!"
Everypony who happened to be awake covered their ears. Those who happened to still be sleeping fell screaming out of their beds. "Gahhhhh!" A mint green unicorn flailed her hooves, managing to kick her partner off the bed with a thump.
The bedside table shook as the ejected earth pony stood up with a grumble. "What the hay, Lyra. Am I your punching bag now?"
Lyra watched her partner with a sheepish grin. "Sorry, BonBon. Pinkie's in a 'Yelling’ good mood..."
Bonbon's brow furrowed. "Don't you dare blame this all on Pinkie Pie. This is the third time this week!" BonBon rubbed three dark patches on her body. Her belly, left fore-hoof, and muzzle. "The girls keep asking me if they need to call the town watch."
Lyra bowed her head in shame as the outside noise picked up.
"Good morning, Pinkie!" called a gray pegasus.
"Looking good there, morning mare." greeted a blue stallion.
"Go back to sleep." added a donkey, impassively.
Pinkie waved at the residents, cheerful or otherwise. "Good to see you everypony!" she said, her hair bobbing like a spring.
Going back inside, Pinkie trotted down the steps to the kitchen. She grabbed her frilly baker's apron, then looked for today’s list. The Cakes normally left a list of any special orders they had taken on the wall. "Hmm, doesn't look like they have any big orders after last night. Hehe, time to bake some cakes!"
Pinkie turned on the oven to let it preheat. It groaned as the first fires of day lit, adding a slowly growing heat to the inside. The mare tossed a bowl onto the middle rack and a twinkle gleamed in her eyes as she prepared herself for the best part of baking.
Or walking... Or, well, anything really.
"I'm gonna baaake a cake, because I caaan’t be late.~ Nopony caaaaan mistake, that it will taaaste so great.~” Pinkie spun around the room, adding flour, eggs and water in, matching the rhythm of her song. "With all my ingredients so fresh, It make's-”
*Bang Bang Bang*
“Pinkie!” The sudden interruption made Pinkie stumble sending a bowl of cake batter arcing through the air. With a gasp, Pinkie reached out and caught it, balancing it on the tip of one hoof.
“Hello?” she looked back quizzically, while laying the precariously balanced batter back down on the counter.
“Pinkie, let me in!”
“Sassy? Nice to see you! Well, hear you anyway.”
“Pinkie?”
“Yeah?”
“The door, please.”
Pinkie giggled,“Oh yeah.”
Abandoning her baking for the time being, she bounced up the steps into the still unopened cafe. Pulling open the back door revealed Sassaflash, Ponyville’s resident sarsaparilla maker, whose eyes widened at the sight of the pink, or rather, white apparition in the doorway.
“Uh, Pinkie?”
“Hey Sassy! What’s cooking? Well, not actually cooking of course, unless you are cooking? I know I am!” Pinkie looked at the new arrival with a sidelong glance. “Are you cooking anything, Sassy?”
Sassaflash hadn’t been paying much attention. Tuning Pinkie out was a habit that was hard to break. Nevertheless, she was sure that Pinkie was, well, pink. “Why’re you covered in... flour?” she hazarded.
The party pony didn’t seem to notice Sassaflash’s comment. Her coat and mane were dusted with a thick covering of the white powder, but all of her attention seemed to be focussed on her nose, which was wrinkling back and forth urgently. Sassaflash looked concerned until an mighty sneeze filled the air along with clouds of white dust. Once it had settled, Pinkie was inexplicably clean. Sassaflash, however, had no such luck.
The white, née cyan, pegasus sighed in resignation. She handed a clipboard to Pinkie. She signed the document and passed it back. She was glad that Caramel wasn’t in town today. He wouldn’t let her live this look down. With a small, cynical smile gracing her lips, Sassaflash nodded to a crate of bottles by her hooves.
“Figured you’d need some more sarsaparilla, so I grabbed a box out of the warehou-”
*Gasp*
"Sassy! You’re a ghost!" The mare in question's mouth was left hanging wide open. "Quick, we need to revive you right away!"
"No, I'm-" In the middle of trying to form an excuse, Sassaflash was picked up like a sack of potatoes.
Pinkie zipped back inside the shop, slamming the door shut en-route and leaving a perfectly good crate of the tangy beverage out in the cold. White powder trailing behind her, she cantered through the shop as if there was a ghost at her heels which, in her mind at least, there was.
"Sassy, it's going to be ok. Zecora gave me a handy remedy for this!"
"WHAT?! She even makes remedies for ghosts?" Sassaflash looked horrified.
"Yep-a-roni! She can cure almost anythin-"
"But, I'm not a go-"
"Now now, no need to panic! The cure will feel super, duper good! You'll be back to being Sassy in a flashy!"
"I-" *Bam*
Before Sassaflash could complain, her head jarred violently off the bathroom door frame. Pinkie frowned. "I thought ghosts could go through walls."
Sassaflash opened her mouth to speak, but the canaries spinning loops around her head shushed her before she could get a word out.
The pink mare shrugged, "Sassy musta just turned half ghostie-goo."
Setting her friend down, Pinkie looked at her hooves in concern. They were covered in the ominous ghost-like whiteness. "Oh no, it's spreading!"
The mare was on the move in a flash. The bath taps pumped out hot water, which filled the room with steam. Pinkie yanked open a cabinet on which the warning, ‘Pinkie only’, had been hastily scrawled in blue crayon. Reaching her afflicted hoof into it, she felt around for the fabled ghost pony cure. She never needed it until now. Bottle after bottle was pulled out of the cupboard, unnecessary ones discarded with a hoof while Pinkie held a concussed Sassaflash up with the other.
“‘Demonic Possession Cure’,” she frowned, “Nope.”
“‘Flim-Flam Brothers’ Miracle Curative Tonic’? How’d that get in here?”
Triumphantly, she revealed a small and unassuming black bottle, its contents were indistinguishable. Pinkie was ninety-percent certain that Zecora had meant this as a ghost cure; The word “spirit” had definitely come up, though sometimes the zebra’s compulsive rhyming could get confusing. Uncorking the mysterious flask, Pinkie poured a generous measure of its contents into the steaming bath. The potion was green, with an apple fragrance, and it bubbled slightly as it struck the water. Pinkie dabbed a bit on her hoof with a cloth and was delighted to see the ghostly aura fade away.
Grinning at a problem well solved, Pinkie lifted the ethereal Sassaflash in her hooves and threw her into the bath. Stunned as she was, being dropped into bubbling water was enough to make anypony yelp. Pinkie bounced cheerfully from the bathroom, it was probably rude to watch a pony get reincarnated, after all!
----<<<<>>>>----
After the initial shock, Sassaflash had found the bath rather pleasant. The flour had quickly washed off her coat, and after some effort, she’d managed to extract the last traces from her mane as well. The vapours drifting up from the tub smelled relaxing, though she was having a hard time remembering where she knew the smell from.
In fact, she was having a hard time remembering anything at all. The pegasus giggled slightly, and splashed at the water with her wings. It wasn’t until Pinkie heard the thump of Sassaflash’s head banging off wood, with which she was now intimately familiar, that she ventured back into the bathroom with concern.
"Sassy, are you ok in here?" Pinkie trotted over to the tub.
The room was quiet, with only the sound of a few bubbles popping. The pink mare peaked over the side of the bath and into the water... the number of bubbles increased instantly."Woah."
Pinkie hopped up and dived back down. "No bath time scuba diving on my watch!"
Pink hooves splashed in the water, wrapping around her pegasus friend. The newly reborn mare was pulled gracefully from the bathtub, and ceremoniously coughed bath water all over the room. Pinkie giggled at the fresh, red birthmark on Sassaflash's forehead. "Aww, look at the new born baby!~"
Sassaflash, having spit out all the water, tried to get a grip on her senses. "A... what? A maybe? That's not a-"
Pinkie quickly cut her off. "Tisk, Tisk, Tisk. No, a baby, because you were just reborn."
"Eh, a,” *giggle* “daisy? That's even better.” Sassaflash let out a small hiccup, then looked puzzled.
Pinkie nods her head, "Good! I'm glad you agree with me!"
The other mare smiled, wobbling a bit. "Now that you've been born, I'll name you Sassy Pie! I’ve just got to get you washed up. Oooh, your first bath! I'll put it in my scrapbook!”
Pinkie was right. In all the commotion, flakes of debris had insinuated themselves into, “Sassy Pie’s” mane. The pegasus’s previous reincarnation bath hadn’t so much cleaned her as replaced some of the flour on her coat with paint scrapings. Pinkie grabbed a bar of blue soap and began to work up a lather on Sassaflash’s coat. She did her best to keep the foam out of the pegasus’s eyes and did a fairly good job, considering all the hiccuping.
Sassaflash had made a mental note to buy some of Zecora’s “ghost cure”, for personal use, whenever she next saw her... but the mental paper had rapidly dissolved in the vapours from Pinkie’s bathtub. The vast majority of her coherent thought now occupied the same spot in her free-wheeling mind as her memories of beautiful historic oil paintings. Interesting to look at, certainly, but not something she’d ever consider trying herself. In fact, one of the few feelings she could still process with any clarity at all was tiredness, and it was being processed in spades.
“Mmh, mmh tired, Pinkie,” she mumbled, “‘s warm.”
Comfortable, Sassaflash began to slump backwards in Pinkie’s hooves, and before the baker could reply, the pegasus was fast asleep. Smiling caringly, Pinkie dried Sassaflash as best she could and carried her upstairs to an exclusively pink bedroom. She laid Sassaflash down on the pink bedsheets and covered her with a light pink blanket, before flicking the lights off quietly, tip-hoofing out the door.
She still had some baking to do, she’d just have to sing extra extra softly.
