It was a typical day for Swirl and at the moment the atmosphere in the room he was in was tense as he continued to sort through various pieces of mail and toss some of them away in a frustrated manner."Junk mail, junk mail, junk mail. Junk, junk, junk... Hmm, not junk." He had stopped on a particular letter. This one being: white, pink and brown, an envelope that he had specially made for executives of his company . He levitated a letter opener, opened and read it.
Dear Mr. Swirl:
I'm wish I could have sent this letter on better pretenses, but I am afraid that we have had another little infestation over at our storage facility in Fillydelphia. Not as bad, but we would still need you to come in and inspect possible serious inventory damage.
-From the desk of Cake Slice.
Vanilla Swirl groaned, his old life called with severe importance."Ugh, Parasprites! I really don't like those things. Dumb-cute bugs, they know just how to ruin my day." He dropped the letter, musing up his mane and nodding, biting his lip sadly. "Inventory inspection my... Pinkie Pie?!" He smiled, the mare jumping into his lap.
"How'd you get in the shop cutie? Isn't the door locked..." He got up, to look and see the front of his shop, to see if the door was open were still open. Pinkie Pie shook her head, smiling excitedly.
"I came in through the window!" He chuckled, sitting back down nuzzling noses with his marefriend and smirking happily, glad that he was in the company of somepony nice.
"So what's got you down Swirly?" His smile faded, Pinkie Pie, nestling against his side as she sat on his lap. He sat still for a while, simply playing with her mane as he sat and thought.
"In light of a fairly recent..." aggravated groan "Pest problem. I have to head over to Fillydelphia."
"Awwww , can I come with you?" He kissed her.
"I'm sorry Pudding Pop, it's business, and you'd probably find it boring." Pinkie frowned. Vanilla Swirl hugged her to his chest, spinning the desk chair around playfully to amuse her.
"Pah-leeeease" she begged giving a pouty face.
"No silly filly, you should stay here... and maybe run my shop." He said, making a popping noise with his lips. Pinkie Pie smiled, bouncing up and down happily.
"This will be amazing! I'll so such a good job you'll love me!" He nodded, kissing her cheek. She flew off the walls in excitement, humming madly and dancing as she went, practically screaming in excitement. Vanilla Swirl stood up, joining her.
"You'll do great!" He shouted, trying to match her pace as they celebrated.
/
After a while of the two ponies talking to one another about their days, Pinkie Pie left, she making her way toward the door to signal her impending exit.
"Bye bye cutie-patootie." He said happily, wrapping the mare into a rocking and tight hug.
"Goodbye to you too." He then walked her to the door, letting her leave for home. "Now remember, be here by nine for your training." Swirl called as she hopped down the street. He sighed, closing the door and locking it behind him, turning off the lights as well; he trotted to his apartment above his shop, put on a nightcap and drifted to dreamland.
/
The next day, Pinkie Pie woke up bright and early. She had a quick breakfast, left a note left a note to tell the Cakes where she'd be, and bounced to Sweet Swirl's. The bouncing mare trotted happily up to Sweet Swirl's, pressing her face against the glass and tapping lightly to signal Vanilla behind the counter that she had arrived. He rushed over with a pop in his trot, opening the door for her.
"Good morning Pinkie." He announced happily, pecking her cheek. "Are you ready for training?" She nodded, saluting him.
"Sir yes sir!" She shouted authoritatively, puffing out her chest and making the stallion chuckle.
"Well then, Miss Pie come with me to the back and we'll show you how things are done."
"Okay... Sir." She joked; Pinkie Pie followed after him, entering into his back room where she had been many times before. He rested his hoof on one large machine, tapping it's metal surface.
"This is where the magic happens." Pinkie Pie ooed and awed at the mixer, looking it over curiously as if she'd never seen it before."Now, I have already mixed up the flavored cream and labeled them so all you have to do..." walks over and opens large fridge "...is pour them in this baby and turn it into ice cream." Nods over to the ice cream maker.
"Okie Dokie." They walked back to the front, Vanilla motioning at the register.
"And of course, I'll need you to service customers." She nodded, snorting out of her nose as she covered her smile.
"Of coarse, I'll b good at that!" He smirked, watching her from the corner of his eye as he closed the register.
"Keep the scoops in the hot water so you can get the ice cream out easier, and don't let the tubs sit out of the cold for too long, or they'll spoil." Pinkie nodded in response."Wonderful." Vanilla Swirl stepped away, levitating a bundle of clothes from beneath his counter.
"For you." He stated, holding it up for Pinkie Pie to inspect. It was a cream skirt with a blue stripe going down the length and a deep sky blue, short-sleeved, polo dress shirt with lighter hued stripes, and powder blue undershirt, with a royal blue white polka dotted bow tie. He also was levitating a cap identical to his.
"Oooohh."She cooed, taking it and draping it over her back. "It's so pretty..." She purred, swaying from side to side happily. Vanilla Swirl chuckled, nodding.
"It's classic looking, good fit..." He rambled on, knowing these silly facts didn't matter.
"I start tomorrow?" She asked. Vanilla Swirl shook his head.
"Today." Her eyes wen wide in shock.
"Really?!" She freaked out, bouncing around happily.
"In fact I leave on the next train to Fillydelphia in ten minutes."She gasped, faking a faint.
"Wow." She whispered, twisting a hoof on the floor worriedly.
"Like I said you'll be fine. Now let's see you in your new uni." She squealed. She zipped to the back and immediately came back fully dressed.
"How do I look?" He smirked, hugging her.
"Like a cherry on a sundae." She blushed. "Now go get 'em sugar!" He exclaimed, smacking her backside and grabbing his bag. "I'd better go..."She gave him a good bye kiss and he walked out the front door, ringing the shop's bell.
"So much responsibility!" She frenzied, jumpily."Okay Pinkie Pie, you can do this. You've ran Sugarcube Corner before just fine..." Pinkie Pie looked up, recalling the last time she was out in charge of a particular event. "Potato chips, soda, sour lemon juice, earth worms..." She sighed at her memory, of the time Applejack having been so exhausted from applebucking season, to top things off, Pinkie Pie hadn't even noticed. She he'd let her tired friend make muffins, utterly failing in the process by mishearing all of the ingredients. Pinkie Pie sighed with slight terror on her breath this time, looking left and right at the tubs of ice cream and toppings, the cones, the containers, and the register; Pinkie Pie was scared that she had bitten off more than she could chew, and now that she was alone, she could feel it. The store bell jingled, Pinkie Pie swallowed hard, a cold sweet running down her forehead at the sight of a customer. A pale yellow earth pony stepped inside the shop, trotting over toward the counter and looking curiously through the glass.
"Oh hi Pinkie, you work here too?" Pinkie Pie nodded her head mechanically, picking up an ice cream scoop and smiling a big smile. BonBon giggled politely, biting her lip as she tried to decide. "Can I have... mint chocolate chip and... and cookie dough! In a cone please." Pinkie Pie nodded, grabbing a cone and accidentally crushing it in her grip. She chuckled to hide her embarrassment, grabbing another and carefully scooping the ice cream.
'Too much... or too little...' She asked herself, trying to scoop proportionately. Once done, Pinkie Pie smiled, proud of herself. "Here ya go BonBon." The mare smiled with a nod, taking her come and paying.
"Thank you." She replied charmingly, stepping out happily. Pinkie Pie collapsed dramatically
"OH MY GOODNESS THAT—WAS—INTENSE!"
/
Pinkie Pie walked into the back to prep some ice cream, she got one of the tubs of pre-made flavored cream and poured it into the machine. She heard the store bell ring. When zipping to the front she slipped and fell into the wall next to the walk-in freezer, she was fine, and immediately got to the front. Pinkie Pie breathed a sigh of relief, standing against the counter with a smile in her face. "I'm so glad to you Twilight... what's up?" The intelligent unicorn shrugged, standing across from her friend at the counter.
"Oh, I'm just taking a break from studying, I wanted to clear my head... you know." Pinkie Pie nodded.
"So, has Vanilla left you in charge for a few moments while he runs errands?" Pinkie Pie smirked, shaking her head.
"He's on a super special business trip, and I'm in charge!" She said confidently, pointing to her chest. Twilight Sparkle looked surprised.
"How responsible of you." She Pie smiled in response.
"Yeah, I got this under control." She said proudly, tapping the counter.
"Can I get you something?" She asked, more confident this time.
"Hmm... I'll have strawberry." replied Twilight. Pinkie Pie nodded with a friendly smile, scooping the frozen confection and spooning it into the cone more calmly this time, humming a little song as she went.
"Toppings?" Twilight Sparkle bit her lip excitedly, lowering her head to inspect the vast array.
"Chocolate sprinkles." She said in a dazed, dream-like voice. Pinkie void did so, serving her friend and receiving payment.
"Thanks Twilight!" She cheered as her friend turned to leave.
"Bye Pinkie" she called back.
/
And that's the way it went for the most of the day. A customer or two would come in, order, and received want the asked, without incident. Pinkie Pie was starting to get a real feel for it, her anxiety, and nervousness even calmed down.
"Wow, this is easier than I thought!" she thought as another satisfied customer chimed the bell going Pie trotted back happily to the large and purring ice cream mixer she had started earlier that same day. She looked down into the big bowl of thick confection, she licked her lips hungrily. "Ohhhhh, this is ready for the freezer." She said happily, grabbing a clean tub and dragging it over clumsily. "This. Would. Be. Easier. If. I. Were. A. Unicorn!" She strained, the tub heavy even when empty.
The thick ice cream into the tub poured, she shut off the churner, then pushed the tube to the freezer slowly. She huffed tiredly, lifting the best metal latch and throwing the insulated door open. "Whoa!" She yelped, sliding across the floor on an inch tall wave of melted ice cream. She laid in a mess of sticky and sweet smelling cream, the messy swirl getting in her pink mane. She gasped angrily. "What happened?!" She rushed to the freezer, slipping from side to side in the mess ther had flowed out. She then fell in the creamy mess and growled, then glanced up, and saw a little red switch, saying 'Off' she smacked her forehead, grunting angrily. "I turned off the freezer by accident and now..." She looked around, pulling on her mane and shouting. Pinkie Pie began to calm down, her mind falling from a state of sorry to one of sadness. "What am I gonna do? Swirly is gonna be so disappointed." She said with a pout. "And I'm all sticky." she moped, noting her uniform being soaked with cream. Pinkie Pie's mane drooped sadly.
Then she had an idea. The mare struggled to get to the cabinets not too far away, reaching in and grabbing sponges used for cleaning, and with a little work, she had them strapped to her hooves. Pinkie Pie hummed as she skated across the I scream covered floor, soaking up as much of the gooey mess as she could.
"It's working!" She screamed, smiling wildly at the sight of her striking such sudden success.
/
Not an hour later, the floor was cleaner than it had been. Pinkie Pie worked the evening away, scrubing the tiled floor vigorously to ensure that there we're no traces of stickiness anywhere after her mishap with the freezer. She stopped, rubbing her forehead tiredly and looking around, the back room of Sweet Swirl's sparkling with cleanliness. She stood up, trotting toward the door on her tired hooves. "Maybe I'll just sleep here..." She murmured, considering the thought for a few moments before she made her way towards the staircase, making her way slowly up through the narrow stairway, the wooden steps creaking beneath her weight. She pushed for door open to her coltfriend's apartment. She'd only ever been inside of it a few times. Pinkie Pie jumped into Vanilla Swirl's nearly made bed, snuggling the pillow and taking a deep breath in, the air reminding her of Vanilla's scent. She smiled, starting to drift away. Suddenly, she shot up. "What will he think when he sees an empty freezer? I didn't sell it all!" Pinkie Pie groaned, pressing her face into the pillow sadly. "Wait, what's this?—" She looked to her side, seeing an old piece of paper folded up beneath the base of a lamp on the night side table. She grabbed it, looking at the writing. "—Vanilla ice cream recipe..." She smiled, an I idea at the forefront of her mind."It can't be to hard to make ice cream" she grinned. Pinkie trotted back downstairs to the shops kitchen, she took down a bunch of bowls and pots, setting them down with a clatter of a noise. "Okay, now what first..." She questioned, biting her tongue as she thought. "What does Vanilla do first..." She asked herself, trying to recall his actions that she had observed. She thought back, then remembered a rhyme she'd heard Swirl sang.
(Ukulele melody opens with a five-beat Caribbean tune. Swirl does a Rastafarian when he sings this. Pinkie talks through the first two lines)
"Take a bunch of cream put it in a pot.
Check to see if the fire isn't too hot" Pinkie Pie followed the rhyme her coltfriend had so cleverly devised, grabbing the cream they she needed and pouring it in while monitoring the best, she didn't want to scold her first batch!
(Steel drums come into rhythm, with horn for harmony"
"Simmer the cream don't let it boil.
Stir it some, so it doesn't spoil." Pinkie Pie hammered along excitedly, the rhythm of the process simply coming to her as time passed and she went about making her very first batch of ice cream from scratch alone. Things seemed perfect as she stirred to the beat.
"Then turn down the heat, add a load of sugar to make it sweet."
(Pinkie starts singing along here.)
Then take some eggs.A few not a lot.
And then crack them into the pot."
"Now Stir
Stir
Stir the mix to the beat.
Or you be havin' sweet scrambled eggs to eat." Pinkie Pie, to the beat of her own music, shook her hips and spun all around as she reached for the things she needed. Unbeknownst to her, Pinkie Pie accidentally knocked over a vat of white powder into the mix, a better portion of the contents spilling into the mix. Pinkie Pie turned behind her to raid carefully through one of the cabinets, sifting through the few things that were in there for something special. It was odd, but Vanilla Swirl lived by it. Pinkie Pie remembered the day he told her that a dash of vinegar makes original ice cream so much better. She pulled out the bottle, smiling at the sight of a pour-friendly cap. She trotted back to the mixture, turning the bottle over and closing her eyes. She sang in her head, counting as well so she knew when to stop. Pinkie opened her eyes, gasping at what she saw. The cap had come off. "No!" She looked down into the pot, watching as the bitter and clear fluid was mixed into the ice cream. Just then, bubbles began to form and *Sploof! The white mix shot up and exploded in a wave all over the room and onto Pinkie's face, on the floor and all over the counter. It was at that moment Vanilla Swirl came home through the shops kitchen door. He dropped his luggage bag, taking a step closer and getting the vanilla mess on his hooves. He looked up at his marefriend with complete shock, she wordless and unable to defend herself.
"What the clotted cream happened in here." he said in disbelief. Pinkie Pie stamped her hooves down in the mess, throwing her head back and wailing. Streams of tears flowed from her eyes to her left and right, she skidding over to him and weeping for forgiveness at his hooves. "Oh Swirly I'm so sorry! I can't run your shop! I melted all the ice cream and and and now I made a mess because I wanted to replace it all so I tried to make more and..." She stopped, pressing her nose into the messy floor and closing her eyes. Vanilla Swirl looked around for another moment, then staring down at the weeping mare before him. He knelt down, patting her back with a clean hoof. Vanilla Swirl looked around for another moment, then stared down at the crumbling mare before him. He knelt down, patting her back with a clean hoof.
"Pinkie, it's okay." She looks up, teary eyed "So you made a mess and tried to fix it, I don't care.
"Y-You don't?" Her voice still quivered from crying "Your acting as if you burned the place down."He managed to say through a chuckle, helping her back onto her hooves. "Nopony is perfect." He offered to her sweetly, hugging his mare. "It's good to see you again, I missed you!" He kissed her cheek, rubbing noses with the flabbergasted mare.
"So I just destroyed a week's worth of ice cream, and your not mad at all?" Swirl laughed
"Pinks, I own an ice cream FACTORY." Chuckling and snorting a bit "Plus I can remake what's gone in two days." She started to laugh and cuddled up to Vanilla.
"I guess I worried for no reason." Swirl playfully boinged her spit-curl.
"I guess, though I will need help making more ice cream, and it'd be just dandy to have the prettiest mare in Ponyville to help me."She giggled, Vanilla fondling her mane playfully with his hoof.
"I suppose I can help." They kissed. Both giggling at what happened.