First of the Season
I trotted back into the heart of Ponyville, smiling at ponies as I passed. I had Discord's signed papers in my knapsack and was headed to the library to talk with Spike. He'd be able to send Princess Celestia her copy of the agreement. The sun shone down brightly; the pegasi had left only a couple clouds up, which were white and poofy. I smiled, wondering if they'd ever forgive Discord for turning the clouds into cotton candy. What a neat trick that had been. And tasty! I stopped in town for a mandarin orange - they were Twilight's favourite - before trotting directly to the library. I let myself in, then took a deep breath to call out to my purple friends.
"We're right here Pinkie."
I opened my eyes, grinning.
"I got the papers Twilight! I wanted to say thank you for helping me make them all."
"No problem Pinkie, it's always easier if everypony helps." The mare smiled at me, and Spike stepped down from the ladder to bring her a book. He turned to me and asked if I had the papers on me.
"Yuppers! Right here!" I pulled them out from my satchel and handed the dragon a set, tucking my own back in the bag.
"You know, Pinkie Pie," Twilight began, shifting some papers on her desk, "I understand that you wanted to help Discord, and maybe this is like the time you stopped the parasprites... but... I still don't trust him."
"That's okay Twilight," I said, "You don't have to."
We smiled softly at each other before I excused myself to get to work at Sugarcube Corner. I said I'd be back for a game of Pony Blitz - I'd promised Spike I would show him what all the fuss was about.
When I got back home, it was swamped. Apparently today was the day to buy cupcakes. I rushed behind the counter to give the Cakes a well deserved rest and donned my apron. This was my world. For a whole hour I placed orders and gave ponies their pre-orders and swapped baked cakes for batter. After an hour it began to die down and the Cakes returned to let me rest. I thanked them and decided to take a shower. It was H-O-T hot in the bakery. Unfortunately, heat rises, so it was even hotter in my apartment! I sighed, and opened all the windows I could before trotting into the bathroom. I risked a glance in the mirror and smiled before shaking my head. You almost couldn't tell I was a pink pony anymore. Flour and batter and who knew what else covered my fur. After turning the taps to a good, cooling stream, I stepped in and walked back and forth to get my flank. I sighed and began shampooing my hair, thinking about Discord. He was grateful I got him out of the stone, that was for sure. But what now? Forced to stay in Ponyville forever? How old was he anyway? Aside from the millennium in stone... those shouldn't count. They didn't for me, anyway. I frowned. Maybe I could ask him. But that was another problem. He didn't seem to like ponies' company. I had sort of figured that out from the party. I might want to throw everyone a party - but that didn't mean they wanted one... right? I shook my head, rinsing. He seemed to be trying to enjoy himself for my sake at his party. Maybe because he technically owed me. I frowned inwardly. I didn't free him to put him in my debt. That didn't make any sense!
I was about to step out of the shower when I realised I hadn't done my tail. So I scrubbed that, mind wandering back to Discord. Well, he hadn't asked me to stay. He must not like me that much. I frowned even more at this. Of course he liked me, why wouldn't he? Discord probably didn't want somepony who helped seal him in stone to come knocking all the time. That was probably it. He hadn't exactly been his normal chaotic self. But then, he was just complying with the rules. Will I be able to keep a spirit of disharmony in line with a few rules? ...No. My brow furrowed as fear sunk in. No one would be able to stop him. Not unless the girls and I sealed him back in stone. Oh, gummy bears! Chaos could be fun... if it didn't hurt anypony. I rinsed my tail, thinking that I'd just have to cross that bridge when and if I came to it. I hopped out of the shower and dried off - hair poofing back up - before trotting back downstairs. The smell of baked goods was prominent in my apartment, and it intensified as I went down the stairs, like stepping into an oasis of perfumes. There were still a lot of ponies vying for the Cake's attention... it was going to be a long day. As I began helping the Cakes again, the hustle and bustle of the shop left little time for my own thoughts - to which I was grateful. Enough about that snakey spirit! The Cakes had me handle Applejack's delivery of the season's first ripe apples. I suspected it was so I could chat with my friend - the Cakes were so nice. As Applejack wheeled in the load of apples she talked happily about the look of the crop they would be pulling in this season.
"The trees are looking great this year Pinkie! Nothing makes a farm pony as happy as getting a good harvest."
"I know what you mean!" I laughed, "It's like when I get a brand new recipe right the first time!"
"Right." Applejack was smiling, "I got to go, we still on fer Friday?"
"Yuppers!"
"Alright then, see yeh later!"
I waved her off, wheeling the small cart of apples into the back of the store. What kind of goodies would the Cakes make with these? Apple cinnamon something? That was last year... Hm. Sugarcube Corner always had a 'preview' pastry for apple season, but the Cakes normally got her opinion. Their ideas were always awesome, but I loved to give them the critique they wanted. I peeked around the corner, scoping out the front of the store. The crowd had mostly left, so I came out.
"Mr. Cake?"
"Eh... yes?" He paused, bead of sweat running down his forehead. He must have just taken out some more cupcakes. He looked tired.
"I was just wondering what you were doing with the apples this year. Last year it was a super awesome apple-cinnamon cupcake and the year before that it was apple caramel tarts, so I was just curious what fantastic thing you had in mind for this year!"
Mrs. Cake smiled when she heard this, taking advantage of the lull in customers and trotting up to stand beside her husband. The blue mare nodded at her stallion softly and he nodded back.
"We thought, you've been such a big help to us this past year... If you wanted you could make the apple dessert creation."
My eyes grew wide, looking from Mr. to Mrs. Cake and back before starting to feel jittery and bounce in place. Me? Do the featured dessert? THE preview for the major apple season?
"Yes, yes, yes, omigoodness yes!" I sprung over, wrapping the Cakes a big hug, "I promise I'll do my best!"
"We know, Pinkie," Mrs. Cake smiled, pulling out of the hug, "Just make sure it's feasible."
"Of course! I want everypony to enjoy my treats!" I nodded, grinning ear to ear. The apples in the back were the only ripe ones we had so far, so I'd have to be careful when I finally sat down to bake. I rushed to the counter when I noticed a green stallion waiting to be served. I helped him so quickly and efficiently with my excitement that he seemed startled. I quickly went back to my musings. I'd make the best cake, cupcake, tart, bar, or pastry ever! Everypony would love it and Sugarcube Corner would get so much business! The Cakes shooed me off after a bit, even though I still had another hour of work, so I could start work on my ideas. I thanked them before running upstairs. This was going to be a lot of work, but a lot of fun too - just like party planning!
The next day I awoke and set to my treat ideas once again. Oh, a few extra dollops of cream here, or fruit there... It wasn't long until I had quite a few different ideas down on the page. A few hours later, and I started to get tired. My eyes blurred my sketches and notes, and I decided it was definitely time for a break. I walked to the fridge, getting out a can of Gummy's food. I fed the beast and decided to go for a walk to get my mind off the pastry making. I set off toward the Everfree Forest, hoping to get some decent scenery. My mind wandered as I trotted along... and since I was trying to avoid thinking of baking, I thought about Discord. If he broke loose, there would be no one to blame but me. The thought was a bit scary - but there was no use dwelling now. What was done was done. I passed Twilight and a sable stallion, but I wasn't in my right mind, so I didn't call out. Discord, what a character. What would he do in town? We had pretty much everything we needed here in Ponyville. Except a house of chaos. I smiled - that was certainly remedied. But that was his own house; what about helping in Ponyville?
What did a draconequus even eat? I wondered. If he could live off his own chaos then he wouldn't really have to work. Even so, that would be boring. He hated being bored.
As I walked, the houses gave way to a dirt road, lined with a dotting of trees. This path eventually led to Fluttershy's place and then the Everfree forest. Maybe I'd go work out these problems with her... she always knew what to say. Oo! And I could tell her about my apple treat! Having made up my mind, I let myself actually enjoy my surroundings. It was hot out, but not so much that I was too uncomfortable. It did explain why it was almost unbearable in the bakery though. Blue, pink and yellow flowers spotted the grass between the trees, adding extra colour to the land. I picked a couple for Fluttershy, knowing she'd be pleased to see them. Birds sung overhead as I continued along, zipping about overhead. The chatter of birds and other animals grew stronger as I neared my friend's house.
"Flllllllutershy!" I called, cantering up to her door. The yellow filly appeared, smiling at the sight of the flowers as I drew near.
"Oh my, you didn't have to."
"I know," I grinned, walking inside, "I just thought of you when I saw them."
"Well, thank you." She smiled, "Would you like a drink?"
"Sure would! Boy, is it hot out!" My grin never faltered, "What do you have?"
"Um... water and iced lemon tea."
"Oo, tea please!" I smiled before finding a vase. Fluttershy was fishing the pitcher out of the cold box, so I just finished quickly and went to find a seat in the main room. Creatures of varying health were about, watched under Fluttershy's careful eye. A dove slept in my normal seat, wing broken. Finding two unoccupied cushions was harder than usual, though most of these animals appeared to only have a cough or flu... so they'd be back to normal soon. What had happened to the poor dove? I decided to leave that question alone; the white bird was sleeping through the heat. Fluttershy appeared with drinks, and I told her about my new job - an honor - doing the preview treat for apple season.
"Oh, my goodness! How lucky!" she exclaimed in her soft way.
"I know! I'm just so excited!" I took another sip of the tea. It was so cold, I could feel it wind down my esophagus. I asked her about her day, and she regaled me with tales about the animals in her care. The dove, apparently, had been trying to show off a new move but miscalculated a turn and hit a tree trunk too hard. Ouch. Fluttershy brought the conversation back to my apple treats.
"Do you know what you're going to do?"
"No, not yet anyway." I took another sip, "I wanted to ask you something, though. About what you thought of Discord being released."
The mare paused mid-sip and placed her cup down.
"Um... well..."
"I'm wondering now if it was the right thing to do."
"Um... We won't know that for a while, not truly." Nodding, I listened intently to my friend. "If he wants to do bad things, it is not your fault, Pinkie. You just tried to help another creature out. There's no shame in that. If he wants to be bad, then you gave it a shot and he... made a bad decision."
The way she worded it made sense, though I could tell there was something she wasn't saying, but I wasn't going to push it.
"But... Well, I guess you're right. But what's he going to do now?"
"Whatever he can find to do. Um... it might be difficult if he can't control his chaos."
"Yeah, but I think he has it mostly under control - at least from what I've seen."
"Oh... okay."
We sat there, enjoying each others' company and sipping lemon tea. My mind wandered, but it always came back to Discord. I really believed he would behave himself, but... what if he didn't? Not everyone was as nice or understanding as Fluttershy. I thought a moment before speaking again.
"...Maybe he's lonely."
A/N: Review please everypony!
Just a little look into Pinkie's thought process at this time. And what an honor with the premiering apple treat! What do you guys think she's going to make? Anyone who guesses correctly (more or less) will get their OC as a background pony! The sable stallion is owned by Rocky Waters.
Big thanks to PinkiePi who helped create the 'Oh gummy bears' line XD
WANT YOUR OC IN MY FIC? Check out the contest: tiny u r l.c o m [slash] 7fshllh
Guess which treat Pinkie will make (more or less) and win!
PM me or write your answer in a review!
