Chapter 13: Baby Cakes
Today, the Mane seven were at the Ponyville General Hospital. Nopony was hurt or sick by the way. This was an exciting day! Mr. and Mrs. Cake had just gotten a new addition to their family. The seven ponies were chattering with each other excitedly as they peeked behind a large glass window to see where the new foal was amongst the rest of sleeping baby ponies.
"Can you believe the baby is finally here?" Applejack said excitedly.
"Cup Cake and Carrot Cake must be so proud," said Twilight.
"I thought Mrs. Cake's first name was Chiffon?" Chase asked.
He had asked the baking mare himself that very question and that was the answer she had given him.
"She prefers Cup Cake for obvious reasons," Twilight answered.
Chase hummed in understanding.
"I wonder if it's a filly or a colt?" Rarity asked.
"We should find out soon," said Chase and then looked at Pinkie with an annoyed look. "Hopefully, before Pinkie dents the window..."
"I wanna see the new baby pony!" Pinkie said excitedly as her faces was practically plastered to the window.
It was then Mr. Cake arrived. The fuzz on his muzzle showing that he hadn't shaved in a while.
"Meet our son, Pound Cake," said Mr. Cake. He then removed a blanket to show a white foal with a brown mane and tail and tiny wings. Pound Cake gave a cute yawn and continued to sleep.
"Awwww..." said the seven ponies.
"...and our daughter, Pumpkin Cake," added Mr. Cake as he removed a second blanket from another baby bed. There was another baby that had a butter cream colored foal with orange mane and tail in the colors of the father. She also had a tiny little horn on her head as she sucked her fore-hoof.
"Huh?" said the seven ponies in surprise.
"Two new foals for me to play with?" Pinkie gasped, "That's two, two, two times the fun! This is the greatest day ever!" Pinkie then ducked down and was suddenly inside the baby room with a party hat on her head and a noise maker in her mouth.
"We need to celebrate your birthday, babies," Pinkie told the two foals, "'cause you were born today! Woo-hoo!"
"Shhh," said a pony names Nurse Redheart sternly, "The babies are trying to sleep."
"But I was just-"
"Shhh," Nurse Redheart cut Pinkie off.
"But-"
"Shhh!" Nurse Redheart repeated more firmly as she walked away. Pinkie then waited for the nurse to leave the room before looking at the babies again.
"Happy, happy birthday to you and to you today-" Pinkie sang in a quiet tone as Mr. Cake just rolled his eyes in the background.
Then Nurse Redheart made her return. She gave Pinkie a glare before tossing her out of the baby room. Chase just rolled his eyes at Pinkie.
"Now how in thunderation is one of them twins a Pegasus and the other one a unicorn?" Applejack asked curiously. The others ponies, minus Pinkie, had the same question on their minds.
"Easy," said Mr. Cake, "My great-great-great-great grandfather was a unicorn. And Cup Cake's great aunt's second cousin twice removed was a Pegasus. That makes sense, right?"
"I guess..." said Chase as he scratched his head while the others gave no reply to Mr. Cakes family tree information.
Chase knew alot of school subjects, but family genetics and genealogy wasn't his forte.
"Aw yeah!" said Rainbow, "Heh, just you wait! Once little Pound Cake get his wings going, he'll be all over the place."
"And be careful around Pumpkin Cake," said Twilight.
"Baby unicorns get strange magic surges that come and go," Rarity added.
"That's true," said Chase, "one of those magical surges saved my life."
The others nodded in agreement, including Mr. Cake. It was then Pinkie reappeared inside the baby room again. How she kept getting in there was anyone's guess.
"Quick! Make a wish and blow out your candles!" Pinkie told them, "Which is easy 'cause there's zero candles! You are zero years old, after all!"
SMACK!
"OW!" Pinkie yelped as she rubbed her now sore head in pain as Chase glared at her sternly.
"Shhh!" said Nurse Redheart sternly, making Pinkie face plant the cake. Pinkie just smiled as frosting covered her nose and chin. The others just looked annoyed at her.
*Main theme*
Some time had passed since the twins had been brought home. Pound and Pumpkin Cake were now crawling about on the floor of Sugarcube Corner. Each of them wearing a party hat as Carrot Cake arrived with a huge package of baby diapers on his back. Pinkie then set a small cake between the two and began to sing.
[Pinkie Pie]
Happy month-i-versary to you and you today!
I-can't-believe-you're-aleady-a-month-old.
Time-sure-flies-doesn't-it-wow.
Seems-like-only-yesterday-you-were-born.
But now yo're a month old today, hey!
As Pinkie sang, she put a noise maker in each other their mouths and did her usual routine of getting into a pony's face from random angles. She then finished by popping out of the cake and the twins blew their noise makers happily.
The twins giggled excitedly before jumping onto Pinkie as she continued to play with them. Mr. Cake looked at them with some concern before he smiled and went back to his work.
"Are you ready for your favoritest game in the whole wide world?" Pinkie asked excitedly as she rushed toward some swinging doors that led into the another room with some shelves, "Where's Pinkie Pie...? Here I am! Where's Pinkie Pie...? Here I am! Where's Pinkie Pie...? Here I am!" The twins just laughed happily. On the other side of the doors, Mrs. Cake was busy with something on the shelves as Mr. Cake set down some boxes loaded with various goods inside.
"Here I am! Here I am! Here I am!" Pinkie repeated before blowing them a playful raspberry and headed back into the main room. Mr. and Mrs. Cake shared a look of concern.
"Everything okay in there?" Mrs. Cakes asked as she peeked inside the main room and saw Pinkie making funny faces with the twins, "Who needs a diaper change?"
"Don't worry, they're fine!" said Pinkie as she picked up Pound Cake in her fore-hooves, it was then a foul smell started to drift from his diaper. Pinkie caught a good sniff that made her lean away from him, "oogh, I mean..."
"Oh, I got it," said Mr. Cake as he brought over two fresh diapers with his tail.
He quickly set both babies on a table and quickly removed the stinky diapers and tossed them into a trash bin set up in the corner of the room. After adding a little baby powder, Mr. Cake easily put on some brand new diapers for each foal. The twins just giggled at their father and Pinkie just watched them with a smile on her face as Mr. Cake washed his fore-hooves.
"Is anypony hungry?" Mr. Cake asked out of the blue.
"Ah, no thanks," Pinkie replied as she kept smiling at the twins, "I just had a big breakfast."
"I'm on it," said Mrs. Cake as she brings to twins two bottles.
With a flick of her tail, the bottles were tossed into the air as Pound and Pumpkin caught them and began to suck the milk out of their own bottle. Pinkie watched them drink for a few seconds before she found herself growing rather bored. She even began to look at her custom made fore-leg watch that she apparently made herself. The babies sighed as they finished and set their bottles aside, but then they began to groan with discomfort.
"Oh, oh, you're making funny faces!" said Pinkie, "I have one! Bleghhh!" Pinkie tried to make faces with the twins as Mr. Cake laughed.
"No, y'see, Pinkie," Mr. Cake explained, "the babies need to be burped!" He then sat down and held each foal so he could lightly pat their backs. It wasn't long before both foals let out a nice BURP in reply.
"All set now? Everything good?" Pinkie asked eagerly, "Okay, who wants to play again?"
The twins giggled excitedly they hopped out of their father's fore-hooves and crawled after Pinkie. Pound Cake then noticed a stack of playing blocks and knocked them over. He went to stomp on them when Mrs. Cake grabbed him.
"Uh uh uh, Pound Cake," said Mrs. Cake, "no pounding things."
Pound Cake just smiled. Then Pumpkin noticed a discarded bottle of baby powder and stuck it into her mouth.
"Uh uh uh, we don't chew on things, Pumpkin Cake," Mrs. Cake told her as she removed the bottle from her mouth.
"Except for food," Pinkie added when suddenly Mrs. Cake gave a dramatic gasp.
"Food!" Mrs. Cake replied, "Great cinnamon sticks, I completely forgot!"
"No, you just fed them bottles, remember?" Pinkie replied calmly.
"Not the babies' food!" said Mrs. Cake.
"Gh! The food for the enormously big catering order we have to deliver today!" Mr. Cake replied.
"Oh, with the new twins, we've been so distracted!" said Mrs. Cake.
Pinkie and the twins just smiled as the two ponies were panicking. Then as if fate had heard their panicking, Sunray entered the shop.
"Good afternoon Mr. and Mrs. Cake. Chase told me and Jade that you guys had babies. I was excited to see the cute foals and decided-" said Sunray cheerfully, and then flinched as how flustered they looked, "Whoa...guess it was a good thing I came by. I was looking to see if you needed some help."
Mr. and Mrs. Cake beamed excitedly.
"Oh, you came just in time, Sunray." said Mrs. Cake, "We need somepony to babysit the twins while we work on a large rush catering order."
Sunray blinked before sighing to himself.
"I wish I could, but..." said Sunray slowly, the fact the Cakes looked downcasted made more feel a insecure, "I don't know anything about babysitting two foals. Chase is barely managing three little fillies from time to time. I hardly know them as well as the rest of my friends. But I can help you with that rush order until you can find somepony else who can do the job if you don't mind me doing that much..."
"Gh, quick, honeybun," said Mr. Cake wearily, "we need to find a babysitter to watch the foals while we take care of this! Sunray, if you can get started on that order for us, we would be very grateful."
Mr. Cake put on a saddleback baby carrier onto Mrs. Cake as she put the foals into it.
Sunray just nodded as he headed into the kitchen.
"I could do it!" Pinkie offered, "I wanna do it! Oh, the babies love playing with me, I'll do it!" However the pink pony was ignored as the Cakes exited their shop.
"I wonder who would be available on such short notice," said Mrs. Cake to her husband as they made their way into town.
"Me! Me! Pick me!" said Pinkie Pie as she bounced up and down, but the Cakes continued to ignore her.
(Scene changes)
It wasn't much longer before they arrived at Fluttershy's cottage and asked the yellow Pegasus for help.
"Oh I would love to babysit!" said Fluttershy as the Cakes smiled excitedly, "but I can't today sorry. I promised Angel we'd go on a picnic."
This made the Cakes frown instantly as Fluttershy turned to show an already packed picnic basket with a very impatient bunny standing nearby.
"You understand don't you?" Fluttershy asked as she turned to face the Cakes, but then noticed that they were already leaving.
"Y-you're not mad at me, are you?" Fluttershy asked worried as she reached out a fore-hoof, "please don't be mad at me!" Sadly,
Fluttershy would never get an answer.
"I'll do it! Pick me!" Pinkie offered as she cradled Angel in her fore-hooves.
(Scene changes)
The Cakes then headed back into town and arrived at the Grand Oaks Library to ask Twilight and Chase, who shook their heads in response.
"I have to finish this report for the Princess summarizing all my...oops...I mean Chase and I's other reports to the Princess. And Chase is working on his jiu jitsu skills with Jade." Twilight explained as the Cakes saw Spike holding several sheets of paper with his hands, feet, mouth, tail, and even his top scale. They also saw Chase and Jade practicing their katas together while sparing.
The Cakes quickly made their exit as Pinkie appeared cradling a book wearing a diaper.
"I wanna babysit!" said Pinkie, "Pick me!" But the Cakes had already left and had headed to Sweet Apple Acres.
(Scene changes)
The Cakes just smiled hopefully as Applejack was bucking some apples off some trees and putting them into baskets.
"Babysit? Now?" Applejack exclaimed in disbelief, "When there's a swarm o' hungry caterpillars headin' this way? I gotta get all these apples before they get swarmed on!"
A nearby caterpillar crawled up to an apple on the ground and was about to take a huge bite of it when Applejack pulled the apple away. The worm looked rather annoyed as the Cakes just exchanged worried looks and left.
"Ooh, ooh, I wanna do it!" said Pinkie as she appeared cradling several apples in her fore-legs, but was ignored once again.
(Scene changes)
The Cakes then found Rainbow sitting on a nearby cloud and asked her. The blue Pegasus wasted no time declining.
"I got tickets to the Wonderbolts show this afternoon," Rainbow told them, "Gotta dash!"
Rainbow then zoomed away, making her cloud poof into thin air. Pinkie then appears holding a cloud wearing a diaper.
"Ask me!" Pinkie said as she juggled her cloud baby about, "Mememememememememememememe!"
Pinkie than stopped when she missed her juggle and the cloud landed on the ground, causing it to disappear and leaving nothing but a diaper behind. Pinkie smiled sheepishly before taking off.
(Scene changes)
The Cake's last stop was at the Carousel Boutique.
"Moi? Babysit?" said Rarity, "N- Oh nonononononononono! I'm flattered that you would think of me though."
Despite being cheerful, Rarity's smile didn't help the Cakes feel any better as they panted heavily from exhaustion.
It was then a certain pink pony stood before them with a toothy smile. They knew what she wanted to ask. They knew it all the time. It seemed that they had run out of...better...options.
"Pinkie," said Mr. Cake with a groan and unenthusiastic tone, "how would you like to babysit for us?" Pinkie gasped excitedly.
"I dunno," Pinkie answered casually, "I'll have to check my schedule." Pinkie was only teasing as she gave them both a smirk, but the two Cakes were too busy wondering if they had made the right decision.
(Scene changes)
They didn't have much time to think about it as they returned to Sugarcube Corner and went to collecting the food they needed for their delivery. Since they had taken alot of time trying to find a babysitter, Sunray had managed to get all but a single cake completed without much of a problem. While the Cakes were very grateful, they were more worried about the fact the lives of their month old twins were now in the hooves of Pinkie. Mrs. Cake pulled Sunray aside as he was trying to use his magic to cool down the cake layers so he could assemble it.
"Sunray, I know you said you have no babysitting experience with foals and such," said Mrs. Cake nervously, "but...could you...help Pinkie out?"
Sunray blinked before he shook his head as he looked at her with a stern look.
"You don't trust Pinkie to handle the twins?" Sunray asked. Mrs. Cake just looked away uneasily.
"If you don't trust her, why didn't you just tell her no?" Sunray asked the blue earth pony.
"Sunray, please, will you just do this favor me?" Mrs. Cake pleaded, refusing to answer his questions.
Sunray just sighed.
"Does Pinkie know you're..."
"Mrs. Cake?" Pinkie peeked in.
"Yes, Pinkie, is something wrong?" Mrs. Cake asked frantically.
"No, I just wanted to ask if you're okay if I ask Sunray to help me?" Pinkie suggested. Mrs. Cake blinked before she smiled.
"That's a wonderful idea," Mrs. Cake replied in a cheery tone, "Sunray, do you think you could help Pinkie Pie?"
Her smile was not only over the top, but also showed her desperation, which only Sunray could see the later.
"Alright," said Sunray uneasily.
"Yay!" Pinkie exclaimed a she hugged him hard from the side, "It will be like we're new parents! You can be the daddy and I'll play the mommy!"
SLAP!
"OW!" Pinkie yelped as she rubbed her head in pain.
"Pinkie, I'm warning you. One slip up for this and you're not gonna like the consequences." Sunray said with a stern look. "If you so much as lous this one, so help me you won't be able to sit for a week. Got it?"
"Yes." Pinkie replied with a nervous smile.
Mrs. Cake giggled before moving the rest of the goodies from the kitchen to their cart. Sunray had offered them some of his freight cars, but Mrs. Cake declined since they were already short on time. Pinkie, Pound Cake, and Pumpkin Cake just watched as the Cakes rushed to load up their cart.
"Now, Pinkie, are you sure you really understand the responsibility of watching over two babies?" Mr. Cake asked the pink pony.
"I can be responsible," said Pinkie with determination, "Why, responsibility is my middle name. Pinkie Responsibility Pie."
"I thought your middle name was Diane?" Sunray asked from the kitchen.
"Figure of speech!" Pinkie called out as Mrs. Cake got into the her face.
"But this time you need to take care of them, not just play with them," Mrs. Cake told her, "You have to be responsible."
"Yes, I know," said Pinkie plainly, "I will. I am. Remember, I have Sunray here to give me a hoof if I should need one."
Pinkie gave Mrs. Cake a salute. It was then a ding was heard in the kitchen and Mrs. Cake hurried inside and then came back into the main room carting an undecorated cake.
"Mrs. Cake wait!" said Sunray since he was going to try decorating it.
"Oh, here you are, dearie," said Mrs. Cake as she tossed Pinkie a very, very long list, "All your responsibilities are on this list." Pinkie gasped.
"Whoa! That's a lot of responsi-" Pinkie then recomposed herself, "Consider it done!"
"Mrs. Cake," Sunray called out as he entered the main room, "The cake isn't decorated."
Mrs. Cake noticed as Mr. Cake walked up to her.
"We'll frost it when we get there!" Mr. Cake told his wife, "C'mon sugarplum, tick-tock!"
"Sorry..." said Sunray, feeling bad he was unable to finish the cake.
"You did your best, dear," said Mrs. Cake to Mario before turning to Pinkie, "Take good care of our two precious little ginger snaps!"
"No problemo, Mr. and Mrs. Cake," said Pinkie as she pushed Mrs. Cake out of the shop, "Everything is under control."
Pinkie and Sunray both waved at them goodbye as the Cakes returned the gesture and headed on their way. Pinkie had barely closed the door when the twins suddenly looked rather sad. Pinkie gave them a smile.
"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
The twins both burst into tears.
"Uh-oh," said Pinkie, unsure of what to do.
"Oh come on, guys. Please don't cry." Sunray added nervously. The babies just continued to cry as Pinkie Pie frantically tried to think of a way to calm them down.
"Umm...maybe we should review that list..." Sunray suggested to the flustered pink pony when she got an idea.
"I got this," said Pinkie confidently as Sunray watched with interest.
"Oh, don't cry, little friends!" said Pinkie gently and raced towards the swinging doors, "Look, look! Where's Pinkie Pie...? Where's Pinkie Pie...?"
The twins just looked at each other and continued to cry.
"Oh no...I'm right here, see?" said Pinkie as the twins continued to cry.
Pinkie then tried to make funny faces to make them laugh. The twins paused for only a second before they went back to crying.
"Any more bright ideas?" Sunray asked as he tried to cradle them both in his fore-legs to calm them down, but his efforts were futile.
"Oh, think-think-think..." said Pinkie and then something clicked in her mind, "Aha!"
Before Sunray could ask what she had in mind. He was soon setting up a table for the twins to sit behind. The room had been darkened and a curtain set up to resemble a comedy club.
Sunray couldn't believe what Pinkie was doing before slapped his face in annoyance. At least the twins had stopped crying and were just sitting blankly, wondering what was going on.
"Hey guys, watch this!" said Pinkie as she began her routine and applause was heard in the background.
"Ugh, this is not gonna end well." Sunray said with a disdain look.
"Hey, you're a wonderful crowd here tonight!" said Pinkie as she used the top end of a broom as a microphone, "Where y'all from?" Pinkie held the broom as the twins, who just looked at her blankly. It wasn't until Pumpkin Cake tried to bite the top of the broom that Pinkie pulled it away.
"Wow, that's great," said Pinkie, trying to continue her comedy routine, "Y'know. I used to have an ant farm, but I had to get rid of it because...I couldn't find tractors that small!"
BA-DUM-TISH
The twins just looked at her blankly as Sunray just shook his head with a groan of frustration.
"Get it? Tractors that small?" Pinkie asked but just got more silence, puzzled faces from the twins and a glare from Sunray. She tried to continue, "The other day, I spilled spot remover on my dog...and now I can't find him!"
BA-DUM-TISH
Pinkie revealed that she was the one who was doing the joke fanfare with a drum and symbol. The twins just stared for a moment before they started crying again.
"Pinkie, this is crazy!" Sunray said with an angry look as he continued to cradle the twins.
"Gee, tough crowd." said Pinkie from the drums set.
"Tell me about it," Pinkie replied to herself as she returned to the stage, "Fine. I wasn't gonna pull off a show stopper, but you're a lovely audience and I think you deserve it!"
Pinkie then ducked behind the curtain as Sunray looked more irritated than ever.
(Scene changes)
After a few seconds of fast memorizing and choreography, Pinkie appeared on stage with a pig snout on her face and began to sing.
[Pinkie Pie - as she sang, she bounced about on her tail as well as her flank. Pinkie also popped up between the twins and Sunray during the singing. The twins just looked confused and annoyed as Sunray felt the same.]
First you jiggle your tail! Oink-Oink-Oink!
Then you wiggle your snout! Oink-Oink-Oink!
Then you wiggle your rump! Oink-Oink-Oink!
Then shout it out! Oink-Oink-Oink!
First you jiggle your tail! Oink-Oink-Oink!
Then you wiggle your snout! Oink-Oink-Oink!
Then you wiggle your rump! Oink-Oink-Oink!
Then shout it out! Oink-Oink-Oink!
[Pinkie Pie - she noticed that the twins started to cry again. Sunray gave Pinkie a glare as his patience was starting to wear off. Pinkie looks worried.]
First you jiggle your tail! Oink-Oink-Oink!
Then you wiggle your snout! Oink-Oink-Oink!
Then you wiggle your rump! Oink-Oink-Oink!
Then shout it out! Oink-Oink-Oink!
Suddenly the song ended when Pinkie tripped. She spin dashed into a nearby cabinet. The impact knocked a bag of flour off the top of the cabinet.
PLOOF!
The bag broke, covering the pink Earth Pony in white flour. The twins stared and then giggled at the sight.
"There, see?" said Pinkie to Sunray. "Nothing to this babysitting business! Ugh!"
Pinkie just plopped to the floor as Sunray still looked rather unamused. He didn't know what was worse, seeing Pinkie coated in flour or the fact Pinkie sung such a ridiculous tune.
I know parents do anything to make their children happy. Sunray thought, But there is fine line between doing something out of love that is worth embarassing yourself for and just making a complete fool out of yourself and your children. I think Pinkie is doing just that to find where to draw such a line…
Sunray didn't have much time to figure it out as Pinkie finally decided to examine the list of things she needed to do. Sunray was beside her while reading the list as well.
"Snack time," said Pinkie once she saw the time noted on the list, "that's easy enough."
"Assuming they are even hungry," said Sunray with a bored look on his face as Pinkie headed into the kitchen and pulled out two bowls of baby food, put the two foals into their high chairs and put the bowls in front of them.
"Okie-dokie! Eat up!" said Pinkie, but the twins just looked at the bowls of food, unsure about what to do.
Sunray just looked at Pinkie before grabbing a spoon with his magic. Pinkie flicked the spoon away from his magic grip.
"I've got this," said Pinkie.
"Right," Sunray remarked, rolling his eyes.
"Like this," said Pinkie as she picked up the bowl, "Num-num-num, num-num-num-num! Ahh!"
Sunray looked more annoyed than ever. It suddenly made sense why the girl had such poor table manners. Pumpkin Cake just looked at her bowl, appeared to try and take a bite, but then knocked the bowl off the table and grabbed the table cloth.
"Nom-" Pumpkin Cake mumbled as she sucked on the corner of the table cloth and nearly pull it and a flower vase off the table.
"No, Pumpkin Cake," said Pinkie as she pulled the table cloth out of her mouth, "we eat food, not tablecloths." Pumpkin only responded by crying loudly.
"Pumpkin Cake," said Sunray sternly, "If you don't want to eat, that's fine, but no more sucking or chewing on things that are not food, young lady..." He then turned to Pound Cake, who was banging his fist on the table, "...and you need to stop pounding your table. One of these days, you're going to..."
As if Sunray couldn't not have said that at the right time. Pound Cake banged his fore-hooves hard on the table, sending his bowl of food into the air and splattering on his head. Now he was crying along with his sister. Pinkie just looked at the two, struggling to think of what to do.
"Huh, huh?" Pinkie stuttered, "Uh, hey, guys, look at me!" Pinkie then rushed over to pick up a bag of flour.
"Pinkie, don't you-"
PLOOF
Sunray was too late as Pinkie dumped the bag of flour on her.
"Achoo!" Pinkie sneezed as the twins began to giggle happily. However, even Pinkie was feeling a bit annoyed.
"Yeah, I think I can see where this is going," said Pinkie.
"You coming up with dumb ideas? Yeah, that's a laugh." Sunray replied.
Pinkie just snorted in reply before she shook off the flour and headed into the bathroom to prepare the twins a bubble bath. Sunray stayed behind the clean up Pound Cake's head and the rest of the discarded food before taking them into the bathroom with Pinkie.
This had been easier said than done since both twins were bursting with energy. Sunray had a hard time setting them onto his back and keeping them from trying to jump off as he brought them to the bathroom and set them on the floor with his magic. Pinkie had just turned the water off and Sunray locked the door when the twins decided to take off at high speed. Pinkie and Sunray tried to go after them, but they split up, causing Pinkie and Sunray to crash head first into each other.
"I always knew you'd give me a headache," Sunray said woozily as he held his aching head before he shook his head to recover.
Sunray gave chase after Pound Cake. Sunray may be a unicorn with martial arts skills, but Pound Cake's skill with changing directions made outrunning and guessing what direction Pound Cake would change to very difficult.
Sunray tried to use his magic, but one could imagine how hard it is to pick up a moving target that constantly changed directions. Sunray even got Pound pinned into a corner, but as soon he pounced, Pound, leaped over him, stomped his head and took off as Sunray crashed to the ground for a few seconds. Pinkie cringed when Sunray hit the corner head first when she saw Pumpkin chewing on a bath towel.
"Towels are not food, Pumpkin Cake," Pinkie told her as Pumpkin pulled the towel off the hanging rack and took off with it.
Both Sunray and Pinkie split up to try and catch them.
"Drop it..." said Pinkie as the twins ran side by side.
"Drop it..." Sunray repeated as he was chasing them instead.
"Drop it?" said Pinkie and Sunray together as they met in the middle of the room and stopped since the twins had managed to shake them off their tails.
Sunray then heard a sound and gestured for Pinkie to follow him to the bathroom cabinet. He then pointed out a familiar brown tail sticking out of the cabinet and some muffled giggled coming from it. Pinkie then opened the cabinet door.
"Aha!" said Sunray as the twins smiled and then zipped away before he could grab them, "Seriously? How are they faster?!"
"Never mind!" Pinkie retorted, "Where did they go now?"
Sunray then noticed a familiar pair of hooves under the shower curtain. Sunray pointed for Pinkie to get them while he stayed some distance away. He had a plan. Pinkie headed over to the shower curtain. The instant she opened it, she went to grab them, but they dash away under her hind legs. The twins laughed as they made their escape, but then Sunray landed in front of them.
"Surprise!" said Sunray, startling the twins as Pinkie snagged them and dropped them both into the bathtub.
The twins wasted no time crying loudly once more.
"Not again!" Sunray groaned as he held his head with his fore-hooves.
Pinkie thought for a moment before she got another idea.
"Ooh, look, guys!" said Pinkie, "Bubbles!" She began to blow about some of the bubbles and the babies started to smile as they saw the bubbles blowing about.
Pinkie then smiled as she made a bubble beard on her face. This gave Sunray an idea as he gathered some bubbles to make it look like he had a lion's mane and started to playfully growled at them.
The twins laughed some more before a giant bubble appeared and popped as soon as it hit Pumpkin Cake's horn. This made the twins cry all over again. Sunray was getting more uneasy. It seemed like these two foals just couldn't stay happy for a long period of time.
"Uh, uh, uh, uh, don't cry!" said Pinkie as she looked around.
Sunray then noticed something near the tub and smiled as he picked it up with his magic and handed it to Pinkie.
"Look, look uh, floating things!" said Pinkie as she showed them a rubber ducky and set it in the water, "Ooh, aaah, eeh!" The twins began to smile as it floated in the water.
Sunray smiled at the sight before he noticed Pinkie started to load the bathtub with various types of floating toys, even a rubber life raft and paddles. This only made the twins began to cry once more as they made the toys and raft fly out of the tub.
Sunray groaned when Pound Cake's fore-hoof swatted the nearby water faucet, breaking it and sending a fast stream of water at them.
"Uh oh." Sunray said before he jumped high in the air and clung to the bathroom ceiling.
Pinkie was knocked back by the strong spray of water. It even sent her crashing through the bathroom door. Sunray then found a valve to shut off the water in the bathroom when Pinkie arrived soaking wet and with an annoyed look on her face.
"Getting to much for you now, huh?" Sunray asked with a blunt look.
"You think?!" Pinkie asked with an annoyed tone.
Sunray saw her holding another bag of flour over her.
"Uh, don't make me do it, guys!" Pinkie pleaded, "You know what happens when you mix flour and water, don't you?" The twins just glared and continued to cry.
"Pinkie, don't give into them," Sunray pleaded, "There has to be better way! Stand strong and don't let them-"
PLOOF
Too late. Pinkie dumped the flour over herself. It didn't take long before the flour turned into unseasoned dough and they were now covered in it. The twins just giggled at the sight as Sunray looked at her blankly.
"You really are making them laugh when you do that, you know." Sunray asked with a blunt look.
Pinkie just looked indignant.
(Scene changes)
Once bath time...for everypony...had been completed, Pinkie was reading the list again. This time, more attentively. Sunray was meditating in a lotus flower position.
Then they froze as they caught a whiff of a familiar but stinky smell. Pinkie gasped and held a hoof on her nose.
"Oh, jeez! That's foul!" Sunray said with a disgusted look.
"Smells like somepony needs a changy-wangy their diaper-wiper right now-a-wow! I''ll handle this." Pinkie said as she collected two diapers.
"Easy...easy..." said Pinkie quietly as she slowly made her way toward the now stinky twins, who were just playing as Sunray closed the door from the outside before he breathed a sigh of relief.
Pinkie slowly peeked over the top of the cribs and went for the pounce. Once again, the twins giggled before zipping away. Pinkie plopped onto the floor. Pinkie sighed.
The twins had picked a place behind a dresser drawer to hide, even standing on their hind legs to make it easier to avoid being seen. Pumpkin Cake just giggled quietly to her brother as Pinkie spotted them.
She pounced on them and then a tussle commenced as Pinkie struggled to keep them still while they changed their diapers as Sunray opened the door to go inside before he saw the tussle. He saw Pinkie throw the dirty diapers in the trash bin. He turned to see Pinkie pin both babies down for powdering and clean diapers to notice.
"Wait- no- stay there- just- for a second," Pinkie struggled as Pound Cake nearly made his escape and Pinkie pulled him back. as the tussle continued, "stand still- I've almost-."
When the dust cleared, Pinkie found a diaper on her head and one on her flank instead of the twins. Pound and Pumpkin Cake laughed before taking off, making Sunray facepalmed himself in annoyance.
"Oh, you've gotta be kidding me," Pinkie exclaimed.
DING DONG!
"Oh! Thank goodness they're home," said Pinkie, "Sunray, you stay here and try to get them into their diapers. I'm going to see who it is."
"Alright." Sunray said as he witnessed Pinkie had already left the room and closed the door.
Pinkie quickly opened the door to find, not the Cakes but Twilight at the front porch. "Hi! I finished up the work I had to do," said Twilight, "so I'd thought I'd stop by and see if you needed any help. Whoa!"
Twilight soon found Pinkie pulling her into the shop.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you for coming!" said Pinkie, "I can't begin to tell what my day has been like! I mean these babies just won't listen to reason, and don't even get me started on their taste in stand-up comedy. [Ba-dum tish!] I thought Sunray would-"
"Wait...Sunray is here helping you?" Twilight asked, surprised.
"Well, duh," said Pinkie, "He's the most reliable pony to ask when you need help besides Applejack. At least he was until I found out how "helpful" he is with baby-sitting..."
"I am not surprised," said Twilight, "Chase told me Sunray is better with older foals and young ponies. He's not very good at handling babies. He doesn't have the patience for them."
"Huh?" Pinkie exclaimed in surprise.
"OH FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! WILL YOU BOTH STOP MOVING AROUND!" Sunray bellowed from upstairs. Pinkie just chuckled sheepishly before groaning in embarrassment.
"It's okay, Pinkie," said Twilight as she walked about the main room, "I figured you would need some help. That's why I stopped by."
"Ex-cuse me?" said Pinkie, taking offense to Twilight's remark.
"Babies take a lot of work," said Twilight as she used her magic to organize some toys that had been scattered across the floor, "and some ponies are just not cut out to handle the responsibility."
"Is that so?" said Pinkie, now clearly offended before she pushed Twilight out of the shop, "Well, thank for stopping by, Twilight. Sorry, I don't have time to visit. I'm very busy with my responsibilities here. And I'm sure Sunray and myself alone can handle things!"
"I'm happy to help!" said Twilight, "It's no trouble-" Before Twilight could finish, Pinkie had slammed the door on Twilight's nose. Pinkie was steaming.
"Well, of all the-" Pinkie vented as she removed the diaper from her head, "She thinks I can't handle things on my own! Maybe because I haven't handled things on my own. Even I can tell Sunray looks rather lost...no...no, no, no, NO! Well, I can handle things on my own and with Sunray with me, it will be as easy as cake!"
When she arrived and peeked into the room, she found Sunray on the floor looking exhausted and several of his mane hairs were sticking up. He had pretty much given up putting on new diapers on them. Pumpkin Cake was just chewing on Pinkie's rubber chicken and sitting on the floor while Pound Cake was bouncing on his crib bed. Pinkie put on a stern face and walked into the room and first pulled Sunray back on his hoofs.
"They can be a real handful sometimes, Pinkie. Majorly." Sunray said as he brushed his mane before it returned back to normal.
Pinkie had enough this time.
"Pound Cake," Pinkie growled to the jumping filly, "this is a crib. it is only to be used for napping, sleeping, and on occasion with permission, as a pretend old-timey Western fort. It is not a trampoline, so stop your jumping right now, mister!"
Pinkie got into the baby colt's face as Pound Cake just smiled sheepishly.
"And you, young filly," said Pinkie as she turned to face Pumpkin Cake, "We do not put anything in our mouth that we cannot safely and properly digest. So stop slobbering on that toy this instant!"
Sunray thought for a moment that Pinkie was using Fluttershy's Stare because Pumpkin quickly dropped the rubber chicken, which made a loud squeak as Pinkie put her into the crib with Pound Cake.
"Now, we've all had a very exhausting afternoon," said Pinkie sternly, "and it's time for all good little foals to take their nap. So, fall asleep!" The twins only stared for a second before they quickly lay down and started snoring. Pinkie sighed as relaxed a bit, tucked them in, and kissed each of their foreheads.
"Sleep tight," Pinkie said sweetly before pulling up the side of the crib, and then removed the second diaper from her flank and tossed it into the trash can.
She then tossed the discarded rubber chicken into the closet and closed it. Sunray turned off the lights as he and Pinkie turned to leave the room.
"Now that's what I call handling things," said Pinkie quietly.
"Good job Pinkie," said Sunray in a whisper, "I'm sorry I haven't been much help. I've..."
"It's okay," said Pinkie as they both exited the room, "Lucky for you, I know how to handle things."
Sunray just chuckled as he looked back and gasped.
"What's...GASP?" Pinkie was about to leave the room when she found the crib...empty!
"Oh, nononono," said Pinkie frantically as she opened the crib and began searching about the room, "Not good, not good, not good!"
"I know you're not supposed to take your eyes off young foals and children for a second," said Sunray as he searched the room as well, "But seriously! They were asleep for crying out loud! They're too young to know how to fake being asleep! Even Mom said that I was at least six months old before I figured out how to do that!"
"Just keep looking!" said Pinkie in a panic, "Pound? Pumpkin? Come out, come out wherever you are!"
It was then Sunray and Pinkie both heard a faint squeaking from the closet. Pinkie quickly opened the door to find Pumpkin Cake inside chewing and squeaking the rubber chicken inside. Pinkie just sighed in exasperation before putting her back in the bed. Sunray just shook his head at her. He just couldn't understand why Pumpkin wouldn't stop chewing on things even after being told constantly not too. And if anypony asked, yes, he did try a pacifier and got beaned in the head with it when Pumpkin spat it out at him.
"I don't remember your mother or father ever having a stubborn side," Sunray said to Pumpkin Cake, who just squeaked the rubber chicken in reply.
"Just help me find Pound Cake," said Pinkie and then turned to Pumpkin Cake, "Whoa! You be a good little girl now, Pumpkin-wumpkin, and stay in your crib for pals, Pinkie-winkie and Sunray...uhhh...Sunray...okay seriously your name is no good for rhymes or nicknames!"
"I noticed," Sunray replied with an eye roll, "let's just find Pound Cake."
Pumpkin Cake seemed to agree as she squeaked the rubber chicken in reply. Pinkie couldn't help but feel a little creped out as she slowly walked away from the crib, but then looked back and saw Pumpkin Cake hadn't moved and just squeaked the rubber chicken. Pinkie then looked back two more times before she finally walked out of the room. Rather than constantly look back, Sunray walked backwards from the door to make sure Pumpkin Cake didn't try to sneak out of the crib.
"Pound Cake?" Pinkie called out shakily as she closed the door to the bedroom, "Here, Pound Cake!"
The wind then blew ominously about the dark hallway as the ghostly sound of giggling made both Sunray and Pinkie uneasy as they huddled close to each other. Just as they looked behind themselves, a shadow raced past them in the foreground.
"Uh, Pound Cake? Uh..." Pinkie stuttered before she and Sunray looked at each other and raced into their bedroom.
Pumpkin Cake was still there, squeaking the rubber chicken. While they should have felt relieved the little filly had stayed put, they still were missing a little colt. It didn't help that they heard the ghostly giggles once more. Pinkie and Sunray held each other fearfully as they looked around the room, first at Pumpkin Cake's crib, then at Pound Cake's empty crib, then at Pumpkin again.
Each time, the squeaking of the chicken started to sound more sinister as Sunray was sure he was hearing chords from Psycho in the background. Pinkie then looked up and there on the ceiling was Pound Cake, giggling to himself and flapping his wings.
"You can fly?!" Pinkie squealed.
"Even Rainbow didn't learn to fly when she was this young," Sunray remarked, "but don't tell her I said that!"
Pound Cake just giggled to himself.
"Oh...get down here...this instant...young...colt!" said Pinkie tried as she tried to jump up and grab him, but her jumps were too short and was soon exhausted, "I'm responsible for you!"
Sunray tried to reach for, but Pound Cake was too smart for him. Pinkie than grabbed a pair of suction shoes and walked her way into the ceiling and managed to grab Pound Cake as she made her way down. She had just gotten back on the floor when she and Sunray noticed Pumpkin Cake trying to reach out for a toy from the toy chest. When she is unable to get it, she suddenly made her horn glow and the toy, which was a butterfly, literally flew over to her. Pinkie's jaw dropped making her release Pound Cake, who just hovered between Pinkie and Sunray.
"Of all the times to get a magical surge," Sunray groaned aloud, "Why NOW?!"
Pumpkin quickly brought the butterfly and the other toys towards her and then picked the butterfly toy to suck on.
"Nom, nom, nom," Pumpkin Cake said contently.
"No, no, no, Pumpkin," said Pinkie as she took the toy away. Pumpkin then grabbed another toy.
"Nom, Nom," said Pumpkin Cake as she sucked on it.
"No, no," said Pinkie as she took that toy away. Then Pumpkin grabbed another toy.
"Nom," said Pumpkin Cake as she sucked on that one.
"No," said Pinkie sternly as she took that toy away as well, "Hmph! I am the responsible one, and I said no!"
"We should nickname the two foals the Déjà Vu twins," said Sunray, "we keep dealing with the same thing over and over and over again!"
"Not anymore!" said Pinkie as she took all the toys and put them into the toy box. She then added locks and chains so Pumpkin couldn't use her magic to get the toys out again.
"Wheee!" said Pound Cake as he continued to fly about.
"That goes for you too, Pound Cake!" said Pinkie sternly as she jumped up to him but he ducked under her. Pinkie smacked into the wall and landed inside the dirty laundry basket.
"Are you okay?" said Sunray as he helped her out of the basket. Pinkie just glared before she launched herself at Pound Cake and grabbed his hind legs.
"Gotcha!" said Pinkie Pie as she held on. Pound Cake struggled to stay in the air...for about three seconds, "I think?"
Pinkie then yelped as Pound Cake flew out of the room with Pinkie holding onto him. Sunray was agape.
"I always knew Pinkie didn't weight much but if a one month old colt can carry her...that just blew my mind," said Sunray slowly.
Meanwhile, Pound Cake had pulled Pinkie down the hall, making her bump into the walls, and then down the stairs as her flank bumped the steps as he took her through the kitchen. Apparently, some plates of food and treats had been left on the table and they were sent flying off the table as they flew by. Plus several pies splattered into Pinkie's face.
"Mm, razzleberry," said Pinkie before she continued to hold on tight to Pound Cake as he flew back and forth through the swinging doors, "I'm- not- letting- go! I'm- re-spon-si-ble!"
Pound Cake then headed back upstairs. This time Pinkie got her chin bumped on the stair steps as they made their way back into the room. Just as they entered, Pinkie's poofy tail got caught on the door, stretching the pink pony for a second before she lost her grip and smacked backside into the door.
"I'll get him!" said Sunray as he grabbed into Pound Cake's hind legs. He was then shocked when he found Pound could carry him too.
"You've gotta be kidding me!" Sunray exclaimed as Pound Cake then zoomed about the room.
"WHOA-UGH!" Sunray yelped and groaned when he finally lost his grip and smacked face first into a wall next to Pinkie. Pound Cake then hovered near his sister. Pumpkin Cake wanted to join her brother when she made her horn glow and she was soon hovering in the air alongside her brother.
"Oh, not you too!" Pinkie and Sunray groaned as the twins flew together in the air before Pinkie used an upside-down playpen to trap them on the ground. She then quickly duck taped it so they couldn't fly out.
"Now who's the responsible one?" Pinkie boasted.
"You're staying in there until your parents come home!" Sunray added with a smirk.
Pumpkin then made her horn glow and she pass right threw the playpen mesh and giggled triumphantly.
"What?!" Sunray gasped in shock as Pinkie looked agape as some hairs in her mane stuck out as well as Sunray's. Pumpkin Cake just crawled about happily when Pound Cake used his wings lift the playpen and pushed it out of the way.
Pinkie and Sunray just watched with frantic looks on their faces as Pound Cake just hovered about. Now both of Pinkie's and Sunray's manes were getting more frazzled as Pumpkin Cake used her magic to break the lock and chains. She giggled happily as she made all the toys fall around her and she began to sucking on one...again.
"No matter what we do, they keep outsmarting us!" Sunray said, now furious. "What do we do Pinkie? What do we...Pinkie?"
Sunray felt his tone break when he saw just how flustered and overwhelmed Pinkie looked. Soon the pink pony's bit her lip and her eyes got bigger.
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!"
Poor Pinkie burst into tears and began to sob loudly as her tears poured from her eyes like gushes of water. Sunray felt his heartbreak as he held her close.
It wasn't long before the twins saw Pinkie Pie crying loudly as Sunray held her. Then he glared at the two foals, angrily.
"You two happy now?!" Sunray asked, furiously. "After everything we've done for you guys, this is how you repay Pinkie and me for all of this mess you made for us to clean up?!"
Pound cake and Pumpkin cake shrunk at Sunray's father tone as they suddenly felt guilty. For one month foals, these two seemed to be not only advanced skill-wise, but also were self-aware of what was going on around them.
It didn't take them long to figure out they were the reason one of their babysitters were now crying loudly on the floor. They quietly headed toward the other side of the room before approaching Sunray and Pinkie, who was still crying in Sunray's chest, as they came up to them and Pumpkin was holding a bag of flour with her magic. Pinkie stopped crying to look at them as Sunray glared at them.
PLOOF!
The twins then dumped the bag of flour over themselves as Pound and Pumpkin Cake posed for them.
Pinkie couldn't resist a giggle as Sunray chuckled in amusement.
"Y'know, you're right," said Pinkie, "That is funny."
"It is," said Sunray. "Thank you."
(Scene changes)
Once Sunray and Pinkie had recomposed themselves, they finally got the twins to take their nap. Pound Cake was now snoring legitimately and Pumpkin Cake was sleeping and mumbling to herself. Pinkie and Sunray just smiled at them and at each other before leaving the room and deal the mess downstairs.
"Dear Princess Celestia," Pinkie recited, "I've always had fun playing with little kids, and I thought babysitting meant just more than playtime, right? Wrong! Being a caregiver is way more responsibility then just being a playmate. And today, I learned that sometimes our desire for responsibility can outrun our actual ability to handle it."
As Pinkie was reciting her letter, she and Sunray got to work cleaning up the mess in the main room and kitchen. Pinkie even huffed as she carried a bucket of water with her tail. Sunray used his magic to carry his own bucket of water and got to work on the main room.
Pinkie was even wearing a handkerchief in her mane and a white apron as she got to work scrubbing one of the high chairs. She then wiped her brow once she finished only to see that she still had to do Pound Cake's high chair.
(Scene changes)
It was late at night when Mr. and Mrs. Cake arrived back home. They both were rather worried about what they might see when they entered the shop.
"Pinkie Pie! We're Back!" said Mr. Cake as he and his wife opened the door.
"How did everything go?" Mrs. Cake asked when she gasped. They found the main area completely spotless.
"Are we in the right place?" said Mr. Cake in disbelief as Mrs. Cake blinked.
"Shhh!" said Pinkie as she gestured for them to come upstairs. The Cakes peeked in to see both their foals sleeping soundly in Pound Cake's crib.
"P-Pinkie," said Mrs. Cake, "This is just...just..."
"Amazing is what it is," said Mr. Cake, "We had no idea how responsible you really are. By the way, where is Sunray?" Pinkie flinched a bit.
"He went home after having an exhausted day." Pinkie replied back with a sheepish smile.
Pinkie didn't want to reveal the real reason why she needed Mario to get more flour and the Cakes seemed to believe her and exchanged a nod with each other.
"Would you be interested in becoming our go-to babysitter on a permanent basis?" Mr. Cake offered. Pinkie gasped.
"Hm- Ah- lemme check my schedule!" said Pinkie as she pulled out a planner and looked through it, "I should be available a week from...never!" After what she had been through, she certainly didn't want to do babysitting again. Then she heard both twins sigh and peeked back in at them.
"Pinkie..." said Pound Cake in his sleep.
"Pie..." added Pumpkin Cake in her sleep. Pinkie happily gasped. The twins had said their first words. Pinkie felt her heart melt as a happy smile appeared on her face.
"I have some free time next Tuesday," Pinkie said quietly to the Cakes as they smiled.
