As all of the residents of East Liverpool were still comfortably asleep in their homes, inside the catacombs Maia was wide awake in her room, getting ready for the day. She hopped out of her bed and went down to the living room. Then Spike spotted her as he blinked his eyes as he looked at his owner's enthusiasm.
She raised her arms, and hugged his head tightly against her chest. "Good morning Spike. Today is going to be a super fun day today. I am going to being little Toby to Sweet Snacks, and teach how to bake some sweet treats." She pulled Spike away from her chest looking into his eyes with a beaming smile.
Suddenly there was a flash outside of the catacombs' cracks followed by the rumbling of thunder that Spike to took out his spikes. Maia walked over to the door and opened it and looked out to see pouring rain. She looked both directions saw the water flowing rapidly.
"Man, it looks like, there's heavy duty rain out there today." She closed her eyes for a second, and shook her head opening them up again. "No matter, me, and Toby are still going to have loads of fun today." She walked over to her closet, and dug out her raincoat which was baby blue all over, and along the zipper.
She walked over to Spike. "I'll be back Spike. Keep your eyes on everything til' I get back, okay?" Spike nodded, and she kissed the top of his scaly head. "Be good Spike." She walked to the door and closed it.
Prim was up feeding all of her dragon friends. "I am glad that your here guys. I can't let you have your breakfast outside in this weather." They chittered and chirped as they smiled at her while eating. "I will be back my friends, I am going to wake up my precious little Toby."
She turned to walk upstairs in her bedroom. Reaching the top she looked over to see the child sleeping peacefully underneath the big warm bed sheets, and smiled warmly at the sight. "He is so adorable when he is sleeping." She quietly walked over to the bed.
Her heart melted as she saw him curled up under the covers with his head laid comfortably on the pillow. Instead of nuzzling him on the cheek to wake him up she very quietly pulled back the covers, kneeled her leg down close to the bed, and lifted her arms up on the bed very carefully putting them underneath his small frame, and lifting him up. She brought him toward her chest, and cradled him in her arms.
'My precious little Toby.' She thought to herself as she gently leaned down to give him a soft kiss on his forehead, and started to rock him gently. She reached over to the table by her bed, and carefully lifted the brim of his glasses with her hands, gently placing them on for him.
He let out a soft yawn as he blinked his eyes open. He looked up to see her beautiful blue eyes looking down at him, with a warm smile on her face. He smiled up at her, and looked to see he was cradled in her arms as he sighed softly. "Good morning Auntie Prim." He reached up to hug her around her neck, and laid his head against her warm, and soft chest. He sighed softly as he could hear her heartbeat soothing his ears.
She repositioned her arms to hold him properly. She placed one underneath his legs, and rear while wrapping the other one lightly around his back. "Good morning sweetheart." She kissed the top of his head, and laid her cheek on it, letting her flowing pink hair fall over him like a blanket.
She held him in that position for several minutes before lifting her head up to look down at him. A flash of lightning attracted their attention, and the loud rumble of thunder could be heard. This startled Toby causing him to hug her neck a little tighter, and turning his head to bury it in her chest as he started to shake. She frowned down at the little boy, and immediately started to rub up, and down his back gently, and nuzzling the top of his head to try calming him down.
"Shh.. it's okay sweetheart. It is just a storm, nothing to be worried about." She rubbed at his back as he looked up at her with a little smile. "It's just making sure all the flowers, vegetables, and other plants get water, so they can grow." She said nuzzling gently at his cheek as he blushed, and his smile grew. "That's better sweetie. Now what do you say we go downstairs, and find you something to eat. Okay Toby?" He nodded as she carefully stood up, and carried him in her arms downstairs.
As they reached the bottom of the stairs she gently lowered him onto the floor. He smiled up at her softly, and turned toward all of the dragons that were all enjoying their breakfasts. "Hi everyone." He waved as they returned the wave with their claws, and talons giving him chitters, and chirps all around He walked over to sit on the rug beside Scar while Prim walked into the kitchen to prepare Toby's breakfast.
He looked up at Scar with a big smile. "Good morning to you Scar." Scar let out a happy rumble, and laid his head on his lap. Toby giggled, and rubbed at him on the top of his head between his horns. There was a knock at the door. "Haha.. you can get off of me now Scar, so I can go see who it is." He let go of Toby, and the little boy went to the door.
He opened the door, and looked up to see the red-haired Dragon Warrior. "Hi Auntie Maia." Stepping aside to let her walk inside the catacombs.
She scooped the child up in her arms, and gave him a big hug nuzzling her cheek against his. "Hi there little Toby." She shut the door, and set him down onto the floor taking her hood off. "How is my cutie of a nephew doing today?" She leaned down on her legs to give him a nuzzle on the nose.
He blushed. "I am doing good Auntie Maia, just woke up. Auntie Prim is in the kitchen making me some breakfast." He gave her a hug of his own around her neck as she reached up to rub at his back with a hand and gave him a kiss on the top of his head.
Prim came walking into the living room with a plate, and what appeared to be some kind of sandwich. She saw Maia, and gave her a soft smile. "Oh, um.. hi Maia. What are you doing here.. um.. if it is okay for me to ask, especially in this kind of weather?" She lowered to the floor handing Toby his plate. "Here you go sweetie, it is a lettuce, and tomato sandwich with fresh lettuce leaves, and slices of tomato. I hope you like it sweetheart."
He looked up at her as he gently accepted the plate. "Thank you Auntie Prim." He gave her, and Maia a soft smile as he went over to sit on the rug with the dragons. The two girls smiled brightly at the sight as Maia turned to Prim.
"Whew wee it is raining like Terrors, and Night Furies out there." She, and Prim walked over to the sofa to take a seat. "Anyway there, I was wondering if the little cutie would like to come to the Sweet Snacks with me, and bake some yummy treats?" A pleading and beaming smile formed across her face.
"Um.. it is okay with me.. um.. if Toby would like to go." She gave Maia a warm smile. She turned to Toy who was eating his sandwich. "Sweetheart, would you like to go to the Sweet Snacks with your Auntie Maia?"
He made sure to finish the bite he was chewing on before responding with a big smile. "Yes Auntie Prim, that sounds like fun." He turned toward Maia with the same big smile. "Really Auntie Maia, I can come, and help you bake?"
"Of course you can silly. You will get to officially meet Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy, and their kids Mike and Drake." She giggled excitedly as Toby giggled in return, and went back to eating his sandwich. She turned to Prim. "Would you like to come too Prim? It will be loads of fun with both of you."
Prim smiled softly. "Well.. um.. I.." She was gently cut off as the little boy spoke up after finishing another bite of his sandwich.
"Please Auntie Prim? I would like for you to come with us. It will be real fun with all three of us." He looked up at her with a pleading smile.
She couldn't refuse. "Okay sweetie, I will come with you, and Maia." She gave him a warm smile as he started on the second half of his sandwich. "I would like to see how Drake and Mike have been doing. Are they still a handful since you last took care of them Maia?"
"They are too handfuls to be exact, but nothing that the Queen of the Mercenaries can't handle." She smirked, crossed her arms, and nodded proudly. Prim giggled softly at her mercenary friend with a smile.
Toby finished the second half of his sandwich, and carefully got up. "I am going to go throw my plate away Auntie Prim, and wash my hands, so I can go get dressed." He smiled at her, and Maia as he went into the kitchen. He came back out after a minute, and started to go up stairs.
"Sweetie, after you get changed... um... could you maybe get my raincoat in my closet... um.. if that is okay?" Prim asked the child gently.
"Yes Auntie Prim." He gave her a soft smile then ascended the stairs.
"He is such a cutie Prim. He has come a long way since you found him, and we first met him." Maia smiled brightly.
Prim nodded in agreement. "I know Maia, I am so proud of him. He isn't timid anymore like he was to begin with, his stuttering is gone, and he hasn't had any nightmares anymore." She looked at her mercenary friend with tears stinging her eyes. "I believe him saying goodbye to his mommy in the talent show on Saturday relieved him of some of that pain he has endured." She sighed deeply.
Maia nodded happily. "I agree with you my princess friend. He has suffered so much from the loss of his mommy to him being treated badly by that asshole of a daddy, and he is as sweet as a million rose flowers." They both giggled, and nodded in agreement.
Toby came downstairs dressed in his all red outfit with royal blue jacket with hood. He carefully carried Prim's coat in his outstretched arms. It was the same creamy pink as her hair all over, with pink cuffs on the wrists, and pink around the hood. He walked up to her with his arms outstretched. "Here you go Auntie Prim."
She gently took it from him with her hands. "Thank you sweetheart." Giving him a warm smile as she put it on. After zipping it up she turned toward her dragon friends with Flame and Smoke coming toward her. She leaned up and kiss the top of their heads between their horns. "You two are in charge while we are gone." They chittered, and saluted her, and Toby.
She leant forward her legs to allow Toby to climb up on her back as he pulled his hood over his head. He looked at all of the dragons, and Flame and Smoke waving at them. "Bye everyone, I will see you all later." They chittered and chirped waving back at him.
The three exited the catacombs, and Prim carefully shut the door. They walked onto the concrete path, and headed toward to Sweat Snacks, with Maia smiling happily.
Arriving at Sweet Snacks, Maia, Prim, and Toby entered to see Pinkie and Fluttershy tending to the two boys. Maia smiled brightly at the two. "Hey there Pinkie and Fluttershy." She said giddily as Prim followed behind with the little boy on her back.
"Hello girls." Fluttershy responded while rubbing on Drake's head.
"Hey there guys." Pinkie responded next while wiping the flour off of Mike's face with a rag.
Fluttershy smiled at the two. "Finally I was able to get Drake in his clothes." She looked past Prim to see the small child on her back. "Aww.. is that the little one." She asked giving him a big warm smile.
Maia nodded vigorously with a big bright smile, and turned to reach up, and lift Toby off of Prim's back. "Pinkie and Fluttershy I would like for you both to meet Toby." She placed him on the ground as she kneeled behind him gently placing her hands on his shoulders. "Toby, I would like for you to meet Pinkie and Fluttershy, the workers of Sweet Snacks."
He stood, and looked at at the two girls while they were tending the boys. "Hi Pinkie and Fluttershy." He watched the two boys with a warm smile, and gave a little wave. Then the two boys waved back.
Maia pointed at each of the boys. "Toby, this is Mike, and Drake." Giving him a bright smile.
"Hi there Mike, and Drake." He said.
"Hey Toby." The boys greeted back.
Fluttershy smiled down at the sight with a big grin. "It is a pleasure to meet you Toby." She reached a hand up, and pulled him to her in a warm hug. "You are so adorable as Maia has ben telling us."
Pinkie reached a hand up, and gently rubbed at his shoulder. "It is great to meet you cutie wutie. Yes, Maia has been telling us all about you, and she was right about you being a very sweet gentleman. I would say that even those two like you." The boys were giggling at the compliment.
Fluttershy gently broke her hug with Toby as the two young women held the boys' hands. "You go back to the kitchen, and enjoy the day with your Auntie Maia, Toby dear. We are going to hour house to check on Applejack." She gave the little boy a little nuzzle on the top of his head, and Pinkie gave him a rub on the head with a hand before the two went out.
"Okay, what do you both say we go bake some sweets?" Maia asked with a grin as she went toward the kitchen. Prim, and the little boy giggled at her excitement as they followed behind her.
Upon entering the kitchen Toby looked around in wonder at the spacious room. The cabinets, and counters were a forest green on the cabinet doors.
There was a mixer, and recipe book set out on the center counter. Maia went in front of the counter, and turned toward the two. She leaned down to eye level with Toby nuzzling at his nose with hers. "What would my cute nephew like to bake today? We can bake cupcakes, cookies, a cake, or maybe cupcake cookies. Whatever you want little Toby." She rubbed at his cheek with a hand giving him a bright smile.
He blushed and thought. "Could we bake some cookies Auntie Maia?"
She nodded happily, and stood up. "Of course silly." She rubbed at the top of his head, and turned to look at the cookbook. She turned to the section of cookie recipes, and carefully looked through them. "Ah, ha here we go. We can bake sugar cookies." Beaming with excitement.
Toby smiled happily, and nodded. "Oh, I love sugar cookies. My Mommy, and I baked sugar cookies once, and it was, so much fun. It was another thing we enjoyed doing together." As he walked over to Maia to look at the cookbook as Prim carefully followed behind.
"First, we must gather the ingredients." She placed a hand on the recipe page. "Let's see... hmm... we need one cup of flour. Now where did I put that flour last time I used it." She scanned the room, and looked up to find a sack of flour at the top of a shelf. "Oh, silly me, I forgot putting it up there after Pinkie bake that cake for you at the New Rad Celebration." She turned to Prim with an awkward smile. "Prim, my princess friend could you..."
She was gently cut off by the princess. "Of course Maia." She grabbed a chair and set it down and she climbed on it, and retrieved the flour, and a cup from one of the cabinet's shelves. She placed the sack on the floor, and the cup on the counter. "There you go." She went down, and stood next to Toby who giggled, and gave her a big smile.
"Thank you Prim." She leaned her head down to remove a clip that she used to close it, and reached up to grab at the cup to scoop the flour into. She poured the flour into the mixture, and as she was about to put the clip back on the sack of flour she let out a sneeze causing a cloud of flour to shower the kitchen, and all three of it's occupants.
"Bless you Auntie Maia." Toby giggled as he took his glasses off for a second to wipe the flour off, and shake the flour of himself. Prim giggled as well, and shook the flour off herself.
Maia blinked, and giggled as she shook the flour off herself. "Thanks my cute nephew. I will clean this up after we get the cookies in the oven." She looked at the next ingredient on the list. "Next, we need two cups of sugar." She walked over to the cabinets, and retrieved the sugar to put it on the counter.
She turned to Toby, and gently lifted him up, so he can reach the counter. "How would you like to add the sugar Toby?" She tilted her head back giving him a big smile.
He nodded. "Yes Auntie Maia." He replied happily as he reached for the cup, and scooped one out to pour into the mixer, then scooped another cup to make two. "There, two cups of sugar." He put the cup back down on the counter.
Maia smiled, and placed him down to the ground. She then turned to the book. "Okay, now we need two eggs." She walked over to the refrigerator, and retrieved two eggs, and a glass of milk. She set the glass on the counter, and proceeded to crack the eggs one at a time putting them in the mixer. She threw the eggshells in to the trash.
"Final ingredient is two cups of milk." She poured one cup of milk adding it to the mix, and then poured a second cup. With just a little bit of milk in the glass she gulped down the rest receiving a giggle from the other two. "Alright, stand back. This could get messy." She licked her lips as she started the mixer, and the little boy stood back next to Prim as she smiled softly down at him.
After the sugar cookie dough was nicely mixed Maia set the oven on it's required temperature, retrieved a flat metal rectangular pan, and laid a non-stick plastic type of paper on top. She grabbed the mixing bowl, and poured the dough onto the pan. "Haha.. perfection. Okay you two, let's start turning this dough into sweet cookies." She clapped her hands excitedly as the two approached the counter with Maia lifting the child up, and letting him sit on the counter to help.
Maia broke the dough into three different sections for each of them, and enough tough to make two cookies each. Maia decided to make one cookie in the shape of a cupcake and the other in the shape of Pinkie's stuffed alligator. Prim made her cookies into the shape of a butterfly, and Fluttershy's pet bunny. Toby was carefully forming his dough into a heart, and just a regular round cookie.
The three placed their cookies on the pan, and Maia smiled brightly at their creations. "Ooh, they look wonderful you two. Now let's put them in the oven, and wait until they get done." She retrieved an oven mitten, and grabbed the pan to put it in the oven shutting the door.
Prim, and Toby looked around at the still flour covered kitchen. "Um.. Maia.. do you need us to help you with cleaning the kitchen?"
Maia placed one hand on the princess's shoulder and one on Toby's shoulder shaking her head. "Nope, don't worry your pretty little heads about it. Your Auntie Maia has it all under control." Giving them a big bright smile.
Prim furrowed her brows in a bit of annoyed manner. "I am a princess of Feoh though." She sighed softly shaking her head giggling at her mercenary friend. She couldn't stay annoyed at Maia for too long.
"Watch this little Toby." Suddenly Maia retrieved a white apron. Prim felt what was coming, and gently placed her hands on the little boy's shoulders, and kneeled down. The Mercenary Queen started to immediately clean the kitchen speeding around the room in a red blur. In a few seconds the kitchen was sparkling clean. "Whew, that was a doozy." Maia panted as he put the apron back up in the pantry.
Prim, and Toby laughed at Maia's randomness. "Haha.. that was very fast Auntie Maia."
She patted the top of his head with a hand. "Oh, your Auntie Maia is just awesome you little cutie." She gave him a bright smile then look at Prim. "Just' don't tell Vault, if I said that he'd be dueling me for the rest of my life."
"Um.. I won't tell.. um.. I promise." She gave a shy smile.
Maia eyed her intently. "Well, to make sure you mean it, you know what you got to do." Prim sighed softly. Maia put a hand up to stop her for a second. She looked down at Toby. "Now my nephew, this is my patented promise. If you ever make a promise, you have to keep it, okay Toby?"
He nodded. "Yes Auntie Maia." He looked up at her then looked at Prim to watch her make it.
"She is right sweetheart, if you don't keep a promise.. um.. well, let's just say she gets real mad, and will do everything she can to make sure you keep it. Just watch what I do sweetie, and you can do it when you make a promise." She took a deep breath.
"Cross my heart." She placed a hand on her chest and made across. "Hope to die, stick a sword in my heart." She then carefully lifted her hand up, and placed it against her chest to act like she was pointing herself. Toby couldn't help but giggle.
"That's much better Prim." Maia giggled, and patted her on the top of her head. Then the oven bell went off. "Ooh, yes the cookies are done." She placed the oven mitten back on, and opened the oven door to retrieve the pan. She licked her lips as the scent of freshly baked sugar cookies wafted through the kitchen. Toby, and Prim sniffed the air, and sighed warmly.
"Mmm.. they smell very good Auntie Maia. Don't they Auntie Prim?" He looked up at her happily.
She nodded, and gave him a kiss on the top of his head. "Oh, yes they do sweetheart."
Maia walked over to the pantry, and pulled out icing dispenser bags of an array of colors. "When they cool down, it will be time to decorate them." A beaming smile formed across her face.
After the cookies cooled, and the three applied the icing to them they all revealed their finished cookie creations. Prim's butterfly cookie had yellow frosting as it's foundation, pink around the edges of the wings, and three pink lines on the top, and bottom of both sides on the inside of the wings. Her bunny cookie had all white frosting, pink on the inside of the ears, and black gumdrops for the eyes.
For Maia's two cookies, her alligator cookie had all green frosting with two purple gumdrops for the eyes. Her cupcake shaped cookie had brown icing for the bottom, pink for the middle, and a red gumdrop to resemble a cherry.
Toby smiled at his two cookies. His heart shaped cookie had all red frosting with pink as the outline, and he had pink icing inside the heart with the two letters A and T in the middle. He used yellow frosting for the base on his round cookie and red icing to make a smiley face.
Prim smiled at all of the beautifully decorated cookies, but her heart melted when she saw the heart shaped one of Toby's with the letters A and T on it. "Toby sweetie, that one is beautiful." She pointed at it with her hand.
Toby smiled happily at her. "Thank you Auntie Prim. I made it for you." He grabbed it, and gently handed it to her. "I couldn't fit Auntie Prim on it."
Prim felt tears sting her eyes as she gently accepted the cookie. "Aw.. sweetheart is this really for me?" He nodded giving her a big smile. She gently placed the cookie down on the pan, and gave him a warm hug and nuzzled at the top of his head. "Thank you my precious little one. I love you Toby." Giving the top of his head a tender kiss.
Maia felt tears sting at her own eyes. She thought for a second, and walked over to a cabinet. She pulled out a roll of clear plastic wrap tearing a piece off, and walked back over to the two. "Here Prim you can wrap it in this, and keep it as long as you want to eat it." Giving her a big warm smile.
Prim gently took the plastic wrap. "Thank you Maia. I know I don't want to eat this special cookie, because my precious little Toby made it for me." She very gently broke the hug, so she can wrap the cookie up in the plastic wrap.
Maia smiled giddily. "Now let's much down on these sweet cookies." The other two giggled, and nodded in agreement as they started to eat at their cookies. Maia went over to the refrigerator to retrieve another glass of milk for the three to share.
After enjoying their cookies, and milk Prim, and Toby decided to help Maia clean up the mixer, and make sure everything was put in it's place. They returned to the lobby of the bakery while Pinkie and Fluttershy were both coming in. "Well it looks like you three had a good time." Pinkie spoke up.
"Oh, Prim, that is a nice looking cookie, but how come you didn't eat it?" Fluttershy asked as she pointed at the heart shaped cookie.
"Oh, Toby made it for me, and it is, so nice that I didn't want to eat it." She blushed, and looked down at the little boy who was standing beside her.
Fluttershy knelt down giving Toby a warm smile. "Well, that was very sweet of you Toby." She reached up, and rubbed along his arm very gently. "It was a pleasure meeting you sweetie. I do apologize though that we didn't spend too much time getting to know each other. Sometimes, it is difficult to take care of our friends."
"That is okay Fluttershy, you don't have to be sorry for anything. You do have Mike and Drake." He looked up at her.
"Well, thank you dear, me, and Pinkie truly appreciate that." She gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek. "Now you can come back anytime sweetie, and spend some time with Maia." She carefully pulled him with a hand to him giving him a soft hug.
He returned the hug with his arms around her neck and laying his head against her chest. "Thank you Fluttershy, I would like to come back again. I had fun baking with Auntie Maia." They gently broke the hug as Pinkie placed a hoof on his shoulder, and looked down at him.
"Yeah little guy, you are welcome here anytime. It was great meeting you Toby, and maybe next time we can talk to you more. You are a great gentle little boy Toby, never change who you are." Fluttershy nodded in agreement.
"Thank you Pinkie, and don't worry, I won't change." He smiled up softly at Pinkie, and turned toward Maia. He walked up to her, and gave her a hug around her waist slightly as he laid his head on her stomach. "Thank you Auntie Maia for letting me come today to bake cookies with you. It was very fun."
Maia nuzzled at the top of his head, and hugged him back with her hands wrapped around his back. "You are very welcome my cute nephew. I enjoyed it with you, and Prim. Remember, anytime you want to come, and help bake, I am always available, okay?" She gently pulled him away, and looked down at him.
He nodded. "Yes Auntie Maia." He smiled up at her, and saw Prim knelt on her legs for him to carry. He obliged, and waved at Maia, and the girls. "Bye Auntie Maia, and bye Pinkie and Fluttershy."
"Bye dear." Fluttershy waved a hand.
"Bye little guy." Pinkie replied as the two then waved at Prim before walking into the kitchen.
"Bye Prim, and little Toby." Maia smiled brightly as she waved a hand.
"Bye Maia." Prim spoke softly as she waved a hand back, and walked out of Sweet Snacks and headed back to the catacombs with the rain coming down lightly.
Maia stood at the door of the bakery, and watched as the two headed off. However, she gave a frown as she felt a chill running down her spine. 'Oh, gosh, that isn't good. Nothing appears to be wrong though, but something doesn't feel right.' She thought to herself as she carefully walked back into Sweet Snacks.