Cupcakes: Afterparty

PROLOGE:

“Uuug…my head.” Twilight mumbled to herself before she really thought it. A minor headache throbbed under her skull as Twilight woke up, but that soon became quite trivial. As her senses returned, she realized that the room she was in was completely dark; Twilight couldn’t see anything.

She called upon her magic and was quick to illuminate her horn and dispel the darkness. Twilight quickly scanned her purple coat. As her sense of balance returned to her recently conscious self, Twilight’s first realization was that she was not lying down. Twilight was, in fact, right side up.

Before Twilight could even ask herself how, she realized the nerves had her answer, the ones in her legs to be precise. Twilight was strapped to a table of some kind, by rough straps at the ends of all four of her legs as well as an additional support across her breast. It took Twilight’s tired consciousness and extra moment to but it all together; Twilight was strapped down, right side up, and unable to move anything except her neck, and maybe her tail. Several bands stretch from the cold table across her coat to impede most of her movements. Twilight was tied at the end of each of her legs; each band tight and digging to her ankles just above the hoof. These bindings accompanied by a much larger one around her chest, just loose enough to breath. Twilight couldn’t move. She couldn’t escape. This was wrong, this was very, very wrong.

Ok, now is the time to panic…

No, no, don’t panic, panicking won’t help, got to think, got to be calm, calm and logical, got to think. This isn’t a normal way a pony should wake up. What happened? How did Twilight get here? What happened? Ummm…

===000===

I was at the library, in my room, spending the afternoon studying a book I acquired from my old foul-sitter the Crystal Empire. “Crystal Plants and How They Tick” to be precise. I was reading a chapter on the crystal grape. I had already made several pages worth of notes and was entertaining myself by sketching a picture of one (or perhaps several) of the fruit when my train of thought was derailed at the sound of a knocking at the door.

I ignored it, and utilized my mental powers to repair my train of thought return it on track. Like always, my number one assistant did quick work with his small purple claws and answered it for me. Thanks to the stillness of the library, and my open bedroom door, I could clearly hear the conversation that transpired between spike and our recent visitor, despite me being upstairs.

A squeaky, speedy, and completely unique voice was the first to act.

“Hiya Spike, is Twilight home, I kind of wanna ask her something.” That was, without a doubt, Pinkie Pie.

“Sure Pinkie, just give me a sec.” replied Spike.

I was already on my hooves, ready to see what Pinkie wanted when-

“TWILIIIIIGHT, PINKIE PIE’S HERE AND WANTS TO TALK WITH YOOOOOOU!!”

Instinctively, I lowered my head below my shoulders, folded my ears over my scalp, clenched my teeth, and braced my self for a small earthquake as spiked vibrated my house in challenge for my attention. As I corrected my form and moved down the hall, I found myself wondering.

How does he get so loud with such a small neck? Meh, maybe it’s just a dragon thing. Makes sense, they do a lot of roaring, don’t they?

As I descended down the wooden stairs into the main library I couldn’t help my self form a quick smart remark.

“Gee spike, any louder and I’d think you’d be calling for the horizon itself.”

Spike reached a claw behind his head to scratch his green spines in a limited attempt to hide his embarrassment, “Yaa…Sorry about that Twi…”

“It’s ok. Now, Pinkie,” I turned my attention towards the pink mare, now realizing a small satchel bag around her chest stuffed with papers, “What can I do for you,” I turned my head to get a better look, “is it a research paper?”

“Huh” Pinkie Pie replied in surprise, quickly turning to her bag and realizing the source of the question, “Oh no, silly, these are invitations”

Pinkie Pie bit down on one of the several papers stuffed into the small bag and presented it to me. I, in turn, griped the invite in my magic so as to properly read it.

Pinkie spoke in an unusually low-pitched, somewhat depressing tone. “It’s about Rainbow Dash” Pinkie informed me. I stopped ready and looked at my friend with sympathy. I now noticed that she was still facing forward, but my eyes where focused on the floor and hoof was brushing the other foreleg.

“Aww, don’t worry Pinkie. Trust me; I already have everypony keeping an eye out for Rainbow Dash.” I clocked my head to the side, trying to get her to look at me while holding heavy compassion for the party mare. “We’ll find her, but right now, no pony has the time to go out on a massive pony hunt right now, just have faith.”

Pinkie Pie just kept her gaze on the wooden floor.

Ok, ok, change the subject, change the subject!

“Sooo Pinkie, what are these invitations for?” I already sped read the note and knew what it was for, but I figured explaining it might perk up my friend. And, as I expected, her ears and smile erected.

“Oh, well it’s a small get-together, you know? I’m inviting all of our friends and I’ll have treats and stuff. Its kinda like a party, but its too small to be a party, I mean there’s only five of us, how can that be a party, and I won’t even have decorations, but I’ll have drinks and treats and stuff, so if you can come out to it that be really great and-MMhmmh MMHMHhmhmh MHMhmhm.” Even with my hoof over her mouth, Pinkie continues to go on about the ‘get-together’.

Trying to speak over the muffled blabbing, I told her, “Pinkie! I get it!” With that, Pinkie finally stops moving her lightning tongue.

“I’ll be there, OK? Besides, don’t you have other invitations to deliver?”
With my hoof still in her mouth, the party mare rapidly nodded her head rapidly like the sugar loaded bunny she it. Almost fearing my hoof would fall off; I quickly retracted it from Pinkie, only to immediate regret it.

The talk-your-ears-off pony rises again, “Well yeah, but before that I gotta tell you about the get-together, see it going to be about rainbow dash and I made special cupcakes and-“

“PINKIE!” Pinkie pie stopped, or likely just paused, her lips to hear what I had to say. “I read the invite; I know what’s going on. It’s a small get-together at Sugar Cube Corner at 3 O’clock this afternoon; all of our friends would be there; there’s going to be special cupcakes because of Rainbow Dash; we are going to pool information about the last time each of us saw Dashie, and we are going to try and find her.” At the end of that I found myself gasping for air. Now that I think about it, I don’t do lectures that often.

Pinkie looked at me with a leaning head and a smirk on my muzzle. “Wow, and some ponies say I talk a lot.”

I facehoofed. This is getting ridiculous.

“But I guess you’re right, I do have more invites to hand out.” Pinkie turned tail and stated hoofing it toward the door.

I followed her to the oak door and waved my hoof as the pony-shaped ball of energy bounced away deeper into Ponyville. “Bye-Bye” I yelled out to my departing friend.

Pinkie turned around to face me, but still managed to keep bouncing in the same direction, away from the library, “See ya, Misses Talkady-Talkertalkson.”

As Pinkie corrected and continued her course, I found myself giggling and rolling my eyes as I closed the door.

“So… a get-together huh?” I looked up to the source of the voice.

There, my number one assistant was up on his ladder, hanging on with one claw, while the other held a white feather duster. His face turned to me, awaiting my answer.

“Yep,” I said. Still in the grip of my aura, I floated the invitation closer to my view to give it one last look. “Sorry Spike, it looks like it just for the girls, so-“

“Yeah-yeah, I know the drill,” Spike returned his attention to dusting the upper shelves, already bored of the conversation but still continues his point, “Keep an eye on the library, look out for letters from the princess, don’t burn the place down, yada-yada-yada.”

“And that’s why you’re my number one assistant.”

Spike put his claws to his ears like a grandmother hard of hearing, “I’m sorry, what was that?”

I rolled my eyes, I knew he heard me, but I’d entertain the thought anyway, and raised my voice “I said: That’s Why You’re my Number One Assistant!”

We both giggled at that as I trotted my way upstairs. As I entered my room, I glanced at the clock above my bed. I’ve still got a couple hours until the get-together. I wondered what those special cupcakes would be like. Would it have some kind of special tasting icing? Oh well, I’d never know until I get there, no there’s no point in driving myself insane with curiosity. I focused back to those crystal grapes. Now where’s that quill? I swear, some of them seem to just run away.

***

As I approached Sugar Cube Corner, I noticed that my other three friends had already arrived; as to why they where outside the bakery was a mystery to me.

Rarity waited patiently like the lady she is. Even on the most casual days, the fashion mare would always find some article of clothing to bring to an event, and today was no different. She stood with a rather large white bonnet adorned with silver feathers and a violet trim; the color choice rather fitting with her coat and mane.

As to why the headwear was so large was beyond me. If keeping the sun out of one’s eyes was the goal, a hat a third of the size could’ve done the job effectively. I was quick to dismiss the thought. Fashion was one of the few studies I’d simply given up on, even before I met Rarity.

Fluttershy sat a small distance away from Rarity, and was singing to a small group of birds on a tree. She seemed to be giving them a vocal lesson. As Fluttershy whistled a small tune, the four birds followed suit; as best they can, at least. Her voice was smooth and soothing. I almost suspect the birds purposely created sour notes so as to hear the pegasi’s voice again.

Applejack waited atop the steps in front of Sugar Cube Corner in an unusual position. She was reared up on hear back hooves and leaning her back against the door with her fore hooves crossed against one another. Her head casually leaned forward, but not nearly as much as her hat. The work hat was set to cover Applejack’s eyes and most of her muzzle. She looked as if she was sleeping.

As I continued my trot toward the bakery, Rarity was the first to notice and greet me. “Twilight, darling, it’s so nice to see you, how have you been?

“Oh same ol’, same ol’.” I responded, “Nice hat by the way.”

“Oh do you like it? Sweetie belle made it for me, its matches me so well. You know, I’ve started suspecting that designing of some sort might be her special talent.”

“Wow, really?” I stared at the hat a little longer. Something like this wasn’t unusual for Rarity, but from a young filly like Sweetie, it was actually quite impressive.

My small train of thought was lost as a soft voice spoke from my left, “Hi, Twilight.”

I turned to my yellow friend in response, “Hi, Fluttershy. Who’re your friends?’

“Oh, them?” Flutershy turned toward the feathered quartet. “Oh, they’re the new tenor section for the bird choir. I’ve been working with them all afternoon, and they need all the practice they can get, I hope it’s not a bother.”

“I don’t mind, in fact, in kind of nice to hear your choir. They don’t perform often enough.”

Flutter shy turned her head and looked to the ground in a vain attempt to hide her blush, “You’re just saying that.”

At this, Rarity saw fit to speak her mind, “I highly doubt that, darling, you and your birds have more musical talent than some professional choirs I’ve heard. They truly are great.”

Fluttershy lifted her head at the complement; a small but grateful smile was her only response.

I left the two to attend to themselves as I approached my farm mare friend in front of the door. As I move closer, I noticed her slow breathing and unwillingness to react to my approach. Yep, she’s asleep alright. I decided not to disturbed her. Knowing Applejack, she was probably working all day at Sweet Apple Acres and deserved any rest she got.

I burned up the next few minutes by giving myself a small tour of the bakery. The windows, normally lined and stuffed with shelves presenting treats and baked goods of all kinds, now stand uninteresting to they eye as a scarlet curtain coved the windows from the inside, obscuring any view of the presumably empty selves.

But this was to be expected. The bakers, Mr. and Mrs. Cake, were out of town for whatever reason and ensured that their bakery was closed rather than being run by their assistant, Pinkie Pie. Smart move; I dreaded to see anything, let alone an active business, that was in the care of Pinkie Pie for only a few days. I didn’t bother imagining a few weeks.

My thoughts once again interrupted by a voice to my side.

“HELLO EVERYPO-“

SMACK!

As I returned my attention to the front door, I didn’t have to be Surelock Hooves to find out what happened. Without warning, Pinkie Pie flung the door open to reveal herself and greet her guests; all the while pushing Applejack from her sleeping stance, muzzle first into the dirt below. Applejack grunted her disproval and returned to her four hooves.

Pinkie apologized. “Oh, sorry AJ, I didn’t see your there.” An innocent grin spread across her pink face.

Apple Jack got to her hooves. She collected her hat, and confirmed her wellness, “Ahh, t’was nothing. Apple Bloom does worse ta me on a daily basis. So, is it three o’clock ah’lready?” She rebalanced herself, but was still trying to get a little dirt of the tip of her nose.

“Yep, it’s time. Sorry I had to make your girls wait outside. It’s just that I was making those special cupcake I said I’d have, and I wanted them to be extra special, but I also wanted them to be a surprise, so I didn’t want anypony to see them until they where done, and I wanted them fresh, so I was going to have them be like ‘ding’ in the oven by the time your guys got here, but I guess my timing was a little off so, um… sorry about that.”

Fluttershy was the first to respond, “It’s ok; we don’t mind waiting a little bit.”

“Well, whatever the case, I’m sure you’ve made our time worthwhile, sweetie.” Rarity added.

Finally, I chimed in, “Well, its nice to meet you too Pinkie.” my sarcasm reflecting the not-so-formal greeting.

Muzzle clean of dirt, Applejack adds herself to the conversation, “Well, since we’re all here, what’re we waitin’ on, why don’t we see some cupcakes instead’o just talkin’ about ‘em.”

“Oh, you’re right Applejack.” Pinkie pie pushed the door all the way out and steps back inside. She held a foreleg parallel to the floor and beckoned my friends inside, “Come on in, I can’t wait to see what you think of the cupcakes, they’re super-duper special!”

On cue, my friends and I continued our way inside Sugar Cube Corner. Fluttershy had to dismiss her flying friends as they attempted to follow their mentor inside. Rairty placed her hat on the nearby coat rack, but Applejack didn’t mimic with her own. Applejack carried and wore that apple bucking hat anywhere she went. Even at formal events, it would be with her. If that hat’s not on her head or in her saddlebag, then the mare is more likely to be a changeling than the real Applejack.

The rest of us took a table and found our seats. It was as small both next to a window. Applejack was the first to sit. Across from her, Rarity took her place next to the window as well. I didn’t pay much attention to where I was sitting and found myself next to Applejack. Fluttershy took the last available spot next to Rarity.

Pinkie quickly galloped to the kitchen. As expected she procured the cupcakes she’d gotten all of us exited about. The cupcakes looked as fresh as can be. The fluffy goods still held by the baking tray that helped make them. The oven guard used to hold them in Pinkie’s teeth, as well as the visible steam, led to me believe the cupcakes to be literally fresh out of the oven.

With a surprising flick of her tail, Pinkie spun around to launch two large coasters onto our table. With surprising accuracy, each coasters lay not an inch from the other atop our table. Thus, finalizing my suspicions that the cupcakes where indeed hot.

As pinkie laid the cupcake tray on the coasters in front of my friends, we finally got a good look at the special cupcakes. They where indeed made with rainbow dash in mind. The frosting was a light cyan color that held a very familiar image. It was a cloud with an iconic, multicolored lighting bolt striking down; it was Rainbow Dash’s cutie mark.

Rarity was the first to grip the nearest cupcake with her magical aura and judge, “Simply amazing Pinkie, the color and design are so accurate. I’m almost ashamed to eat one of these works of art.”

Apple Jack spent only a moment staring and admiring the treats. Even to my surprise, she suddenly struck a hoof on the cupcake tin, sending several flying in recoil, as well as pulling an “Eeep!” from Fluttershy, all in surprise by the attack. The cupcake nearest to Apple Jack flew the highest; as it reached its highest point, its flight was quickly ended by Apple Jack’s forelegs as they griped the airborne treat. “Ah’ll say; if only they tasted half as good as they look, I might just pass out.” Apple Jack even started to drool a little at the thought.

“Apple Jack!” Rarity took no entertainment in the event, “We are guests! I’m sure we would all appreciate it if you’d stop acting like a ruffian for a least a few hours.” She kept her glaring, disapproving eyes on the farm mare.

“Aww, whatever.” Apple Jack rolled my eyes in show of how little she cared for Rarity’s insistence on proper etiquette.

I centered my view and saw Fluttershy trying to pick up a cupcake by its side with her fore hooves, all the while attempting to refrain from damaging its delicate design.

As I gripped a cupcake of my own with magic, I took the liberty of grabbing Fluttershy’s as well, holding it the air in front of her long enough for her to finally bring it between her two hooves and take a closer look at the design.

Reminding us why where here, Pinkie Pie exclaimed, “Go on try them, tell me what the taste like, oooh, I’m sooo super super exited!” A wide smile began splitting her face, and her eyes widened in excitement. Anymore eagerness and that muzzle might simply fall onto the floor.

Truth be told, none of us wanted to wait anymore.

Fluttershy and Apple Jack lifted there cupcakes closer to their muzzles, and I levitated mine and Rarity levitated a silver fork. Once again, Rarity insisted on being a ‘proper lady’. I’m not even going to try and figure out where that fork came from.

Almost simultaneously, we introduced our blue treats to our taste buds.

Fluttershy took a small, shy bite of hers. I could see delight brimming in her eyes and the large smile on her face.

Applejack showed her insistence on enjoying the full flavor; by nearly annihilating the cupcake in one bite, stuffing the rest in her mouth with a second, and chewed with her cheeks stretched enough to look like a big chipmunk.

Rarity took to her silverware to consume her cupcake. She was enjoying the flavor as well; abet a more civilized stile with small bites and slow chewing.

I for one, just took a bite. That’s it. I didn’t pick around, tried to be fancy, or expand my cheeks; I just took a bite. It was nice; the icing was sugary and sweet as always, but the baking was….new.

The cupcake itself was a flavor entirely foreign to me. It was warm, moist, and flavorful. I just couldn’t find myself to describe it properly. The only flavor I could recognize tasted… a bit like…like iron? Odd.

I looked down at the rest of the cupcake I was eating. It insides was crimson and red. At first glace, I would’ve assumed them to be some sort of fruit flavoring such as strawberry or pomegranate, maybe. But tasting the treat first kept me from those preemptive thoughts. What was this flavor? Truth be told, I actually disliked it a little. But I continued to eat anyway, no need to be rude. It was probably just something new pinkie was trying out; like trying to make the flavor of ‘awesome’ or something.

I looked to my left, back to the party mare, and swallowed my cupcake; a fake smile etched on my face. “That was… really great Pinkie,” I hope Pinkie Pie’s obliviousness to sarcasm would help make up for my horrible acting skills, “So, what do you want to do next.”

Pinkie pie lifts a hoof to cover her lips as she giggles, “Well, now you go to sleep.”

Sleep? That was an odd thing to say.

But…

…that’s all I could remember. Everything else is such a blur.

Did I…

…did I really fall asleep?

No…

No, I didn’t fall asleep.

My senses failed, my vision blurred, and the world around me swam.

I…

I passed out.

===000===

Twilight’s full consciousness returned to her as she finished recalling.

But it doesn’t make sense. How could I get from eating cupcakes to-?

Flash!

Twilight shut her eyes to shield them, but it was too late. She could feel her eyes burning. After several seconds, Twilight slowly raised her eyelids. As she attempted to view this room within the new lighting, Twilight found her vision swimming and mixing as it tried to adjust to the new lighting.

She tried to focus on the only moving object within her view. A pink mass grew larger as it approached her, accompanied by rhythmic hoof clops.

Twilight’s vision cleared before her deluded mind could put two and two together. The image of the pink mass sharpening as it got closer. Twilight was looking at a bright pink pony, sea blue eyes, a fluffy hot pink main, and a broad grin. She reared up and placed her fore hooves on the upright table as she bought her face closer to mine.

I was looking at directly Pinkie Pie.

“Yay! You’re awake. Now we can start the fun.”

SNAPP!