It was 3 a.m. when Carrot Cake arose to the sound of crying from the nursery. He rose carefully as to not awaken Cup Cake, his wife. He knew it would be a big day ahead for the two of them.
The upper floors of the bakery were dark; the smells of the previous day’s baking still hung in the air as he passed Pinkie Pie’s room. He continued heading for the nursery. The crying of Pumpkin Cake and Pound Cake, who were in need of changing, was not difficult to hear. upon entering the room he lit a hurricane lantern that hung on the wall, then lifted little Pound Cake from the crib and carried the colt to the changing table while stifling a yawn, whereupon he removed the soiled diaper and placed it in the diaper pail and drew a fresh diaper from the drawer and diapered the little colt, nuzzling little Pound Cake. He placed the colt back in the crib lovingly, and then repeated the exercise for little Pumpkin Cake.
After he had finished, he blew out the hurricane lantern and proceeded down the stairs. Once in the kitchen of Sugarcube Corner he lit the big ovens preparing for the busy day ahead.
As he worked he thought to himself, 'big day ahead, old boy, lots of work to do'.
They were to fulfill the order for the confections that would be eaten at the upcoming big event, the Grand Galloping Gala.
While waiting for the ovens to heat, he prepared a pot of coffee to have with their breakfast, and then began collecting the ingredients for the order. Bags of flour and Sugar he set out in the preparation area, boxes of Baking Powder and Baking Soda too. he checked the ice boxes to make sure they had plenty of eggs. As he worked, a shipment of ice arrived for the ice boxes and he let the ice seller inside to stock the ice boxes.
The kitchen was mostly quiet except for the ticking noise of the heating ovens and assorted noises of confectionary preparation, but he soon heard the stairs creak as Mrs. Cup Cake and Pinkie Pie were coming down the stairs to prepare breakfast. Carrot Cake began to whistle a happy little tune as he worked, soon having his wife and Pinkie Pie joining in.
By the time he had the first round of pastries in the ovens, breakfast was laid out on one of the many tables in the restaurant portion of their shop.
Mrs. Cake called out, "come to breakfast dear." Mr. Cake replied. "coming dear."
He joined his wife and Pinkie Pie for breakfast as they idly chatted about the day ahead before continuing to prepare the ingredients for the next round of baking.
"Pinkie Pie?" Mrs. Cake asked, "Would you be so kind as to take care of the twins while we work?"
Pinkie Pie in her usually excitable manner, began to bounce up and down and said, "Okie, Dokie, Lokie!" And the Cakes were glad for the help They had a lot to accomplish before the occasion that evening.
Fortunately Big Macintosh had offered to haul the wagon that would carry the goods to the train, and again from the train to Canterlot Castle.
Now finished with breakfast, Mrs. Cake washed the breakfast dishes, in their ‘smaller’ kitchen, while Pinkie Pie got supplies for the morning feeding of the Cakes twins.
Mr. Cake began removing the first round of baked goods from the ovens and starting the next round of baking and preparations, as Mrs Cake finished the Dishes and went to join her husband preparing the order..
* * *
Pinkie Pie in the meantime gathered supplies she would need to feed Pumpkin and Pound Cake and get them ready for the day ahead, and gathered some games and projects for them to keep them entertained, one has to wonder how an Equine can skip, but Pinkie Pie was doing just that as she gathered what she needed. Soon Pinkie Pie had all that she needed and then proceeded to the nursery.
Pinkie Pie, Picked up little Pound Cake first, and held him in her lap as she bottle fed him, after Pound Cake was fed, she placed a towel over her shoulder and burped him. Pound Cake rewarded Pinkie Pie with a tiny little "burp". Pinkie Pie set Pound Cake down to play and then repeated the exercise with little Pumpkin Cake.
* * *
The kitchen began to fill with the most wonderful odors of baked goods odors that would make Pinkie Pie's mouth water and drive the sweetest sweet tooth crazy. The Cakes worked tirelessly side by side for the love of their baking the bakery itself and the love of their twins as some of the most amazing delicacies began to appear one after the other such amazing mouth watering delights one could imagine or perhaps even dream of cakes and pastries of all kinds the smell alone would cause a sugar rush.
"Carrot Cake?" Cup Cake asked, "would you please get us another bag of flour from the pantry?" Carrot Cake replied "Of course, sweetie-pie". Mr. cake then proceeded into the pantry section of the bakery where they stored the dry goods and hefted a 50 pound bag of flour onto his back and fastened it securely then grabbed another box of baking powder for good measure than carrying the supplies into the bakery he set the items down in the preparation area and went back to work preparing more goods to be baked.
Meantime, Pinkie Pie took care of the Cakes Twins as if they were her own one would think from the sounds in the nursery a full blown party was going on as Pinkie Pie was coming up with games and projects to keep little Pound Cake and little Pumpkin Cake entertained.
The giggling of the twins and the Laughter of Pinkie Pie would melt the hardest of hearts.
The happy sounds from the upstairs of sugarcube corner and the wonderful odors of baking that wafted from the bakery downstairs all combined to create an almost surreal image, to any passerby.
It was towards the late afternoon when the last of the confections came out of the ovens that Mr. Cake began shutting the the big ovens off.
Big Macintosh was arriving with his wagon the wagon he had chosen was one of their larger wooden jobs with leaf springs to ease any shock This wagon was only for hauling large loads that required careful handling and was designed to haul glass goods like bottles of Apple Cider. Emblazoned on the sides of the wagon in big red letters were the words "Sweet Apple Acres".
Big Macintosh Knocked on their front door to let the Cakes know he had arrived.
Mrs. Cake answered the door. "Ah, Big Macintosh, thank you for coming to help your help is most welcome".
Big Macintosh in his usual quiet way replied "Eeyup".
Mr. and Mrs Cake, with the help of Big Macintosh then began to load the wagon for the trip to the Train Station. Cakes and Eclairs, and confections of all kinds were loaded with great care in special protective crates.
Mrs. Cake then asked Big Macintosh, "This load will not be to heavy for you will it?" To Which, Big Macintosh chuckled and said simply "Nope".
Mr. Cake, ever the nervous sort when it came to their baked goods then said to Big Mac, "Please be careful when hauling this load".
Big Mac, as talkative as ever said simply, "Eeyup".
Pinkie Pie would stay behind to take care of Pound and Pumpkin Cake. The Cakes promised to hurry back as Big Macintosh had chores to do at Sweet Apple Acres, and Pinkie Pie needed to get ready for the Grand Galloping Gala to attend as one of the Mane Six with their friend and newly made Princess Twilight Sparkle.
As the three Mr. and Mrs. Cake and Big Macintosh left, Pinkie Pie locked up behind them.
The Cakes and Big Macintosh now made their way to the station as the worst part of the journey had begun.
Getting to the destination with everything in one piece and poor Me. Carrot Cake was as nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs.
Arriving at the station Big Macintosh simply pulled the whole cart over the ramp and into the box car that waited it would not be a comfortable ride for the three of them but this would be the only way it would work as they had to ride in the boxcar with their goods to protect.
Of course during the whole process Mr. Cake was hovering over the baked goods like a mother hen about to lay an egg until everything was finally secured.
The train began to move with a jerk which had Mr. Cake nearly fainting.
"I do hope we can get all this there in one piece", said Mr. Cake worriedly.
"We will dear", replied Mrs. Cake.
The train ride almost made Mr. Cake a nervous wreck with every bump on the track.
For as a general rule trains are not known to be quiet as they travelled with that constant Clickety-clack, clickety clack as the steel wheels traveled on steel track.
Though the trip was uneventful and everything got to its destination in one piece.
Soon Big Macintosh was hauling the load to the great hall under the watchful gaze of Mr. Cake where the Grand Galloping Gala would be held.
They stopped at the guard station to show their credentials to the Royal Guards.
"We are the Cakes with an order for the Grand Galloping Gala", Mr. and Mrs. cake said.
The Royal Guards examined the credentials with those stern steely looks they were so famous for and finally stated three words, "You may pass".
The Cakes were shown to the tables set up for their goods and they began to unload; soon Princess Celestia appeared to oversee preparations.
The Cakes and Big Mac, all bowed to the Princess in unison, "Highness", they all said.
Princess Celestia replied, "Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Cake, and Big Macintosh please go about your business".
Cakes and Eclairs and Pastries of all kinds began to appear on the tables the guests tonight would have plenty to enjoy along with all the other dishes bakers had provided.
There were Canapés and delicacies of all kinds finally everything was set out.
Princess Celestia then spoke, "Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Cake, here is what I owe you for the work you have done."
Princess Celestia then paid the Cakes from the Royal coffers.
"Thank you Highness, we are happy to have done our part for the Grand Galloping Gala".
The Cakes and Big Mac all bowed to the Princess then they set out for home with Big Macintosh.
When The Cakes arrived home they turned to Big Macintosh. "Thank you for your help, and here is what we owe you for your services", then they paid Big Macintosh, for his efforts of hauling the goods.
Big Macintosh then said, "you do not have to pay me for my service, I do this as a friend".
"We will hear none of it", Replied Mr. and Mrs Cake, "you have done us a service we could not do alone, and we took valuable time from you out of your day to come help us, we owe you, and Sweet Apple Acres for what you have done for us and we wish to pay you for your work".
Big Macintosh then set out for home with his empty wagon rattling along behind him and looking forward to a home cooked meal before he would finish his chores around Sweet Apple Acres.
The Cakes then entered Sugar Cube corner and checked on Pinkie Pie Pound Cake and Pumpkin cake finding everything to be well.
Mr. Cake then spoke to Pinkie Pie, "Thank you for taking care of the twins today, you have been very helpful, here is what we owe you for sitting the twins while we worked, now, you better scoot and get ready for the Gala, your friends will be expecting you".
Pinkie Pie now made a mad dash to her room to bathe herself and get dressed, putting on the lovely dress made for her by the Famous Rarity for the Gala. After getting ready she then started on her way to the train Station to catch the train to Canterlot where she would meet up with her friends.
