Dash for the Pieby Sheltie PawsChaptersChapter 1: The IdeaChapter 2: Bake My Day Desserts and Baked GoodsChapter 3: Sweet Works of ArtChapter 1: The Idea Soarin watched that wonderful rainbow streak flying across the sky. Rainbow Dash, the mare of his life, pulled up from a steep dive and hovered in one spot for a moment, cacthing her breath. A moment was all Soarin needed. He was amazed by her dazzling cyan fur, her elegant rainbow mane, and those luminous,thoughtful, magenta eyes. Those eyes held so many emotions, so many secrets, so many desires and friendships. Rainbow sped off again, a multicolored blur. Soarin flapped his wings and lifted off from the cloud he'd been sitting on. It was simply destiny, Soarin thought, all those times they had met. Rainbow saved not only his pie, but his life. Soarin wished there was a way he could tell her how he felt, but he could not just talk with her. If he confided his love to her, what would she say? What if Rainbow didn't feel the same way? What if she refused to talk to him? There were simply too many risks. Soarin shook his head in confusion. What to do, what to do? he thought warily. Soarin was tired of this crazy trivia game, where he always ended up with the same results. Nothing. He glided down to the shopping streets of Cloudsdale, pondering deeply about love. He needed an expert on this matter, on this unfamiliar territory. He didn't care if they were a stuck up business pony, or a crazed hippie, he just wanted an expert. Soarin landed on the cushioning cloud streets and started trotting among the pegasi out shopping. Above a cloud arena in the distance, Soarin thought he saw two pegasi from his training group in the Wonderbolts, Fleetfoot and Blaze. It looked like a race was on the way, but he didn't care, he just wanted help. Rainbow was so beautiful, even when she didn't try to. She was such an amazing flyer, with those wings, that striking mane, that rainbow streak, her cyan fur, and those wonderful, perfect magenta eyes..... those perfect eyes that belonged to a perfect mare, Rainbow Dash. Soarin wondered if she would ever like a stallion like him. Soarin imagined what great times they could have together. We could go to the gala and eat pie together! And have races.... we would do so good in a relay together! And those lovely moonlit flights, wacthing the stars. Rainbow and I, we are meant to be. Soarin thought, with exictment. He sighed, knowing that wishing all this wouldn't make it happen. "Soarin! Hey Soarin!" Soarin looked around to see who was calling his name. His friend Fire Streak flew from behind him. "Hey Soarin! You wanna go watch a race? Fleetfoot and Blaze got into this mega argument about some sort of mare thing and they're having a big race to settle it at noon today!" he called. "You should see those two glaring at each other like they are trying to burn holes through each other. This is going to be a heated race!" Fire Streak noticed Soarin sulking. "Dude, what up?" he said, concerned. "Rainbow Dash." Soarin said wistfully, a dreamy look in his eyes. "Whoa, Soarin, your going for a mare?" Fire Streak looked slightly amused. "Rainbow's a pretty one all right. And so amazing in flight!" He noticed Soarin glaring at him. "Hey, don't worry I'm just teasing. I won't steal her. I've got my sights set on Blaze. My flaming angel." "Good, or else I would make it my mission to ruin your life." Soarin said simply. "OK, I get the idea. So you're aiming to make a good impression, eh?" Fire Streak said. "Yup. I I can't mess up. At all." Soarin replied. "Alright then Soarin, you better get cracking. Rainbow's leaving Clouddale tommorow." Fire Streak said, assuming Soarin already knew. "What!? Shes leaving tomorrow!? WHY HAVEN'T YOU TOLD ME THIS BEFORE!?" Soarin screamed. He grabbed Fire Streak by the shoulders forand shook him vigorously. "Rainbow Dash is the mare of my life and you're telling me, I only have until tommorow to make her like me?!" he shouted. Ponies in the cloudy streets were starting to stare and whisper, but Soarin didn't care. Fire Streak pushed away from Soarin. "Why are you looking at me here, huh? What'd I do wrong? You want Rainbow, eh? Then get her a gift or something and be done with it you madpony! Get out of my face here! There's something called personal space, lover-boy." Fire Streak shouted back. He backed away and sped off into the sky. The ponies on the sidewalk eventually stoped gawking and carried on with their business. Soarin was breathing hard, and his head felt like exploding. He was fuming, until his breathing slowed and his senses flooded back to him. Soarin remembered that Rainbow was leaving Cloudsdale tommorow, and knew he could catch up with her, not with her sonic rainboom speed. He desperetly needed an idea on how to makes Rainbow like him, and he needed it now. Then get her a gift or something and be done with it you madpony! Fire Streak had said. Soarin didn't exactly like being called a madpony, but the gift idea... it got him thinking. What if he got Rainbow Dash a gift! Yes a gift would work. Soarin twitched his wings in excitement and continued to think. What should I give Rainbow? Jewelry? No, I've never seen her wear any, other than with her gala outfit. Well, I could give her flowers... nah, everypony does the flower thing, and it wont seem as special. Think Soarin, think! What would you like to receive as a message of true love? Wait..... A PIE!Soarin thought. And so the dash for the pie had begun. Chapter 2: Bake My Day Desserts and Baked Goods Soarin was on a mission. To get pie. The moment he had the idea, the pegasus had leaped from the streets to the air and consulted his pie manual. If there was a job called the Pie Expert, or the Pie Master of Equestria, Soarin would have applied. Sadly, since there wasn't, Soarin made a pie manual, containing the locations and a short description of all the bakeries in Cloudsdale. He decided to head towards Bake My Day Desserts and Baked Goods, because their shop was only a few streets away, and their pies were defiantly good quality. Soarin raced through the clouds, skimming the white rooftops below. He had only a day to find the perfect pie and deliver it to Rainbow Dash. Soarin felt as though he had no time to eat, no time to slow down, and (most importantly) no time for bathroom breaks. Even if he saw Rainbow Dash, he had no time to stop and say hello. Soarin thought that if he did he'd be stuttering and probably make a fool of himself, and so with time or not it was probably a good idea not to say hello to the rainbow mare. But pie gave Soarin confidence. Pie gave Soarin the ability to talk to mares who weren't his mom or his captain Spitfire. Pie could bring Equestria peace with other races, but of course the Peace and With Other Nations for Equestria Society never awnsered his letters. Cheap old company. Soarin didn't need them anyways. Soon Soarin saw the magenta sign that read Bake My Day Desserts and Baked Goods and swooped down to the streets. He landed and trotted to the cozy little shop. A bell rang as he entered the bakery, and it sounded like a pony was giving a speech. A purple stallion pegasus with a gentle blue mane was standing on top of a stool and addressing a crowd of ponies at the back of the shop. Soarin slipped among the crowd and turned to a lime pegasus mare. "What's going on?" Soarin whispered to her. "World changing miracles." she replied , without taking her eyes off the purple stallion. Soarin noticed most of the pegasi had food related cutie marks. "It is my great pleasure to announce that we will be starting an official Cloudsdale Pie Club." The purple stallion was saying. "The misunderstood power of pie can now be celebrated, and honored. The Club will meet every week and discuss pie recipes and quality. We are strong!" A cheer went up from the crowd. "We are proud!" Another cheer was accompanied by stomping hooves, making the shop's floor and ceiling rattle. "We are the Cloudsdale Pie Club! Hail to the pie!" shouted the purple stallion. A chant started. "Pie! Pie! Pie! Pie! Pie!" The crowd shouted. Soarin joined in. The noise must have been heard al the way to Canterlot. "Pie! Pie! Pie! Pie! Pie!" "And it is all thanks to you, our costumers! So I, Plum Baker, say once more, HAIL TO THE PIE!" The purple stallion said. Cheering came even louder than before. "Pie! Pie! Pie! Pie!" Soarin had to wait until all the pegasi had left the shop. When the last ponies had gone, Soarin realized how much time he had wasted. He checked his wacthed frantically. He had lost nearly an hour. "Nooooooo." Soarin moaned, as he slammed his head on the countertop. The bell on the counter jingled and a voice called from the kitchen. "Ooh, a customer! I'm coming, give me a moment!" the voice said. Soarin thought he recognized Plum Baker's merry tone. Sure enough, Plum Baker trotted from the door that led to the kicthen and towards the counter. "How can I help you?" Soarin raised his head, embarrassed to be found moping like that. "I'm in a hurry, and I'd like a pie please. What flavors do you have? C'mon, make it snappy." Soarin said quickly. He cast a nervous glance at the clock on the wall. "Well, we have cranberry, raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, pumpkin, orange, mango, apple-" Plum Baker began. "Oh, I'll take apple. Do you have one ready made?" Soarin interrupted. "You bet, and its fresh too." Plum Baker replied. He took an apple pie from the counter. "Would you like it in a box or-" "On, I'll take it as is." Soarin said quickly, snatching the pie from Plum's hooves. He tossed bits on the counter as he rushed out the door. "Keep the change!" Soarin said slamming the door on a confused Plum Baker and rocketing into the sky. Alright, now I've got to find Rainbow Dash. Nothing will harm this pie. Nothing. Soarin thought. He slowed down once he had gained a good height and tried to remember were he had seen her last. That was earlier this morning..... Near the stadium where Fleetfoot and Blaze were going to race! She might be watching the race. Yeah! Rainbow was speeding in that direction when I last saw her.... Yeah! Now to the stadium! Soarin thought. The stadium was only a few blocks down, and Soarin sped at top speed. Strangely, when he arrived near the stadium nopony was above it racing. Soarin drew closer to the stadium, until he was hovering over the rim. He could hear a crowd cheering and see ponies in the stands, but...... where were the racers? Soarin squinted against the glare of teh sun. No luck. He drew his eyes into slits and peered down at the stadium. The take-off field appeared to be empty at first, but then he saw two specks crouching down, their wings ready for lift off. Soarin realized his mistake to late. He was caught in the flight path of the race. The crowd yelled and cheered as Fleetfoot and Blaze took off and began to circle the rim off the stadium at what earth ponies would consider as bone-chilling speeds. Two blurs raced past him, narrowly missing Soarin. Soarin was caught unbalanced by the sudden rush of air, and he stumbled in flight. Fleetfoot and Blaze passed another time and then another. By the 4th time, Soarin had run out of luck. Fleetfoot slammed into Soarin. Both pegasi fell towards the ground. Fleetfoot recovered, shot a dirty glare at Soarin, and crashed back into the race. It was a matter of time before Soarin realized his hooves weren't clucthing his precious pie. Soarin stared ahead in disbelief. His pie was gone, and he felt as though the world had ended. Soarin threw back his head and yelled to the whole of Cloudsdale. "NOOOOOO!NNONONONONONOOOOOONONNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" A great pie had fallen, and along with it plummeted Soarin's first hope. Chapter 3: Sweet Works of Art Soarin had no time to mourn the lost pie, no time to even shoot a dirty glare full of disguised curse words at Fleetfloot. Rainbow Dash was leaving tomorrow, and there was no time to spare. He drifted out of the race's flight path and onto a cloud. He found his pie manual and searched for the nearest bakery. Sally's Bake Shop, Pie and Roses, Bakers Paradise, Soarin read aloud in his mind. Ah, here we go. Sweet Works of Art. Soarin continued to read the short description he had put. Sweet Works to Art is an expansive chain bake shop owned by Flour Sweet, a french pegasus. They have a Canterlot branch owned by Fleur Delacour, half sister to Flour Sweet. The cafes are visited by many celebrities and the occasional Princess. Both branches make many different goods, such as PIE, cake, cupcakes, macaroons, bread, cookies, brownies, fudge, tarts, cake pops, and much more. It is rumored that the Cloudsdale branch sometimes mixes a secret formula of clouds into their batter, while the Canterlot branch mixes powdered gems. Both have been rated 9 out of 10 Stars by Soarin Skies. Soarin forgot about the expensive part and lifted into the sky. Sweet Works of Art was on an elegant street full of pricey shops for the rich and fancy. A polished road made of lavender and baby blue stones ran along the middle of the street. Each store had tall cloud columns supporting the overhanging rooftops. The shops had beautiful displays for their merchandise behind gleaming glass windows. Diamond jewelry, crystal flowers, and gowns made form the finest fabrics peeked from behind the windows. The midday sun reflected off of the purple and blue stones, making the street appear even more dazzling. Several ponies glanced at Soarin with disguised disgust. That's when Soarin remembered he was wearing an old Wonderbolts outfit he hadn't washed in two weeks on a street full of elegantly dressed pegasi in tuxes and gala dresses. On well, who cares about the public's opinion anyways? Rainbow Dash was more important. The white cursive letters loomed above Soarin, spelling out Sweet Works of Art. The building was painted a light cream with a chocolate brown trim. As Soarin stepped in, the warm aroma of baking vanilla cake washed over him. He was amazed. Row apon row of cakes, pie, cookies, brownies, muffins, and every kind of baked good imaginable greeted him. Soarin reached out his hoof, almost in a trance, towards the pies. They had soft golden crust, and he could imagine the gooey, tantalizing berry filling. The scent was overwhelmingly awesome. He reached further, about to grab that wonderful, tantalizing, beautiful pie - only to be stopped by the glass case it was in, and snapped back to reality. A cream stallion in a white tuxedo fixed his intense blue eyes on Soarin. "Hello sir, I am Cream Puff. How may I help you?" The cream pegasus said. His voice was friendly, but his eyes were narrowed with disapproval. "Hello, I'm looking for a pie. What flavors do you happen to have on hoof?" Soarin answered. Cream Puff's nostrils flared at the word "I'm". Guess he doesn't like contractions. Soarin thought. Make that does not like contractions. "We happen to have 5 freshly baked raspberry pies, and two apple pies at the moment." Cream Puff said. "What about all the others?" Soarin pointed to all the pies in the display case. "Those are all reserved for Mistress Flour Sweet's Pie fest in two days. I am terribly sorry, but some idiot," Cream Puff looked at Soarin when he said idiot. "Ended up smashing part of the display case this morning. Took half of our pies down with him. Naturally got fired, that old dope." Soarin glanced at the perfect glass display case. "How did you fix it so quick?" He asked. Cream Puff cast an odd glance at Soarin. "Why bother fixing it, when you can easily buy a new one?" The cream pegasi said. Soarin remembered that these ponies were rich. "So what kind of pie would you like sir?" "May I have a raspberry pie please?" said Soarin. Cream Puff nodded. "Here you are sir, freshly baked raspberry pie." The cream stallion said, handing Soarin a beautifully baked pie. "Would you like it in a box?" "No, I'll take take the way it is." Soarin replied quickly. His eyes darted to the clock on the wall. "You seem quite anxious sir. Are you alright?" Cream asked. Soarin nodded. "Then that will be 59 bits." Soarin opened his wallet and poured out roughly 65 bits. "Keep the change!" he yelled, grabbing the pie and darting out the door and into the sky. He could have sworn he heard Cream Puff muttering. Probably saying 'good riddance'. But who cares about a fancy old stallion anyway? Soarin soared above the streets and started to search the area near the stadium. Perhaps Rainbow was still somewhere close, even though the race had ended. He was right! Rainbow Dash was no more than five metres behind him, talking to Fleetfloot. Sadly, Soarin did not have the sense to turn around, and he flew of in the wrong direction. He clucthed his pie tight, afraid he would drop it. Soarin soon decided to head deeper into the city. The airspace was getting crowded, so he decided to fly low. That way he could look out for Rainbow too. It looked like everything was going well, and be would find Dash eventually, until- "HEY! HEY DORK FACE!" Soarin looked around wildly. "YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT, IM TALKING TOO YOU, IDIOT!" Soarin looked down and saw Hoops, Dumb-Bell, and Score, the local bullies. "What do you want?" Soarin called. "I'm in a rush, so make it snappy!" "Listen punk, we missed lunch." Dumb-Bell said, eyeing the pie Soarin held. Soarin understood in a flash. "OH NO! YOU ARE NOT GETTING THIS PIE!" He yelled. "I'd like to see you stop us, PIE-FACE!" Hoops sneered. "Yeah, NERD!" Score hollered. The three bullies flew up, and circled Soarin. "OH NO! NO NO NO! THIS IS MINE, YOU STUPID IDIOT!" Soarin screeched. Dumb-Bell swooped in and snacthed Soarin's pie. Soarin kicked and fought but he overpowered by Score. The last thing he saw before Hoops sent him crashing into the street was Dumb-Bell hungrily snarfing down the pie.
Chapter 1: The Idea Soarin watched that wonderful rainbow streak flying across the sky. Rainbow Dash, the mare of his life, pulled up from a steep dive and hovered in one spot for a moment, cacthing her breath. A moment was all Soarin needed. He was amazed by her dazzling cyan fur, her elegant rainbow mane, and those luminous,thoughtful, magenta eyes. Those eyes held so many emotions, so many secrets, so many desires and friendships. Rainbow sped off again, a multicolored blur. Soarin flapped his wings and lifted off from the cloud he'd been sitting on. It was simply destiny, Soarin thought, all those times they had met. Rainbow saved not only his pie, but his life. Soarin wished there was a way he could tell her how he felt, but he could not just talk with her. If he confided his love to her, what would she say? What if Rainbow didn't feel the same way? What if she refused to talk to him? There were simply too many risks. Soarin shook his head in confusion. What to do, what to do? he thought warily. Soarin was tired of this crazy trivia game, where he always ended up with the same results. Nothing. He glided down to the shopping streets of Cloudsdale, pondering deeply about love. He needed an expert on this matter, on this unfamiliar territory. He didn't care if they were a stuck up business pony, or a crazed hippie, he just wanted an expert. Soarin landed on the cushioning cloud streets and started trotting among the pegasi out shopping. Above a cloud arena in the distance, Soarin thought he saw two pegasi from his training group in the Wonderbolts, Fleetfoot and Blaze. It looked like a race was on the way, but he didn't care, he just wanted help. Rainbow was so beautiful, even when she didn't try to. She was such an amazing flyer, with those wings, that striking mane, that rainbow streak, her cyan fur, and those wonderful, perfect magenta eyes..... those perfect eyes that belonged to a perfect mare, Rainbow Dash. Soarin wondered if she would ever like a stallion like him. Soarin imagined what great times they could have together. We could go to the gala and eat pie together! And have races.... we would do so good in a relay together! And those lovely moonlit flights, wacthing the stars. Rainbow and I, we are meant to be. Soarin thought, with exictment. He sighed, knowing that wishing all this wouldn't make it happen. "Soarin! Hey Soarin!" Soarin looked around to see who was calling his name. His friend Fire Streak flew from behind him. "Hey Soarin! You wanna go watch a race? Fleetfoot and Blaze got into this mega argument about some sort of mare thing and they're having a big race to settle it at noon today!" he called. "You should see those two glaring at each other like they are trying to burn holes through each other. This is going to be a heated race!" Fire Streak noticed Soarin sulking. "Dude, what up?" he said, concerned. "Rainbow Dash." Soarin said wistfully, a dreamy look in his eyes. "Whoa, Soarin, your going for a mare?" Fire Streak looked slightly amused. "Rainbow's a pretty one all right. And so amazing in flight!" He noticed Soarin glaring at him. "Hey, don't worry I'm just teasing. I won't steal her. I've got my sights set on Blaze. My flaming angel." "Good, or else I would make it my mission to ruin your life." Soarin said simply. "OK, I get the idea. So you're aiming to make a good impression, eh?" Fire Streak said. "Yup. I I can't mess up. At all." Soarin replied. "Alright then Soarin, you better get cracking. Rainbow's leaving Clouddale tommorow." Fire Streak said, assuming Soarin already knew. "What!? Shes leaving tomorrow!? WHY HAVEN'T YOU TOLD ME THIS BEFORE!?" Soarin screamed. He grabbed Fire Streak by the shoulders forand shook him vigorously. "Rainbow Dash is the mare of my life and you're telling me, I only have until tommorow to make her like me?!" he shouted. Ponies in the cloudy streets were starting to stare and whisper, but Soarin didn't care. Fire Streak pushed away from Soarin. "Why are you looking at me here, huh? What'd I do wrong? You want Rainbow, eh? Then get her a gift or something and be done with it you madpony! Get out of my face here! There's something called personal space, lover-boy." Fire Streak shouted back. He backed away and sped off into the sky. The ponies on the sidewalk eventually stoped gawking and carried on with their business. Soarin was breathing hard, and his head felt like exploding. He was fuming, until his breathing slowed and his senses flooded back to him. Soarin remembered that Rainbow was leaving Cloudsdale tommorow, and knew he could catch up with her, not with her sonic rainboom speed. He desperetly needed an idea on how to makes Rainbow like him, and he needed it now. Then get her a gift or something and be done with it you madpony! Fire Streak had said. Soarin didn't exactly like being called a madpony, but the gift idea... it got him thinking. What if he got Rainbow Dash a gift! Yes a gift would work. Soarin twitched his wings in excitement and continued to think. What should I give Rainbow? Jewelry? No, I've never seen her wear any, other than with her gala outfit. Well, I could give her flowers... nah, everypony does the flower thing, and it wont seem as special. Think Soarin, think! What would you like to receive as a message of true love? Wait..... A PIE!Soarin thought. And so the dash for the pie had begun.
Chapter 2: Bake My Day Desserts and Baked Goods Soarin was on a mission. To get pie. The moment he had the idea, the pegasus had leaped from the streets to the air and consulted his pie manual. If there was a job called the Pie Expert, or the Pie Master of Equestria, Soarin would have applied. Sadly, since there wasn't, Soarin made a pie manual, containing the locations and a short description of all the bakeries in Cloudsdale. He decided to head towards Bake My Day Desserts and Baked Goods, because their shop was only a few streets away, and their pies were defiantly good quality. Soarin raced through the clouds, skimming the white rooftops below. He had only a day to find the perfect pie and deliver it to Rainbow Dash. Soarin felt as though he had no time to eat, no time to slow down, and (most importantly) no time for bathroom breaks. Even if he saw Rainbow Dash, he had no time to stop and say hello. Soarin thought that if he did he'd be stuttering and probably make a fool of himself, and so with time or not it was probably a good idea not to say hello to the rainbow mare. But pie gave Soarin confidence. Pie gave Soarin the ability to talk to mares who weren't his mom or his captain Spitfire. Pie could bring Equestria peace with other races, but of course the Peace and With Other Nations for Equestria Society never awnsered his letters. Cheap old company. Soarin didn't need them anyways. Soon Soarin saw the magenta sign that read Bake My Day Desserts and Baked Goods and swooped down to the streets. He landed and trotted to the cozy little shop. A bell rang as he entered the bakery, and it sounded like a pony was giving a speech. A purple stallion pegasus with a gentle blue mane was standing on top of a stool and addressing a crowd of ponies at the back of the shop. Soarin slipped among the crowd and turned to a lime pegasus mare. "What's going on?" Soarin whispered to her. "World changing miracles." she replied , without taking her eyes off the purple stallion. Soarin noticed most of the pegasi had food related cutie marks. "It is my great pleasure to announce that we will be starting an official Cloudsdale Pie Club." The purple stallion was saying. "The misunderstood power of pie can now be celebrated, and honored. The Club will meet every week and discuss pie recipes and quality. We are strong!" A cheer went up from the crowd. "We are proud!" Another cheer was accompanied by stomping hooves, making the shop's floor and ceiling rattle. "We are the Cloudsdale Pie Club! Hail to the pie!" shouted the purple stallion. A chant started. "Pie! Pie! Pie! Pie! Pie!" The crowd shouted. Soarin joined in. The noise must have been heard al the way to Canterlot. "Pie! Pie! Pie! Pie! Pie!" "And it is all thanks to you, our costumers! So I, Plum Baker, say once more, HAIL TO THE PIE!" The purple stallion said. Cheering came even louder than before. "Pie! Pie! Pie! Pie!" Soarin had to wait until all the pegasi had left the shop. When the last ponies had gone, Soarin realized how much time he had wasted. He checked his wacthed frantically. He had lost nearly an hour. "Nooooooo." Soarin moaned, as he slammed his head on the countertop. The bell on the counter jingled and a voice called from the kitchen. "Ooh, a customer! I'm coming, give me a moment!" the voice said. Soarin thought he recognized Plum Baker's merry tone. Sure enough, Plum Baker trotted from the door that led to the kicthen and towards the counter. "How can I help you?" Soarin raised his head, embarrassed to be found moping like that. "I'm in a hurry, and I'd like a pie please. What flavors do you have? C'mon, make it snappy." Soarin said quickly. He cast a nervous glance at the clock on the wall. "Well, we have cranberry, raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, pumpkin, orange, mango, apple-" Plum Baker began. "Oh, I'll take apple. Do you have one ready made?" Soarin interrupted. "You bet, and its fresh too." Plum Baker replied. He took an apple pie from the counter. "Would you like it in a box or-" "On, I'll take it as is." Soarin said quickly, snatching the pie from Plum's hooves. He tossed bits on the counter as he rushed out the door. "Keep the change!" Soarin said slamming the door on a confused Plum Baker and rocketing into the sky. Alright, now I've got to find Rainbow Dash. Nothing will harm this pie. Nothing. Soarin thought. He slowed down once he had gained a good height and tried to remember were he had seen her last. That was earlier this morning..... Near the stadium where Fleetfoot and Blaze were going to race! She might be watching the race. Yeah! Rainbow was speeding in that direction when I last saw her.... Yeah! Now to the stadium! Soarin thought. The stadium was only a few blocks down, and Soarin sped at top speed. Strangely, when he arrived near the stadium nopony was above it racing. Soarin drew closer to the stadium, until he was hovering over the rim. He could hear a crowd cheering and see ponies in the stands, but...... where were the racers? Soarin squinted against the glare of teh sun. No luck. He drew his eyes into slits and peered down at the stadium. The take-off field appeared to be empty at first, but then he saw two specks crouching down, their wings ready for lift off. Soarin realized his mistake to late. He was caught in the flight path of the race. The crowd yelled and cheered as Fleetfoot and Blaze took off and began to circle the rim off the stadium at what earth ponies would consider as bone-chilling speeds. Two blurs raced past him, narrowly missing Soarin. Soarin was caught unbalanced by the sudden rush of air, and he stumbled in flight. Fleetfoot and Blaze passed another time and then another. By the 4th time, Soarin had run out of luck. Fleetfoot slammed into Soarin. Both pegasi fell towards the ground. Fleetfoot recovered, shot a dirty glare at Soarin, and crashed back into the race. It was a matter of time before Soarin realized his hooves weren't clucthing his precious pie. Soarin stared ahead in disbelief. His pie was gone, and he felt as though the world had ended. Soarin threw back his head and yelled to the whole of Cloudsdale. "NOOOOOO!NNONONONONONOOOOOONONNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" A great pie had fallen, and along with it plummeted Soarin's first hope.
Chapter 3: Sweet Works of Art Soarin had no time to mourn the lost pie, no time to even shoot a dirty glare full of disguised curse words at Fleetfloot. Rainbow Dash was leaving tomorrow, and there was no time to spare. He drifted out of the race's flight path and onto a cloud. He found his pie manual and searched for the nearest bakery. Sally's Bake Shop, Pie and Roses, Bakers Paradise, Soarin read aloud in his mind. Ah, here we go. Sweet Works of Art. Soarin continued to read the short description he had put. Sweet Works to Art is an expansive chain bake shop owned by Flour Sweet, a french pegasus. They have a Canterlot branch owned by Fleur Delacour, half sister to Flour Sweet. The cafes are visited by many celebrities and the occasional Princess. Both branches make many different goods, such as PIE, cake, cupcakes, macaroons, bread, cookies, brownies, fudge, tarts, cake pops, and much more. It is rumored that the Cloudsdale branch sometimes mixes a secret formula of clouds into their batter, while the Canterlot branch mixes powdered gems. Both have been rated 9 out of 10 Stars by Soarin Skies. Soarin forgot about the expensive part and lifted into the sky. Sweet Works of Art was on an elegant street full of pricey shops for the rich and fancy. A polished road made of lavender and baby blue stones ran along the middle of the street. Each store had tall cloud columns supporting the overhanging rooftops. The shops had beautiful displays for their merchandise behind gleaming glass windows. Diamond jewelry, crystal flowers, and gowns made form the finest fabrics peeked from behind the windows. The midday sun reflected off of the purple and blue stones, making the street appear even more dazzling. Several ponies glanced at Soarin with disguised disgust. That's when Soarin remembered he was wearing an old Wonderbolts outfit he hadn't washed in two weeks on a street full of elegantly dressed pegasi in tuxes and gala dresses. On well, who cares about the public's opinion anyways? Rainbow Dash was more important. The white cursive letters loomed above Soarin, spelling out Sweet Works of Art. The building was painted a light cream with a chocolate brown trim. As Soarin stepped in, the warm aroma of baking vanilla cake washed over him. He was amazed. Row apon row of cakes, pie, cookies, brownies, muffins, and every kind of baked good imaginable greeted him. Soarin reached out his hoof, almost in a trance, towards the pies. They had soft golden crust, and he could imagine the gooey, tantalizing berry filling. The scent was overwhelmingly awesome. He reached further, about to grab that wonderful, tantalizing, beautiful pie - only to be stopped by the glass case it was in, and snapped back to reality. A cream stallion in a white tuxedo fixed his intense blue eyes on Soarin. "Hello sir, I am Cream Puff. How may I help you?" The cream pegasus said. His voice was friendly, but his eyes were narrowed with disapproval. "Hello, I'm looking for a pie. What flavors do you happen to have on hoof?" Soarin answered. Cream Puff's nostrils flared at the word "I'm". Guess he doesn't like contractions. Soarin thought. Make that does not like contractions. "We happen to have 5 freshly baked raspberry pies, and two apple pies at the moment." Cream Puff said. "What about all the others?" Soarin pointed to all the pies in the display case. "Those are all reserved for Mistress Flour Sweet's Pie fest in two days. I am terribly sorry, but some idiot," Cream Puff looked at Soarin when he said idiot. "Ended up smashing part of the display case this morning. Took half of our pies down with him. Naturally got fired, that old dope." Soarin glanced at the perfect glass display case. "How did you fix it so quick?" He asked. Cream Puff cast an odd glance at Soarin. "Why bother fixing it, when you can easily buy a new one?" The cream pegasi said. Soarin remembered that these ponies were rich. "So what kind of pie would you like sir?" "May I have a raspberry pie please?" said Soarin. Cream Puff nodded. "Here you are sir, freshly baked raspberry pie." The cream stallion said, handing Soarin a beautifully baked pie. "Would you like it in a box?" "No, I'll take take the way it is." Soarin replied quickly. His eyes darted to the clock on the wall. "You seem quite anxious sir. Are you alright?" Cream asked. Soarin nodded. "Then that will be 59 bits." Soarin opened his wallet and poured out roughly 65 bits. "Keep the change!" he yelled, grabbing the pie and darting out the door and into the sky. He could have sworn he heard Cream Puff muttering. Probably saying 'good riddance'. But who cares about a fancy old stallion anyway? Soarin soared above the streets and started to search the area near the stadium. Perhaps Rainbow was still somewhere close, even though the race had ended. He was right! Rainbow Dash was no more than five metres behind him, talking to Fleetfloot. Sadly, Soarin did not have the sense to turn around, and he flew of in the wrong direction. He clucthed his pie tight, afraid he would drop it. Soarin soon decided to head deeper into the city. The airspace was getting crowded, so he decided to fly low. That way he could look out for Rainbow too. It looked like everything was going well, and be would find Dash eventually, until- "HEY! HEY DORK FACE!" Soarin looked around wildly. "YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT, IM TALKING TOO YOU, IDIOT!" Soarin looked down and saw Hoops, Dumb-Bell, and Score, the local bullies. "What do you want?" Soarin called. "I'm in a rush, so make it snappy!" "Listen punk, we missed lunch." Dumb-Bell said, eyeing the pie Soarin held. Soarin understood in a flash. "OH NO! YOU ARE NOT GETTING THIS PIE!" He yelled. "I'd like to see you stop us, PIE-FACE!" Hoops sneered. "Yeah, NERD!" Score hollered. The three bullies flew up, and circled Soarin. "OH NO! NO NO NO! THIS IS MINE, YOU STUPID IDIOT!" Soarin screeched. Dumb-Bell swooped in and snacthed Soarin's pie. Soarin kicked and fought but he overpowered by Score. The last thing he saw before Hoops sent him crashing into the street was Dumb-Bell hungrily snarfing down the pie.
