A Sprinkle of Surpriseby SprinklesChaptersChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 5Chapter 6Chapter 7EpilogueChapter 3Chapter 1 Pinkie Pie decided to make some salt-water taffy. Rainbow salt-water taffy. So she went into the back where the taffy mixer was and put in all six colors. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. Then she added some salt-water and started the mixer. She was about to wash her hooves to the access taffy off when the doors of Sugarcube Corner burst open. Which seemed strange to Pinkie, because the sweet-shop didn't open until 1:30 PM and it was only 11:25 AM. Pinkie almost objected the early arrivals until she saw who the two beings were. It was Rainbow Dash with Spike on her back. "PINKIE PIE! PINKIE PIE!" the rainbow pegasis shouted excitedly. Pinkie suddenly shot up in excitement. "What?!" she shouted. She was excited to see what Dash had to to say. But instead, Spike burped up a scroll. It hovered slowly to the now bouncing pink pony. "It's a letter from some-pony I think you'll recognize." Spike said. The scroll opened and read: 'Dear Pinkie Pie, It's me! Sprinkles! Your old baking apprentice? I'm coming to Ponyville from Trottingham! I figured from your little friend Spike that I should come and visit. Especially from the new cupcake recipe I've put together! I think you'll be impressed...! :) See you tomorrow at 1:30 PM! -Sprinkles' "SPRINKLES IS COMING! But wait... Tomorrow?!" Pinkie asked, scanning the letter to make sure she was not mistaken. "Actually... Well, first, you see, Twilight wanted some cupcakes-you how she can get kinda snacky sometimes-but she deserved the best cupcakes ever, because of how much she did for me. So I looked up, 'Best cupcakes in Equestria' on Twi's computer and Sprinkles popped up. I found out she was in Trottingham, and so I went there. "We started talking, and she found out she knows you, too, Pinkie! I told her I was coming back to Ponyville and she told me to give this to you." Spike explained, pointing to the still levitating scroll. "Oh, and she wrote that yesterday. I think I should have given you that scroll yesterday..." "So that means shes coming... TODAY?!" Pinkie suddenly went into panic. How was she supposed to get the sweet-shop cleaned and all the sweets baked and made before the shop opened and Sprinkles got here? "What's wrong, Pinkie Pie? You don't look so good..." Rainbow Dash asked. "Oh fine... I mean, I only have three hours to clean the sweet-shop and get the sweets baked and made before Sprinkles and the customers get here! Why wouldn't I be okay?!" Pinkie shouted, and suddenly started getting dizzy. "We can help you clean while you bake the sweets and make the taffy..." Dash offered. Pinkie suddenly remembered. "THE TAFFY!!" she ran as fast as she could to the back, and skidded to a stop in front of the taffy mixer. It was done, thankfully. She pulled the taffy out of the mixer and shaped it into small, rounded rectangles. "Well, we can help you make the candycanes..." Spike began. "CANDYCANES! I need Twist! SOMEPONY GO GET TWIST!" Pinkie shouted un characteristically. Rainbow Dash shot out of the sweet-shop to get the candy making pony. "Spike! Please please PLEASE help me bake some more cupcakes! I'll make the mix... But can you please hyper-bake them with your fire?" Pinkie begged. "Yes 'mam!" Spike said with a happy solute. "As well as cupcakes, WE NEED S'MORES!!" The pink pony gasped. –---------------------------------------- When all of the sweets were made, including the cupcakes, the s'mores, and the candycanes, and Sugarcube Corner was cleaned, everypony (and dragon) was exhausted on the floor. "I never thought I'd say that I helped Sugarcube corner open. But I did. And it deffinately isn't easy." Dash said. Chapter 2(Note: this chapter is in tact with a crossover between this and "A Harp and It's Candy" by AutoKnight01 which I found to be AWESOME!!) "Don't I know it." Pinkie said. "Thoo.." Twist said, obviously becoming bored-and fast. "Whenth thith Thprinkleth thupothed to get here?" she asked. "I don't know. She said right about now..." Pinkie said, looking at the clock. It was 1:30 PM, and customers were starting to come in. Derpy was the first to walk in. She was smiling ever so happily. But that was like her. She was always happy. "Well hiya, Pinkie Pie!" she said cheerfully. "Heya, Derpy! What can I help you with?" Pinkie asked, though she already knew. She knew Derpy wanted a "Blueberry muffin with butter!" Derpy said. The word "muffin" made the crosseyed pegasis flutter and giggle as if it tickled to say it. "Okey-dokey-lokie!" Pinkie went to the back of the sweet-shop and soon came back with the crosseyed pony's order. Derpy handed Pinkie two bits and walked out the front door. Many more customers were beginning to pile in, as well. But no Sprinkles. Time had passed. Treats had been sold. It was starting to get dark. No Sprinkles. Pinkie was becoming worried. More customers still coming in. Some repeatedly coming. One pony, Lyra, walked up to the counter. "Can I have a mint-vanilla swirl with vanilla frosting cupcake and a chocolate with chocolate frosting cupcake?" she asked. "Yupperoo!" Pinkie exclaimed happily, and bent over the counter to retrieve the two pre-made cakes. "Thank you," the minty-colored unicorn said, and levitated the cakes with her golden magic. It was soon time for Sugarcube Corner to close. But Sprinkles still had not come. Pinkie was now becoming anxious. What had happened to her close friend? Shouldn't she had been there by then? Twist walked from the the back of the sweet-shop. "What'th up, Pinkie Pie?" she asked. "I thought Sprinkles was coming today. I guess not." Pinkie said glumly. "Maybe... Maybe she wrote that, but mean't tomorrow!" she suddenly thought hopefully. So she decided to wait till the next day. Pinkie woke up bright and early-four hours earlier than the previous day-to get everything together and not have to rush everything. She made a batch of every cupcake she could think of, got some left-over candy canes from the refrigerator, made some new taffy of every color (including rainbow), and cleaned the sweet-shop before the Cakes could get there. "Told ya I'm responsible!" Pinkie mentioned, smiling and looking wide-eyed at the Cakes, who had their mouths gaping. The pink pony was determined to make today and even better day than yesterday. Because she wanted not only to prove to the Cakes that she was responsible so she could baby-sit the twins again, but also so that Sprinkles could come over that day and be able to have fun, not help work and clean. So Pinkie waited up in the break-room for 1:30 to swing around. She was so excited and couldnt wait. So to pass time, she played with the twins. After all, she only had one and a half hours till opening time was there. Chapter 5 It didn't sound like a happy laughter. It sounded...some-what evil. Who could possibly be down here laughing like a maniac? Twilight thought. Twilight suddenly saw a flash of light that wasn't coming from her horn. It came from down a long, narrow cave passageway. So Twilight began to follow it. With every step she took, the laughter got louder. She began to become enthusiastic with her find and picked up the pace. Twilight was beginning to trot faster and faster until she was in full gallop. The now speaking voice was getting louder and louder. But Twilight couldn't quite understand what it was saying. She was also beginning to feel the presence of stress and struggle; as well as hearing grunts. The light got brighter as Twilight slowed her pace and was now slowly and silently creeping towards the now completely englowing light. There was a wall of stone, stalagmites and stalactites deviding Twilight and a seemingly large room. She peeked her head around the corner and saw something incredibly unexpected. She saw the alicorn, Sprinkles, who was tied up in a chair with an anti-magic bag on her horn, probably to keep her from using her horn to escape. Twilight also saw a gray female pegasis wearing a black cape. She turned her head just enough for Twilight to see that this strange pegasis didn't have pupils. She had sparkling firey pink, orange, and red mixed eyes. They were beautiful, but also almost hypnotizing... Twilight tried to fight the urge to keep staring at the eyes, but it was incredibly hard. Finally, she blinked and snapped out of it. The purple unicorn noticed the pegasis' mane cut. It was the same color as her eyes, but up in a pony-tail and had bangs. This pony was beautiful, but in a dark and scary way. "So, Sprinkles. Why don't you start by telling me why you were in such a rush to leave Trottingham... Hmm?" the pegasis finally spoke in a slippery voice. "I was trying to meet a friend!" Sprinkles said, struggling to break the leather straps. "Why? So you could be beat me in another competition? I COULD HAVE HAD THAT CUPCAKE CUTIE-MARK!" she said angrily. "But instead, I have THIS!" she quickly whipped up her cape to reveal a black and white swirl, as it to say her talent was hypnotizing. "Now I can't have a real conversation with any-pony without then falling into a deep trance. I just wish I could have been a baker..." she said, her voice beginning to crack. "Mindy, I told you it wasn't your fault. I was meant to be the baker. You were meant to be the hypnotist. But it isn't a bad thing! You could get a ton of bits by holding hypnotist shows and things. You just have to learn to controll it." Sprinkles said in a reassuring voice. But Mindy's eyes just grew hotter. "But that spot with Pinkie Pie was MINE!!" Mindy exploded. "Was it, Mindy? Was it? Don't hold onto the past. Instead, look to the future. You could be a successful hypnotist." the creamy alicorn said, smiling gently. The fire in Mindy's eyes died down. "Do you really think so?" the gray pegasis asked softly. Twilight was starting to smile without even realizing it. This would make a great letter to the Princess. "Ofcourse I do. You just have to learn to controll it." Sprinkles said. "By the way, could you take this bag off my horn?" she asked. The pegasis was hesitant, but removed the bag from the alicorn's horn. Mindy slowly walked to one corner of the room with her head low to the ground with tears in her eyes that extinguished the fire in her eyes, revealing two beautiful orange-pink eyes WITH pupils. She sat down and sobbed silently a bit. Then, when she calmed herself, she was silent. Until, "Go ahead." Mindy whispered. "Escape. Un-do the latches on the straps and flash out. Tell everypony that I'm terrible and ruin the reputation I don't even have yet. Go ahead. I deserve it. I'm a terrible pony." Mindy sobbed. Twilight wanted to burst in and hug her, but that would set fire to the pegasis' eyes once more. Sprinkles undid the latches, but instead if flashing out, she walked over to the crying pony. "Your not a terrible pony. You just haven't had anypony to be there for you in the past. But now you do." Sprinkles said, her arm around Mindy's shoulder, with a levitating cloth surrounded by blue magic, wiping Mindy's tears. "I'm not?" Mindy asked, beginning to smile through the tears. "No. And I would be more than happy to be your friend." Sprinkles said. "Now. Let's get out of here and get you that new awesome reputation!" she said enthusiastically. "But what about my eyes?" Mindy asked, her smile fading away. "Hmmm..." Sprinkles said. "AHA!" the alicorn magically conjured up a pair of pink sunglasses. They began to float over to Mindy and set themselves gently on her face. Mindy smiled and thanked her new friend. Everything was turning out okay. Chapter 6 When the two ponies in the cave were beginning to leave, Twilight flashed out. She didn't want to make things worse by letting them know she was there the whole time! It was hard to look at the pegasis right because of tying up the fourth alicorn in the world down in a cave for a cutie mark, but she still felt bad for her. So she remained as if she knew nothing happened. When the two other ponies flashed out of the caves, Twilight ran up to them to greet them, as if she'd never seen them before. "Hi! My name is Twilight Sparkle." she said. "Hello, Twilight! Oh, Spike has told me much about you!" Sprinkles exclaimed happily. Twilight wasn't sure if it was a good thing, so she just smiled and nodded. "Who's this?" the purple unicorn asked. Sprinkles nudged her. "Go on." she whispered. "Uhm... Hello...?" Mindy said. She looked at Sprinkles, as if to ask if she was doing good. In return, Sprinkles nodded. "Uh, I'm... I'm Mindy." the gray pegasis said, sounding more confident. Once more, she looked in the direction of the alicorn. And again, she nodded. Mindy mustn't of had a real conversation with anyone other than Sprinkles in years. And the only reason Mindy was so brave and hostile was because of anger. So she was shy at the new beginning. So Twilight was easy sounding in reply. "Nice to meet you!" Twilight noticed that Mindy's cape was no longer on her. They must have taken it off before exiting the caves-after Twilight had flashed out-most likely to help improve her new reputation. "Likewise.." Mindy said, slightly smiling. She was beginning to come out of her shell. Suddenly, Pinkie Pie bounced quickly to the three ponies. "TWILIGHT! YOU FOUND SPRINKLES!!" Pinkie shouted happily. Mindy's smile slowly faded as she lowered her head. Sprinkles was popular, and Mindy was no-pony. "Wait a second..." Pinkie said, examining the gray pegasis. "MINDY! IS THAT YOU?!" Pinkie asked, a bit over enthusiastically. Mindy looked up, and began to smile. "You... You remember me?" Mindy asked. "Well of course I do, silly-filly! You and Sprinkles were my bestest of the best competitors! Why wouldn't I remember you?" Pinkie asked, hugging her tightly and happily. Twilight was starting to feel warm inside at this sight. Mindy was finally happy. "And I remember the last competition that you two had, too!" Pinkie said, bouncing. "And what was that?" Twilight asked. "To see which pony could make me laugh the most!" the pink pony said, giggling. "And I remember how I won..." Sprinkles said, smiling. Her horn began to glow bright cyan. Suddenly, Twilight heard Pinkie Pie laughing and giggling like crazy. She looked at her, and saw a large magical, fuzzy orb glowing cyan and running its self all around Pinkie's most ticklish spots.. Her belly and her hooves. The fuzzy orb began to multiply and run its self through everyone's most ticklish spots as well. The one on Twilight, her ears and belly. The one on Mindy, her hooves, her neck, and her wings. Everypony was laughing and giggling and trying to escape the orbs, but it was no use. The more they tried to get away, the more and more it tickled. Twilight's horn began to glow dark pink and another large, magical, fuzzy orb was conjured up. It floated towards Sprinkles, and ran its self through her most ticklish spots. Her sides, her ears, and her wings. Sprinkles tried her hardest to not laugh, but the orb finally won. She was laughing and squealing and trying to get away, but the dark pink orb just tickled more and more. It lasted this way for five minutes. And it only got worse when AJ, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Spike got there. And the other five were attacked, too, by the tickle orbs. When the tickle war finally ended, and everypony caught their breathe, the eight ponies and one dragon headed backed to Sprinkles' shop. Mindy was finally starting to live her dream as becoming a cupcake chef when the eight of them began baking the cupcakes. Sprinkles was showing Pinkie her new recipe, and Pinkie was showing Sprinkles HER new recipe. Things were starting to go as planned. Chapter 7 "Spike, come with me real fast." Twilight said. "Uh, okay?" he replied, unsure of why. Twilight led him to the back of 'The Sprinkles On The Cupcake', Sprinkles' shop. "Spike, take a letter, please." she said. "Gladly!" he said, pulling his quill and paper, from seemingly no-where. "Dear Princess Celestia, Today, I've learned that holding a grudge is never the answer to anything. Sometimes the heart's desire is too strong to see that maybe, just maybe, it wasn't meant to be yours in the first place. Taking the time to find who you really are inside may not be easy, and you may not like it at first, but when you find the pros instead of the cons, it makes things a lot easier. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle." "Hey, Twilight, you got a minute?" Sprinkles asked her. "Sure!" she said. "I knew." she said. "Huh?" Twilight asked. "I knew you were in the caves. I knew you were right outside of the room." Sprinkles said. "But... How did you... Why didn't you...?" "I felt your presence. I knew you were there. I sent you those messages, the ones of stress? I brought you to that room." she explained. "But why didn't you tell me? Or call me in?" Twilight asked. But the alicorn didn't answer. She just smiled and walked away slowly and mysteriously. Twilight walked after her, but she was interrupted by Pinkie, who had bounced out in front of her. "Mindy looks really happy! I haven't seen her this happy since she found out she was going to be one of the finalists for my apprentice competition!" she exclaimed, then bounced away. Twilight shrugged. She didn't need to know why Sprinkles didn't call her over. After all, everything turned out okay without her doing anything. Mindy was happy, Sprinkles was found, and everything was back to normal. Well, atleast as normal as things could get when you know Pinkie Pie... ;) Epilogue Pinkie Pie bounced into Sugarcube Corner one morning. The sun shown brightly in the crystal clear sky. Rainbow Dash must've waken up early to get the weather job done. Mr. and Mrs. Cake were at the park with the young twins to get them some fresh air. Pinkie sighed and wished she could be outside as well. She hadn't realized how glorious it was outside until she had skipped down to the sweet-shop. She just hoped something exciting or even just entertaining would happen. The pink pony sighed once more and began to clean the counter. As soon as she finished washing the once covered in crumbs counter, Pinkie went to the back of Sugarcube Corner and began to mix together a chocolate chip cupcake recipe for when the sweet-shop opened. Once the cupcake mix was in the tin and papers, she popped them into the oven and walked away. She walked upstairs into the break room and flopped onto a soft, bright orange couch with pink and purple dots and splotches on it. The inviting smell of the warm, baking cupcakes filled the shop. Pinkie got up and went downstairs to the back and took the pastries out of the ovem and cooled them in the refrigerator for fifteen minutes. She pulled a can of cream-cheese frosting out of the refrigerator as well as the cooled pastries. She spread the frosting on the cupcakes slowly. Once every pastry was frosted, she put them back into the refrigerator. Another morning at Sugarcube Corner. Chapter 3 Something was very, very wrong. It was two hours past opening time and Sprinkles still wasn't at Sugarcube Corner. Applejack walked into the door. "Howdy, partner!" Applejack said. When Pinkie didn't reply, AJ looked at her in confusion "What's wrong, sugarcube?" the orange pony asked. Pinkie's eyes welled up in tears. "My friend Sprinkles was supposed to be here by now... And she isn't!" The pink pony was now crying. "AJ, I'm so worried!! It isn't like her to be two days late! Something's wrong!" Pinkie sobbed. "Don't worry, sugarcube. We'll help you find your friend." Applejack said, and soon, Rarity, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Spike were all walking into Sugarcube Corner, as if it we're planned that way. "We have to check Trottingham." Spike said. "That's where Sprinkles lives, right?" he asked. "You're right, Spike. But how are we gonna get there fast enough?" Pinkie asked with a worried look on her face. "Uh, hello?" Twilight said, pointing to her horn. "Oh yeah..." the party pony said giggling. Twilight's horn started glowing with dark pink magic. With a grunt, the six ponies and dragon all found themselves in Trottingham. "Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, you search the skies. Sprinkles can fly. So you never know. Pinkie Pie, check her cupcake shop. She may have forgotten to come to Ponyville. Applejack, look at the airport and train-station. She may be trying to get there. Rarity, I know your not gonna like it, but look through the forest. She could be-" "Wait.... Why can't Fluttershy do that? She is always in the forest!" Rarity rejected. "Why can't do something more.... Clean...? Or sophisticated?" The white pony asked stubbornly. "Because you can't-" "Umm... Actually, uh, Twilight? I wouldnt mind going into the forest... Rarity has point.." Fluttershy offered. "But Rarity can't fly!" Twilight pointed. "Twi? I got it covered." Rainbow Dash said, and zoomed into the sky with out another word. "Fine. Rarity, look through Trottingham." Twilight said, head low in irritation. Rarity almost rejected once more when Twilight's horn lit up. Rarity's mouth was now zipped up like a zipper and she dissapeared. "No arguement needed." Twilight sighed. "I will search underground. I don't know why she would be down there. But I just have this urge to check anyway." Twilight concluded. "Now everypony who hasn't left yet, go." Twilight zapped herself down to the caves underground. She lit up her horn and looked around. She strained her ears to see if she could pick up any noises. Nothing. But wait. What was that? Was that the sound of... Laughter?
Chapter 1 Pinkie Pie decided to make some salt-water taffy. Rainbow salt-water taffy. So she went into the back where the taffy mixer was and put in all six colors. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. Then she added some salt-water and started the mixer. She was about to wash her hooves to the access taffy off when the doors of Sugarcube Corner burst open. Which seemed strange to Pinkie, because the sweet-shop didn't open until 1:30 PM and it was only 11:25 AM. Pinkie almost objected the early arrivals until she saw who the two beings were. It was Rainbow Dash with Spike on her back. "PINKIE PIE! PINKIE PIE!" the rainbow pegasis shouted excitedly. Pinkie suddenly shot up in excitement. "What?!" she shouted. She was excited to see what Dash had to to say. But instead, Spike burped up a scroll. It hovered slowly to the now bouncing pink pony. "It's a letter from some-pony I think you'll recognize." Spike said. The scroll opened and read: 'Dear Pinkie Pie, It's me! Sprinkles! Your old baking apprentice? I'm coming to Ponyville from Trottingham! I figured from your little friend Spike that I should come and visit. Especially from the new cupcake recipe I've put together! I think you'll be impressed...! :) See you tomorrow at 1:30 PM! -Sprinkles' "SPRINKLES IS COMING! But wait... Tomorrow?!" Pinkie asked, scanning the letter to make sure she was not mistaken. "Actually... Well, first, you see, Twilight wanted some cupcakes-you how she can get kinda snacky sometimes-but she deserved the best cupcakes ever, because of how much she did for me. So I looked up, 'Best cupcakes in Equestria' on Twi's computer and Sprinkles popped up. I found out she was in Trottingham, and so I went there. "We started talking, and she found out she knows you, too, Pinkie! I told her I was coming back to Ponyville and she told me to give this to you." Spike explained, pointing to the still levitating scroll. "Oh, and she wrote that yesterday. I think I should have given you that scroll yesterday..." "So that means shes coming... TODAY?!" Pinkie suddenly went into panic. How was she supposed to get the sweet-shop cleaned and all the sweets baked and made before the shop opened and Sprinkles got here? "What's wrong, Pinkie Pie? You don't look so good..." Rainbow Dash asked. "Oh fine... I mean, I only have three hours to clean the sweet-shop and get the sweets baked and made before Sprinkles and the customers get here! Why wouldn't I be okay?!" Pinkie shouted, and suddenly started getting dizzy. "We can help you clean while you bake the sweets and make the taffy..." Dash offered. Pinkie suddenly remembered. "THE TAFFY!!" she ran as fast as she could to the back, and skidded to a stop in front of the taffy mixer. It was done, thankfully. She pulled the taffy out of the mixer and shaped it into small, rounded rectangles. "Well, we can help you make the candycanes..." Spike began. "CANDYCANES! I need Twist! SOMEPONY GO GET TWIST!" Pinkie shouted un characteristically. Rainbow Dash shot out of the sweet-shop to get the candy making pony. "Spike! Please please PLEASE help me bake some more cupcakes! I'll make the mix... But can you please hyper-bake them with your fire?" Pinkie begged. "Yes 'mam!" Spike said with a happy solute. "As well as cupcakes, WE NEED S'MORES!!" The pink pony gasped. –---------------------------------------- When all of the sweets were made, including the cupcakes, the s'mores, and the candycanes, and Sugarcube Corner was cleaned, everypony (and dragon) was exhausted on the floor. "I never thought I'd say that I helped Sugarcube corner open. But I did. And it deffinately isn't easy." Dash said.
Chapter 2(Note: this chapter is in tact with a crossover between this and "A Harp and It's Candy" by AutoKnight01 which I found to be AWESOME!!) "Don't I know it." Pinkie said. "Thoo.." Twist said, obviously becoming bored-and fast. "Whenth thith Thprinkleth thupothed to get here?" she asked. "I don't know. She said right about now..." Pinkie said, looking at the clock. It was 1:30 PM, and customers were starting to come in. Derpy was the first to walk in. She was smiling ever so happily. But that was like her. She was always happy. "Well hiya, Pinkie Pie!" she said cheerfully. "Heya, Derpy! What can I help you with?" Pinkie asked, though she already knew. She knew Derpy wanted a "Blueberry muffin with butter!" Derpy said. The word "muffin" made the crosseyed pegasis flutter and giggle as if it tickled to say it. "Okey-dokey-lokie!" Pinkie went to the back of the sweet-shop and soon came back with the crosseyed pony's order. Derpy handed Pinkie two bits and walked out the front door. Many more customers were beginning to pile in, as well. But no Sprinkles. Time had passed. Treats had been sold. It was starting to get dark. No Sprinkles. Pinkie was becoming worried. More customers still coming in. Some repeatedly coming. One pony, Lyra, walked up to the counter. "Can I have a mint-vanilla swirl with vanilla frosting cupcake and a chocolate with chocolate frosting cupcake?" she asked. "Yupperoo!" Pinkie exclaimed happily, and bent over the counter to retrieve the two pre-made cakes. "Thank you," the minty-colored unicorn said, and levitated the cakes with her golden magic. It was soon time for Sugarcube Corner to close. But Sprinkles still had not come. Pinkie was now becoming anxious. What had happened to her close friend? Shouldn't she had been there by then? Twist walked from the the back of the sweet-shop. "What'th up, Pinkie Pie?" she asked. "I thought Sprinkles was coming today. I guess not." Pinkie said glumly. "Maybe... Maybe she wrote that, but mean't tomorrow!" she suddenly thought hopefully. So she decided to wait till the next day. Pinkie woke up bright and early-four hours earlier than the previous day-to get everything together and not have to rush everything. She made a batch of every cupcake she could think of, got some left-over candy canes from the refrigerator, made some new taffy of every color (including rainbow), and cleaned the sweet-shop before the Cakes could get there. "Told ya I'm responsible!" Pinkie mentioned, smiling and looking wide-eyed at the Cakes, who had their mouths gaping. The pink pony was determined to make today and even better day than yesterday. Because she wanted not only to prove to the Cakes that she was responsible so she could baby-sit the twins again, but also so that Sprinkles could come over that day and be able to have fun, not help work and clean. So Pinkie waited up in the break-room for 1:30 to swing around. She was so excited and couldnt wait. So to pass time, she played with the twins. After all, she only had one and a half hours till opening time was there.
Chapter 5 It didn't sound like a happy laughter. It sounded...some-what evil. Who could possibly be down here laughing like a maniac? Twilight thought. Twilight suddenly saw a flash of light that wasn't coming from her horn. It came from down a long, narrow cave passageway. So Twilight began to follow it. With every step she took, the laughter got louder. She began to become enthusiastic with her find and picked up the pace. Twilight was beginning to trot faster and faster until she was in full gallop. The now speaking voice was getting louder and louder. But Twilight couldn't quite understand what it was saying. She was also beginning to feel the presence of stress and struggle; as well as hearing grunts. The light got brighter as Twilight slowed her pace and was now slowly and silently creeping towards the now completely englowing light. There was a wall of stone, stalagmites and stalactites deviding Twilight and a seemingly large room. She peeked her head around the corner and saw something incredibly unexpected. She saw the alicorn, Sprinkles, who was tied up in a chair with an anti-magic bag on her horn, probably to keep her from using her horn to escape. Twilight also saw a gray female pegasis wearing a black cape. She turned her head just enough for Twilight to see that this strange pegasis didn't have pupils. She had sparkling firey pink, orange, and red mixed eyes. They were beautiful, but also almost hypnotizing... Twilight tried to fight the urge to keep staring at the eyes, but it was incredibly hard. Finally, she blinked and snapped out of it. The purple unicorn noticed the pegasis' mane cut. It was the same color as her eyes, but up in a pony-tail and had bangs. This pony was beautiful, but in a dark and scary way. "So, Sprinkles. Why don't you start by telling me why you were in such a rush to leave Trottingham... Hmm?" the pegasis finally spoke in a slippery voice. "I was trying to meet a friend!" Sprinkles said, struggling to break the leather straps. "Why? So you could be beat me in another competition? I COULD HAVE HAD THAT CUPCAKE CUTIE-MARK!" she said angrily. "But instead, I have THIS!" she quickly whipped up her cape to reveal a black and white swirl, as it to say her talent was hypnotizing. "Now I can't have a real conversation with any-pony without then falling into a deep trance. I just wish I could have been a baker..." she said, her voice beginning to crack. "Mindy, I told you it wasn't your fault. I was meant to be the baker. You were meant to be the hypnotist. But it isn't a bad thing! You could get a ton of bits by holding hypnotist shows and things. You just have to learn to controll it." Sprinkles said in a reassuring voice. But Mindy's eyes just grew hotter. "But that spot with Pinkie Pie was MINE!!" Mindy exploded. "Was it, Mindy? Was it? Don't hold onto the past. Instead, look to the future. You could be a successful hypnotist." the creamy alicorn said, smiling gently. The fire in Mindy's eyes died down. "Do you really think so?" the gray pegasis asked softly. Twilight was starting to smile without even realizing it. This would make a great letter to the Princess. "Ofcourse I do. You just have to learn to controll it." Sprinkles said. "By the way, could you take this bag off my horn?" she asked. The pegasis was hesitant, but removed the bag from the alicorn's horn. Mindy slowly walked to one corner of the room with her head low to the ground with tears in her eyes that extinguished the fire in her eyes, revealing two beautiful orange-pink eyes WITH pupils. She sat down and sobbed silently a bit. Then, when she calmed herself, she was silent. Until, "Go ahead." Mindy whispered. "Escape. Un-do the latches on the straps and flash out. Tell everypony that I'm terrible and ruin the reputation I don't even have yet. Go ahead. I deserve it. I'm a terrible pony." Mindy sobbed. Twilight wanted to burst in and hug her, but that would set fire to the pegasis' eyes once more. Sprinkles undid the latches, but instead if flashing out, she walked over to the crying pony. "Your not a terrible pony. You just haven't had anypony to be there for you in the past. But now you do." Sprinkles said, her arm around Mindy's shoulder, with a levitating cloth surrounded by blue magic, wiping Mindy's tears. "I'm not?" Mindy asked, beginning to smile through the tears. "No. And I would be more than happy to be your friend." Sprinkles said. "Now. Let's get out of here and get you that new awesome reputation!" she said enthusiastically. "But what about my eyes?" Mindy asked, her smile fading away. "Hmmm..." Sprinkles said. "AHA!" the alicorn magically conjured up a pair of pink sunglasses. They began to float over to Mindy and set themselves gently on her face. Mindy smiled and thanked her new friend. Everything was turning out okay.
Chapter 6 When the two ponies in the cave were beginning to leave, Twilight flashed out. She didn't want to make things worse by letting them know she was there the whole time! It was hard to look at the pegasis right because of tying up the fourth alicorn in the world down in a cave for a cutie mark, but she still felt bad for her. So she remained as if she knew nothing happened. When the two other ponies flashed out of the caves, Twilight ran up to them to greet them, as if she'd never seen them before. "Hi! My name is Twilight Sparkle." she said. "Hello, Twilight! Oh, Spike has told me much about you!" Sprinkles exclaimed happily. Twilight wasn't sure if it was a good thing, so she just smiled and nodded. "Who's this?" the purple unicorn asked. Sprinkles nudged her. "Go on." she whispered. "Uhm... Hello...?" Mindy said. She looked at Sprinkles, as if to ask if she was doing good. In return, Sprinkles nodded. "Uh, I'm... I'm Mindy." the gray pegasis said, sounding more confident. Once more, she looked in the direction of the alicorn. And again, she nodded. Mindy mustn't of had a real conversation with anyone other than Sprinkles in years. And the only reason Mindy was so brave and hostile was because of anger. So she was shy at the new beginning. So Twilight was easy sounding in reply. "Nice to meet you!" Twilight noticed that Mindy's cape was no longer on her. They must have taken it off before exiting the caves-after Twilight had flashed out-most likely to help improve her new reputation. "Likewise.." Mindy said, slightly smiling. She was beginning to come out of her shell. Suddenly, Pinkie Pie bounced quickly to the three ponies. "TWILIGHT! YOU FOUND SPRINKLES!!" Pinkie shouted happily. Mindy's smile slowly faded as she lowered her head. Sprinkles was popular, and Mindy was no-pony. "Wait a second..." Pinkie said, examining the gray pegasis. "MINDY! IS THAT YOU?!" Pinkie asked, a bit over enthusiastically. Mindy looked up, and began to smile. "You... You remember me?" Mindy asked. "Well of course I do, silly-filly! You and Sprinkles were my bestest of the best competitors! Why wouldn't I remember you?" Pinkie asked, hugging her tightly and happily. Twilight was starting to feel warm inside at this sight. Mindy was finally happy. "And I remember the last competition that you two had, too!" Pinkie said, bouncing. "And what was that?" Twilight asked. "To see which pony could make me laugh the most!" the pink pony said, giggling. "And I remember how I won..." Sprinkles said, smiling. Her horn began to glow bright cyan. Suddenly, Twilight heard Pinkie Pie laughing and giggling like crazy. She looked at her, and saw a large magical, fuzzy orb glowing cyan and running its self all around Pinkie's most ticklish spots.. Her belly and her hooves. The fuzzy orb began to multiply and run its self through everyone's most ticklish spots as well. The one on Twilight, her ears and belly. The one on Mindy, her hooves, her neck, and her wings. Everypony was laughing and giggling and trying to escape the orbs, but it was no use. The more they tried to get away, the more and more it tickled. Twilight's horn began to glow dark pink and another large, magical, fuzzy orb was conjured up. It floated towards Sprinkles, and ran its self through her most ticklish spots. Her sides, her ears, and her wings. Sprinkles tried her hardest to not laugh, but the orb finally won. She was laughing and squealing and trying to get away, but the dark pink orb just tickled more and more. It lasted this way for five minutes. And it only got worse when AJ, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Spike got there. And the other five were attacked, too, by the tickle orbs. When the tickle war finally ended, and everypony caught their breathe, the eight ponies and one dragon headed backed to Sprinkles' shop. Mindy was finally starting to live her dream as becoming a cupcake chef when the eight of them began baking the cupcakes. Sprinkles was showing Pinkie her new recipe, and Pinkie was showing Sprinkles HER new recipe. Things were starting to go as planned.
Chapter 7 "Spike, come with me real fast." Twilight said. "Uh, okay?" he replied, unsure of why. Twilight led him to the back of 'The Sprinkles On The Cupcake', Sprinkles' shop. "Spike, take a letter, please." she said. "Gladly!" he said, pulling his quill and paper, from seemingly no-where. "Dear Princess Celestia, Today, I've learned that holding a grudge is never the answer to anything. Sometimes the heart's desire is too strong to see that maybe, just maybe, it wasn't meant to be yours in the first place. Taking the time to find who you really are inside may not be easy, and you may not like it at first, but when you find the pros instead of the cons, it makes things a lot easier. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle." "Hey, Twilight, you got a minute?" Sprinkles asked her. "Sure!" she said. "I knew." she said. "Huh?" Twilight asked. "I knew you were in the caves. I knew you were right outside of the room." Sprinkles said. "But... How did you... Why didn't you...?" "I felt your presence. I knew you were there. I sent you those messages, the ones of stress? I brought you to that room." she explained. "But why didn't you tell me? Or call me in?" Twilight asked. But the alicorn didn't answer. She just smiled and walked away slowly and mysteriously. Twilight walked after her, but she was interrupted by Pinkie, who had bounced out in front of her. "Mindy looks really happy! I haven't seen her this happy since she found out she was going to be one of the finalists for my apprentice competition!" she exclaimed, then bounced away. Twilight shrugged. She didn't need to know why Sprinkles didn't call her over. After all, everything turned out okay without her doing anything. Mindy was happy, Sprinkles was found, and everything was back to normal. Well, atleast as normal as things could get when you know Pinkie Pie... ;)
Epilogue Pinkie Pie bounced into Sugarcube Corner one morning. The sun shown brightly in the crystal clear sky. Rainbow Dash must've waken up early to get the weather job done. Mr. and Mrs. Cake were at the park with the young twins to get them some fresh air. Pinkie sighed and wished she could be outside as well. She hadn't realized how glorious it was outside until she had skipped down to the sweet-shop. She just hoped something exciting or even just entertaining would happen. The pink pony sighed once more and began to clean the counter. As soon as she finished washing the once covered in crumbs counter, Pinkie went to the back of Sugarcube Corner and began to mix together a chocolate chip cupcake recipe for when the sweet-shop opened. Once the cupcake mix was in the tin and papers, she popped them into the oven and walked away. She walked upstairs into the break room and flopped onto a soft, bright orange couch with pink and purple dots and splotches on it. The inviting smell of the warm, baking cupcakes filled the shop. Pinkie got up and went downstairs to the back and took the pastries out of the ovem and cooled them in the refrigerator for fifteen minutes. She pulled a can of cream-cheese frosting out of the refrigerator as well as the cooled pastries. She spread the frosting on the cupcakes slowly. Once every pastry was frosted, she put them back into the refrigerator. Another morning at Sugarcube Corner.
Chapter 3 Something was very, very wrong. It was two hours past opening time and Sprinkles still wasn't at Sugarcube Corner. Applejack walked into the door. "Howdy, partner!" Applejack said. When Pinkie didn't reply, AJ looked at her in confusion "What's wrong, sugarcube?" the orange pony asked. Pinkie's eyes welled up in tears. "My friend Sprinkles was supposed to be here by now... And she isn't!" The pink pony was now crying. "AJ, I'm so worried!! It isn't like her to be two days late! Something's wrong!" Pinkie sobbed. "Don't worry, sugarcube. We'll help you find your friend." Applejack said, and soon, Rarity, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Spike were all walking into Sugarcube Corner, as if it we're planned that way. "We have to check Trottingham." Spike said. "That's where Sprinkles lives, right?" he asked. "You're right, Spike. But how are we gonna get there fast enough?" Pinkie asked with a worried look on her face. "Uh, hello?" Twilight said, pointing to her horn. "Oh yeah..." the party pony said giggling. Twilight's horn started glowing with dark pink magic. With a grunt, the six ponies and dragon all found themselves in Trottingham. "Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, you search the skies. Sprinkles can fly. So you never know. Pinkie Pie, check her cupcake shop. She may have forgotten to come to Ponyville. Applejack, look at the airport and train-station. She may be trying to get there. Rarity, I know your not gonna like it, but look through the forest. She could be-" "Wait.... Why can't Fluttershy do that? She is always in the forest!" Rarity rejected. "Why can't do something more.... Clean...? Or sophisticated?" The white pony asked stubbornly. "Because you can't-" "Umm... Actually, uh, Twilight? I wouldnt mind going into the forest... Rarity has point.." Fluttershy offered. "But Rarity can't fly!" Twilight pointed. "Twi? I got it covered." Rainbow Dash said, and zoomed into the sky with out another word. "Fine. Rarity, look through Trottingham." Twilight said, head low in irritation. Rarity almost rejected once more when Twilight's horn lit up. Rarity's mouth was now zipped up like a zipper and she dissapeared. "No arguement needed." Twilight sighed. "I will search underground. I don't know why she would be down there. But I just have this urge to check anyway." Twilight concluded. "Now everypony who hasn't left yet, go." Twilight zapped herself down to the caves underground. She lit up her horn and looked around. She strained her ears to see if she could pick up any noises. Nothing. But wait. What was that? Was that the sound of... Laughter?
