First Chapters... should I continue? (Some are really old)

Mr. Cake’s Day (Supposed to have color coding... didn't transfer.)

*Buzz* *Buzz* *Buzz* Slam.
Five AM already, it feels like I just went to bed. I don’t wanna get up but the bread isn’t gonna make itself. Wait, what’s that?

*Sniffle* *Rustle* ‘WAAAA’ ‘WAAAA’
Oh, great, both of them are up at the same time as me again. Flocking alarm.

“Honey? Cup! It’s time to get up and start the day. I’ll get the kitchen going, you get the kids back to bed and get some more sleep, I’ll come get you when the ovens are hot and the flour is ready.”

Mrs. Cake groaned as she instinctively rolled out of the bed to her wobbling legs as she dragged herself to the twins’ room without a word.

Time to get going.
Mr. Cake walked down the hall as he heard Cup singing a song to the twins. Peeking into the room as he walked past he smiled to see Pound in her arms and Pumpkin trying to climb out of the crib unsuccessfully. Passing quietly as he could by Pinkies room he said a silent prayer that Pinkie would sleep until they had at least finished baking the breads and had mixed the cake batter.

As much as I appreciate Pinkies, Pinkiness. She can be such a handful and I can’t keep finding ways to distract her while I take candy and toys out of the batter she mixes because it makes the desserts more funner and yummmier in the tummier.

I really do love how she gets along with the kids though; and she drums up so much business for us that we have a real savings finally and can take vacations… I guess she can make a few special cupcakes today.

Picking up his pace again Carrot went downstairs and into the kitchen, firing up the ovens and getting his recipes ready he did his morning stretches as he waited for Cup to come downstairs. After finishing his routine she still wasn’t coming down.
Oh, I love that mare. She’s up there with the twins and I bet they’re putting up a fight to go back to bed. Just don’t wake up Pi-

“GOOOOD MORNING BABIES! Who’s ready to PLAAAYYY?!” Pinkies voice echoed throughout the house as the twins screamed loudly at the sudden noise, the combination drowning out the silence that had permeated it a moment ago.

Oh no. Poor Cup, she’s going to be upset for the next hour.

“PINKIE!? What have we told you about shouting this early in the morning? Especially at the TWINS?!”

Oh boy, Pinkie started today on the wrong note. I think I’ll retreat to my tasks. Where’s the mixer? Oh, PINKIE, why is there used chewing gum in here? It’s gonna take me ten minutes to clean this thing out. Mr. Cake! I’m making Gummy gum! I know Gummy gum will be a huge HUGE seller.

Carrot smacked his face in frustration as he realized that Pinkie was making gum for her pet.

Is this? Is this… caramel mixed in with it? Oh no, it’s made it even stickier. This is gonna set me back too far, I have to go old school and to it by hand. And listen to Cup scold Pinkie as the twins scream.
I love that mare so much.

Grabbing a large bowl and a whisk, measuring cups and spoons, spatula, eggs and flour, Carrot set up his mise en place1 and washed his hooves making sure to get between every nook and cranny dirt could hide.

Okay, just like old times.

Carrot masterfully mixed the ingredients without looking at the recipe cards he piled out of habit more than necessity. Six minutes later he had a bowl full of dough resting and was starting a new bowl with many of the same ingredients to make cake and cupcake batter.

Oh, I can’t believe how much I missed the feeling of flour in my hooves. I should try to do this once a week, however that would mean re-scheduling our caterings, Pinkies foal-sitting, our adult night… Yeah, I think I’ll pass on that idea.

Pouring the batter into shaped tins and pans as he hummed to himself Cup walked into the kitchen with a smile, “Good morning, honey,” she said as she kissed his cheek, “Why aren’t you using the mixer?”

Looking at his wife with a soft smile he nodded to it, “Pinkie experimented again, I was just gonna leave it til later.” Cup walked to the mixer and tensed up, “Now, honey. Remember what we talked about, she’s worth more to us alive than dead.”

”I know what we talked about but this is getting older than… something that’s really old! I can’t even think right now and I certainly don’t want to clean this up. PINKIE! PLEASE COME HERE.”

Two seconds later Pinkie was looking over the swinging old western style doors with her fluffy pink mane partly covering the tops of her eyes as she peeked cautiously, “Yes Mrs. Cake?” She said meekly.

Oh boy, she’s still mad and Pinkie is going to be getting it until we open unless they find common ground… Think Carrot, what works? Foals are playing in the other room so that’s a no. Mixing batter and bread is a no. Playing games this early? Ha-ha, not the time for jokes…

“Pinkie, clean this up and I don’t want to hear a word from you besides the words ‘OKAY’ and ‘I’m sorry,’ both to be used only once until it’s done.”

Taking a moment to sink her hooves to the floor Pinkie pushed into the kitchen with her head low as she went to the mixer. Not making eye contact Pinkie said, “I’m really sorry, Mrs. Cake.”

“I didn’t say you could use the word ‘really’ or my name, Pinkie.”

“I’m sorry.” Pinkie said as she turned and removed the mixing bowl and dough hook that were almost glued together. Looking at her husband Cup winked.

I swear that woman is full of surprises; she is the only mare that can calm down the Pinkiest of Pies. She has the same power over me, it must be a mom thing.

“Honey, I love you but we have a lot of work to do and without our mixer we have to do it all by hoof. I have the bread ready and the cupcakes are mixed. The cakes are panned up and ready to bake so you have to start the cookies. You decide what the Cake Special is today since you’ve had a hard day already and I know cookies are your thing.”

“Honey, here’s your apron. You’re getting flour on your clothes.” Cup said as she tossed an apron with a towel wrapped in it to Carrot.

Putting it on he went back to mixing and panning while Cup put the first pans of cupcakes in the oven and set the timer she looked sternly at Pinkie as she scrubbed roughly making some progress on the mixing bowl. Pinkies fluffy mane was a little flatter than it was earlier but she still had a smile and a determined look on her face with her tongue sticking out of the corner of her mouth.

“She’s going to do it, but we have to double check her work; you know she misses spots,” Carrot whispered to Cup as she grabbed the flour to move to another counter for her cookies.

“I know dear, believe me I know.”

The timer went off 11 minutes later as Pinkie was finishing her cleaning job. Reentering the kitchen Cup commented on how well behaved the foals were as she opened the oven and checked out the doneness of the cupcakes. Frowning she closed the oven again and set the timer again, “Just a couple more minutes.”

“Mrs. Cake? I’m done, can I please go play now?” Pinkie asked as she sat like a puppy and looked at Cup with her most puppy-like eyes.

“Well, let me see. Hmm, Wait, what’s- well,”
She is a master of suspense, I think this is taking hours for Pinkie, Carrot thought as he watched the pink mare restrain herself from bouncing.

“Okay, you can go play. But no griffining2 around,” Cup called as Pinkie was running into the play room, she had almost left the room with her crazy speed as soon as Cup had said ‘okay.’

“That mare is crazy, but she’s our crazy,” Cup giggled. Carrot smiled as he began mixing the muffins but he didn’t acknowledge his wife’s comment.

*Ding*

“Oh, cupcakes are done! I’ll put in the cakes, Muffins next and then bread last.”
We’ve been doing this for years the same way, I know how it’s done. “Yes dear. We’re right on schedule.”

Time to open up, I can’t wait for the morning rush. “Pinkie, time to open up, flip the sign and unlock the door.”

“Okie-dokie Mr. Cake,” Pinkie called as a toy dropped and her hooves scurried to the door. The foals giggled as Pinkie made a ‘Choo-Choo.’

Finishing setting up the display cases the Cakes looked at the clock: 7:02.

Two minutes late, unforgiveable. I’ll have to beg for Cups forgiveness on our next adult night out.
Carrot chuckled and looked at Cup who was sitting with the twins, starting to play with them and Pinkie.

Celestia I love Cup, she’s the greatest mare a stallion could ask for. Pinkie on the other hand is usually so crazy outside but she unwinds so fast here at home. I think Cup make a great mom to the twins and a fantastic role model for Pinkie.

--

“Honey, it’s been fifteen minutes and nopony has come in, check the sign and see if Pinkie forgot it again. Maybe the door is locked still, you know it could be something simple.”

“Okay dear.”

If Pinkie forgot the door or sign Cup will have Pinkie by the ear and upstairs for a lecture again in no time. Look at Pinkie, she heard Cup and is trying to play cool… I may need to see some mare on mare action more than I thought. Oh my goodness, what am I thinking?

Hmm, sign is good and door is unlocked. I’ll keep it open so people know we’re open.

“Well, was it the sign or the door?” Pinkie sat up straight suddenly while stacking blocks with her back to Cup, the tension was obvious.

“Neither, I left the door open though, we should get some customers soon.” Pinkie sighed relaxing her back and went back to playing blocks quietly with Pound.

“Dear is there something going on it town today? I see a lot of ponies going east.”

“Oh Celestia, it’s Thursday! Thursday!”

“Oh no! I totally forgot, it’s the opening of the new shop and we were supposed to bring treats to sell. How could we forget?”

“I remembered!”

“Pinkamena Diane Pie, why didn’t you remind us?”

Oh, full name. Pinkie is not in Cups good graces today at all.

“You said to stop talking and play with the twins,” she said factly with a smile.

Oh, flock her obedience sometimes. “Thank you for listening Pinkie, but this was very important and we’re late. You have to watch the shop and the twins until we get back around 1 PM,” Carrot stated as he ran to collect items from the kitchen.

“Pinkie, we’re going to have a talk when I get back. Goodbye sweeties, mommy loves you both and will be back in a little bit. Be good for auntie Pinkie.”

Pinkie beamed with joy as she usually did to be called ‘auntie.’

“Don’t worry, I’m responsible and promise everything will be tip top in this ship shop.” With a worried look Cup turned and trotted to the kitchen and saw Carrot taking the last trays of desserts out the door.

Rushing out the back door Carrot gathered desserts into the bakeries cart as Cup followed with a small sign and price chart, “Honey we’ve got to go. Harness up and I’ll follow right behind you with the bit box and receipt book.”

Arriving near the town hall they set up their cart in their designated spot. As the other shops in their area were already bustling with business they looked at each other with concern then set up their table and signs.

Ponies were lining up as soon as the sign was up, Prices be damned, we’re the hottest shop and we’re not even open yet.

The Cakes smiled at each other as they took turns setting up their treats and breads, rolls, cupcakes and barrel that was filled with sweet tea made earlier that week. “Open for business, let’s stay in line mares and gentle colts.”

The line quickly became a snake way as ponies lined the streets waiting for their turn, “Carrot, I’ll take care of the line you have to keep the inventory stocked and let me know if we’re running low so we can adjust as we need to. We’re going to cut it close today and I hope Pinkie is ready for a rush when we run out of people’s favorite items.”

Hundreds of these open shops and she’s talking to me like I’m a first day apprentice. Should I bend over and let her chop them off in front of everyone too?
“Yes dear, I’ll let you know. Now let’s get selling.”

The afternoon flew by and sales were as good as expected with no issues and a lot of happy customers. They expected nothing less and were the most popular food shop of the day.

“Whew, today was crazy. I’m going to run back to the bakery and make sure it’s under control while you pack up, okay honey?”

“Okay, hurry. As much as I love Pinkie I don’t know if she can multitask the twins and the shop.”

The thought worried him as she spoke her mind and he nodded and galloped back to Sugarcube Corner.

Sugarcube corner didn’t look busy from the outside but one he entered the front door the atmosphere changed dramatically. Pinkie was faking the best smile she could to a customer as she held Pumpkin in her left foreleg who was casting some spell as her horn glowed a light blue and Pound fluttering his wings as he floated away from Pinkie. Pinkies mane was a frazzled mess of her typical curls and split ends poking out while her eyes cried for help.

“Twins I’m back,” Carrot called as he walked to the counter. The twins looked at him and giggled, Pumpkin squirmed out of Pinkies arm then she and Pound scampered to their dad, “Ohhh, I missed you too. Thank you Pinkie for watching them and the store, I’ll take over the counter and you can take these two out back to play.”

Pinkie sighed a large obvious sigh of relief and wiped her forehead as her real smile appeared, “Thank you Mr. Cake,” Pinkie said with a certain amount of glee, “C’mon twins lets play hide and seek outside!”

“Pinkie,” Carrot said as he looked sternly at the pink mare who was about to bounce out of the room with the twins on her back.

“Um, let’s play who can count the most grass,” she suggested quickly as she continued her happy exit.

“Sorry about that, so you were getting a dozen dandelion glazed sugar cookies?” he asked the mare waiting at the counter, at least this mare is in a good mood after that short display.