Friends are like cakes… we say we love them all, but there's always that one secret favorite we have. Some ponies spend years in secret denial before admitting to themselves and letting the world know. Me, I have the opposite problem: I have several favourite cakes and can't choose between them.
“Umm, Pinkie Pie, can I have some muffins?” sample A asks. I call her Lemon Shyness: sweet and delicate, perfect for quiet afternoons, adorable as a kitten’s sugar whiskers, she's a cake best admired in private.
“Sure thing!” I smile and hop to fetch her a bagful. “Discord visiting again?”
“Umm, yes.” Lemon Shyness smiles. “He says he finds your muffins chaotic.” The faintest of blushes appears on her face as she looks away.
“Abso-chaos-lutely!” I say. She giggles. “What chaos would you like? Lemon chaos? Mango chaos? Ginger cha—”
“Umm, lemon chaos please,” she stops me in the most adorable fashion.
“Ha! That guy’s just a freeloader!” Blue Frosting cuts in. Always cool and light as air, she has a tendency to be gone before you know it. On the other hoof she's fun to be with anywhere, anytime, and you just can't beat a good frosting. “Why do you still put up with him?! He's nothing but trouble! If he wants cookies he can make them himself! Oh, hey, Pinkie.” She nods at me.
“Hey.” I grin. Blue Frosting loves to play pranks on ponies, just like I do, but today she's here for something else. “Your super duper double triple max sugary special pancakes are waiting for you in the kitchen. Just give me a sec and I'll—“
“Nah, I’ll get it,” she says casually looking in the opposite direction. “I hope you didn't put any orange mousse on them this time. You know I don't like that girly stuff!”
“No sirree!” My smile widens. Of course there's mousse and plenty of it. I know she loves it and she knows I know. “Not one bit! Nuh-uh! Absolutely none!” I wink. I enjoy playing this game with her.
“Good!” She nods, then dashes into the kitchen as always. I know she'll use the back door to fly off, but I don't care. I know she'll be back for something else in a few hours.
Lemon Shyness takes the bag of surprise muffins and puts them in her saddlebags. She squeaks her thanks to me in the sweetest voice, then neatly places the bits in front if me and leaves. I get back to my work. There are sweets that require my attention, and a new recipe that calls my name. Maybe something with cinnamon...
“Good morning, darlings!” The door swings open as Marzipan Blazé makes her presence known. She's the type of cake that aims to outshine any other in the room. Sophisticated and refined, she makes her way to my counter. “Pinkie Pie, be a darling and recommend some party sweets,” she says, right on cue with a voice that can melt ponies in their hooves. “My sister has a few friends over and it's simply unforgivable not to have anything to offer.”
“Whatever you say, you Sweetness Dispenser, you.” I wink and rush to grab a few of my treat packages. I hear her giggle behind me. Before I have the time to reach the sweets, the door opens once more.
“I tell ya, that foreign sugar is mighty suspicious!” I make out the voice of Classic Fudge. The world around me might change ten times over, yet I can always rely on her remaining the same—reliable, familiar, and an honest-to-the-stars delight. “No sister of mine will be eating them fancy—“
“Tut, tut, tut!” Marzipan interrupts. She's always one to clash with Fudge even if they compliment each other so well. “Not in the store, please. Pinkie Pie has an exhausting day as it is without you adding to it.”
“Me? What about you?” Fudge points at Marzipan’s face, her hoof almost touching Marzipan’s muzzle.
“Aww, I knew you cared about me!” I give them each a large box of preset sweets. “Caramel apple delight.” I announce laughing at their confusion. “Be sure to enjoy!“
“Uhh, thanks,” Fudge mumbles as she glances at the ceiling. “That's mighty decent of you.”
Fudge and Marzipan exchange a few looks, then take their sweets and leave to argue outside. I know they’ll be back in secret shortly, each asking for the other’s favourite sweets. I have the two boxes ready and in each I've added a something special from myself.
“Pinkie Pie!” A flash of purple poofs beside me. “Please tell me you have some Celestial Cake in stock!” Perfect Pudding yells in panic as she grabs me by the cheeks. A dessert of perfect proportions, she cannot help but wobble at the slightest pressure. Chaosy, but also calm and collected, she's suitable for any occasion as long as you keep her stable, and maybe prop her up with a nook or two. “The Princess is about to come for a visit and I completely forgot to check if I—“
I don't let her finish, taking a double decker cake out from my mane and placing it on the counter In front of me.
“Already ahead of you.” I wink. “Double Frosting, triple strawberries, and just a hint of mint. And don't worry, I'll add it to your tab.”
Of course, she doesn't really have a tab, it's just something I say to keep her from wobbling too much. I always love a challenge, and making cakes for every occasion she forgets is enough to get my creative juices running.
“Oh, thank you, thank you, thanks you!” Perfect Pudding, barely has time to hug me in thanks before flashing out from the shop once more, the cake along with her. I giggle. It's the same every other week. I smile, then go back to the counter and sigh. Another day and I still haven't made up my mind. Of all the cakes which will be the one for me?
“Oh well,” I shrug. “I can always decide tomorrow.”
