Pinkie Pie sat in front of the mailbox, her eyes glued to the space just above the door to said mailbox. Waiting impatiently for the mailpony, Parcel post, to arrive. She could barely refrain from opening and checking inside the box. The Cakes had asked her not to open and close the door every five seconds like she had done whilst waiting for Dashie’s letter back when she first left for the Wonderbolts tarring academy. Until she decided to just go and visit her. Something about not wanting to replace the hinges. Pinkie pie taught it was a little silly after all that's what the door was supposed to do. But they asked nicely and she even pinkie promised. And pinkie pie would never break a pinkie promise! After all, how could one aspect others to keep tires if she herself could not? Although she was still a bit to liberal with her pinke promises ponies might start to think they don't hold as much weight as they used to. Maybe shed talk to gummy about it later.
Pinkie’s left eye had began to twitch from being held open for so long. She had been up since last night. Couldn't sleep to excited, besides what if the mail came early! This was in fact day two of the staring contest with the mailbox. The pink pony’s right eye had began to twitch joining its twin. Pinkie fought with all of her might not to blink. But alas, she could keep her burning eyes open a second longer. She blinked and quickly opened the mailbox in a flash as soon as her eyes were opened. Her heart sank as the contents of the box were empty. Why wasn't her letter here yet?!
Pinkie really wanted to get started on her practice baking if she got in and to tell all of her friends. She had only told the Cakes, nopony else- she was to afraid of jinxing it. Of course, if she didn't get in she would need to mourn not getting in. Which would be just awful! But what if the letter got lost? What if her application got lost?! Why didn't her pinkie sense work in concern's of the mail?! Her baby sister, Marble Pie’s sence did, which came in handy way out on the rock farm where it was a bit of a walk just to check the mail. Marble always knew when the mail would be there and what was in the mail.
Every muscle in her body felt tense, coiled, ready to spring at the second the stallion delivers the mail. Pinkie made a mental note to herself to make apology cupcakes with blueberry custard filling and lemon frosting.
“Pinkie? Why are you waiting by the mailbox again?”
Pinkie’s ears twitched at the sound of Scootaloo's voice as the filly had stopped one hoof on the ground the other three remained on her scooter. Pinkie didn't look at her. The impatient pony merely waved her hoof frantically in the orange filly’s direction.
“I'm waiting for something super important! I don't have time to talk!”
Out of the corner of her eye she could see the look on the filly’s face. A look of confusion, bewilderment and lastly shock.
“Whatever you say, Pinkie.” Scootaloo pushed off on the scooter, still looking at Pinkie as she drove off.
“Come on, Parcel post! Where are you!?” Pinkie screamed to sky above. How much longer must she sit and wait in such agony? She heard a stallion clear his throat.
“um I’m right here, Miss Pie. I have a letter for you.”
He took the long awaited letter out of his mailbag. Pinkie gasped at the sight of letter in the tan hooves of the stallion who delivered the mail. She quickly snatched it up and tore into the thick envelope. Her drinking in the words.
Congratulations Miss Pinkamena Diane Pie
You have been chosen to be one of twelve bakers to participate in the Great Equestrian Bake Off- ten weeks of baking a wide assortment of baked goods, from bread to pie to cakes to tarts and everything in between.
There will be three challenges spanning a weekend. Two of which you will have prior knowledge of. You may also bring in special ingredients and recipes to make sure your bakes are creative and delicious.
The first changle shall be bread. First, you shall make thirty-five individual eyropony-style breadsticks. They can be any flavor but they must all be exactly the same size and must be crunchy.
The second is a technical challenge which you will be informed of before you start said challenge. Be warned it shall not be easy.
The third will be a 3D beard sculpture. A map has been included with the letter. Hope to see you soon.
Pinkie squealed as she bounced on her tail up and down, bouncing higher each time. The letter culted tightly to her chest.
“Pinkie, what’s going on?! Scootaloo came and told us you acting stranger than usual. Is everything alright?” Twilight asked, concerned for her friend.
“What is that your holding, darling?” Rarity asked.
Pinkie looked at her recently arrived friends. So far it was just Twilight, Spike and Rarity.
“Everything is perfect! Couldn't be more perfectry!” Pinkie exclaimed, showing them her letter. “I got in to one of best baking contests for normal ponies! Please, oh, please say you'll be my taste testers! I need as many as possible! Eeeeeeee!” she had stopped bouncing only to give the big pleading eyes.
“Yeah, sounds tasty, Pinkie! I'll be your number one taste tester!” spike agreed excitedly, eager to taste her baked goods.
“What you making first?”
“Breadsticks! Ooo, I'm gonna make so many until their perfect! I have to start right away! Not a moment to lose! Then it's on to my big showstopper! A 3D bread sculpture! ” Pinkie bolted to the kitchen leaving a cloud of confetti and glitter in her wake, the letter and map clutched tight in her pink hooves.
Author's Note
Hope you enjoy. If you guys want you can even chose what baker goes home when the time comes.
Spike ran excitedly after the pink pony. Twilight and Rarity joined the pair at a more normal pace, wanting to talk to Pinkie about the sudden news. This was, of course, the first they had heard of it. They entered the kitchen where Pinkie was already going to town. She had multiple bowls out and was measuring flour.
“You need flour, yeast and water to make bread sticks. You can add lots and lots of different flavors! This one’s gonna be chocolate!” Pinkie points to one the bowls.
“What about this one, Pinkie?” Spike asked, sniffing the dough.
“Gingerbread! Then I’m gonna roll and twist them together!”
“Pinkie, do you mind telling us what’s going on?” Twilight asked, still missing a few details.
“Yes. You’re quite vague on the details earlier, darling. This the first we’re hearing about this.” Rarity added.
“I’m sorry, girls, but I’m just so excited!” Pinkie grinned as she took a spoon to some ginger root, scraping off the skin before chopping it up with a knife.
“Is this the letter you’re so excited over?” Twilight asked, levitating the paper over toward her and Rarity.
The two ponies took a look at the floating letter.
“Why didn’t you tell us about this, Pinkie?” Twilight questioned, sounding hurt.
“Yes, darling.We’re your friends. We would have waited with you.”
Pinkie stopped kneading her two doughs and looked at the pair sheepishly.
“I’m sorry, girls. I just didn’t wanna jinx it or let you down if I didn't get in.”
“Oh, Pinkie. You could never let us down. Now, what can we do to help you?”
“Nothing yet! I still gotta bake these!” Pinkie said as she began to roll and stretch her dough out, smacking Spike’s eager claws away from her chocolate dough.
When the dough was the consistency Pinkie wanted it, the pink pony baker began to cut them into strips, using a ruler to make sure they were all the same size, thankful that the girls didn't ask anything else. It was hard to talk with a pizza cutter in her mouth. When she had thirty-five strips of both doughs, she began to twist them together.
“Chocolate and gingerbread!” Spike excitedly exclaimed, eagerly waiting to try the breadsticks.
Pinkie gently placed each one on the baking tray and popped it in the oven to bake. After, she got out pencils and paper.
“Rarity, can you help me please? “ Pinkie asked nicely.
“Of course darling. Whatever do you need?”
“Can you draw the Tree of Harmony? It will be so super amazing as a big bread tree! With spun sugar dripping off the branches, making it sparkly like! Then maybe I'll add the different colored elements!” Pinkie explained before taking a big bite out of a chocolate bar.
It was her snack break as she watched Rarity draw checking with Twilight as well, making all the details were there.
Pinkie just needed to figure out what flavor bread would she make the tree out of. It would need to be something sturdy yet tasty. Not dry. Maybe something special to Ponyville. Maybe the cakes still had some zap apple jam. If not them, maybe somepony did. It was too much to hope that zap apple season had comeback. Or was it? Because if she filled the tree with zap apple jam, it would be perfect with swirls of cinnamon and brown sugar. The buzzer for the oven went off the first batch was done. Pinkie quickly took them out of the oven, placing the pan on a cooling rack.
Spike quickly grabbed a couple of the breadsticks and shoving them in his his face, showing his enjoyment. Pinkie giggled at the look on his face, pleased he liked them so. But the real taste test would be the cakes.
“Spike, don't shove so many in your mouth at one time!“ Twilight scolded.
He rolled his eyes at her, swallowing his food.
“Kind of like how you act when your eating hay burgers? “ Spike snarked, making Twilight flush from embarrassment. “Besides, Pinkie’s worst.”
“You’re all to right, Spike! It's the best way to eat baked goods, like cupcakes!”
“A lady does not allow herself to be so careless.” Rarity chimed in, taking a breadstick in her light blue aura and takes a dainty bite. The breadstick made a nice crunch sound. “Quite nice, darling.”
“Thanks, Rarity! The cakes will be the final test to see if they’re ready.”
Twilight also rose a breadstick into her mouth to take bite. “Wow! This is really good, Pinkie.”
“Thanks, Twilight! “ Pinkie took the last couple of breadsticks before Spike could eat the rest of them.
Pinkie bounced over to the Cakes, excited to get their opinion on the breadsticks. They had been baking for a lot longer than her and they were the ones who owned a bakery, after all. She trusted their options. They were like her aunt and uncle instead of just her bosses and landlords.
The baker finally spotted Mr. Cake. “Mr. Cake! I got in i got in! “Pinkie exclaimed excitedly.
“Congratulations, Pinkie! I knew you could do it. “
Pinkie giggled happily “Thanks, Mr. Cake! Want to try my breadsticks? They’re chocolate and gingerbread! “
“Sure thing, Pinkie.” Mr. Cake said, taking one of the breadsticks and taking a bite.
Pinkie watched as he ate the whole thing slowly, while she appreciated the fact he was taking her request seriously, it was agonizing to watch him eat so slowly.
“It’s good a first try, Pinkie. But, you need to add a lot more ginger. Try adding candied ginger and ginger powder as well, and a little less molasses. The chocolate part was good, but it overpowered the rest, which can be easy to do. But still tasty. I can’t wait to try your next batch. “
Pinkie was disappointed that she hadn't succeeded, but at least she knew what to do next. It was time for round two of her breadstick making.
“Thanks, Mr. Cake.” Pinkie said before headed back into the kitchen for round two.
“Who’s up for round two?!”
Spike shot his clawed hand in the air. “Me!”
Pinkie giggled and started on another batch, making sure to add finely ground candied and powdered ginger this time around. Spike watched her eagerly, awaiting more.
“Can I help with anything, Pinkie?” The dragon offered, helpful as ever.
“Another time, Spike! I got to practice by myself. But when it’s all over, we can bake together!”
“Darling,” Rarity spoke. “I have your drawing ready for you. “
“Really? Let me see! Let me see!”
Rarity turned the drawing around for her to look at. It was perfect! It even had their cutie marks on it. There was no chest because the chest was now a castle, but it would be so pretty. Pinkie couldn't wait to get started on it. But first, she had to get the breadsticks perfect. After all that, it should be the easier than the two tasks.
“It's perfect Rarity! You’re the best!”
“oh think nothing of it darling. Im happy to help. “
Pinkie hugged her friends tightly, accidentally getting some dough on their coats and scales.
The hard part would be to get it stay standing, of course. Pinkie bounced over to her second batch of breadsticks, twisting them before popping them in the oven. She quickly got work on her bread dough. It would need to prove before she could try and shape it then bake it. Pinkie took the breadsticks out of the oven for the second time.
After an awhile, Pinkie was ready to start shaping her dough. The breadstick recipe had been written down in her recipe book. Rarity and Twilight had left. Spike was still here, keeping her company and eating breadsticks.
“What flavor did you make the bread, Pinkie?,” Spike asked. He also liked to bake. After all, Twilight was horrible in the kitchen. In fact she’s baking’s nightmares.
“Cinnamon sugar and, if I can find, any zap apple jam. If not, regular apple jam. But I’m absolutely positive sure I'll get some!”
“I can go look for you!” Spike eagerly volunteered. “Then I can be your taste tester!”
“You got a deal, Spike!”
Author's Note
The next chapter is when we get to met new ponies.
