Upper Crust

The two had got up a little earlier than usual. As per normal Cookie had been worrying about everything she was about to do. In practicality there was actually nothing different about the process except for substituting one type of sugar for another, but Pinny knew she’d be up most of the night thinking about it anyway so he decided to forgo their usual wake up time and go down with her to the bakery to get going.

As he and Cookie started to put together the days goodies he took a closer look at the bag. There was precious little on it to identify it as a sack of sugar. In fact the only identifier it had was the company (he assumed) that produced it.

Chit Chat Cane Sugar
Extra Refined

There was nothing else. It didn’t even say how much the bag contained.It was just a pretty regular looking amount. At least he was confident that in terms of what it contained they hadn’t been duped.

“Now for the important bit…” Cookie said, taking some of the sugar from the bag and gently measuring it out so she got the right amount.

“Going for the cookies first huh?” Pinny asked, making his way over to the oven to check on some bread he had currently baking.

“Well I figure it’s almost impossible to mess up cookies right? Start with something simple. I know we’re going to put it in a few things though.”

“Well last we talked about it yesterday it was going to go into the cookies, gingerbread ponies, doughnuts and what was the other thing?” he asked.

“The sweet apple fritters.”

“Oh yes, and if we sell out of all of them quickly I guess we know it has worked.”

“That’s my thinking.” Cookie replied, adding some finishing touches to the cookies. “I’ll get to work on the rest while your bread bakes.”

Pretty soon, Cookie had whipped up all the things she had to bake using the new special sugar. Everything else had the sugar from their normal supplier. Both were pretty committed to the new stuff at this point but they might as well make sure it did work as sold to them. Might as well use up what else they had left as well right?

With ten minutes to go before opening time, the two put everything under the counter ready to go. There was a couple of ponies waiting outside for the door to open which Cookie dutifully let them in a little before the official opening time. It was unfortunate as both seemed to be in a rush neither bought anything with the special sugar in, each grabbing small breads presumably to eat at work during the day.

“Darn, I was hoping at least one would buy a cookie perhaps.” Cookie said with dismay.

“Don’t worry, even without that sugar they usually sell well.” Pinny replied, “I doubt it’ll be long.”

He was right. Roughly fifteen minutes later a stallion walked in already holding a cup of coffee and browsed the food selection before he made an order. “Could I just get a chocolate glazed doughnut if that’s alright?”

“No problem, eat in or take away?” Cookie asked.

“Eat in, I won’t be long.” the stallion replied, pushing the appropriate amount of bits over the counter top and taking a seat. Other customers came and went in the interlude but the two kept a close eye on him.

“Look!”

“What?” Pinny asked. “I’ve hardly taken my eyes off him. What am I supposed to be looking at?”

“How can you not see it!?” Cookie hissed back.

Suddenly it was right in front of his eyes. Pinny watched. The stallion had sat for about five minutes before starting on the doughnut. He wasn’t a glutton of a pony clearly, he took reasonable sized bites out of the dessert. But each bite he took Pinny observed he ate each one a little faster. Very quickly the doughnut was gone. It wasn’t just the speed at which he ate, it was the fact that each bite seemed to add a very small, almost imperceptible amount of weight to his frame. Mostly it was noticeable in the belly. By the time he was finished with the doughnut his rather smart business shirt was pushing against the buttons.

“Two bits says he comes and gets another.” Cookie whispered.

“No bet, of course he will.” Pinny replied, already getting a doughnut out and placing it on the counter top. The stallion heaved himself off the chair and made for the counter once more.

“Just an...oh, how did you know?” he asked, pushing some more bits across. Pinny just gave an innocent smile.

“Call it a lucky guess with how fast you ate that first one. I’m guessing you enjoyed it?” he asked.

“Amazing! I’ve never had such a sweet doughnut! Once I started I dunno...I just couldn’t stop. Do you make those every day?” the stallion asked eyeing the rest under the clear counter that were on display.

“Well we sometimes put a different glaze on, but yes generally we have doughnuts of some description available.” he said.

“Can I take two more to go? I don’t know if I can wait until tomorrow…” the stallion said, fishing more money out of a very small pouch he had on him and giving the money over. As Pinny bagged up the two doughnuts to go he saw the stallion very quickly lick his lips before he thanked him for the doughnuts and left. Before he was even out of sight of the shop Pinny saw the doughnut he had bought to eat was already half gone.

“I guess it really does work, I’ve never seen a single pony buy four doughnuts in the space of less than ten minutes.” Pinny mused. All he heard from Cookie was an excited squee as a little celebration of triumph.

The rest of the day was a similar story with the rest of the specially loaded baked goods. Ponies either bought more or came back later in the day on their breaks to purchase as much as they could before it all went. By just after midday everything with the special sugar in had been sold, with Pinny and Cookie doing their best to push the treats and to tell their friends about just how good it was. A few more returned after everything had sold, a little upset that there was none left but understanding and every one that came back was bigger than when they entered. When they closed up for the day even Pinny couldn’t help but show a little excitement.

“We made over half again what we’ve been taking the previous days! And no waste! This really is miracle sugar. I don’t see why we don’t start adding it to everything!” he exclaimed, looking at the small golden shining stack of money in front of his face.

“Do you think that’s a good idea?” Cookie asked.

“Well, why not?” Pinny replied. For once Cookie, the worrier was the voice of reason.

“Well if we add it to everything and everything we make is amazing I’m sure somepony will suspect something. It’s going to be too obvious.” she explained. It made Pinny put his hoof on his chin in that manner of thinking he usually did when the gears in his head started to turn. “Plus you saw the effect it has. If we put it in everything not only are ponies going to be suspicious, they won’t even be able to fit in the store!” she finished.

“True...well what about a rota? Or do we just keep it in the same small selection of goods? That way customers who buy breads will never know, it’ll just be the ones who buy the doughnuts and fritters and what have you.” Pinny said.

“I think that’s the best bet for now, plus it means we don’t have to spend more on this fancy sugar. I know it was the plan originally to put it in everything but I think that’s gonna be a really bad move long term.” Cookie replied.

“Well, I think ultimately this is just a bad move long term sweetie, but we had to do it.”

“I know...but for now can we just do it this way, please? I mean look even with just these we made so much!” Cookie exclaimed, now getting excited herself over the amount of money sitting in the till. It was more than she had ever seen in one day.

“Very well, that’s sensible. We’ll just have to keep an eye on how it progresses. You think the critic will return?”

“If word gets out about how good these are, I don’t see why not. But he’s going to want something of everything again. He’ll notice as soon as he tastes the other things and realises they’re not as sweet.” Cookie said, starting to worry once more.

“So each day we just make one item of everything with the good sugar. Even with the waste it’s hardly going to cost us much. We probably won’t have to keep it up long. If word gets back to him how good it was, he’ll be back.”

“Isn’t that cheating? I’d feel bad…” Cookie mumbled.

“Well we’re already cheating, plus like you say he’d figure it out. What’s one more little thing?” Pinny said.

“I guess… I just don’t like it.”

“Neither do I, so we only do it as long as we have to. Okay?”

“Okay.”

The two hugged and closed up for the day. Hopefully it wouldn’t take too long for Five Stars to come back. They’d be ready.