Sugarcube Corner was empty. There was no life in it. Cobwebs were plentiful around the corners and an occasional bug crawled around before going into some hole in the wall. For the first time in a long while, the pink pony was nowhere near the bakery nor the Cake family. But not without good reason.
They were away for a baking contest and wasn't supposed to come back for a week. A week passed and, after a certain letter, it was said that Pinkie and the Cake family was coming back home this night. They had apparently won whatever contest that was held there and is coming back home this morning.
Mayor Mare suggested that a simple "Congratulations" or a "Welcome back home" party isn't going to cut it. They need something else and waited for any other suggestions. Berry Punch suggested adding cider but was quickly brought down by Applejack stating that they don't have anymore and to stop asking for it.
Rainbow Dash had an idea but it was going to need a lot of preparation for it. She told how this was going to be the bestest prank ever. After she explained the details in an overexaggerated degree, everypony agreed. Almost everypony. Rarity shook her head in disappointment but didn't think too far about it since it was for Pinkie.
Sugarcube Corner might have been empty for the early morning but by the time it became noon, a herd of ponies gathered and lined up to the entrance. The first batch of nine ponies came in and picked up the spare foldable tables that were kept in the kitchen. Then next batch came in to carry the rest of them out. The third batch raided the pantry and carried boxes of consumable goodies.
After the fourth batch was called to come in, a gray pegasus swooped through entrance and dove straight towards the muffin section of the display table. She picked one up with glee and was about to eat it before somepony tugged on her hind leg.
"Mom, I think you're supposed to pay for that"
Derpy sheepishly lowered the muffin and brought out three bits to place next to the cashier. She brought the muffin to her mouth and ate slowly. Sighing in bliss, she placed the rest of the muffins in a box then went back through the entrance.
While the herd of ponies were bringing stuff out of Sugarcube Corner, three ponies were sitting next to a large table overseeing the operation. Twilight was looking down at the Ponyville map and tracing a line from the train station to the bakery. Fluttershy didn't like the crowds all to much and opted to stay with Twilight. Rainbow was discussing the plan that was about to unfold tomorrow.
Applejack was helping set up the actual party for Pinkie's arrival. Bringing in apple pies from her farm as well as freshly squeezed apple juice. Rarity was next to her, setting up the banner that was to fly with the wind. It was looking really good.
As afternoon rolled in, ponies put up makeshift walls that cover up the junctions of the road only leaving one way to go to the bakery. The baked goods were set up next to overturned tables and piles of chairs. There were also some extra that were placed near the train station so that Pinkie and the others had their own share. As the sun began to set, ponies rushed out to get to their positions and waited for them to arrive.
The sky took on a orange color as a train stopped at its station. A train car rustled and shook before a loud pony shouted at the top of her lungs.
"I'M BACK, GIRLS!"
When she didn't hear anything, she opened her eyes in confusion. The train station was empty except for two baskets of muffins and cinnamon bread. A piece of paper fluttered in the wind, catching the attention of the party pony. The Cake family followed out of the train and was confused like Pinkie.
"Where is everypony?" Mr. Cake asked.
"I have no idea but they left this note for us," Pinkie picked up the paper and loudly read it. "To Pinkie Pie and the Cake family, in celebration of your victory on the Confectionary contest of 1018 we've made a party for you. If you survive, that is..."
"What does that mean?" Ms. Cake asked to nopony in particular. Just then, a pony walked up near the train station and dropped off a basket of what looked like assorted cakes. Pinkie recognized the pony before waving to him.
"Halt! In the name of the sun I command you to stop"
"But why, Time Turner?"
"Uh..." The brown pony looked to the side to look at a piece of paper. "My name is not Time Turner! My name is Ice Latté and you are trespassing" Pinkie tilted her head before a lightbulb appeared on her head before nodding.
"What if I say no, Ice Latté? What will you do?"
"Then we must duel! A battle to submission. En garde!" ~~Time Turner~~ Ice Latté picked up a chocolate mousse from the basket. Pinkie merely smiled before reaching into her pink mane and pulling out a matcha cake.
"Pret!" Pinkie and Ice Latté threw cakes at one another. Ice Latté side stepped to the right while Pinkie ducked under the throw. Pinkie reached in her mane again and threw another cake at him. Ice Latté had a tactical disadvantage since he had to retreat back to the basket to get more throwables. Using this information, Pinkie threw a slice of butterscotch pie at him when he was grabbing another cake.
"Gah! I have been smitten. It was an honorable duel with you... Pinkie... the Princess of confectionary..." Ice Latté slumped then closed his eyes. He tried to look as convincing as possible but he was still noticeably breathing.
"Princess of Confectionary... I like it"
"What was that all about?" Ms. Cake asked Pinkie. Her husband was behind her carried one foal while the other was on the road. He carried a basket of baked goods in his mouth.
"I think I know what my friends are up to," She giggled before grabbing a muffin from the basket. "This is gonna be so much fun!"
Pinkie Pie and co. took a right turn and was confronted by overturned tables and chairs. A picnic basket filled with goodies next to each furniture. At the front, Pinkie could see a trio trot up to them.
"Pinkie Pie, Princess of Confectionary, I order you and your party to turn back now lest you suffer the consequences!" A blue unicorn shouted. It looked like Minuette. Beside her were two earth pony mares flanking her.
"What are your names? So that I can know who I will fight against" Pinkie called out to them.
"I am Blueberry Violet and I will not warn you again" Minuette warned them.
"I am Raspberry Tulip" Cheerilee piped up.
"I am... erm... wasn't raspberry tulip my name?"
"Just use my name!"
"Okay. I am uh... Ube jam" Roseluck proudly said.
"I do like your offer, but I must continue my journey. A party waits for me" Pinkie stated.
"Then so be it. Have a tree!" Blueberry violet smeared a hoofful of blueberry jam.
"Isn't it supposed to be have at thee?"
"Whatever, just go"
After Pinkie dunked the final pony with a donut to the snout, Blueberry fell on the road and groaned. She fake coughed and muttered her last words.
"There is one last adversary that you will meet before you get to your... destination," She paused. "A pony that is twice your height and can easily reach you from afar. His name... is Red Pulp. I heard... that he was excellent at throwing apple... pies..."
Blueberry slumped and intentionally lolled her tongue out. Pinkie nodded then turned to look at the Cake family. The foals were playing with the "dead" bodies. The mares couldn't resist such adorable cuties next to them and played with them even with their fur coated in icing.
"What did she say?"
"Something about throwing pies. Are we ready to go?"
"Yep, just picking up the last of the goodies. Come on, foals. Come to daddy" The twins stopped on what they were doing and walked up to their father. The two mares behind them bemoaned. Pinkie merely giggled at the sight.
"Hey, aren't you supposed to be dead?"
"Oh right, yeah" Roseluck face-planted on the road followed by Cheerilee.
Pinkie looked on at the sight of the large pony, blocking the road that separates her from her bakery. She could see a "Welcome back, Pinkie" banner flying in the wind. She couldn't see anypony there though. The red apple pony tried to look as menacing as possible. Adapting a serious face and holding a fresh apple pie on his left hoof. Pinkie readied herself.
"You must be Red Pulp"
"Eyup"
"Do I need to duel with you so I can get to my party?"
"Eyup"
"Do we start now?"
"Eyup" The stallion threw a pie at her with a faster speed unlike all the others she faced. Pinkie barely dodged it in time and chucked a piece of white bread at him. For a big pony like him, he was rather agile. Pinkie threw another but Red Pulp only dodged it again. He held another pie in his hoof and threw it at the pink earth pony. It came close again so Pinkie knew she had to change plans.
"This calls for serious measures" Pinkie grabbed two baskets that Mr. Cake was holding and placed it side-by-side to her and stood on her hind legs. She threw an assortment of baked goods with her forelegs at the large pony then ramped up speed by the second. Red Pulp moved and dodged the stream of confectionary as best as he could but it was too much for him to handle.
A cupcake landed on his left cheek, then a caramel apple hit him by the right foreleg. In no time, he drowned in so much sweets it covered him like a blanket.
"Nopony beats that Princess of Confectionary" The pink pony blew on the smoke that came from her right foreleg. Pinkie and co. walked into the huge space and was greeted/cheered on by several dozens of ponies that all came out of hiding. What caught her eye the most were her five friends that walked up to her.
"Thank you, guys. This was the best homecoming I've been in"
"Aww yeah! I knew you'd like this" Rainbow pumped a hoof in the air.
"You did this?"
"Yep! I thought of the plan and everything"
"Ahem, we also helped" Twilight cleared her throat.
She heard five sets of hoofsteps behind her. When she turned around, she saw all the actors covered in icing, dough, and sweets. Even more so to Big Mac who was covered head to hoof with them. She smiled sheepishly at him.
"Thank you. Thank you all so much"
"No problem. Though I think I'm gonna have a long shower to get this off" Time Turner said.
"It'll take a day's worth of showering for Big Mac. Look at him" Minuette said.
"Look at you, chocolate snout" The apple stallion retaliated. Minuette touched a hoof on her snout and she felt the stickiness of chocolate immediately. She heard the laugh of surrounding ponies at her revelation.
"Aw, this sucks" The laughter died down and they were left with silence. Rainbow flew up in the air to shout out to everypony in the party.
"Let's hear it for Pinkie Pie! Princess of Confectionary" A loud cheer erupted from the crowd with hooves stomping the road. "Let's get this party started!"
Author's Note
2 hours prior to the submission:
"I see (pony town) players running into the bakery and grabbing that pizza paddle then whacking other players with it"
"Just imagine unicorns doing a high ox guards on baguettes and earth ponies throwing cakes like bombs"
"You know what? I could actually make this into a story"
