UnCakeFul

Mrs. Cake worked fervently in the kitchen, her latest masterpiece almost complete. It was Granny Smith’s 80th, and she was determined to make something worthy of the pie-loving founder of Ponyville. She’d put together a delightful concoction of cider-infused apple pie and was busy spreading the filling when Mr. Cake came bustling in, looking exceedingly busy as usual. He was carrying a faded yellow notepad that clashed brilliantly with his orange mane.

“Honey, I’m home! I have a list of other things that the Apples want for the big day and an order of Naponieons from the Mayor for a town hall meeting and the annual spring party in Canterlot is coming up and Spike put in a good word to Celestia so we’re doing the catering! Isn’t that wonderful?” He beamed, dropping the notepad.

“Oh, um, yes dear,” Mrs. Cake smiled. She’d already been up early planning the weekly special…now she’d probably not be done until late evening. She enjoyed the work, but when it fluctuated it really fluctuated.

“What’s the matter Cup?” Carrot immediately sensed her distress.

“Oh, it’s just the workload, you know,” she sighed. “Even when we’re working together sometimes it’s a bit much.”

“Oh, I see…” He frowned at the floor for a minute, but perked right back up. He seemed to have boundless amounts of energy, and that’s what Cup loved about him, among other things. He never looked unhappy for more than two seconds. “Well, my dear, why don’t we go on a day trip soon? Take a break?”

“Oh?” Mrs. Cake asked. “But what about the home re-furnishings we were planning on? Or Twist’s Cuteseñera? Or the Wonderbolts Derby catering gig?”

“We’ll find a date and keep it, my dear! Don’t you worry! I know we’ve got days off but I understand if you really wanted a vacation!” Carrot grinned, picking up the notepad and putting it on the counter. Mrs. Cake smiled, knowing how sincere he was, but wondering if they were ever going to stop being so busy. Times were hard-pressed in Ponyville. Even though on the outside it seemed like a serene, quiet place—which it was for the most part—it was downright expensive especially if you were a self-sustained pony like the Cakes. Mr. Carrot Cake was always so sincere, earnest, and kind but always such a busy body. They never had any time to talk about anything like they used to when they first started out ten years ago…it was always work now. She loved him dearly, and when Pinkie Pie was around to help the workload lessened a bit…but still, she longed for a nice holiday…

“Oh…honey, I know you’re so busy—we’re so busy!” Carrot said, sensing her distress. “Why don’t I take over the pie-making and you take a lunch?”

“Oh, that sounds like a wonderful idea!” Mrs. Cake breathed a momentary sigh of relief, knowing that the workload would only increase on his side.

“You know what I’d like?” Mr. Cake mused as Mrs. Cake gave one final check of the stock in the front display. “A family…a real family…a couple of kids to help out and take over the business when we’re gone…”

A family…they’d given this some thought before, but either it wasn’t the right time or something, because they tried several times to have children and it had never worked out. Maybe the stress had gotten to them…whatever it was, they had not been successful in the baby-making business. It would be nice though…maybe Pinkie would fill in for them more if they had a real reason for not working…that pony needed to party less after all.

Mrs. Cake trotted out the door to go see the sandwich shop across the way. Breathing in the fresh morning air (it was now 11:00), she decided to get her favorite dandelion spread to go so she could eat in Sugarcube Corner and help Carrot by re-stocking the front counter displays. She did love her work, really—she did. She loved satisfying the ponies of Ponyville with her delectable creations. She’d almost named the place Delectable Delights…but that was a shop in Canterlot already. She prided herself in her craft, and marrying Mr. Carrot Cake was one of the best things she could have done for herself. Even if they never had kids, they’d be unstoppable.

Unstoppable—as she walked out of the café with her order, a pile of boxes suddenly appeared in front of her and she collided with it, dropping her sandwich. “Oh—oh my!”

“Derpy!” A gruff voice said from above. “How many times do I have to tell you—pack the boxes so you can see over the top!”

“My bad,” said an alto female’s voice from behind the boxes. The boxes were lowered to the ground in a poor attempt at being graceful and tumbled over.

“Derpy…remember, the only reason I hired you is—oh, hello there, miss!” A large brown Pegasus lowered himself to the ground beside the smaller grey one. “So sorry, Derpy here’s new.”

“N-not to worry!” Mrs. Cake said. He called her miss…nobody called her that. Was that something formal they did up in Cloudsdale?

“Here, let me get that for you,” he grinned, showing large white teeth. “Call me Foreman! Everypony does!”

He picked up Mrs. Cake’s tousled to-go bag and she gingerly took it from his mouth in hers. Even though he was gruff and surly-looking, he was clearly a gentleman on the inside. An interesting fellow, no doubt. She looked behind him to see her husband trot outside across the way and water the flowers.

“Well, that looks like my husband’s about to take his break, better head back!” She grinned sheepishly, and began to canter off, but he stopped her.

“That’s your shop over there?” He asked.

“Oh, um, yes,” Mrs. Cake nodded with her mouth full, the to-go bag rustling. “We have all the best quality sweets!”

“Well maybe I’ll stop by some time to make up for today!” He grinned.

“You really don’t need to--”

“Oh, come now, it’s Cloudsdale custom! I’m sure you don’t get many folks from Cloudsdale around here! Sorry to make a bad impression!” He glared at Derpy, who grinned sheepishly back.

“Oh…well, if you insist,” Mrs. Cake nodded. “See you around!”

She hurried off, waving.

“Who was that?” Mr. Cake asked, peering curiously at Foreman and Derpy as Foreman helped Derpy make two trips to the back of the café.

“Oh…just a nice pony who helped me out.”

“You think he could give us a hoof?” Mr. Cake said jokingly. Laughing, they went back inside. Mrs. Cake would soon realize just how much of a help Foreman would be.