Harem Alliance

*DING*

"Ope! That's the cupcakes done!"

Cupcake sauntered over to the oven and grabbed some oven mitts, offering them up to her zebra friend. For the past three days, she'd been teaching him how to make a panoply of patisseries. He had come in wanting to see how his baked goods stacked up against those he had conquered, something he did at the end of every campaign while on leave, and for the first time, he had been truly amazed.

Zebra cooking was all well and good, but it had a strong focus on herbs and spices, giving the whole cuisine a more savoury and often powerful taste. He'd been in a campaign against the donkeys, and due to their dietary requirements, had some of the more rich breads, and he'd fought the gryphons, leading him to simpler breads that were not made to stand alone, but rather to compliment their more meat-based diets. These ponies, though... He'd never even heard of cake until he came to Sugarcube Corner. He had to know how it was done.

As he pulled out the multiple trays and set them on the rack, Cupcake looked them over. "Do you think they're done, Sweetie?"

The zebra tapped his hoof against the trays and saw no wiggle. "Indeed, I'm sure these cakes are done. They only need cool, and they're ready to stun."

"Oh, no no no," chuckled Cupcake. "We have to ice them before they go out. But you're right, they are done. I'm glad to see you've graduated from toothpicks to being able to spot them by sight. It took a month for Carrot to learn how to do that."

"Our cornbread is done when the center is cooked. The same question for cakes should not be overlooked. Though a bread will not jiggle when shaken this way, and puddings and flans wobble all through the day. It's always important to know well your craft, especially when a new route is being graphed."

"Indeed so," smiled Cupcake. "So, you were telling me about your kids?"

"Two children I have, at home in my land. The oldest cares for the youngest, a gesture most grand. For while I'm away, I haven't a wife to ensure that they're making good choices in life."

"Oh, shouldn't you have gone home, then? I'm sure they'd rather their father was around."

"Well, their father's a deadbeat; that's how we all met. He sold them to me to pay off his debt. They were afraid, at first, being made into slaves, but I've cared for them dearly, and so they behave."

"So, they're adopted? That's actually very nice of you."

"Indeed, they make my house a home. I'm the best keeper they've ever known. But enough about me, what about you? Certainly, you must have children, too?"

"Oh, yes, the twins. Pound and Pumpkin, my two little sweethearts."

"Of which your husband is not the father."

Cupcake's eyes went wide, first in shock, then anger.

"Worry not, your bliss I won't bother. He doesn't know; that's plain to see, but you know of what the outcome would be."

"Why are you doing this?" asked Cupcake. "What do you hope to gain?"

"What I hope to gain, I've already earned. I'm returning the favour with a lesson learned. Honesty, you see, is good for the soul. You should be the one to tell him who's been in that hole. I won't tell him, but I know one who will, and from you, it would be a much easier pill."

Cupcake took a breath. "With all due respect, I don't appreciate being accused of cheating on my husband. Now, we here in Ponyville believe in being friendly to each other, but if you want to be rude, I don't like having you in my kitchen. You can see yourself out, sir."

"Ah, but I shan't be leaving just yet. I still have a task, or did you forget?"

"Icing the cupcakes, yes," snarled Cupcake. "It's not a complicated task. I already taught you how to pipe rosettes, and that's all you have to do. I'll have a disposable piping bag with some mint buttercream frosting sent to your hotel room, along with the cupcakes in a box. Out."

"Ah, very well," sighed the zebra, taking three steps toward the door before turning around. "But before I run, there is one more thing that needs to be done."

"I already told you--"

"No, no, that is not what I ask. I have for you a different task." He pulled out a coupon and presented it to her.

"Oh, shit..."

"You are right to be concerned. This is a lesson that must be learned. While unicorns and pegasi are in your genes, a zebra foal is outside of his means. One way or another, he'll learn the truth, whether by confession, or in a manner uncouth. Honesty, or just more schlock? Tell him now, or take my cock."

Cupcake didn't know how to respond. She felt herself being compelled both to the floor, and also the door. If she wanted to, she could go out into the main dining area and tell her husband, and everypony in the store, that Pound and Pumpkin were conceived by his brother, Fudgecake, after they'd had a big fight. When she found out she was pregnant, she had orchestrated it so that they had sex immediately after returning, even though she was still mad at him and still thought he was wrong, which he was. He had apologised for losing the client, but she had never told him whose kids he was caring for.

Instead, she turned around, bent over, raised her tail, and pulled apart her legs. She was going to tell him the truth. The whole truth. But not all at once. First, she was going to tell him about how the zebra she had been teaching used a coupon on her, exactly as they had feared when they first found out about it. Then, she was going to tell him whether or not she was pregnant from it. If he didn't throw a huge fit, she would very seriously consider telling him the whole truth, but in short little bursts, not all at once.

Either way, she was screwed. At least this route was more gentle a descent...