Mulia sighed, sitting dejected on the train. She’d gone all the way to Hoofington, and had gotten fourth place in the contest. Fourth! She was far more deserving than fourth place. She’d tried to do something new, her “Massive Mousse Mouse” was even more exotic than her moose had been. But it was all for naught.

At the end of the day, that darned Gustoff had stolen it! He’d won this time with his Exotic Elder-flower Eclairs.

It just made her so mad! His Eclairs were hardly worth first place. Maybe first place in the dumpster. Frustrated, she snorted stamped her hoof. The scenery ran past the window and she sunk into the seat in silent contemplation.

Ten years. That’s how long she’d been competing at baking competitions. Ten years of baking, ten years of competitions, and ten years of honing her craft in private secrecy only for her sole win to be that magnificent monstrosity that Pinkie Pie had helped her build.

Mulia smiled as the bout of rage left her. Sure, she had her cookbooks and her quiet baking life. But having a win was always welcome. She should visit Ponyville again, if only to say hello and see what Pinkie and the Cakes were baking up.

Sighing, she let out a quick bray to get the conductors attention. “Excuse me, I’d like to change my ticket please.”

Matilda happily balanced the basket of carrots across her back as she crossed the street. Ponyville sure was bustling today! She had to keep her eyes open or she’d accidentally bump into somepony. Still, she was glad to deal with the crowd. Ponyville had changed in the last few years, and for the better. Not that it was ever really bad, but now there were so many ponies about since Twilight Sparkle was a princess.

How many friends had she made over the years? Probably hundreds. And most of that was due to Pinkie Pie. She had a debt to Pinkie that could never really be paid off, reuniting with Doodle had been the best part of her life. Still, the pink pony had kept increasing Matilda’s circle of friends, one after the other.

Satisfied that her carrots wouldn’t fall, Matilda smiled at the sea of familiar faces as she ducked, bobbed, and weaved her way through the churning crowd. Market day was always busy, but she had a small delivery to make; crowd or not.

A happy grin spread across her face as she considered maybe making a purchase as well. A little treat to carry her through the day wouldn’t be a bad thing, and why not? She deserved it! She’d worked hard these last few days. And besides, Doodle had been out of town.

She hated when Doodle had to go on one of his little adventures, but she wasn’t about to stop him. His wide network of friends occasionally needed his help with everything from raising a barn to filling a lake to digging a firebreak to acting as a character witness during a particularly strange trial.

This time he’d been out searching for bellflowers to help his thestral friend get enough “ringers” before the Oak Hollow Summer Swim. It was a little ritual they had where the creatures in the Hollow would line up their bellflowers around the lake and make a show of ringing them from the water. Apparently they also would take some to the bedroom as well, the bells providing some sort of music that eased sleep.

Matilda stepped aside to let a flustered griffon pass. The poor dear seemed a bit confused by all the bustle, but wasn’t asking for help. Most griffons considered the offer of help rude, so Matilda decided to let the dear be. If she found the lost traveler still looking amiss after the trip to Sugar Cube Corner, then maybe Matilda would discreetly find a way to help.

Her thoughts wandered back to Doodle. He was supposed to be back tonight! Hopefully his train wouldn’t be delayed.

Mulia stared at the angry looking jack sitting across from her. He had gotten on at the last stop, and was quietly reading the newspaper. She wouldn’t have minded the silent company, but every time he turned the page, there was a slight ringing sound. Like somecreature was playing the bells…

It was quite odd. Worse, when she’d cleared her throat to ask, he’d dropped the paper and given her a strangely stern glare. The sudden and intense malice had caused her breath to hitch and the question to die in her throat.

Now she was nervous. He’d probably chosen to sit in the same room as her because she was a mule and he was a donkey, but his behavior was hardly that of somecreature looking for a friendly face.

It was always awkward being a mule. He’d probably actually thought she was a donkey at first glance and was now disappointed. That was the curse of being half one thing and half another. She wasn’t a pony, and she wasn’t a donkey. Both types of creatures tended to be off-put by her.

Mulia frowned, and grunted angrily. She was feeling bitter again. Bitter about her failed bake, bitter about her ten years of devotion to the craft, bitter about her mixed race, and bitter about a grumpy jack that had made her once pleasant ride painfully uncomfortable.

Her mouth twisted into a confident sneer. “You wouldn’t have had a chance anyways.”

The jack paused his reading, then looked up over the paper. “What?”

Mulia shuffled on the seat, fixing her hair and feeling slightly better about herself. “I said that you wouldn’t have had a chance. I’m out of your league.”

At that, the jack raised an eyebrow. His answer was short. He was clearly frowning behind the paper. “I’m married…”

Mulia laughed, but it was forced and fake. Her stomach dropped as she manufactured a smile. How was this jerk of a jack married when she was still single? “You? Married and you’re chasing after a mule like me? Trying to do better, perhaps?”

Something changed in the jack’s eyes, and Mulia realized that she might have taken it a bit far.

He simply got up with the sound of bells, and left the room.

She should have felt vindicated. She’d successfully chased him away. Instead she felt hollow. The little verbal exchange hadn’t invigorated her at all. If anything, she was shaking and her stomach hurt. Was the shaking from adrenaline somehow? Or was she feeling… sick.

As she stared out the window, she saw the reflection of her face in the glass. The reflection of her eyes looked dead somehow. Not like his had. His eyes had shone—first with intellect then with anger.

Sometimes she hated herself.

Matilda had delivered her carrots, and was now sitting quietly at a table sipping some dark, and perhaps overly sweet, coffee. The black brew was almost like syrup. When she’d asked Pinkie for three sugars, Pinkie had winked and said, “Oh don’t worry. I know what you mean.”

Matilda had laughed and said, “I mean three sugars, Pinkie! I’m serious this time.”

Of course, Pinkie had given her an exaggerated wink in response. Now Matilda was left drinking this dark, sticky, and almost sandy mix. Pinkie never put the right amount of sugar in her coffee, but somehow Matilda always enjoyed it. Whenever Matilda put too much sugar in it, she couldn’t drink the stuff. It would hurt her teeth, and the sweetness would quickly grow sickening.

When Pinkie did it, it came out sweet and thick. Every sip simply begged another, and Matilda was held captive once again by a delicious cup of coffee that was hardly what she ordered.

With a giggle, she took another sip. How scandalous! A grown jenny drinking what amounted to pure sugar with a little caffeine in it.

Doodle better be coming home tonight, because it seemed as though either way Matilda wouldn’t be sleeping. She’d much rather spend her time not sleeping by keeping him up with her.

Her tail flicked in the chair and her cheeks warmed slightly.

It had been a long week since she’d seen her jack.

Her mind drifted to his sparkling eyes. He always had this glint in them like he was still on some adventure. The look he gave her made her knees shake, and her tail flick. It was even better when she couldn’t see his eyes, but could feel them staring at her mane as he climbed up her back.

She shivered in her seat as she watched the pool of black coffee. He was traveling all day today. She couldn’t expect him to be in the mood for that. If anything, he was likely tired and simply wanted to sleep in his own bed. But then again, she was at sugar cube corner.

Pinkie was sitting down across from her, smirking.

Matilda hadn’t seen, or heard her sit down; but surprising movements like this were normal for Pinkie.

“Do you want to order something else, Matilda? I’m getting a shake in my haunch that tells me you’re still a customer!”

Matilda laughed, taking another sweet sip. “Oh, actually your timing is perfect! I was wondering if you had something to help give Doodle a little boost when he gets back tonight.”

Pinkie nodded. “Yeppers! I can get you an espresso cake extreme to go!”

Matilda frowned slightly. “Oh, um… not exactly that. I was hoping for something else.”

Pinkie tilted her head. “Something else? That’s our best selling energy pastry!”

Matilda lowered her voice conspiratorially. “I was hoping you had something that would give him a little pep… you know…”

Pinkie blinked. “Not espresso?”

Matilda bit her lip. Maybe Pinkie wasn’t the right pony to ask about this. “Oh… Never mind.”

Pinkie’s eye went wide. “Ooooh. Oh! Ohhhhhh! Oh… You mean for his, uh, little Doodle.”

“I shouldn’t have asked. I’m sorry. I know that’s not the kind of thing you sell.” Matilda lowered her eyes in slight embarrassment.

Pinkie sighed. “Yeah. Sorry. I’m not allowed to sell those anymore.”

“Wait, anymore?”

“Twilight said that I can’t sell them. She said it was causing friendship problems. Just because a few love muffins went missing and there were some angry…”

“You used to make… love muffins?” Matilda had never heard of one of those before.

Pinkie nodded. “You betcha! And wow, were they great! I even had a secret ingredient from Zecora.”

Matilda frowned. “Was it love potion?”

Pinkie giggled. “Okay, it was love potion. But just a little! I’d use one potion to make a baker’s dozen! That meant that each muffin was just a little kick in the tail. Just enough to grease the wheels, if you know what I mean, but not enough to be dangerous.”

Matilda smiled back. “Oh dear. I’m surprised Zecora would sell them to you. She wo… doesn’t seem the kind of zebra to sell dangerous things like that.”

Pinkie looked left, then right, then left again. Sugar Cube corner was crowded, but she didn’t seem to care. “That’s the real secret. She doesn’t sell them to me! We have a different deal.”

Matilda’s eyes went wide. “Oh. Now I have to ask, what’s the deal?”

Pinkie smiled smugly. “It’s a secret.”

“Sorry to pry. I was just wondering if I could work something out with her. I’m just looking for a little spice for my lovelife. Doodle is amazing, but sometimes he’s just a little tired. Especially after one of his adventures.”

Pinkie hummed, then smiled. “Well… You won’t be able to make a deal with Zecora… but Twilight said I’m not allowed to sell love muffins. She didn’t say anything about giving a few to a friend!”

Matilda smiled, feeling strangely giddy. “This feels slightly dubious… I’m in.”

Pinkie clopped her two front hooves together and began to rub them as she cackled low and villainous. “Mwa hahahahaha….”

Mulia stepped off the train into Ponyville. It was later than she’d thought. The train pulled away behind her as she stood alone on the platform. She hadn’t done the math when she’d updated her ticket to go to Ponyville, and now she was in something of a pickle.

There wouldn’t be another train until morning.

She really hadn’t thought this through.

Cross with herself, Mulia scowled at the jack as she caught a glimpse of him from the corner of her eye. It looked like this had been his stop as well.

Now she felt awkward, but wasn’t about to let it show. For his part, he ignored her.

His complete lack of reaction made her even more frustrated. Here she was feeling terrible about herself, and he just didn’t seem to care at all. He grabbed his luggage, and silently walked off the platform.

Now she was cross with him again. He didn’t even have the good grace to look at her. She was sure he must have noticed her.

Her mood completely soured, she considered waiting at the train station until morning. The platform was hard wood, and she could find a bench to settle down on comfortable enough. At least Ponyville was temperate.

Mulia shook her head. No. Soured mood or not, she’d intended to visit Pinkie and the cakes. Their bakery was open for a few more hours at least. Maybe a warm drink and something sweet would lift this dark filter over her thoughts.

She wasn’t usually this petty, mean… and, well, terrible.

The thought made her lower her head. She was being awful. But she didn’t have to keep being awful. The jack was gone, and she could focus on finding her friend. Maybe Pinkie had an idea for a place she could stay that wasn’t the train station.

She could afford a hotel room for the night just fine. She was simply being cruel to herself earlier.

Mulia forced herself to smile and decided that she’d maker herself be better—at least for the night. There was no need to be cruel to others and herself just because she was upset about Gustoff’s Eclairs. Even if they hadn’t been “exotic” at all. Her smile dropped for a moment, but she forced it back into place as she stepped into Ponyville proper.

Matilda was relaxing by herself at a booth where she had watched the setting sun. The sunset had been gorgeous. Pinks, purples, and even greens had filled the sky. Now there were just stars. She didn’t mind the wait, although she was feeling a little anxious. Doodle was probably on his way home right now. He wouldn’t mind if she was gone, but she’d really wanted to greet him when he got home.

After her earlier visit to Sugar Cube Corner, she’d gone out and helped that griffon. He had been looking for the library of all things, and she’d had to explain that it was in the castle now. Surprisingly, he hadn’t been bothered by her assistance, and Matilda felt slightly chagrined at how easily she’d ignored him due to her notions about griffons.

That was something she had to work on. Being a donkey, she was subject to no small amount of prejudices either. Ponies expected her to be stubborn and grumpy. Griffons expected her to be aggressive, if not violent. At least she never had to worry about diamond dogs. They had legends about Donkey warriors, and kept a wide berth from her whenever she decided to wander a little too far on her morning walk.

Still, she was none of those things. Matilda was, at her heart, a happy and easygoing jenny. Perhaps a little too affectionate, even. She’d love to be home right now being far too affectionate with Doodle.

Instead she was waiting for Pinkie to bake the “Love Muffins”. The recipe took a bit longer than usual due to the complexity of baking in a potion. Matilda understood this and didn’t mind. Or rather, didn’t mind too much.

She was lost in thought when the bell rang, surprising her. It was late, and most of Ponyville’s residents weren’t night critters. Still, the store was open so it wasn’t too strange for it to get a customer.

Her eyes drifted and settled on the mare that walked in. At first she was surprised—she thought she knew all the jennies in town. But after a moment, she noticed a few small details. The mare had some pony like traits, namely her ears, and carried herself with the emotive nature of a pony, not the quiet stoicism one would expect from a donkey.

She was a mule then. Or perhaps a hinny? Chastising herself, Matilda frowned. No, that wasn’t right. The mare was a customer at Sugar Cube Corner. No more, no less. She really needed to stop judging creatures. By now she should really know better.

More to the point, the mare seemed to know Pinkie. Matilda watched with an amused smile as Pinkie literally jumped over the counter and shouted “Mulia! I’m so happy to see you!” as she wrapped Mulia in a hug.

Matilda let her smile grow as her eyes drifted back to the stars. What was Doodle up to right now? Was he lonely? She could warm him up. Her eyes drifted down to her late night cup of tea as she giggled to herself. She was certainly in a mood, wasn’t she?

It wasn’t a bad mood. Far from it, she nearly felt giddy. The only problem was how quickly her mind kept jumping straight into the gutter. And that wasn’t really a problem, more of a distraction.

She took a sip of her tea, and sighed. The muffins would be worth it. Even if Doodle ended up in bed before she got home, a bakers dozen was enough to help them both stay energized and work through her distraction thoroughly over the next week or so.

She should have asked Pinkie about this earlier. Of course the party pony would have some sort of secret recipe. Although, there was the issue of whatever had happened to get Princess Twilight to outlaw her from selling the love muffins.

Matilda’s thought’s crossed a strange line, and her brow furrowed. How potent were they?

A cough distracted her. “Ahem.”

Matilda shook her head, and turned to look. It was Mulia, standing next to her table and looking sheepish. Matilda smiled.

Mulia smiled back. “Excuse me, Pinkie had some work to do and mentioned that you might be good company for a spell. Do you mind if I sit with you?”

“Please do. I’m Matilda. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” She smiled invitingly.

Mulia carefully sat down and smiled back. “Mulia. The pleasure is mine. Sorry for being so forward.”

Matilda nodded. “Oh, not at all. Pinkie’s baking something special for me and the wait was getting tiring. Some conversation might do wonders.”

Mulia tilted her head. “You’re very polite for… I mean…” and then looked suddenly ashamed as her face turned red in embarrassment.

Matilda laughed. “Ha! Oh, don’t worry about it. I find myself making assumptions left and right in this town. If you’ll likewise excuse my rudeness, I had to fight back a few thoughts when I saw you come in as well.”

Mulia seemed even further chastised. “I’m so very sorry. I’ve been just terrible today, and I seem to be constantly failing at being better.”

“Today does seem to be one of those days. Maybe it’s the day and not us, then? I’ve been in a mood myself; though I’ve had some successes and some failures today. It’s just been so hard to focus.” Matilda watched as Mulia awkwardly looked up, seemingly hopefully. She made sure her smile was warm; though it wasn’t hard to do.

“Thank you… Pinkie was right. You do make good company.” Mulia seemed relieved.

“Well, that aside, what brings you to Sugar Cube Corner today; and dare I say, to Ponyville?”

Mulia seemed to relax. “I’m actually a baker myself, and Pinkie is an old friend. I… honestly needed a pick me up and thought I’d drop by and visit. She has a way of lifting spirits.”

Matilda nodded knowingly. “Sometimes a dose of Pinkie is exactly what the doctor ordered.”

They both smiled.

Pinkie was moving frantically. Her two friends were in the corner chatting away now for over an hour, and the store was about to close. She still had to finish Mulia’s order, a grab bag collection of baked treats that Pinkie had insisted be fresh out of the oven for her baker friend; and she still was frosting the second batch of the love muffins for Matilda.

That was the tricky part about magic muffins, you couldn’t bake too many at once. Something might explode. The last time she had an exploded magic muffin, it had put the Cake’s shop out for a whole day while they cleaned up batter and ectoplasm.

Not to mention the hospital bill.

But that was then. This was now! And now, her friends needed her to finish making their orders so they could go to sleep. Mulia had insisted on pre-baked off the shelf goodies so as not to put Pinkie out, but Pinkie had determined, and then loudly announced, that Mulia would be getting fresh baked goods.

And now Mulia was stuck staying late at Sugar Cube corner. Which wasn’t something Pinkie had thought about then, but was something she was thinking about now. Along with the expired love potion. She hadn’t gotten a refill from Zecora in a while, so it was past due. It had turned pink instead of red, but Pinkie was sure that was fine. It was probably a good sign. She used a little extra just in case it had lost some potency. After all, pink was her favorite color so there was no way it could be bad! She put pink in everything!

Wait, which one was she frosting again? Eh, they all got some of her special pink frosting tonight. It was for friends after all!

At least Matilda had known she’d be here late. Pinkie had offered to give her the first batch so she could race home and feed them to Cranky and then have fun fun happy times with him, but Matilda had said she’d wait.

She’d wait!

Why had the jenny offered to wait? Pinkie could see how anxious she was. So Pinkie worked faster! Her friends must not wait too late! It was already past the hour, past the evening, and into the night! Cranky might already be asleep, which would be super sad, but at least he’d be warm and cozy and Matilda would have the muffins for later.

How many muffins went into Matilda’s box? She’d ordered a bakers dozen, so that’s thirteen, but somehow Pinkie was counting twice that. She didn’t bake double the amount of magic muffins, that wasn’t possible. It was hard to tell because she’d frosted them all pink.

Why had she done that? She used to put little hearts on them so everypony could see which one was which. Wait, no. Twilight might find out if she put hearts on them. No hearts. That was the rule.

Pinkie glanced nervously from side to side. This wasn’t illegal.

Not exactly.

She shrugged, closing the box. Wait, was this Mulia’s box, or Matilda’s?

She opened the box and peeked back inside, just to be sure. Oh yeah! Matilda’s was still getting finished. This couldn’t be hers. That was why there were so many. But, uh, she sure used a lot of pink frosting on everything tonight…

Pinkie nervously looked at her muffins. She was pretty sure they were Mulia’s.

She looked up at the two mares, and they were busily chatting and laughing away. They seemed happy. It looked like her Pinkie sense was right. They would make super duper good friends!

She closed the box, forgetting why she even opened it in the first place. Oh! It was late. She needed to get this order done. Sometimes she got forgetful when she was tired.

The mares laughed again, and Pinkie blinked. The world grew fuzzy and then she was giving them their boxes. Was it all done? She didn’t remember finishing.

“Here you go! Two beautiful orders for two beautiful mares. And one set of instructions for you, Matilda! Just in case.” She hoped her smile was big enough. It had to be big enough.

Mulia took her box and peaked inside. “Oh, these look lovely, Pinkie. Thank you. I might end up eating them all at the train station tonight.”

Matilda looked up from her own box and sideways at Mulia. “The train station?”

Pinkie smiled wider. Maybe they wouldn’t…

Mulia laughed. “It’s the funniest thing. I didn’t think the evening through at all and visited on an impulse. No plans to speak of, and it’s far too late to get a train anywhere. I suppose I should get a hotel room. Do you know a nice one?”

Pinkie chirped up, hoping they didn’t notice. “Oh! There’s the Ponyville inn. But I don’t think they’re open this late. They don’t like late check-ins. I’d invite you to stay, but the Cakes don’t let me have guests after, uh, the dangerous thing.”

Both Mulia and Matilda looked at her. Matilda narrowed her eyes slightly, and Pinkie felt them staring.

Smile wider.

Mulia frowned. “What was the thing?”

Smile wider. “Eh, well, it’s, uh… Oh dear, it’s getting late. Matilda, you have a guest room, don’t you?”

Pinkie was surprised at the flash of frustration on Matilda’s face. Weren’t they all friends? Had Matilda seen? Did she know? Smile wider.

The anger on the jenny’s face melted into a warm smile as Matilda turned to Mulia. “Of course; I was about to say as much. Mulia, please. Don’t stay at the station, and don’t bother trying to get a hotel. I can set you up for the night.”

Mulia seemed relieved. That was good. Pinkie liked when her friends were relieved. Hopefully they would both be relieved when the… wait. She needed to keep smiling.

The mares looked at each other, and Mulia sighed. “I’m not in a position to say no, but I certainly don’t wish to impose.”

Matilda waved her hoof. “Oh, it’s no trouble at all. My husband is probably already asleep anyways. I’ll just sneak you into the guest room. It’s already prepared for company, just in case of emergencies like this.”

Pinkie waved goodbye and gently, or rather forcefully and violently, ushered them out the door.

The door closed. She was alone. She turned the sign, and closed the lock. There was a click.

She breathed a sigh of relief, and finally after a whole day of smiling… she smiled even wider.

Pinkie knew something they didn’t. Her smile faltered.

No, wait. She should probably tell them that. Her eyes drifted to the sign. Nope. The shop was closed. Oh well. Sometimes you do a favor for a friend, and sometimes you maybe dose them with a double amount of expired love potion.

Pinkie shrugged, deciding that they’ll be fine. There’s no way it could be as bad as last time!

Mulia stood awkwardly in the kitchen. Matilda had a lovely little house. The jenny had ran off to double check the guest room while Mulia had been left in the kitchen. The counter was nice. Not good for baking, there wasn’t nearly enough room to properly prepare a pastry, but it was a good space to prepare a dinner for two.

Her eyes wandered to the box of pastries she’d ordered. It was a little late to eat, but they all looked so delicious. And the best bakes were fresh, of course.

Her eyes twinkled. She didn’t became a baker because she had good self control, and she hardly would have devoted herself to a life of pastry making if she didn’t like pastries. One or two wouldn’t hurt… and she should probably offer one to Matilda.

Excited, she reached in the box and pulled out a pink smeared cupcake. It was hardly the most refined thing in the box, and the frosting job was hasty at best, and sloppy at worst, but it still had an aura around it. Something that called out to her.

The door opened, and her eyes drifted to see Matilda’s husband walk into the room. Their eyes met.

It was him. He was the jack she’d been so rude to on the train.

Her eyes went wide and she stuttered. “I… It’s… Uh…”

The jack stared back, this time certainly not ignoring her.

Matilda stepped in. “The room is fine, Mulia. Oh, Doodle! I thought you’d be asleep. This is Mulia! We met at Sugar Cube Corner, and she needs a place to sleep for the night so I offered our guest room. I know you don’t like unannounced guests, but she didn’t have a room and Pinkie asked if we’d mind. And I know we both owe Pinkie so much…”

Doodle frowned at Mulia, looked at Matilda and smiled, then back at Mulia with a frown again. “Hmph.”

Mulia’s heart was racing. Her face was burning with embarrassment. She didn’t know what to do. Awkwardly she held the cupcake out as some sort of emergency peace offering. “Uh… cupcake?”

He raised an eyebrow, then swiped the cupcake from her. He glared as he took a bite. “Names Cranky. Not cupcake, and not Doodle. Only Matilda gets to call me Doodle.”

Mulia felt like she was going to die.

Matilda scoffed. “Doodle! Don’t be like that! She’s our guest. I know you don’t like strangers, but she’s my friend. The least you can do is be polite.”

Cranky laughed, almost cruelly. “Oh, I suppose I can be polite, darlin. You know I’d do anything for you.”

Matilda smiled, leaning in and taking a nibble from Cranky’s cupcake. “Thank you. Oh, this is good. Which one is this, Mulia? I’ll have to order it next time.”

Mulia’s mouth was dry. Cranky was watching her. He seemed to be gloating somehow, but he wasn’t saying anything.

She mumbled to Matilda, “A, uh, pink lady cupcake.”

Matilda raised an eyebrow. “Huh. I think it tastes more like a muffin. It’s more… heavy than I’d think a cupcake would be. Delicious, though.”

Nervously she reached into the box and grabbed one for herself, noting that it was covered in the same pink frosting as everything else. She didn’t even look at it as she put it into her mouth, hoping the sweetness would shock her.

She took a dry swallow of it. It was delicious, but something was off. She nervously glanced at Cranky, who was still slowly chewing his bite. “I think you’re right. It’s definitely a muffin. I don’t think Pinkie would mislabel it. It does feel far too sweet to be a muffin, though. Maybe it’s a hybrid.”

She paused when she said that, forgetting the awkward stare from Cranky, and wondering if she’d just said something even more awkward.

Cranky shrugged, leaning into Matilda. “I don’t like cupcakes. Too fluffy. This isn’t a cupcake, though. Whatever it is, it’s good.”

Mulia wasn’t sure how to respond.

Matilda came over and pressed into Mulia’s side. “Are you okay? You seem a little nervous.”

Mulia took another bite. She didn’t say anything, instead just feeling Matilda press into her side reassuringly. Her voice was a whisper. “Thank… you.”

Cranky sighed, seemingly deflating. His words were short, but softer than they were before. “Mulia. I know what it’s like to be an ass. It’s fine.” He walked to the other side of her, and awkwardly leaned into her side, mirroring his wife in reassuring her.

Mulia felt strangely soothed by this, although it was a bit odd for a jack she just met to be getting so close to her. Not that she minded. In fact, the sensation of being sandwiched between the married couple was strangely freeing.

For once, she wasn’t worried about being… her. She was just here. Feeling the warmth of two close donkeys pressing up on her and comforting her. No hostility. No fake airs. No anything. Just warmth.

Just love.

Mulia lowered her head, feeling oddly emotional. “I… You… I just met… thank you.”

Cranky didn’t say anything. Matilda pressed into her side harder. “You are very welcome. I…”

Suddenly Matilda took a step away, causing Mulia and Cranky to stumble slightly sideways. She looked at Mulia with a strange panic. “Wait… You said it was a muffin?”

Mulia leaned sharply into Cranky, who was gently nibbling on her neck. This was nice. She’d never done anything like this.

“Mhmm… Not a cupcake, that’s for sure. Definitely a muffin. Just… too sweet. Far, far too sweet…” She felt kind of dizzy, but it was warm and nice. And Cranky was so much warmer.

Should she be concerned about the nibbling? She’d never been nibbled before. Honestly, she’d never been this close with another creature before. Certainly not a nice, big, stoic, forgiving, loving, wonderful donkey like Cranky. Maybe nibbling was normal.

Oh.

Well, it was normal now. She smiled happily.

Matilda just whispered. “Oh… oh shit.”

Cranky’s nibbles were electric, and the warmth from him was so strange and different. Mulia had never felt like this. Something about the way he was touching her, feeling her, made her feel giddy. She’d never felt so welcome and so known.

Matilda was looking at some of the pastries for some reason, her face flushed. “Umm… guys… I, uh, don’t think those were the pink lady cupcakes.”

Cranky blew on Mulia’s ear. “I don’t like cupcakes, Darlin. I do like… those… hmm…” he lost track of what he was saying as he started to lick Mulia’s ear.

Mulia shivered, finding herself delighted at the warm sensation of Cranky’s surprisingly long tongue. She let out a soft moan, finding herself pawing at the floor with her hoof and whipping her tail from side to side.

She shivered, but deep down she knew something was wrong. This wasn’t right.

No… She had started off with two donkeys.

Her eyes drifted over to Matilda, who had a growing look of concern on her face. “Matilda… Why are you all the way over there?”

Matilda swallowed, her eyes locking on Mulia. “We just met… This isn’t… oh no. Is this my fault?”

Mulia giggled as Cranky’s hoof climbed up her neck as well. He was getting more hooves on. Mulia was liking hooves on. “You should really come over here, Matilda. Cranky is… surprisingly loving.”

Matilda bit her lips, frozen watching as Cranky’s hooves trailed through Mulia’s hair, and then shook her head. “No, there’s a paper here somewhere… Pinkie gave me a… um… instructions…”

Cranky used his hoof to pull himself up on Mulia’s back. Oh… that was very forward of him. She briefly wondered if she should be concerned, but as his weight settled down on her, she felt a strange peace. A warmth and satisfaction settled in her as the back of her mind quickly and happily decided that this was happening.

Right here, right now. She’d never done anything like this before, but it all felt so right!

Except the missing jenny. Mulia took a deep breath. “Matilda… Your husband is on my back and I think things are moving a little fast, and that’s fine, but I’d be more fine if you were moving fast with us.”

Matilda was staring at a piece of parchment paper. “I can’t read this! It’s written in frosting! And it’s a mess.”

Mulia felt Cranky put his hooves around her neck. That was possessive of him. It felt nice being held, knowing that he wanted her. She shivered, letting his hooves hug her tight. “Just… bring it here. Maybe I can read it…”

She had absolutely no intention of reading it.

Matilda walked over, holding the parchment forward. Her eyes were glazed and her face was flushed. She was desperately trying not to watch as Cranky swung his back leg over Mulia’s haunches.

Mulia startled as she felt him really settle his weight on her back. Oh my. That was wasn’t a leg.

Matilda closed her eyes with a blush. “Cranky, Mulia, we have to stop! I think this is…”

Mulia interrupted her by pulling her close and kissing her. There were some advantages to being a mule after all. Specifically, Mulia’s larger size and stronger build made it easy to hold Matilda. Matilda looked away shyly, but didn’t resist as Mulia pulled her close.

“Kiss me.” Mulia felt almost as shocked with how easy it was to say the words as with how quickly Matilda complied.

The jenny didn’t even hesitate to press her lips into Mulia’s, and Mulia found herself sandwiched between Cranky’s fifth leg and Matilda’s face.

Now everything was as it should be. Her two lovers locked with her, sharing an intimate moment; an experience that would frame their relationship moving forward. Mulia shuddered as her tail flagged helpfully to the side for Cranky’s access. She shivered deep inside as she settled happily on the fact that their relationship would be moving forward.

Cranky leaned down and muttered in her ear, “Looks like I have a little more than a chance.”

Mulia didn’t respond, she was too buys exploring Matilda’s mouth with her own. Matilda still tasted like frosting. How cute. The parchment paper fell to the floor and Mulia lowered her head, pulling out of the kiss to look down at it. She felt Cranky shift, and he leaned over her back to kiss Matilda as well.

Mulia sighed. She’d never felt so warm and loved. Her two most important somecreatures were wrapped around her, next to her, on top of her, and soon to be inside of her. She smiled drunkenly as her eyes settled on the paper. It was a recipe in baking notation. How odd.

Absentmindedly she felt Cranky and Matilda making out more furiously, and Cranky’s hips pressed gently forward.

Oh… That was new sensation. Mulia’s ears perked up as Cranky pressed his cock against her outer pussy lips. She liked that a lot.

Her eyes focused on the recipe again as she couldn’t help but read it.

One per pony.

One per day.

No more. No sharing.

24 hours in the oven for a new love

24 hours cooling to finish.

The last line wasn’t baker notation, just sloppy handwriting. “Do Not Share! In case of accident, antidote is pink.”

Mulia laughed. It was utter nonsense. “Matilda, what is this paper? It says the antidote is pink.”

Matilda took a step back, and wiped her face, seemingly dizzy. Cranky cackled happily. “Oh… don’t worry about that, Mulia. I’m not about to do better, but I am about to do a mule.”

Matilda shook her head. “Wait, Doodle! I’m… something… pink ones? I’ll get some.”

Mulia watched as Matilda reached into the nearest box, which happened to be Mulia’s, and grabbed a handful of random baked goods—all pink. The three of them looked at the pastries in confusion.

“Matilda, darling, I loved the pastries but Cranky is about to make me a jelly filled jenny. I’m a little to distracted for a snack; unless it’s you.”

Matilda seemed confused. “Pink?”

Cranky grunted, and Mulia felt him rubbing his cock head up and down her flexing lips. The sensation of skin on skin was erotic, to say the least, and not something she’d considered before. She was considering it intently as her clitoris began to wink. It usually only did this when she was in heat. She wasn’t in heat right now, she was just that horny. She was pretty sure at least. Although, now that she was thinking about this… this had moved a little fast. She had just met these donkeys.

What was she doing?

A moment of clarity rushed through her, only to be completely and utterly destroyed as Matilda pressed her lips to Mulia’s once again. Mulia shivered in ecstasy, satisfied that her jenny was here again. Even more surprising was the muffin bite that Matilda was pushing into Mulia’s mouth.

It was an odd sensation. Mulia had never taken a pastry directly from another mare’s mouth. It was soaked in Matilda’s spit, and an hour ago she might have been thoroughly disgusted at the sensation of wet muffin being pushed into her throat.

Now, though, she relished it because it was soaked in Matilda’s spit. Mulia dutifully swallowed it, feeling the thick lump slide down her throat.

Cranky slid forward, and Mulia was filled in more ways then one.

He wasn’t gentle, but he didn’t have to be. Mulia was ready for him. Cranky slid in, the textured sensation gliding through her spreading lower lips as he speared into her. She moaned into Matilda’s mouth as the jack did what jacks do.

And Mulia, at least for the moment, was doing what jennies did with jacks.

His cock was wide and deep, causing her to squeeze it reflexively. He moaned into her ear even as she moaned into Matilda. With each moan, Matilda pressed back, thrusting her tongue into Mulia’s throat.

It was surreal. Three hours ago she’d been sad and alone at a train station. Now she was the moaning lettuce in a grunting donkey sandwich.

This was truly hospitality.

Mulia felt a warmth emanating from her stomach. The muffin was making her tingly. Or maybe his cock was making her tingly. Or maybe it was Matilda’s tongue. Or Cranky’s hooves wrapped lovingly around her neck.

He was so rough, but also so gentle. She felt like she loved him even more, her eyes boring into Matilda. She also loved Matilda so much.

She’d never loved anything this much. She’d never felt this completely and utterly satisfied and fulfilled before. It was like she’d just discovered that she’d been living her whole life with a hole in her body, and these two donkeys filled it so entirely that she felt like she might burst out in song.

Love seemed to cascade through her like she was a divine conduit for Princes Cadance herself.

Matilda was also more aggressive, her eyes fluttering as she continued to claim everything inside of Mulia’s mouth as her own.

Mulia had never felt so alive and so wonderful.

Cranky pressed into her, and grunted and a warm wet sensation filled deep inside of her, causing everything to tingle. Mulia shuddered in time with Cranky’s thrusts as he spurt directly into the depths of her womb.

She practically cried in joy as her pussy milked the cum out of one of the two loves of her life. While the other had her tongue shoved halfway down Mulia’s throat.

Every other moment in her life, she’d been half pony and half donkey. Now, Cranky and Matilda had claimed her and she was a jenny, not a mare. She was physically more donkey than she’d ever been before.

And she loved it.

Cranky laid back in bed as both his jennies licked and slobbered all over his soft cock and each other. He wanted to keep going, but there was a physical and functional limit to how many times he could cum in a night, and Mulia had drained him dry over several orgasms, then Matilda had done it all over again.

He chuckled with a primal satisfaction as he grabbed Mulia’s love drunk face in his hooves watching her happily stick her slimy tongue lewdly out for his amusement. She was covered in his cum, and her insides were marinating in it.

Matilda was no better, her tongue wiping a sticky mess around his exhausted balls. They’d been thinking about trying for a foal, but after tonight he’d be surprised if she wasn’t pregnant. Mulia might be as well, for all he knew.

He should be more bothered by that, but somehow he wasn’t. Instead he was so very pleased with himself.

They’d been up all night. He wasn’t sure why, but Matilda kept feeding them pastries, mumbling something about pink each time. He wasn’t a fan of the sweets, but he’d do anything for his beautiful wife, and now he was almost as devoted to this wonderful mule.

Cranky smiled, holding her face. “What’s my name, Mulia?”

Mulia practically gurgled with joy. “Cranky.”

He licked his lips. “No, not after what I did to you. What’s my real name, Mulia? What are you going to call me from here on out?”

She shivered in his hooves as Matilda moved from sucking on his ballsack to her throat. Mulia’s voice was low and throaty, her eyes filled with a wonderful sheen. “You’re Doodle. You’re my Doodle.”

Matilda chimed in, pressing Mulia down and to the side as she aggressively pinned the other jenny into the mattress. “He’s our Doodle.”

Mulia smiled, wrapping her hooves around Matilda. “Our Doodle. And your our Matilda.”

Cranky smiled, leaning back to watch his jennies play with each other. “And you’re our Mulia.”

Matilda chimed in, “Our Mulia…” and sunk her lips into Mulia’s.

The soft sound of the bellflowers he’d attached to the bed rang all throughout the night, and each of them loved every second of the home made music.

Pinkie sat in the room with Twilight staring at her. Twilight was frowning. She didn’t like it when her friends frowned. “I told you, I didn’t sell them.”

Twilight kept frowning. “Then how did all three of them get the equivalent of two doses of love potion each?”

Pinkie rolled her eyes. “How was I supposed to know it got more potent over time? I don’t know anything about potions!”

Twilight’s eye twitched. “And you wrote the safety rules in frosting?”

“I was in a hurry! It was late, and you know I start to make mistakes when I get tired, so I was trying to make sure they were gone before I slipped up and…”

“No excuses, Pinkie. This is just like last time.”

Pinkie huffed. “It is not! Only one of them got pregnant this time, and she’s even the married one!”

Twilight sighed. “Well, all three are getting married now. Thanks to you.”

“I’m going to consider this a success.”

“Pinkie, you can’t sell love potion pastries! What if some creature got hurt?”

“Aww, no one got hurt. Matilda asked for them, Mulia really needed to let off some steam, and Cranky is living the high, if somewhat tired, life now. Everybody is happy, and my friends are even happier than they were before!”

“I just can’t believe this! I can’t believe you did it again! I can’t believe Zecora is still selling you love potions, somehow. How are you even getting her to sell them?”

Pinkie put a hoof on her friend’s shoulder. “Look, Twilight, buddy, pal. Just relax. Zecora and I have a deal. No selling involved. It’s a free barter economy, we don’t buy or sell things. We share them.”

Twilight’s face turned red. “No it is not! It’s a planned dirigist economy, with a palace regulatory system wherein I am the palace. And I said no more love muffins!”

Pinkie mumbled. “You and your fancy words. Those aren’t even real. A dirigible is a balloon, and trust me, I know all about balloons.”

Twilight covered her face. “You’re about to know all about prisons real soon.”

Pinkie sighed, then shrugged. “Look, Twilight. I know you said no selling, but I really didn’t sell them. And Matilda needed them. I always know what my friends need. Here, try this, you’ll feel better.”

The cookie was covered in sticky pink frosting. Twilight took it, and gave it a sniff. Seemingly satisfied, she took a nibble. “This is… really good. And I didn’t detect any love potion.”

Pinkie laughed. “Of course not, silly. That one just has old fashioned sugar, flour, and love. No magic involved. Now do you feel better?”

Twilight crunched down and finished the cookie. Pinkie immediately gave her another, causing Twilight to deflate slightly. “I guess so. But I can’t just let you keep doing this, Pinkie.”

“Okay, so lets skip to the fun part.”

“The fun part? Pinkie, I’m trying to figure out how to sentence you. Nothing about this is fun.” Twilight took a bite out of the second cookie.

“Yes, but I’m trying to figure out how much of a bribe it will take to make this go away.”

Twilight sighed, “You can’t bribe me, Pinkie.”

Pinkie snorted. “My limited edition, triple bound, author signed copy of Daring Do and the desperate dungeon says otherwise.”

Twilight’s mouth went dry, the cookie suddenly feeling uncomfortably heavy in her throat. “That book never made it to print.”

Pinkie held up a small, book shaped cookie, and smiled. “Didn’t it, Twilight?”

Twilight gulped again.

Pinkie had to smile wide. That way, they could never see.

Author's Note

Did you know? I couldn't find a Mulia Mild character tag!