Harvesting season has just started and Applejack and her little sister, Applebloom, were selling their world-famous apple goods, including apple pie, apple tarts, apple jam, and others. Lines stretched up to miles. Everypony was waiting anxiously for their taste of good-quality food. But, Applejack notices that the ponies were not as happy as they normally looked. Applejack wondered what the problem was. Was the food not ripe? Did she pick it too fast? Is it not clean enough? She asked what the problem was.
"Why are ya'll so down in th' dumps?"
"Huh? Oh. No, there's no problem!"
"Are ya sure?"
"Ya, we're sure!"
She knew that wasn't the truth. The pony tried to keep a straight face, but did a bad job of it.
"C'mon. Ah know you're lyin'. Jus' tell me."
"Fine. It's just that, well, this food just gets a little old, that's all."
"Old? Is it rotten?"
"That's not what I mean. I mean that this food isn't that exciting to eat, you know?"
"Oh. Ah'm sorry, ya'll. But it's a family tradition to make this here food. Ah can't jus' change it."
The next day...
Applejack fell asleep late last night. The fact that everypony thinks the food being old has haunted her for several hours. But then, a strange smell passes by. It's food, but not like any she has ever made. She throws off the covers and gallops downstairs. Applebloom was eating a pie, but the inside was a odd, dark orange color.
"Applebloom, what in tarnation are ya eatin'?"
"Sis!?"
Applebloom quickly hid the pie underneath the table.
"What was that?"
"What was what?"
"That pie that ya threw under th' table."
"What pie?"
"Don't play dumb wit' me, sis."
*sigh* "It was a pumpkin pie. Ah'm so sorry sis! Ah just got so tired of them apples! Ah wanted to try something new fer a change!"
"Ah can never be angry at you, sis. Where did you get this pie anyhow? Did you make this?"
"No. A new pony came to town. She sells pumpkin pies. There were so many ponies waiting in line. You would not believe it."
"Where is this 'new pony'?"
"She has a stand next to the bakery at Sugarcube Sugar corner."
"Ah'm gonna go pay 'er a visit. Wanna come?"
"Nah. Ah'm good." Applebloom continued with her pie.
Twilight and the rest of her friends (besides Applejack) was waiting in line to try out the all new food.
"Wow. I can't believe how good this pie tastes."
"Do you think Applejack will mind us eating this?" said Fluttershy.
"Lighten up, Fluttershy. I'm sure she won't mind." replied Rainbow.
As if on cue, Applejack appeared. Everypony stopped and stared.
Spike whispered, "Well. This is awkward."
Applejack did nothing as well.
"What? Do I have sumthin' in mah teeth?"
Everypony remained quiet. Suddenly, behind the crowd came a voice.
"Hey! What's goin' on?"
A earth pony with a lemon-lime colored mane, yellow fur, and green eyes came out. She was wearing a light-pink and white striped bandanna on her head. Applejack shuddered at the sight of her new competition.
"Uh... Howdy! Ah'm Applejack! You?"
"My name is Crumbs. Nice to meet ya."
"Sure... So. Yer a farmer too?"
"Yup. Ya know, I think I heard 'o you in th' papers. Yer the element of honesty, right?"
The conversation became more and more awkward at the minute.
"And th' best baker in Equestria."
"Oh really? I doubt that."
"Are you sayin' I'm lyin'?"
"Pretty much."
"Ah'm the element of honesty, for pony's sake!"
"Well, there's only one way to find out who's the best baker in Equestria."
"The Annual Equestrian Bake Off."
"Eyup."
"But ah can't. Applebuck Season is almost here! Big Macintosh and ah need to get ready!"
Applejack began to walk away when Crumbs said something that caught her attention.
"Aw. Scared that you're not th' best baker in Equestria?"
That hit Applejack hard. She slowly turned around. Anger was fueling her emotions. She couldn't hold it in.
"What in tarnation did you just say?"
"Scared?"
Applejack zipped right in front of Crumbs and held out her hoof.
"You got yerself a challenge."
"Great."
They both spat into their hooves and shook.
"Ah'll see ya at the cook off."
"Wouldn't miss it for th' world."
