The Monkey's Paw

Chapters

Letters and Words :Dapples:
In Defence of the Acre :Arcel-Windwing:
So Sweet and Tasty! :KilroyJenkins:

Letters and Words :Dapples:

A request from one Doctor Dapples.

"I don't need a story as long as 5000 words. I'd be happy with a cute little one-shot about something as simple as Twilight having tea (or coffee?) with Luna for the first time."

If you take away this foreword, this chapter is actually exactly 5000 words long.

It had happened unexpectedly, so much so that the lavender unicorn had quite the morning dealing with the adverse effects of mail flaming up while the delivery service slept soundly under the covers.

After dealing with the fire hazard and replacing the small dragon's blanket for the second time in a month, Twilight Sparkle had received a letter from the Princess. However, it was unlike any letter before it - the paper was tinted a pale blue, and the insignia bore the sign of the moon, which was modeled after the cutie mark of the Caretaker of the Night. The unicorn stared at the document, rolled up and placed carefully on her bed, for a solid half an hour, beads of sweat threatening to drench the poor pony as her horn refused to break the seal containing the words underneath.

What would it say? What could it say? Twilight had helped save the poor sister of Celestia, sure, and Equestria had welcomed the Princess with open arms. She seemed happy. She seemed fine. Surely everything would be okay.

Right?

Right. Twilight nodded in the affirmative and stood up on her four legs, approaching the document. Giving it her own version of 'The Stare', the egghead lifted the scroll up with her magic and brought it to her eyes and stared at the seal. She would read it and she would respond with haste. A letter from the Princess was important! It could be some royal duty! Celestia might be sick! Bedridden, even! Too weak to write a letter!

The immortal sun goddess. Bedridden. Shaking her head at the sheer absurdity, the unicorn dropped the paper on the edge of the bed. The paper would hold until after breakfast. She was up earlier than usual, it was just a little after dawn, it seemed. The morning dew was slight coming from the chilled air outside and the songbirds outside were slowly coming out of their slumber. Enjoying the birdsong for a moment, the unicorn made way for the kitchen, her mind musing on what she would do today.

I promised Applejack I would help sort out some of the financial details at the farm - apparently Granny Smith miscalculated something. It doesn't need to be done now but I'm sure she'll be grateful. And Rarity needed me to model some unicorn headwear for her - that'll be important for business! Oh and Dash … Twilight continued her mental examination of her day's events, specifically tripping over the idea of the letter that stayed on her bed.

Heading downstairs, the mare found herself with a meal part-way through preparation, her little assistant/brother Spike surprised that she had stayed up. Twilight explained that she had things to take care of, and left it at that, instead opting to help the dragon with breakfast. The addition of the factual unicorn's help in the meal wasn't lost on it, and the amateur chefs soon produced a by-the-book recipe, fit for consumption by both pony and dragon.

The two chatted lightly over the course of their meal, Spike gearing the conversation toward Rarity more as Twilight brought up the stylish unicorn's need for a model to give her an outside view of how a horn would look with a hat. Spike attempted multiple times to steer the conversation to the letter, his interest in the blue parchment mounting, but Twilight skillfully avoided such questions, instead opting to speak more of Rarity.

She spoke of the unicorn's curls, her flawless tail, and those piercing eyes. She played the white unicorn up so much that dragon drooled over his meal. As she continued, her voice got fainter and fainter, the lavender mare walking slowly out of the room as Spike started to daydream about his lovely gem.

Exhaling softly, Twilight was glad to see Owlicious had fallen asleep on his perch. She didn't need another assistant dogging her with questions about some silly piece of paper. She'd get around to it. Eventually. There was just so much that needed doing. Her friends needed her help - the Princess would understand, of course. These were the girls who saved her from her entrapment. The Elements of Harmony. And right now, they needed her help!

Leaving the Library, Twilight Sparkle strode out into the morning light. She really did love the morning, even if she normally slept through it. The soft pale blues and the delicate touch of the dew covered grass made an early morning romp renewing and refreshing. Musing that most anypony would be asleep at this hour, Twilight trotted off toward the one home she knew would be up and working - the Apple Family out at Sweet Apple Acres.

The trot there was uneventful enough - the rolling green hills and cloudy blue sky the only company she kept for the whole trip. However, as she made her way alongside the fence, she could see some of the hardworking stallions in the field, bucking apples and checking the health of some of the trees to make sure any disease would be dealt with before it spread. She counted off some of the workers as she took a moment to watch the ponies. Caramel... Crisp... and there's Big MacIntosh. The large red pony could be seen further than the others, and yet still was a head over any normal colt from her distance.

Between the workers, Winona made her way through their legs, followed by an energetic and playful AppleBloom, her red bow tickling some of the undersides of the stallions as she ran underneath them, the filly intent on catching her dog. Twilight could hear the youngest in the Apple clan in her head now. Cutie Mark Crusader Dogcatchers! Giggling lightly to herself, the unicorn detached herself from the scene, soon moving on to the the farm proper.

Meeting up with Applejack was easy enough. As soon as Twilight made for the front door did the orange mare come out to greet her. Pleasantries were exchanged as Twilight asked about the expenses, Applejack explaining she had actually gotten the paperwork sorted the day before, and awaited the unicorn's skill of organization to find the discrepancy. The farmfilly expressed surprise toward the purple pony, having not expected Twilight to come by for at least a few more days. Twilight merely waived it off, expressing her duty to her friends. As she did, however, a small feeling at the pit of her stomach pulled at her.

Applejack thanked her kindly for her help. Regardless, there was still a lot of work to do at the farm, and she couldn't stand around and yammer on with her friend as much as she wanted. The lavender mare understood completely, and quickly set inside, meeting with the grandmother mare as the two went to sort out the paperwork.

It only took Twilight an hour and a half, but she had found two separate invoices from a local fertilizer establishment that claimed payment for the same cartel of supplies, and quickly set to work fixing the mistake. Checking with Applejack, the orange Earth pony suggested the likelihood that both she and Big MacIntosh had paid for it separately, and some issue at the wholesaler must of missed the part where they paid twice. Twilight mentioned she was happy enough to help, and left the Apple clan to deal with the rest, rest assured in knowing that they had quite of bit of money coming their way they hadn't accounted for. As she turned to leave, Applejack called her over real quick.

She asked about why she had come so early. The pony wasn't daft - Twilight was a night owl with a literal night owl - the morning wasn't something she was up and raring to go for. Laughing it off, the unicorn explained she had a letter from the Princess come in, and that had simply given her enough of a rush in the morning to see her up and about. Applejack questioned about the contents of the letter, but Twilight told her nothing was to be worried about. Mumbling something about the time, Celestia's pupil stated she really had to go, as she wanted to help Rarity out before the 'big noon rush', and galloped off for Ponyville, a suspicious emerald eye tracking her as she left the farm.

Coming down to a simple trot as soon as she left the eyesight of her hardworking friend, Twilight cast a nervous glance back toward the farm. She didn't lie to Applejack, she just didn't tell her everything. Like how the letter was still on the bed. Or how she didn't open it. She was going to. Eventually. She just had things to do. Obligations. She had to study the Magic of Friendship, and that meant helping them when they needed help!

Coming up on the fanciful building, Carousal Boutique looked beautiful even from it's less seen side, the unicorn walking around from the back of the circular enclosure. Rapping gently on the door, Twilight waited patiently for the other unicorn inside to let her in. However, despite some rumblings and a dark, brooding threat toward anypony who dare swing by her Boutique so early, the hip and trending unicorn's tune changed immediately upon sight of her dear friend.

Greeting the fellow unicorn with her usual stressing of words and trademark pet names, Rarity invited her friend inside, positively surprised to see Twilight in so early. She hadn't expected the unicorn's assistance for a couple days, at the least. Still, it may have been because Twilight was becoming more interested in the fashion world, or that she was simply looking for something to brighten up her otherwise drab attire. Twilight would of taken offense to this, but she honestly had no clothes to wear outside of her gala dress, the younger mare having done away with the old dress she had initially asked to fix up. Thus, Rarity carried on about her fashions for a good hour before the two set to work with the various headdresses.

Twilight likened the experience to that of a fashion show where she was the only model. Running back and forth between hats before invariably being stopped by Rarity to add some appropriate dress to the ensemble to better 'complete' a piece. Still, it was nice to not have her horn poking at a hat from the inside, or being pushed on by some heavy brim. She mused about why horn fashion was less than it was, and Rarity let her know that such fashions wax and wane with time, and now they were making a comeback. When asked why, Rarity mentioned that the biggest news these days was the return of the sister of Celestia, who sported quite a horn, like her sister.

Twilight felt the well in her stomach widen at the mention of the Mare who once dwelled on the Moon. Rarity, privy to the smallest changes in demeanor, quickly grilled her friend for information on what was troubling her. Instead, the unicorn waived it off, relenting about keeping another one of her friends waiting should she be much longer. Somewhat satisfied with the answer, Rarity disrobed her friend and thanked Twilight for her help, citing that she had so much more to work with now.

As the unicorn left the Boutique, she couldn't help but think of the letter now. The Princess was big news, and it wasn't right to keep her waiting, that's for sure. Still, the noontide sun shone brightly overhead, and Twilight couldn't help but draw the conclusion that the Princess might be asleep now. Yes, that was simply it - no need to rush and get things done, The Princess of the Night would surely be snoozing after a long summer night.

Trotting along the summer's day, Twilight Sparkle headed off toward an open field, one where she would often see her friend Rainbow Dash practising tricks for her entrance exam into the Wonderbolts. Approaching the center of the grassy expanse, Twilight couldn't help but notice a lack of clouds, and a lack of pegasus. Frowning slightly, the unicorn hesitantly made her way out of the field, only to be staring into the rose colored eyes of the cyan mare as she turned her head.

Jumping back in surprise, the purple pony shrieked slightly as the cyan pegasus laughed her head off at her friend, claiming another successful prank on the studious unicorn. As the embarrassed filly steadied her hooves, the rainbow-maned pegasus prodded her side playfully. Twilight smiled weakly at her friend, guessing that Dash felt that she was a big enough pony to prank hard on, which she guessed was a way of showing her endearment to her friends.

The two chatted for a little while, Dash taking breaks in the conversation to take off into the sky as she showboated to Twilight her new tricks. As the unicorn continued on about any old subject, a system of words or a phrase taken out of context would galvanize the cyan mare into action, a new trick idea buzzing in her head, that would often end in disaster or a close shave. It wasn't long at all before Twilight nervously started to hesitate speaking, for fear of coming up with some sort of string of words that might send her friend into an early grave.

Soon, however, Dash started to ask about Twilight's day, which she was more than capable in informing. She skipped the letter in her rundown, her mind taking second nature in ignoring the pastel blue document. However, Dash seemed impressed by the unicorn's work ethic, wondering aloud just what prompted the early start. Twilight laughed nervously, offering this and that and some other things as explanations. The pit in her stomach grew as she spoke to the Element of Loyalty, and the more she spoke, the more that pit tugged at her. She didn't like it.

Rainbow Dash attempted to get Twilight's attention back toward tricks, but the purple pony felt she had little more to offer her friend, citing a need to go see their friend Pinkie Pie at the bakery across town. Dash expressed her own interest in accompanying Twilight, but she refused, goading Dash's ego as she mentioned that the last trick looked really awesome, and that she should try and practice it a bit more. The pegasus took the bait, brushing her hoof on her chest with pride as she guessed she could give the move a couple more tries. Twilight fed the ego a little more, and soon Dash was airborne again, taking off to the skies as she went in search of a cloud to use for the trick.

Twilight sighed with relief, leaving the field in a slow walk. She really didn't have much on the agenda to meet with Pinkie Pie, but a low grumble from her stomach told her that she might as well stop by to see what there was. Plodding along through town, Twilight took in the sights around her. AppleBloom and her friends were laughing and playing, their red caps strewn about their necks as they chased a lone bunny that had happened to wander into Ponyville. AppleBloom was beating out the other girls, her days spent chasing Winona showing as she helped the girls corner the rabbit. However, it escaped, as they always do, the girls collapsing in a heap on eachother. Looking about, the girls couldn't help but laugh at their folly, soon picking themselves up and taking off for something new to occupy their time. Twilight smiled at this, knowing as long as those fillies stayed together, they'd be fine.

Striding up to Sugar Cube Corner, Twilight neatly sidestepped a pink blur that came barrelling out the door at the mere sight of the pink strip of mane Twilight owned. Bouncing about, Pinkie Pie showered her friend in some on-the-spot song that somehow managed to rhyme the word orange flawlessly. Pushing Twilight into the bakery proper, Pinkie hopped around the counter as she chatted amiably at the purple unicorn. Twilight was used to not taking part in her own conversations with Pinkie Pie, as the pink mare rarely missed a beat in which Twilight could speak. Perusing the items, it was about fifteen minutes of non-stop Pinkie speak until the filly decided she'd actually ask why her friend was in.

Her stomach growling in response, Twilight sheepishly grinned as her Earth pony friend quickly thought about how to best solve this problem. Ending her pondering, Pinkie pushed the purple pony purposefully toward the pie parlor proper, showcasing a number of the freshly baked goods for her friend. Twilight's eyes bulged as she sniffed each pastry, her mouth closed shut as to not absentmindedly drool over the choices. She felt the pit in her stomach retract slightly at the intent to feed it, and quickly chose a pie at random, only giving it a quick sniff to make sure it wasn't anything she'd find disgusting. Rather, Twilight found it delectable, and taking a quick break from Mr. and Mrs. Cake, Pinkie joined her in consuming the pie, taking great care not to eat it all in one gigantic bite for her friend's sake.

Finishing off the round dish, Twilight rested a bit as she and Pinkie Pie spoke about any little thing. It didn't take long for her to notice that Pinkie was actually letting her get words in edgewise, and that bothered her. Bringing it up in passing, Pinkie tilted her head slightly. Putting a hoof up to her chin, the pink mare explained that something seemed to be bothering Twilight, as she wasn't smiling as much as Pinkie was used to. In an instant Twilight felt the pit in her stomach rip open, and the mare looked troubled. Not needing her trademark Pinkie Sense to catch it, the normally hyperactive pony leaned in close to her friend, asking her what was wrong.

Twilight shook her head. It wasn't anything too big. Just an early day and a lack of sleep, that was all. Her mind rolled over to the parchment on her bed. Why did she feel so guilty about it? She'd get around to it! She intended to! She had things to do, and the world couldn't be stopped because somepony, even if it was a Princess, had something to tell her. Pinkie didn't buy it as she eyed her lavender friend, stroking her chin thoughtfully as she did. Pressing the issue, Twilight shook her mane as she finally gave up the idea that she simply didn't want to talk about it. Under normal circumstances, most ponies would likely have pushed the envelope to help their friend, but as Pinkie raised a hoof, Mrs. Cake came outside to beckon the party pony back in, citing her help was needed in the kitchen. Despite her free-going spirit, Pinkie had a job that she was tied to, much to Twilight's reprieve. However, as she thanked Pinkie for her time, the mare caught her attention, waving her hoof at her own eyes, then Twilight's, in a very serious looking I'm watching you manner.

Finding herself in full gallop in an effort to put as much distance between herself and Pinkie Pie, Twilight soon found herself on the path to Fluttershy's. Finding the idea of seeing all her friends in one day to be appealing, she knew at least Fluttershy wouldn't be prying into her private life at home. Easing herself to a trot, the purple unicorn let herself think back to the letter just a little bit. Perhaps it was some sort additional lesson as deemed by the Princesses? Or perhaps it was just a thank you letter. That made sense, didn't it? To say 'Hey thanks for rescuing me from being some horrible evil tyrant made of dark magic'. That seemed pretty likely.

Catching sight of the cottage ahead, Twilight smirked to herself as she could hear a demure voice singing to herself from within it's walls. Picking up her pace, Twilight knew that seeing Fluttershy was a good idea today, and quickly rapped on the pegasus' door. There was a terrified meep coming from inside, which Twilight instinctively called out to calm the pegasus. It wasn't long before the cream colored mare opened the door for her friend, slightly abashed but all too welcoming toward her friend. The purple pony was allowed inside as Fluttershy apologized for this and that, little things Twilight couldn't help but feel would of gone completely unnoticed. Still, she smiled warmly as Fluttershy spoke openly with Twilight - she always did so with her.

Twilight sat and listened for awhile, about how Rarity was looking into fashionable pegasi wear for the wings, about how Angel Bunny had woken her up this morning with his own brand of breakfast; he had thrown a carrot at her from outside, up into her second story bedroom, and it had landed square between her eyes. Twilight giggled despite herself when Fluttershy praised the Bunny's aim. Eventually Fluttershy asked Twilight about her day, and the unicorn explained in full, how she had gotten up early, seen Applejack, helped Rarity, watched Dash, and dined with Pinkie. She went on to say that she had already seen everypony else who had asked to see her - now she wanted just to relax with one of her friends.

And so they did for a number of hours. Twilight didn't let herself be a burden to Fluttershy, and soon was helping the pegasus in her daily routine - checking on the chickens, feeding the animals, gathering the eggs and eventually was in Fluttershy's kitchen preparing tea when an odd thought struck her. Rarity lived at her business, Pinkie above Sugar Cube Corner, and Applejack lived with her family at the farm. Even Rainbow Dash lived in a cloud home that she often had to move about in part of her work as a weather pony. Twilight herself lived in a Library - and yet Fluttershy owned a cottage. Sure one could argue that her work was with the animals that lived around her, but in all realities the animals came to her. As she thought about it, the butteryellow mare stepped lightly into the room, having finished feeding the animals for the day.

Twilight brought up her findings with the pegasus, but to an unexpected result. The pink-maned filly sighed deeply as she sat down. Unsure of what she did, the unicorn asked her friend what was wrong. Fluttershy smiled, which Twilight felt a slight relief from. In her demure voice, the pegasus said that she was well aware of the other ponies marriage to their work - even Dash, and she was often envious of it.

When asked why, Fluttershy shook her mane. It was because of their positions in the Ponyville community that they saw many others during the day, and while she was a shy filly, she still loved company. She still loved her friends. Before Twilight was around, she didn't see many ponies, even Rarity was a rare visit. She was downright lonely sometimes, just outside of reach from town. Twilight made to apologize for bringing it up, but the pegasus again shook her head. She said she was happy now, that on days like this her friend would go out of her way just to see her.

The pit in her stomach became a chasm.

Twilight fidgeted hugely, shocking Fluttershy. When asked what was wrong, Twilight froze. Excusing herself, the mare said she remembered something hugely important. When prodded gently, Twilight relented for a moment. Explaining that she had been putting something important off, she deeply thanked Fluttershy. Confused, the pegasus didn't have time to pry further - not that she likely would have - as the unicorn bolted from the cottage, her eyes focusing on the vague shapes in the distance - specifically, a tree in which she called her home.

Blasting into her home, Twilight ran face first into the purple dragon within, who had been standing next to the door, blue scroll in hand. Spike had some great speech built up for the purple unicorn. He'd let her know about all the work he did for her as not only her assistant but as her friend. And how disappointed he was in that his friend had forgone her duty to the Princesses and had quite plainly avoided the blue parchment all day.

What a speech he had created in his hand. It's too bad after the collision with Twilight Sparkle he forgot the entire thing, feeling the blue note ripped from his grasp as the unicorn hastily broke the seal and unfurled the scroll. She had been scared - scared of what? Nightmare Moon? No, she wasn't that thing anymore. She was a Princess. She was Celestia's little sister, and she had sent her a note. And right now, she deserved more than Twilight's attention, because the unicorn was so much less right now. She was dishonest, self-absorbed, selfish, lethargic and horridly cruel to just sleight the Princess of the Moon.

Spike groaned as he looked around, wondering what happened. As he began to regain focus, his eyes were drawn to a glowing horn nearby, the form of a purple pony reading a note taking shape. Blinking away the last of his confusion, he started to say his mentor's name just before she blinked out of existence, her teleport spell leaving an inky black imprint in the space where she once stood. Shooting to his feet, he called out Twilight's name, looking about for the mare, before realizing that the blue scroll lay discarded on the floor. Stepping forward, the dragon picked up the paper, unraveling it as he gave it a look himself.

Dear Twilig-

This was scribbled out.

Hello, Ms. Spar-

More scribbles.

Twilight Sparkle, my Sister's dear student,

I hope this letter finds you well. Um. Scribble. There are many things different about Equestria after a thousand years, such as astronomy and night clubs. The last bit was only mildly scribbled, as if to signify a naughty secret. One thing that always seems to hold true is how the subjects of Equestria treat a Princess, with utmost honor and borderline stinginess! Spike laughed despite himself, his mind trailing to the night of the Gala in particular. But big Sister always speaks well of you bearers, the Elements of Harmony. You're so much more than a common pony - and I don't need Celly to tell me that. Spike chuckled at such an improper way to refer to the Princess of the Sun. But she speaks so highly of you alone, Twilight. And she says you treat her more as a teacher, or a guardian, than a Princess. Even a friend.

So, um, Scribbles were a mess for the next couple lines, Spike trying to pick out words in the mess of ink, but either they were too well scratched over or were simply turned into ink blots. However, near the end, there was a single line.

Please be my friend?

Warmest Regards,

The end of the parchment only held a small scratch, written in an ancient Equestrian language that Spike could only guess was the Princess' name in the old ways. Wearing a goofy smile, the baby dragon's face soon fell as he looked at the floor below him, awash in ash marks and black powder. This was going to take a long time to clean.

She was hurried through the halls, the important unicorn pony Twilight Sparkle, but the guard that accompanied the purple pony were hesitant when the mare asked she be taken to the other Princess' room. Exchanging quick glances, the guards nodded, trusting in Twilight's unusual request, and quickly diverged off the familiar path. Twilight's face was stretched in an insincere smile, a pleasantry she forced herself to use when in Canterlot. As they walked, Twilight took note of the tapestries in this part of the palace, as they depicted the phases of the moon, all of them in a brilliant midnight blue. She found them beautiful, each one adorned with a purple border befitting of the night. Not to say the unicorn wasn't partial to the color herself.

Soon she was brought before large, ornate doors, the guard standing to either side of the door. Pausing briefly, Twilight indulged herself slightly as she dismissed the stoic stallions with a please. The guard took only a moment to exchange glances, but again they adhered to the unicorn's whims. Twilight giggled to herself, the guard had often bent to her will when she was younger, but now that she was a full-grown mare and an embodiment of an Element of Harmony, she guessed correctly that Celestia had silently bid the Royal Guard to follow her orders.

The pit in her stomach was small now, Twilight realized as she placed a hoof on the door, giving it a light push. It diminished rapidly, filling the mare with a sense of purpose, and surprisingly, serenity. Stepping into the room, a pastel blue mane was tossed aside with grace, a lone pony sitting at a small, round table. Upon it sat a kettle and two cups on brilliant white plates. How long she had been there, Twilight didn't know, but she knew what was right. It was like Fluttershy said - she had always been there, but it wasn't until she had friends did she feel happy and complete. Stepping forward, the midnight blue alicorn beamed hugely at the approaching mare, Twilight returning the smile with equal intensity. Placing herself at the table, she sat across from the Princess. The alicorn opened her mouth, but quickly closed it, unsure of what to say. Twilight, on the other hand, poured out some tea for the two, heating it lightly with her magic. She knew exactly what to say as she greeted her new friend.

"Helloagain, Luna."

In Defence of the Acre :Arcel-Windwing:

Requested by Arcel Windwing,

"How about a story involving Applejack(and family and/or Friends) Defending Sweet Apple acres from some... thing from the Everfree forest?"

This is currently the shortest chapter, ringing in at ~2100 words.

Tail whipping about, an orange Earth pony surveyed the land between the trees and hills that made up Sweet Apple Acres. Blonde mane blowing wildly in the wind as it passed by, emerald green eyes narrowed at the slightest agitation from the undergrowth. Bringing the bridge of her hat down further, Applejack sneaked behind a large tree and looked beyond it, trying to catch sight of her prey. Somewhere in the orchard, her orchard, a beast from the Everfree had been set loose. At first she found it odd that such a foreign being would even be set to come all the way out here, but in her head she realized why it had chosen her farm to come.

She had what it wanted. What it needed. And it was going to try and get it with everything it had, and Applejack knew it. Neither had an advantage over the other, as far as the mare could figure. Whipping her tail forward, Applejack's eye caught the flash of blue in the distance, her eyes tracking the silhouette as it passed over the hill. "Consarn it, they're already in my acre!"

Taking off after the figure, the drumming of hooves beating in her ears as she tried to catch the beast before it could throw her off the trail. The advantage Applejack had was that she knew her orchard inside and out. No creature could ever doubt that. However, the rolling hills and trees would give her target ample time to hide.

Sure enough, as Applejack claimed the top of the hill, all she could see were trees and budding apples. Stomping her hoof, the mare shot towards her home, betting anything that the Everfree beast would be heading there first. However, she was the fastest in Ponyville - a shared title, but one she owned all the same. Breaking towards the farm in the distance, the mare was rewarded in seeing another streak of blue darting from tree to tree. "Ah gotcha now!" Applejack shouted, shocking the figure from cover as it shot out into the orchard again. "Oh hooo no, Ah don't think so, not this time!" Applejack's bucking legs shot her forwards and pushed against the soft earth as she cleared the crest of a hill, catching up to her quarry.

However, the figure proved to be an admirable adversary, whipping about trees as Applejack gave chase, her eyes ever present on the strip of blue. It was fast, but Applejack knew that she was just that much faster, years of applebucking had strengthened her legs something fierce, and no creature from the middle of some forest would pull a fast one on her. She had something that needed protecting. Ponies counted on her to protect it, and she wouldn't let them down. Most dependable pony in all of Ponyville, the orange mare thought as she cut around a tree, shaving a few feet from her competition. "Y'all best stop right there if you wanna do this with any dignity!" The mare cried, but despite her best efforts to deter the stranger, the strip of blue before her eyes kept on as fast as it's legs would carry her. Applejack redoubled her efforts, hoofbeats becoming like thunderclaps as the two figures shot through the whole of Sweet Apple Acres.

Off in the distance, Applejack could see her brother holding firm against a couple of her enemy's cohorts, spinning about, simply daring any of them to get close. It was a great tactic, and Applejack simply wished she could run the same idea, but they had sent their runner, and Applejack had to respond in kind. Thank Celestia none of them could fly, or teleport. There would be no stopping a group like that, even if Rainbow Dash and Twilight were with her.

Which, Applejack mused, they were, albeit out in Ponyville, defending their own zones. She had to trust in their abilities, as well in the abilities of the other three, for the group to come out on top. Up ahead, near a small plateau that opened up into a flat landscape, her adversary dove out from sea of trees into the open, Applejack hot on her heels. She could hear the ragged breathing, some indecipherable language pouring out from its mouth as the gap between the two thinned, the orange mare wearing a victorious smile.

However, not to be out done by a mere pony, the Everfree creature wheeled on it's legs, spinning about in a feral arc, Applejack forcing her hooves into the dirt to keep from colliding with the beast's forefront. Stopping mere inches from the breathing quadreped, both took a cautionary step back, swishing their respective tails as they sized the other up. Applejack took detailed note of the toned muscles that adorned her adversary's body, making mental note that under different circumstances, she'd have likely partnered with it for some fun and games rather than be in a standoff.

Again the beast breathed heavily, catching it's breath in tandem with Applejack. It's black tipped legs stretched out as the orange mare slowly started to circle her opponent. Swearing under it's breath, the white streaked animal started to move as well, each giving the other no distinct advantage as they paced along, each eying different streaks of color on their persons. A strip of blue here, a dash of red on Applejack.

Enemy colors.

With a startling shout, the beast turned, charging against the farm pony. Regaining her composure, Applejack faced the incoming force and moved ahead, clashing against the beast's chest as their heads passed each other, emerald eyes burning into azure spheres. There was a moment where the mare could see its teeth, clenched tight as it pushed against her, it's eyes trained beyond her freckled features. Summoning up years of hard work, the farmfilly resisted against the beast and soon wrapped her neck around part of her opponent, pushing the unfortunate creature to the ground as Applejack fought to keep her own balance as she could hear the snapping of teeth as the beast aimed itself toward her unguarded flank.

Deftly pushing her hooved off the ground, the mare's tail swished dangerously past the snapping maw of her attacker. Yet, Applejack hit the ground hard in her evasion, rolling slightly as her hat rolled off her head and landed twixt her and the Everfree creature. Shaking her head to regain her composure, Applejack's eyes narrowed as she saw the black-striped beast nip at her hat, mockingly placing it upon her own as she stared down at the pony before her.

"You remove that hat from yer head, or Ah swear Ah'll make you regret comin' anywhere near this farm," Applejack threatened, her hooves scrambling to find the ground beneath them. Her adversary merely grinned as she stood tall, a victorious smirk over the battered mare. "Ah'm given ya... 'till tha counta three!" she breathed loudly, her breath slowly catching up to her. The animal dug into the ground with a hoof, lowering it's covered head as it prepared for the orange pony's assault.

"One," Applejack seethed, her eyes narrowing on the tanned brim.

"Two!" A hoof slammed against the ground, white striped tail swishing dangerously with a dash of blue hanging off it.

"Three!" The protector of Sweet Apple Acres charged forward at the waiting creature, the pony clashing again as they locked heads, each trying to gain quarter over the other. Both heads ducked to the right, shifting their momentum off of each other as they moved quickly to disable the other, however Applejack's attention was torn toward her hat more than her quarry, a distracting fact which her assailant attempted to take advantage of.

However, as it went for her broadside, an unexpected jerking motion snapped it's neck to the side as the hat was forcibly removed from it's head, pulling back on the equine's head. Balance completely lost, the Everfree creature stumbled forward as Applejack flipped the hat up on her head, her a smirk appearing on her features as she snapped at the animal's flank, removing the offending blue stripe as the zebra stumbled into a heap.

"Well Zecora, Ah hope this teaches you a lesson in personal property," Applejack cheered as she trotted happily alongside the downtrodden zebra, shooting a friendly look towards her friend. "And that ya can't expect to beat an Apple in a game of Capture the Flag on their own farm." Applejack's red team flag hung loosely on her tail, Zecora's blue team insignia hanging on her back as she was led to the 'jail' at the Mayor's office.

"Compared to my team I was singled out, with their esteem a zebra's speed they couldn't doubt!" Zecora defended, a small smile on her face as the two mare's muscles burned with the physical exertion.

AJ's laugh was hoarse, but she cleared her throat as a rainbow streak shot across the sky towards the office, a number of pegasi following the streak of color behind her. "Well, it looks like Dash has the weather team out in full force against the mail team," she remarked, turning towards the zebra. "Ah gotta say, Zecora, Ah thought you had me out there, Ah hadn't expected you ta' be so hard ta' catch."

"Living in the Everfree is a trying life, I often find it best to flee than end up in strife," the zebra responded in her rhyming scheme, her trotting becoming stronger as her breath returned to her, keeping pace with Applejack slowed her recovery, but as the runner for her team, Zecora knew Applejack could likely take her time before returning to the farm before the game was over. "These Ponyville games are quite a delight. What persuades these mares from noon to night?"

Applejack chuckled as the Town Hall came into sight, the zebra next to her glad her presence no longer drew stares from the ponies who hid in the shadows now not out of fear, but out of fun of the game, each eye trained on another pony's flank, eyes dancing for flashes of blue or red fabric. "Just tha' fun of the game, Zecora. It's why it's a festival for fun in the sun, a celebration."

As the two approached the 'jail', Zecora took the lead as she found herself among the ranks of many dejected looking blue team members, over half of the pegasus force of blue team sitting on the deck under the watchful gaze of Mayor Mare. Applejack approached the aged Ponyville caretaker as she nodded toward her captive. "Caught 'er on tha' farm, ma'am. Went fer tha' hat."

Embarrassed at her earlier folly, the zebra chuckled dryly. "Your protectiveness for headwear I will remember, I was in for a scare when in your eyes I could see ember."

Applejack laughed off the remark, tipping her hat as she turned back towards her farm, her emerald eyes shooting up in surprise as she caught sight of her big brother with three dejected fillies behind him. Trotting up to the stallion, the orange mare looked over the young girls. "Well, Big Mac, Ah can't imagine what it took fer you to curtail these fillies," she complimented, shaking her head.

Big Mac smiled as he chewed on a piece of grass. "Tried to trick me by wearin' them cloaks Sweetie made over their markers." The stallion's tail flicked upwards, red fabric still hanging from his fiery orange hair.

"We aren't Cutie Mark Captors," Scootaloo spat sadly, her wings somehow covered in some sticky brown sap as she attempted to flutter the offending material off to no avail.

Applejack raised her eye at the sight, looking on as she noticed the other two Crusaders were similarly covered in tree sap. "Nahw how'd you girls get covered in-"

"They weren't when I tagged them. Don't rightly know how they did, doesn't really add up," Big Mac cut off as he passed by Applejack, the strange occurrence remaining unanswered as the three fillies made their way up unto the deck and joined the rest of Blue team. However, their frowns soon turned upside down as they made their way to Zecora, the idea of the zebra's mark giving the trio new fire.

"Welp, Big Mac, guess we gotta double back to the farm and make sure nopony takes our flags. Only got Caramel and the rest of the work to count on back there!" Applejack teased, Big MacIntosh merely nodding in agreement as the siblings made their way back down the long, dusty road back to Sweet Apple Acres. They had a home to defend.

So Sweet and Tasty! :KilroyJenkins:

Her head hurt. That's what she noticed first. It smarted like she had been just bucked by the strongest applebucker this side of Canterlot. And furthermore, she found herself unable to distinguish anything but the feeling of cold steel against her outstretched body.

Steel. That didn't make sense. There wasn't a whole lot of steel around Ponyville, and to be lying on a large slab of the stuff didn't mesh well with the pegasus' train of thought. Not that it was anywhere near coherent anyway, a new rush of pain flowing into her senses reminded her that she had been knocked out. When and why, the pegasus had trouble remembering. She was outside, taking a nap, snaking on some apples, when suddenly... she was jumped! Somepony jumped her! Her! Rainbow Dash! And somehow, she had ended up here.

Wherever here was.

As the rainbow hair slid drearily to the side, Dash tried to focus on what she could determine. One, she was somewhere unfamiliar. That much was for certain, the pegasus damning the impossibility that the steel she lay on was somehow staying cold even though her own body heat should have made it far more bearable by this point. It didn't. Raising her head, the pony tried to bring a hoof up to move, only to find her hooves restrained.

Restrained by knots. On ropes. Blinking hard, the pegasus allowed herself the sudden realization that ponies normally weren't outstretched the way she felt until forced into such a position, and she guessed that the constricting feeling she felt along her hooves was likely the strain of the ropes. Stretching her wings, she at least took solace in the freedom of her blue feathers, the strong appendages flapping hugely as she attempted to fight the rope, the threads of rope cracking and constricting tighter around her hooves as she pushed off. Flapping harder, the pegasus could feel her belly lift just slightly off the steel slab, before suddenly collapsing back down on the cool surface, her wings refusing to continue a losing battle.

A shiver ran up her spine as Dash peered into the darkness around her. To be honest, she usually told everypony that pegasi don't feel cold. However, anypony who spoke to Fluttershy would quickly learn that they more have a resistance to cold, such as wind or ambient weather. Surfaces, though? Those were still cold. And as Dash was quickly becoming aware of, completely and utterly uncomfortable and extremely unsettling. She couldn't even turn her head right to nurse the throbbing pain at the back of her skull where she believed she was hit. Just what happened?

Suddenly, the sound of hooves on a surface. Wood. Oh thank Celestia there was wood, like she wasn't in some steel cell. Opening her mouth, Rainbow went to scream, only to find herself cut short, a bright, eerie white light bursting through a doorway, streaming down into the cellar. Gasping as she turned her head away from the eyesore, as quickly as it came it disappeared, Rainbow blinking her eyes repeatedly as they returned to darkness. "Who-what?" she startled, her voice rasping unexpectedly.

A pitter-patter of hooves. Light and bouncy, neither one carrying much weight with it. She could hear something else. Was it... humming? "Hey!" Rainbow Dash choked out, swallowing some saliva to better speak. "Who're you?" she challenged the darkness and the pony it hid. "What am I doing here! I haven't done anything!"

The steps halted nearby. Dash peered into the chasm that surrounded her, the deep expanse betraying none of the secrets it held for her. Growling, the pegasus raised what she could of her hoof and slammed it on the table, causing little more than a dull thunk. "I SWEAR, WHEN I GET OUT OF HERE I AM GONNA BUCK YOU UP!"

"....Oh Dashie~!" a voice responded. A bubbly, happy, sickeningly sweet voice that could only belong to one pony in all of Ponyville. In all of Equestria. In all the universe only one being could speak with such unmitigated cheer.

"P-Pinkie!?"

"Hi Dashie!" Pinkie Pie responded from the darkness, the sound of a cloak whipping about. Dash ignored the other sounds as she started to struggle against her bonds in earnest.

"Pinkie Pie! You gotta help me, I gotta get outta here!" Dash hissed, trying to keep her voice down. She didn't know what kind of situation she was in, but she didn't want to press her luck that somehow, Pinkie Pie was there! "Can you find a light, or, something! Open the door-"

Click.

"Not a problem!" There, standing below a single cone of light above her, stood the pink mare Dash had come to know as one of Ponyville's premiere pranksters, party pony, and master pastry chef. And now, adorned on an apron Dash had never seen before, were a collective of sinister looking tools of wood and iron. "I can't exactly work in the dark! I mean, I wish I could, but then I would need eyes like a cat! And then I'd have to purr and meow, or maybe I could just get away with scratching things."

Dash stared in stark silence as the chrome objects adorned on Pinkie's clothing reflected and shimmered in the sharp light. She attempted to blink away the image, but there the pink mare stood, adorned in dangerous tools that she had never seen before. "P-P-Pinkie, what... what is all that stuff?"

Looking herself over, the Earth pony actually seemed contemplative over the getup, but she soon dismissed Dash's words and approached the table. "Oh, well this is my super-duper, ultra-secret Cupcake-kit!" Dash felt her stomach make a cartwheel. None of that stuff looked anything like what could be used for cupcakes. Scythes, giant cleavers, even a knife that looked like a crescent moon. Dash didn't want to even think what that could do to a pony.

"So you're making c-cupcakes huh? Not a whole, big cake? Well that's c-cool I guess," Dash chuckled, her uneasiness apparent as she stared into the bright blue orbs of her friend as they loomed closer and closer. "Hey Pinkie Pie, can you get me off of this thing?" she tried, voice full of fear and hope.

There was a flash of emotions on Pinkie's face, but she soon settled on one that only served to fuel her fear. It was one of reluctant sadness. "I'm sorry Rainbow, but this is the way it has to be. I promised I wouldn't! Pinkie promised!" Slamming her flank into the ground, the mare soon picked up a large pair of scissors as she looked about her friend. "You're just gonna have to sit there, Dashie. Nothing I can do."

"What do you mean there isn't anything you can do!?" Dash raised her voice, her eyes darting to and fro as she looked at the bonds that held her. "You have scissors right there! In your hooves." Pinkie got closer to her friend, an apologetic look on her face. "You just need to cut right through that rope! Right there, Pinkie Pie! Come on! Please, Pinkie," Rainbow's voice started to shudder into sobs as the sharp metal got ever closer to head, rose colored eyes meeting those brilliant blues. "Please Pinkie I'm sorry about lying about the bear I'm sorry about that time with Gilda just don'tcomenearmewiththosethingsohCelestiaplease-"

Snip.

Rainbow stopped breathing. There was a long silence as the scissors pulled away from Dash, a hoof pushing itself underneath Dash's face as Pinkie gathered what she cut. Opening her eye, the pegasus could see Pinkie pushing a number of her rainbow hairs off the steel table into a small tray and carrying them happily over to a nearby counter in some dark corner of the cellar. Breathing a hefty sigh of relief, the pegasus let her mind stop spinning before she noticing Pinkie on a return trip. "Cutting my hair!? Pinkie, you don't need to tie me down for a lock of my hair!"

"Oh, that's not why you're tied down, silly-filly!" Pinkie smiled, which did not serve to relax Dash in the slightest. "I just need specific pieces of a pony to really know how to make the best cupcake out of them. I'm going to make the most amazing Rainbow cupcakes!"

"R-rainbow.... cupcakes!?" Dash breathed, hardly believing her ears. Was Pinkie... was Pinkie going to make her into cupcakes? How do you make cupcakes out of ponies without alerting others to the... well, meat content? Her stomach turned a cartwheel at the very thought. Sweating bullets, which she quickly noted seemed to warm her face on the cool steel surface, Dash was willing to try anything to get out of this scenario. "Ah, well, Pinkie, that's really cool and all, but you've have rainbow before! Remember? Spicy, nopony would like it. You shouldn't even begin to think of making a cupcake out of m-"

"I'm not making that kind of rainbow cupcake! I'm making one specifically with you in mind, Rainbow Dash!" Cheering, the pink pony carried herself in a way that seemed oblivious to the absolute fear she was putting her friend through. "Although maybe a Rainbow Dash cupcake could be spicy. A Spicy cupcake! Oh, Rainbow Dash, you're so smart! Stay right there, I'll be right back!"

"Wha- no-wait!" Before she could even finish her surprised garble, the mare had disappeared up the stairs, her apron discarded on the floor, falling heavily on the horrible instruments that it beheld. Dash could see them all plain as day, and slowly began to see how each and every one of them could be used against her. The hammer on her hooves, the scalpel on her ears. That moon thingy... oh dear Luna the moon thing was terrifying. It looked like it could hook and tear anything. And she had shears. Why would a pony who cooked have shears!?

Reluctant to realize the fact she had basically been calling for Pinkie to stay, given her current position, the pegasus worked on freeing herself as best she could. Dash tried screaming, but it was quickly apparent by the lack of hooves on the wood flooring above that anypony would hear her forlorn cries for freedom, and only wished she was back outside, wings in the air, enjoying the summer's breeze once more.

The bulb had burned out. That's all Rainbow knew about five minutes after Pinkie left. She had mustered her courage up to try and make out the objects outside the cone of light that once shown like a beacon of hope, but all it had accomplished was a loud buzzing noise that bored into Dash's brain before it popped and fizzled, much to the pegasus' chagrin. Returning to the darkness from which she had become familiar with before Pinkie...

Pinkie Pie.

What was with that pony? Maybe she was... just being Pinkie Pie. That had to be it. She wasn't meaning to be menacing or malicious when she was shoving shears into her face and cutting a piece of her mane off.

She was just being Pinkie Pie.

Dash audibly gulped, feeling the lump of air travel slowly along her gullet against the cold, unfeeling steel table. She didn't know how far that excuse could even last. Likely as far as those tools Pinkie was carrying on her. As her mind slowly lulled itself to numbness in the dark prison, her ear twitched. Hoofbeats. Looking up despite the fact she couldn't see, Dash debated calling for help another time, but the beat of the floorboards soon quelled any such hope. They were bounces, light and fluffy.

The door opened, casting blinding light upon Dash's face as the pink mare bounced down the stairs, her puffy mane silhouetted by the fleeting light as it shut slowly behind her. "Dashie~ I'm back!" the pink mare cheered, the sound of dull metal hitting the floor. "I hope you don't mind, but I didn't want to go alllll the way to Cloudsdale to get some rainbow, so I went to your house and picked some out of your little river! Oo! I wonder if it tastes different than the stuff I had before!"

"It doesn't," Dash huffed, the cold of the table making the cyan pony more irritable than fearful of the pink mare. "Pinkie, let me go! I won't even tell anypony you did this!" It was a lie, of course. The moment she was free of these bonds she was gonna high tail it to Twilight's. She was a smart pony, she'd listen to her. She'd always been a bit reluctant to take the party pony at face value - Celestia only knew she was right to!

There was a silence in the dark as Dash could only guess Pinkie had learned of the bulb's fate. "Ooooh, that's no fun. The light's died." Dash shivered at the word. "Well, okie-dokey. I guess I gotta go get a new bulb," Pinkie said, the pegasus practically feeling the frown on the pink mare's face as she turned toward the stairs. Suddenly, there was a crack of glass shattering. Dash flailed her limbs in surprise, her legs thumping loudly against the... hollow table? Kicking what she could of her leg, a deeply hollow sound issued from the table she laid on.

"Pinkie...!" she choked out in the dark. The hoof steps stopped on the stairs as Dash assumed Pinkie Pie had stopped to hear her out, for what good it would do she wasn't sure. "D-Don't leave me again! I don't... want to be alone!" the pegasus pleaded. To be fair she didn't want to be stuck in the same position as before, but with what sounded like glass breaking on the floor, she had a much better chance of surviving in the dark than watching Pinkie get ever closer with those tools of hers.

And Rainbow Dash didn't want to watch that.

However, that same voice, that silly, happy voice cooed down at her, "Oh Rainbow, don't worry, I wouldn't leave you alone by your little-whittle self!" That didn't exactly comfort Dash knowing that she had just left her alone not moments before.

"What about before? I was alone down here for close to an hour... or longer, I don't know!"

"Well I left, yeah. But I didn't leave you alone!" A pit formed in Dash's stomach. Somepony was... here? This entire time!? And if they hadn't said a word... than what kind of pony were they?

There was a snapping sound. Dash screamed as the basement was suddenly filled with light - at least part of it. The rest of it was obscured by a green toothless alligator which hung from a newly replaced bulb, hanging uselessly from it as the glass enclosure slowly started to heat up. "I left you here with Gummy! What a good alligator, he even changed the lightbulb for you!

Rainbow's mind broke at the very prospect of how the alligator had accomplished the task of changing a lightbulb. A suspended lightbulb that a pony had to get up to their hind legs to reach the string and pull it. "O-oh. Gummy." Dash stammered, her eyes unmoving from the flailing alligator. "Great. Good job... Gummy."

"Isn't he the greatest!" Pinkie said, happily clambering down the stairs. She took care not to step in the remains of the last bulb, which had been the source of the crashing glass from earlier, Dash noticed. Perhaps it was Gummy who had also - Rainbow's mind forcefully stopped that train of thought. "Good Gummy! Best friend." Even the pegasus had to admit, that animal had its merits.

Her eyes tracking the miniature river creature, it wasn't long before the reptile let go of its ambient prey and fell unto Pinkie Pie's buoyant mane, safely tumbling off of it to the floor, where it busied itself with the glass shards that littered the ground that somehow managed to avoid the hoofs of the energetic pony known as Pinkie Pie. It was at this point that Rainbow noticed the smock had returned, her eyes dancing over the utensils that glittered on its forefront. Ice cream scoops... a pot? Tweezers?

Why in Equestria would a baker's assistant have tweezers on a smock. That made even less sense than shears. Oh sweet Celestia the shears. Discarded on the ground nearby, the cyan mare couldn't help but stare at the offending tool with immeasurable fear, reminded of how close it had come to her face. How close it was to her muzzle, to her neck... Dash hadn't even noticed how close Pinkie had gotten to her until the mare clouded up her entire vision. "P-Pinkie-"

"Hold still now, Dash!" Pinkie warned, her eye getting absurdly close to Dash's own. Whipping the tweezers out, the baker held them in her mouth as she suddenly shoved the instrument into the pegasus' mouth. "Thishill owmry cakph ah sehkent!" Pinkie said through her clenched teeth, Rainbow suddenly feeling her own tongue being yanked out of her mouth.

"HIIINKKIIIEEE!"

"One ehhcy reeicy sehkent!" Pinkie grimaced as she brought a small swab over the cyan mare's tongue, dabbing it a couple times before releasing Dash's tongue. Fleeing with the swab, Pinkie hopped over to her table in the darkness, leaving a flabbergasted Rainbow Dash to reflect on just what happened.

There was a silence that reigned after that. A certain unknowing, not-wishing-to-know din of nothingness that threatened to tear Dash's mind apart. Just what was going on? Why was Pinkie torturing her like this? Why was she so pinkie keen on invading her personal space for... such weirdness!? How did the lightbulb change? Why was the steel so cold!?

Hoofbeats.

Dash's eyes trained toward the doorway. It was still closed. She spun her head over to Pinkie Pie. She seemed disinterested, even. Rainbow looked up, her voice starting to erupt in her throat as she scream- the door opened suddenly, cutting her voice off.

"Y'all down here, Pinkie Pie?"

Applejack!

"Yeppers!" Pinkie Pie shouted, not tearing from her work. Dash looked confused as the trustworthy Earth pony started making her way down the steps, the pegasus having no words that could make sense.

Hey Applejack, Pinkie here is trying to kill me! Make me into cupcakes! That rascal! How about you untie me and we go report her to the proper authorities. Think Celestia will send her to the moon?

Somehow that didn't quite add up in her head. What surprised her even more was the paltry glance Applejack gave her. "Nahw, what're y'all doin' down here?" Staring down at the bucket of rainbow at her feet, the hardworking Earth pony gave the dull steel a disinterested kick.

Pinkie Pie looked up, turning about as she stared at the two ponies. On her head was a crazy looking instrument, with a magnifying glass attached to a metal arm supersizing her blue eyes. "I'm making rainbow cupcakes! Whaddya think the bucket's for!?"

"Rainbow cupcakes. Like, spicy instead ah sugar?" Pinkie Pie nodded ferociously at Applejack's question. Dash couldn't believer her ears. She was tied up here! Why were they talking like she wasn't being held here- it took a moment for the pegasus realized she had a voice of her own.

"AJ! Please, you gotta help me! Untie me-"

"In a minute, sugarcube," Applejack chided, bringing the pegasus to a dead halt. In a minute!? "Well Pinkie, Ah'm not one ta get in the way of another pony's work," she mentioned, bringing a hoof up to her chin.

"Applejack! She's trying to turn me into some kind of cupcake!"

The orange mare stopped tapping her chin to look at Rainbow Dash. "Beg pardon?" Even Pinkie Pie looked up from her work doing... something or other.

Dash continued, her eyes closed as she relived every moment of agony thus far. "She came at me with shears! Starting cutting my hair, and then she left me here, all tied up! I don't even know how did it, but she just took a sample of my... my tongue or something!"

Applejack raised an eyebrow, shaking her head at the story the pegasus had cooked up. "Ah think you got bucked one a little too hard t'day, Dash," Applejack muttered, a tinge of guilt in her voice. "How you think Pinkie tied you up?"

"How do I think- She knocked me unconscious and drug me here!"

There was a silence from the two fillies in attendance as they stared at the cyan pony. Pinkie was the first to break the silence with a sharp laugh. "Oh Dash, you're so silly!"

"Silly!? You tied me up and came at me with shears-"

There was a cough. Rainbow Dash looked fiercely over to Applejack as the mare tried to wrap her head around what Dash was trying to relate to her. "So you're sayin'... That Pinkie Pie; Bubbly, happy Pinkie Pie, knocked you unconscious, and them somehow managed to... drag you here, in broad daylight, to the center of Ponyville, tie you up... and then try and cook you up in some sorta cupcake."

The pale expression on the pegasus' face held no emotion. "Ah... yes?"

"Sugarcube, Ah'm the one who knocked you clean out and tied ya up," Applejack related, a hint of laughter in her voice.

"WHAT," Dash screeched, "YOU MEAN YOU DID ALL THAT." Pinkie laughed in the corner, her muzzle back in the darkness where she continued her mysterious work.

Applejack chuckled as she shook her head. "It's a lot easier than you think, sugarcube. Ah hogtied you up real nice and pulled you here on mah cart. Real easy like, Ah reckon." Trotting over to the table, Dash noticed the glass on the floor had been swept up. Her eyes dashed across the floor looking for the culprit, before noticing Gummy in the corner, some small broom in its mouth as he rolled along the floor. "Nopony questioned it. Not even fer a second."

"W-what for? We're you two planning this? Are you in this together? Is this some Earth pony thing-"

Pinkie looked up from the table, giggling at the accusations. "Oh Dashie, nothing like that! Applejack just asked to tie you to my refrigerator for eating all her apples off the tree!"

The pegasus completely blanked. Refrigerator? The steel table she laid upon was cold to the touch, and as if on cue the metallic hunk whirred to life as it started its newest cooling cycle. "The... apples..."

Applejack gave Rainbow Dash a condescending look as she shook her mane. "Ah told you Ah'd buck you one good if Ah caught you sneakin' apples off our farm so close to applebuckin' season! That's our livlihood yer eatin' into and Ah got a farm to protect. Even from mah closest friends." Prodding the pegasus on the nose, Applejack leaned in close. She seemed serious at first, but her hard features soon softened into an apologetic smile. "When Ah snuck up on ya, I hadn't expect you to wheel about when Ah went ta buck ya. Ah had meant to hit ya broadside but ya turned into it last second. Hadn't meant to knock you clean out, but Ah thought Ah'd have some fun with you once Twilight made sure you were okay."

"Twilight was in on it too!?" Dash groaned, her face slamming against the cool lid of the fridge. "I thought she couldn't helped me blow this thing sky high!"

"Sorry to disappoint, sugarcube!" Applejack teased, reaching over and untying the pegasus with her mouth. The knots came apart easily enough, just quick pulls on the rope that quickly became familiar as Applejack suddenly found herself with her lasso again. Stretching her wings, Rainbow Dash made as if to take off in a huff before stopping short.

"So, wait. What was Pinkie up to, anyway?"

The pink mare in question looked up from the table, a small piece of paper stuck, sticking out of her mane. "Who, me?" She asked, looking about.

"Yer the only Pinkie we know. What was that about comin' at Dash with shears and all that?" Applejack voiced, suddenly curious in the pink mare's activities while she was gone.

"Oh!" Pinkie called, trotting past the two mares as she picked up the bucket in her mouth. Bouncing up the stairs, Pinkie's tail swished back and forth as she spoke through her teeth. "Cawh ah shee!"

Turning to Rainbow Dash, Applejack shrugged her shoulders as she slowly took after the pink Earth pony. Dash's dumbfounded look gave way to one of mild curiosity, but she slowly turned and looked over towards the green animal in the corner. "I don't know what you're up to, Gummy, but I'm watching you." Raising a hoof up to her eyes, the mare pointed towards the alligator, then back to her, then back to Gummy. Flapping her wings, the pegasus felt elated in her flight as she retreated up the stairs, leaving the unfocused alligator alone in the cellar.

"It's a super secret formula for special cupcakes made for a singular pony!" Pinkie cheered, poking her head out from behind the counter. Dash had calmed down some from her earlier ordeal, glad to see Pinkie Pie in her usual apron, adorned with measuring cups and other, non-lethal culinary objects. "By taking a little bit of somepony and boiling it, and swabbing it with the pony's own taste, I can make a special cupcake that that pony will be sure to love!"

"So like... you put my hair and my spit in a cupcake and I'll like it?" Dash deadpanned, casting an unhappy glance over to Applejack, who had finished fishing out an icepack for her friend. Placing it gingerly upon the side of Dash's head, the Earth pony smiled as Dash happily accepted the cooling pack, much to the irony of the farm worker. "I don't think I'd even come close to liking that."

"No, Rainbow Dash, it only develops the formula. The cupcake is completely different!" she stressed, her eyebrows furrowing into extreme baker mode.

"So why didja go and get a bucket of Rainbow's rainbow if it ain't got nothin' ta do with the 'formula'?" Applejack asked, the question weighing on her mind. Pinkie raised a hoof as if to answer, but quickly dropped it as if she had only just thought of it. "Dunno! I guess I got distracted! Spicy cupcakes, I mean, who wouldn't be!?"

"I can name a town or two..." Dash delivered, her eyes half-mooned as she sniffed the air. "Hey, what's that smell? Is that my tailored cupcake?" She asked, suddenly completely interested in the cupcake that only took her unabashed agony to create. "It smells great!"

"It smells... brash," Applejack mentioned, thinking it over. "Sure as sugar fits you, Dash."

"Quiet AJ!" Dash shot back, her hooves on the counter as she picked herself up. Applejack took note of the pegasus' outstretched wings and swishing tail and chuckled to herself, turning towards the exit. Rainbow Dash noticed the orange pony's departure and called after her, "Hey AJ, where you goin'? Don't you want some of these cupcakes?"

"Nah, they're all yours, Rainbow!" Applejack called back, sidestepping Gummy as the alligator appeared on the main floor, its unfocused eyes paying equal attention to the floor and the wall at the same time. "You gotta keep a leash on that little rascal, Pinkie, somepony's liable to trip over 'em! Bye girls!"

"See ya AJ!" Pinkie Pie waved a mitted hoof while Dash silently waved goodbye to her friend. Yeah, she kicked her, but it was an accident, Dash admitted. Besides, it wasn't very cool of her just to snack on AJ's livelihood like that, so she might as well have deserved it. However, her thoughts were drawn away as Pinkie Pie revealed the specialty cupcakes, placing them on the counter to cool. The cupcakes were to be expected - a rainbow colored affair that Pinkie herself had dyed to perfection, and Pinkie had mixed just a dash of the rainbow in the frosting to give it a kick. Dash found she hadn't minded that much, as diluted Rainbow with tons of sugar wasn't so bad! Sweet and Spicy.

The girls enjoyed the rest of the afternoon, snacking on cupcakes as customers slowly trotted in and out on the slow day. However, before long Pinkie had to close up shop, and Dash made her goodbyes. The two friends, something that Dash had almost been convinced she would never refer to her relationship with Pinkie as again, parted on great terms, Dash commenting on, "The greatest cupcakes I've ever had!"

As she walked away, Dash felt an unsettling feeling. As if somepony was watching her. Looking about, she could see Pinkie Pie toiling away as she closed up Sugar Cube Corner, and smiled warmly. No need to be so paranoid after all. Stretching her wings, the pegasus took flight into the skies of Ponyville.

From atop his perch on the roof of the sugary building, a green shape stared off into the distance, following the trail of rainbow streaks across the sky. Focused purple eyes glared at the passing pegasus as it sucked on its toothless mouth.

"Soon...."