Second Chances

Second Chances
By Hero541
Chapter 11: I Really Can’t Have Coffee

Josh walked through Ponyville, still fuming over the events that had just transpired. Sure, he’d been a little harsh about Vinyl (that was the anger talking) but that didn’t give that crazy bitch the right to just run in and punch him like that. With any luck, talking to Frosty or anyone else in the bar would help him feel better.

“Well, Ah’ll be. Long time no see, stranger!”

Josh turned to the source of the voice, and saw Applejack trotting up to him.

“How’re ya’ll doin?” she asked, smiling widely up at the human.

“I’ve been better…” said Josh, thinking back to just a few moments ago.

“Well, that’s too bad.” replied the orange pony, her smile fading a little, “Anything Ah can do to help?”

“Probably not, AJ. Sorry.”

Josh turned back and began to continue his walk towards the pub. Applejack galloped after him, catching up to him and falling in step with his strides.

“Ah was just about to head over to Sugarcube Corner and see Pinkie.” she said, “She said she’s got some kind a new treat over there and wanted me to drop by and try one.”

Josh said nothing to that, simply continuing his walk.

“Pinkie Pie’s treats can make anypony have a good day.” she continued, peering up at Josh, “Maybe it’ll help put you in a better mood.”

Josh still said nothing, but stopped and stared at the farm pony. If she had any idea how his morning had started, she might think twice about even talking to him, let alone offering to take him to get sweets. However, as Josh looked at her, that sweet, genuine smile on her face got to him, and he relented.

“Sure,” he sighed, causing Applejack’s already wide smile to become even wider, “I’ll go with you AJ.”

*****

In only a few minutes, Applejack and Josh stood outside the cake-like building that was Sugarcube Corner. If Josh didn’t know any better, he wouldn’t be surprised to see a few ponies gnawing on the sides of the sweets shop. The entire thing looked like a giant gingerbread house, complete with two large cupcakes on the top. Atop the highest cupcake sat three giant candles which were lit, a nice touch, if he had to say so himself. From the outside, he could smell the sweet aroma of sugary baked goods.

As they walked in, Josh noted that the shop was fairly busy, considering it was still kinda early in the morning. A blue mare with kind eyes and a swirly pink mane and tail wearing an apron was helping a small line of customers with their purchases at the counter, while a yellowish-orange stallion trotted back and forth from the kitchen to the front. Both immediately took notice of Josh once he walked in with Applejack and momentarily lost their train of thought.

However, they recovered quickly and traded places, with the mare now going back and forth between the kitchen and the counter, and the stallion manning the counter.

“They seem a might busier than usual today.” said Applejack, voicing Josh’s original thought, “Ah wonder where Pinkie is?”

As she said those words, a pink blur shot across Josh’s field of vision, causing him to turn around quickly. Upon seeing nothing behind him, he returned to his original position, only to see a bright pink mare with a poofy pink mane and tail standing in front of him, smiling widely. The unexpectedness of her appearance caused him to jump back in surprise, bumping into a lavender unicorn who had just walked in.

“Hi there!” said the mare excitedly, bouncing in place in front of Josh, “I’m Pinkie Pie! Who’re you?”

Before Josh could recover enough to answer, Pinkie cut him off.

“Wait, I know you! I mean, I don’t know you, but I kinda know you. Then again, I can’t really say I know you yet. But I still know you a little!” she said, hopping like a rabbit with coffee, “You’re that guy who showed up on Applejack’s farm! It’s great to see you when you’re not all passed out and stuff like before! Do you do that a lot?”

“Do what a lot?” asked Josh, turning around to apologize to the pony he bumped into.

“Pass out, silly.” said Pinkie, giggling a little and resuming her bouncing.

Josh didn’t answer as he turned and saw Twilight rubbing her head.

“Sorry, Twi.” he said, looking down at the lavender unicorn.

“No worries… Oh, hey Josh.” she said, looking up at him and smiling, “Applejack’s here too?”

“Ah told Josh about Pinkie’s new treats, and he figured he might come along and try em with me.” said Applejack, glancing between Twilight and Josh.

“That’s what we’re here for too.” called Spike from on Twilight’s back, “Pinkie told us about them yesterday.”

“Well, ain’t that just dandy?” exclaimed Applejack, looking to Pinkie and smiling, “Now all we need’s Rarity, Fluttershy, and Rainbow and we’ll be all set!”

“I wouldn’t expect Rarity, if I were you.” said Josh, “She’s had a bit of a hard morning.”

“That’s terrible! Should I throw a party to cheer her up? That’s what I’ll do! It’ll be a ‘Sorry You Had a Bad Morning, I Hope This’ll Help, Pinkie and Your Friends Are Always Here For You Party’!” shouted Pinkie, drawing the attention of everypony nearby in the store.

“Pinkie!” called the stallion at the counter, “could you please keep it down a little? We just got the foals to sleep, and we don’t need them waking up.”

“Oops.” said Pinkie, stopping her bouncing, “Sorry Mr. Cake.”

The party pony gestured to Twilight, Spike, Applejack, and Josh to follow her into the kitchen. They all did so, Josh sticking to the ponies as if being around them somehow disguised him. Once in the kitchen, Pinkie busied herself with a tray in the oven as the others stood around, eagerly awaiting what she had for them.

“I give you a new special recipe I’m trying out called ‘Pinkie Pie’s Super Duper Spectacular Extra Wonderful Breakfast Cookies!”

Presenting the tray to the assembled ponies, dragon, and human, each one began to salivate. Pinkie set the tray down and picked up a spatula in her mouth, pulling off each cookie and placing them on a large cooling rack. Cookies from earlier sat on a lower part, and everypony and Josh grabbed one. Josh took a big bite of one, savoring the incredible treat. Everypony let out a collective sound of approval, causing Pinkie to beam with pride.

“Pinkie,” said Spike dreamily, “these are unbelievable!”

“You’ve certainly outdone yourself this time, Pinkie.” said Twilight, her eyes closed as she enjoyed her cookie.

Applejack said nothing, merely nodding in approval.

“I’ve gotta admit,” said Josh, finishing his treat, “these are awesome! Mind if I try another?”

“Be my guest!” she said, gesturing to the rack.

Josh and everypony else reached for a cookie, taking a bite of their own simultaneously and savoring the flavor. Josh noted the sweetness and chewiness of the treat, as well as a slight bitterness that followed after swallowing a bite. It was kind of familiar, yet he couldn’t quite pinpoint it…

Suddenly, his stomach rumbled violently, causing everypony to stop what they were doing and look at him. He felt as if his guts were gonna drop right out of his body, and he immediately searched for a bathroom.

“You okay, Joshie?” asked Pinkie, noticing the panicked look on his face.

“Bathroom… NOW!” he said, his eyes becoming wild.

Pinkie pointed to the room behind her, and Josh darted towards it, slamming the door behind him. What happened next was so unholy and disgusting, that it’s better to not be described in this text. However, it can be said that Josh nearly sent all his internal organs into the toilet with the violent method in which his bowels were voided.

“Joshie…” Pinkie called hesitantly, “You gonna be okay?”

“Pinkie… what the fuck… did you put in those… cookies?” he said.

“Um, let’s see…” said the pink pony, sticking out her tongue and looking up to the ceiling, “milk, sugar, eggs, coffee, flour…”

“You put… coffee in them?” he called, nearly ready to pass out from the smell in the bathroom.

“Well, yeah. That’s why they’re breakfast cookies.”

“I… can’t have caffeine…” he said, “It’s a n-natural d-diuretic. It fucks with… m-my digestive system!”

“… Oh.” Pinkie said simply.

Everypony in the room looked towards her, and she smiled, the squeaky noise sounding.

“Seriously! What the fuck is that noise?!” screamed Josh from the bathroom, continuing to void his innards.