Early in the morning, just as the first rays of sunlight started inching their way over Ponyville, everypony was already awake, hustling about trying to make sure everything was ready for the evening’s celebration. After all, this was a very special day; it was fifty years ago to the day that the fair town of Ponyville was founded by the first settler ponies. It was also on this very morning that a young colt awoke to the sweet aroma of fresh baked strawberry pie.
Pipsqueak rubbed his eyes as he sat up in bed. He was used to waking up to the scent of strawberries, but he loved the sweet smell nonetheless. Pip jumped out of bed and rushed downstairs, to the kitchen where he found his mother, Strawberry Fields, taking a hot pie out of the oven and placing it on the counter to cool along with an assortment of other baked goods.
“Those sure smell yummy mum,” said Pip as he moved closer to the counter. He watched as his mother skillfully picked up a tray of strawberry tarts in her teeth and placed them in the oven. “Can I help?”
Strawberry closed the oven and turned to her son, who was bouncing up and down, eager to help his mother.
“Sorry Pip,” she said as she snapped back into action, running over to the sideboard, where she began furiously mixing a bowl of batter. “I’m really busy right now. I’ve got a dozen strawberry pies, three batches of strawberry tarts and, and enough shortcake to make strawberry shortcake for the entire town.” She set down the bowl and picked up a knife and started cutting up some fresh strawberries.
Pip jumped up on a chair by the counter, stood up on his hind legs, and reached for a full mixing bowl with his front hooves.
“Let me help, mum.” one of his hooves caught the edge of the bowl, knocking it from its place on the counter. Strawberry jumped when she heard the loud crash and turned to see a huge mess of batter, and broken bowl on her clean kitchen floor. “Oops, sorry.” said Pip, his face turning a light shade of red.
Strawberry just stared at the mess on the floor.
“Oh Pip, that was the batter for shortcakes. Now I’m going to have to make it all over again.” Pip’s mother started running around the kitchen searching the cupboards and the refrigerator. “Oh I hope I have enough ingredients.”
Pip sadly dug at the seat of the chair with his hoof. He didn’t mean to cause such a big mess; he just wanted the chance to help his mother in the kitchen.
“I’m real sorry mum,” he said, as he hopped down from his chair and started chasing Strawberry around the kitchen. “I can clean it up for you.”
“No Pip, that’s quite alright.” Strawberry exhaled slowly. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it. Why don’t you just go outside and play with your friends?”
“Awww, but I wanna stay and help you bake. Everypony else has something to do, even my friends. I’m the only one not doing anything.”
“Pip, I’m sorry. I know you want to help, and most days I’d say yes, but I don’t have enough time to keep an eye on you today.”
Strawberry Fields slowed down and looked at her son; she could see the sadness written all over his little, pinto face.
“Well, if you really want to help, there is one thing I can think of that you could do. And it would be a huge help to me.”
Pip’s ear perked up.
“What is it mum?”
“I placed an order with Rarity a few weeks ago for today’s special occasion, and I need you to go down to Carousel Boutique and check to see if it’s ready.”
Pip thought for a moment.
“Is that it?”
“Yup. I know it isn’t much, but it is very important that you do this for me. That order is for my dress and yours and your father’s suits for tonight. We wouldn’t be able to go to the party without them. Can I count on you?”
Pip smiled up at his mother.
“Yes ma’am, you can count on me.” Without another word, Pip dashed out of the kitchen and through the front door into the bright morning sun.
…
Pipsqueak made his way down the street towards Carousel Boutique, passing various ponies who were going about their morning, making their preparations for the big day. As he reached Sugarcube Corner, the young colt couldn’t help but slow his pace to take in the delicious scents of cakes and muffins that wafted from the open window. Pip licked his lips; he couldn’t wait to take part in the various confections that would make up the dessert portion of the evening’s celebration.
Further down the street, he passed by the three flower stands whose proprietors were busy making floral arrangements of many brightly colored flowers, the names of which Pip didn’t know. One of the ponies, a mare with a yellow coat and raspberry mane smiled at Pipsqueak as he walked by.
“Hey Pip,” she called, waving a hoof in his direction.
“Hello Miss Rose,” Pip said as he walked over to the stand.
“What’s a young colt such as yourself doing on this fine morning?”
“Mum asked me to go to Carousel Boutique to check on an order that she placed for tonight.”
Rose giggled as she ruffled Pip’s mane.
“You’re such a good colt, helping your mother like this. She must be very busy if she entrusted you with such an important task.
“Uh-huh, she’s spending the whole morning baking treats for the party tonight.” Pip dug at the ground with his hoof. “I wanted to help, but I just ended up making a huge mess.”
“Awww, cheer up Pip.” Rose gave the colt a reassuring smile. “Just think of all the fun you’ll have tonight. Oh, speaking of which,” she turned to the other two mares who were still arranging flowers, “I’ve got to get back to work. We’ve gotta get all these bouquets and center pieces finished and over to town hall to help set up for the party.”
“Ok,” Pip waved and smiled at the mares as he started heading back down the street. “G’bye Miss Rose.”
“Bye Pip” Rose called back to him.
Gee, Pip thought as he continued down the street, I guess everypony’s busy today. I better hurry up, just in case mum needs my help when I get home. The young colt smiled as he ran down the street towards Rarity’s dress shop.
…
It wasn’t long before Pipsqueak found himself in front of the familiar building that was Carousel Boutique. Pip had only been to the dress shop a couple of times before, but the ornate exterior with its decorative carousel ponies was unmistakable. Just he was about to push the door open, Pipsqueak heard a loud crash followed by an even louder shriek come from within the building. Against his better judgment, Pip slowly inched the door open and went inside.
Pip’s jaw hung open as he stared in shock at the sight before him: bolts of fabric were strewn everywhere, lengths of thread were had been unwound from there spools and were tangled in a heap in the middle of the room, and various gems of all different shapes and colors were scattered all over the floor. The mannequins that lined the wall near a sewing table were wearing half made dresses and suits, paper patterns still pinned in some places. Pip was shocked to see how Rarity could keep her shop in such disarray; she was usually a pony who required everything to be in perfect order. Just as he was about to step further into the room, Pip heard another loud sound come from behind a door on the other side of the room, which burst open as Rarity came running into the room, a bundle of ribbons and gems levitating in tow by a magical aura, followed closely by a little white filly whom Pipsqueak recognized as Rarity’s little sister, Sweetie Belle.
“Oh please oh please oh please!” chanted the little filly as she chased Rarity around the room. “Please oh please let me help.”
“No, Sweetie Belle,” Rarity said absentmindedly. “That’s quite alright. I’ve got far to much to do without having to clean up your messes.” She stopped at her workstation and set the hovering objects in a pile on the sewing table. “Why don’t you sit in the corner and keep out of my way.”
Sweetie Belle hung her head as she slowly made her way to a corner of the room where she lay down, her head resting on her hooves. Rarity didn’t even notice Sweetie Belles displeasure; she was to busy sorting through the different gems, looking for certain ones to use on dress that she was currently working on. “Hmmm, too big, too yellow, ugh, no, lavender simply won’t-” she stopped when she heard grumbling sounds coming from behind her. She turned to see her little sister lying on the floor, pouting.
“Oh Sweetie Belle,” Said Rarity as she walked over and put a foreleg around her little sister’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. I know you want to help, but I’ve got to finish up the last of these orders for tonight and they have to be perfect. I know that you always try your hardest, but…” Rarity paused when she noticed Pipsqueak standing in the doorway.
“Oh, uh, hello.” Rarity said with a smile as she made her way over to the colt, “Welcome to Carousel Boutique, where every garment is chic, unique and magnifique, how may I help you today?”
“I’m sorry to bother you Miss Rarity,” Pipsqueak said. “My mother asked me to stop by and check to see if her order was ready yet.”
Rarity walked over to her sewing table and pulled a small file box out from one of the drawers.
“Let me see.” She started sorting through the cards, “Your mother is Strawberry Fields, yes?”
“Yes ma’am. She said it was really important that I fetch it for her.”
“Ah yes, here it is.” she removed a slip of paper and started examining it. “So, that was one gown, and two tuxedoes for one stallion and one colt. Hmmm, give me just a moment, I think I have them in the in the other room.” Rarity trotted back through the door that she had come from, leaving the two foals alone.
“Hey Pip,” said Sweetie as she ran over to join the colt.
“Hi Sweetie Belle, been having a good morning?”
“Not particularly.” Sweetie Belle shot a dirty in the direction of the door her sister had passed through. “Rarity won’t let me lift a hoof to help. She’s afraid I’ll “make a mess.” Sweetie Belle couldn’t help but role her eyes; as much she loved her sister, Sweetie Belle found Rarity to be very difficult to get along with sometimes. She walked over to a one of the unfolded bolts of fabric and held it up, a look of mock surprise on her face.
“Oh Sweetie Belle, what have you done!?” She said, doing her best to mimic Rarity’s voice. “I need that fabric for Granny Smith’s dress and it’s very expensive, I cannot have you playing with it.” “Sweetie Belle, please stay out of my way, go sit in the corner until I call for you.” She rolled her eyes again.
Pipsqueak couldn’t help but laugh at Sweetie Belle.
“Wow Sweetie Belle that was a great impression.”
“You really think so?” Her mood seemed to improve at hearing the complement.
“Uh-huh, it was really funny, and quite spot on too.”
Sweetie Belle suddenly gasped in excitement as she whipped her head back to stare at her flank.
“Awww, rats.” She said, the smile fading from her face. “I was sure I had gotten my cutie mark in impersonations.”
“Don’t worry Sweetie Belle, I’m sure you’ll get your cutie mark soon.” Pip sat down next to the little filly. “And if it makes you feel better, my mum doesn’t want my help either.”
“She doesn’t? But didn’t she ask you to come here for her?”
“Yeah, but I wanted to help her make the pies and cakes for the party tonight. But, I ended up making a big mess instead.”
“Huh,” Sweetie Belle scratched her chin. “I guess nopony needs our help.”
“I guess you’re right.”
Both of the young ponies sat silently with sorrowful looks on their faces.
“I’ve got it!” said Sweetie Belle, sitting up in excitement. “Just because our families don’t need our help doesn’t mean that nopony else doesn’t.”
“Hey yeah,” said Pip excitedly, “I bet there are ponies all over town who could use our help!”
“Exactly. We just need to go find them, and help them.” Sweetie Belle stuck out her hoof to Pip. “What do you say Pip, would you like to team up with me to help other ponies prepare for the party tonight?”
Pip bumped Sweetie Belle’s hoof with his own.
“Uh-huh, I sure would.”
“Great, we can start with-”
“I’m back,” announced Rarity in a singsong voice as she reentered the room. “Pip, would you be able to come home back later. I’m afraid that somepony got a little over zealous with the glitter and made a complete mess of one of the tuxedoes. It’s going to take at least an hour to clean it, maybe more.”
“That’s ok Miss Rarity, ma’am,” said Pip. “Sweetie Belle and I are gonna go out and find somepony who needs our help.”
“What!? Bu-”
“Yay, this’ gonna be so much fun!” chimed Sweetie Belle. “Come on Pip, lets go already.” The little filly started running for the door.
“B-bu-” stammered Rarity.
“Hey, wait for me!” shouted the colt as he chased after Sweetie Belle.
“B-bu-”
“Don’t worry Miss Rarity, I’ll be back later for my mum’s order. Bye bye.”
“B-but…” Rarity didn’t have enough time to finish; seconds later she was standing alone in her shop. She couldn’t help but stare at the door; she was worried that the two little ponies were going to cause somepony trouble. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, she thought, shaking the image from her head. For now I must return to the task at hoof. Rarity trotted back over to her workstation and began sorting through gems again, the thought of the possible trouble her sister and Pip might cause completely escaping her mind.
…
On the other side of the door, Sweetie Belle and Pipsqueak sat down on the ground, plotting their next move.
“I think we should check with Twilight.” Said Sweetie Belle. “She’s in charge of the whole celebration; I’m sure she’ll be able to find something for us to do.”
“Hmmm.” Pip scratched his head. “What about your friends, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo?”
“Oh yeah. I bet the other crusaders would have tons of stuff that we can help them with.” Sweetie Belle got on her hooves. “I think Apple Bloom is helping Applejack and Big Macintosh over at Sweet Apple Acres. Maybe we should check there first. I mean, there’s always so much work that needs to be done on their farm.”
“Ok.” Pip jumped up enthusiastically and started running down the street. “Come on Sweetie Belle, let’s go.”
“Uh, Pip, Sweet Apple Acres is this way.” She pointed her hoof in the opposite direction Pip was running. The colt quickly changed directions and started running back the other way.
“Come on Sweetie Belle, let’s go.”
“Hey, wait up Pip.”
The two little ponies took off laughing down the street towards Sweet Apple Acres. Pipsqueak and Sweetie Belle were very happy to have run into each other; after the morning that they had been having, both ponies were excited to find somepony who needed their help. Even if it took them all day, Pip and Sweetie Belle were determined to help and be a part of the preparations for Ponyville’s fiftieth anniversary celebration.
