Popped

Part II - A Kick In The Teeth

The sun rose above Equestria to signal the beginning of another beautiful day, its bright glow reflecting off the morning dew. As its radiance filtered through the window to the Cakes' bedroom, its soft, yet invasive light removed the two spouses from their dreams, tired eyes slowly opening to return them to consciousness.

Like every other morning, the Cakes groggily dragged themselves out of bed in order to begin their early morning preparations for the day. Running a family-owned business, especially in the food industry, required such adamant dedication. Carrot Cake got to work gathering the ingredients needed to create the various baked goods offered on the bakery's menu, while Cupcake prepared the kitchen's machinery for another long day of baking.

After setting a few metal bowls on top of the counter, Carrot turned to look at his wife. However, as he gazed into her eyes, He couldn't help but notice something unusual about them. His normally cheerful spouse carried with her a worried expression as she stared, almost as if in a trance, out the kitchen's window, its glass panes stuck with frost after a cold winter night.

Carrot Cake put down the measuring cup he was holding in his mouth. "What's wrong, sugarplum? Is everything okay?" he said, turning towards her.

"Oh, it's nothing, honey." She said, turning a knob to preheat one of the kitchen's many ovens. "I'm just a bit worried about Pinkie Pie. She's been gone for two days now. It's not like her to leave without notice like this."

Carrot carefully measured three cups of flour before turning back to Cupcake. "I know, muffin, but I wouldn't worry about it. I'm sure she's perfectly safe with her family. She probably just forgot to leave a note behind. You know how that mare is sometimes."

"Oh, I hope you're right, marshmallow." She said, in between placing a tray on the counter and closing the oven door. "I know she's a full-grown mare, but I still worry about her sometimes."

"Why don't we write to her? Just to check up? I'm pretty sure we have the farm's address somewhere around here."

"Oh no, we couldn't do that. She's not a foal, honey." Cupcake said. With a grin, she greased the tray laid in front of her. "Although sometimes it's hard to tell."

The couple shared a laugh together, happy to be able to put away their worries and face the long day of business ahead.

A few hours later, Carrot Cake trotted over to the bakery's front door to flip over the sign that read "Sorry, we're closed!" so that the words "Come in! We're open!" were visible to ponies passing by in the streets. And like magic, moments after the bakery opened its doors for the day, customers began flowing into the store, eager to satisfy their morning hunger.

* * *

Pinkie Pie was usually an early riser. Of course, she was required to get up early for her job, but even on her off days she made an effort to wake up before anypony else.

There was just something so relaxing about it all. Although those who knew the mare might think it unlike her, the morning was Pinkie Pie's special little moment where she could just sit on her balcony with a mug of hot cocoa, feeling the warm ceramic between her hooves. She could relax as she watched the sunrise, basking in its warm glow without a worry in the world. After all, Pinkie Pie loved living her life, so why would she ever want to sleep through any of it?

This morning, however, was different for Pinkie. The sun's light didn't touch her face, teasing her awake with its meddlesome glow. Instead of her brightly-painted room, filled with the sugary smells of the kitchen below, Pinkie Pie awoke to darkness, accompanied by the sharp, rather unpleasant smell of her own sweat that lined the interior of the bucket on top of her head.