PINKIE PIE GETS A CREDIT CARD

By GeodesicDragon

The bakery at Sugarcube Corner was buzzing with activity. In the front of the shop, Carrot Cake and his wife Cup Cake were serving the many customers who had come in for breakfast. In the back, Pinkie Pie was rushing around the kitchen, creating the treats the customers so desperately craved. Her mane and tail were covered in dough, and her coat had turned white in places from generous coverings of flour.

The smells coming from the kitchen wafted through to the front of the shop, enticing the noses of the customers, prompting them to buy even more. The ringing of the till kept up a constant melody, and the baked goods kept coming and going.

As the morning drew to a close, it heralded the arrival of a grey pegasus, who entered the confectionery establishment with all the grace of a pony who desperately needed sugar. As she approached the counter, she took off the bag she carried on her back and dropped it next to a vacant table, claiming a place for her to sit and rest her aching body. The stallion behind the counter smiled warmly at her and spoke jovially.

"Hello, Ditzy!" Carrot said, "I can see that you've had a rough morning. So let me get you your usual. Two chocolate muffins and a smoothie, right?"

Ditzy nodded as Carrot went to fetch her order. She trotted over to the seat she had reserved and eased herself into it, letting out a content sigh as she relaxed. Picking the bag up from the floor, she took a wad of envelopes from it and placed them on the table.

"These are for you." she said, seeing Carrot approaching, a tray perched on his back. The aroma of the muffins entered Ditzy's nostrils, eliciting another sigh of content from the grey mare.

Carrot placed the tray on the table and picked up the envelopes as Ditzy fished around in her bag for some bits with which to pay him. After taking her payment, Carrot walked back to the counter, reading through the envelopes as he did so.

"Bill, bill, junk, bill..." he muttered, before one particular envelope caught his attention. It was addressed to Pinkie Pie, and the logo of the Bank of Ponyville featured prominently in the corner. Carrot felt the envelope nervously, his hooves making out the feeling of something within.

"What is it, dear?" Cup Cake asked of her husband, who was frozen in place, clutching the envelope with a look of fear etched on his face. His wife looked at him quizzically, before glancing at the envelope. Upon seeing the logo, her face took on a look similar to that of her husband.

"Please tell me they had the sense to turn her down." she said, "The last thing anypony needs is Pinkie Pie with one of these."

At the mention of her name, the pony in question appeared at the kitchen door, her mane, coat and tail still bearing the signs of a busy mornings baking. A warm smile was on her lips, and her eyes shone brightly. She opened her mouth to speak, but saw the envelope in Carrot's hoof.

Pinkie let out a gasp and propelled herself through the air, landing in front of the Cakes with practised grace. She took the envelope from Carrot, despite the iron grip he kept on it, and tore it open with her teeth. Unfolding the letter, Pinkie read it eagerly before hanging her head.

"Bad news, dearie?" Cup Cake asked gently, relief beginning to wash over her, "Not to worry, I'm sure you'll get it next time."

"It is bad news..." Pinkie replied, bringing her head up to look at the Cakes, "... because my credit limit is only ten thousand bits."

Cup and Carrot's jaws hung open in shock as the smile reappeared on her face. From the paper, she pulled a small plastic rectangle, which she proceeded to hold above her head as if it was a treasure she had recovered from a dank dungeon.

The Cakes looked on, dumbstruck, before Pinkie grabbed them both in a tight hug, her smile having transformed into a huge grin.

"Thanks again for letting me get a credit card on your account, Mr and Mrs Cake!" she said, as she continued to squeeze the two struggling bakers, "I'm going to use it to make my friends happy. Maybe I'll go to Canterlot and get them some gifts, because everypony knows that's where all the good gifts are."

The deliriously happy party pony released her iron grip in the Cakes, who took in several gulps of air, before rushing out of the bakery and towards the train station, ignoring the fact she was still covered in flour and the remains of baked goods.

As far as everypony in Ponyville was concerned, it was just Pinkie Pie being Pinkie Pie. But as far as Pinkie herself was concerned, she was on a mission. A mission that would result in happy smiles on all her friends faces - which is what she aimed for the most in life.

This was a mission of friendship.

Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity and Applejack sat around a table in Sugarcube Corner. The clock on the wall was the only sound that could be heard, and each tick seemed to echo around the room.

Twilight cleared her throat and addressed her friends, eager to break the silence.

"Does anypony know why Pinkie Pie called us all here?" she asked. The others shrugged or shook their heads to show that they knew just as much as she did regarding the reasoning behind Pinkie's request for them to come to the bakery.

The five of them looked around the bakery. The premises had closed for the day, and the smell of cleaning fluids hung in the air. Small talk was made between the five waiting ponies, but a proper conversation failed to start.

Until the party pony appeared in the middle of the room. At her side was a large white box with an ornate satin bow.

"Hey, girls!" she said excitedly, "I'm so glad you're all here."

"What's this all about, Pinkie?" Rainbow Dash asked exasperatedly, "And more to the point... what's in the box?"

"What, this?" Pinkie replied, patting the box with a hoof, "It's a box. Which is full of gifts for all of my friends, since you're the bestest best friends I've ever had, ever! And since I love to see you all smile, each of your gifts is super special."

She undone the bow and opened the box, jumping inside it and emerged holding boxes of various sizes, each done up with the same kind of bow which was on the master box - which disappeared into thin air as soon as Pinkie climbed out.

The others knew better than to question this, so they watched as Pinkie looked at the tags on each box, giving them to the appropriate friend. Each one of them shook their box eagerly, with the exception of Fluttershy, who noticed that her box had several holes poked into the sides of it. She raised a hoof timidly.

"Um, Pinkie?" she asked, "Could I open mine first? ... I see that it has holes in it, which tells me there is a creature inside. And the idea of them being cooped up inside a box is just too much."

Pinkie nodded and Fluttershy gently removed the bow and slowly took off the lid. She cast a gaze inside the box - which was returned by a large eagle. The bird poked its head outside and stretched its wings before taking off and flying around the bakery, eventually landing on Fluttershy's head.

"An eagle?" Fluttershy asked, "But I already have one ... not that I don't appreciate this one, of course. It's really kind of you to get him for me, Pinkie."

"It's a 'she', actually." Pinkie replied, "Now the eagle you have already can have a friend! And who knows? Maybe you'll get a lot of baby eagles next year!"

She grinned.

"A female eagle?!" Fluttershy squealed, "But how did you get one? I tried all the pet shops in Ponyville, and they told me to go to Canterlot, but the prices there are really expensive and -"

"It's no problem, Fluttershy!" Pinkie said, holding up a hoof, "As I said, I love to see you all smile. And nothing makes you smile than seeing that all the critters are happy!"

Fluttershy nodded in agreement and gently scratched the eagle's chin with a hoof. The bird squawked happily and rubbed her head against the butter pegasus, who let out a small giggle. The two sat in contended silence as Pinkie turned to Twilight.

Twilight saw Pinkie looking at her intently, so she picked up her box and opened it. Her eyes widened upon seeing the book inside, which lay nestled between several sheets of tissue paper. She delicately removed the tome from its resting place and cast a glance over it, her hooves running over the slightly battered cover. Upon reading the title, Twilight shrieked with glee.

"A first edition copy of Starswirl the Bearded's biography, written by Clover the Clever?!" Twilight put the book down and bounded around the bakery in a similar fashion to when she finished telling the Cutie Mark Crusaders how she got hers. Rainbow Dash stifled a laugh at the unicorn's antics, while Pinkie Pie's grin threatened to consume her face.

"I saw it in a book shop in Canterlot after I got Fluttershy's eagle." Pinkie said, "I knew you'd like it, especially because it's signed."

Twilight stopped bounding and shot back to the table. She picked the book up and carefully opened it. Sure enough, on the first page, Clover's signature graced one corner, the letters flowing into each other with practised grace.

Twilight put the book down and sighed. She walked over to Pinkie and hugged her, tears of joy in her eyes. Releasing the party pony, Twilight took a deep breath to prepare herself for what she was about to say to her friend.

"I can't accept this, Pinkie." she said woefully.

Pinkie looked at Twilight with a raised eyebrow before shaking her head furiously. She pointed at the book on the table forcefully, the look on her face saying everything for her.

"I don't mind, Twilight." Pinkie said, "I want you to have it. I wouldn't have got it for you otherwise! Now you get back on over there and enjoy your gift, you silly filly!"

Twilight opened her mouth to protest, but was cut off by the others shaking their heads and making cutting motions to their throats. She sighed and nodded, turning back towards the table.

"Me next!" cried Rainbow Dash, seemingly eager to break the tension in the room. She opened her box roughly, tearing off the wrapping paper and bow, throwing them into a pile on the floor. Removing the lid, Dash saw a pile of powder blue fabric. She raised an eyebrow sceptically before taking the object out of the box. Her face fell slightly upon seeing it.

"Oh boy, it's... another replica Wonderbolts uniform." she said sarcastically, "Hooray, another one for me to add to my ever-growing collection. Thanks, Pinkie... I guess."

Pinkie's smile faded slightly at her friend's indifference. She trotted over to Dash and pointed at the neck of the uniform. Taking the hint, Dash looked at where Pinkie was pointing. A label caught her attention, and she looked closer at it. As she did so, her eyes widened in shock, and a squeal broke from her lips.

"This is SPITFIRE'S UNIFORM?!" she shouted, "I'm actually holding a real Wonderbolts uniform, which used to belong to Spitfire? I can't believe it! Pinkie, this is awesome! How did you get this?!"

"Charity auction." Pinkie replied. Dash raised an eyebrow at the simple explanation, but eventually shrugged and began fawning over the uniform, caressing it in various places while letting out the occasional fangirl squeal of approval. Content that her friend was happy, Pinkie looked towards Rarity.

The elegant unicorn began to unwrap her present with ladylike precision, using her magic to gently remove the paper and untie the bow, before placing both to one side. She lifted the lid of the box, and her face was bathed in a red glow.

Reaching into the box, Rarity felt something hard, yet its surface was smooth. Grasping the object firmly, she lifted it out. She soon found herself looking at a fire ruby which was clearly twice the size of the one Spike had given her.

Letting out an unladylike squeal of glee, the alabaster mare shot from her seat and enveloped Pinkie in a tight hug, which the party pony returned with gusto. Breaking away after a moment, Rarity coughed gently, a small blush on her cheeks.

"I love it, darling." she said, "I remember seeing this gem in the window of a store in Manehatten, but it was rather pricey. However did you afford it?"

Pinkie tapped her nose with a hoof and winked. Rarity returned the gesture with a nod, and sat back down to admire her gift, her mind already filling with ideas of what she could use it for. Pinkie turned to Applejack and grinned, nodding her head towards the unwrapped box on the table in front of them.

Applejack opened the gift in the same way Rainbow Dash had opened hers. Another pile of paper and ribbon joined the one on the floor as Applejack opened her gift. Inside lay a single sheet of paper, bearing an important-looking seal. Removing the paper, Applejack cast her eyes over it.

Soon, they were full of tears. The others saw this and looked at their friend with concern. Wiping her eyes, Applejack sniffled and looked towards Pinkie, who wore a look of worry. Placing the paper on the table, Applejack got up from the table and walked over to Pinkie, before scooping her up in a bear hug.

"Thank ya, Pinkie." she said, the tears flowing freely, "This means a lot ta me and mah family. Though Ah have ta ask... why did ya do this? And more to tha point, how did ya do it?"

Pinkie released herself from Applejack's grip and smiled warmly. Rainbow Dash, her curiosity piqued, looked at the box containing the farm mare's gift. Inside was the deed to Sweet Apple Acres - with the Apples themselves listed as the owners.

"Why did I do it? Because you're my friend, AJ!" Pinkie said, "As for how... well, that's for me to know, and for you to never find out. EVER. Just be glad that I did. You should all know by now that I'll do anything to see my friends happy."

As Pinkie finished talking, she saw that her friends all had smiles on each of their faces. Each of them beamed from ear to ear. And soon, they had Pinkie trapped in the middle of a group hug, each of them expressing their gratitude for the generous gifts she had so thoughtfully bestowed on them.

Waving goodbye that night, Pinkie closed up the library and climbed upstairs to her bedroom. Slipping between the covers, she sighed contentedly before sleep took her. Her dreams that night were full of fun and laughter, and throughout the night, the smile never left her face.

As the hammer struck each nail, Pinkie winced. She stood outside the bakery and watched as the boards were placed over the windows. A large stallion fixed a notice to the door, telling everyone who read it that the building had been seized.

Pinkie's mane and tail were straight, much like the faces of the Cakes, who stood nearby with their belongings, watching in horror as their home and business was taken from them. They cast a disapproving look at Pinkie, who shied away further, her eyes brimming with tears of sorrow and regret.

With a dejected sigh, Pinkie turned around and walked away from the scene. As she left, the tears ran down her cheeks, while her hooves trampled the shredded remains of a small piece of plastic.