Baby Cakes

Pony's Log Number 213: Baby Sitting two newborn foals is not for the faint of heart. Even I knew I was way over my head when asked to help Pinkie do it...

Today, the main seven were at the Ponyville General Hospital. Nopony was hurt or sick by the way. This was an exciting day! Mr. and Mrs. Cake had just gotten a new addition to their family. The seven ponies were chattering with each other excitedly as they peeked behind a large glass window to see where the new foal was amongst the rest of sleeping baby ponies.

"Can you believe the baby is finally here?" Applejack said excitedly.

"Cup Cake and Carrot Cake must be so proud," said Twilight.

"I thought Mrs. Cake's first name was Sapphire?" Mario asked. He had asked the baking mare himself that question.

"She prefers Cup Cake for obvious reasons," Twilight answered. Mario hummed in understanding.

"I wonder if it's a filly or a colt?" Rarity asked.

"We should find out soon," said Mario and then looked at Pinkie, "Hopefully, before Pinkie dents the window..."

"I wanna see the new baby pony!" Pinkie said excitedly as her faces was practically pasted to the window. It was then Mr. Cake arrived. The fuzz on his muzzle showing that he hadn't shaved in a while. (Apparently male ponies need to do that too.)

"Meet our son, Pound Cake," said Mr. Cake. He then removed a blanket to show a white foal with a brown mane and tail and tiny wings. Pound Cake gave a cute yawn and continued to sleep.

"Awwww..." said the seven ponies.

"...and our daughter, Pumpkin Cake," added Mr. Cake as he removed a second blanket from another baby bed. There was another baby that had a butter cream colored foal with orange mane and tail in the colors of the father. She also had a tiny little horn on her head as she sucked her fore-hoof.

"Huh?" said the seven ponies in surprise.

"Two new foals for me to play with?" Pinkie gasped, "That's two, two, two times the fun! This is the greatest day ever!" Pinkie then ducked down and was suddenly inside the baby room with a party hat on her head and a noise maker in her mouth.

"We need to celebrate your birthday, babies," Pinkie told the two foals, "'cause you were born today! Woo-hoo!"

"Shhh," said a pony names Nurse Redheart sternly, "The babies are trying to sleep."

"But I was just-"

"Shhh," Nurse Redheart cut Pinkie off.

"But-"

"Shhh!" Nurse Redheart repeated more firmly as she walked away. Pinkie then waited for the nurse to leave the room before looking at the babies again.

"Happy, happy birthday to and to you today-" Pinkie sang in a quiet tone as Mr. Cake just rolled his eyes in the background. Then Nurse Redheart made her return. She gave Pinkie a glare before tossing her out of the baby room. Mario just rolled his eyes at Pinkie.

"Now how in thunderation is one of them twins a Pegasus and the other one a unicorn?" Applejack asked curiously. The others ponies, minus Pinkie, had the same question on their minds."

"Easy," said Mr. Cake, "My great-great-great-great grandfather was a unicorn. And Cup Cake's great aunt's second cousin twice removed was a Pegasus. That makes sense, right?"

"I guess..." said Mario as he scratched his head while the others gave no reply to Mr. Cakes family tree information. Mario knew alot of school subjects, but genetics wasn't his forte.

"Aw yeah!" said Rainbow, "Heh, just you wait! Once little Pound Cake get his wings going, he'll be all over the place."

"And be careful around Pumpkin Cake," said Twilight.

"Baby unicorns get strange magic surges that come and go," Rarity added.

"That's true," said Mario, "one of those magical surges saved my life." The others nodded in agreement, including Mr. Cake. It was then Pinkie reappeared inside the baby room again. How she kept getting in there was anyone's guess.

"Quick! Make a wish and blow out your candles!" Pinkie told them, "Which is easy 'cause there's zero candles! You are zero years old, after all!"

"Shhh!" said Nurse Redheart sternly, making Pinkie face plant the cake. Pinkie just smiled as frosting covered her nose and chin. The others just looked annoyed at her.

(Main Theme)

Some time had passed since the twins had been brought home. Pound and Pumpkin Cake were now crawling about on the floor of Sugarcube Corner. Each of them wearing a party hat as Carrot Cake arrived with a huge package of baby diapers on his back. Pinkie then set a small cake between the two and began to sing.

[Pinkie Pie]

Happy month-i-versary to you and you today!
I-can't-believe-you're-aleady-a-month-old.
Time-sure-flies-doesn't-it-wow.
Seems-like-only-yesterday-you-were-born.
But now yo're a month old today, hey!

As Pinkie sang, she put a noise maker in each other their mouths and did her usual of getting into a pony's face from random angles. She then finished by popping out of the cake and the twins blew their noise makers happily. The twins giggled excitedly before jumping onto Pinkie as she continued to play with them. Mr. Cake looked at them with some concern before he smiled and went back to his work.

"Are you ready for your favoritest game in the whole wide world?" Pinkie asked excitedly as she rushed toward some sliding doors that led into the another room with some shelves, "Where's Pinkie Pie...? Here I am! Where's Pinkie Pie...? Here I am! Where's Pinkie Pie...? Here I am!" The twins just laughed happily. On the other side of the doors, Mrs. Cake was busy with something on the shelves as Mr. Cake set own some boxes loaded with various goods inside.

"Here I am! Here I am! Here I am!" Pinkie repeated before blowing them a playful raspberry and headed back into the main room. Mr. and Mrs. Cake shared a look of concern.

"Everything okay in there?" Mrs. Cakes asked as she peeked inside the main room and saw Pinkie making funny faces with the twins, "Who needs a diaper change?"

"Don't worry, they're fine!" said Pinkie as she picked up Pound Cake in her fore-hooves, it was then a foul smell started to drift from his diaper. Pinkie caught a good sniff that made her lean away from him, "oogh, I mean..."

"Oh, I got it," said Mr. Cake as he brought over two fresh diapers on his tail. He quickly set both babies on a table and quickly removed the stinky diapers and tossed them into a trash bin set up in the corner of the room. After adding a little baby powder, Mr. Cake easily put on some brand new diapers. The twins just giggled at their father and Pinkie just watches them with a smile on her face as Mr. Cake washed his fore-hooves.

"Is anypony hungry?" Mr. Cake asked out of the blue.

"Ah, no thanks," Pinkie replied as she kept smiling at the twins, "I just had a big breakfast."

"I'm on it," said Mrs. Cake as she brings to twins two bottles. With a flick of her tail, the bottles were tossed into the air as Pound and Pumpkin caught them and began to suck the milk out of them. Pinkie watched them drink for a few seconds before she found herself growing rather bored. She even began to look at her custom made wrist watch that she apparently made herself. The babies sighed as they finished and set their bottles aside once, but then they began to groan with discomfort.

"Oh, oh, you're making funny faces!" said Pinkie, "I have one! Bleghhh!" Pinkie tried to make faces with the twins as Mr. Cake laughed.

"No, y'see, Pinkie," Mr. Cake explained, "the babies need to be burped!" He then sat down and held each foal so he could lightly pat their backs. It wasn't long before both foals let one a nice BURP in reply.

"All set now? Everything good?" Pinkie asked eagerly, "Okay, who wants to play again?" The twins giggled excitedly they hopped out of their father's fore-hooves and crawled after Pinkie. Pound Cake then noticed a stack of playing blocks and knocked them over. He went to stomp on them when Mrs. Cake grabbed him.

"Uh uh uh, Pound Cake," said Mrs. Cake, "no pounding things." Pound Cake just smiled. Then Pumpkin noticed a discarded bottle of baby powder and stuck it into her mouth. (Fortunately from the bottom end and not the top.)

"Uh uh uh, we don't chew on things, Pumpkin Cake," Mrs. Cake told her as she removed the bottle from her mouth.

"Except for food," Pinkie added when suddenly Mrs. Cake gave a dramatic gasp.

"Food!" Mrs. Cake replied, "Great cinnamon sticks, I completely forgot!"

"No, you just fed them bottles, remember?" Pinkie replied calmly.

"Not the babies' food!" said Mrs. Cake.

"Gh! The food for the enormously big catering order we have to deliver today!" Mr. Cake replied.

"Oh, with the new twins, we've been so distracted!" said Mrs. Cake. Pinkie and the twins just smiled as the two ponies were panicking. Then as if fate had heard their panic, a certain colt entered the shop.

"Good afternoon Mr. and Mrs. Cake," said Mario cheerfully and then flinched as how flustered they looked, "Whoa...guess it was a good thing I came by. I was looking to see if you needed some help." Mr. and Mrs. Cake beamed excitedly.

"Oh, you came just in time, Mario," said Mrs. Cake, "We need someone to babysit the twins while we work on a large rush catering order." Mario blinked before sighing to himself.

"I wish I could, but..." said Mario slowly, the fact the Cakes looked downcasted made more feel a insecure, "I don't know anything about babysitting two foals. I am barely managing three little fillies from time to time. I hardly know them as well as the rest of my friends. But I can help you with that rush order until you can find someone else who can do the job...if...if you don't mind me doing that much..." Mario groaned inwardly over the fact that he started talking like Fluttershy as the two parents felt panicky all over again.

"Gh, quick, honeybun," said Mr. Cake wearily, "we need to find a babysitter to watch the foals while we take care of this! Mario, if you can get started on that order for us, we would be very grateful." Mr. Cake put on a saddleback baby carrier onto Mrs. Cake as she put the foals into it. Mario just nodded as he headed into the kitchen.

"I could do it!" Pinkie offered, "I wanna do it! Oh, the babies love playing with me, I'll do it!" However the pink pony was ignored as the Cakes exited their shop.

"I wonder who would be available on such short notice," said Mrs. Cake to her husband as they made their way into town.

"Me! Me! Pick me!" said Pinkie Pie as she bounced up and down, but the Cakes continued to ignore her. It wasn't much longer before they arrived at Fluttershy's cottage and asked the yellow Pegasus for help.

"Oh I would love to babysit!" said Fluttershy as the Cakes smiled excitedly, "but I can't today sorry. I promised Angel we'd go on a picnic." This made the Cakes frown instantly as Fluttershy turned to show an already packed picnic basket with a very impatient bunny standing nearby.

"You understand don't you?" Fluttershy asked as she turned to face the Cakes, but then noticed that they were already leaving.

"Y-you're not mad at me, are you?" Fluttershy asked worried, but didn't get an answer.

"I'll do it! Pick me!" Pinkie offered as she cradled Angel in her fore-hooves. The Cakes then headed back into town and arrived at the Grand Oaks Library to ask Twilight, who shook her head in response.

"I have to finish this report for the Princess summarizing all my...oops...I mean Mario and I's other reports to the Princess," Twilight explained as the Cakes saw Spike holding several sheets of paper with his hands, feet, mouth, tail, and even his top scale. They quickly made their exit as Pinkie appeared cradling a book wearing a diaper.

"I wanna babysit!" said Pinkie, "Pick me!" But the Cake had already left and had headed to Sweet Apple Acres. The Cakes just smiled hopefully as Applejack was bucking some apples off some trees and putting them into baskets.

"Babysit? Now?" Applejack exclaimed in disbelief, "When there's a swarm o' hungry caterpillars headin' this way? I gotta get all these apples before they get swarmed on!" A nearby caterpillar crawled up to an apple on the ground and was about to take a huge bite of it when Applejack pulled the apple away. The worm look rather annoyed as the Cakes just exchanged worried looks and left.

"Ooh, ooh, I wanna do it!" said Pinkie as appeared cradling several apples in her fore-legs, but was ignored once again. The Cakes then found Rainbow sitting on a nearby cloud and asked her. The blue Pegasus wasted no time declining.

"I got tickets to the Wonderbolts show this afternoon," Rainbow told them, "Gotta dash!" Rainbow then zoomed away, making her cloud poof into thin air. Pinkie then appears holding a cloud wearing a diaper.

"Ask me!" Pinkie said as she juggled her cloud baby about, "Mememememememememememememe!" Pinkie than stopped when she missed her juggle and the cloud landed on the ground, causing it to disappear and leaving nothing but a diaper behind. Pinkie smiled sheepishly before taking off. The Cake's last stop was at the Carousel Boutique.

"Moi? Babysit?" said Rarity, "N- Oh nonononononononono! I'm flattered that you would think of me though." Despite being cheerful, Rarity's smile didn't help the Cakes feel any better as they panted heavily from exhaustion. It was then a certain pink pony stood before them with a toothy smile. They knew what she wanted to ask. They knew it all the time. It seemed that they had run out of...better...options.

"Pinkie," said Mr. Cake with a groan and unenthusiastic tone, "how would you like to babysit for us?" Pinkie gasped excitedly.

"I dunno," Pinkie answered casually, "I'll have to check my schedule." Pinkie was only teasing as she gave them both a smirk, but the two Cakes were too busy wondering if they had made the right decision. They didn't have much time to think about it as they returned to Sugarcube Corner and went to collecting the food they needed for their delivery. Since they had taken alot of time trying to find a babysitter, Mario had managed to get all but a single cake completed without much of a problem. While the Cakes were very grateful, they were more worried about the fact the lives of their month old twins were now in the hoofs of Pinkie. Mrs. Cake pulled Mario aside as he was trying to use his magic to cool down the cake layers so he could assemble it.

"Mario, I know you said you have no babysitting experience with foals and such," said Mrs. Cake nervously, "but...could you...help Pinkie out?" Mario blinked.

"You don't trust Pinkie to handle the twins?" Mario asked. Mrs. Cake just looked away uneasily.

"If you don't trust her, why didn't you just tell her no?" Mario asked the blue earth pony.

"Mario, please, will you just do this favor me?" Mrs. Cake pleaded, refusing to answer his questions. Mario just sighed.

"Does Pinkie know you're..."

"Mrs. Cake?" Pinkie peeked in.

"Yes, Pinkie, is something wrong?" Mrs. Cake asked frantically.

"No, I just wanted to ask if you're okay if I ask Mario to help me?" Pinkie suggested. Mrs. Cake blinked before she smiled.

"That's a wonderful idea," Mrs. Cake replied in a cheery tone, "Mario, do you think you could help Pinkie Pie?" Her smile was not only over the top, but also showed her desperation, which only Mario could see the later.

"Alright," said Mario uneasily.

"Yay!" Pinkie exclaimed a she hugged him hard from the side, "It will be like we're new parents! You can be the daddy and I'll play the mommy!"

"Pinkie..." Mario warned.

"I know, I know, you love Twilight, whatever," said Pinkie dismissively, "just let me have this okay? We're being parents after all, not going out on a date." Mario just groaned to himself as Mrs. Cake giggled before moving the rest of the goodies from the kitchen to their cart. Mario had offered them some of his freight cars, but Mrs. Cake declined since they were already short on time. Pinkie, Pound Cake, and Pumpkin Cake just watched as the Cakes rushed to load up their cart.

"Now, Pinkie, are you sure you really understand the responsibility of watching over two babies?" Mr. Cake asked the pink pony.

"I can be responsible," said Pinkie with determination, "Why, responsibility is my middle name. Pinkie Responsibility Pie."

"I thought your middle name was Diane?" Mario asked from the kitchen.

"Figure of speech!" Pinkie called out as Mrs. Cake got into the her face.

"But this time you need to take care of them, not just play with them," Mrs. Cake told her, "You have to be responsible."

"Yes, I know," said Pinkie plainly, "I will. I am. Remember, I have Mario here to give me a hoof if I should need one." Pinkie gave Mrs. Cake a salute. It was then a ding was heard in the kitchen and Mrs. Cake hurried inside and then came back into the main room carting an undecorated cake.

"Mrs. Cake wait!" said Mario since he was going to try decorating it.

"Oh, here you are, dearie," said Mrs. Cake as she tossed Pinkie a very, very long list, "All your responsibilities are on this list." Pinkie gasped.

"Whoa! That's alot of responsi-" Pinkie then recomposed herself, "Consider it done!"

"Mrs. Cake," Mario called out as he entered the main room, "The cake isn't decorated." Mrs. Cake noticed as Mr. Cake walked up to her.

"We'll frost it when we get there!" Mr. Cake told his wife, "C'mon sugarplum, tick-tick!"

"Sorry..." said Mario, feeling bad he was unable to finish the cake.

"You did your best, dear," said Mrs. Cake to Mario before turning to Pinkie, "Take good care of our two precious little ginger snaps!"

"No problemo, Mr. and Mrs. Cake," said Pinkie as she pushed Mrs. Cake out of the shop, "Everything is under control." Pinkie and Mario both waved at them goodbye as the Cakes returned the gesture and headed on their way. Pinkie had barely closed the door when the twins suddenly looked rather sad. Pinkie gave them a smile.

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

The twins both burst into tears.

"Uh-oh," said Pinkie, unsure of what to do.

"We're in trouble," Mario added nervously. The babies just continued to cry as Pinkie Pie frantically tried to think of a way to calm them down.

"Umm...maybe we should review that list..." Mario suggested to the flustered pink pony when she got an idea.

"I got this," said Pinkie confidently as Mario watched with interest.

"Oh, don't cry, little friends!" said Pinkie gently and raced towards the swinging doors, "Look, look! Where's Pinkie Pie...? Where's Pinkie Pie...?" The twins just looked at each other and continued to cry.

"Oh no...I'm right here, see?" said Pinkie as the twins continued to cry. Pinkie then tried to make funny faces to make them laugh. The twins paused for only a second before they went back to crying.

"Any more bright ideas?" Mario asked as he tried to cradle them both in his fore-legs to calm them down.

"Oh, think-think-think..." said Pinkie and then something clicked in her mind, "Aha!" Before Mario could ask what she had in mind. He was soon setting up a table for the twins to sit behind. The room had been darkened and a curtain set up. Mario was dreading what Pinkie was going to do. At least the twins had stopped crying and were just sitting blankly, wondering what was going on.

"Hey guys, watch this!" said Pinkie as she began her routine and applause was heard in the background.

"I didn't set up an applause track..." Mario pondered aloud as the twins looked at him.

"Hey, you're a wonderful crowd here tonight!" said Pinkie as she used the top end of a broom as a microphone, "Where y'all from?" Pinkie held the broom as the twins, who just looked at her blankly. It wasn't until Pumpkin Cake tried to bite the top of the broom that Pinkie pulled it away.

"Wow, that's great," said Pinkie, trying to continue her comedy routine, "Y'know. I used to have an ant farm, but I had to get rid of it because...I couldn't find tractors that small!"

BA-DUM-TISH

The twins just looked at her blankly as Mario just face-hoofed himself.

"Get it? Tractors that small?" Pinkie asked but just got more silence, puzzled faces from the twins and a glare from Mario. She tried to continue, "The other day, I spilled spot remover on my dog...and now I can't find him!"

BA-DUM-TISH

Pinkie revealed that she was the one who was doing the joke fanfare with a drum and symbol. The twins just stares for a moment before they started crying again.

"I'm kind of feeling like crying myself for such a sad performance," Mario remarked sympathetically.

"Gee, tough crowd." said Pinkie from the drums set.

"Tell me about it," Pinkie replied to herself as she returned to the stage, "Fine. I wasn't gonna pull off a show stopper, but you're a lovely audience and I think you deserve it!" Pinkie then ducked behind the curtain as Mario grew worried.

"Pinkie, if you're gonna do what I think you're gonna do," said Mario, "I really hope you picked a good smiley tune."

"You'll find out," said Pinkie as she popped up next to Mario and startled him, "cause you're gonna sing this song with me, daddy-kins!"

"What? WAH!" Mario was then pulled behind the curtain. After a few seconds of fast memorizing and choreography, Mario and Pinkie appeared on stage with a pig snout on their noses and began to sing.

[Pinkie Pie and Mario - as they sang, they bounced about on their tails (Mario curved his tail into a coil while Pinkie's tail is just naturally springy.) as well as their flanks. Pinkie also popped up between the twins during the singing. The twins just looked confused and annoyed.]

First you jiggle your tail! Oink-Oink-Oink!
Then you wiggle your snout! Oink-Oink-Oink!
Then you wiggle your rump! Oink-Oink-Oink!
Then shout it out! Oink-Oink-Oink!

First you jiggle your tail! Oink-Oink-Oink!
Then you wiggle your snout! Oink-Oink-Oink!
Then you wiggle your rump! Oink-Oink-Oink!
Then shout it out! Oink-Oink-Oink!

[Pinkie Pie and Mario - they noticed that the twins started to cry again. Mario gave Pinkie a worried look as they continued their dance and singing. Pinkie looks worried as well]

First you jiggle your tail! Oink-Oink-Oink!
Then you wiggle your snout! Oink-Oink-Oink!
Then you wiggle your rump! Oink-Oink-Oink!
Then shout it out! Oink-Oink-Oink!

Suddenly the song ended when Pinkie tripped, sending Mario tumbling into her. Together, they spin dashed into a nearby cabinet. The impact knocked a bag of flour off the top of the cabinet.

PLOOF!

The bag broke, covering the two ponies in white flour. The twins stared and then giggled at the sight.

"There, see?" said Pinkie to Mario, "Nothing to this babysitting business! Ugh!" Pinkie just plopped to the floor and Mario just groaned. He didn't know what was worse, being coated in flour or the fact Pinkie made him sing such a ridiculous song.

I know parents do anything to make their children happy, Mario thought, But there is fine line between doing something out of love that is worth embarassing yourself and just making a complete fool out of yourself and your children. I think Pinkie just help me find where to draw such a line... Mario didn't have much time to figure it out as he shook off the four from his coat, mane, and tail as Pinkie finally decided to examine the list of things she needed to do. Mario was beside her while reading the list as well.

"Snake time," said Pinkie once she saw the time noted on the list, "that's easy enough."

"Assuming they are even hungry," said Mario as Pinkie headed into the kitchen and pulled out two bowls of baby food, put the two foals into their high chairs and put the bowls in front of them.

"Okie-dokie! Eat up!" said Pinkie, but the twins just looked at the bowls of food, unsure about what to do. Mario just looked at Pinkie before grabbing a spoon with his magic. Pinkie flicked the spoon of his magic grip.

"I've got this," said Pinkie.

"Right," Mario remarked, rolling his eyes.

"Like this," said Pinkie as she picked up the bowl, "Num-num-num, num-num-num-num! Ahh!" Apparently Mario had just learned exactly how Pinkie ate her food. It suddenly made sense why the girl had such poor table manners. Pumpkin Cake just looked at her bowl, appeared to try and take a bite, but then knocked the bowl off the table and grabbed the table cloth.

"Nom-" Pumpkin Cake mumbled as she sucked on the corner of the table cloth and nearly pull it and a flower vase off the table.

"No, Pumpkin Cake," said Pinkie as she pulled the table cloth out of her mouth, "we eat food, not tablecloths." Pumpkin only responded by crying loudly.

"Pumpkin Cake," said Mario sternly, "If you don't want to eat, that's fine, but no more sucking or chewing on things that are not food, young lady..." He then turned to Pound Cake, who was banging his fist on the table, "...and you need to stop pounding your table. One of these days, you're going to..." As if Mario couldn't not have said that at the right time. Pound Cake banged his fore-hooves hard on the table, sending his bowl of food into the air and splattering on his head. Now he was crying along with his sister. Pinkie just looked at the two, struggling to think of what to do.

"Huh, huh?" Pinkie stuttered, "Uh, hey, guys, look at me!" Pinkie then rushed over to pick up a bag of flour. Then she pulled Mario next to her.

"Pinkie don't you-"

PLOOF

Mario was too late as Pinkie dumped the bag of flour on the both of them.

"Achoo!" Pinkie and Mario sneezed as the twins began to giggle happily. However, even Pinkie was feeling a bit annoyed.

"Yeah, I think I can see where this is going," said Pinkie.

"You coming up with dumb ideas and dragging me into them?" Mario replied. Pinkie just snorted in reply before she shook off the flour and headed into the bathroom to prepare the twins a bubble bath. Mario stayed behind the clean up Pound Cake's head and the rest of the discarded food before taking them into the bathroom with Pinkie. This had been easier said than done since both twins were bursting with energy. Mario had a hard time setting them onto his back and keeping them from trying to jump off as he brought them to the bathroom and set them on the floor with his magic. Pinkie had just turned the water off and Mario locked the door when the twins decided to take off at high speed. Pinkie and Mario tried to go after them, but they split up, causing Pinkie and Mario to crash head first into each other.

"I always knew you'd give me a headache," Mario said woozily and in a dorky tone before he shook his head to recover. Mario gave chase after Pound Cake. Mario might be the fastest unicorn alive, but Pound Cake's skill with changing directions made outrunning and guessing what direction Pound Cake would change to very difficult. And yes, Mario did try using his magic, but one could imagine how hard it is to pick up a moving target that constantly changed directions. Mario even got Pound pinned into a corner, but as soon he pounced, Pound, leaped over him, stomped his head and took off as Mario was left dazed for a few seconds. Pinkie cringed when Mario hit corner head first when she saw Pumpkin chewing on a bath towel.

"Towels are not food, Pumpkin Cake," Pinkie told her as Pumpkin pulled the towel off the hanging rack and took off with it. Both Mario and Pinkie split up to try and catch them.

"Drop it..." said Pinkie as the twins ran side by side.

"Drop it..." Mario repeated as he was chasing them instead.

"Drop it?" said Pinkie and Mario together as they met in the middle of the room and stopped since the twins had managed to shake them off their tails. Mario then heard a sound and gestured for Pinkie to follow him to the bathroom cabinet. He then pointed out a familiar brown tail sticking out of the cabinet and some muffled giggled coming from it. Pinkie then opened the cabinet door.

"Aha!" said Mario as the twins smiled and then zipped away before he could grab them, "Seriously? How are they faster than me?!"

"Never mind!" Pinkie retorted, "Where did they go now?" Mario then noticed a familiar pair of hooves under the shower curtain. Mario pointed for Pinkie to get them while he stayed some distance away. He had a plan. Pinkie headed over to the shower curtain. The instant she opened it, she went to grab them, but they dash away under her hind legs. The twins laughed as they made their escape, but then Mario landed in front of them.

"Surprise!" said Mario, startling the twins as Pinkie snagged them and dropped them both into the bathtub. The twins wasted no time crying loudly once more.

"Not again!" Mario groaned as he held his head with his fore-hooves. Pinkie thought for a moment before she got another idea.

"Ooh, look, guys!" said Pinkie, "Bubbles!" She began to blow about some of the bubbles and the babies started to smile as they saw the bubble blowing about. Pinkie then smiled as she made a bubble beard on her face. This game Mario an idea as he gathered some bubbles to make it look like he had a lion's mane and started to playfully growled at them. The twins laughed some more before a giant bubble appeared and popped as soon as it hit Pumpkin Cake's horn. This made the twins cry all over again. Mario was getting more uneasy. It seemed like these two foals just couldn't stay happy for a long period of time.

"Uh, uh, uh, uh, don't cry!" said Pinkie as she looked around. Mario then noticed something near the tub and smiled as he picked it up with his magic and handed it to Pinkie.

"Look, look uh, floating things!" said Pinkie as she showed them a rubber ducky and set it in the water, "Ooh, aaah, eeh!" The twins began to smile as it floated in the water.

"Rubber ducky, you're the one," Mario sang, "You make bath time so much...fun?" Mario stopped singing once he saw Pinkie started to load the bathtub with various types of floating toys, even a rubber life raft and paddles. This only made the twins began to cry once more as they made the toys and raft fly out of the tub. Mario groaned when Pound Cake's fore-hoof swatted the nearby water faucet, breaking it and sending a fast stream of water at them. Mario ducked just in time as Pinkie was knocked back by the strong spray of water. It even sent her crashing through the bathroom door. Mario then found a valve to shut off the water in the bathroom when Pinkie arrived soaking wet and with an annoyed look on her face. Mario scrunched his face to avoid laughing but couldn't hold it in.

"Pfft...HAHAHAHAH-!"

SLOOSH!

Mario then found himself drenched as Pinkie smirked at him.

"I really dislike you right now," Mario remarked.

"But you love me," Pinkie replied as Mario rolled his eyes when she pulled him close with one fore-hoof and Mario saw her holding another bag of flour over her.

"Uh, don't make me do it, guys!" Pinkie pleaded, "You know what happens when you mix flour and water, don't you?" The twins just glared and continued to cry,

"Pinkie, don't give into them," Mario pleaded, "There has to be better way! Stand strong and don't let them-"

PLOOF

Too late. Pinkie dumped the flour over herself and Mario. It didn't take long before the flour turned into unseasoned dough and they were now covered in it. The twins just giggled at the sight as Mario gave Pinkie a dirty look.

"You just had to pull a Fluttershy didn't you?" Mario asked her as Pinkie just looked indignant. Once bath time...for everypony...had been completed, Pinkie was reading the list again. This time, more attentively.

"Code Red! Code Red!" Mario shouted as he came running out of the room the twins were playing in with his fore-hooves over his nose.

"For goodness sake Mario would you-" Pinkie then froze as she caught whiff of a familiar but stinky smell. She gasped and held a hoof on her nose. "Smells like somepony needs a changy-wangy their diaper-wiper right now-a-wow!" Pinkie then turned to see Mario breathing heavily through a hazmat mask and rolled her eyes.

"Get that off!" Pinkie snapped as she ripped the mask off his face and toss it out of sight. Mario then whimpered.

"I'm not going in there!" Mario retorted when Pinkie pushed him forward towards the stinky room. Mario then conceded as Pinkie collected two diapers and Mario used his magic to hold a bottle of baby powder.

"Easy...easy..." said Pinkie quietly as they slowly made their way towards the now stinky twins, who were just playing and Mario locked the door despite the smell. They slowly peeked over the top of the cribs and went for the pounce. Once again, the twins giggled before zipping away. Mario and Pinkie plopped onto the floor. Pinkie sighed.

"You can run, but you can't hide!" Mario called out before putting a fore-hoof on his nose and added in a nasal tone, "Your diapers will lead us to you!" The twins had picked a place behind a dresser drawer to hide, even standing on their hind legs to make it easier to avoid being seen. Pumpkin Cake just giggled quietly to her brother as Pinkie and Mario spotted them.

"Viva la Vida!" Mario called out, which means "seize the day", as they pounced them and then a tussle commenced as the two ponies struggled to keep them still while they changed their diapers.

"HAH!" Mario shrieked when Pinkie handed him the two dirty diapers and Mario flung them away from himself. To his luck, both diapers landed perfectly into the trash can, but he was too busy trying to help Pinkie pin both babies down for powdering and clean diapers to notice.

"Wait- no- stay there- just- for a second," Pinkie struggled as Pound Cake nearly made his escape and Pinkie pulled him back. Pumpkin tried the same but Mario pulled her back as the tussle continued, "stand still- I've almost-." When the dust cleared, Pinkie found a diaper on her head and one on her flank instead of the twins. Pound and Pumpkin Cake laughed before taking off, sending Mario into the air and plopping onto his stomach.

"Oh, you've gotta be kidding me," Pinkie exclaimed.

DING DONG!

"Oh! Thank goodness they're home," said Pinkie, "Mario you stay here and try to get them into their diapers. I'm going to see who it is."

"B-b-b-but..." Mario protested, but Pinkie had already left the room and closed the door. Pinkie quickly opened the door to find, not the Cakes but Twilight at the front porch.

"Hi! I finished up the work I had to do," said Twilight, "so I'd thought I'd stop by and see if you needed any help. Whoa!" Twilight soon found Pinkie pulling her into the shop.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you for coming!" said Pinkie, "I can't begin to tell what my day has been like! I mean these babies just won't listen to reason, and don't even get me started on their taste in stand-up comedy. [Ba-dum tish!] I thought Mario would-"

"Wait...Mario is here helping you?" Twilight asked surprised.

"Well, duh," said Pinkie, "He's the most reliable pony to ask when you need help besides Applejack. At least he was until I found out how "helpful" he is with baby-sitting..."

"I am not surprised," said Twilight, "Mario is better with older foals and young ponies. He's not very good at handling babies. He doesn't have the patience for them."

"OH FOR THE LOVE OF CUPCAKES! WILL YOU BOTH STOP MOVING AROUND!" Mario bellowed from upstairs. Pinkie just chuckled sheepishly before groaning in embarrassment.

"It's okay, Pinkie," said Twilight as she walked about the main room, "I figured you would need some help. That's why I stopped by."

"Ex-cuse me?" said Pinkie, taking offense to Twilight's remark.

"Babies take a lot of work," said Twilight as she used her magic to organize some toys that had been scattered across the floor, "and some ponies are just not cut out to handle the responsibility."

"Is that so?" said Pinkie, now clearly offended before she pushed Twilight out of the shop, "Well, thank for stopping by, Twilight. Sorry, I don't have time to visit. I'm very busy with my responsibilities here. And I'm sure Mario and myself alone can handle things!"

"I'm happy to help!" said Twilight, "It's no trouble-" Before Twilight could finish, Pinkie had slammed the door on Twilight's nose. Pinkie was steaming.

"Well, of all the-" Pinkie vented as she removed the diaper from her head, "She thinks I can't handle things on my own! Maybe because I haven't handled things on my own. Even I can tell Mario looks rather lost...no...no, no, no, NO! Well, I can handle things on my own and with Mario with me, it will be as easy as cake! Besides, he's mine for the day and I'm letting Twilight take that away from me." Pinkie couldn't help being a tad possessive of Mario. While they had already settled the fact that they were only best friends and their relationship was more like a brother and sister, Pinkie still wanted as much time with the colt as she could. When she arrived and peeked into the room, she found Mario on the floor looking exhausted and several of his mane hairs were sticking up. He had pretty much given up putting on new diapers on them. Pumpkin Cake was just chewing on Pinkie's rubber chicken and sitting on the floor while Pound Cake was bouncing on his crib bed. Pinkie put on a stern face and walked into the room and first pulled Mario back on his hoofs.

"Chewing won't stop! Chewing won't stop!" Mario remarked with his left eye twitching, "Take away one object, she chews another and another and another! Same with jumping! Make it stop, it starts again, and again, and again, and a..."

SMACK!

"Snap of out it!" Pinkie yelled angrily as Mario rubbed his stinging cheek.

"Pound Cake," Pinkie growled to the jumping filly, "this is a crib. it is only to be used for napping, sleeping, and on occasion with permission, as a pretend old-timey Western fort. It is not a trampoline, so stop your jumping right now, mister!" Pinkie got into the baby colt's face as Pound Cake just smiled sheepishly.

"And you, young filly," said Pinkie as she turned to face Pumpkin Cake, "We do not put anything in our mouth that we cannot safely and properly digest. So stop slobbering on that toy this instant!" Mario thought for a moment that Pinkie was using Fluttershy's Stare because Pumpkin quickly dropped the rubber chicken, which made a loud squeak as Pinkie put her into the crib with Pound Cake.

"Now, we've all had a very exhausting afternoon," said Pinkie sternly, "and it's time for all good little foals to take their nap. So, fall asleep!" The twins only stared for a second before they quickly lay down and started snoring. Pinkie sighed as relaxed a bit, tucked them in, and kissed each of their foreheads.

"Sleep tight," Pinkie said sweetly before pulling up the side of the crib, and then removed the second diaper that she had removed from her flank and tossed it into the trash can. She then tossed the discarded rubber chicken into the closet and closed it. Mario turned off the lights as he and Pinkie turned to leave the room.

"Now that's what I call handling things," said Pinkie quietly.

"Good job Pinkie," said Mario in a whisper, "I'm sorry I haven't been much help. I've..."

"It's okay," said Pinkie as they both exited the room, "Lucky for you, I know how to handle things." Mario just chuckled as he looked back and gasped.

"What's...GASP?" Pinkie was about to leave the room when she found the crib...empty!

"Oh, nononono," said Pinkie frantically as she opened the crib and began searching about the room, "Not good, not good, not good!"

"I know you're not supposed to take your eyes off young foals and children for a second," said Mario as he searched the room as well, "but seriously! They were asleep for crying out loud! They're too young to know how to fake being asleep! Even I was at least six months before I figured out how to do that!"

"Just keep looking!" said Pinkie in a panic, "Pound? Pumpkin? Come out, come out wherever you are!" It was then Mario and Pinkie both heard a faint squeaking from the closet. Pinkie quickly opened the door to find Pumpkin Cake inside chewing and squeaking the rubber chicken inside. Pinkie just sighed in exasperation before putting her back in the bed. Mario just shook his head at her. He just couldn't understand why Pumpkin wouldn't stop chewing on things even after being told constantly not too. And if anypony asked, yes, he did try a pacifier and got beaned in the head with it.

"I don't remember your mother or father ever having a stubborn side," Mario said to Pumpkin Cake, who just squeaked the rubber chicken in reply.

"Just help me find Pound Cake," said Pinkie and then turned to Pumpkin Cake, "Whoa! You be a good little girl now, Pumpkin-wumpkin, and stay in your crib for pals, Pinkie-winkie and Mario...uhhh...Mario...okay seriously your name has no good for rhymes or nicknames!"

"I noticed," Mario replied with an eye roll, "let's just find Pound Cake." Pumpkin Cake seemed to agree as she squeaked the rubber chicken in reply. Pinkie couldn't help but feel a little creped out as she slowly walked away from the crib, but then looked back and saw Pumpkin Cake hadn't moved and just squeaked the rubber chicken. Pinkie then looked back two more times before she finally walked out of the room. Rather than constantly look back, Mario walked backwards from the door to make sure Pumpkin Cake didn't try to sneak out of the crib.

"Pound Cake?" Pinkie called out shakily as she closed the door to the bedroom, "Here, Pound Cake!" The wind then blew ominously about the dark hallway as the ghostly sound of giggling made both Mario and Pinkie uneasy as they huddled close to each other. Just as they looked behind themselves, a shadow raced past them in the foreground.

"Uh, Pound Cake? Uh..." Pinkie stuttered before she and Mario looked at each other and raced into their bedroom. Pumpkin Cake was still there, squeaking the rubber chicken. While, they should have felt relieved the little filly had stayed put, they still were missing a little colt. It didn't help that they heard the ghostly giggles once more. Pinkie and Mario held each other fearfully as they looked around the room, first at Pumpkin Cake's crib, then at Pound Cake's empty crib, then at Pumpkin again. Each time, the squeaking of the chicken started to sound more sinister as Mario was sure he was hearing chords from Psycho in the background. Pinkie then looked up and there on the ceiling was Pound Cake, giggling to himself and flapping his wings.

Wait...on the ceiling flapping his wings!?

"You can fly?!" Pinkie squealed.

"Even Rainbow didn't learn to fly this young," Mario remarked, "but don't tell her I said that!" Pound Cake just giggled to himself.

"Oh...get down here...this instant...young...colt!" said Pinkie tried as she tried to jump up and grab him, but her jumps were too short and was soon exhausted, "I'm responsible for you!" Mario then took a turn, even trying to use his flutter jump technique to give him more time in the air, but Pound Cake was slipperier then a bar of soap and Mario couldn't grab him either. Pinkie than grabbed a pair of suction shoes and walked her way into the ceiling and managed to grab Pound Cake as she made her way down. She had just gotten back on the floor when she and Mario noticed Pumpkin Cake trying to reach out for a toy from the toy chest. When she is unable to get it, she suddenly made her horn glow and the toy, which was a butterfly, literally flew over to her. Pinkie's jaw dropped making her release Pound Cake, who just hovered between Pinkie and Mario.

"Of all the times to get a magical surge," Mario groaned aloud, "Why NOW?!" Pumpkin quickly brought the butterfly and the other toys towards her and then picked the butterfly toy to suck on.

"Nom, nom, nom," Pumpkin Cake said contently.

"No, no, no, Pumpkin," said Pinkie as she took the toy away. Pumpkin then grabbed another toy.

"Nom, Nom," said Pumpkin Cake as she sucked on it.

"No, no," said Pinkie as she took that toy away. Then Pumpkin grabbed another toy.

"Nom," said Pumpkin Cake as she sucked on that one.

"No," said Pinkie sternly as she took that toy away as well, "Hmph! I am the responsible one, and I said no!"

"We should nickname the two foals the Déjà Vu twins," said Mario, "we keep dealing with the same thing over and over and over again!"

"Not anymore!" said Pinkie as she took all the toys and put them into the toy box. She then added locks and chains so Pumpkin couldn't use her magic to get the toys out again.

"Wheee!" said Pound Cake as he continued to fly about.

"That goes for you too, Pound Cake!" said Pinkie sternly as she jumped up to him but he ducked under her. Pinkie smacked into the wall and landed inside the dirty laundry basket.

"Are you okay?" said Mario as he helped her out of the basket. Pinkie just glared before she launched herself at Pound Cake and grabbed his hind legs.

"Gotcha!" said Pinkie Pie as she held on. Pound Cake struggled to stay in the air...for about three seconds, "I think?" Pinkie then yelped as Pound Cake flew out of the room with Pinkie holding onto him. Mario was agape.

"I always knew Pinkie didn't weight much but if a one month old colt can carry her...that just blew my mind," said Mario slowly. Meanwhile, Pound Cake had pulled Pinkie down the hall, making her bump into the walls, and then down the stairs as her flank bumped the steps as he took her through the kitchen. Apparently, some plates of food and treats had been left on the table and they were sent flying off the table as they flew by. Plus several pies splattered into Pinkie's face.

"Mm, razzleberry," said Pinkie before she continued to hold on tight to Pound Cake as he flew back and forth through the swinging doors, "I'm- not- letting- go! I'm- re-spon-si-ble!" Pound Cake then headed back upstairs. This time Pinkie got her chin bumped on the stair steps as they made their way back into the room. Just as they entered, Pinkie's poofy tail got caught on the door, stretching the pink pony for a second before she lost her grip and smacked backside into the door.

"I'll get him!" said Mario as he grabbed into Pound Cake's hind legs. He was then shocked when he found Pound could carry him too.

"You've gotta be kidding me!" Mario exclaimed asPound Cake then zoomed about the room.

"HOOOOOOOOOWAAAAAAAAAAAA-AYEAYEAYEAYE-OWOWOWOWOWOW-HOOOOOOOWAAAAAAAAAAAA-UGH!" Mario yelped and groaned when he finally lost his grip and smacked face first into a wall next to Pinkie. Pound Cake then hovered near his sister. Pumpkin Cake wanted to join her brother when she made her horn glow and she was soon hovering in the air alongside her brother.

"Oh, not you too!" Pinkie and Mario groaned as the twins flew together in the air before Pinkie used an upside-down playpen to trap them on the ground. She then quickly duck taped it so they couldn't fly out.

"Now who's the responsible one?" Pinkie boasted.

"You're staying in there until your parents come home!" Mario added with a smirk. Pumpkin then made her horn glow and she pass right threw the playpen mesh and giggled triumphantly.

"Wah?!" Mario gasped in shock as Pinkie looked agape as some hairs in her mane stuck out as well as Mario's. Pumpkin Cake just crawled about happily when Pound Cake used his wings lift the playpen and pushed it out of the way. Pinkie and Mario just watched with frantic looks on their faces as Pound Cake just hovered about. Now both of Pinkie's and Mario's manes were getting more frazzled as Pumpkin Cake used her magic to break the lock and chains. She giggled happily as she made all the toys fall around her and she began to sucking on one...again.

"No matter what we do, they keep outsmarting us!" Mario said, now panicking, "What do we do Pinkie? What do we...Pinkie? ...Sis?" Mario felt his tone break when he saw just how flustered and overwhelmed Pinkie looked. Soon the pink pony's bit her lip and her eyes got bigger.

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!"

Poor Pinkie burst into tears and began to sob loudly as her tears poured from her eyes like gushes of water. Mario felt his heartbreak as he held her close.

"Pinkie it's okay...it's...not okay! I'm sorry Pinkie! I can't help! I...just...can't..." Mario's voice broke and he couldn't keep his composure and was now crying loudly with her. It wasn't long before the twins saw the two crying ponies and suddenly felt very guilty. For one month foals, these two seemed to be not only advanced skill-wise, but also were self-aware of what was going on around them. It didn't take them long to figure out they were the reason their babysitters were now crying loudly on the floor. They quietly headed towards the side of the room before approaching Mario and Pinkie who were still crying as they came up to them and Pumpkin was holding a back of flour with her magic. Mario and Pinkie stopped crying to look at them.

PLOOF!

The twins then dumped the bag of flour over themselves as Pound and Pumpkin Cake posed for them. Mario and Pinkie couldn't resist a giggle.

"Y'know, you're right," said Pinkie, "That is funny."

"It is," said Mario with a sniffle, "Thank you." Once Mario and Pinkie had recomposed themselves, they finally got the twins to take their nap. Pound Cake was now snoring legitimately and Pumpkin Cake was sleeping and mumbling to herself. Pinkie and Mario just smiled at them and at each other before leaving the room and see the mess downstairs.

"Dear Princess Celestia," Pinkie recited, "I've always had fun playing with little kids, and I thought babysitting meant just more than playtime, right? Wrong! Being a caregiver is way more responsibility then just being a playmate. And today, I learned that sometimes our desire for responsibility can outrun our actual ability to handle it." As Pinkie was reciting her letter, she and Mario got to work cleaning up the mess in the main room and kitchen. Pinkie even huffed as she carried a bucket of water with her tail. Mario used his magic to carry his own bucket of water and got to work on the main room. Pinkie was even wearing a handkerchief and a white apron as she got to work scrubbing one of the high chairs. She then wiped her brow once she finished only to see that she still had to do Pound Cake's high chair.

It was late at night when Mr. and Mrs. Cake arrived back home. They both were rather worried about what they might see when they entered the shop.

"Pinkie Pie! We're Back!" said Mr. Cake as he and his wife opened the door.

"How did everything go?" Mrs. Cake asked when she gasped. They found the main area completely spotless.

"Are we in the right place?" said Mr. Cake in disbelief as Mrs. Cake blinked.

"Shhh!" said Pinkie as she gestured for them to come upstairs. The Cakes peeked in to see both their foals sleeping soundly in Pound Cake's crib.

"P-Pinkie," said Mrs. Cake, "This is just...just..."

"Amazing is what it is," said Mr. Cake, "We had no idea how responsible you really are. By the way, where is Mario?" Pinkie flinched a bit.

"He went to go pick some flour," said Pinkie sheepishly, "We...found that the bags were running low and Mario offered to restock for you at no cost." Pinkie didn't want to reveal the real reason why she needed Mario to get more flour and the Cakes seemed to believe her and exchanged a nod with each other.

"Would you be interested in becoming our go-to babysitter on a permanent basis?" Mr. Cake offered. Pinkie gasped.

"Hm- Ah- lemme check my schedule!" said Pinkie as she pulled out a planner and looked through it, "I should be available a week from...never!" After what she had been through, she certainly didn't want to do babysitting again. Then she heard both twins sigh and peeked back in at them.

"Pinkie..." said Pound Cake in his sleep.

"Pie..." added Pumpkin Cake in her sleep. Pinkie happily gasped. The twins had said their first words. Pinkie felt her heart melt as a happy smile appeared on her face.

"I have some free time next Tuesday," Pinkie said quietly to the Cakes when she heard someone enter the shop.

"I think that's Mario," said Pinkie, "I...better go help him with the flour." The Cakes both nodded as Pinkie quickly and quietly trotted down the stairs and into the kitchen. She found Mario stocking the flour into the cabinets.

"Thank you," said Pinkie in a soft voice. Mario stopped storing the flour and gave her a smile.

"Welcome," Mario replied, "Glad I could be useful to you after all." Pinkie's smile faded as she walked up to him.

"The Cakes asked me to be their permanent go-to babysitter," said Pinkie quietly, "and I said yes." Mario's eyes widen in shock.

"Why did you-"

"I was going to say no, but," Pinkie interrupted, "but...they said their first words...each twin said a part of my name. I just...couldn't say no."

"Pinkie..."

"They think I did such a great job with babysitting," Pinkie blurted out, "They think I'm responsible now! Then the twins said my name and...well..." Pinkie then felt her tears began anew, but unlike last time her sobs were more subtle. Mario hugged her gently.

"They have no idea what I went through," Pinkie sobbed, "and I...I owe you an apology."

"For what?" Mario asked surprised, "I'm the one whose sorry. It's my fault you had that meltdown because I was just a-"

"Be quiet!" Pinkie said sternly, but was careful not to speak too loudly despite her falling tears, "You are not a good-for-nothing! Just because you are considered to be good at everything doesn't mean that you are good at doing everything. I was there when you said you weren't good at taking care of babies and even Twilight told me too."

"Twilight came by?" Mario asked surprised as Pinkie looked ashamed.

"I got offended when Twilight said someponies came handle the responsibility," Pinkie confessed, "and...I wanted you to myself...selfish I know. I get it, but...either way I pushed her away...even when I knew I need the extra help. I thought it was jealousy, but...I guess I just wanted to have a witness."

"A...witness?" Mario repeated puzzled.

"I wanted somepony who experienced me being responsible," Pinkie sobbed, "someone who could say that I, the party pony and element of laughter, could be taken seriously and was reliable. But instead...all I did was make a fool of myself in front of you...I...humiliated myself..." Pinkie cried harder as Mario hugged her tenderly and let Pinkie release all her tears. It broke his heart to see Pinkie so upset. Neither of them were aware that Mrs. Cake had been listening to the conversation the entire time.

"What am I gonna do?" Pinkie croaked, "I wanna be helpful, but...I'm not as good as babysitter as they think!"

"Then why did you say yes?" Mario asked again as Pinkie pulled away and tried to wipe her cheeks.

"I love those twins," said Pinkie, "No matter how much trouble they can be. I'd do anything for them! Even if I don't feel like I know how. I have to try...for their sake. I know that makes no sense..."

"It does actually," said Mario, "Pinkie, this might shock you but...you sound like my mom when you said that."

"Huh?!" said Pinkie surprised.

"It's what they call a maternal instinct," Mario explained, "it basically means that you are willing to sacrifice your own needs and wants for those twins. They come first and you'll do anything to love and protect them. You love them like they were your own foals." Pinkie smiled as she giggled to herself.

"Yeah...I do," said Pinkie before frowning, "But...can I truly be that for them? Can I be like a second mother, or aunt, or mentor to them?"

"I believe you can dear," said Mrs. Cake. Pinkie gasped as she looked rather worried.

"Mrs. Cake!" said Pinkie, "How...how much did you hear?"

"Enough to confirm that you are the right pony for this job," Mrs. Cake replied, "It is clear you did underestimate how difficult babysitting the twins would be, but in the end, you've learned from it and it had helped you to mature and understand what it truly means to take care of them. I'm very proud of you, Pinkie Pie." Pinkie smiled as she gave Mrs. Cake a hug.

"And don't you worry," said Mrs. Cake, "I'm sure if I teach you on what you need to do, you'll be just the best babysitter our twins could ask for...and it won't cost us extra flour inventory." Mario and Pinkie both chuckled sheepishly. How she figured that out was anypony's guess.

"Thanks Mrs. Cake," said Pinkie, "and thank you Mario for putting up with all of this."

"Hey, you're my best friend," said Mario, "I'm always here if you need my help. Once Mrs. Cake helps you learn the ropes, you can teach me how I can be more helpful next time if you need...(sigh)...a temporary daddy for the twins."

"No, Mario," said Pinkie, "Next time, I'll need my big brother to help me. I love you." Mario smiled, seeing that Pinkie had finally gotten over her crush on him. He willingly gave her one more hug and kissed the side of her head.

"Love you too, little sister," said Mario with a smile before he headed for home. Pinkie just smiled as she watched Mario head out.

"Still have feelings for him dear?" Mrs. Cake asked Pinkie. Pinkie smiled as she shook her head no. Mrs. Cake was surprised at first but saw that Pinkie was content.

For the first time since meeting the male colt, Pinkie knew wholeheartedly that she would always have a special place in Mario's heart.

Hope you enjoyed the alternate ending and the fact you saw Mario in a situation he wasn't good at.

Plus we've had Pinkie come to terms with her feelings for Mario.

This also marks the halfway point for season 2. The road to Chrysalis is coming up fast!

Peace Pony Fans!