On a bright and early summer's day, the crisp morning air was particularly aromatic. Ponies across Ponyville awoke to the sweet scent of freshly baked treats escaping the open window of Sugarcube Corner. They soon stretched their legs and made their way to the source. Pinkie Pie was cheerfully bouncing back and forth in front of the locked door, waiting impatiently for the clock to strike seven so she could officially open the store to the growing line of ponies outside. She placed a hoof on the knob and turned to face the clock: six fifty nine and ticking. The second hand seemed to be pounding the wall like a hammer as it slowly made it's way around the circle of numbers. At thirty seconds to go, she shrugged and opened the door.

"Good morning everypony!" She announced to the small crowd of maybe ten ponies gathered outside.

They all trotted in, not so coincidentally deciding they wanted to go out for breakfast today. They were all drawn to the bakery by the alluring scent of a strange looking treat. In the display case, three rows of peculiar cakes lined the shelves. They were small, no bigger than a cupcake, and frosted with a strange but familiar pattern. The scent they produced was delectable, the delicious aroma of cake mixed with something else, something sweeter. Everypony at the counter requested the same thing. A few places back in line was none other than Twilight Sparkle.

"Oh, hello there T.S." Pinkie smiled and grabbed the treat she assumed the purple unicorn would ask for.

"T.S.? Since when do you call me that? You know what, never mind. I'll have one of those strange cakes please." Before she finished asking, Pinkie wrapped one up and placed it on the counter.

"Six bits please."

"Wow, that's kind of steep don't you think? What exactly are these?" Twilight asked, now curious as to what could make them so valuable compared to the normal one-bit treats the bakery offered.

"They're zebra cakes! Next in line please!" Pinkie waved her friend off with a hoof and served the next pony in line.

Twilight walked away with her curiosity unsatisfied. She decided to wait for the store to clear out and Pinkie to not be so busy, then investigate the snacks further. In the mean time, she opened up the wrapper and took another whiff of the sweet aroma drifting off of the still warm cake. Her mouth watered with anticipation as she slowly levitated it closer to her teeth. She closed her eyes to enjoy the sensation to follow. Her tongue made first contact as it slowly entered and her teeth sliced through the center as she took a large bite. Her eyes rolling back, she smiled while chewing the treat, it delivering everything its scent promised. As the delighted purple unicorn swallowed, she looked around to see several other ponies who seemed to be enjoying the treat just as much as she did.

Moments later, Pinkie announced that she had just sold the last one and didn't know when or if she'd ever have another batch. Twilight was mortified. She jumped up to the counter and forcefully placed her hooves on the top, loudly smacking the wood in front of her startled pink friend.

"What do you mean you don't know if or when you'll get more?! I want another one now, I need another one now, now!" Twilight had a look in her eye that implied she wasn't in her right mind.

Pinkie smiled and patted her on the head. "Don't be silly T.S., I'll make a new kind of cupcake soon. Remember my blue rainbow cakes? They were a big hit too, but now they're gone and I don't think I'll ever be able to make them again. At least not ones that are exactly the same..."

Twilight narrowed her eyes. "Those were good, which reminds me, I haven't seen Rainbow Dash in a while, a week or so, actually. After asking around, the last place she was seen was entering Sugarcube Corner. I'm really worried about her."

Pinkie nervously glanced back and forth. "I'm not sure what you're talking about." She lowered her eyebrows. "Are you accusing me of something?!" Then she jumped back and angrily trotted into the kitchen.

Twilight looked down at her hoof as she held the peculiar cake. It was interesting in several ways; the light frosting almost seemed to be whipped, not something Pinkie would normally do. The cream filling was an unfamiliar flavor, boldly strong, yet subtly sweet. The cake around the filling was overly sweet, possibly compensating for the strong creamy center. She began to recall last week's "rainbow cakes", they were similarly bold and sweet in taste, but still very different. She took another look at the cake, it was undeniably delicious, but overwhelmingly suspicious.

Twilight chuckled to herself and repeated her last thoughts in her mind. Undeniably delicious, but overwhelmingly suspicious. This made her think of her forest friend Zecora, someone she hadn't paid a visit to in quite a while. As she watched Pinkie maliciously lick a kitchen knife clean, the pink mare turned to make eye contact with her. There was something in her eyes, she was keeping a secret. Twilight shuddered as the blue eyes looked over her body and Pinkie winked with the knife dangerously close to her face. Then, a horrifying thought that had been lingering in her mind came to light. Could Pinkie really have... No, she convinced herself it was impossible for such a sweet mare to harm a friend. However, if she had, it would come to light sooner or later, and Twilight knew she'd be the one to make the connections necessary to point the crimes in her direction. She decided to pay Zecora a visit. Her thoughts on Pinkie would be confirmed if something had happened to the zebra.

Twilight Sparkle made haste on her way to the forest. She cantered along, her fears that something may have happened growing as she neared the dark entrance.The trail to the hut weaved through the trees. She followed it, carefully avoiding the poison joke on the path. The oddly shaped tree hut was in sight, however no lights were shining through the windows, no smoke from a mysterious brew filled the air. It was quiet, dead quiet. Fearing the worst, Twilight quickly forced her way through the door. She looked around, the room was dark and empty. She shouted.

"Anyone home? Zecora! Can anyone hear me?!" Tears filled the mares eyes, it was becoming increasingly obvious what was going on.

Twilight fell to the ground. Thoughts of Rainbow Dash filled her mind, how she'd never have a chance to say goodbye, or just how much she loved her. She'd never get to tell her exactly how important their friendship was, or what it meant to her. She looked up and saw Zecora's strange decor. The odd equid would be missed greatly, she was a good citizen and great friend to everyone she knew. Always willing to participate in events and help anyone in need. Suddenly, a realization hit Twilight like a bale of hay. She held her stomach and winced at the thought of having eaten her friends. Even worse was the thought of enjoying it so much. Pinkie had to be brought to justice. In the name of her friends, Twilight vowed she'd pay for her crimes.

Pinkie happily counted the large pile of bits the store had earned today. She knew the Cake's would be proud of the good business she successfully brought to the store, despite her methods. She cringed at the though of anyone finding out. Just then, Twilight burst through the bakery door with tears in her eyes.

"Pinkie, we need to talk, now!" The unicorn marched up to the counter and readied her horn in case the mare attempted to flee.

"Sure thing T.S. What did you want to talk about?" Pinkie nervously smiled and pretended to be happy about the intrusion.

"I know you've been up to something, and I want you to tell me what you did to Rainbow Dash and Zecora. I'm not leaving without an answer." Twilight harshly glared.

The pink mare's eyes watered and she began to break under the pressure of her friend's demands. She knew she couldn't let her secret out or the bakery would be closed down. The Cake's would be run out of town, and she'd never be able to face anyone she knew ever again. In fact, she began to realize she may be thrown in prison or even executed. These thoughts filled the fragile minded mare and she began to sob. Twilight gazed across the counter top and saw the pain in her eyes. It was evident that Pinkie was fully aware she had done something wrong.

"Look, Pinkie, I just need you to confess the truth to me. I'm sure you didn't completely realize what you were doing was wrong at the time, but I can see now you regret it. Am I right?" Twilight was shocked at her own sympathy, but she couldn't turn her back on a friend, no matter what they did.

"... Yes." Pinkie agreed with tears in her eyes.

"Then I'll help you in any way that I can. But we have to do this right, you need to tell me everything you did and why. Then we have to turn you over to the police. I'll stay by your side and try to make sure you get the mental help you need. I love you Pinkie, and I won't turn my back on you." Twilight took a notepad and quill off the counter and prepared to write down everything Pinkie was about to say.

"Okay... I'll tell you, but I don't want to do it here. Come to my room and we'll talk about everything there." Pinkie led the way and Twilight reluctantly followed.

The emotional mare sat down on her bed and looked at the bitter mare in front of her. Although Twilight wanted to help her friend, she resented her for what she had done. Taking her quill and steeling her mind, she prepared to record everything her friend had to say. "Alright Pinkie, tell me everything."

She closed her eyes and began to speak. "Well, after Rainbow was unconscious, I took a razor and.. and I..."

Twilight cringed, she wasn't quite ready to hear that story. "Pinkie, please start from the beginning and start with Zecora."

Pinkie sighed and began to recall the story. "I... I never meant for it to happen, I promised myself Rainbow Dash would be the last one..." The emotionally weakened mare covered her eyes and wept.

"It's... fine Pinkie, just, just tell me what happened..." Twilight felt herself tearing up as well, seeing her friend like this and hearing those words weighed heavy on her heart.

"Okay, I will, but you might not like what you hear... It was yesterday when..." Pinkie lost herself in her recollections as she told the story.

Pinkie stood at the door, waiting to open the bakery at seven sharp. No one was outside, and even though she still had several minutes to go, she opened the door and returned to the cash register. It was quiet, the Cake's were still sleeping and no customers were in sight. She had recently taken on this new responsibility to prove she was a valuable member of the bakery's staff. However, the morning shift certainly was boring. She yawned and began to think about her friends, wishing they'd stop by. Just then, she caught a glimpse of movement outside. She trotted up to the window to see who was out there. Zecora, calmly walked through the streets with her typical goals in mind. She gathered her things and made her way back home peacefully and quietly . She seemed lonely, Pinkie thought about that fact and wondered if she'd be able to do anything to help. Another thought entered her mind, Zecora's birthday, she wondered when it was.

The miserable pink pony looked back up at the clock, it was seven twenty. She groaned and placed her hooves on her face before dropping her head to the counter top.

"Excuse me, miss?"

Pinkie opened an eye and focused her blurry vision. "Oh, sorry, I..." She let out a long deep yawn. "I must have dozed off."

After wiping her tired eyes, she looked back to the clock. It was nearly noon. "So what can I get you?"

The young mare giggled and pointed to a pastry which Pinkie quickly wrapped up and bagged. "One bit please."

The mare nodded and thanked her, then trotted off with a smile. Pinkie's thoughts quickly returned to Zecora, she had dreamed about the two celebrating a birthday party and was now determined to set one up, whenever that may be. Feeling irresponsible today, she trotted upstairs and knocked on the Cake's bedroom door.

"Don't come in here! Just a minute!" She heard loud scuffling noises from behind the door and raised an eyebrow.

Soon Miss Cake opened the door with a messy mane and flushed face. "Pinkie, what do you need?"

"I was wondering if I could go out now, we don't have any customers and I'm really bored." She asked with a smile.

The thought of having some alone time caught their interest. "Yeah sure thing darling. Just flip the sign to closed and we'll get ready and head downstairs. Go on now, have fun." She nudged the pony away with a hoof and quickly shut the door.

Pinkie grinned and trotted downstairs. She flipped the sign and locked the door behind herself, then off to Zecora's hut she went. It didn't take long to reach it, she kept a quick pace and clear goal in mind. As she approached the tree hut, she caught a whiff of something sweet. An alluring scent that intrigued the mare filled the dark forest air. Pinkie made her way to the door and knocked. Zecora quickly answered, a bit surprised to have such unexpected company.

"Who is this mare that's stopping by, I do believe it's Pinkie Pie. What brings you here my cheerful friend, perhaps a cure you seek, or wound to mend."

Pinkie smiled and let herself in. "I was just wanting to throw you a birthday party, but I don't know when that is."

Zecora smiled and trotted to her calendar. "A birthday party just for me, a fun event I'm sure it'd be. I'd like to take part in your pony ways, so my birthday is in three weeks, and two days."

The party mare took a moment to try and think into the future, forming partial plans in her mind already. She then spotted some peculiar looking treats sitting on a small plate. "Ooh, brownies? Are you gonna eat those?!"

Before Zecora could say that those weren't meant for her, the pink pony ate three of them in one bite. The zebra opened her mouth to speak but didn't say anything, she was at a loss for words and simply pressed her hoof into her face.

"Mmm, these are good. What's in em?" Pinkie talked with her mouth full, spraying bits and crumbs to the floor.

"You fool, those are my special brownies, not meant for such reckless ponies. Now just you wait a minute or two, and something strange will happen to you." Zecora said with a smile, she had eaten a couple herself only moments before Pinkie arrived.

"Ooh, that's great! I can't wait!" Pinkie jumped and laughed.

Zecora stared for a moment, then laughed at Pinkie's involuntary rhyme. "I see you like to rhyme too, but I'm sure I'm better at it than you."

The pink mare grinned and looked the zebra in the eye. "Of course I like to rhyme, I do it all the time. I do it all day long when I'm singing my songs. You may think you're better but for me it's second nature, and soon you'll see they come to me quite easily."

Zecora raised an eyebrow, feeling torn between being impressed and somewhat challenged. On the other hoof, she was experiencing a sense of attraction as she bonded on a new level with a new friend. "I admit you're skilled without a doubt, but I rhyme everyday, day in, and day out. Only one can be the best, so perhaps a contest, what do you say, let's put your skills to the test."

Pinkie looked serious and refrained from blushing. She loved this, it was like singing a song except she wasn't singing, and it was a moment of sharing one of her greatest passions with a new friend. "If it's a contest you want then I'll gladly participate, but if winning is really what you anticipate, then I hope you're ready to be put to shame because to me, rhyming isn't just another game."

Zecora stood still, her eyes wide. "Um, ahem..." Her mind was clouded. She'd never met anyone else with the ability to fluidly rhyme before, she was stunned. She took a couple steps toward her friend and looked her in the eye. The pink mare had a grin on her face. She knew she had impressed the zebra, and awaited her due praise. Instead, she was met with a surprise kiss.

Pinkie immediately backed up and widened her eyes. Zecora blushed and stood back, she looked down and considered apologizing but wasn't sure what to say. The pink pony saw her expression and felt guilty, she'd be lying if she said she didn't enjoy it, or that there wasn't a mutual attraction. She looked over the zebra for a moment, her mind felt fuzzy and her emotions were tumbling around in her chest and stomach. She began to realize this may be the result of the damp forest air, but couldn't pin it to that entirely. She walked back up to Zecora and placed a hoof on her chin to raise her lowered head. Their blue eyes met, as did their lips.

"That was fun Zecora, we should spend time together more often." Pinkie said as she pulled away.

"I want to spend more time together now, when I felt you kiss me, all I could say was wow." Zecora blushed again as she placed a hoof on Pinkie's cheek.

The mare sighed and wished she could stay. "I can't, it's already getting late in the afternoon and I have to prepare the treats to bake in the morning and I'm responsible now, I can't just stay here all afternoon. And if I stay up late to prepare them, I won't be able to wake up early enough to bake them..."

Zecora let out a deep breath and tried to come up with a solution. She thought for a moment, then something came to mind. "Pinkie Pie, I know what to do, prepare your treats here and I'll help you. If you'd like, I'll let you see, my old South Equestrian recipe."

Pinkie looked as if she didn't like the idea and lifted a hoof to step towards the door, but before she stepped down she smiled and rushed into the kitchen. "Okay, sounds great!"

"So what's this recipe? Is it for those brownies? I like those brownies, lets make those!" Pinkie began to giggle into her hoof as she searched the small kitchen for the tools necessary to bake.

Zecora laughed. "You can't sell those in your bakery Pinkie, or the police will lock you up, and throw away the key. Instead we'll bake an ancient snack, a cake that's very sweet, striped white and black."

"Ooooh, lets get started!"

The two mares began mixing the batter. They happily and playfully giggled as they bonded through another of Pinkie's passions. As they grew more and more playful, a mess began to grow. Splashed batter dotted the counters and tables, along with Zecora's nose and Pinkie's face. Soon everything was mixed up and ready to go.

"Do you know what would make these even better?! A yummy cream filling!" Pinkie excitedly exclaimed.

Zecora wasn't sure, she didn't want them to be overwhelmingly sweet considering the cake was already extra sweetened. "Pinkie, too much sugar might be too sweet, but maybe something else would make these complete."

"No, a cream filling will be perfect. I know just what to do, we need to make it nice and strong, a dash of sweetener, and a lot of flavor." Pinkie smiled and looked up and down the zebra's body.

Zecora took a couple steps back and felt a bit nervous. "Um, what did you have in... mind?"

Pinkie reached into a small drawer, she gripped a large kitchen knife. The metal blade slid against the knife beneath it as she pulled it out, sending a high pitched ring into the zebras ears. Zecora backed into the wall and looked around, there was nowhere to run, the only exit to the room was behind Pinkie. She gulped and feared the worst, but didn't know if she should fight or attempt to flee. Step by step the frightful pink mare approached the shaking zebra, she held the knife between her teeth and malevolently grinned, baring her teeth. When in range, she stood on her back hooves and gripped the knife with her forearm. Zecora winced a bit, but tried to stand strong against the impending, slicing death blow.

"Here ya go, you're gonna need this." Pinkie held the knife out to the zebra with a bright smile.

Zecora grunted out the anxious breath she had been holding. Her confused eyes looked over Pinkie and the knife she so cheerfully was holding out to her. "You, why, I, what?" Zecora began to laugh.

Pinkie closed her eyes and stretched the knife out further. "Take this! I want you to cut a stick of butter into three pieces. I'll mix the other ingredients..." Pinkie hoofed the knife over then trotted back towards the mixing bowl, suddenly she stopped and turned around with narrowed eyes, startling Zecora into a squeak. "Then, we harvest the main ingredient..."

The zebra carefully gripped the knife and did as she was asked. She nervously glanced over to the pink pony who seemed to be happily mixing seemingly random ingredients into a bowl, preparing what seemed to be a standard cream that lacked an abundance of sugar. "Pinkie," Zecora gulped, "I'm kind of wondering what you meant, when you said harvest the main ingredient."

"Glad you asked, I'll let you in on a tiny little secret. I'm not sure how this is going to turn out. I mean, when I put a pony into cupcakes, it was delicious, but I've never tasted zebra before." Pinkie continued casually mixing.

Zecora's heart began to race. "You... you... you put a pony into cupcakes, are you mad girl?! You've lost your head for goodness sake!"

Pinkie reached up an touched her head with a hoof. "No I haven't silly, my head's right here. Anyway, the main ingredient... is you!"

The pink pony lunged over to Zecora, knocking her over on her back. She pinned her hooves down with her own and looked the terrified mare in the eyes. Pinkie licked her lips and grinned. "I've been wondering what you taste like, Zecora. Do you mind if I... eat you?"

"Pinkie! Please!" Zecora shouted and attempted to break free from the mare on top of her.

"Well if you insist." Pinkie smiled and pressed her lips against Zecora's.

The zebra immediately relaxed her arms, allowing Pinkie to easily hold her in place. The pink mare quickly made her way down Zecora's body, kissing her neck, chest, and stomach, licking the way down to her thighs. Zecora opened her eyes, she laughed at her own ability to jump to the worst, most horrifying conclusions, then lost herself in the moment. The two mares bonded once again, sharing yet another of Pinkie's passions.

Zecora licked the tip of her hoof and ran it down her own body, amplifying the pleasure pulsing through her. Pinkie didn't let up, her barrage of pleasure-inducing nips and kisses trailing up and down the zebra's body. Her pink hooves reached around and rubbed the zebra's stomach and made their way around her flank. Pinkie then looked up with a grin and winked before diving all the way back down.

"Oh my, I'm not sure where this came from, but please don't stop, you're making me come!"

She shoved her tongue in deeper as her cheeks filled with the zebra's sweet nectar.

"Mmm! Juicy!" Pinkie shouted, gargling the cum as she did so.

She then found herself at the kitchen counter emptying a mouthful of liquid into a bowl of prepared cream.

"Wow, Zecora, zebra tastes good! Everypony's going to love this!" Pinkie happily mixed the cream up and placed a lid over the bowl.

Zecora placed her hooves over her heaving chest, laying on the floor, slightly quivering as the pleasure resonated through her body. After Pinkie had sealed and stacked her unbaked goods. She turned to Zecora with narrowed eyes and kissed her lips again, leaning over. The zebra spread her legs, offering Pinkie a place to lay down. The party-mare climbed on top of her and began kissing and biting her neck again, this time ready to be pleasured herself.

"Then Zecora pushed me onto my back and I..."

"Wait a minute!" Twilight interrupted. "That's it?! That's your terrible secret? You put... zebra cum into your cakes? Then where they hay is Zecora?! For that matter where in Equestria is Rainbow Dash?! You said something about a razor?" Twilight looked both angry and confused. Here she was trying to get to the bottom of it all, only to find an answer she never expected.

Pinkie covered her eyes. "I don't know where Zecora is, I haven't seen her since yesterday. And Rainbow is... Well what happened was, I took the razor and I... I... I shaved her head." She began to cry.

Twilight's eyes widened. "You... let me get this straight... you shaved her head?" She covered her mouth with a hoof and began laughing hysterically at the thought. "Why would you do that?!"

"She said Applejack tastes better than me... then she fell asleep in my bed. I wasn't thinking about anything except making her feel bad... I'm really sorry. Now I think she's hiding so nopony sees her. I really miss her..." Pinkie hung her head and blamed herself for her friend's absence.

Twilight threw the notepad and quill on the floor and trotted out of the room, laughing. "Make more zebra cakes will ya? They were pretty good, and don't worry, your secret's safe with me."