Author's Notes:

Another day another chapter!

Hello everyone and here's then next chapter brought to you by a drunk author who had a bad experience from his college days involving cupcakes. I warn you it may change your life and perspective on cupcakes forever!

If you like cupcakes and are easily dissuaded don't read this chapter! It'll ruin cupcakes for you!

But seriously though, I know trixie hasn't been in a chapter for a while but I promise she will be in one soon folks! Until then enjoy yourselves with this chocolate filled fun chapter!

*One Week Later*

Spitfire was in the kitchen making breakfast while Peanut and Buttercup slept in. She was swinging her hip back and forth humming a tune to herself, occasionally singing words to it. She stood up against the stove making pancakes and haybacon. The sizzling aroma mixed together creating a wonderful atmosphere in the kitchen.

The aroma lingered and then like a serpent seeking its prey it slithered sinisterly along the halls past a sleeping timberwolf and down towards the halls. It found its way into Peanut and Buttercup's room assaulting their noses while they slept. The smell of the haybacon was enough to entice the little ones from bed with earnest. Peanut was the first to exit the room but in his excitement he slipped on the tiled floor and right into the wall while his sister jumped over him blowing a raspberry at him mockingly.

He frowned, beating his wings, as he lifted off the ground and shot past her with relative ease. She watched him in shock at how fast he flew past her. With the grace of a swan he maneuvered through the hallway and through the door closing it behind him making Buttercup slam head first into it with a loud thud. She fell to the ground, her nose was now very sore and bleeding. She held a hoof over it and glared at the door where she could just see the changeling chuckling in her mind.

"Little punk brother of mine." she grumbled to herself getting up.

Just then the door from behind her opened revealing a very awake and alert Vector. The mare looked round scanning the area to see if she could find the source of the loud noise. Eventually both ponies eyes fell on each other. Vector looked over the young mare and saw her nose was held by her hoof and was an odd color. It didn't take her long to realize what had happened.

"Buttercup? Did you hurt your nose?" she asked cautiously not wanting to anger the batpony mare.

"No." Buttercup snapped back. "It was that punk of a brother of mine, and why do you care?"

The blue mare sat down beside her. She reached for the brown pony who pulled away but wasn't able to get far enough out of reach. Vector inspected her nose closely and saw it was in an awkward position.

"You broke you nose, or at least dislocated it." she summed up. "Luckily for you I can fix this."

"Psh, like yeah right." Buttercup scoffed pushing the mares hoof away. "What are you some kind of doctor or something?"

The mare gave a proud smirk. "As a matter of fact I am. Certified physician, xenobiologist, AND leading researcher in genetic engineering." she replied in a very condescending way to the young mare.

The batpony scowled at her. "Did I mention how much I hate you?"

"Everyday sweetie. Everyday. Now," she sat beside her reaching for the young mares muzzle. "Will you let me fix your nose or should I let Spitfire-"

The thought of her mother performing first aid on her made the young threshals heart skip a beat. "NO! NONONNONO! You do it!"

Vector smirked at her. "OK, but I warn you this'll hurt badly."

The look she gave made Buttercup cringe. "Ho-how bad are we talking here?"

"Like you won't be able to talk right for a while." she said gently placing her hooves on the brown muzzle. "Ready?"

"No." she whimpered.

Vector gave her a smile making her feel less tense. "Don't worry I know what I'm doing." she said giving the nose one last look over. "Get ready cause this will hurt."

***

In the kitchen Spitfire was finishing with making breakfast when she heard a faint buzzing noise. She glanced around to see if a fly was in the house but saw Peanut hovering above her instead. She frowned at him but the adorable smile he gave her, plus his tiny arms reaching for a hug, melted her heart.

She turned the stove off, after all safety always came first in this house (most of the time), and took hold of him in her arms. After tending to him for a moment she flew over to the table and set him down while Link sat beside his chair, waiting to get free scraps of food from him. Spitfire knew she'd have to keep an eye on him while they ate. Just as she turned to begin placing dishes on the table a loud scream echoed through the apartment.

She nearly jumped out of her skin when the high pitched scream rang in her ears and soon realized it was Buttercup who had screamed. It only took a moment for her maternal instincts to kick in and she ruched to the hallway just in time to see the door open with Buttercup and Vector in the doorway.

"What happened? Did Buttercup hurt herself? Vector what happened?" she asked frantically looking over the young mare. Taking moment to see a slight discolor on her fur Spitfire touched a darker part of her fur around her nose and soon realized it was blood. "Buttercup! What happened?"

She then glanced up at Vector then back to her.

"Well?"

Buttercup shied away from her mother but couldn't find any words to say. She knew she and her brother would get in trouble for running in the halls again. She briefly entertained the thought of ratting her brother out but knew he'd say she was running too and get them both in trouble. Just when Spitfire was about to start raising her voice Vector stepped in.

"It was my fault Spitfire."

"Huh?" both ponies gawked at her.

"What do you mean your fault? V, what did you do?" the yellow mare asked warningly.

"When she was trotting down the hall she didn't realize I was coming out of my room and I hit her with the door on accident and broke her nose." she said adjusting her wing.

"You hit her. With the door?" Spitfire asked unconvinced.

Vector never flinched. "Yes. That's what happened."

After taking a good minute to contemplate Spitfire sighed rubbing her left wing over Buttercup's brown mane, ruffling it up much to her annoyance. "Alright squirt, get your butt to the table so we can eat." she said playfully swatting her daughters bottom making her squeak and scurry off.

Vector was going to follow when Spitfire stood in her way. She gave the mare a knowing glance and wrapped a wing around her neck pulling her close. Their muzzles only an inch apart, Vector caught wind of a foul smell in her breath. Alcohol. She had been drinking, and by the intensity of the smell it was either very recently consumed or it was in large amounts. She tried to push away but Spitfire's next words made her pause.

"You know the doors open inward right?"

"What?"

"I know you lied to cover for her sorry butt, but don't make a habit of it." she said releasing her captive. "Also, thanks and I'm sorry about last night."

"It's not me you need to apologize to."

She held her head low in shame. "I know. I'll tell her after breakfast."

She exited the hall leaving the blue pegasus to herself. She thought long and hard about what she would do next. She made great progress so far with all but Buttercup. She wasn't sure if the young mare would ever open up to her, but she was confident that she would lighten up eventually. And when she did she would be there for her.

Breakfast went as usual. Peanut slipped scraps under the table for Link who happily took them. Eventually he was caught and scolded by his mother despite his sisters silent warnings, although deep down she was glad he got busted. Spitfire then went on to talk about how her work was getting harder for her due to picking new recruits from a long list of ponies who wanted to join and an incident involving Sorain with the graduating class while Vector and the others listened.

"-and then Soarin had to go an drop all those pies on the recruits during their graduation! I swear aint it just like a stallion to think with his stomach and not his head!" the yellow mare bellowed.

Buttercup chuckled earning a glare from her. "I think it's so nice that he has such an innocent view of life." she said jokingly.

"Well, I think it was sweet of him to offer pie to all the recruits after all the hard work they put in." Vector chimed in.

"Well, he really needs to stop." Spitfire grumbled. "I'm starting to hate pie, almost as much as I hate cupcakes."

*Ponyville*

Pinkie Pie.

Party extraordinaire and master of stealth was hard at work making her latest friendship cupcakes when a sudden pain jolted through her heart. She gasped loudly when Mrs. Cake walked by nearly making the older mare scream as the pink pony fell to the floor twitching sporadically.

"PINKIE! Deary are you alright? Speak to me! Do I need to get a doctor?" the blue mare cried out holding the pink pony delicately.

"M-Mrs. Ca-cake." she gasped reaching for the mare.

The older earth pony took hold of Pinkies hoof and gripped it tightly. 'What is it Pinkie? Talk to me." she pleaded.

Pinkie kept gasping, like she was out of breath and on the verge of death. She looked up weakly at the mare she saw as a second mother and mentor. Just in that moment she realized how much her and Mr. Cake meant to her. It gave her a new perspective on life itself. But then she saw a cupcake fall from the counter when Mrs. Cake went to help her.

Time seemed to slow down as she watched the sugary confection mercilessly fall, spinning over and over. The frosting was pink with a yellow flower smiley face on it and had a deep magenta wrapper on it. It was for Cheerlies birthday today. Pinkie watched as it smashed to the floor spreading itself all over the floor.

She saw that Mrs. Cake was looking at the cupcake too. And a sudden realization hit her, Pinkie felt a hate for cupcakes. She smiled knowingly at the younger mare and hugged her, which Pinkie was all to happy to return. After a brief moment Mrs. Cake pulled away heaving up the other with her.

"Well, dear, now that we got that out of our system how about we make more cupcakes for Miss Cheerlie?"

"I'd like that very much Mrs. Cake." she agreed happily bouncing over to the kitchen to prepare more cupcakes for the school teachers party. Mrs. Cake shook her head but grinned at the young ponies mirth.

"Oh, Pinkie Pie." she sighed walking in after her protege.

*Ivory Apartments*

Spitfire huffed after her deceleration of hating cupcakes which amazed everyone in the room. Buttercup and Vector were stunned speechless while Peanut looked at her in befuddlement.

"Momma? Why do you hate cupcakes? They're delicious!" he buzzed.

"No, they're disgusting!"

Vector glanced over to Buttercup who both exchanged confused looks. The blue pegasus looked over to the yellow mare. "Why do you hate them so much? I haven't seen you act like this about cupcakes since-"

"DON'T YOU DARE BRING THAT UP!" Spitfire snapped quickly.

"What, oh! OH!"Vector smirked. "So you are mad about what Soarin did! All these years! I knew it!"

"Don't you dare Vector." Spitfire said through grinding teeth.

Both Buttercup and Peanut looked worried like they were missing something completely relevant to what was going on here.

"Mom?" the brown pony dared to speak receiving a hateful glare from Spitfire. "Why do you hate-"

"Buttercup."

"Yes mother?" she asked nervously trying to hide under the table as Peanut followed suit.

Spitfire then took a deep breath to compose herself giving an unusually sweet smile and tone to what she said next." Sweetie, I love you and I'm sorry I hit you last night. But I swear if you finish that sentence from before..."

She left the end open ended to the wandering minds of all present. She then finished eating and took her plate to the kitchen where she began cleaning them. Vector snickered to herself seeing the bewildered look on the kids faces and even Link looked unusually befuddled. She leaned over to Buttercup who was still eyeing her mother as if she'd snap back after her if she moved.

"Don't worry about her. She's just mad because of one night years ago." she whispered.

The batpony looked over at her with a nasty look. "What happened?"

"Yeah, and what does it have to do with Mr. Soarin?" Peanut asked popping between them.

Vector gave a quick glance to make sure Spitfire was preoccupied before she continued. "Well, you see a while ago when Soarin, your mother, and I were friends we got drunk at your mothers work and Soaring made special cupcakes for your mother. Said it was his, "special cupcakes." Spitfire back then was a total alcoholic-"

"She still is." Buttercup interrupted.

"Yes, well, ahem. That being a moot point she ate one not realizing it was really that sick stallions... well." she rubbed her head nervously. "Let's just say he defecated in the bathroom and showed up with chocolate flavored cupcakes afterwards with no trips to the kitchen."

The little gears in both the threshal and changelings heads spun around and around until it finally clicked in their minds to what Vector meant. Both had very similar reactions.

"EEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWW!"
"TAHT'S SOOO GROSS!"

Vector laughed wildly smacking her hoof on her knee while the children gripped their heads at the nasty image.

"You ruined cupcakes forever for me!" Peanut cried. "And chocolate was my favorite!"

IN a flash Buttercup was out of her seat an din the kitchen just as Spitfire spun around to find out what all the commotion was about. What she found was her daughter digging through the refrigerator and pulled out a lemon ripping it apart and tried to apply it to her eyes.

Spitfire seized the lemon parts from her and threw them into the trash.

"What is going on?!" she exclaimed stomping the ground.

"You ate shit mom!" Buttercup whined, not realizing her mother didn't understand the context of what she said.

"Excuse me?!"

"You, the chocolate, and the cupcakes Saorin!"

Spitfire glared angrily at Vector who from her seat waved nervously at her with a weak smile. "Did Vector tell you the story about the cupcakes Soarin made when we were all drunk?"

"YES! it was disgusting! Why would you do that?"

"That my sweet daughter is why you shouldn't ever get drunk."

"But you drink all the time!"

"But I never get shitfaced anymore." she said slipping past her. "As for you."

She caught a dark blue tail trying to flee but held it down with her hoof. Vector shyly turned to meet Spitfire who had a very sweet smile that could have made your blood sugar levels skyrocket. Worried about what was coming next she swallowed hard wondering what the mare had in store for her.

"Hello lovely."

"Hello." the blue mare replied.

Suddenly a knocking came from the front door getting everyone's attention. Spitfire glanced once more at Vector before going to open the door revealing the stallion of the day. Soarin stood at the door with a pink box in his hoof and a wide grin on his face, despite Spitfire;s deadpan stare.

"What is it now Soarin?" she asked him in an annoyed tone.

"Oh, nothing," he grinned. "Just thought I'd bring something to make up for the pie thing at the Academy."he said offering the box to his CO.

"What is it?" Spitfire asked looking over the box before taking hold of it with her hooves.

"Just some cupcakes for ,V, and the kids." he said waving to the blue pegasus in question.

"CUPCAKES!"
"SOARIN!"

The stallion suddenly felt hooves assaulting him from all sides as Spitfire, Buttercup, and Peanut ganged up on him and playfully beat him up. There was laughs and giggles from all around as the play fighting continued into the living room. This inevitably lead to Vector joining in the fray with Link who was happy to play with the ponies and changeling.

The fun lasted well into the afternoon when everypony went was too exhausted to continue. Soarin left to head home and Spitfire went to lay on the couch with Link by her side. Peanut fell asleep and was put into bed by vector who was being watched by Buttercup. After tucking the changeling in, she turned to the teenage pony.

She stepped forward and sat beside her resting her body against the bed.

"I have something for you Buttercup." she said lifting her wing and giving her a small paper with a golden ticket attached to the upper left corner.

"What is this?" the brown pony asked reading over the paper.

"A little something I got from the Princess you admire so much." she nudged the mare prompting her to read it.

"Mumble, mumble, through heroic actions we cordially invite you to the Night Guard Festival in Canterlot! But how!? How did you get this?!" she screamed happily pulling a golden ticket from the paper.

Vector rubbed her chin with her wing. "Well, a little birdie told me that somepony wanted to join the Lunar Guard. So I pulled some strings and got the ticket for my loyal service to the crown. That, and I know Princess Luna personally." she ended with a smug grin.

This made the brown pony beam with joy. "You know her? Princess Luna?! Oh, Ohmygosh!Ohmygosh!Ohmygosh! Can you arrange for me to meet her by chance?"

"I guess I could," she teased seeing the young mare about to burst she grinned. "but I already did. We leave tomorrow for Canterlot to see the Princess and go to the Night Guard Event. Oh, and happy birthday, kiddo."

She then sat up and stretched walking to the door but was stopped by a pair of brown hooves holding he r back. It took her a minute before she realized it was Buttercup holding her in a hug. A small smile donned her face.

"Thanks." she said rubbing the mares neck affectionately before quickly pushing away. "but I still don't like you." she finished with a harrumph, sticking her nose up.

Vector giggled ruffling the ponies mane.

"I know kid. I know." she said and walked out the door with Buttercup right behind her.

It was a small step forward, but a step forward none the less.