As Easy As Pie


Copywrite©Melina Swiftwind

Character Double Cream©Flowerrrpower

Character Salisvixen©Salistv

Character Skilex©StormusTheFurryBiker

Character Kianyx©KianyxLioness


********


Farly Fields

Double Cream looked around as she opened the door to the bakery, it had been in the family for a while. Farly Fields was a large town and suited the mare well. Her coat was white with a cutie mark of a cupcake with a cherry on the top. Both her mane and tail where a bright blonde with red highlights. Her eyes were a very soft red. A white and red stripped single horn showed to all that she was a unicorn, she stood at four feet high.

With the door open she entered inside and started to look over the list for work that day. A soft light surrounded her horn as she lifted a large sack of flour and poured it into the mixer nearby. Soon a large amount of water followed and the mixer started up.

“Hey Whippy you got anything for me?” called a voice.

“Come on in Sil” replied Double Cream.

Silver Bubbles or Sil to her friends grinned and entered the shop. Her puple mane and tail had white highlights, her cutie mark was several silver bubbles. Her eyes were blue and unlike her sister she didn’t have a horn instead she had wings. She too was mostly white and stood at four feet high. Most of the time she worked as a mail delivery pony but also from time to time worked with her sister.

“Day off?”

“Half day hon, got to go in later. What we making anyway?”

“Cookies, buns and muffins for now. I need chocolate chips in the second mixer if you please”

“Alright Whippy...but won’t..you know who turn up. The one with the odd eyes..I mean every time she comes here she leaves a disaster area in her wake” replied Silver.

“It’s not her fault, she’s just a bit clumsy the poor girl”

“A bit clumsy...that’s an understatement, her last visit left the bakery looking like a magical storm had been summoned”

“Behave and lets get on work alright?”

“Alright”

The next few moments were taken up with Double cream checking the large mixer and the sound of chocolate chips hitting the wall of the second mixer as Silver pour them in. Soon a bag of flour and water followed the pair could take a rest while the machines worked.

Once everything was ready the two got to work, soon buns and a number of muffins were baking. While they were cooking Silver was busy squirting out cookies from a large device that plopped out splats of cookie dough.

Once she had enough trays done Double Cream magically put them into a large oven to bake. Once they had baked the two were able to take a break.



********



It was a particularly nice day so the two chose to sit out side. The small gazebo seemed the right choice the pair could watch the shop and relax a little. The two had been talking over tall cool drinks and had come to an impasse.

Silver Bubbles was about to say something rude when a young white and blue vixen came into view. Most of the ponies went around undressed most of the time. There where a few species who found being naked to be rather far from comfortable. That was fine there was after all a mix of magic and technology on their world. Salis was wearing a form fitting jumpsuit in a very dark blue.

“Oh heya Salis what’s it going to be today?” questioned Double Cream.

“I was hoping for a half dozen of your fine muffins”

“We only have lemon at the moment sweety that’s alright?”

“Yes that’s fine Double Cream, you two coming the concert later tonight?” questioned Salis.

“Yes we’ll be coming not going to miss Apple Crash”

“Hmmm not a bad band…”

“Come on lets get you sorted Salis”

“I still say illusion is the ultimate weapon” called out Silver.



********



Unknown Regions

Far from the wide open grasslands and plains and towns like Farly Fields stood a castle. The old ruined castle had been here for longer than anyone could remember. The building must have been magnificent at some point. Most of the towers were missing their roofs and much of the window glass was broken or damaged. Most rooms were damaged, dirty and uninhabited.

A pale yellow light passed from window to window, a few glimpses of a jet black flank could be seen.

Dark Shine was still looking for a book she had misplaced or said she had. The mare was jet back all over, her mane and tail were dark purple. A grey storm cloud with two lighting bolts coming from it. Dark Shine was far from a nice pony she’d never had any friends just people that she could use by promising them things.

Behind her came another pony was following her, her name was Voodoo Charms. Her mane and tail were yellow with a blue body, her mark was a doll with a pin in it.

“But Dark Shine we’ve explored most of the castle most of it is in ruins. There’s nothing here” complained Voodoo.

“If you wish to give up your welcome to leave”

“You promised to teach me the dark arts!” exclaimed Voodoo.

“Of course I will Voodoo I just need this book...without it we cant do much”

“The Legend of the Jade Empress is just that…”

“Not according to that last pony we talked to Voodoo”

“Yes well I’m not sure Candy Cane will be talking to anyone for a while, you scared the poor mare half to death”

“She was less than forth coming with the information I wanted”

The two continued to search the room they were in, at some point it must have been quite beautiful. The room was quite dark and if you asked Voodoo kind of gloomy. She was about to give up and turn right from the room. Something glinted on the small mantle piece or what remained of it. Voodoo moved over she found the glint was a small gilded clock in the thick dust. She set it back up and there was a click and a panel nearby slid open.

“What did you do?” demanded Dark Shine.

“Ju...just put the clock back into place”

“Well grab that wall torch and we’ll go down and take a look”

“I’d sooner you go yourself it’s getting damn creepy and I’m starting to feel afraid Dark”

“Get that torch or I’ll give you something to be scared about”

Voodoo swallowed and went over and picked up the torch, she quickly light it from the candle she was magically carrying. Leaving the candle on the only intact table in the room she followed Dark Shine down into the gloom.


********


The burning torch revealed a winding stair case that went down and down. Coming to the bottom the pair found a large room and Voodoo turned to talk to Dark Shine. But instead of doing so she found herself looking into the face of a jade statue, the mare screamed loudly and tried to bolt. Only Dark Shine’s magic was able to stop her the other mare just simply and with her powerful magic lifted her off her feet.

“Behave look around there’s a least a dozen of these statues stallions and mares in various clothing”

Voodoo looked better at the statue in front of her, it was perfect and looked like a royal guard. Perhaps it was a little to perfect if you asked her. Dark Shine was right there were two dozen statues down in the large hall they had found.

“W...who do you think is responsible for this?”

“Who do you think?” questioned Dark Shine

Dark Shine fought back the need to roll her eyes, Voodoo could be a dunce at times.

“Th..Th..The Jade Empress?”

“We have a winner” whispered Dark Shine under her breath.

“W..e we should leave Dark Shine this is getting really weird”

“Not before we find that book like I said before, great power comes with great risks. Now come on you wanted the dark arts, we have to locate that book”

“A...alright”

The pair soon found and other torch and light it from the one Voodoo was carrying. The pair moved away from each other but made sure to keep the two pools of yellow light close. The room seemed to have been something at some time ago. Ruins of cloth banners and such hung from the walls and dirty stained glass could be seen.

The pair came to the end of the room, there was what once an imposing dais. In the center an ornate gold throne sat. On it seated was the statue of a panda, she seemed to be carved from a single piece of jade.

Her breasts were large much larger than anyone had seen for a very long time. Robes seemed to flow over her form. To one side a glass bell could be seen it’s top dirty with the dust of ages. Inside was a golden book.

“See, there’s the book, we just have to take it!” exclaimed Dark Shine.

Voodoo was taking a long and deep look at the seated statue, it reminded her of pictures she had seen in picture books from when she was a filly. That odd sensation in the back of her head was being to become true foreboding.

Across from her Dark Shine was lifting the glass bell from over the book. The mare put it down on the ground and then grabbed the golden book. As she did so there was a large peal of thunder and a flash of bright green light. From somewhere there was the sound of something breaking.

The sound continued for a little while filling the chamber and hall. Voodoo looked back to the figure and something snapped in her mind. A patch of Jade had broken away from the seated statue and a green eye and cheek of a large green and white panda bear could be seen, the eye blinked and focused on her.

“Fuck...run we have to get out of here!” screamed Voodoo.

“Why..I have the book…”

“Yes...but we’ve woken the Jade Empress!”

Voodoo tried to turn around and run, she found she could only run so far as the statues had somehow moved and blocked the way. The mare looked back as more and more of the Jade around the Empress was continuing to crack and fall away. Before the darkness took Voodoo and Dark Shine Voodoo managed to say one last thing.

“Fuck...we’re so boned”



********


Farly Fields

Two days had passed the concert had been a big success. Double Cream was busy making muffins the ones from the day before had only a few left, three was not a huge number. Salis had come round to buy a few things, the white and blue vixen licked her lips before scarfing down a blueberry muffin.

“You want another or you going to save them till you get home?” teased Sliver.

“Noooo, I’m alright it was nice, I don’t suppose I could ask you to deliver this order?” Salis.

“I suppose so Salis, I’ll bring it round in a bit alright?”

“Awesome thanks Silver”

Silver watched as Salis paid for her goods and left, Silver bit her lower lip and sighed softly as she looked around. She didn’t like the delivery cart if she was being honest. Suddenly a little used device spurted into life a simulacrum of Princess Amethyst appeared.

Amethyst had a body of reddish purple, hair mane and tail where white, she had a pure white horn and reddish purple wings. She had a large gemstone for her mark.

“Princess Amethyst… um er well how may we help you?”

“Greetings Silver Bubbles, Double Cream, I was wondering if you would like to cater this years grand gala?”

“Yes...yes of course we’d love to!” squealed Double Cream

“That’s great I’ll expect you on the tenth”

With that the simulacrum of Princess Amethyst vanished, Double Cream was nearly dancing with glee the Grand Gala at New Trottington would really put the bakery on the map.

“Wh..wh..The Princess of Dreams….we’re going to cater the Grand Gala?”

“Yes!”

“Oooh we’re going to need help a lot of help Double Cream, maybe if we put a notice up in town later”

“Sure, sure no problem Silver” replied Double Cream with a huge grin on her face.

“I suppose I’ll go load the cart then, we best clear the decks we only have three days till the Grand Gala”

“Yeah guess your right the cart’s already loaded you want me to take it and you can finish your package rounds?”

“Thank you Whippy I’ll be back as soon as I can”



********


Silver carefully knocked on the door, she wasn’t sure what the package she was carrying. It’s contents was not really much of her business but she was curious. She sighed lightly and again knocked on the door.

“Just put it on the step please” called a voice.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that, I have to have a signature please”

The door opened and a yellow and green manes stallion appeared. There was something wrapped around his horn and Silver fought back a giggle. She had the package on the floor next to her as she passed a notebook over.

“Sign here please”

The pony signed with a small pencil and took the package and closed the door with a slam.

“Your welcome...I guess” commented Silver.

Silver turned with the last package she was able to head home. She didn’t fly to high as the upper area of the sky was beginning to become cold. As she flew over the town with it’s houses and cottages she watched as several of the red and gold armored night guards moving out of their small watch house.

Silver would admit she liked night ponies, but sometimes the could be a little annoying. She moved further down and was just about skimming the roofs. As she came to the edge of town she was a few inches from the ground when she was buffeted by a bright yellow light that vanished as quickly as it came. She fell to the ground and checked herself over nothing was hurt.

“Oh good another lunatic mage or something in the Gloaming Forest, just what we need”

The Gloaming Forest was where few if any ponies or the other species that lived on the continent of Panrian went. The forest was dark and foreboding and was known to be home to several animals and plants that were dangerous. Many unnatural things went on in there many who entered either never returned or came back vastly changed.

On the other side was large tracts of land and a few other villages and then the Great Western Ocean. Most would head south and skirt around the forest if the had business on the other side of it. Silver knew it was a far from good idea to try and fly over it either.

Silver settled and made her way to her cottage, Double Cream had the one next door. It had been a long day and all she wanted to do was sleep.



********


It was a particularly nice day as Silver Bubbles, she was just about awake. Her bed had several warm sheet and a blanket in purple over it. She yawned and sighed a little before she rolled out of bed and got up.

The first thing she did was go to the large jug pick it up and pour some of the water into the large bowl waiting. She made a few noises and shook herself off. Feeling refreshed she combed her mane and tail and then left the cottage.

She walked over to the gazebo that was set in the little garden behind the two cottages. The garden was surrounded by a low level hedge. The two paid Clear Field to tend to the garden, a few flower beds dotted the small garden. Double Cream came steaming out of her cottage, she seemed to be a bit frazzled.

“Heya Sis, Grab yourself a drink to cool off and tell me about it,” Silver said when she saw her expression.

The white unicorn grabbed the whole jug of iced tea and carried it and a tumbler over to a chair. She poured out a full glass and drank most of it before topping it up.

“I had an odd nightmare, I’m not sure where I was. It was some large room and it was dark I was lost exploring. There was a number of statues and one sat in a golden throne, there was a bright green light and the seated figure began to break and stand..I think it was some sort of panda”

“Hmmm maybe its just a dream or something to do with the closeness of The Gloaming Forest”

“I don’t know I’ve had dreams and this seemed to be nothing like that it seemed more well ‘real’” Double Cream frowned.

“Maybe we should see if anyone else had the dream or felt anything in tow. Plus we should go see the other bakers and such and all work together. It’s a bit to much for the two of us anyway”

“Your right, maybe its more than the two of us can handle. Just one more iced tea before we go?”

“Of course”



********


Unknown Regions

Voodoo Charms was shaking, not from much from the cold down in the large hall. It was more to do with fear. Dark Shine was froze in place for the moment. The figure in the gold throne watched Dark Shine with some intent.

“I am curious why you though you could come to my home and steal my belongings?”

The pall that seemed to hover over the large green and white panda woman did not give out the feelings of generosity or kindness. All the Jade was now on the floor around the throne.

“I...We...needed the book...it…” answered Dark Shine.

“Aaaah I see you thought you would come and try and steal my powers. I think not you will find as many have that I am a dangerous foe. Look around each of these statues is someone who had tried to stop me or steal my powers, they were all rewarded for their short sightedness”

“Your...the Jade Empress arn’t you?” squeaked Voodoo.

“That’s a title not a name, I am slightly disappointed that my name was forgot. My name is Jalnis, hmm your friend is powerful I will admit that. You however have the potential to be much more powerful than her” Jalnis said as she moved closer

“More power than me?” Dark Shine said loudly.

“Perhaps your hardly the pony of the shadow lands yourself” grinned Jalnis.

“Y...you are’nt going to..destroy us?”

“Perhaps not yet, you both may be entertaining to have a round for a bit. If I were you pair I’d stay entertaining” replied the Panda with a grin.

********


Farly Fields

Both Silver Bubbles and Double Cream had been busy, the two had been around the two and out laying villages. Even Salis had come out to help, already the ‘Great Bake Off’ had begun the group of bakers had two days to get everything sorted and transported to the Gala. At least there serval ovens and such light and baking had already begun, some of the cakes where being brought out and worked on.

“Nothing is ever quite perfect, is it?” questioned a voice.

Double Cream nearly jumped out of her skin she turned around and found a large black lioness standing nearby. She was dressed in a purple and black one piece outfit. Her fur was jet black, her hair was lime green and went down her back.

“Oh I’m sorry I’m Kianyx, Princess Amethyst’s Chamberlain. Her Majesty asked me to come along and over see transportation”

“Oh thank you, yes that will help us very much!” Double Cream replied.

“I guess the usual latest designs from the fashionistas will be there at the Gala?” questioned Silver.

“I expect they will I know Full Moon is going full speed on making outfits” answered Kianyx with a grin.

“Oh dear...not one of her awesome spectaular gown trips?” questioned Double Cream.

“Probably”

Full Moon was from Farly Fields, she had left wanting in her own words to get something better than a provincial pony from nowhere.

“Hmmm I’m off to the laboratory” commented Double Cream.

The white and red haired unicorn left to go back to the bakery.

“Laboratory?” asked Kianyx.

“Oooh dear...yes..Double Cream...well she likes trying out different shall we say flavour combinations together. I really suggest we get busy, her tastings can be a fate worse than death” Silver answered with a shiver.



********



New Trottington

Sometimes you just could not get a break, Skilex was someone you’d not think was a royal guard. The Stallion was tall for a start at four feet three inches. His mane was blue, as were the tip of his ears and had several stripes like the zebra ponies. White markings were on his chest, belly and hooves. Around his neck was a spiked choker collar.

No one was sure who his parents were he had been a bit of a mystery if you asked most ponies. Either way he lived in New Trottington, most of his time was taken up as captain of the guard. Right now he was dressed in the armor that was colored black with gold trim.

The city was filled with newcomers, the New Trottington Grand Gala was only two days away. Skilex was a little frustrated that he was stuck checking permission forms and other forms.

“What I wouldn’t give for a cold drink right now”

“That’s easy to fix” said a voice nearby.

A blue pony with white mane and tail came into view she was carrying a tray of drinks in a magical field. Her mark was several snowflakes in the wind

“The Princess thought you and your guards might be hot by now she’s sent some drinks out. Iced sherbet lemon I think”

Skilex quickly brought over a table from nearby and the other pony set the tray down onto it.

“Thank you Snow Flurry”

“You quite welcome, how are all the checks going?”

“Oh well enough you get the odd one trying something on but on the whole it’s going well. I think we should be ready for the Gala on time”

“I’d be surprised if we we’re not everyone’s in full Gala preparations mode”

“Yes well you know the power of merchandising” Skilex laughed softly.

Various department heads were flitting here and there, from the far south came a flare of magic, it was mostly gold with a slight tinge of green to it. Skilex raised and eyebrow, and licked his lips.

“W..what was that?” stammered Snow Flurry.

“I don’t know Flurry, it might be anything”

“Whatever it was I’m not happy it felt weird”

“Yes, yes it did feel very weird”

“Perhaps we should inform the Princess, then Skilex”

“That might be a very good idea to be honest”


********


Castle Of The Jade Empress

The assimilation of what had taken place in the thousand years while she was...elsewhere had been quick. Jalnis had soon left the chamber and away from the castle. It seemed whatever had taken place her species had been greatly reduced in numbers.

For the moment the reasons or reasons behind it was something she did not need to know. The castle was no sat on an island. When that had happened neither of the three knew.

Both Voodoo and Dark Shine followed behind Jalnis, the woman was obviously thing. Of what she was not sharing all the same.

“Where is the nearest population?”

“Ummm that would be Crystal Acres” replied Dark Shine quickly.

“I shall set myself up there then, it will be easy to create a base there” Jalnis answered.



********

This Story Will Continue In:


The First Element