Once every hundred moons the greatest bakers in all of Equestria gather to individually create the ultimate treats! This is known simply as: The Multi-Equestrian Bake-Off. Spearheaded and deeply rooted in ancient Earth Pony history, the Earth Ponies; post the princess sister’s era of peace, shared their gifts of delicious creative cultivation with their fellow magical pony folk. Thus the beloved moon-spanning tradition was born. This year, Pinkie Pie is determined to enter.
Pinkie takes pride being a formidable baker, obviously aware of this not being her sole talent, rather an accessory to her nebulous cutie concept of partying. However, Pinkie’s participation is not rooted independently in being representative of her ability as a baker. Her main goal posses much more personal significance. The history of this sweet treat-off resides deeply in the Pie family legacy.

Great Great Great Granny Pie was the envy of all over a hundred moons ago, when the Equestrian tradition had reared its head. Her village assumed she’d be a shoe-in for first place. After all she was the premiere pink pastry pony they had all ever seen. Unfortunately, Granny Pie had gotten way in over her head with her treat of choice. The key ingredient being the enemy to all pony baker’s, the dreaded Mochiko powder. Produced from ancient rice grains, this little seedling was littered throughout various barren parts of the land. Thus when made incorrectly, anything containing Mochiko powder will turn DRY! Granny Pie’s worst fears came true that day, when she watched as the poor pony princess’s scrunched their snouts upon taking a bite of her Mochi Donuts. This small act of unintentional failure, brought shame and mistrust to the Pie family’s name. Granny Pie, uprooted her family away from her home village, determined to redeem the Pie family name. Something no pony could ever do wrong in the eyes of the public, but while still being able to serve their community, rock farming.
This year the long spanning competition, is back and Pinkie is determined to take advantage of this opportunity to redeem the banking legacy of the Pie’s.

Pinkie, alongside her friends, (possibly to their reluctance) had since gathered the rice grains in preparation for operation Rice Redemption!!

“Easier said than done!!” Rainbow Dash bellows from the kitchen. Pinkie has asked all her friends to aid in the process of grinding the rice into Mochiko powder. Rainbow Dash, alongside Apple Jack carries the responsibility to quickly kneed the Mochiko rice flour into the other ingredients. The flour, once mixed with the sugar, vinegar, and water became very tacky.

“Keep going feather brain, my hooves are aching something fierce!” Apple Jack sighs.

Pinkie, Fluttershy and Twilight begin the process of homogenization. This involves a slew of powder ingredients. The three are covered in a multitude of treat powders.

“It smells simply dreadful in here.” Rarity groans, wearing what can only be described as something akin to a hazmat suit.

“We’re baking treats not cooking up something from breaking bad..” Twilight retorts.

Pinkie has been silent for the entirety of their time together. No pony has even attempted to inquire with the pink pony, they all collectively understand the significance of this moment.

Hours go by, and five of the mane six lay slumped over, scattered across the kitchen. Each drop qwipy one-liners that represent their feelings of exhaustion. Pinkie dismisses this silently. Her eyes stay glued to the rock fire stone. The goop sitting in a cast iron wok on top the stove bubbled in response to the heat. Each time the bubbles grew Pinkie would wince quickly throw her hooves underneath the batter to flip the homogenous treat onto its opposite side. This appeared to be an attempt at stopping one side from becoming too hot. Hours go by, the mane five are all fast asleep at this point just as Pinkie finally has something to say.

“It is time..” an almost whisper escapes her lips.

The five friends shoot awake and join Pinkie’s side. They all crowd around the batter. Pinkie, quickly lifts the batter from the cast iron wok and throws it into a wooden bowl. She spins around to face Apple Jack. The strong Earth Ponie’s hindquarters were essential to this next step. Apple Jack takes a deep breath in.

“Are you sure about this Pinkie?”

Pinkie nods.

Then, without a moment of hesitation, Apple Jack, with one back leg kicks firmly into the dough. Almost as if it were second nature, Pinkie flips the dough. Apple Jack kicks again. Pinkie flips. This repetition between the two goes off without a hitch. The remaining four friends, all share different expressions. That of Fluttershy’s horror, Rainbow Dash’s intrigue, Rarity’s ambivalence, and Twilight’s determination.

Time passes, the sun rises, and the two come to a halt. Pinkie lifts the batter with aching hooves and places it gingerly onto the counter. Twilight trots over carrying a bag of flour and a singular strainer. She gently passes the flour through the wired baking device and decorates the dough, stopping once it is entirely coated in powder. Pinkie folds the dough into the flour. Stopping momentarily before separating the batter into spheres.

Pinkie sighs. The group is unsure whether the sigh was of relief or regret.

Fluttershy approaches, gently fining out the spheres while maintaining their shape.

“Good work team. I am truly honored to work alongside such amazing soldiers, and friends.” Pinkie says with a grin, sweat dropping down her face.

The six pile into the Friendship Express and begin their journey to the destination of this year’s competition. Sadlearabia.

When they arrive, bakers of every pony kind carry treats of every sort as they line up for judgement. Pinkie gently places her treats onto the table next to her. Her friends embrace her for but a moment, then like clockwork, the judgement begins.

It was not the princess’s, nor any delegates, rather simple Earth Pony folk from across the rural parts of Equestria. They taste every treat, poker faces were pained over their expressions. They arrive at Pinkie’s stall. Pinkie, who up to that point had remained silent and stoic, jumps into her normal happy go lucky personality.

“I hope you enjoy my famous pieces of Mochi. Created in Ponyville with all of these beautiful mares you see before you. Please let me know what you think.”

The judge’s expressions stay unmoved. They each lift a piece of Mochi to their lips and take a bite in unison.

Suddenly, tears well in the eyes of one judge. The others glance over at their pony peer, wipe their lips, and walk away. The crying judge finishes the whole piece.

Over the speakers, a voice echoes throughout the room, announcing the winners. The top three are announced and placed chronologically with brief explanations as to the reason for their victory. Pinkie’s blood turns cold. The names provided, none of them were her’s. She sinks down into her seat, her once puffy hair mimics her emotions and wilts. Her friends offer her comfort in their own unique ways but Pinkie has already toned them out.

The group depart, wait at the train station in silence. Then, the sound of trotting grows louder and louder behind them. They all turn around and it is, one of the judges. Specifically it was the one who had shed tears at the consumption of Pinkie’s treat.

She sheepishly reaches her hoof out to Pinkie, “Thank you.” she merely states.

“Huh?” Pinkie perplexingly responds.

“The Mochi, I haven’t had this treat in moons. After the loss of my..” she trails off, not wanting to finish her thought.

Pinkie understands this, and begins to brighten. “You enjoyed it?”

“Yes, it is the most perfect form of Mochi I have ever tasted.” She pauses and continues with saying, “You see this treat isn’t too well liked or common amongst most pony folk. But, I grew up eating this very treat on some of my hardest days in my youth.”

Pinkie beams. “That’s all I needed to hear. Thank you.”

The train begins to roll into the station and Pinkie embraces the judge. The judge sheepishly returns the favor. With that, Pinkie trots along proudly back onto the train.

“What was that all about?” Rainbow appears to be at a loss.

“I’m just so happy my treat could make at least one pony smile. Maybe it wasn’t the treat that would be universally desired, but it mattered to one pony. Granny Pie really wanted to be noticed for her efforts. And she was! The fact that I showed up here proves that. I don’t need to win to know I successfully completed operation Rice Redemption.”

Twilight is the first to hug Pinkie alongside the remaining batch of friends.

The train rides off into the night, six proud friends snuggled together in tow.