“There, that’s the last one.” Pansy said aloud, wiping the sweat droplets from her forehead as she let out a tired, but content sigh. Glowing with pride, she took a moment to survey her meticulously iced gingerbread ponies all sitting neatly in rows on the pan. The sweet scent wafted over her, as did the heat radiating off the still warm treats. Glancing over at her baking partner, she failed to stifle a giggle at the sight of him.
 
Not that Champ noticed, since he was focused intently on the task at hoof. With his tongue stuck out in a comical fashion, he carefully placed another gumdrop on the roof in such a way, that he looked more like he was replacing it with a cursed idol in a forbidden tomb rather than decorating a candy cottage. Once it was firmly in place, Champ let out the breath he had been holding. Crossing his arms, Champ looked up at Pansy with a smug smirk.
 
“Whatcha think Pansy? Pretty impressive for somepony who doesn’t bake,” he boasted.
 
Peering closely, Pansy found the icing was actually relatively smooth rather than just clumped all over like an avalanche hit it, and even the candy assortments looked nice and neat. Champ was right, it was pretty impressive, so much so that even Pansy felt a little amazed. She didn’t let it show, of course, since an inflated ego the last thing Champ needed. But she did flash him an approving smile as she said, “This looks beautiful, Champ, and I’m sure everypony who walks by the display case will think so too!”
 
“And here you thought I had no confectonary skills,” he said, rubbing his hoof against his chest in a cocky manner.
 
Pansy rolled her eyes playfully. “I think you mean, confectionery,” she corrected, before adding, “and I don’t think it’s too hard for anyone to follow the decorating instructions on the back of the box.”
 
Both ponies glanced at the container on the counter, with its printed pictures and clear cut directions, then at Champ’s own creation. It was the spitting image of the one printed on the carton. Simultaneously, the mare and stallion locked eyes again.
 
Champ shrugged. “Whatever,” he said nonchalantly
 
Then perking up, he asked Oh hey, do you have any more of those gum drops? I kind ran out of them…”
 
“Of course,” Pansy said sweetly, but as she did so, her smile quickly changed into a frown.
 
Glancing around the table, then at the gingerbread house, then back at the empty container, she said, “I gave you at least a hundred, and you’ve barely but fifty on it. What happened to the rest?”
 
Champ chuckled sheepishly, scratching at the back of his neck. “Well…I might of…had one or two of them. Decoratin works up an appetite, you know,” he said.
 
Pansy only shook her head. Trotting towards the cabinet, she called over her shoulder, “fine, but if you keep eating them, you’re gonna run out of pieces to decorate with.”
 
“Yeah, Yeah, I know,” he huffed.
 
As she pulled the jar out, her ear flicked at the sound of a subtle crunch. She spun around, but all was the same. Well, except that champ now had his back to her- probably busy sticking another gummy on the cream cheese icing lawn. As she started walking over, she innocently, “Hey Champ, did you hear that weird noi~~”
 
Drrrrriiiiinnnnggg
 
The kitchen timer startled Pansy so badly, she nearly dropped the jar. Rushing over to the counter, she placed the gumdrops beside him and said, “one sec,” before rushing back over to the stove.
 
Grabbing a hot pad with lightning speed, she yanked the door open, only to be met with an overwhelming wave of heat that about knocked the wind out of her. After a second, she reached in and pulled out the tray of golden brown cookies, the strong smell making her mouth water. That’s when she hear it again.
 
Crunch.
 
Slowly turning around, so as not to drop the tray in her mouth, Pansy eyed Champ suspiciously as she made her way to the counter.
 
“Champ, did you hear that crunching sound?” she asked, setting the cookies down next to the first tray.
 
He didn’t reply aloud, and only shrugged nonchalantly in a way that said “I dunno”. Once again, he seemed completely absorbed in placing yet another gumdrop along the roof. Only this time, something seemed off about him.
 
She squinted at his face. Was that…crumbs around his lips? Crumbs of what? As she racked her brain for an answer, her eyes drifted downwards towards his wings. They were folded nice and neatly, without a feather out place, looking completely normal with it’s brown and white object tucked tightly under its~~
 
wait.
 
“Champ, how could you!?” Pansy gasped in betrayal, as she pulled out the half eaten gingerbread pony from his amass of feathers.
 
Shoving the cookie in his face, she said in a tone that was dangerously quiet for someone who looked so angry, “Do you know how long it took me to decorate these!?”
 
Champ immediately threw up his hooves, as if he expected her to charge him at any moment. “Gee, Pansy, I’m sorry!” He yelled, sounding half afraid, half sincere. “They just smelled so good, and I can’t help that you’re the best cook in Equestria when it comes to gingerbread ponies.”
 
Pansy lowered her weapon, but “Flattery isn’t going to work on me, Champ.” Glancing down at the tray, she saw only nine out of the twelve were left intact.
 
Sighing tiredly, she said “Great. Now I have to make another batch to make up for the three you ate.”
 
Trotting to the shelf, she grabbed a mixing bowl and said wistfully, “And here I was hoping we’d be done in time to see the childrens choir perform.”
 
Champ, who had just been sulking guiltily where he sat, now jumped up hastily “Hey now, wait a sec! Look, I’ll stay and help you out. I mean, I’m not as good at icing as you, but I’m sure there’s something to…you know…make it up to you?” He said, looking up at her with his sad, round puppy eyes.
 
Pansy tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Hmmm….well, I suppose you could help me bake. You could start by grabbing me more sugar, “ she said, pointing to the container on the other side of the kitchen.
 
Champ’s droopy stature suddenly straightened, and he saluted as he said, “Yes, Ma’m!” Pansy watched him sprint across the room as if his life depended on it, then she turned back to her own task. As the two mixed the dry ingredients together, with Champ stirring and Pansy pouring, a silence settled between them.
 
Only to be broken a few seconds later as Champ said hesitantly, “Oh and….uh Pansy….I uh….I really am sorry I ate your gingerbread ponies…”
 
Pansy’s earlier frustration was all but gone as she smiled at him and said softly, “It’s alright Champ, I forgive you. It is hearths Warming time, afterall.”
 
Champ flashed a grin back at her in reply, with perhaps a twinge of gratitude in it.
 
As Pansy spooned our another cup of sugar, she said slyly, “And, if you do a good job helping out, I’m sure I could save one or two of the leftover cookies.”
 
“You mean it?”he asked with childish surprise.
 
“If you do a good job,” she emphasized.
 
Champ smirked, his cocky air returning as he said, “Well then try not to blink, Pansy, cuz you might just miss out on the action.”