Welcome everypony, to this year’s annual Little Baker Competition! The event will begin in five minutes, so be sure to find your station and prepare to make your magnificent masterpieces!
 
“Hey, Zesty, do ya need help finding your station? Because I’m pretty sure it’s right behind that door with an ‘EXIT’ sign above it,” Doughnut Joe said, crossing his hooves with a smirk.
 
The lavender mare in question gave Joe a square look, and placing her hooves on the colt in front of her, said calmly but level, “Listen to me, Joseph. Just because you happen to make an edible cuisine last year that appealed to the Judge’s more debased appetite and won that competition, does not tarnish our reputation as two-year running champions. It was a small, unforeseen mistake that cost us our rightful victory, and I promise you, it will not happen again. Isn’t that right, Zingy, dear.”
 
“Indeed,” the colt nodded curtly.
 
“You hear that Sonata? This culinary artist is still sore about last year. Could it be that she’s afraid a couple of bakers might beat her again? No matter, we best be heading over to our station. We wouldn’t want to waste all this precious time rubbing salt in old wounds, now would we?”
 
“Not that she would know what salt tastes like,” added Sonata.
 
Zesty glared down at the little tripe with a smoldering furry in her eyes. “I’d be careful what I say, young filly. Ponies of my respected reputation tend to hold power just as much as opinions, and I’d be upset to find somepony like you disqualified for something as petty as disorderly conduct.”
 
Joe scowled at this and said quickly, “Back off Zesty and leave your power threats for the judges. Come on, Sweetie, we’re done here.”
 
As Joe and Sonata trotted away, Zesty called out with a sly smirk creeping at the corners, “May the truely best ponies win.”
 
“Oh….we intended too,” Joe muttered darkly under his breath.
 
 

 
After the events of “Spice Up Your Life”, Zesty more or less begrudged Rarity for the insulting display at the restaurant. She still respects her artistry but has pretty much cut off all ties as acquaintances. As for Doughnut Joe, she’s had a bone to pick with him for quite awhile. Despite almost every restaurant in Canterlot adhering to her standards, his shop is one of the few that are deviants and quite successful ones at that.
 
Imagine her disgust to find him entering into the same competition as herself and her nephew/apprentice, Zingy gourmet. Their bitter rivalry brewed quicker than a cuppa joe and is still steaming to this day.
 
For the past two years, Zesty rubbed her (some say bribed) victories in his face, only to have the tables turned the third year. The stakes are higher than ever as Zesty tries to make her come back and Joe attempts to even the odds.
 
As for Zingy and Sonata…they’re pretty much lead on to hate each other by the feuding adults. Although, Sonata does personally thinks Zingy’s as stuck up as his mentor, just as he has been poisoned by Zesty to believe Sonata is nothing more than a petty competitor needing to be destroyed.
 
This is a new concept for me and I’m really excited to start exploring this little rabbit trail. So just an FYI, expect to see more content for this in the coming months.
 
Also, it was actually inspired to me a few days ago by tpalacios17. Seriously, this deviant is a gold mind for exploiting new ideas and I can’t thank her enough for this one!