//------------------------------// // Chapter 13- Kitchen Storm // Story: Reformed Unicorn Group Podcast // by Quoterific //------------------------------// "You join us the studio kitchen once again to show you listeners how to bake the perfect cake!" Starlight introduced todays program, "And you might say that I'm a baking disaster, but I've had help from Pinkie Pie and at my old village's baking contest at the Sunset Festival. And joining me today is Tempest!" "Is this a good idea?" Tempest asked, "You only had two experiences in baking and I had zero experience." "Please, We've got this," Starlight reassured. "That's what they all say," Trixie teased. Sunset rolled her eyes. "Thank you for that support, Trixie," Starlight jabbed back, "I may not be a Pinkie Pie clone, but at least I'm not a disaster in the kitchen." "First add the butter, flour, caster sugar, eggs and milk together. Mix them well until you have a smooth cake mix. For extra flavour, add a touch of vanilla extract." Tempest did as Starlight instructed. As she opened the flour, it exploded in her face. Coughing and spluttering, she turned to Starlight with a short glare with a flour-covered face. "I was like that with Pinkie," Starlight giggled wryly, "Seriously, how Pinkie just whips something up without any trouble amazes me. Even under a spell, she whipped enough to have the whole kitchen bursting with cake!" "I think the others can cook quite well as well," Sunset mused, "Nothing tastes more perfect than Granny Smith's pies. It is perfect in the winter with a warm drink." Sunset went into a state of sugary bliss at the memory. "Twilight and Spike were having a cook-off before Fluttershy burst in about Zecora's swamp fever," Starlight remembered, "Even though Fluttershy ate the sweet potato muffins, they had plenty of cauliflower bites. Too much for me to handle. Rarity is an okay simple cook, but the same couldn't be said for Sweetie Belle. Rarity told me how she burned juice. How can you burn juice?" She turned to Tempest, who was somehow struggling to mix the contents of the bowl. "I think something went wrong with my mix," Tempest said to Starlight in a worried tone. Starlight peered in to see, not a smooth cake mix, but a strange tough mix. she tried taking the spoon out, but it was stuck in place. She turned to Tempest, who had a raised brow. She laughed nervously. "How is it going over there?" Trixie mocked, "I know Starlight's nervous laugh, so I think it's coming on great." Sunset jabbed Trixie's side. She raised her hooves defensively. "Yeah," Starlight lied, "Everything is turning out great. Next, place a bit of mix into each cupcake mold, about halfway to allow let the mixture to rise." Tempest did her best to put the mix into individual molds. "Then place them in the oven until evenly baked and golden." Tempest opened the oven and did as she was instructed. "On the road, is there much to eat?" Sunset asked Trixie. "You must eat with the minimal amount of bits on the road," Trixie explained, "Unlike some ponies who blew away their bits for some extra food." She turned to Starlight who grinned back mockingly. "Says the pony who talks in her sleep about how great and powerful they are," Starlight hit back. "Says the pony who snores so loud, she made her old village convinced they were being attacked by bears," Trixie countered back. "Scootaloo said that you wouldn't want Rainbow Dash's snoring when you sleep," Starlight warned, "She thought it was the Headless Horse when they were camping and telling spooky stories." Sunset chuckled at their 'friendly' roasting, before she stopped to sniff the air. "Is it just me, or does something smelt burnt to you?" Every pony in the room stopped to sniff the air, before Tempest shouted in alarm. "My cupcakes!" She opened the open, only to be hit with a cloud of black smoke. Coughing, she placed her well-baked cupcakes at the table. The others crowded round to see what she made. "And the Great and Powerful Trixie learned a valuable lesson today," Trixie gagged, "Always leave the baking to Pinkie Pie." The others silently nodded, whilst Tempest just looked appalled. She looked down at her soot and flour covered body. "I think we're going to leave it there for the day," Sunset announced slowly to their listeners, "Hope to see you all again soon."