//------------------------------// // The Scrumptious Muffin // Story: The Scrumptious Muffin // by Melody Dream //------------------------------// It was late evening in Ponyville as Muffins gazed longingly into the Cakes’ bakery window. The Cakes’ Bakery looked similar to a gingerbread house, but a lot bigger, of course! A delicious vanilla, raspberry, almond, chocolate chip muffin sat behind the glass store window. Muffins licked her lips. It was a muffin Muffins had never tried before, let alone heard of! Too bad the bakery was closed; if only she had arrived five minutes earlier. Only five minutes! I must have that muffin! Muffins thought determinedly. She decided she would come first thing tomorrow morning to buy the muffin. Hopefully it would still be there. Muffins trotted home. While Muffins was trotting home, she was deep in thought about her plans for the morning, so she wasn’t really paying much attention to where she was going. The next thing Muffins knew she had crashed right into Twilight Sparkle. She tripped backwards, losing her balance. “Whoa there Muffins!” Twilight exclaimed. “Why are you in such a hurry?” “Oh, sorry Twilight! I’m not in a hurry…just lost in thought.” Muffins said. “Oh good! I need your help! Do you have a minute?” Twilight didn’t wait for Muffins to answer. Talking quite fast she said, “Great! I was looking for you Muffins, I’ve been asking every pony I come by if they know anything about Princess Celestia’s next visit. All she would tell me is that she is coming soon. but I don’t know how soon! How can I possibly plan for her visit if I don't know when she is coming or why?!” Twilight wailed, while restlessly messing up her mane. Oh Twilight, Muffins thought. She's always becoming worried about one thing or another. Muffins looked up at Twilight Sparkle’s quizzical expression. “Well? Do you know anything?” Twilight demanded. “Um…No?” Muffins said. “I didn’t even know Princess Celestia was coming to Ponyville.” “You didn’t know?! But this is huge! Everypony needs to prepare for her visit.” Twilight exclaimed. “Twilight you are a princess too. I’m sure whenever Princess Celestia comes everything will go just fine.” Muffins tried to console her friend. “Yes I’m a princess, but that doesn’t change anything. Princess Celestia’s visit is still a big deal! Everypony must be prepared!” Twilight said. “If only I knew why she is coming…” Twilight trailed off. “Anyway, thank you for your help Muffins. I hope you have a good day.” Twilight Sparkle smiled, before trotting away to the next pony she could find. “You too, Twilight.” Muffins said. Muffins continued on her way home, this time though she made sure to pay attention to where she was going. She didn’t want to run into anypony or anything. Muffins climbed into bed that night filled with wonderful daydreams of the morning ahead. Soon Muffins was fast asleep… Muffins stood in front of the Cakes’ bakery. Before going inside, she checked the store window to see if the vanilla, raspberry, almond, chocolate chip, muffin was still there. Muffins didn’t see it! She searched the window again; still she couldn’t find the muffin! The muffin was nowhere to be seen! How could the muffin just disappear over night? Muffins thought, very much disappointed. Maybe one of the Cakes’ mischievous babies had eaten it? Either way the muffin was gone! Muffins woke up with a start. The muffin! She gasped. Muffins noticed she was tangled up in her sheets. She felt so confused, it took her a moment to realize it was just a dream. Muffins untangled herself and jumped out of bed. She walked over to her window, pulled the curtains aside, and looked outside. Seeing it was still dark Muffins climbed back in bed. Muffins thought she wouldn’t be able to fall back asleep after her dream; but only a few minutes later she was fast asleep. The next morning, Muffins trotted down one of the streets in Ponyville, she was on her way to the Cakes’ Bakery. When Muffins arrived at the bakery, she trotted up the few steps leading to the front door; in her excitement to buy the muffin, she nearly knocked over the flower vase in front of the bakery. Oh no! Muffins thought as the pretty purple vase swayed back and forth. Moments later it stopped swaying, though to Muffins it seemed a lot longer than that, luckily it didn’t fall over and break. Phew! Once inside Muffins said hello to Mr. and Mrs. Cake. Then she glanced around the bakery for the muffin, once she spotted it she trotted over to one of the bakery’s many baked goods glass display cases, the one that held the muffin! She opened it, and pulled out the delicious-looking vanilla, raspberry, almond, chocolate chip, muffin with her hoof. She couldn’t stop staring; it looked so good! “Today's special!” A voice exclaimed happily behind Muffins. Muffins jumped, startled at the sudden noise. She turned around and saw Mrs. Cake grinning at her. “I thought you might like today’s muffin! You normally like the specials anyway.” Mrs. Cake gave Muffins a friendly knowing smile. “All the baked goods you make here are delicious. Especially the muffins, though!” Muffins smiled back at Mrs. Cake. Muffins placed the muffin carefully in a plastic bag and tied it with a twist-tie. She then proceeded to the check-out counter. “Ah! You want the vanilla, raspberry, almond, chocolate chip, muffin!” The cashier and co-owner of the bakery, Mr. Cake said, as Muffins paid for her Muffin “This muffin is today’s special! You won’t be able to buy it any other day.” Mr. Cake smiled. Mr. Cake put Muffins muffin in a white box with the bakery’s logo. “Would you like a bag too?” Mr. Cake asked. “No thank you.” Muffins said. Muffins put the box, containing the muffin, into her saddlebag. Muffins went to Ponyville Park to eat her muffin, she sat under one of the parks many trees; an apple tree. Muffins enjoyed her vanilla, raspberry, almond, chocolate chip, muffin. Muffins was very glad she had bought the muffin. It tasted absolutely delicious! On Muffins way home, Twilight Sparkle trotted over to join her. “Hello, Muffins! Princess Celestia told me not to worry. She is only coming to say hello. No grand visit or anything!” Twilight smiled. “Thanks for looking for me to tell me. I’m glad things worked out for you.” Muffins smiled back at her friend.