For a house with both a musician and a disc jockey living together (not to mention one of them rarely cooks at home), Melody sure does have a sweet set-up for a kitchen. I still can't believe she actually managed to get her han---hooves on the latest oven from CookTillYouDrop Inc. The newest model boasts five new baking features, a more user-friendly build, plus a bigger oven door --- which means having an even larger view space!
It's very hard to find a nice, suitable oven here in pony land. The ovens I have in my shop are pretty basic. They get the job done, of course. But it never hurts to have one with a larger view space. And those new features! So simple, yet so advanced at the same time! Whoever designed and created this new model deserves a medal. And a cookie.
Sorry, I get real excited when it comes to kitchen stuff. I only ask for the best, you see. For I want to bake only the best for my customers. Sadly, the cold harsh world of reality constantly reminds me that I lack the necessity that is hard cash in my pocketsess. How I wish I could just take Melody's oven instead.
...nah. Bad idea, that one. I'd probably get killed by her first before I could even lay my hands on it.
At least I'll be able to use it today. Despite the...unusual circumstances.
So, yeah, I'm glad you decided to stay back and watch me prepare these muffins for our hungry mare out there. Who am I kidding, this is my story. Of course you'd be here; it's not like you actually have a choice in the first place. But still, thanks anyway. I appreciate the thought; be it willingly or otherwise.
Right. Let's get to baking then, shall we? I just need...to...find...
To...
Find...
Just need to....
Hmm.
Hold on, give me a moment. I can't find the flour. And here I thought she had all the stuff I'd need to bake some muffins. I did say so in the last chapter, no?
I stared at the earth pony in front of me with disbelief. "If you haven't noticed, my house is like all the way back yonder." I jabbed a thumb behind me. "Besides, your kitchen is almost as good as mine, and you have all the ingredients I need to make my muffins!"
There, see? That was from the last chapter. Anyway...
"Melody!"
No response. The distance between her kitchen and living room can't be that huge right? It's just like, right over there. Just. There.
"Melody!"
Still nothing. Maybe she's ignoring me on purpose; could it be because I dropped by all of a sudden, uninvited? And with a hungry guest, I might add. Well...I guess I was pretty demanding back there.
She isn't mad, is she?
Hmm...
Nah, Melody ain't like that. I'll try again.
"MELODY!"
Silence once again. And then---
"I'm here, I'm here!"
She sure took her sweet time getting here to the kitche---oh. I hope she didn't fall down or anything, 'cause there's a huge swollen bump on her head. Ouch.
"Why must you scream so loudly?" Melody asked me as she massaged her forehead with a hoof, making her way into the kitchen. " I could hear you all the way from outside." she gave me a frown. "So could the entire town." she added with a sad sigh. "The look all those ponies were giving me." she hid her face behind her front hooves, her ears drooping. "I've never been so ashamed."
"Outside?" I raised an eyebrow. "I thought you were with Derpy inside the house." What on earth were they doing outside? "And what happened to your head?" I got down on my knees to get a better look at the bump on Melody's head. The bump's size is almost like that of a huge walnut. Did she run head first into a wall or something?
Melody huffed. "Where do I even begin?" She continued massaging her forehead. "Argh...I simply cannot believe that---"
"Well, Melody." I said as I took her moving hoof in my hand. "Just tell me how it all went dow---"
"W-wait!" Melody was obviously surprised by my sudden action, for she quickly took a few steps back, but not enough to escape my grip on her hoof. "L-let me go." she demanded, though much softer, her cheeks flaring with the colour red. She tried shaking her hoof free from my hand. "W-why are you h-holding me?"
"I want to see how bad this bump is." I gently poked the bump on her forehead, which made her flinch. "And I can't really do that if your hoof is in the way."
"Has the thought of asking not occurred to you?" Melody glared at me. "And that hurts you know."
"I couldn't resist." I grinned. I gave the bump another poke.
She wasn't amused. "If you are already done with such childish behaviour, would you please let go of my hoof?"
"No. I like holding your hoof."
"S-Sauce, this isn't the time to be---"
Her reaction is priceless. And adorable. I wanted to tease her a little more. But that bump does look painful as all hell. "I know, I know, Melody." I gave her hoof a little squeeze, and I felt her face heating up once more. "Just teasing you."
"I find it difficult to appreciate your sense of timing." Melody said as I let go of her hoof. "If you hadn't noticed, I am in pain."
"Well, lucky for you, I know exactly what to use to help ease your pain a little." I got up and went towards her refrigerator. "Ice." Ice ice baby.
"Brilliant." The sarcasm was strong with Melody. I bet she said that while rolling her eyes, too.
"So, tell me what happened." I asked as I pulled out an ice pack from the freezer.
"Ms. Derpy went flying out the door the moment you disappeared into the kitchen."
The ice pack in my hand fell to the floor. "Wait, what?" Derpy's gone? "I thought I asked you to---"
Melody lifted up one of her hooves to my face, effectively interrupting me. "Don't worry, Sauce; Ms. Derpy is still with us; she just went outside because she wanted to say hello to one of her friends."
I picked up the ice pack from the ground and handed it to Melody. "She flew out the door just to say hi to a friend?" Seriously?
Melody nodded her head, accepting the ice pack I've given her and placing it --- with a little difficulty --- on her forehead. "You sound surprised."
"Aren't you?"
Melody shook her head. "You'll get used to it, Sauce."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Yeah, what is that supposed to mean?
"Never mind." Melody turned the ice pack around. "Anyway, when Ms. Derpy went outside, I followed, but I panicked the moment she left for I thought she was trying to leave." her face winced as she placed the cooler side of the ice pack back on her forehead. "I ran so fast after her, I failed to see where I was going."
"And then you ran smack into a wall?" It was hard to keep myself from laughing out loud like an idiot. It was even harder for me to stop imagining her running into a wall at full speed.
Melody pouted at me. "I was trying to do what you asked me to." she slowly shook her head and let out a sigh. "Back to the point; why were you calling me?"
"Flour."
She raised an eyebrow. "Flour?"
"Yeah," I nodded. "I can't find the flour." I made a sweeping motion with my hand, indicating the entire kitchen. The kitchen wasn't really all that big compared to your's truly. But it's not like I use Melody's kitchen all the time, to be honest. I do visit her from time to time, but usually just to drop off some lemon tarts.
And even when I do get into the kitchen, it's usually because Vinyl accidentally obliterated their dinner with a mix of loud wubs and deep bass. Oh, and because they so desperately needed someone with a good pair of hands to help clean their place up. That bass Vinyl has can really get their food in all sorts of places around the kitchen, let me tell you that. I swear I once found a piece of celery stuck on the kitchen ceiling.
I guess you can say they find me pretty handy in situations like those. Heh.
"I'm not even sure if I have any left." Melody said, glancing around her kitchen. "Can't you make cupcakes without them?"
"Muffins, lady." Can't anyone tell the difference between cupcakes and muffins? It's not rocket science for crying out loud! "Muffins."
"...right. Pardon me. Can't you make your muffins without flour?"
A challenge. I like it.
"That depends whether or not you have the ingredients for me to do so, Melody." Though I would prefer to use flour.
Melody handed me the ice pack, which was already starting to feel watery. "Let me see what I can find for you."
"Do you even know what I need?"
She shrugged. "I'll grab what I can. In the meantime, why don't you go check up on Ms. Derpy." she opened one of the cabinets above her, peering inside with squinted eyes. "That reminds me; you still haven't told me why Ms. Derpy is here." she turned around and gave me a questioning look. "I wasn't aware that you and her were acquainted."
"Like I said, Melody. It's a long story." I said as I made my way out the kitchen. "Once all this is over, I promise you'll get the entire story, plus its juicy details."
"As long as there aren't any more bumps involved." she said, gently touching her forehead. "And for the last time, stop calling me Melody!"