Rex's Kingdom (Patreon)

Bombay Bombastic looked around his establishment for a table or booth to seat King Trafalgar Maximilian Augustus Leopold the III and Applejack in my Equestria dreamscape. Unfortunately it was busy night Link and every place was full. Finally he grunted and crossed his arms and looked over of his two new guests.

     "Well Trag. You're timing is lousy! We're packed tonight! Is your tortoise hogging up most of my parking lot again?"

     The king removed his hat and shook his head. "Fear not my good fellow. My most loyal subject–"

     "Your only subject." Bombay interjected.

     The king continued without breaking stride. "Galapagos finds the fare that you serve here disrupts his digestive harmony, so he's declined to grace your establishment tonight."

     Bombay shrugged his shoulders. "Well your Majesty you're going to have wait for a table or booth to clear out. Probably about 30 minutes or more." The mouse glanced over at the bar. "Or you two can pull up some stools at the bar. You're choice."

     "Can we git grub at the bar?" AJ said.

     "Sure can!" Bombay said. "If you two want grab of couple of stools go right ahead. I'll make sure that Holly gets you couple menus right away!"

     The king rubs chin and then nodded his head. "Well Applejack if you're comfortable with the bar I can go with that."

     "Well then get your butts over to the bar, and I'll flag Holly down so she can–"

     At that moment over the sound of music there was a crashing of plates followed by cursing from a back corner of the restaurant. Bombay clenched his hands and shook his head. "Okay! I need to get back running this asylum! Enjoy your food." Then he stomped off heading back toward the recent sounds of mayhem.

     AJ and the King quickly found a couple of stools next to the source of music. AJ learned that this device was called jukebox. They'd just settled in when an older female rat who in her youth probably been a real looker came walking up. She was wearing a short skirt, the obligatory waitress apron, and a white blouse with puffy short sleeves. She grinned at Trafalgar.

     "Well I'll be! Trag!" She gave the king a quick hug. "I haven't seen ya in ages! Glad ya came back!" She looked over at AJ smiled while extending her right hand. "And hello sunshine! Don't think we've met! I'm Holly. Holly Wood. If ya been here befer, sorry fer not recognizing ya darling. If this is yer first time here then welcome ta Bombay Bombastic's Barbecue!"

     AJ shook Holly's hand. "Nope! This is my first time here! Applejack is my name!"

     Holly looked back and forth between the king and AJ and smiled as she connected the dots. "Well here's a couple menus! And I'll flag down Rex so he can git ya some drinks! Ya tu enjoy yer evenin!" Then she promptly hustled off down the bar.

     AJ was trying to make sense of the bewildering laminated menu. She didn't know what half of these dishes were. Suddenly a shadow fell across her and the king. Looking up she found herself staring at the large dusty tan face of a horny toad. Its face was adorned with numerous barbs and horns. Decorating its horns was a collection of rings of silver, turquoise and jet. From what she could see the individual appeared to be only wearing a stained bar apron and a battered black leather vest. It looked down at them.

    "Drinks?" It asked in a deep gravely voice.

    "Um ya Rex?" AJ asked.

    "I am." The horny toad said while crossing its arms. "Whatcha ya drinking ma'am?"

     AJ seemed to be deciding on what to ask when Trafalgar spoke up. "Well good fellow I'll have–"

     The lizard pointed at the king. "I wasn't asking ya!" He pointed at AJ. "I was asking her. Now be polite and wait yer turn. Yer Majesty." Then he looked back at Applejack. "Now. Ma'am. Whatcha ya be drinking tanight?"

    "Ya got cider?"

     "We do.

     "Then I'd like a cider please."

     "Right." Then Rex looked over at Trafalgar. "Okay now yer turn. Whatcha want?

     "Ah well I my fine fellow Rex! I think I'm in the mood for nice a pint of pilsner."

     The horny toad nodded his head. "I'll git ya a mug of beer, and the lady's cider. Be right back." Then he walked back down the bar.

     As he walked away AJ looked over at Trafalgar. "Hey. Am I imagining things, or does the bartender not like ya?"

     Trafalgar set his elbows on the bar and looked over at AJ. "Well it's simple dear. I'm a king." He glanced down the bar at the horny toad who was currently filling a couple mugs. "And this fine fellow's name is Rex. Which is another word for king, and Rex considers this bar to be his kingdom. Soooo whenever I grace this charming establishment with my presence he likes to remind me of it. But fear not we have a most amicable and cordial relationship."

     A few seconds later Rex returned. The lizard carefully wiped the bar in front of AJ with a cloth before placing a coaster down followed by a mug of pale golden cider. "Here ya go ma'am. One mug of Bombay Bombastic's finest cider. Enjoy."

     The lizard then tossed a coaster down in front of the king, followed by a foamy mug of liquid. "Yer beer!" Then the horny toad walked away to take another customer's order. AJ watched the lizard leave before looking incredulously over at Trafalgar.

    "Amicable?"

    "Most assuredly!" Then the king buried his face in the menu.

     AJ giggled and took a sip of her cider.

To be continued.