Walking on Sunshine (Patreon)

I enjoy cooking, even in my Equestria dreamscape, but suddenly being confronted with cooking for Royalty caused me to mentally flatline for probably the third time in one day. It had been a very busy day in that regard. 

“Um, I will need to check the pantry and see what we've got in stock. Uh, Dash I may need you to into town to pick up a couple of items. Okay?” 

“Sure Brick!” Said RD. “But you might want to hurry. The dry goods store closes at 5 on Sunday.”

“Do you need any help Sky Brush?” Asked the ever helpful and adorable Carousel. 

“Yes please.” I said.

“Will you need my help Brick?” Asked Petina. 

“Uh, not at the moment! Why don't you and RD keep Princess Celestia entertained while Carousel plan tonight's menu.” 

I then turned and trotted out of the room trying not to imagine what Petina's idea of entertained might mean. Once Carousel and I were in the pantry I gave myself a moment just pause and try to relax. 

“Hey there Sky Brush, are you okay?” Apparently my stress was obvious to the palomino mare.  She came over and gently nuzzled my neck. Raising her head she whispered in my ear. “You can do this. Don't try anything fancy, just make dinner like you normally would.”

Lowering her head again she stared into my sapphire blue eyes. “Now what were thinking of making tonight for dinner before Royalty crashed the party?”

“Um, potato, corn and cheese chowder. Uh sauteed spinach, er sourdough bread, and unless you and Petina gorged on them last night we should still have a full tray of brownies in the icebox. So, um we can spruce up by warming them in the oven and then serve them with vanilla ice cream and some of the raspberry syrup we got recently. Uh how does that sound?” 

“Not bad.” Replied the mare. “Now do we have ingredients to make enough for everypony? I don't know if you noticed but Princess Celestia has been eating almost constantly since she arrived, and none of us has had lunch.”

“Oh, yeah good point!” 

A few minutes of checking by and Carousel and I had resulted in some revisions of the menu. We didn't have enough ready sourdough to make more than two loaves which would be insufficient for our needs. Instead we settled on making loaves of soda bread. Also to tide ponies over until dinner was ready I broke out the blue cheese spread and sliced up some apples to put the spread on along with a tin of savory biscuits.

I made double the normal amounts of chowder and spinach which was a smart move on my part , because not only were Carousel, Petina, and RD famished but Celestia apparently could store food in her mane and tail because she ate enough for 4 ponies. 

Princess Celestia finished devouring the last bit of brownie. she slowly levitated her fork back to her plate; then she daintily dabbed her face with a napkin. With that task completed she took a long sip of her lager. She then smiled at me.

“Thank you Sky Brush that was very enjoyable meal!” She gave me a wink. “I think I've discovered another reason why Rainbow Dash is interested in being in a relationship with you and your marefriends. Food like this will be a definite perk!”   

I smiled and nodded my head. “Thank you your Highness. I'm happy my cooking skills were up to the task.”

There was a round of compliments from the mares then Carousel rose from her seat. 

“Well now let's see if dishwashing skills are up for the task.” The mare was now eyeballing an impressive pile of bowls, plates, pots, baking sheets, and skillets.

Celestia rose from her seat. “Well let me lend you some assistance with tackling it. After all it is the least I can do to thank everyone of you for the hospitality.”

Carousel began to protest but then stopped and smiled. “Thank you your Highness! Would you mind doing the drying while I do the washing?” 

What followed was a rather surreal scene as the being that was literally the living embodiment of the Sun dried dishes for a simple earth pony mare of no station or position in Equestria. 

I tried to help but was hustled out of the kitchen by the two mares who stated there wasn't enough room for three ponies around the sink and I'd just be getting in the way. So after starting another pot of coffee I retired to the common room to keep Dash and Petina company.  

Now Carousel has a habit of singing while she does the dishes. She doesn't have the world's greatest singing voice but it  is still very sweet, and it adds just that little extra bit of charm to our quaint little cottage. Usually she'll just sing some random little ditty she's heard performed around town, but occasionally without even realizing it she'll start singing some pop song from her Angel and Knight reality. 

So it was very amusing when suddenly from our kitchen there came. 

Mm, yeah

I used to think maybe you loved me, now, baby, I'm sure

And I just can't wait till the day when you knock on my door

Now every time I go for the mailbox, gotta hold myself down

'Cause I just can't wait till you write me you're coming around

Now I'm walking on sunshine, whoa

I'm walking on sunshine, whoa

I'm walking on sunshine, whoa

And don't it feel good

Hey, all right now

And don't it feel good

Hey, yeah

I used to think maybe you loved me, now I know that it's true

And I don't want to spend my whole life just a-waiting for you

Now, I don't want you back for the weekend, not back for a day, no, no, no

I said, baby, I just want you back, and I want you to stay

Oh, yeah, now I'm walking on sunshine, whoa

I'm walking on sunshine, whoa

I'm walking on sunshine, whoa

And don't it feel good

Hey, all right now

And don't it feel good

Yeah, oh, yeah, now

And don't it feel good

Walking on sunshine

Walking on sunshine

By the second chorus Celestia had picked up on the song and was singing along with Carousel. We all stared in wonder as the 1000+ year old ruler of a magical kingdom sang a 1980's pop song YouTube  with a delivery cart pony and exotic dancer. The song finished and then two just looked at each other and laughed uncontrollably for the next minute or so. 

Finally the last of the dishes were dried and put away and Celestia and Carousel came strolling into the common room. The Co-Ruler of Equestria still had drying towel draped around her neck. She smiled at us and then spoke.

“Well everypony this has actually been a very enjoyable afternoon. I want to thank you for welcoming me into your home, and thank you once again Sky Brush for a wonderful meal! However I am afraid that I must leave now. The cloaking spell I casted on myself will soon expire and if I don't depart soon we'll suddenly have dozens of Royal Guard ponies and one very distraught sister materializing on your front doorstep!” 

Petina grinned. “Why your Highness! Did you slip out of the palace and play hooky with us all afternoon? Tsk, tsk! I am shocked. Shocked! Why such behavior might be considered scandalous by some in the court!” 

Celestia returned the grin. “Which is exactly why I do this sometimes! It's good to occasionally remind my courtiers that life can and needs to be random once in awhile lest ones wits become dulled by routine, customs, pomp and circumstance. I left a note at the palace saying I was stepping out for the day. However sundown is fast approaching and soon my sister's watch will begin, but I do hope we can do this again sometime in the future!” 

I smiled. “Of course although if you could send us a note discreetly in advance I'll make certain the pantry is properly provisioned, and that there are donuts waiting on the dining room table!”

“Deal!” said the princess. “Good night everypony. May you all have wonderful evening. Until we meet again, peace be with you.”

Then there was a brilliant flash of light. When it faded she was gone. Along with one of our towels.

To be continued.