Dinner is served (Patreon)

Carousel and I continued to navigate the ballroom floor in my Equestria dreamscape. It was a rather bewildering experience with so many new and unfamiliar ponies and the need to remember all the correct greetings and protocols but some how we both succeeded in not stepping on any social landmines.

Carousel was an excellent companion to have through all of it. She to was a bit overwhelmed by the grand spectacle to, but she continued to maintain her simple wonder and joy for ponies and Equestria. She laughed ate, drank and even succeeded in getting me out on the dance floor for one dance. Fortunately she’s a natural when it comes to dancing and she was able to coach me through the entire dance while making it look as if I was actually in the lead. She even arranged a quick little kiss at the end of the waltz. Amongst the bustle and noise her gentle brown eyes and joyful laughter were a reassuring influence.

After an hour and half of networking and mingling Petina rejoined our merry little group. From the look on her face she’d apparently had some success in her exploring. She merrily chatting about some possible business opportunity when a great gong rang out followed by a fanfare of trumpets. Dinner was about to begin in great dining hall.

I have walked through the great dining hall on several occasions while visiting the Royal Palace but this was the first time I had ever seen it in use. Great chandeliers festooned with hundreds of lights hung from vaulted ceiling. This room was one of the first in Royal Palace to receive the new type of electrical lighting. It was hoped that someday the entire palace would eventually be switched over to this wondrous new form of illumination, unfortunately at this time hydroelectric generator on the palace grounds is not up for such a task.

The hall could seat over four hundred ponies and tonight it looked like almost every seat was taken. Acres of crisp, white linen and hundreds of gleaming silver table settings and sparkling crystal glasses awaited us as we entered the hall. A small army of pages began the process of leading ponies to where their assigned seats were. Hundreds cards adorned with beautiful cursive script designated where one was expected to seat. Of course the closer one was to the front of the hall and the Princesses the higher your status was at the banquet. Twilight had commented that organizing and planning the seating arrangement for the Royal Banquet was sometimes more complicated than drafting a treaty with a foreign nation.

Not too surprising the Mane Six and their families were seated at the Great Table with Royal Sisters. However when Petina, Carousel, and I were escorted to the same table, I could feel the eyes of hundreds ponies following us and a flurry hushed commentary followed in our wake. As I expected Petina was seated on my right and Carousel to my left, but I was pleasantly surprised when Rainbow Dash sat down directly across from me. I will say she looked smashing in the gown she was wearing. The cyan colored mare appeared to be rather relieved to see us as she sat down.

“Praise Celestia! Exclaimed the weather pony. “It appears I am saved from having to make incredibly bbbooorrrriiinnnggg small talk with one of these Canterlot stuffed shirts tonight!” Said my boss. “So when does the food arrive? I’m starving! And do any of you know what half of this silverware is for?” Dash was poking suspiciously at one piece with a front hoof. A familiar voice answered her question.

“Oh! Uh, um that is a mushroom tine, it lets you hold a deep-fried mushroom without releasing the sauce inside.”

Fluttershy arrived and sat down to Dash’s left. In spite of the large crowd the young mare looked like she was having a pleasant evening.

“Um, Rainbow, if you are ever in doubt which piece to use at a meal just start using the silverware on the outside and work inward.” Said the chiffon yellow mare.

“Oh, okay. Thanks Fluttershy.” Said the prismatic mare. RD paused for a moment. “Hey where did you learn that stuff anyways?”

“Oh, well, um. I’ve read several etiquette books over the years, and the Happy Mare’s Home Journal has regular column on etiquette in it. Besides quite a few novels I have read have banquets or dining scenes in them.” The yellow pegasus said this nonchalantly as she cleaned her hoof slippers with a brush and washbasin that set on the table for that purpose.

Petina smiled at Fluttershy. “That reminds me. Fluttershy, RD, I am just about finished with the first draft of a novel I’ve written. Since both of you like to read could I possible get your opinions of it?

“Um, what type of novel is it?” Asked Fluttershy.

Petina took a sip from her water glass. “Oh it’s a romantic adventure novel. I’ve put quite a lot of time and work into it.”

“Is there lots of adventure in it?” RD was examining another piece of cryptic tableware. “Or is it mostly just boring, fluffy stuff?”

Petina grin at the cyan mare. “Oh trust me, it is anything but boring.”

The Element Loyalty sat up straight in her chair. “Well then Fluttershy and I would be glad to give your story read! Right Fluttershy?”

The Element of Kindness looked a little bit unsure of what she was signing up for, but she obviously didn’t want to disappoint RD or anypony. She sighed and gave small smile to Petina.

“Um, sure I’ll read it.”

Petina clopped her front hooves together. “Excellent! I am hoping to get the rest of the girls to give it read to. Unfortunately Twilight is awfully busy, but I would really love to get her feedback. Now I don’t need you to read the entire thing, unless you want to. Instead at first I’ll give you each a chapter for you review. Then if you want to read more I’ll give you further chapters to read. Okay?”

“Bring it on!” Exclaimed RD.

I started to give my boss and Fluttershy a heads up about what they were getting themselves into but Petina seemed to know what I was thinking and discreetly kicked me under the table. That was my cue to shut up.

RD looked over at me and suddenly changed topics. “You know Brick you’re looking pretty good in those fancy threads. Rarity really worked her magic on you.”

“Um, same could be said for you Dash.” I commented. “That gown looks stunning on you.”

Rainbow blushed for just an instant. “Thanks Brick.” She said. She fussed with her napkin for a moment and then looked over at Petina and Carousel.

“So have you two had any fun this evening? I am so bummed that none of the Wonderbolts made it to the reception. Yeah I know they’ve got a performance tomorrow but I so wanted to talk to them. I had almost no chance to speak to them during the Grand Galloping Gala, and well you’ve all heard how that ended.”

Before Petina could reply a gong rang out again and all conservations stopped. Celestia and Luna entered the room and everypony rose from their seats. We remained standing until the two sisters reached their grand seats. Then the two sisters gestured for us all to sit again. After everypony had settled down again Celestia spoke. Mercifully the Princess of the Sun got right to the point.

“Dinner is served!” She said.

To be continued.