They were all going to be die. This was fact. Each member in his or her own mind was trying to come to terms with it. There would be no mercy, except for maybe a quick death.
“We could run for it,” said the head dishwasher.
“We would at least have a head start,”
“We can not abandon our post. We knew the risks when we took this position. Let us face our final hour with dignity” said the Greasy Spoon eldest mare chef.
“There are so many spoons and knives left to sort,” cried a young filly named Silverware, who was in charge of all kitchen utensils.
“There there little one. I'm sure you'll go first. You wont even have to see the horrors of what will happen to the rest of us.” said the old mare doing her best to comfort the filly.
The group in question was the evening shift kitchen staff of Canterlot Castle. From two in the afternoon to eleven at night it was their task to feed all who lived in the palace. A demanding job, but time and again they had risen to the challenge.
When the princesses had taken it upon themselves to bring a hydra to dinner the staff had worked themselves silly dodging its various mouths and making sure each plate, all twelve of them, were filled. They had put in several hours over time trying to find out exactly what is was diamond dogs ate when the K9 ambassador and his entourage had paid a visit last year. These were minor inconveniences compared to the hell that was about to walk through the kitchen doors.
“Maybe she won't come,” hoped the head dishwasher.
“She has to buy very busy sometime. Can't always take time to visit us commoners here in the kitchen.”
He looked around the various faces of the staff seeking hopeing someone would nod in agreement. His words had not changed their somber mood however.
“Who am I kidding, she didn't help with any of the defenses during the changeling invasion for this. We are so screwed,”
Why were the staff so destitute? Because they had, for the first time, failed in one of the in most important tasks that was entrusted to them.
Each night, after the last bowl had been cleaned and all leftover food had been properly stored. It fell on the them to prepare Luna's midnight snack. Which was a simple pan of chocolate brownies. The princess sympathized greatly with the evening staff and understood that they liked to get home to their families. Thus, this was the only royal decree that she had passed on to them.
“We could tell her we are out of milk,” the dishwasher suggested his mind grasping for ideas.
“You can't have brownies without milk,”
Greasy Spoon walked over to him and put a comforting hoof on his back.
“It is a nice plan dear, but the herd delivered several gallons here this morning. We won't be out of milk for some time.”
“Then get to drinking lady!” the stallion shouted as he ran to the fridge and began guzzling down every glass that was in reach.
“Will be out of milk before she gets here.” he said between gulps.
Greasy Spoon could not believe the way her fellow staff were conducting themselves. Had they no pride? They were suppose to be professionals and that meant facing the consequences of failure. Instead she had one crying into her hooves and another who was about to drown himself in dairy. The rest just stared at the floor. Lost in thoughts of their own mortality.
Greasy Spoon's ears perked up as she heard the distant sound of hooves clopping against the marble floor of the palace. Princess Luna was coming. The old mare gathered herself and walked to the doors of the kitchen with as much grace as she could muster.. Even in the last moments as the eldest she felt it her responsibility to set an example for her younger constituents. She would break the news to the ruler of the night.
“Prepare yourselves. The Princess will be here any second,” Greasy Spoon announced and then added.
“ For more than fifty years I have made meals for the ponys of this castle. In that time I have seen many come and go. You all are some of the finest workers I have seen in that time. In any endeavor we put ourselves to there will come a time when we falter in our task. It was our misfortune that said task was in the service of an occasionally temperamental alicorn. But don't be ashamed of that. Hold your head high knowing you did your best. Know that you will die in service to a great kingdom and hope that others will learn from your own mistakes. Mares and stallions it has been an honor working with you all,” she said in as comforting a tone as was possible.
“To hell with all that,” replied the dishwasher, who had given up on his labor of drinking all the milk.
“If I'm going got die. It will be on my own terms.”
He walked over the sobbing Silverware, pulled her close, and gave a passionate kiss.
“Know that I will always love you. One of my greatest joys in this world has been cleaning your utensils.”
“You never even left a water spot,” She said softly.
“See you on the other side,” The dishwasher said as he broke the embrace of his lover.
The young stallion stood up. Gave a quick nod to Greasy Spoon and the rest of the staff. Then pranced into a quick gallop and jumped out the window to his death.
Greasy Spoon eyed Silverware.
“You too?” she asked
Silverware nodded. A mare in charge of utensils and the stallion who washed them. Greasy Spoon could not believe she had not picked up on that one.
“He knows we are on the first floor right.?” she inquired
“He has a flair for the dramatic,” replied Silverware.
Their attention turned back to the closed doors of the kitchen. The sound of the hoof steps that had been getting closer had stopped. The doors shade of blue as magic pushed them back against the wall. From the darkness of the inner chambers of the palace Princess Luna emerged.
“Hello dear subject of the kitchen. Your Princess is here for her midnight snack.”
“
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