Nopony could grind through a stack of pancakes like Pinkie Pie. Although less sugary than most types of cakes, they were still nonetheless one of her favorites.
Spike grinned, "Save some for the rest of us."
"We're in a castle, silly, we can do this," Pinkie Pie held out her empty plate to a waiting chef, "more please."
"And how many more would mademoiselle need?" The chef asked.
"All of them."
The chef blinked. For anyone else, such a statement might come off as sarcastic. But considering who he was talking to, the Chef wondered if 'all of them' would even be enough. "I'll tell the kitchen to make some more on standby."
"Thank you," Pinkie Pie forked over another stack from the center, and resumed her voracious eating.
Twilight was digging through a stack almost as large. Being Pinkie Pie apparently did wonders for her appetite, "I used to wonder how you got so hungry."
"Being Pinkie Pie takes a lot of work." Pinkie nodded agreement over a mouthful of an entire pancake she'd eaten at once, "It's exhausting sometimes."
Finally, Princess Luna descended the red-carpeted staircase into the dining hall. She did not appear as well rested as the others. In fact, she looked so bedraggled she probably hadn't slept in days. The clinking of silverware gradually stopped st she paused at the base of the stairs, her eyes half-lidded, apparently asleep on her hooves. She suddenly snapped up with a start, "Good morning, My Little Ponies."
"Goof morfing" Pinkie Pie replied, through her mouthful of pancakes, "thaef you for the panpakes. They're deliffouff."
Luna finally smiled at that, regaining some of her royal radience. "Thank you Twilight, or Pinkie Pie?"
"Yeff; I'm Pinkie Pie" Pinkie said, finally swallowing, "Did you get our letter?"
"Yes, Pinkie, We did. We have a bit of a more pressing problem at the moment, however."
"Have some pancakes. That'll make you feel better."
"Do you want me to take over some royal duties?" Twilight asked, "So you can get some sleep?"
Luna nodded "For but a short time, perhaps, but that is why I called you here. You see, Celestia has gone missing."
Luna continued through the shocked silence, "I went to wake her up yesterday morning, believing she might, perhaps, be ill, which would explain her tardiness in relieving me. But she was simply not in her bed. We have searched everywhere for her. We sent messages to the Other cities. She does not appear to be in any location anyone can search. We had hoped you would have more success."
"You can count on us," Rainbow Dash was the first to speak up, "If anyone can find her, that's us."