A Diplomatic Visit

by Evilhumour


Chapter Three

Chapter Three

Stepping back into the kitchen, Applejack saw that the fillies had left the table and were inspecting the wolf’s saddlebags, with Scootaloo poking it with her hoof. Annoyingly, Dash hadn’t had the sense to stop the fillies from doing this.

Before she had a chance to lecture them, Swift-Pad let out a loud snicker and called out to them. “I see that my belongings caught your eyes,” he said, dropping low to be on eye level with them again.

“Eh, yeah,” Scootaloo said, sharing worried looks with Sweetie and Apple Bloom. “You’re not mad, are you?”

“Why would I be? A curious mind is a good thing; it shows interest in new things which is always good to see in the young. Do you not agree Applejack?” he turned his head towards her before looking at Granny Smith. “I thank you for sharing your food with me; may I do the same as well?”

“Go right ahead,” she said. “But just what’re you plannin’ to make?”

“Some fish, madam,” Swift-Pad said as he stepped around the fillies to reach into his bag and pulled out a skillet that was larger than the saddle bags. “I hope you will all be willing to try some.”

Scootaloo looked like she was about to say something when Rainbow Dash let out a shout. “Oh yeah, it’s been ages since I’ve had some!”

“Wait, you’ve had fish before Dash?” Scootaloo asked, looking up at the mare.

“‘Course I’ve had it,” Dash said, smiling at the filly. “Gilda ate it all the time, she offered me some once and I developed a taste.” She then frowned and kicked the floor. “Of course, it costs a lot of bits and it’s not something I can get myself that easily, not the good stuff anyways.”

“Well, the ones I have are from the Halifax region and I am sure you know how good they are,” Swift-Pad as he pulled out some fish from the bag, catching Applejack’s eye. “I see-”

Halifax region?!” Dash shouted before glomping the wolf with a squee in her voice. “Oh man, that’s the best!” Rainbow Dash only began to realize what she was doing after everyone in the room wasn’t able to hold back thier laughter anymore and saw Swift-Pad giving her a bemused look. “Uh, sorry about that.”

“You were excited, I accept your apology,” the wolf said, causing Applejack to raise an eyebrow. “Now if I may cook the fish?”

“Oh yeah, of course,” Dash flew off the wolf and looked sheepishly at the floor while Swift-Pad walked up to the stovetop and began to study the dials. Mumbling under his breath, he placed his pan on the stove and started pulling some other ingredients out of his pack.

Rainbow Dash watched in fascination as he carefully set up a container of fish fillets, a small tray-like pan, and a few other things before frowning. “Hmm… must be running low on flour,” he mused. “Pardon me, but do you have some flour I could borrow?” he asked Applejack.

“Plenty.” Applejack ducked over to one of the cupboards. “Here you do.”

“Thank you.” Accepting it, Swift-Pad poured a small amount into the tray, before laying one of the fillets into it, giving the entire thing a light shake, and flipping the fish over. Once he was satisfied, he shook the fish, sending some excess flour back into the pan, and set it on a rack over a second tray-like pan.

Now the skillet was hot enough, and he added a small amount of… some liquid, Rainbow Dash couldn’t tell what, and a dab of butter. Keeping the pan moving until the foaming stopped, Swift-Pad lay the fish into it, making sure to keep it moving for a short while, then stepped back. “Two minute, then I flip, give it another two minutes and that fillet is done,” he remarked as he began dredging the other fillets. “Between the flour, canola oil, butter and time, that will give it a nice crisp crust. Then a few seasonings on top and it’s ready to serve.”

Applejack nodded approvingly. “You’re really good at this,” she remarked.

“It’s one of my favorite fish dishes,” Swift-Pad replied as he worked. “There are a variety where I come from, but this is one of the easiest that involves actual cooking.”

Several minutes later, there were eight plates of fish ready, all lightly fried and with a dab of lemon juice added over them. “There,” Swift-Pad said as he served them. “What do you think?”

Rainbow Dash dug in eagerly, her wings twitching at her sides. “Man, that’s great!”

Scootaloo looked a little hesitant, but took a nibble herself. Her eyes widened, and she began eating more. “Wow!”

“‘s good, huh?” Rainbow Dash commented.

Scootaloo nodded. “Yeah!”

Rainbow Dash smiled. “You’re certainly having an easier time of it than I did that first time… I don’t like to admit it, but I actually got sick the first time I had fish. ‘Course, I’m pretty sure that was because it didn’t get cooked quite right or somethin’… Gilda didn’t look too happy when she actually had it either. But we managed, and the next time, it was great. And this? This is wonderful.”

Scootaloo looked up from her plate. “It certainly is,” she agreed. “Thanks, Mr. Swift-Pad!”

“I’m glad you’re enjoying it,” Swift-Pad replied, turning his head towards the other fillies. “And how are you fairing?”

“It’s different?” Sweetie said, tilting her head as she chewed the food in her mouth, with Apple Bloom looking uncertain. Big Mac was being silent in his opinion, Granny was still chewing her food and -

Applejack blinked as she realized she hadn’t taken a bite yet. Stabbing the fish with her fork, Applejack broke off a piece and brought it into her mouth.

“Huh,” she said, blinking and taking another bite of the fish. “Ain’t that bad.”

“A polite thing, good cook and he’s good with kids,” Granny said, eyeing the wolf up and down. “Do you have a she-wolf friend back home?” she asked, turning her head towards Applejack, causing the mare to wonder what her gra-

GRANNY!” Applejack shouted, blushing as it suddenly hit her.

“Well,” Swift-Pad said distractedly, his eartips red. “While I do appreciate the gesture madam, I do have sort of have someone back in the Packlands.”

Sort of?” Applejack asked, raising an eyebrow.

“It’s… complicated,” Swift-Pad said nervously, ducking his head low. “Very complicated.”

“Ah, I see,” Rainbow Dash grinned, flying over and elbow him in the side. “Got multiple wo-” she trailed off when she noticed the looks she was getting from everypony; the all too interested looks of fillies and the annoyed glares from the adults. “I mean…”

“No, and as I said, it is complicated,” Swift-Pad, shifting on his paws before he started to pack his belongings back into his bag while wrapping the pans in coverings. “In any case, I should be on my way towards her Grace Twilight.”

“Aw, you have to go now?” Scootaloo pouted. “You’re so cool, almost as cool as Rainbow Dash!”

“I thank you, little one, and I will see you all tomorrow morning again when I visit your classroom,” Swift-Pad said, giving them a wide smile.

“You’re coming to our class tomorrow?”

“Yes,” he said, leaning down low. “it is part of my mission here and it would be my pleasure to meet all of your friends.”

“Cool!” Scootaloo’s eyes widened with a smile on her face.  “Can’t wait to see you tomorrow.”

“Yeah,” the other two girls echoed her feelings before talking to each other as they walked out of the kitchen with Swift-Pad looking outside.

“Now I just need directions to the town,” he said out loud, walking over and tapping the windowsill as he peered out the window.

“Hey, I’ll show you the way, Swifty,” Rainbow Dash said. “You can tell me some cool places to get fish and junk.”

“I thank you,” Swift-Pad replied, tipping his head. “And you as well for allowing me to share your food and mine.”

“Shucks, it was our pleasure,” Applejack said, walking over to shake his paw. “And I’m mighty sorry about the whole thing at the start.”

“I accept your apology, and it was understandable,” he said, shaking her paw before tilting his head at Rainbow Dash. “Please, lead on.”