January 1st, 999 Domina Solaria
The Apple kitchen is nearly always bustling with activity, the natural consequence of anywhere between seven and sixteen ponies spending the night at the farmhouse. Counting Doug, the herd's human 'stallion', of course. Whether it is the quick hiss of cool air escaping from the fridge as a filly grabs a snack, the happy sizzle of pancakes on the stove, or the fragrant aroma of several pies baking, during the day something is happening in the kitchen. The first morning of the new year is certainly no exception; in fact, it might be a little exceptional purely by how much hustle and bustle is going on in the kitchen.
The entire herd spent the night, staying up past midnight in order to watch Princess Celestia's astronomical - literally - performance. Afterwards, they crowded two fillies to a bed while the five mares and Doug managed to squeeze together in the master bedroom. Some of the younger fillies might have no trouble waking up early in the morning; their drooping muzzles and heavy eyelids the previous day an easy indication that they would fall asleep well before midnight. However, somepony has to start preparing breakfast for the sixteen hungry mouths.
Today, that duty falls to Doug and his lead mare Applejack. Both had woken up well before the dawn on the longest night of the year, Applejack eagerly taking the opportunity to claim her stallion's first after they came downstairs. Doug is working the stove, all four burners in use as he manages two pans of pancakes, a third with fritters of many varieties, mostly apples, and the last for stir fried vegetables, potatoes, and hay. Applejack is helping him with preparing the batters and making small piles of each pony's favorite toppings, as well as stacking bowls of various fruits, vegetables, and plates of pancakes as they finish cooking.
The Apples managed to squirrel away a little something special for this holiday, using a few of the food preservation units Doug acquired to keep a cornucopia of fresh fruits, vegetables, and seasonal specialties that are normally only available at the Rich household or for exorbitant prices. It is a rare day they had more than dried fruits, vegetables, and hay, along with apple juice for the fillies and ciders for the mares. It is difficult to grow during the winter, and everypony is looking forward to the New Year feast.
Applejack holds up one such item, an extremely spiky orange fruit with green leaves coming off the top. "Now, partner, where in the hay did you manage to acquire a pineapple? Ah've never even seen one sold in the market; this is Canterlot noble-type nonsense!" She shakes her head, "You haven't been doing side jobs to keep something like this from me, did ya?"
Doug smiles as he shakes his head, carefully plucking the pineapple from her hooves. "No, love. It was actually a present." He opens one of the drawers, pulling out a fancy card and sliding it to Applejack. He pulls a tray out, flips a few pancakes, stirs the vegetables around before laying the pineapple on the counter, his heavy cleaver chopping off the top and bottom before carving away the thick skin. The greens go on one side, a pile of the skin in case the ponies can eat it in the middle, and the cylinder of yellow pulp off to the other side. Another flash of activity for the stove before he slices the pineapple into one inch chunks, a second pile of half inch pieces for the fillies.
Applejack reads the card, written in a fancy script:
'To Doug Apple; The opportunities keep leaping in. One of the nobles offered me this delicacy from the Ponynesian Islands after he tried some of ours. Good luck! - PLB'
Applejack looks over at the growing pile of yellow fruit, a cautious sniff at the citrusy scent. She leans over, her muzzle creeping closer to the intoxicating smell before she abruptly pulls back, a quiet yelp as Doug lightly smacks her nose with the butt end of a spatula. "Aww," she moans, perking up a little as Doug hands her a small piece of the skin. She chews, and chews, and chews, finally spitting out the pulverized mush and going back to cutting up vegetables. "Ah don't think you're supposed to eat that part, partner. But it had an interesting taste, just the absolute worst texture."
Doug nods, scraping the rest of the skin and core into the trash. "I believe that; I've had the flesh, the yellow pulp inside, before. It's delicious, if a little different. Very strong. And I want everypony to try it at the same time."
"Ah suppose," Applejack pouts, carrying a few more of the plates to the dining room. She spots her brown coated filly entering the room, saying, "Morning, Applebaum. Your sister up?"
"Nah, Lemon's still sleeping," Applejack's middle filly says as she takes a seat at the table, her dam placing a plate of pancakes in front of her. Her nose perks up, but not at the sugary pancakes. "What's that smell?" She twists to the side, her green mane bouncing as she sniffs a few times at the kitchen door.
"Something special your sire has for us," Applejack says, smiling as the trio enter the dining room. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo scamper over, their hooves going onto the table as they stand up, their tails waving back and forth as they look over the food arrayed in front of them.
"Which one's mine?" Apple Bloom fixates on one plate in particular, small pieces of apple studded in the pancakes, a small side of fried hay and applesauce with cinnamon. She reaches out, her short hooves unable to close the distance without jumping on the table entirely.
"You got a good eye there, Apple Bloom," Applejack says, pushing the plate to her eldest filly before she has the chance to follow through. Scootaloo, Rainbow's filly, gets the next one, a side of hash browns decorating her pancakes. Sweetie Belle's horn lights, her own plate slowly dragging over. "Ya need any help there, Sweetie Belle?"
"No! I got this." Rarity's filly grits her teeth, struggling at sliding the loaded plate. It gets easier as it gets closer, her wide smile as the plate finally comes into hooves' reach. She eagerly digs in, her sisters grinning and congratulating her as they start their breakfast.
Applejack beams at the filly; she, like all of Doug's foals, struggles with using magic, and it's good to see the fillies encouraging each other. She disappears back into the kitchen, grabbing two plates full of buttered toast. The table is both a little more and a little less crowded than normal, as two more mares have woken up, sliding their plates of food close and making room for Applejack to put the toast down.
Rainbow Dash grabs three pieces of toast as the plate goes by, adding it to her massive pile of hash browns, pancakes, and syrup. She makes one large sandwich, barely able to fit the monstrosity into her mouth as she begins chowing down. Scootaloo gapes at how quickly her dam demolishes her breakfast, the mare's antics beginning to give her ideas. A grin slowly spreads on the filly's muzzle as she puts the hash browns between the pancakes, proceeding to devour her breakfast just as quickly, and only a little bit more syrup spilling out of her mouth.
Rarity grimaces, sliding her plate away from Rainbow's and the ensuing shower of syrup. She daintily levitates a knife, cutting her pancakes into manageable pieces. "Good morning, Applejack," she says between bites, dabbing at her muzzle with a napkin, one of two visible at the table. "Breakfast is delicious, as always, if a little messy." She glares at Rainbow Dash, the pegasus burping in her direction before grabbing more toast and hay. Rarity sighs, shaking her head before going back to her meal.
Applejack brings a second stack of pancakes to Rainbow, the pegasus grinning as she makes a second large sandwich. "Welcome, Rares. Ah hope you don't get your hooves too sticky, that syrup can be a right pain to get off."
"Yes, well, it won't be the first time I need a long bath after a stay here." Rarity glances at Sweetie Belle, her filly watching with wide eyes as Rainbow works her way through the second sandwich. Rarity shakes her head as Sweetie Belle moves her hooves forward, her filly sighing and levitating the fork instead. It wobbles back and forth, her unsteady hold occasionally missing a piece of pancake, though she manages to keep it in place when going for bites.
"And what's that supposed to mean? This house ain't good enough all of a sudden?" Applejack almost immediately sighs to herself, "Ah'm sorry, Rares. Ah'm just still a bit tired, waking up early and all that."
Rarity winks, "What, even after your time with Doug?" At Applejack's stare she sighs, "Oh, darling, I do apologize, I shouldn't have said anything. Then or now. Would you like me to take over, helping Doug in the kitchen?"
"Ah'd like that, thank you kindly." Applejack grabs her own stack of pancakes and apple fritters, waiting for Rarity to leave and open a spot for her to sit at the crowded table.
The trio finishes their breakfast, their plates left behind as they scamper to the family room and breaking out the Junior Ponopoly game. Rarity forces a smile on her muzzle, levitating the dirty dishes and bringing them to the sink. She glances back at the heavy sounds of hooves stomping around, watching as Pinkie Pie chases her two fillies into the dining room. Lemon and Meringue take their seats, the two yellow coated fillies eagerly waiting as Pinkie Pie slides two plates of candy studded pancakes over. Pinkie Pie pulls out a box of muffins, placing them at one of the few open spots on the table. A second box of cupcakes swaps with her own plate of pancakes, the three Pies making short work of their sugary concoctions.
Pinkie Pie's nose begins scrunching, a fact immediately spotted by Applejack and Rainbow. The two stare at the pink pony, their hooves settling to the ground and muscles tensing, unsure if the safest course of action is to stay as small and unnoticeable as possible or to dash away to anywhere that breaks line of sight. Pinkie Pie's muzzle raises slightly into the air, one of her ears flicking towards the kitchen. The two gasp as her nose twitches, pointing directly at the open door where Rarity and Doug are working.
Applejack whispers to Rainbow Dash, "Nose scrunch..."
"Ear flick..."
"Nose twitch... what do ya reckon it means?" Rainbow merely shakes her head, trying to decide if it is worth saving her remaining pancakes or grab one of the Pies.
Pinkie Pie laughs as her muzzle drops back down to the table, "Oh, don't be silly! I was just smelling this strange new smell, and then I heard the distinct lack of pancakes cooking, and then I could smell them, just underneath that delicious aroma. And that can only mean one thing..."
Pinkie Pie pronks to the kitchen door, her empty plate on her back. She looks inside, spotting Rarity standing on her hind legs with Doug pinned against one of the cabinets. Her forelegs slide back and forth around Doug's neck while the two make out next to the stove, only a pan of apple fritters cooking. "Good morning Rarity, and Doug!" She knocks twice on the doorway; without breaking her kiss, a blue aura lifts the plate off of Pinkie's back, a second plate of pancakes taking its plate.
Rarity briefly breaks her kiss, "Good morning, Pinkie," while Doug merely raises one hand from Rarity's back, a brief wave before it resumes its previous position tracing circles along her coat.
"My pancakes are done!" Pinkie Pie announces to the dining room, her herdmates visibly relaxing. Pinkie Pie takes her seat, resuming her breakfast while Applejack and Rainbow finish theirs. The two mares get up, watching their fillies play as Fluttershy, her filly Hedge, and Applejack's young colt Pomarbo come down the stairs. Pinkie Pie waves at the three, Fluttershy grinning and waving back as the two foals scamper to the table.
Fluttershy gathers the short stacks of pancakes for each of them, looking around the table for her own plate. She frowns when she can't find it, slowly walking to the kitchen door. She quietly says, "Um, excuse me," before letting loose a small 'eep!' as a blue aura drags her inside, her hooves lightly scraping against the floor.
A few moments later Rarity walks out of the kitchen, a comb attempting to repair her mane as several plates levitate in front of her. She looks around the room, spotting Granny Smith and Big Macintosh standing at the top of the stairs, trying to discern a path through the ponies playing in the way to their breakfast. Rarity softly smiles at them; two of the plates and a small chair levitate up, forming an impromptu table for the two to begin their breakfast.
Granny Smith grunts, half in approval of the fast arrangement and half in disappointment she can't eat her breakfast at her customary spot at the table. Big Mac starts digging in, Granny Smith picking at the pancakes, lifting one up to check the extra ingredients.
Doug walks out of the kitchen, a long series of plates stacked on Fluttershy's back, the pegasus trying to stay still and not draw attention to Rarity's mascara on her face. Doug announces, "Alright, everypony, I have something special for today's breakfast." The fillies pause their game, everypony watching as Doug motions to Fluttershy and Rarity. "Now, thanks to my beautiful assistants-"
"Hey! Ah thought Ah was your lovely assistant!"
"Hush, darling. Now, without further ado, here it is!" Rarity's horn glows; sixteen plates with yellow fruit levitate away from Fluttershy, two going up the stairs to Big Macintosh and Granny Smith. Each comes to a rest as Rarity continues, "Now that eve-"
"These are delicious!" Pinkie Pie exclaims, her plate already clear.
Doug groans, "Yes, we were hoping everypony would eat them together. So, I suppose, begin!"
Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, and Lemon join Pinkie Pie and Doug in thinking the pineapple is delicious, while Fluttershy, Hedge, Pomarbo, and Meringue can't stand the taste. The remaining seven ponies think it is merely okay: Applebaum, Rarity, and Big Mac would eat more if they had the chance, while Granny Smith, Applejack, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle don't care for the highfalutin treat that much, preferring sharp apples or something else a mite weaker. The remaining pieces are divided among the ponies that liked it and want more, the remainder of breakfast quickly devoured.
Granny Smith grunts to Big Mac, still stuck at the top of the stairs, "Sure gotten crowded 'round these parts."
"Eeyup."