As Twilight's first day ended with her being magic depleted and she herself in a coma. It would be her first day with the translation of her book underway and ended that same day. And while Night was hard at work to get a holy magic enriched room installed.
Twilight woke up around 12 O' clock, the following day. She woke up feeling very exhausted because her magic was being recovered at a fast pace thanks to her black out. She had gotten quite hungry because of it.
Twilight slowly exited her bed and headed downstairs to the living room. She totally forgot that she had her own kitchen, nevertheless she entered the living room and spots some apple bunnies waiting for her on the table. It had a note:
'These apples are for Twilight. Next time be more careful. -Dad.'
"Sorry dad." Twilight spoke below her breath as she guzzled her apples like crazy.
Feeling full, Twilight headed back to her room and into her test kitchen. She noticed a book on the counter with another note: 'The school gave you this. I think it is to help you get started in Manehattan. It's important. -Mom.' Nodding, Twilight opens the book and sees it's a recipe book for new students at Lunarium.
Most of the recipes in this book, Twilight had already made. Like pancakes and cookies. However there were some recipes, which the book called 'Ricetta', that was totally new to her. Like 'Pommes duchesse' and 'french fries'. She might have heard of them. But never made anything of it.
The book also held plenty of meat type recipes. Like 'Salmon Tartare' and 'Medium rare steak'. It was a book that Twilight was fawning over as it also held lots of pictures and the like. Some recipes were longer than Twilight has ever made before. With some recipes being over one hundred steps. She felt in heaven.
It was truly awesome until she got to page 53, in that page was a note. 'This is your starting homework. I expect you to make this in class soon. - Your home school teacher 'Minno Pepe''
'Pepe? Is Lulu's family going to my teacher?' Twilight thought smiling pleasantly.
Twilight looked at the page and noticed two things about the recipe. For one, Lulu loved making this and two it was a relatively easy recipe. It was Carpaccio. Twilight has also made this atleast a hundred times during the time she was in charge of making lunches for Lulu.
'Generally speaking, it's a red meat with arugula with mayo and some nuts. But it's complex in the fact that the meat has to be paper thin. Luckily I was forced to learn how to, thanks to Lulu.' Twilight thought as she was groaning.
'But, I might as well get used to my test kitchen. Let's make it.' Twilight thought.
Twilight started by washing her hooves and putting her hair in a net. She then grabbed her chef's knife and a wooden cutting board, she made sure to secure the cutting board to the counter using a large piece of wet paper as a medium. And also she grabbed some beef loin from her fridge and placed it onto the cutting board. Before getting started, she grabbed some spices from her cabinet. The Worcester sauce and a bottle of lemon juice she obtained from a different cabinet. And a mixing bowl for the marinade
With everything on the counter, she started with putting the Worcester sauce and lemon juice into the bowl, alongside the spices. The spice combo she used was, Pepper, Salt, Paprika powder, Garlic powder and some Red pepper powder. Mixing it together with a whisk. After everything was well mixed together. Twilight applied the mix onto the beef loin.
After everything was applied Twilight placed it back into the fridge for another hour or so. While waiting Twilight was about to clean the bowl when suddenly.
"Twilight?!" Night shouted from downstairs.
"Yes?!" Twilight shouted back.
"Lulu and her friends are here again!" Night exchanged.
"Send them to my room. I am currently making something!" Twilight shouted back.
"Okay!" Night exclaimed.
And after some loud sounds on the staircase. Someone knocked on Twilight's door.
"Come in." Twilight said.
"Hey, Twi!" Lulu said as the same gang as yesterday entered Twilight's room.
"Hey." Twilight said.
"What are you making?" Leaf asked, although she did smell lemon juice in the air.
"Carpaccio. I am currently practicing with my new kitchen." Twilight said as she cleaned her bowl up.
"Oooh. For who is it?" Lulu asked excitedly.
"Nobody. I was just making it." Twilight said with a smirk. She had a feeling what she was going to ask.
Lulu noticed the smirk and shrugged, "So you don't mind then?" she suggests.
"Of course not. It is my starting homework for school." Twilight said.
"We have homework?!" Leaf asks surprised.
"It's inside the cookbook that you received." Twilight points out.
"Oh no. I brought it with me, let me see." Leaf said anxiously as she flipped through the pages. And when she landed on the page, she gasped and quickly hid the book.
"What did you get?" Morning asks with a smirk.
"I am not telling." Leaf said childish.
"Oh come on. I told you mine." Twilight said also with a smirk.
"UGH. Fine. I got pea soup." Leaf said, "I hate peas." she added.
The others laughed when Leaf turned her attention on Lulu. "Well?! What about you?" Leaf asks annoyed.
"I have to make a Caprese salad." Lulu simply said.
"Oh dear. Is it the one with a hundred steps?" Twilight asked.
"Yup. Don't worry. I have made it several times." Lulu said with a smile.
Twilight and Lulu simply blinked at her nonchalance. Morning simply smiles at it.
"Well. It would seem that Lulu is a better chef than Twilight." Morning said, trying to lift their spirits.
"Yeah." Leaf replied.
And although Lulu beamed. Twilight wasn't beaming. She hadn't forgotten about her first attempt.
"We will see about that." Twilight said halfheartedly.
Morning and Leaf noticed Twilight's the lack of enthusiasm while Lulu didn't.
"Exactly!" Lulu said with a competitive smile.
"Anyways." Twilight said trying to forget their previous conversation. "I think I should start cutting the beef loin. Do you two also want some?" she asks.
"Sure." Leaf and morning replied.
Twilight washed her hooves again and followed it up but putting a new hair net on. She then removed the beef from the fridge and grabbed the knife on the counter. She proceeds to also grab three black plates.
Leaf notes that black plates are Twilight's trademark as she uses them all the time.
Before Twilight starts cutting, she first moves a piece of paper over the plates to remove possible dust. After throwing the paper in the bin. She starts to cut paper thin beef loin like a professional. You could practically see through the beef.
After each cut she places the beef onto each plate until the plates were full. After there were full, Twilight would place the beef back into the fridge.
After that Twilight began to plate each and every one of them. Putting some nice thin strips of truffle mayo onto each plate, then putting some roosted pine nuts and some coarsely grated Parmesan cheese. And finishing it with some arugula.
Twilight was about to give each a plate when she remember her personal touch, placing them back on the counter. She added bits of pineapple to the Carpaccio.
Twilight then used her magic to give each their plate and also to use magic to move some tables and chairs from downstairs into her room. Everyone then calmly ate their Carpaccio.
"So how is it? It's my first dish using this new kitchen." Twilight asks.
"It taste like you." Leaf said, which caused Morning and Twilight to look weird at her.
"What do you mean?" Morning asks.
"Everyone has ways to make things. Your dish taste exactly like how only you would make it." Leaf explained.
"That is a complement, right?" Twilight asks, which caused Leaf to nod, "Okay, thanks." Twilight added.
"I also like it. The pineapple is a surprising addition though. I was not expecting it. In a good way, of course." Morning said.
Lulu on the other hoof, was totally ignoring Twilight as she greedily ate her Carpaccio.
"I think, she likes it." Leaf said, with wide eyes.
"Not necessarily. She just doesn't speak until it's finished." Twilight explained. "I guess, in the meantime I will clean my kitchen."
While Twilight cleaned, Lulu was finishing up her Carpaccio. Leaf and Morning weren't even halfway done.
"Okay. So you wanted feedback?" Lulu asked while cleaning her mouth.
"If you don't mind." Twilight said.
"Of course not. I loved it. Your Carpaccio is my personal favorite. In fact I told my sister all about yours. Her name is Minno. She is my older sister." Lulu said.
"That explains it. My homeroom teacher is Minno Pepe." Twilight said, which caused Lulu to beam.
"Really?!" Lulu asks excited.
"Yeah." Twilight said.
"Yes! She is indeed the teacher in charge of the geniuses." Lulu said happily.
"Is she as scary as I have heard?" Leaf asks.
"Only if you blame everyone but yourself." Morning said, before Lulu could.
"You know her?" Lulu asks.
"Of course. I beat her for 3rd place at the champions league." Morning said prideful.
"Nice!" Leaf said impressed.
"With what dish?" Lulu asked.
Morning's smile became scarily large. "Carpaccio." she simply states.
Lulu, Leaf and Twilight blinked with wide eyes.
"Wow. I heard that she only lost by a single point." Leaf said impressed.
"She didn't put enough salt in her dish." Morning said smirking.
"Oof. That was very close then." Twilight said impressed also.
"We were best friends. It was my personal favorite fight of the league." Morning said saddened.
"What about now?" Leaf asked.
"I lost connection with her." Morning said disappointed.
"I heard great things about that fight from Minno." Lulu said amazed, "She wants to have a rematch someday."
"I don't know." Morning said, "I am not as good as back then."
"She is still search for you, you know. Ever since your disappearance. She has been searching non-stop." Lulu said.
"Really?!" Morning exclaimed blinking.
Lulu nodded, "She keeps saying that, that match didn't count." she said smiling.
Morning laughed wholeheartedly for a good minute then. "I see. *Wheeze*" she said wheezing.
"Perhaps, you should fight her again for the title of the best Carpaccio." Twilight offered.
"Perhaps." Morning said, still trying to gasp for air.
"I think. That your feeling of being lost is gone, no?" Leaf said.
"That it is." Morning said.
"How about this. We have a week before school starts, how about having some food showdowns with us?" Lulu asks.
"Sure. But remember, I am a teacher with atleast a lot more years of experience." Morning said smirking.
"All the more embarrassing if you lose against us!" Twilight exclaimed with a smirk.
"Okay. Were and when?" Morning asks Twilight.
"Here and right now." Twilight gets her throat ready. "DAD! Food Duel!!!" She shout on the top of her voice.
"UNDERSTOOD!" Night shouts back. Downstairs he pushed a secret book lever and the living room disappears as two kitchens facing each other appears with two spots lights coming from the ceiling.
"IT'S READY!" Night exclaims from downstairs.
"Well, Let's go." Twilight offered to Lulu, Leaf and Morning. And as they head downstairs the three visitors are surprised with the sudden tense atmosphere from Night and Twilight.
Twilight then casually walked to the left most kitchen and gets it ready, while Night does the other one.
"Well, Morning? Ready?" Twilight said with a lot of determination.
"Who will be the judges?" Morning asks.
"Me, Night and Lulu." Velvet said out of nowhere.
Morning nods, "Understood. Who decides the theme?" she asks.
"Leaf does." Twilight said before anyone else.
Twilight and Morning looks at her direction, "So what is the theme?" Morning asks again.
"Uh," Leaf fumbled with her hooves, Before regaining her thought, "It's..." she said in suspense.
"Beef Loin!" She shouts as loud as possible.
Twilight eyes widen, as Morning immediately grabbed the best one possible and got to work.
While Morning already got started, Twilight fumbled about, unsure about what to make.
Twilight decided that making a medium rare steak with red wine was the best thing she could come up with. Twilight was a very fast chopper, thanks to her work at Snowdrop. So she started with fine chopping three shallots and melting some butter in a pan. After the butter was melted, she added the shallots to the pan and cooked it for 7 minutes.
Meanwhile she made some beef broth using a cheap broth cube and some water, using high heat to get it quickly to medium high heat. After that and with the shallots ready, she added some port and the broth to the shallots. Alongside it she added thyme, salt, pepper and sugar. For another 30 minutes.
Meanwhile she melts some butter in a separate pan and moves the molten butter in a mixing bowl with some flour.
Leaf notes that this was to make the sauce thicker.
After 30 minutes she adds the sauce thickener to the pan, spoon for spoon and whisks it together. When the sauce looks smooth, she stops whisking.
Now that Twilight was done with the sauce, she marinades the beef and bakes it for 10 minutes on one side in a skillet. She then moves the skillet into an oven and heats it in a 400 degrees Celsius oven for about 15 minutes. Moving it out of the oven and removing the beef from the skillet onto a cutting board, letting it rest for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile she adds the juices from the skillet into the pan with the wine sauce, whisking it to combine as she reheats the sauce. Twilight then grabbed her iconic plate, the black plate. And place a bit of sauce on it, before cutting the beef and placing it onto the sauce, with a little bit of arugula.
"Done!" Twilight shouts.
"I am done as well." Morning shouts.
Velvet nods, "What did you make Morning?" she asks.
"I made Carpaccio, with truffle mayo and mango." Morning explained.
Velvet's attention shifts to Twilight, "What about you, Twi?" she asks.
"I made a medium-rare steak, with red wine and arugula." Twilight explained.
"Very good. Let's begin with Morning's dish." Velvet said as she first smelled it.
Velvet, Night and Lulu then took a bite each.
"It's pretty good." Velvet said.
"The beef is thin enough." Night said.
"It lacks some spices." Lulu said.
"I knew I forgot something." Morning admitted.
"Now yours, Twilight." Lulu said.
They took a bite. And a sniff. Night appears to inspect the beef closely.
"The marinade is well done." Lulu said.
"This sauce is delicious." Velvet said.
"The beef is perfectly roasted. Very impressive." Night said, giving a high compliment.
"One moment. Let us decide in the next room." Velvet said as the three leaves the room.
Twilight looks at Morning's dish. "I personally dislike Carpaccio with mango. It removes the taste of salt if you add any at all." Twilight admits.
"Generally port should not be used for steak." Morning said.
"That is false. Only if it's meant for drinking. This is for both." Twilight said as she showed the bottle.
"Huh. You are correct. I guess I should look into some new ingredients." Morning said curiously.
"That you should." Twilight added.
"We are back." Velvet and the judges said.
"After some debate. We decided that Twilight's dish wins. After some talking we found that Morning's dish did contain spices, just not enough thanks to the mango." Night explained.
Both sides nod and shook each other hooves. "That was a good refresh match, Twilight." Morning admits.
"Good to hear. You can comeback here, to try and beat others if you want. We are always willing to help." Twilight said.
Velvet then pushes the lever again, and pushed the kitchens and spotlight back out of view.
"That was fun. By the way Twilight, your special room is finished." Night said.
"Good to hear. Can't wait to translate more of the book." Twilight said.
"We should go back. It's getting late." Morning said after looking at the clock.
Twilight looks at the clock, it's 14:00. One hour before school is technically finished.
"It was fun. Come back anytime!" Twilight said, waving at them as they leave through the front door.
The trio wave back, as they slowly make their way outside.
Velvet looks at Twilight, "I am just glad that you are okay. I give you one hour of translate time. Okay?" Velvet said.
Twilight hugs her parents, "Sorry mom, sorry dad." she said.
"Yeah. Just get started. Your time ends at 3 O' clock." Night said smiling.
"Yeah. I will get started." Twilight said happily, as she dashed to the room. Which had the book already inside.
"By the way. What was Celestia's responds?" Night asks Velvet.
"To keep an close eye on her and the book." Velvet explains.
"I see. We were already doing that." Night said.
"That we were." Velvet said as she kisses her husband.
Meanwhile Twilight was already in the room getting her notes ready.
'Okay. Here we go!' Twilight thought.
'It's day two of the opening of the school. Luna and Celestia are together inside a classroom listening to my teachings. They appear bored, until I offer to them that if they listen well, I will give them cake. Celestia immediately got focused but Luna appeared halfheartedly interested.'
'I guess. That she was also addicted to cake, back then.' Twilight said smiling.
'I ask her, "Why are you so sad?" She looks up at me. And shows a genuine smile. "I wish we didn't have to forget about you. Not like this. Blacky." Luna would say. My smile turns into a frown. "I know, I know. But all of the darkness produced by the elements of harmony has to go somewhere". I would say back. Celestia looks sad towards me.'
'The elements of harmony, produces Nightmare fuel? or Dark energy? That is worrying' Twilight thought worried.
'"But! Why would you sacrifice yourself?" Celestia asks. I ponder about that myself. I guess it's my destiny. I would say. Celestia's eyes and face close. "NO! There must be a way!" She shouts. I wonder if there truly was a cure. And wondered if food could be the cure. Not just to become me, but also to become separate to Luna's body. I hope who ever reads this would know.'
More than that wasn't there. At the front of the book it said, that more would be revealed over time.
Twilight meanwhile realized, the reason she could pick it up was, because it was her destiny to figure out the truth. It was the reason that she saw Luna's spirit several times.
"I will find out the truth and a possible cure. I promise!" Twilight exclaimed to herself.