Apple Bloom kicked her hind legs onto the table. “Crusaders, this is the life.”
Sweetie Belle swallowed a mouthful of cake. “I’m sorry, did you say something? I couldn’t hear you over this deliciousness I’m enjoying while my ice cream melts over a hot crumpet.”
“Why wait?” Scootaloo said, pressing two crumpets together over a big scoop of chocolate ice cream. She took a bite and reclined back on her throne.
Rainbow Dash’s throne, actually.
Apple Bloom tilted her head back and studied the now upside-down three apples that adorned her seat. “They’ve had meetings, right?” She looked over the table again—over the fresh crumpets, the rainbow of cake frostings, the bowls and bowls of ice cream—to look at the three gems over Sweetie Belle and the lightning bolt over Scootaloo. “We’re not the first ones to sit here, are we?”
Sweetie Belle chewed her lip. “It might have been excessive to have them drag the other four over to the side.”
Scootaloo took another bite of her sandwich. “Worf it. Hod to git the table.”
“Ew! Scootaloo, we don’t have a reason for bad manners!”
“Sure we do! We aren’t cleaning this up.” Ice cream dripped off the back of her crumpets and hit the golden floor. Scootaloo gulped. “Are we?”
Apple Bloom snatched a bowl of sweet-carrot vanilla with caramel swirl. “We won the game, didn’t we? They wouldn’t make us clean it up.” No sooner had the words left her mouth than the crusaders exchanged worried looks. She picked up the silver bell on the table and rang it.
The doors on the left side opened. Princess Celestia entered, carrying a tray on her back. Her flowing mane was tied under a hoof towel, and a tight black blouse wrapped around her forelegs and barrel. Two stockings were pulled up to the hocks on her hind legs.
“Miladies,” she said with a smile, bowing low. “How may I serve you?”
Apple Bloom eyed the perfectly balanced tray through the bow. “I can’t believe I’m asking this, but... have you done this before?”
Celestia raised an eyebrow, but her smile remained. “I don’t believe that information was part of the deal.” She stood straight again and levitated most of the dirty dishes onto her tray. “Are you ready for your tea now?”
“Actually,” Scootaloo said, “the deal is why we brought you in here.”
“Oh, the clothes really aren’t so bad now that I’m used to them. The costume is certainly a little small, but Rarity has good taste in—”
“Moving on.” Sweetie Belle cleared her throat. “We were just wondering what happens now.”
Apple Bloom snorted. “We were wondering if we’re gonna get stabbed in the back. Who’s cleaning up all this?”
Celestia picked up a bowl of ice cream. She gave the crusaders an impish grin. “My little ponies, don’t worry about cleaning for one moment.” The golden aura faded, and the bowl dropped to the table, spilling the ice cream. The bowl rolled over the edge and clattered along the floor.
“Hm. Clumsy me.”
Sweetie Belle’s eye bugged out of her head. “You... what... did you...?”
The bowl levitated in a golden aura again. “As I said, don’t worry about the cleaning. You could say there is an entire army ready and waiting for the job.” Celestia turned and walked away. “I’ll bring your tea momentarily.”
Scootaloo gaped. “We should have asked to be princesses for a day instead of just a meal.”
Sweetie Belle shook her head. “We should have stayed on her good side.”
“And whose fault was that?” Apple Bloom said, picking up a slice of cake. She tossed it up and down.
Scootaloo pressed another scoop of ice cream between two crumpets and pulled them apart. She grinned.
“You wouldn’t.” Sweetie Belle looked back and forth between them. “Never mind the clean-up. I know where you both sleep.”
Celestia walked back in. “Tea time, miladies.” Three cups floated over to rest in front of each filly. “You each have your own special blend, I believe.”
Apple Bloom sniffed her cup. “Ooh, is that cinnamon? I love cinnamon!” She took a sip, and a smile spread across her face. “That is so good!”
Sweetie Belle took a sip of her own. “Mmm! How much honey did they put in this? It’s great!”
Scootaloo swallowed her mouthful and tilted her head. “It’s okay.”
Celestia laughed. “I’ll be sure to pass that on. Luna just left for Canterlot.”
“Oh?” Sweetie took another sip. “She didn’t stay for the ceremony?”
“I believe my sister will be taking a vacation,” Celestia said with a smile. “I heard she retained the services of two ponies who own a spa here in Ponyville. Lotus and Aloe? They will be staying with Luna for the next few days.”
Apple Bloom paled. “Back up. You said you would let her know. Did... Luna brew the tea?”
“She did. Ah! That reminds me. She had a message for you.” Celestia’s brow furrowed. “‘Kissing booth.’ Luna said you would understand?” She looked at each of them, but no one said a word. She shrugged and left.
Scootaloo dumped her tea over a cake. Soaked blue sludge was the last thing to drip out, and the tea itself had a distinctly blue hue... disguised by the blue-dyed porcelain.
Apple Bloom looked into her own cup and threw it away after a brief pause, horror spreading over her face. “You’ve gotta be kidding me!"
All three stared at the spreading blue stain on the floor. "Poison joke?!”