Silver Meets the Ponies of Cirrus and Gives Lessons in Cooking
It had been almost almost three months since the eventful dinner with Lightning Twist's family. Once again Silver Fall was tending her garden, Citrus Song and Bluebell Sonata were back home with Bluebell sending Silver Fall letters asking things about gardening and what Silver Fall different from the dragons she learned about in school. Silver Fall was more than happy to be correspond to the little filly. Bluebell sent a few letters asking for Silver to visit her in Canterlot, Silver Fall in turn told her why that was a bad idea and said how she was sorry that she would not be able to do as the filly asked.
Crimson Skies had warmed up to the dragoness and passed his blessing to her and Lightning, much to the surprise and confusion of his brothers and amusement of his sister. Lightning's visits were becoming more frequent, then one day invited her see the little town he called home. She would have to reveal herself to them, but only after they had grown to know her. One step at a time, these little steps would keep going for sometime, but it one day she might actually reveal herself to Princess Celestia (although she highly doubted it ever get that far, at most she would reveal herself to the communities she was coming to call home over the course of her life).
Silver Fall felt like they were rushing things a bit, but at the same time she knew they couldn't take this too slow. She laughed herself a bit because only a little over a year ago she wouldn't have thought of apprehension and nervousness as nothing more than something akin to a thought experiment. The same held true for love, happiness and comedy. Now she was readying herself to meet community that Light Twist and his friends called home, and she knew she would have reveal herself at some point later. The notion of hiding what she was because a new community might respond to her poorly was something she understood all to well, but at the same time she was getting tired of hiding what she really was and knew that by tying herself to mate (and pony at that) that she would be forced to move to wherever he was told to go for his duties.
Silver Fall hoped that the two of them could at least settle down once they were official mates, the thought of such a thing sent flutters of fear and excitement throughout her body. Another thought that sent mixed emotions through her was that of children it filled her with fear, excitement, joy and sorrow. She feared she might not be able to be the mother her children needed, she was excited at the prospect of being a mother, she felt the joy of fulfillment when thought of raising offspring of her own, and she felt sorrow at the thought that all of that might not come to pass or if her children were only born with a span of a few minutes or hours to live (or worse, what if her children came out stillborn?). She had expressed these concerns with Spotlight Flutter, and the mare just smiled and said that those worries meant she was going to be good mom, and she was proud of her choosing to think of such things before she was married or pregnant.
Silver Fall didn't want to admit it, but almost as soon as her emotions were freed from their prison she had been thinking what it would be like to have children of her own, and when she met Bluebell Sonata she had started feeling sad that she might never get to revel in experience of motherhood. She had considered her and Lightning Twist adopting, but the thought just didn't feel right to Silver Fall (mostly because she thought the foals deserved pony parents and not a dragon for a mother). Silver Fall's jumble of emotions when she thought about children that even several hours of deep meditation didn't help her for more than a few minutes at best.
She had caught herself talking to her beans in the garden like she was addressing the grave of her father on more than one occasion, which caused her to worry about the quality of the plants. So far nopony, especially Lightning Twist, had caught her any of her worried conversations. She caught herself asking her pearl for guidance on number of occasions as well. Her worries were giving her difficult nights the closer it came for her first visit to Cirrus.
Silver Fall kept asking herself why was feeling so nervous about visiting a community she might end up calling home, and all the answers came back mixed and confusing. She hadn't felt this nervous about the family meal with Lightning's immediate family (or meeting any of his immediate family for the first time). She was sure that as bad as her nervousness was at it would somehow come out worse when her wedding was more real possibility. Most dragons she was aware of would have laughed at the idea of a dragon and pony deciding to be official life-mates, the rest would just call it poor humor and move on with their day.
*************************************
On the appointed day Lightning Twist came to guide her to Cirrus, what he arrived to was his now fiancé a borderline manic wreck. Silver Fall was pacing back and forth in front of here saddlebags shifting between dragon and pony forms muttering something in one of the dragon tongues she knew completely unaware her escort had arrived, what made it worse was her pony form was looking haphazard whenever she shifted to it (by that it is meant her mane was a mess along with being inconsistent color between shifts and the cutie mark selection she cycled through was a jumbled mess of clear confusion). Lightning Twist waited for him to notice her for a few minutes, she was usually good about noticing her guests, before announcing his presence.
After almost twenty minutes of watching the dragoness go through her nervous breakdown routine he said, “nervous about see the little patch of sky I call home, honey?”
She stopped her pacing and muttering and looked at him in her dragon form before saying in a matter-of-fact nervous voice, “that's only part of it, I've been losing sleep over the thought of what could happen if we decided to start having children, in particular if I tried my claw at being a biological mother. Moving into a new town doesn't bother me so much, hiding what I am again after all of this however does irritate me to some degree and that's mostly because I'm fairly certain I'll have to play that game again when you're told you've been reassigned.”
“We won't have to do so forever,” said Lightning Twist with a reassuring smile.
“You probably won't, but me and our potential hybrid offspring will,” said Silver Fall with a bit more displeasure than she intended, “dragons have long lifespans, and if a hybrid between our two species is possible again that's a trait they'll inherit from me. I'm a little over three centuries old, by dragon standards I've barely started my young adult phase. The only entity I can confirm is old enough to know the weight of centuries in their age is Princess Celestia, and for the time being I really want to avoid an encounter with her.”
“All fully understandable,” said Lightning Twist, “but if you have another one of your nervous breakdowns you'll expose yourself on your own without prompting or assistance.”
The dragoness just stared it the stallion for a good minute before saying, “understood, managing my emotions has been getting harder and harder for me in recent months.”
“Mom told me you've been visiting with her, care to tell me what your visits with her were about.”
“Questions about motherhood, nothing more,” said Silver Fall with a hint of embarrassment, “you going to show me this town you you call home, or what?”
“Oh, yes,” said Lightning Twist with a hint of embarrassment, “follow me,” with that the two took wing, with Silver Fall in her pony form again (this time keeping the cutie mark she had at the family dinner and giving herself a dark indigo mane).
Lightning Twist gave her a quizzical look that also asked if she would keep to a singular look, to which she said, “don't worry I'm sticking with this one, it feels right to me.” He just nodded and continued the guiding flight. After a twenty minute flight they arrived at a small community in the clouds, Cirrus had roughly half that of Ponyville when she arrived to the town. She noticed a few dozen pegasi going about their day when suddenly she slammed in the side by something, the unexpected moment shift caused to tip over to her right straight into Lightning Twist.
Both got up and shook themselves off, aftwards she looked her left to see a seafoam blue pegasus filly with no cutie mark and dark brown eyes. “Sorry,” said the filly in a high pitched almost squeaky voice.
“Perfectly alright,” said Silver Fall in warm compassion that sounded like somepony that had experience caring for foals, “I'm dating Lightning Twist here,” she gestured with her wing to the no longer prone Lightning Twist, “and this my first time seeing his home.”
The filly smiled and said, “I'm Cloud Dasher, I don't have cutie mark yet,” he voice got excited before she said, “but I can feel I'm really close to getting it.”
“Run along home,” said Silver Fall in her warm compassionate voice, “your mom probably has something she wants to tell you.” Cloud Dasher gave big grin and darted off.
“You seem to have a way with foals,” came a stormy sounding feminine voice, they both turned to see an approaching dark pink pegasus with neon orange eyes and a cutie mark of a pegasus in a spotlight holding a microphone, “Stage Judge, and you my dear,” she pointed a hoof and Silver Fall, “are just what we need to put this place on the map, your coat is perfect for the walk and your mane compliments your coat so well, your cutie mark is a little odd, but we don't have to worry about that. In fact we want even have to doctor your images, you have just the right figure for what we're after.”
Lightning Twist facehoofed and said, “Stage meet my fillyfriend, Silver Fall. Where's your coltfriend by the way?”
Stage Judge gasped and said, “I heard rumors from your friends that you had found an 'exotic' beauty, but I never thought she's be this marvelous to behold, Nimbus Build is busy on a project I asked him to deal with.”
“You two compliment each other well,” said Silver Fall, “he's practical and simple while you focus on the aesthetics, you're probably the one who told him to look for accessories that match up with his projects.”
“Why yes,” said Stage Judge with pride.
“Thought so,” said Silver Fall, “When he looked over my abode he found my only mirror and said matched up with the aesthetics of what the rest of group joked as 'Wonderbolt Manor', have anything to say about that?”
“If we can get just one of the Thunderbolts to like this place we can expand like never before,” said Stage Judge, “I'm show organizer and recruiter, but this is always where I called home. I could never feel comfortable in Cloudsdale or Canterlot for some reason, I guess I'm just a small town girl at heart. You've been living near the quaint little town near ours, it's pretty small as well. What exactly is it you do? What's your special talent? I've never seen a cutie mark like that before.
“I raise plants,” said Silver Fall, “and I guess you could say my special talent is understanding dragons, not a whole lot of demand for somepony with that kind of talent.”
“Nimbus also said you have an interesting secret, care to share?” inquired Stage Judge.
“All in good time my good mare,” said Silver Fall graciously, “I'm going to have to start getting settled in with my fiancé before I share a few things with you.”
“And I thought Night Racer liked to move fast,” said Stage Judge jokingly, “in all seriousness, when is the wedding?”
“A few months,” said Lightning Twist, “Silver will spend a few weeks getting used town before she shares that interesting secret you were told about with the whole town. She wants you to get to know her so that she reveals her secret you don't think badly of her.”
“Citrus Song and Bluebell Sonata know my little secret, and they've both agreed to keep it, Mustang had to pressure Citrus Song's husband into keeping it as well.”
“I'm told his reaction was priceless,” said Lightning Twist.
“Trust me when I say his reaction to me walking with his daughter on my back and giving a lecture on proper parenting, while said daughter was still on my back, was indeed amusing. I almost wish I had a painting of the event to frame just as a memento, Canterlot unicorns can be so strange sometimes.”
“Now I really want know,” said Stage Judge, “also you dropped a hint that it's something physical or visual about you.”
“And that's all you'll get for the next few weeks,” said Silver Fall teasingly, “Lightning I need to know which complex is yours so I can better move in.”
“Oh, right” said Lightning Twist with embarrassment, “this way,” and started off again.
“It was a pleasure meeting you, Stage Judge,” said Silver Fall, “we'll catchup at a later date.”
“Sure thing,” said Stage Judge.
With that Silver quickly followed behind Lightning Twist. As he opened the front door to the modest two story cloud house he said, “I'm so glad you didn't have to pack anything for moving with me.”
“Almost nothing,” said Silver Fall, “I'll need to fly down and retrieve my mirror later, don't worry it has an enchantment on it that will make brining it up a non-issue. When I first acquired it I rested it on top of a fog bank, so you don't have to worry about falling from the clouds and doing something harmful.”
Lightning Twist gave her a smile and nod before heading to the kitchen and started making lunch, it wasn't anything fancy. A simple barley and tomato soup and dandelion sandwiches (Silver didn't mind it at all, she rather enjoyed it, even if the soup and sandwiches both tasted a little bland to her). After a few minutes of eating in silence Lightning Twist asked, “how are you enjoying the meal?”
“In all honesty,” said Silver Fall with a serious tone, “it's quite bland, good food starts with the chef and their ingridients. This soup tastes like you just tossed it together or heated up a premade mix. The sandwiches also taste like you bought them of a shelf after they were their for a few days.”
Lightning Twist gave her a guilty smile and said, “that's because the soup was premade and just heated up according to the instructions and I bought the sandwiches a couple of days ago. It's the the bachelor method, I've been using it for years. All the meals you prepared were amazing when we ate at your place.”
“That's because they were all homemade,” said Silver Fall with a tone that was more annoyed than she intended, “with fresh ingredients, you don't live as long on your own for as long as I have without picking up some basic skills that make living alone more bearable.”
“Oh,” said Lightning Twist.
“If you want our relationship to work good you are going to step it up a bit,” said Silver Fall, “your approach to lunch was lazy and lacked much thought. While that approach might be good enough for your friends visiting it is a disappointment to your loved ones. I know you can do better than this, I gave you lessons on how to cook for love the ancestors. Lightning if you ever pull a stunt like this I will personally trot up to your supervisor and tell them you have a week long punishment and then do everything in my power to keep you in this kitchen until you making meals from scratch has become so close to instinct that you find yourself making meals from scratch with little to no thought by the end of your week of punishment. Have I made my self clear?”
“As a bell,” said Lightning Twist.
“Not even married and already she's started running the house,” came an amused gruff male voice.
They both looked over to see dark brown pegasus with a sky blue mane and tail, Lightning Twist pulled a hoof across his face before saying, “Silver, I would like to introduce you the mayor of Cirrus, Dusty Sky. He makes it a point to meet each new resident of Cirrus, this stallion could keep anything in order no matter what.”
“Honestly I was expecting a three room apartment with a single bathroom and a small kitchen that only had a fridge sink,” said Silver Fall.
“Yeah, well,” said Lightning Twist, “I share this place with my close friends, and technically I'm the landlord. You can thank my family for that one.”
“Okay then,” said Silver Fall, “sorry about that, pleasure to meet you mayor.”
“Pleasure's all mine,” said Dusty Skies, “we don't get whole lot of beauties in these parts, pity you're taken.”
“Alright,” said Silver Fall taking on a serious tone, “no flirting with somepony else's filly or colt friend is now a rule I'm enforcing, so you are to leave this complex now mayor. If you do not comply I care not what legal actions justify your response to my actions, because I don't make threats and only promises. If you, or anypone else, do not comply with the rules I enforce there will be enough pain coursing through your body that the simple acts of sitting and standing will wrack you with so much pain that you will feel like you can't do without being on the verge of passing out for a whole week.”
“And she knows how do really put the fear of the almighty in you,” said Dusty Skies, “I'm leaving now, it was pleasure meeting you ma'am.” With that he stepped out of the door and rushed off.
Lightning Twist looked at Silver Fall for a few minutes before saying, “I think that's the first time somepony has made Dusty Skies really scared since he got his cutie mark, and that frightening assertiveness was actually pretty attractive. I'm scaring myself with thoughts like that.”
Silver Fall took a deep breath before saying, “I didn't mean to take it that far, something in me just felt a need to do that. Lightning, when will your friends be in? Is there enough room for me here?”
“Sure,” said Lightning Twist, “We have a few spare rooms that we were thinking of using for storage in the future.”
“I think we should go house hunting before the wedding, we're going to want some privacy and if any babies come along I don't want them getting into any of your friends' things.”
“Both excellent concerns,” said Lightning Twist, “mom already covered that for us,” he trotted upstairs and came down minute later before passing her sheet of paper with an address and series of twelve numbers next to twelve different abbreviations. At the bottom of the sheet was an address and key for translating the abbreviations in a font so small that Silver Fall was impressed that the whole note was hoof-written. The address on the note was 158 Rain Avenue.
“Let me guess,” Silver Fall with amusement, “she said it's an engagement gift from her.”
“Yup,” said Lightning Twist, “checked it out yesterday, the place has three stories a massive kitchen that needs stocking and accessioning.”
“Your parents really don't get subtle simplicity, it seems,” said Silver Fall.
“Not really, they understand subtly just fine,” said Lightning Twist, “but simplicity is almost a lost cause on them most of the time. Um, quick question. When you were pacing in that nervous wreck of yours you said something about dragons and and ponies producing hybrids again, how come?”
“When I was very young my parents would tell me about rumors of ponies that were part dragon being rumored to live over two-thouasand years ago. Dad said they were rumored to still be roaming his homeland in remote regions, and mom said they all died out centuries ago.”
“And you're worried that if you do become preganant with my foals that they'll be treated differently?”
“No, I'm afraid of them being feared, shunned or both,” said Silver Fall leaving the remains of her low quality meal at the table she and Lightning Twist were sitting at, “I just don't want to be a good mother, I want the children I birth to be accepted by the communities they come to call home or visit. I was never accepted by for who I was, mom's clan didn't care much for anything that had to do with me. I'm an exile Lightning, do you know how often dragons exile one of their clan or community?” The stallion just stared at her and shook is head, “one in every sixty-thousand, dragon populations never seem to exceed a few hundred at most in any given area. I'm probably the first the dragon to be exiled in Equestria in three-thousand years ago. I was barred from taking part in the Great Dragon Migration by my mother's clan, even if I wasn't I would not ever want to take part in it of my own volition because of all the terrible memories that I have attached to the event.” At this point she was collapsed next stairs with a dejected look that showed she was holding back tears of sadness.
“You want the children you birth to have what you were denied,” said Lightning Twist as he wrapped her a comforting embrace with his hooves and wings, “that's one of the greatest thing any parent could wish for their child, you'll be a truly amazing mother when the time comes, I just know it.”
“We'll have to hide them from everypony,” said Silver Fall with sorrow rich in her voice, “they might get used to seeing a dragon walk around town like it was always normal, but seeing foals that clearly show they are part dragon might be too much for everypony here, or anywhere in Equestria. I never had any friends growing up, I want them to at least have one individual they can call a true friend.”
“We'll think of something,” said Lightning Twist, “and when we do I'm sure will be incredible.”
Silver Fall smiled and just gave him a nuzzle that said she was thankful for the stallion. They were just there for almost an hour, then he said he had to go and take care of his duties, she nodded with understanding and watched him pass through the door. Silver Fall went to see which rooms were free, she found that all the rooms were spacious. She found the third room on the left, which was next to the restroom, had no occupants. The first door on the right once you climbed the stairs seemed be filled with sports equipment and at least 3 different Wonderbolts poster plastered in the room, she gussed that was Night Racer's room; the room across had a family portrait of Lightning Twists across from the door, along with an array of other things that were obviously Lightning Twist's things; the room across from Silver's was wide open and filled with images and schematics of various buildings and building designs, obviously Nimbus Build's room; the last on room, which was the second on the right from the stairs, was Storm Runner's by default since it clearly looked lived in, to put it mildly the room looked like somepony thought practicing whirlwinds regularly indoors was a good idea.
After checking for a spare set of sheets, the were all clearly being washed, Silver Fall decided to get started on dinner. After checking their fridge, which had far more fast food items and far less cooking ingredients that she wanted to see, she got started on a simple stew.
*******************************************
When everypony got back to the house, almost five hours after Lightning Twist had left, the delightful aroma of her simple meal assaulted their nostrils and prompted them all to notice the still warm stew sitting on oven pads with clean bowls and spoons at five places around the table. Silver Fall however was clearly absent from view.
Before heading the table Nimbus Build pointed to a note on the fridge. Bringing everypony's attention to the note all four of them came up on the fridge. When they got close enough the note read, “you four have some of the unhealthiest habits I have ever seen, and considering how long I've been around that is saying something, so here's the deal I challenge you all to avoid fast food for the next month starting the moment you wake up tomorrow. Enjoy the stew, it was made from what few ingredients I managed to scrounge from the fridge, because if you want a home cooked meal after today you'll have to buy the ingridients and convince me to make something if you are unable to cook. Lightning Twist I know for a fact you can cook because I PERSONALLY gave you lessons on the subject, which means I am not cooking for you after this point until you prove you can handle yourself in the kitchen before I start doing something like that again. One More thing, I cleaned all of your rooms and put 'Dining Journals' on everypony's bed, you will be showing them to me everyday (and don't bother cheating I had a unicorn friend enchant them with a truth telling spell, have fun trying to find a way around it because they're all keyed to each of you personally and if anypony else tries to write in them then nothing gets written). I will be joining you later, I'm personalizing my room.”
“Lightning, did your fillyfriend just force us into changing our dining habits?” inquired Storm Runner, “wait, she clean our rooms! No, I had everything exactly where I wanted it. She cleaned our rooms, she's a neat freak!”
“She's over three centuries old,” deadpanned Lightning Twist, “she was bound to pick up some neat freak tendencies.”
“I'm liking this,” said Night Racer, “she's challenging to change our dietary practices, and it's only for a month. In other words we only have to keep it up for...”
“Thirty days,” finished Nimbus Build, “after that we can go back to our usual routine, and the diet journals are just so she can keep tabs on our progress. She won't do much more than chastise us for our dietary choices after a week and give up on the whole project.”
“You're forgetting she's got a tanacity and stubborness that my dad likes,” said Lightning Twist, “and she knows how to stick to plan for the long haul. She's been raising her garden for centuries.”
“Oh right, forgot about that part,” said Nimbus Build, “well it's still a month, what could a month without quick and cheap food really do to us?”
“Quite a lot,” said Night Racer, “we're going to have to focus on restaurants that have a reputation for quick service and healthy choices, and who knows what she's stashed in our fridge while we were gone?”
“I have a few ideas,” said Lightning Twist, “but right now I don't really care about that sort of thing since some of the best food I've ever experienced is taunting me on the table, sorry everypony but I just have to have a few bowls.” With that he dashed over to the table, sat down, poured some stew into his bowl and started downing the soup with sounds of satisfaction.
The others stared at him for few minutes before joining him at the table and filling their bowls. Nimbus Build's eyes went wide with her first bite and started moving so as to savor her meal, Night Racer was doing the reverse and rushing as much of the delicious stew into her muzzle as possible, Storm Runner was alternating between shoveling the food into his muzzle and slowly savoring it at almost every third to fifth spoonful.
Silver Fall came down looking like she had just stepped out of the shower and said with a smile, “I see everypony is enjoying the stew.”
“This is practically gourmet,” said Nimbus Build stopping short of another spoonful, “are you sure this was made what you found in our fridge?”
“A true cook or chef knows how to make the best of everything at their disposal, no matter what it may be,” said Silver Fall matter-of-factually before heading to the empty seat and filling her bowl. After that the glow of enjoyed silence followed.
Once the pot was a little over half emptied Night Racer said, “I hope we don't disappoint with the challenge you issued. By the way, what did you do to the fridge?”
Silver Fall smiled and said, “I cleaned it out, everything having to do with fast food is gone, nothing save healthy ingridients are in the fridge. Lightning, how about you try making some lemonade tomorrow, I know you can do it since it was one of the first things I showed you how to make.”
The other three looked at Lightning Twist with an accusing eye before Storm Runner said, “dude, she gave you lessons in how to cook and make drinks and you still rush for greasy hayburger when we're all at home and somepony says they're hungry, not cool.”
“I agree,” said Night Racer, “part of the contract your parents had us sign says that anypony that has cooking knowledge must apply in this house, you've been ignoring something we were forced into.”
“I have a few days off starting tomorrow,” said Nimbus Build, “my boss says it has something about making a good impression for one of his good friends. Silver, mind giving me some lessons in cooking? I know I'll put them to better use than that big doofus,” she pointed an accusing hoof at Lightning Twist at the last part.
“He maybe a doof, but he's my doof,” said Silver Fall with a teasing tone, which also caused Lightning Twist to blush violently.
“Awww,” came came from both Nimbus Build and Night Racer when they noticed, Storm Runner just facehoofed.
“You're not getting out of lessons in the culinary arts, any of you,” said Silver Fall as she gave a panning gaze at everypony at the table, “especially you, Storm Runner, mares find a stallion with the ability to cook far more attractive. Last I checked you were dating Stage Judge.”
“No we're not,” said Storm Runner, “we're just good friends... that like to hang out a lot, there's nothing more to it.”
“Quit fooling yourself,” said Night Racer, “the whole town already knows you two have been trying, quite amusingly bad, to discreetly date. Lightning only got away with his secret dates because Silver lived near a different town and a weather pony spending a little extra time in town that he's responsible for isn't all that suspicious. You two on the other hoof have been living in the same town for months, it's not that hard to notice your behaviors around each other.”
“Besides,” said Nimbus Build, “she loves living in metropolitan areas like Cloudsdale, Manehattan and Canterlot, the only reason she chose to live here is because you're too nice to ask your superiors for a location change that she's living here.”
“Too her credit, she's a good actress when it comes to hiding that,” said Silver Fall, “I didn't realize she had a hurt undertone when she said she preferred small communities like this until about an hour ago.”
“You see you doof,” said Lightning Twist, “she's willing sacrifice her personal comfort for you, time to stallion-up and do something for her benefit. I'm giving you a month to do just that before I personally use the full weight of my connections to do it for you.”
“Lightning's told me he's accumlated a lot of favors,” said Silver Fall, “and for something like this you can bet he'll be calling in more than a small hoofful, although that's all it might really take. Something like this is easy, you just have to know who to send word to.”
Storm Runner's eyes bugged out before he said, “oh no, you are not doing anything like that!???!!!?”
“Oh, yes we are,” said Lightning Twist, “mom and dad would both be ecstactic in helping with somehting so simple.”
“Not to mention some the ponies I've come to know over the years might be more than capable, if not them then their children,” said Silver Fall, “I have a few centuries under me, and you dare think I don't know how to use the connections I've managed to acquire over my time.”
“Most of your connections are in Mustang,” retorted Storm Runner.
“I'm also connected with at least a twentieth of Royal Guard in Canterlot, am on good terms with at least a quarter of the Weather Management and Control Center in Cloudsdale and personally know some of each and have been meeting them for monthly poker games for the past year,” said Silver Fall, “do you really want to have a go at this.”
“And they're all in the know about you?” inquired Lightning Twist.
“After you had me out myself to Mustang,” said Silver Fall, “yes, and they've all agreed to keep this secret, even from Princess Celestia until I'm ready to reveal myself to the rest of Equestria.”
Everypony at the table audibly gulped before Night Racer said, “you know how to throw weight around casually without being condescending, it's kind of frightening how you can do it so cassually.
“Yes, but I'd never call on those connection to do something for me personally,” said Silver Fall.
“That's what makes it all the more terrifying,” said Nimbus Build, “you know enough ponies to dramatically influence Equestria more than any noble, but not quite as much as Princess Celestia. You're somehow above every noble without being well-known, frankly its beyond terrifying. And once Lightning Twist marries you he'll be almost as influential.”
“Yes, but neither of us really likes turning to our connections. Although, I will playing my monthly poker game next week.”
“Let me guess,” said Lightning Twist, “it's happening in Mustang?”
“Naturally,” said Silver Fall, “that might change some day, but for now it's only going happen in Mustang.”
“She's bluffing right?” inquired Storm Runner.
“Do you really want to find out?” retorted Night Racer. They both took a look at Silver Fall and the stallion shook his head.
*************************************
It was the afternoon of Silver Fall's second day in Cirrus, the kitchen looked like warzone had passed through and a pony shaped figure was next to the pegasus disguised dragon dripping a gooey, yet watery, batter. The dragon herself had some batter sticking to her coat at the chest and just below her eyes. A dough caked hoof wiped the batter off the muzzle and face of the pony next her to reveal Nimbus Build was the pony covered in batter. Silver Fall sighed and said, “Nimbus you're trying to make pancakes not bake an actual cake. I told at least thirty times, that's why we didn't preheat the oven and you got out the frying pan. You weren't supposed mix any of of it that fast, you're making batter not racing a beetle around the bowl. When I say mix hard it means put some power into it without spilling any of the bowls contents.”
“Oh, sorry,” said Nimbus Build, “when somepony says hard to me that means put all your power into it.”
Silver gave another sigh before saying, “alright we'll try making something much simpler to make next, after you clean this floor up. I'm going to wash up, I expect the floor to be clean when I get back. After I've verified you've properly cleaned the floor I'll allow you to clean yourself up then we'll try at a different food item that is simpler to make. I thought pancakes would be good start because they're not all that hard to mess up. With that Silver Fall left to go get cleaned off.
Silver came down, still in pegasus form, to see the lower floor was so clean it was sparkling in the light. Nimbus Build was slumped over the kitchen counter with a look of exhaustion. A bucket of cleaning water that looked like something out of a horror movie next her, a broom and dustpan on the floor next to bucket, nine very soiled looking wash clothes hung from the buckets side with a seventh partially grimed wash cloth in Nimbus Build's hoof as she looked like she slept on the counter. “Bathroom's all yours,” said Silver Fall after she came right up to the mare.
Nimbus Build snapped her eyes open and said in a rushed voice, “oh sweet Celestia, thank you,” before rushing up the stairs, leaving bits of her dried batter second outer coat behind her. Silver Fall just shook her head and got the broom and dustpan then began sweeping up dried batter that Nimbus Build had left behind. After sweeping up all the dry batter she opened the lid of garbage can and dropped the dried batter crumbs into it. A half hour later Nimbus Build back down with clean body, coat and mane.
“So, what are going to attempt now?”
“Sandwiches,” said Silver Fall, “go into the cupboard and get some slices of bread,” Nimbus did so with a smile, “now get mayonnaise, lettuce and tomato,” Nimbus Build did as instructed, “good, now get a spreading knife or butter knife and spread a light to generous layer onto each slice of bread,” Nimbus Build took a massive glob out of the jar of mayonnaise with butter knife prompting Silver Fall to say, “not that much, scrape it of on the inner lip of jar,” Nimbus Build did as instructed, “good, that should be about enough for both slices. Now lightly spread the mayonnaise on the bread slices,” once again Nimbus did as instructed, “now set the knife and mayonnaise aside for now. Next I want you to tear leaf of the lettuce,” Nimbus did so, “now cut a thin slice off the tomato and place it on top of the lettuce leaf you but on the slice of bread,” Nimbus Build cut off a rounded exterior of the tomato that was to Silver's satisfaction, but then she when cut a thick wedge of tomato to which Silver's articulating draconic tail snatched the knife from the mare, “we do not cut massive wedges into our foods,” said Silver Fall as she pulled the knife from the mare, “your first slice is the size you need for the sandwich.”
“But,” said Nimbus Build, “it won't be evenly flat.
“Getting the practice down right comes before setting aesthetics of your food,” said Silver Fall, “no matter what you always try the first one, now but the slice on the lettuce and put the other slice on top of it.”
“Okay,” said Nimbus Build with a slight grumble, “but I'm not going to like it.”
“We'll see,” said Silver Fall, “now test your first sandwich.”
Nimbus Build took a big bite into the sandwich and said, “this is really good, I honestly didn't think it would be this good.”
“You were right to worry about the aesthetics of the food,” said Silver Fall, “if it doesn't look all that appetizing then ponies will just pass it up, but what keep them eating is the taste and texture of the food. You have to make sure that food tastes good feels pleasant to the mouth, but if it looks like nopony would touch it then the whole project is wasted. Remember with food simplicity is best, but sometimes you need to get a little creative with the presentation. However you must never turn a meal into an 'art project' for the sake of catching someponies eye. If I'm still around during Hearth's Warming Eve I'll show everypony how to make gingerbread ponies and gingerbread houses.”
Nimbus Build perked up, “gingerbread houses? Can you make other structures out of gingerbread?”
“Possibly,” said Nimbus Build, “but you should get the basic house format down before you try making a gingerbread version of your latest project at the company Hearth's Warming party.”
“Makes sense,” said Nimbus Build, “will you show me how to make gingerbread?”
“All in good time my dear,” said Silver Fall setting the knife she had pilfered from Nimbus's hoof in the to be cleaned wrack and changed her tail back to a pony tail.
“It is so cool how you can do that,” said Nimbus Build, “when you let Princess Celestia know about you she'll probably offer you any job you want.”
“Doubtful,” said Silver Fall, “but it's a nice sentiment. Now that I've given you a run through the basics try making a sandwich on your own, you can use anything for sandwich filling, I just chose those ingredients because they would be easy for me to regulate.”
“What's the easiest kind you've worked with?” inquired Nimbus Build.
“Peanut butter and jam, peanut butter and honey, and straight one kind of spread like honey, peanut butter or honey.”
“Peanut butter and jam sounds great,” said Nimbus Build.
“Then check the fridge for a jar of jam,” said Silver Fall.
Nimbus Build nodded and opened the fridge and looked around it and said, “we don't have any jam!”
“Preserves work too,” said Silver Fall.
“We don't have any of those either,” stated Nimbus Build.
“Then I suggest you choose a different kind of sandwich or go and purchase some preserves or jam,” said Silver Fall in a gentle voice.
“I'll be right back,” said Nimbus Build grabbing her saddlebags and tossing a bag of bits into the bag on her left, “I'll be back in a few hours.” Soon as she was out the door and it slammed shut Silver Fall rolled her eyes and started putting the ingredients away. She then went up to her room pulled out one of her bags of tea with small metal pot and deep ceramic tea cup before heading back down. Silver poured some water into the pot and set it on the stove and lit it and waited, four minutes before the pot would have whistled she turned off the stove and moved the kettle over and watited three minutes before pouring some of the water into the ceramic teacup and getting a small spoon from the drawer, she then dropped a small hofful into the ceramic teacup of hot water and spent ten minutes gently stirring the brew.
Just as her brew started to noticeably darken the teacup with green she brought it to her lips and said, “foals, I never get tired seeing them do that,” before taking a contented sip of her tea.
*********************************
When the Lightning Twist, Storm Runner and Night Racer came home they saw Nimbus Build setting a pot of soup onto the table with a look of accomplishment. Silver Fall brought over a pitcher of something blue with 5 cups. The three arrivals eyed what was put on the table with surprise.
“Um, Nimbus Build,” said Night Racer, “did you really make that?”
“And the pie in the oven,” said Nimbus Build, “it'll be ready in fifteen minutes, I even set up 5 different timers to remind me.”
“She's a faster learner than I thought, worse than I hoped,” said Silver Fall, “the pancake mishap that lasted longer than it should have, and the brownie kerfluffle are thankfully behind us.”
“Pancake mishap,” said Storm Walker with surprise.
“Brownie kerfluffle,” said a surprised Night Racer at the same time as same time as Storm Walker said 'pancake mishap' with Lightning Twist just staring at Silver Fall and Nimbus Build like he missed something they said.
“Alright,” said Lightning Twist, “let's eat before the soup gets cold. Maybe you can tell us about the kitchen problems.”
“Actually we made a deal keep the details of all kitchen incidents to ourselves,” said Silver Fall and Nimbus Build simultaneously, “sorry colts and filly, but you're not going to get those details for a long while.”
“Am I the only one that finds it creepy that my sister and Silver are so in sync?” inquired Night Racer.
“Nope,” said both stallions in unison, then both looked at each other like a hiccup in reality had just happened.
“What just happened?” asked Lightning Twist as everypony sat down at the table.
“Your surprise temporarily temporarily synchronized the two of you, if I had to guess,” said Silver Fall with an analytical tone.
“Now you're starting to like my sister,” said Lightning Twist. Everypony laughed as Silver Fall poured the blue liquid into cups and passed them around the table.
“What is this?” inquired Night Racer while taking the cup.
“Blueberry juice,” said Nimbus Build with pride, “home squeezed and mixed, it's full of healthy stuff like something to help clean your circulatory system. Silver told me after I made lunch and we went shopping for the afternoon.”
*************************************
It was twenty minutes after they had finished dinner, Storm Runner was downing his third piece of Apple-Strawberry pie. As he did he said, “I know I've said this a few times before, but this pie is more delicious than I thought it would be when I realized that it was Nimbus who made the pie.”
“Like I said before,” responded, “I am too, I just followed Silver's instructions. You know lot recipes, must be nice.”
“It would be more pleasurable if I had more opportunities to share them,” said Silver Fall with a sad smile.
Lightning Twist brought a placed a comforting hoof on hers as he said, “I have a feeling that those opportunities and more will come in the future.”
Silver Fall just gave the stallion a warm smile before she brought him into a hug.
“I have time off next,” said Night Racer, “a few days next week.”
“Nice to hear,” said Silver Fall, “I hope your as fast a learner as your sister.”
*************************************************
It was Silver's second week in Cirrus, and the first day of Night Racer's time off. The two were in the kitchen, which remarkably was the only part of the downstairs that didn't look like somepony tried to turn that area of into a Jackson Foallack work with tomato paste, uncooked dough, and a variety of sliced vegetables. It was a few minutes to noon and Silver Fall (once again in her pegasus form) was looking the tomato and dough covered Night Racer with ire that was all to visible to the pegasus mare in her eyes (which was rather impressive since the top half of her head was had large slab of uncooked dough over it with cucumber slices that had landed perfectly as replacements for her eyes).
Keeping her voice level, but still providing an irked tone, Silver Fall said, “explain to me again what part of mix and fold the dough slowly for ten minutes says you are required to try and do all of it quickly in two?”
“Um... excitement,” said Night Racer with a sheepish grin.
“I was telling you how to make a pizza, not how to redecorate the level we're on as a modern art piece. Alright listen up, you need to follow my instructions exactly for the second attempt, that's after you've cleaned up this floor and washed up. I'm going to take a shower, this floor better be clean when I get back.” With that Silver Fall was back up in the shower.
When she came back down it looked like the cleaning had been rushed, and it more than showed. Night Racer was back in the kitchen waiting for her next instructions.
“Clean it all again,” said Silver Fall, “and this time do it slowly so you don't leave a mess. Since you couldn't follow simple instructions I'll be watching you from an advantageous point. Your sister only messed up the kitchen and she made the whole floor spotless by the time I was back down here, you left a mess because you decided that speed was more important than quality of the work. Cooking is an art that requires more patience than most, you clearly are lacking that particular virtue.”
Night Racer gave an audible gulp and got the cleaning supplies back out. The first thing she did was move for the mop after filling bucket with hot soapy water, Silver Fall stopped her quickly by moving her foreleg to block the reach, she shook her head and pointed to the broom and dustpan then some of the dry substances on the floor. Night Racer nodded and moved to get the broom while Silver Fall moved up the stairs a few steps before facing the disaster area.
Night Racer had been sweeping for two minutes before she said, “please don't be too hard on me, I've never really cleaned up before.”
“I noticed,” said Silver Fall, “your room looked like you had been practicing various wind related weather maneuvers in it to the point that you had a few twisters in there.”
“Okay, that's worse than I thought,” said Night Racer as she continued to clean, surprisingly faster. This told Silver Fall that Night Racer did better when she was multitasking, so she just kept up the idle chitchat and made motions as cues for Night Racer when she was supposed to use different cleaning utensils. Ten minutes the entire floor was clean.
“See what happens you you do things the proper way,” said Silver Fall as more of a statement than a question, “now go clean yourself up, and when you're done cleaning up come back down here so we can try again. I sincerely hope that the next go around is better.”
*********************************************
After a hour long shower, which Silver Fall swore should have only been ten minutes at most, Night Racer was back downstairs in a clean coat and mane. Silver Fall gave the mare an irked look that stopped her in her tracks and she turn gave the dragon turned pony a self-assured grin.
Silver Fall snorted and said, “at most most your shower should have taken 10 minutes! Tell me, what did you do for the other fifty minutes?”
“Comb my coat and mane, well most of that was looking for the brush.”
Silver Fall gave deep sigh and said in a commanding voice, “the pizza can wait, you're cleaning your room and nopony is easy eating until your room is clean enough for you to find your uniform and brushes.” Night Racer audibly gulped, “your sister's choice of profession made learning to cook an easy matter, but you with your fast pace mindset are not well suited to the craft. After this first insisted recipe I will will be only teaching you simple recipes that can be done in very short order. Pizza takes patience and commitment,” Silver Fall gave an uneasy pause before continuing with, “you are proving you have very little of one and next none of the other.”
“Oh, my personality really isn't suited for cooking,” said Night Racer with realization.
“That's correct,” said Silver Fall, “in all the time I've looked after foals or helped young ponies in discover about themselves it is you whom is proving one of my most trying.”
“Who was the most trying?” inquired Night Racer, “if I might ask?”
Silver Fall smiled and said, “Apple Chiller, she was stubborn filly, and more so as a mare. I was told it's trait that has carried through most of the Apple clan. When she got out of being bullheaded for the sake of giving a hard time she finally noticed she liked what I had been doing my best to teach her. You however are different. You're willing come and learn, but you only listen to half of each individual instruction and decide that's good enough. You'll never reach your dreams or goals with an attitude like that, you need to learn to listen more effectively. You're sister can help with that, in fact you can help cover each other's shortcomings.”
****************************************
When everypony returned home there were three plates loaded with warm sandwiches. No plates were on the table and a pitcher of cucumber water with 5 glasses was next Night Runner and Silver Fall as the dragoness (who was now her her natural look, but still pony size) were playing a one-sided game of checkers (Silver was clearly winning with most of her pieces on the board and Night Runner only have six pieces on board). The three ponies stared the odd sight for a few minutes.
“I take it the lessons didn't go well,” said Lightning Twist as he sat down and grabbed a sandwich from the plate closest to the 2. Upon inspection it was a fried peanut butter and apple preserve sandwich.
“Well yes,” said Silver Fall using her right talons to move piece to jump over and capture another one of Night Racer's pieces. Night Racer gave frustrated sound and poured herself some cucumber water and grabbed sandwich from a plate without looking, one bit proved it to be a warm banana and bean paste sandwich (not something she liked, but she was willing to tolerate).
“Well this is amusing said Storm Walker, especially since I don't get any time off until the holidays.”
“Oh, don't worry, I have a way around that,” said Silver Fall with a smile as she poured herself some cucumber water. The stallion's face fell, “besides it's Lightning's turn to make dinner tomorrow,” Lightning Twist gave a panicked look.