//------------------------------// // It's So Tasty // Story: It's A Wonderful Case // by Winged Cat //------------------------------// The fanciest restaurant in town was all about the service. Elegant decor, waiters drawn from the finest of theatrical troupes (many of whom served here in month-long breaks between Equestria-wide tours, and said they experienced more drama in that month than in the whole of those tours), and a menu drawn from current trends in Prance, Saddle Arabia, and other foreign lands. Blueblood had snacked before coming, as the portions here were always dreadfully small; this place was about appearances, and it simply would not do to waste this opportunity to be seen with Twilight Sparkle. Separate though their domains and styles were, they were Prince and Princess, and the official record now showed they had just concluded business together. This dinner was about reassuring the public that their business was friendly and concluded well, as much as about anything else. He was braced for Twilight to teleport in, but fortunately she had the grace to walk to their booth table once she arrived, though being personally escorted by the maitre d' may have clued her in. Her dress seemed a bit odd, being a dark blue outfit with what looked like stars, but it complimented his golden tuxedo. "Wow, I've never been in this place before," she commented as she squeezed into the booth opposite him. Having already examined the one-page menu he had been provided with, Blueblood offered it to Twilight. "Mmmyes, well. I doubt this will be your last visit. I take it you are satisfied with Rainbow Dash's condition?" "I am. And thank you for making sure that condition includes 'alive'." Twiight's eyes darted over the menu. "They almost threw me out of the hospital when I offered to help. Something about 'unlicensed medical practitioner'. Just because I haven't gotten a medical doctorate yet..." "I have no doubt that you will acquire one in due time." Twilight sighed. "Another thing on my to-do list. They say her memories will fully return by morning, but they're confining her to bed for a day given her injuries. It's a good thing she didn't try flying: the wing she landed on is busted. Heh, knowing her they may have to strap her to that bed even with that. Serves her right for stealing my transducer for pranks." "I see. And then you debriefed Spitfire, correct?" Twilight frowned in confusion. "Err, you did say you would talk to her, didn't you?" "Hmm? Oh! No, no, I did. It's just this menu..." Blueblood smiled. "Oh, nopony here but the chefs can actually read it. Just order something from column A and something from column B-" "I can read it," Twilight interrupted. "It's just Prench, Nipponyese, and that 'Neo-Draco' artificial language they keep passing off. Honestly, Equestrian works just fine for a language everyone can speak. But, umm..." She flipped the menu over, only to find the rear side blank, then flipped it back and looked at Blueblood. "These are all snacks, and I'm not seeing any prices. Where's the dinner menu?" Blueblood blinked as his mind processed Twilight's declaration. "Err...that is, that is the dinner menu. Or what passes for it." "Pardon me, mademoiselle." The maitre d', a graying earth pony with looks that could be the star of any fashion show runway he cared to grace, walked up. "I could not help but overhear. Did you say you can read the menu?" His accent was good, but Blueblood had spoken with enough actual Prench to know it was fake. "Hmm? Oh, sure! I'll have an afalfacapala and a-" Blueblood's ears crossed at the sounds that next came out of Twilight's mouth. The one thing he was absolutely certain of, was that there was no way to represent it in the Equestrian alphabet. "-but keep the sauce mild please." "Merci!" The maitre d' bowed. "The staff and I have been uncertain how to pronounce that item! You have our gratitude, and half price on your order!" He took the menu and ran off. Twilight stared briefly as he left. "Weird. So, Spitfire. When I told her what happened she just got this weird look on her face, and asked if I could prepare a lecture or two on moral philosophy, why doing the right thing is the right thing to do. She said she'd get Rainbow Dash willing to listen. I'm actually kind of looking forward to it, assuming Spitfire can pull it off. I've been thinking of mixing Celestia's writings with some works of Cowfucius and Moohammad, and..." Blueblood held up a hoof. "What matters is that Spitfire has a plan. Did she say anything else?" "Oh! Right, sorry, got carried away. Hmm, now that you mention it she said this would be all the revenge she needed. I don't know how a lecture counts as 'revenge'." Twilight shrugged. "She also seemed worried about me. She kept asking variations on if I was alright. Eventually I confronted her on it, so she told me she was worried given how close I came to executing Rainbow Dash. I told her not to worry about it, since it didn't come to that. Umm..." She looked at Blueblood. "Should I be feeling bad about it?" "Hmph. That is akin to asking water if it should be dry, Princess Sparkle. We performed our duty, and the result is another demonstration of fair and honest law for everypony." Twilight frowned. "The result is that my friend is alive." Blueblood massaged his forehead. "Princess Sparkle. While I am relieved to hear that that is how the case worked out, you must understand. Without the semblance of law and order, a great many ponies would seek to take advantage of their neighbors. Canterlot – nay, all Equestria would be a much darker and grimmer place. Celestia remembers such a time, and has given me more tales of it than I care to relay. All the suffering of one or two ponies, even ones such as us, would be as nothing compared to the collective sorrows were Equestria to return to those times. Whether we win or lose each individual case is ultimately less important than that justice is served. Ah, and speaking of serving..." He leaned back as the food arrived, along with the bill. Twilight sighed. "Is that really the only way to look at it? You seem to care more about appearance than reality." "Because I do. Because I must. As I said, my life for Equestria." He drove a fork into a stuffed mushroom as if stabbing at his life's pains. "Before you ask Celestia to lift my burdens, know that they are my life, and somepony must do what I do." Twilight just looked at him, jaw open. "Do I have something on my cheek again?" Blueblood dabbed at his face with a napkin. "How can you be so blase about it? Whether ponies live or die depends on you doing your job well." "That is precisely how I can be so 'blase', Princess Sparkle. To have any other attitude, to not see the masses above the individual..." He sniffed, and took a sip of wine. "I doubt I could perform to the standards that Equestria needs, any other way." "I see," Twilight admitted after a few seconds mulling it over, then put a hoof on his foreleg. "You must not have many true friends." Blueblood smiled. "You are wise to include that qualifier. I have...some...but most who would call me 'friend' are fair-weather at best. I would hope that I might not include you among that group." Twilight chuckled. "Never! So, umm..." She glanced at the bill. "...mind if I get that? To thank you." "If you would please. It is a tradition, at least between friendly councilors in Canterlot – which I would see those who spy upon us even now to see us as – that the loser buys the winner a meal. I must confess, I have been looking forward to this since I learned you would be my co-councilor. Royal purses are among the largest, so I doubt the bill will trouble you." Twilight lifted one eyebrow, then eyed the bill. Then re-read it. "This is half price?!? This is robbery!" "Welcome to Canterlot, Princess Sparkle." Blueblood raised his wine glass in toast. "Welcome back."