Grey Chefs and Great Music
Sounds trickled out from the kitchen. Small rustles and the occasional clank rumbled through with every slap of the door but the sound was well muffled. The ponies in the hall next door could just barely hear the muted shouts and clang of utensils. Inside the massive banquet hall kitchen, however, was a chaos of deafening clatter. Pots and pans slammed down atop metal stoves. Bowls were tossed in and out of the sink while ponies stomped about and snatched ingredients and spices off walls. To an outsider, the ruckus would have seemed disjointed and strange, as though no pony knew where he was supposed to be, but to the pony standing in the center of it all, it was like a great symphony. Each complicated manuever was perfectly designed and masterfully executed. From the cooks dancing around one another to the dishwashers fetching skillets and spatulas. Everypony had a part to play, and everyone played that part perfectly according to her own designs.
A table stretched all along the center of the kitchen. Piled atop it were thirty nine plates filled with the greatest meal in all of Equestria. One designed and orchestrated by her, of course. The mare trotted around the table thoughtfully, a nervous young assistant at her side. "Tell me again, all of the food was taste-tested?" She snapped the words to the colt, who gave a start and fumbled for his notepad, tucked away in his apron pocket.
"Y-yes ma'am," He hurried to say, "and the food decorations were set."
She spied over every plate. Not a detail escaped her notice. Including the stallion by the fridge, whose hooves were deep in floury dough, and whose mane hung loosely about his shoulders. "Hey!" She snapped, "Braid it or net it, I don't want any loose hairs winding up in the dessert!" To her great delight, the stallion gave a start and scrambled to the closet to find a hair net. A rush of apologies came from his direction but the chef continued on her way and promptly forgot him.
An older mare trotted toward her and paused to nod respectfully. The head chef managed a smile. "How're the appetizers holding up, Confectious?" The mare blushed as she turned to trot away and hung back.
"We're running low on the mini corn-carrots but the cobbler and the stew have already been refilled. Wine bottles are piling up, too, we may need more before dinner rolls by."
The head chef nodded once and sent her sous away, continuing her examination of the dinner plates. At the head of the table were two empty, pristine china plates. The mare squealed with delight and zipped toward them. She made certain her gray mane was tightly braided and her ash colored coat was perfectly in place. Adjusting her glasses, she took the skillet offered by her nearby cook. She carefully flipped the parmesan apple wrap onto the plate and drizzled the accompanying sauce across it. Next was added the biscuits and the noddles, each one was stirred and carefully layered. Afterward the chef sprinkled freshly grated cheese and leaned back to admire her creation. The process was duplicated across the second plate and finally, masterfully, the garnish was added. This was what the head chef had been await all night. This final moment, dressing and completing the final plates. The most important two out of all forty five of them. This was her moment. This was her music, her art, and she was the artist. She was perfect. She was...
"Silver Spoon," The sous chef called from the kitchen door. The head chef dropped the sprig from her teeth and reared her head, seeing a flash of red mane from the door. Just in front of it, Confectious frowned, "It's the bride."
Silver Spoon barked a few short orders to her team and dropped her apron on a counter, winding her way to the door. A beautiful red maned tan mare stood there. Her lavender eyes sparkled wonderfully against the pearls at her neck and the jewels along her crown. A long and elegant white dress spilled out from her shoulders. Peppermint Twist looked every part the happy bride, which included the frizz in her curly-bunned mane and the nervous twitch in her eye. She bounced on her hooves and tried to peer beyond the chef into the kitchen.
"How's dinner coming?" Twist neighed awkwardly.
Silver Spoon was suddenly struck once again. It had happened when Twist had first hired her to cater the wedding and it happened now. The mare before her had truly grown up. It had been a good number of years since Spoon and her friend had teased Peppermint Twist on the playground as fillies. Being nearly the last filly in class to earn a cutie mark, and with braces at such a young age, Twist had often been an object of ridicule. But now, the mare was stunning, as was her corrected voice. It still carried just the tiniest lisp, though, which made Silver Spoon smile.
"Dinner's gonna be fine," Spoon put a hoof around the bride and escorted her back into the main hall. The room was filled with laughter and dancing. Across the way, a stage with bright pink and purple lights flashed and rang with music. Silver Spoon directed her friend toward the main table. "It'll be on its way with just a few last-minute touches, don't you worry." She looked around. "Where are your bridesmaids? They should be the ones checking on the food, not you."
"I-I don't know, I was just... I want this day to be perfect."
"And it will be. C'mon, sweetie, let's get you a drink. You need to loosen up and smile." A servant passed by with suddenly one less glass on his platter than before. Silver Spoon passed it to the bride with a smile. "I promise, I am all over the food business, okay?" With this little bit of free time, the chef took a second to take a breath and observe the party. Red and turquoise ribbons were strewn about the hall. Its plain creme colored walls were adorned with pictures and photos of a pair of candy canes and a single purple snail. It was a beautiful hall, with pristine marble floors, and the decorations bore a simple quaint touch that made the scene somehow slightly perfect, even to the caterer.
A stage was set up along the other wall. Lights danced about it as the singer trotted to and fro. The band played on behind her but the mare was really stealing the show. Silver Spoon had to admit that the voice was unlike anything other. It was truly special. It was a wonder that she had not heard the song before, or why it was merely a track for a booked wedding.
Spoon snagged a glass for herself and decided to join the crowd. The refreshments table was well stocked but as dinner time drew nearer, some things had been left unattended. Especially the dessert table, which swarmed with little foals that played and squealed with joy.
The music died down slightly but it stared back up after a moment. It was a dazzling little number, with more than stunning vocals. "This singer is fantastic," she smiled at a passing stallion. "Who is she?"
The old unicorn paused long enough to squint at the stage. "Some old friend of Twist's. I've never heard of her." He took a spinach roll and went on his way.
Silver Spoon frowned and helped herself to some of the appetizers. The music steadily began to slow until the singer gave a warm speech to the bridegroom and made her farewell. The general chatter of the room increased and Silver Spoon was momentarily swept up in the crowd. Ponies began to move and find their designated tables just as Silver Spoon made her way to the stage.
A mini corn-carrot splattered on the floor. Spoon stood stock still in the midst of the crowd. Ponies jostled and grumbled about her but all was suddenly deaf to her furry grey ears. Her violet eyes were locked onto the startling sight before her. A little pink heart, with its musical notes leaping out across a white flank. Attached to that girly cutie mark was a pink and purple mane and a pair of dazzlingly green eyes. They swept the crowd once before settling on Silver Spoon for just a second. The smallest of a smile adorned that porcelain face for half a breath before conversation took the singer, took Sweetie Belle, once again.
Silver Spoon laughed quietly to herself. With the shock steadily dissipating, she found herself once again standing between two expertly decorated tables and the center of a few agitated glares. Color warmed her cheeks as she trotted up to the stage and bypassed the line waiting to speak with the beautiful young singer.
"Well, if it isn't the little blank flank." Spoon grinned as she pitched her voice higher and approached the mare.
Sweetie Belle's face lit up anyway. "Silver Spoon, by Celestia, I haven't seen you since filly school." With her horn lighting a pen and signing autographs, and one hoof occupied by the photo she was signing, Sweetie Belle used a hoof to embrace her new friend.
Silver Spoon huffed and straightened her mane. "I see you're into music now."
"I've always been into music," Silver thought to herself how much fuller the filly's voice had become, "In fact, I work in a club down in Manehattan now, near the university. I go there now."
"Oh really? What do you study, how to be a good singer?"
"Well... Yeah." Sweetie smiled and turned to greet a newcomer. A moment passed before Silver Spoon could let her failure pass. Studying to be a good singer? How could she have let herself fall so flat? "Hey, Silver Spoon?" The mare shook her head, jolted suddenly to the present. "I have to get things ready for the dinner video. We should meet up later, okay? How about the Blue Sign? It's not too far from here." She smiled and hugged Silver Spoon again, grinning. "It was good to see you again, Spoon." She trotted toward the stage steps. "See you later."
Silver Spoon's gaped. "Wh-wha... Well, fine. See you later, blank flank!" She called after. Hairs struck out from her perfect braid.
Sweetie laughed and lifted a back hoof. "C'mon, Silver, it's not so blank any more." She wiggled her cutie mark a moment before making her exit.
"B-but... Fine, I'll see you later," the chef murmured to herself. She stamped a hoof and grumbled beneath her breath, turning and marching back toward the kitchen. "Oh, you'll see me later, filly." She stomped through the doors, her mind reeling with insults and teases.
