Dinner is ready!

Applejack opened the oven and peeked inside it in my Equestria dreamscape. It looked perfect...which after a moment she realized wasn't that surprising since she was making dinner in her own dream fabric for King Trafalgar Maximilian Augustus Leopold the III who should be arriving any moment.

Closing her eyes she imagined the cast iron skillet with cornbread already out of the oven and resting on a cooling rack that she just visualized in her mind. Opening her bright leaf green eyes the mare smiled as she saw it resting on the kitchen counter.

"Well shucks! Getting things dun is shur easier in yer dreams than when yer awake." The mare said. She'd gone back and forth on whether to be in her alternative mouse form, or stay as a mare. After thinking about it AJ decided to stay as a pony. His Majesty had said she was just as beautiful as a mare as she was as a mouse. This caused her white freckles to turn a bit pink.

The palomino mare looked out into the dining room where there was a mirror hanging on the wall. She paused and looked at her reflection in the mirror. She was still grappling with the concept that others found her beautiful. I mean she had never considered herself ugly. She definitely had thought of herself as being healthy, strong, athletic, um maybe even a bit cute.

But the fact that others in the dream realm considered her to be stunning and drop dead gorgeous was still an alien concept that she was trying to wrap her brain around. Did her friends or her neighbors in the waking world think of her this way, and how did this possibly effect things in the future? And why had she never noticed before? And as she grew up would ponies and others think the same about Applebloom...ignoring Stone Mane. It was obvious with him.

Applejack shook her head. She needed to focus. His Majesty would be here any moment. The summer sun was setting in the west. Through gaps in the calico curtains great beams of the golden light bathed the dining room in a warm, comforting light. Turning the white linen table cloth an ivory white. The mare closed her eyes and imagined the menu she'd prepared for tonight. Nothing extravagant, but definitely something worthy of company. One-by-by she imagined the dishes in her mind.

First course. A potato and corn chowder. A creamy base of finely minced carrots, onions, and celery sauteed in unsalted butter for bit in the pot until translucent. Then flour was added to the pot and stirred with the existing ingredients to take the raw edge off. Then vegetable stock was added and it was brought to a simmer. Then cubed potatoes were added and cooked until they were almost done when they were ready sweet corn kernels freshly cut from the cob were added. Final heavy creamy was added. Test for seasoning and add salt and pepper as needed. When dished out shredded sharp cheddar cheese would be sprinkled liberally on top.

Second course. A salad of baby spinach with diced apples and crispy fried onions. They were tossed with a sweet vinaigrette of apple cider vinegar, honey, cracked black pepper, sea salt, and a bit of mustard powder. Crispy crouton would be sprinkle on top.

Third course. Although it would come out with the salad. A skillet of still warm cornbread with a tub of honey butter to slather on the cornbread.

Fourth/Main course. This was the biggest experiment for AJ since she didn't have much experience with cooking fish. Broiled salmon steaks with a apple, orange, ginger glaze brushed on them. She'd seen it served at the Hibiscus Cafe where she'd met Rita the owner and Borodino. Link Apparently his Majesty was rather fond of it. AJ had no problem with eating fish. She just didn't have much experience preparing it.

Dessert. A freshly baked apple pie with the option of vanilla ice cream or a slice of sharp cheddar melted on top of it.

To drink. Bottles of hard cider and lager, a pitcher of lemonade and iced tea, And a bottle calvados for afterwards.

Applejack opened her eyes to find the dining room now laid out with all the dishes she'd imagined. The mare smiled. Along with the food a table setting for two was ready. The mare was smiling at her efforts when she heard the front door bell ring. After a quick check her mane looked good and her Stetson was on straight she trotted to the front door.

Standing on the front porch was the King. Because of AJ's efforts the family farmstead no longer towered over his majesty like some piece of cyclopean architecture. For the evening Trafalgar was wearing a light slate grey wool slacks with black suspenders and a short sleeve button up shirt of pale mint green. A pine green bow tie and light wool jacket of similar slate grey were joined by a fedora of similar slate grey. As the mare opened the front door the mouse bowed.

"Good evening madam. Your ever loyal servant has answered your summons. May I please come in?"

The earth pony. "Oh look at ya! Bein' all proper an fancy. Come on in! Now that I think of it ya have never taken a gander at the inside of Sweet Apple Acres! Well come on in and make yerself at home! Dinner is on the table and a waitin'!"

Trafalgar removed his hat and before AJ could respond he reached out and gave her a hug around her neck. Applejack felt her face grow warm but then she closed her eyes and nickered softy as she nuzzled him. "Thank you for tonight's invitation." The king said.

"Yer welcome." Said mare.

Then the mare turned and lead the king to the dining room.

To be continued.