>"Hello! Welcome to Hoofies, the highest starred family restaurant in Canterlot! How many today?"
"Just one, please."
>"Right this way!"
>The greeter led you through the restaurant, passing by several tables of families, couples, and friends dining out in the late afternoon.
>You didn't have time to grab some friends, being convinced to stop here and eat by your grumbling stomach on your way home from work.
>The greeter sat you down at a booth in the far right of the place, the windows providing all the light in the room and setting a very comfy atmosphere.
>The sounds of talking and smells of cooking food really helped, too.
>"Your waitress will be right with you."
>And with that, the mare was back up to the front, ready to seat the next customers.
>She sure is good at that enthusiasm bit.
>How much was she paid that she seemed genuinely happy?
>Or is your cynical human world experience just ruining your immersion in happy horse land?
>Whatever the case, you were now in your seat, ready for your waitress to get here and serve you.
>You twiddled your thumbs to keep yourself occupied, trying to escape into your mind as well.
>Ignore the hunger pangs and think of what you'll do after the meal.
>Go back to the castle, loaf around and shoot the shit with the guards again, be generally useless...
>Yeah, just like every other day.
>You liked the sound of it the more you thought of it.
>"Hello, my name is Celestia, I'll be your waitress today. What can I get you to drink?"
"I'll take a-"
>Wait.
>You look up from your thumbs and find a sight you weren't expecting.
>Princess Celestia, in all her majesty, wearing a cute little bow tie and holding a pen and notepad in her magical grip.
>Her royal attire was nowhere to be found.
"Ce-Celestia?"
>The sun pony blinked, then squinted at you.
>"Anonymous?"
>The two of you shared a brief look of realization.
"What are you doing here?" you both asked at the same time.
"I'm here because I got hungry after work."
>"And I'm here because I volunteered to fill in for a sick worker today."
>That threw you for a loop.
"You mean, they didn't just get another worker to do that?"
>"They were going to," she told you, "but I overheard them today while I was eating and decided to do it myself."
"But...what about royal duties?"
>She gave you a sly grin. "Wouldn't you consider it a royal duty to help your subjects when needed?"
>This horse.
>God, she was too kind.
>"Besides, I have experience working as a waitress. They said they couldn't have me do it, but I insisted."
"You have experience?"
>She nodded. "I wasn't always a princess, you know."
>You'd have to have a life story from her at some point.
"So do you eat here regularly?"
>"No, but today I just felt like going out. I'd say it was mere coincidence that this ended up happening."
>"E-excuse me, princess," a customer called out, nervously trying to rush the white pony.
>"Oh, I'm sorry," Celestia said with a nervous grin, "Your hay steak will be right out." The princess turned back to you. "I'd love to chat, Anonymous, but I have other patrons to help, too. What can I get you to drink?"
>You'd been too shocked to even remember what you were going to ask for.
"Just uh...just water, please."
>"Coming right up~"
>She sounded like she enjoyed this job as much as the greeter.
>Damned horses and their contagious happiness.
>She returned momentarily with your water, also setting the pony's hay steak on the table next to yours.
>"Enjoy your meal~"
>She turned back to you, pen ready at the pad.
>"So Anonymous, what'll you have?"
>It's hard to find anything on this menu that doesn't have hay or other plants.
"Uh...the grilled cheese with fries."
>She gently takes the menu in her magic, smiling brightly at you.
>"It'll be right out~"
>Fuuuucccckkkkk.
>This horse did things to you no other horse could.
>As she served other customers, you took the time to appreciate her appearance, as it was rare for her to ever change out of her royal attire.
>Her nice, slender legs, with bare hooves that definitely needed some love.
>Her broad neck that looked too big for that bow tie, and also a prime candidate for needing a nice rub.
>Even her mane was put up in a ponytail, revealing that part of her face always hidden by her hair.
>Why couldn't she do this more?
>"-onymous?"
>You snapped back to reality.
>The sandwich and fries had arrived, the steam emanating from them indicating they'd not yet gone cold.
>"Anonymous, are you okay? You've been staring at your food for a minute now."
>You grab the plate hastily.
"Sorry, princess. I was staring into space."
>She shrugged. "That's okay. Enjoy your meal~"
>She walked off, heading back into the kitchen to grab more food.
>You blew on your sandwich a bit to cool it off before taking a bite.
>The crisp, buttery bread mixed with the gooey, melted cheese was enough to invite you to take a second bite immediately.
>Sure, this food was made by a group of cooks in the back of the restaurant.
>But because Celestia brought it out to you, you decided to humor your fantasy and think she made it for you.
>Like a nice, home-cooked meal from a loving wife.
>Whoa.
>Slow down there, Anon.
>Swallowing the food, you took a sip of your water and grabbed a couple fries, downing them without a second thought.
>Salty, but cooked to perfection.
>Even disregarding your little daydream, was Celestia this good of a cook?
>You'd imagine not, being royalty, but then again, you didn't know.
>She had experience being a waitress, what else did she know?
>Round the diner she went, helping whoever she could with a nice grin.
>She really was dedicated to helping her subjects, wasn't she?
>You mindlessly chewed your food, not once taking your eyes off of her.
>Not like she noticed, anyways.
>"Everything going okay?"
>Sh-shit!
>There she was, standing right in front of you.
"Oh, uh, yeah," you said with a mouthful of sandwich.
>"Just let me know if you need anything."
>And again she went.
>You need to hurry up and eat, this is too much sunhorse for you to handle.
>With only a few bites of sandwich and a small handful of fries left, you were done within the next couple minutes.
>Here she came again, receipt in her magical grip.
>"Everything taste good?"
"Exceptional, princess."
>Your bill was lowered onto the table.
>"I'll be back to take this up to the register."
>She fluttered about, getting the next customers served without error.
>You brought out your wallet and paid accordingly, then let sunny bunny take off with your money.
>The princess returned instantly with your change.
>"Stop by again anytime!" She leaned in close and whispered, "Oh, and, I'll see you at home." She giggled, dropping her professional demeanor.
>After she walked off, you were sure to drop over twenty bits for tip.
>You didn't care if it was steep, she deserved it.
>Your meal paid for, you left the restaurant, but not before taking one last look at Celestia.
>She really was an admirable horse, helping others because she loved to do it.
>Maybe if she suddenly stopped being a princess, she'd find a job here.
>It wasn't that far out of the ballpark, was it?
 
>"Anonymous, where is my sister?" Luna asked as you came home.
>She looked pretty worried, but it's not like that wasn't expected.
"She volunteered to fill in for a waitress at Hoofies."
>It took the moonhorse a moment to process what you said.
>Then her face contorted to an annoyed scowl.
>"Keeping her sister worried sick of her whereabouts, and all she's doing is helping at a diner?"
"Yep. Guess she didn't really have time to tell you, but that's what she's doing."
>"Too eager to help, that sister of mine," Luna said, walking away and likely going back to her business.
 
>As night fell, Celestia returned home, her regalia back on her body as if she'd never even been working.
>"That was a refreshing break in routine!" she announced gleefully.
>You'd been waiting for the past ten minutes for her to hear about her day.
>Nice to know she was one step ahead of you.
"You get a lot of tips?"
>"I did, but it felt better to let the restaurant have them. I am a well-off princess, after all."
>Logical, yet generous.
>There was too much to love about this horse.
>"They also said I was welcome to fill in again anytime. I'll have to make some changes to my schedule now..."
>Before she went off to do her duties, she looked back at you one more time and smiled.
>"Oh, and thanks for your tip too, Anonymous. It was by far the biggest."
"You earned it. You're really good at your job away from your job."
>She nodded while you walked beside her, asking her other details of her day in food service.