//------------------------------//
// Missed 
// Story: Sweetie's Manehattan Birthday 
// by Czar_Yoshi 
//------------------------------//

	Thirty minutes later, Sweetie Belle and Coco Pommel found themselves standing in front of an information kiosk, back near the train station. Miraculously, there had been no line, but it was nearly half past five and Coco's attendant was presently shuffling through a directory, trying to locate the Tasty Treat. Sweetie Belle, having recovered her breath from the swift trip across town, was presently holding her new book, rambling excitedly.

"So Detective Oatshoe went to the old warehouse, right? Turns out the informant wasn't there yet, so he had to wait for them without looking suspicious! You know what he did? He found these cops who were playing cards on the job and slacking off. And he went, 'I bet I can out-gamble any of you!' and they let him play with them, but one of them was cheating, and Detective Oatshoe was a detective so he noticed! But then, while he was trying to figure out how to bust the guy so he could get in good with the cops-"

Coco cut her off with a tap on the shoulder, pointing to the stallion who was putting down his directory. "I've read the book, Sweetie," she whispered with a small smile.

The stallion performed something between a sigh and clearing his throat, stretching. "I'm sorry, miss, but Manehattan doesn't seem to have a 'Tasty Treat'. There is, however, such an establishment in Canterlot, located here." He slipped a piece of paper with an address written on to Coco, then cleared his throat again. "Next!"

The duo stepped away from the kiosk, which was beginning to form a line. Coco looked at the paper, and whined.

"It's that bad, huh?" Sweetie asked, tilting her head.

"No," Coco replied, "I can get us there. It'll just be a train ride, and that takes time, and we're already late... and I'm not even sure if it's the best thing to do. What if Rarity made a mistake? What if she's still at Sapphire Shores' studio, or came looking for us at my apartment, or went back to Ponyville?" She buried her head in her hooves.

"Hmm..." Sweetie put a hoof to her chin. "Rarity always used to say that if I get lost when I'm with her, I should just stay put. And she'll have to pass through the train station to get anywhere, right? So we should just wait here!"

"But we're late," Coco pointed out. "Wherever Rarity went, she went there already..."

Sweetie Belle scuffed at the ground. "Unless she's late too."

"Well, let's go to the studio. Even if she's left already, someone there will know where she went, right?" Coco got to her hooves and turned back towards the street.

Sweetie looked up, keeping her head low. "That sounds like more walking. And I'm tired. And hungry again."

Coco stopped in her tracks, closing her eyes and briefly gritting her teeth. "All right! All right. Food. Don't want that happening again." She exhaled. "Then let's take the train to Canterlot. I've got the directions to the restaurant. You won't have to walk. Even if Rarity's not there, we can eat. We'll only be... doing what she told us to."

"Yay!"

Coco opened her eyes and spun around, pacing back into the train station. Sweetie Belle followed, beaming angelically.





They didn't have to wait long for a train. As it turned out, one bound for Canterlot was already idling in the station, so Coco Pommel paid their fares, and they boarded. Sweetie Belle hopped up on a seat near the end of the car, and half-curled up, keeping her head high enough that she could still see out the window.

The view of the station wasn't very exciting, however, as the train had yet to embark. Soon, Sweetie Belle slumped down, curling all the way. Another minute, and she was snoozing. Head in the crook of one foreleg, her fur swished and swayed as her breath drifted past it.

Coco, having stowed her saddlebags under her seat, gazed at the slumbering filly and smiled. "I guess you weren't kidding about being tired, huh?"

Sweetie didn't answer.

Coco slowly blinked, keeping her smile. Then, having nothing better to do, bent precariously off her seat, trying to undo the latch on her bag and fish out Sweetie's borrowed book. It was an old favorite of hers, and one more read-through wouldn't hurt. Eventually, it became clear that doing so with one hoof was proving to be fruitless, so she dedicated a second limb to the endeavor.

Then the train started, lurching forward.

"Yarrgh!" Coco flailed briefly, before tipping over and face-planting on the floor with an immodest crash. Sweetie Belle opened one eye, and giggled. The elder mare lay in a heap on the floor, tail sticking into the air and limbs splayed in every direction.

Coco Pommel got to her hooves, blushing furiously. She flicked her mane to shake out dust, straightened her collar, arched her back and leisurely climbed back onto her seat, book in hoof.





Some time into the ride, after the sea had vanished from sight but before the train had begun ascending the Canterlot Mountains, a refreshment cart rolled around. Sweetie Belle instantly sprang awake from her nap, bouncing over to Coco.

"There's food hereee," she hummed, lowering her face between Coco's and the book.

"We're going to a restaurant," Coco replied, trying not to make eye contact, despite the fact that Sweetie Belle was in her way.

"Aww! Can't I at least get a hoofsicle?"

Thudd!

"What was that!?" Both mares looked about, along with the conductor pushing the cart.

In a window behind them was a prismatic pegasus, bracing herself against the frame with five limbs and rapping on the window with the sixth. Sweetie Belle jumped over and opened the window, and a thoroughly windswept Rainbow Dash vaulted in, landing on all fours with a swish of her mane. "Hi girls!"

"Rainbow Dash?" Sweetie asked, cocking her head.

"You, uh... You're gonna need a ticket, miss..." the conductor began.

Rainbow waved him off. "It's cool, I'm not here to stay. Hey, scamp!" She turned to Sweetie Belle.

Coco sat to the side, thoroughly befuddled. Sweetie straightened up, having a better idea of what was going on. "...Rarity asked you to come find me? Really?"

"Yup!" The pegasus thumped Sweetie on the shoulder, causing her to buckle. "She got back to Ponyville earlier, and was pretty worked up. Something about accidentally telling you to meet her somewhere really far away? Anyway, I wasn't doing anything other than having fun going fast, so I offered to come find you!" Rainbow's eyes were shining.

"Wow. You, uh... You really didn't have to do that," Sweetie replied, mouth ajar.

"I know!" Rainbow did an aerial backflip. "But Rarity's my friend! I'm not about to leave her hanging. She, uh... was really worried about you."

Coco interrupted: "So, you're one of Rarity's friends from Ponyville?"

"I sure am! The name's Dash." She brushed her mane back. "Rainbow Dash. The fastest pegasus in Equestria, at your service!"

"We, uh..." Sweetie began, "We were going to get dinner anyway, even if Rarity didn't show up. Now that you're here, want to join us? Or do you need to go back and tell Rarity where we are?"

"Oh, I already ate!" Rainbow proclaimed, holding a hoof to her chest. "By the way, uh... Coco Pommel?"

"Yes?" Coco beamed.

"The lock on the back window in your apartment is broken."

Coco's eyes crossed. "Wait... How...?"

"You didn't think I just camped trains until I found one with you two in it, did you?" Rainbow smirked. "I went and checked the studio first. When you weren't there, I got directions to your place!"

"You broke into my house?" Coco's eyes shadowed with worry.

"Hey, don't worry!" Rainbow crowed. "I just had to see whether you were there or not. It's not like I went inside, or anything!" She looked away. "And if I had, I definitely wouldn't have raided your fridge." She stifled a burp.

Coco shot Rainbow a dirty look.

"Yeesh." Rainbow cupped a hoof toward Sweetie Belle and whispered, while pointing over her shoulder at Coco Pommel. "She's a tough customer. I'm doing this mission for free, y'know."

Sweetie blushed. "Her fridge is having a bad day. I might have done the same thing earlier..."

Rainbow raised an eyebrow. "I didn't know you had it in you, scamp!"

Coco continued to glare at the noisy pegasus, trying to keep a straight face. Rainbow didn't pick up on it.

"Oookay, then!" Rainbow put both forelegs in the air. "I guess that didn't work out how I planned. Most ponies find the idea of me sneaking around with a huge grin on my face stuffing loot into a sack hilarious. I was totally kidding about eating your food, all I did was left a note on it saying 'Dashie was here.' Your lock really is broken, though." She floated over to give Coco a hug. "Sorry about that, Miss Pommel."

Sweetie raised a hoof. "I thought it was funny." Rainbow silenced her with a glare.

Coco couldn't take it any longer, and broke down in a fit of laughter. Rainbow recoiled slightly, realizing she had been played. "So... you're not mad, then? We're good?"

"I got Sweetie Belle back earlier," Coco gasped, wiping her eyes. "It's just a large yam. But I will get you too, Rainbow Dash! It's so on!"

Rainbow smirked. "Bring it!"

Before anyone could respond, the conductor marched back into the car. Seeing Rainbow Dash, he narrowed his eyes.

"Wwwwwhoopsie!" Rainbow backed up. "I think I need to make myself scarce. Ready, scamp?"

"Buh?"

"Well, I was planning on carrying you back to Ponyville..." Rainbow shrugged.

"Oh!" Sweetie perked up. "That sounds pretty cool. I'll just get my things..."

Coco reached into her saddlebag and pulled out the unmarked box containing Rarity's dress, and handed it to the filly, who was presently putting her book back under her hat. "All set!" Sweetie chirped.

"Awesome, let's go!" Rainbow grabbed her, threw open the window, and blasted out. The conductor huffed, then turned back to his patrol.

Coco sighed out the window, watching as the two swiftly disappeared into the distance. "I had fun today, Sweetie Belle..."





Rainbow Dash soared across the sky, high enough that the sun was still visible, though the land below was coated in shadow. The lights of Ponyville gleamed in the distance, and she settled into an appropriate descending glide, aiming for the distinctive spire of Carousel Botique.

"I'm cold," came a little voice from below her, where Sweetie Belle dangled from her hooves.

Rainbow's ears perked. "Shoulda' said something sooner!" She flipped upside-down, continuing her glide, and Sweetie landed on her fuzzy blue belly. Rainbow pointed to her own saddlebags, which were mostly empty. "Climb in here. These'll protect you from the wind for sure, they're postal-grade."

Sweetie Belle looked dubiously at the offered bag, clinging to her ride. "Are you sure? Those look kind of small..."

"Eh, they'll stretch. It's cozy. You can put your stuff in the other one. Come on!"

So she did, handing Rainbow Dash her hat and her book and her box and wiggling headfirst into the right-hoof bag, eventually managing to pull in her tail and turn around, peeking out.

"Huh! I guess it is kind of nice in here! Thanks, Rainbow." Her voice was muffled by the fabric.

"Told ya!" Rainbow grinned with her eyes closed. "All right, let's get this sorted out..." She semi-carefully stuffed Sweetie's stuff into the other side. Ensuring she was balanced, she flipped back right-side up, holding the saddlebags so as not to overturn them and dump the filly inside. Once they were in place, she narrowed her wings, doubling their speed now that her cargo was safer.





Rarity sat at her table, wrapped in a fluffy bath robe and staring out a window of Carousel Boutique as she studied the sky, cuddling a cup of warm tea. Night had completely fallen, the sky colored a pleasing, gentle purple. Never taking her eyes off the heavens, she raised her cup to her muzzle, slowly stirring the remaining brew with her breath.

She set it down, got up, and rearranged the folds of her robe, giving a wistful glance towards her luxurious couch a room over. But she sighed, returned to her stool, and resumed her windowside vigil. Across the room, the oven gently hummed, keeping warm a meal intended to be eaten an hour ago.

Far in the distance, a prismatic trail blazed across the sky, luminous of its own accord even without the light of the sun. Rarity couldn't make out the pegasus at its end, but from the inbound direction, she knew it meant Rainbow Dash was returning to Ponyville. Rarity smiled softly in appreciation of her friend. Equestria really needs some method of instant communication, she mused. Like Spike, only for everypony, to everywhere.

She had tried asking him if he could send a letter to Sweetie Belle the moment she returned, with no luck. Now she was still gazing out the window, watching as Rainbow drew closer. Quite a bit closer, in fact. Rarity slipped off her stool once again and trotted to the front door, which remained unbolted.





Rainbow Dash pulled up, coming into a spiral around the tower of Carousel Boutique. She poked Sweetie as the porch came into view, a well-bundled Rarity standing out, eyes shining.

The pegasus swooped to a stop, pulling into a hover right in front of her, presenting a bulging saddlebag. "The friendliest, awesomest, most loyal personal air ride from halfway up the Canterlot Mountains to Ponyville is... here!" she proclaimed, popping the strap off the bag with a flourish.

Green eyes and a white horn popped out, followed by all of Sweetie Belle's head and forelimbs. "Hiya, Sis!"

Rarity bounded forward, hauling the filly out with telekinesis and pulling her into a tight, fluffy hug. "Sweetie Belle! I'm so sorry about this morning, oh, I was just so flustered, and... and I completely lost track of where we were, and I gave you a poor meeting place, and..."

Sweetie buried her face in Rarity's robe, snuggling. "It wasn't so bad, I had fun. Err, not for me, at least. Miss Pommel's the one who had to deal with it. You, uh... might owe her a bunch of stuff next time you see her." She looked up, blushing.

Rainbow Dash wobbled, her balance thrown off by one saddlebag suddenly becoming empty and the other still heavily laden. "Uh... Hate to interrupt, girls, but you've got some luggage to take, and this ride needs to go catch some shut-eye." She reached in and grabbed Sweetie's stuff, pulling it out where it could be seen.

"Thanks, Rainbow!" Sweetie hopped over and plopped her hat (and book) back on her head, and balanced the dress's box on her back. "G'night!"

The pegasus silently saluted, before blasting away in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres. Sweetie Belle turned to Rarity, who motioned inside, stepping over the threshold.





Sweetie collapsed in the living room, splaying out on a large cushion. She yawned.

"Big day, I take it?" Rarity draped a quilt over the filly.

"Oh yeah," Sweetie said, eyes half-closed and a delirious grin on her face. "Nyup nyup... I spent most of it hanging out with Miss Pommel. And walking across town, and riding trains. Here!"

She levitated the box over to Rarity, who took it in her own telekinesis and looked it over curiously. "What's this, dear?"

"A birthday present." Sweetie held her expression, not blinking.

"Then..." Rarity tilted it back at Sweetie Belle. "Wouldn't it be for you?"

"Nope! I made it for you! Well, me and Miss Pommel did." Sweetie drew a hoof to her mouth, and added, "I think she likes you!"

Rarity rolled her eyes at the last bit. "Well, if you insist..." She slipped open the seal on the box, and folded it away, Sweetie's dress floating out. "You... made this, Sweetie Belle? For me?"

The filly's eyes were shimmering. "Yep!"

Rarity still held the dress, repeating herself. "You made this?"

"Uh huh!" Sweetie bobbed her head.

"You made this?"

"Yes! Now try it on!" Sweetie stomped a hoof.

Rarity expertly unfolded the dress, sliding over a mirror and casting off her robe as she tied ties and laced laces with precision and speed born from a lifetime of experience. Soon, she was fully suited, and it fit to a tee.

"Well? Do you like it?" Sweetie bounced.

"I... Gah..." Rarity's mouth hung open.

Sweetie tilted her head, ears flopping.

"This is... this is lovely, Sweetie Belle!" Rarity cooed. "I didn't know you had this kind of talent in you!"

"Well, Miss Pommel was the one who made it. I sorta just helped with the design..." Sweetie scuffed at the carpet.

"I love it anyway." Rarity began untying the dress. "I do owe you a birthday outing, Sweetie Belle. Perhaps we can do that tomorrow, and I'll wear this? And whatever Coco did to help you make this, I'd very much appreciate if you could show me. Just think of all the fun we could have, creating fashion and high culture together!"

Sweetie Belle, simultaneously glowing with praise and bashfully shirking, was interrupted by her stomach growling. "Um... I kinda missed dinner. And had an early lunch. Can I have some food?"

"Of course, dear!" Rarity set the dress on a nearby rack, and began prancing over to the kitchen. "I actually have dinner all ready for us. I was saving it for when you got back! Although, I was hoping that would be earlier..." She glanced out at the dark night sky.

"Well, good, because I'm starving!" Sweetie Belle hauled herself up to the table. "What did you make?"

"Oh, I decided to get creative, try a little something new, you know." Rarity brushed her mane back. "It is your birthday, after all. Eat up!" She swept open the oven, and produced a platter containing a crispy-roasted, finely seasoned and delicately garnished large yam.

Unquenchable giggling and the words "What's so funny?" drifted out the lit window of Carousel Boutique, off into the night.