//------------------------------// // Enthusiasm in Manehattan // Story: Society as We Know It // by Comma Typer //------------------------------// Blue Alarm sat in front of Rarity and Twilight Sparkle as the train moved, the beautiful green and lush, natural landscape rushing past by at great speed. "So, you're going to Manehattan for a friendship problem?" Blue Alarm asked, eyeing the two ponies. "Yes, Blue Alarm," Twilight said, gesturing with a hoof while she spoke. "We've been called awfully a lot these past few weeks. Then again, it's the magic of friendship spreading to more and more creatures, right, Rarity?" Rarity nodded, sweat on her face while she smiled. "Uh, of course, Twilight." She giggled nervously. "What makes you think that I'm here for more than just a friendship problem that we'll certainly and definitely and absolutely resolve, hm? I am completely here for just that and really, completely, honestly nothing more!" She giggled nervously again, her smile still there. Twilight arched an eyebrow at her. Then, she looked at the changeling. "Haven't you been here before?" "Manehattan is a big place," Blue Alarm said. "There's so many things in Manehattan that even if we go here ten times, there's still a lot leftover. The big landmarks are just the tip of the iceberg—all the little stores that all the tourists don't mind on their first trip I take notice of." "That's true!" Rarity yelled, her expression changing from a nervous face to a confident one. "Manehattan is a wonderful city to be in! The energy and the movement of the city and its city folk! The pace and the sophistication of Manehattan! Oh, it is a great and an amazing city, the best with its equal being Canterlot!" "Uh, Rarity?" Twilight asked. "I guess your enthusiasm for Manehattan is showing again." "Is it?" Rarity asked. Then, her eyes opened wide. "Oh, I didn't know. I must've acted very unmannerly, didn't I?" Twilight smiled. "Well, I would've acted the same way if we were going to solve a friendship problem at a place that I love to visit." Then, the green landscape was replaced with the blue sea. Rarity looked out the window. "Ooh! We're almost inside Manehattan!" Twilight looked out the window, too. She smiled, her eyes tracking something before it went away from view. Then, she looked at the changeling again. "So, what are you going to do here in Manehattan, Blue Alarm?" "I was planning to meet up with my friends," Blue Alarm replied. "It's going to be good to see them again after, well, not seeing them for a few days." "And why's that?" Twilight asked, sounding a little concerned. "Why didn't you see your friends?" "I'm an observer," Blue Alarm said. "I don't know if I told you this already, but I used to be a scout for our missions to steal love. It was while scouting that I gained my love for, well, observing either the creatures or the landscape. And, it just grew from there on—after Thorax and his friends made us see that friendship and sharing love were better things, I realized that I could go around in Equestria and just admire the places you ponies have built. Not just that, but you ponies, too—with all your activities and all your plans." Twilight smiled. "Well, I think you like being here in Manehattan." "You have no idea, Twilight Sparkle." "Well, you have no idea how much I love it here in Manehattan!" Rarity interrupted. She looked at Twilight. "Come on, Twilight! Let's hurry towards the doors now so we can get a move on!" "I thought we weren't supposed to be moving around in the train," Twilight said. "Aww, don't worry about getting hit or something like that, Twilight!" "I'll just stay here," Twilight said. Blue Alarm looked out the window. He smiled. Blue Alarm walked on the busy sidewalk. Ponies passed him by. Some pushed him as they rushed and hurried towards some place. The noise of the many carriages on the street only added to the urban noise of Manehattan—the murmur of some ponies and the shoutings of some others were there. Some of the windows of the buildings were open, with ponies looking around at the sights in front of them. Several pegasi flew in the sky. "Manehattan," Blue Alarm said. "I guess I'm used to its fast speed—so were we fast." Blue Alarm looked around. He saw three changelings approaching him, exiting a building. "Blue Alarm!" the three shouted in unison. Then, they hugged. They smiled. They laughed. "I missed you!" Red Noise yelled. "And I missed you, also!" Humerus shouted. "I don't want you to go away for more than a day, Blue Alarm!" "It's nice to be together again," Neon Guard said. Then, they stopped hugging. "So, how was your time observing?" Red Noise asked. "I don't know how I could relate to that, but, you being you, Blue Alarm, you must've had a joyful time, didn't you?" "I've had a nice time," Blue Alarm said. "First, I went to Starlight's old village. It didn't have a lot of plants, but the ponies there were interesting to me. It was a small town only having one street, but the things they did—whether it was a party or whether it was just a normal job that they did for bits—that made me observe them for a little while more. Then, I went to the Crystal Empire and just hovered around town. I overheard various conversations, got a glimpse into what they planned. Then, I went to where Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor were and I saw them with Flurry Heart, too. After that, I travelled to Ponyville and saw the Elements of Harmony—but I was more interested in the other townsfolk. Well, after that, I got on to a train and went here and now I'm with you, guys." "You should've been here!" Red Noise said. "Then, we could've have had an entire Manehattan trip with all four of us!" "Well, at least we can be together for the rest of the trip," Blue Alarm said. "OK!" Humerus yelled. "Now, let's go to the park! There's lots of ponies who are there and I can show them my skills, my kite-flying skills!" "Uh, do you have a kite?" Blue Alarm asked. "No, and that's what's going to be great about it!" Humerus said. "What?" "I guess when you see it, you'll know," Neon Guard said. "I was just kidding!" Humerus said. "Don't tell me you were just kidding, Humerus!" Red Noise shouted. "Oh, no; not this," Blue Alarm said as he stepped in between Humerus and Red Noise. He looked at Red Noise. "Let's not bring this trip down badly, OK?" He looked at Humerus. The two changelings nodded. "Now that we're all here, let's go!" Neon Guard said. They stopped at a busy intersection. Carriages were passing by, speeding by and going to here and there. Ponies rushed by as they went to this and that. The many noises of the city combined to form the urban noise of Manehattan, drowning out the conversations of normal volume. "What's our first stop with Blue Alarm?" Humerus asked Neon Guard by yelling at him. "I have no idea!" Neon Guard yelled. "There's too many buildings here in Manehattan!" The four changelings stood on the sidewalk as more and more carriages passed by and as more ponies rushed by. "This is getting crazy!" Neon Guard shouted. "How long do I have to wait here just to pass on to some other place?!" "What about waiting?" Humerus yelled. "We can just fly our way there!" Red Noise yelled. Then, he flew and hovered towards the other side of the street. Neon Guard looked at Humerus and Blue Alarm. The four changelings walked on the sidewalk, passing by a few stalls and stores. "What could we buy here?" Blue Alarm asked. "Something to bring home to the Changeling Kingdom." "There's always souvenirs," Neon Guard said. "But, we always bought souvenirs every time we went here." "We can try not buying souvenirs this time!" Humerus said. "That way, it will be different!" "I'd rather just bring something home so I can remember our time here in Manehattan," Red Noise said. He looked at one of the stalls. "What about some food while we're at it?" Red Noise walked towards the stall while his friends followed him. Red Noise walked to the counter. The pony behind the counter smiled. "Good morning! What can I do for you?"