They both didn’t realize when they had dozed off until the train came to a stop and ponies started disembarking for Canterlot the next morning.
Starry took out the directions to the three houses they were going to, and thankfully they were all on the same street. It didn’t take too long to string the wires through the houses, and Edgy even helped Starry once she marked out where the wires were to go. The first two still took most of the day, but thankfully they were allowed to stay the night in two of the guest rooms at the second stop.
“A friend of Granny Angel’s is always a friend of mine,” the owner had said.
As Edgy went to sleep that night, he figured he’d have them spend as much time as possible in Canterlot. If Starry would be willing to spend the day shopping and sightseeing, which he figured she would, then they could knock out another day that he could use to avoid Tempest Shadow.
He had an uneasy feeling about it. She was his mentor as much as his commander, and he had looked up to her for so long. She had been his family of sorts under the Storm King. But still. She’s taking her sweet time to show up.
In the morning, Edgy stopped Starry in the hall and told her that after they finished the third pony’s house, he wanted to spend the day looking around Canterlot. Starry thought about it for a second, but agreed it might give her some ounce of inspiration, and it would help her understand her customers over here better. Plus, if Edgy wanted to do something, Starry wanted to be up for it. He hadn’t asked her to do much, and it was really easy to spend hours doing nothing in Canterlot.
It didn’t take too long to finish the last one, and soon the two were off exploring the royal city.
Starry wanted to see every bit of architecture in the city and take it all in. Edgy was glad to see her having fun, and felt relaxed himself. There was no way Tempest would show her face around here, reformed or no. She had no reason to be here.
Starry started passing by one shop window when she suddenly stopped and sat down on the sidewalk, causing Edgy to crash into her. He stood back up just as Starry squealed and pointed.
Edgy took one long look at the window. It had a bunch of multicolored tiny figurines.
“I need them!”
Before Edgy had the chance to respond, Starry bolted into the shop and came back with a shopping bag full of colorful figures.
“What...”
“Shush. These are from my favorite show!”
The two started walking down the sidewalk when Edgy noticed Starry was struggling under the weight of them with her magic aura. Before she could protest, he grabbed the bag with his teeth.
“Let the strong pony handle it,” he mumbled with the loops in his mouth. Starry could only roll her eyes but she was glad have the weight off.
The afternoon grew warm, and the two noticed a long line of ponies up ahead blocking their path. Starry peered as far around as she could to see what all the ponies were there for, and realized there was an ice cream cart. She mentioned it to Edgy and they both decided it was worth stopping and waiting for.
She left Edgy holding the shopping bag next to the fountain while she went to buy some ice cream. She was busy rummaging in her bag for her bits, hoping she didn’t lose them at the last stop, when the two ponies in front of her turned to face her.
It was Jet Set and Upper Crust, two of the elite unicorns of Canterlot that everyone knew were jerks but wouldn’t admit.
Starry was going to try to ignore them.
“Is that your servant?” Upper Crust asked, “I must say I’m impressed. We haven’t been able to find good help in a while.”
“Oh no, that’s just my friend Edgy.”
The two ponies crinkled their snouts.
“Oh, what kind of name is that?”
“Well, it isn’t his real name. I don’t actually know what...”
“Must be some stage name,” Jet Set said to Upper Crust, “Actors. I can’t stand ponies that work in entertainment.”
And with a huff they turned back around.
Well huff to you, too, Starry thought.
But again, she wondered why Edgy even put up with her using his nickname all the time. She felt like cringing at all the times she used it today and started wondering what the other stuck up unicorns must have thought, and she almost missed when she actually made it up to the ice cream pony.
She quickly ordered two vanilla ice cream cones and paid before slowly trotting back up to Edgy, who was still trying to forget the other stuff she had bought.
Starry levitated his ice cream over to him and he grabbed a hold of it with a newly freed hoof. He began to eat it peacefully when he realized Starry was staring at him.
“Edgy?”
“Star.”
“It’s nothing, I guess.”
“The most annoying nothing I’ve ever seen.”
Edgy couldn’t quite figure out what Starry could possibly be wondering, and he wasn’t sure whether her stare or the unknown was more discomforting.
“Didn’t you come from Canterlot?”
“I-” Edgy stopped. He didn’t want to lie to Starry, but he still didn’t want her to know the full truth.
“Why do you ask?”
“Uh...never mind.”
Starry didn’t know how to ask. She didn’t want to accuse him of being with the Storm King but she also didn’t know what else to think. Seeing him surrounded by shopping bags and eating a vanilla ice cream cone, he seemed the furthest removed from that nightmare.
She didn’t bring it up again for the rest of the trip. She reminded herself that he was still her friend currently living in Ponyville and that was all that mattered. Edgy had let her take all the time she wanted, but he still didn’t seem that interested in the city. It had been another few hours when they passed by the Canterlot Carousel. Starry began trotting in. She didn’t want to tell Edgy, but she figured she’d buy something to support Rarity and get Bee something.
“You really want to do more shopping? I thought you didn’t like fancy dresses. You never wear any,” Edgy said and took a look at the sun setting up ahead.
“Well I really need to know what sort of work Rarity is doing, just in case I need to make a few more necklaces and bracelets. It’ll only be a minute, Edgy, please?”