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// 18 - Welcome to Baltimare 
// Story: Sunburst to the Rescue 
// by David Silver 
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The train rumbled beneath them softly. Sunburst tapped his forehooves together with building nervousness. "I wonder what sorts of things ponies will bring?"

Twilight sat across from him, one arm around a sizable bag that jumped slightly with each little bump the train hit. "I brought some of my own. That's half the fun. Just because I didn't see the value in them, maybe some other pony will!"

Sunburst adjusted his glasses. "I had been wondering what that was... I, uh, didn't bring things myself. I'm way too excited to see what's there."

Twilight gestured at her sack, then Sunburst. "No big deal. The treasure hunt needs both kinds of ponies, and lots of the attendees will be playing both parts at different times. I won't be sitting around all day with this stuff." She nudged the bag. "I want to see what's there too!"

They shared a giggle of nerdish glee before looking out the window. Sunburst looked aside at Twilight, still facing the window. "Oh, I got us a nice room at a hotel there. Once I mentioned you were coming, they practically insisted."

Twilight's ears went up. "You didn't promise them any public appearances, I hope?" she asked with a voice full of nervous worry.

"Quite the opposite." He put a hoof to his chest. "I made it clear you desire privacy and peace while in the hotel."

Twilight hopped across the small divide between benches and hugged Sunburst tight, but briefly. "Thank you! Last time I went on an 'all paid' vacation, I was the main attraction and I don't want that again."

Sunburst had darkened considerably from the hug. "O-of course, um... I think we're almost there." He fussed with his collar-line softly. "Say, uh.. how do you get along, you know, with your parents?"

Twilight tilted her head. "Those are actually who I went on that vacation with. I love them dearly, each in their unique way." She settled back in her seat, one arm over the bag of junk of potential historical value. "My mother's a real daredevil. Give her a chance to feel excitement and she'll jump on it, in it, or over it as the case demands."

Sunburst smiled at the vision of a slightly-older Twilight riding a motorcycle through a flaming hoop. "Wow, and your father?"

"I took after him quite a bit." She tapped at her chin softly. "He loves numbers and organization and making things fit together."

"But you're a combination." Sunburst nodded firmly. "You seek answers and you're willing to go out of your safety zone to find them. I'd say they did a great job."

Twilight started to darken swiftly at the idea. "O-oh, um, thank you. I mean, I guess... I'm making this awkward..."

"I didn't mean to embarrass you!" He looked away, laughing nervously. "It's really nice that you're close to them."

Twilight turned the conversation around with a smile. "Not that you aren't. You and your mother have made a wonderful recovery. She is a fastidious student, I should point out." She nodded softly in thoughts of her school. "I was a little put off teaching an adult at first, but it's... actually kind of nice in a way. She doesn't have the 'growing up' lessons to learn. The trick there is breaking bad habits when they run counter to the lesson being offered."

Sunburst leaned forward a little. "I never... really talked to her about her filly days in school. She sounds really excited about it now though. I think... part of it is just getting a chance to... you know, be with me." He laughed tensely. "That feels so weird to say, but... thank you, again. It's like I found a friend I had forgotten I ever had."

Twilight leaned back with a satisfied expression. "This is part of why we opened that school, to make a real difference in everycreature's life and how they approach others. Even if someone doesn't come there, they may be touched in part. A kindness can spread."

"Undoubtedly." He perked up. "I think we're slowing down?"

The train was slowing slightly. The outside shifted from suburbs to dense urban jungle suddenly as they passed into the proper city limits. "We're almost there." He hopped down and his horn glowed, pulling down his small suitcase. "Where's yours?"

Twilight pulled her sack closer. "Well, we have these, but also... those." She pointed a hoof at a larger suitcase in the overhead area.

Sunburst tried to grab them with his magic, but it was much heavier than he expected. He grunted with effort, barely managing to lift it a few precious inches. They came down, bending the elastic bands that cordoned off the area.

Twilight's horn lit up as she took hold of it, pulling it free. "Sorry. I may not be Rarity, but I still have things I consider 'essential', especially since we're not camping out and it shouldn't be a big problem once we unpack in the hotel."

"Of course." He eyed the heavy suitcase as he pulled his own close. 

The train came to a soft stop and the conductor called out, "Baltimare! If you're bound for points past, please remain seated until the others have finished disembarking or boarding."

The two of them scooted off the train, taking a moment to look up at the city they were in. "It's not Manehattan," noted Twilight as she started towards the curbside. "--But it's magnificent in its own way."

Sunburst hurried ahead of her. "I know where the hotel is." He waved eagerly until a cab pulled up, a powerful earth pony with a wagon rigged behind her.

"Where to?" she asked with a gesture of  her head for them to hop on.

Sunburst floated his luggage in and hopped after it as he quickly gave the address, pointing for extra effect. Twilight was just a moment behind, sitting beside him and shuffling in place. "Huh, all the taxi pullers in Manehattan I saw were stallions."

The taxi puller smirked at that as she began trotting. "Well, welcome to Baltimare." She merged with the flow of traffic and had them going at a good clip. "Now, don't mind me any, but don't get too caught up in the name. We love all sorts of ponies around here. You two tourists? Ya look it. Ain't not a problem, promise." She was going at full speed as she chatted on without their replies being needed.

"We got landmarks for miles. Ya brought yer cameras? Get some extra film 'cause yer gonna need it." She raised a hoof, still ambling along at full speed despite its missing presence. "Right there's the bell of freedom!"

Twilight and Sunburst both turned as one to see the massive bell that occupied the center of a plaza they were zipping past. "Oooo," they spoke in unison, both aware of its historical import.

"What, no flashes? Must be your first time." She suddenly swerved to the left, cutting off another pony that snorted and waved a hoof at her, but she paid him no mind, charging into the parking area of a tall building. "Here ya go, good as new! That'll be four bits." She held up a hoof expectantly.

Sunburst started to get his coins out but Twilight put a hoof on his side. "Allow me. You and your mother are already paying for so much of this trip. Let me lend a hoof." He blushed, but relented, allowing her to put a five bit coin in the mare's waiting frog of her hoof. "There you are, and thank you."

"Ain't nothin'." She tipped her hat and trotted away, likely in search of her next ride.

Sunburst started for the door, but didn't get far towards it before a grinning bellhop in a smart red suit zipped up in front of him. "Oh, um, hello?"

"Greetings and welcome!" exclaimed the bellhop, his grin impossibly wide. "You must be Sunburst, and you are our special guest." He waved as a trolley was wheeled over, but instead of just being an empty place to put luggage, its sides were covered in fabric. "If the ma'am would please hop aboard, we'll get her in without anypony being the wiser."

Twilight tilted her head in amazement before poking her head inside. It was still a basic luggage trolley, just with the added curtains. "You didn't have to go this far..." She hopped up despite her words, her suitcase floating in behind her. "Thank you."

Sunburst tried to take hold of the trolley and get it moving, but the bellhop's magic refused to budge.

"Think nothing of it," insisted the still grinning pony. "Let's get you to your room." He trotted away with Twilight.

Sunburst was left behind with his suitcase. With a soft huff, he trotted after them. They passed through the opulent entry hall, where ponies ranging from refined to obvious tourists lounged about. They passed a small eatery that emitted enticing scents that drew his gaze, but he had to keep going to keep up with the eager bellhop that was wheeling his girlfriend away.

The elevator arrived with a chime and ponies spilled out around them. They ignored the curtained dolley and the bellhop attached. Sunburst had nothing to draw their attention, just another unicorn, and they were soon dispersed.

The doors were already closing! Sunburst rushed ahead and shoved his hoof in just in time for the doors to bump against it and start opening once more. The bellhop was inside, looking none the worse for wear. With a little snort, Sunburst walked in and stood beside the trolley. "Everything alright in there?"

"Everything's just fine," came Twilight's voice. "It's a little confining, riding like this. I don't think I'll make it a habit."

A few other ponies squeezed in as the elevator stopped at other floors, but as they hit the tenth floor, the bellhop started for the door and others shied out of the way. Sunburst scurried after them. Away from the entry hall, the halls were much more quiet, carpeted, and still. There weren't others on the hallway they were led along. "I took the liberty of getting your keys for you," reported the bellhop as he stopped in front of a door. "Here we are."

He floated out two keys, dangling from keychains that had the room's number easily visible. Sunburst took both in his magic, ignoring the bellhop's extended hoof. "Thank you." In a moment, he had the door open and pulled Twilight and her trolley inside with a sudden yank.

She yelped and fell out of the trolley into a tangle of limbs. "Oof! Oh, we're here?" She bounced right back up with a smile. "Wow, nice place."

Before she could look back to the hopeful bellhop, Sunburst casually closed the door. "Yeah, isn't it?" It was only then that he took a moment to actually look. There was a small mini-kitchen, a large tub, one... large bed. He blinked rapidly. "O-oh, uh, wait..."

Twilight didn't seem to notice any problems, hurrying over to a small fridge and popping it open. "Fully stocked," she noted with a smile. "And all complimentary? How much did it cost to get this room? We haven't even started and I already feel like I'm being spoiled."

Sunburst coughed softly into a hoof. "Not that you don't deserve it. Even if you didn't have a crown, you'd be, um... you know... my princess..." He squeaked out the last bit, blushing as he smiled.

She suddenly kissed his cheek. "Thank you! Now let's unpack and hurry over to the convention center. I have to register as an exhibitor, and the sooner we start, the sooner we're done." She was half-pronking away in excitement, leaving the flustered Sunburst to slowly crash to his haunches.

Maybe things would work out just fine.