Scars. Lots and lots of scars. So deep, even the fur couldn't cover them. Magenta Streak's body, save for her face, was covered in scars. There had to be more than twenty-eight. All over her barrel were the worst. As if somepony had ripped her open.
All eyes were locked on her. Nopony moved, nopony spoke. Only stared. Even the music was filtered.
"Oh my faust," Babs muttered. Scootaloo had indeed flown straight into those filters. And it tore her body up. Even where her wings used to be were now replaced by long ragged slits. Her hooves were bad too. But somehow by some miracle, her face stayed untouched.
Somepony had pressed play on another song, then made it loop without anypony noticing. Magenta stared up at the sky with closed eyes, waiting for a reaction with outstretched hooves. After a few more seconds of shock and awe, Magenta heard it.
A cheer. Followed by more, which eventually grew into thousands of cheers, stomps, applauds. It took a really brave pony to rip off their pants and show their scars, no matter how comedic it sounded.
Bright reached over and pulled Magenta into a tight hug. Her face was buried into her neck. "I'm proud of you," she whispered.
Magenta smiled and nuzzled her in love and affection. Songbird joined in their unition with Sea Creature bearing grins. It went unsaid that they too were proud of Magenta's bravery.
From the corner, Kind Goldhoof was dancing on Hot Hooves just watching. She wanted to get up there to do the same. She wanted to run up on that stage and pull her fillies into the most tightest hug ever. Eventually she couldn't take it anymore. She broke past the line of applauding ponies and right up to the stage of celebrities. Then squeezed in beside Songbird to pull her girls into a hug.
"I'm so proud, babies, so proud!" She cried over the bass blasting through the speakers. Then lovingly nuzzled Magenta's mane.
"Thanks, mom," Magenta whispered. Then pulled back and turned around towards the display, paparazzi, and cameras behind her. All calling for Magenta to focus on them for a moment.
When the cameras flashed and the lights hit her family, Applebloom and the others verified that it was in fact Scootaloo. She had the CMC Cutie Mark, although scarred. A magenta shield with a bolt in it. The cut was deep. But not deep enough to hide the truth.
Those around Magenta stepped to the side when pushed to let her stand in front of the decks. She moved to the last one and swiveled the turntable around. Then transitioned the current one playing to that one with the mixer. Starting the previous song that Applebloom had a suspicion was called I Live For The Bass Drum.
She grabbed the mic and filtered the music. "Thank you so much Ponyville, Cloudsdale, and all of Equestria for attending our first ever Equestria-Wide tour as a label! Oh my gosh, I love you guys so much! Thank you to those behind me!" She turned around and pointed at the line of ponies while the cameras and news networks zoomed in. "I really appreciate you coming back here, it gets really lonely when I'm on these stages with just Bright, no offense sis, you know I love you! I want to thank my friends from Quick Hooves, thank you so much for being my support for my first ever mega-show! I want to thank my sister for mixing our collab track live, yeah! You heard it here, that was a live-mixed song, give it up for Bright Snow!"
Everyone cheered as Bright grinned and waved. "I want to thank my manager for getting us on these tours! And I want to thank the Quad Dance Team, AJR, and Fuchsia Winds for joining us! It's been incredibly fun! Whoo, Manehattan is fun, but Equestria is a party! Thank you so much, everypony! We're staying in Ponyville until lunch tomorrow! Autographs tomorrow morning 'til eleven from the entire label, it's twelve o' something, we all need sleep! Good night!!" Magenta lowered the microphone and turned around while her song continued playing for the end from the silent bass line. Then everyone began trying to get to her at once. Good thing security was there. But one mare did get through.
Before she could leave, Magenta was pulled back into a hug by Kind Goldhoof. "You're never moving out of the mansion!" She cried.
Great, this again. She did this before back at the house months ago. Magenta sighed and shuffled from Sweetie Belle's silent chuckling.
She seethed and said, "Yeah, I already paid the down payment for the Penthouse, so....."
"You're staying at our house!"
"We'll talk about this when you're less emotional." Magenta smiled at Rarity and asked, "I hope that covers the payment for this belt?" She motioned towards the belt on her waist.
The belt? After all that?! Rarity glanced at it, then at Sweetie who was obviously tired. Leaning on Applebloom's shoulder. No care in the world. They had their fun, now they were tired. Applebloom was clearly still trying to get over the fact that the friend they've been searching for is an extremely famous DJ. And she looked...girly!! The Scootaloo they knew didn't wear and would never wear makeup. Yet here she was with mascara, lipstick, and possibly fake eyelashes. It has been eight years after all.
Rarity smirked at Magenta and chortled briefly. "I think you may have overpayed, darling."
Of course she did, it was like that at every show. "Keep the change. Mom, you have got to let me go." Kind Goldhoof sniffled before Max trotted over and calmly pulled Magenta out of her mother's death grip. Magenta chuckled and stretched out her scarred limbs. Then said, "Thanks, dad. Mom has a death hold that I just can't get out of."
He chuckled and ran a hoof through her mane. "You're welcome. I'm extremely proud of you, you know. If you don't get a music award sometime this year we'll know something's up."
"Definitely." She turned and walked over to her friends, who quickly glomped her with hugs. "Ow! Lightning!"
"We should say something," Applebloom stated when she found her voice. "Before they start—"
A hoof stepping into her sight pulled her eyes up from Magenta Streak to the firm faces of the hired security for the night.
"Okay everypony, time to go, let's move." The security began pushing everyone off the stage that weren't with the immediate performers, such as family and friends. As well as photographers. The Princesses had teleported out, leaving them behind.
"Wait, wait, hold on one minute!" Applebloom began to protest. Then turned to Magenta and yelled, "Scootaloo, we need to talk to you! Please!" Applejack quickly pushed her sister through the side entrance, leading outside.
Magenta looked their way for a moment, then turned back to continue her conversation with Bluebell and Silver Swirl, both poking at her scars.
The next morning was busy with clean up crews clearing the field where the concert the previous night took place, the stage having been broken down during the night as if it never happened. The only proof that it did were the clean up crews and the large cruise hovering nearby. Everyone was asleep. Everyone except those involved in the investigation and unknowingly Magenta and Bright.
Those from Ponyville were standing on the hill of greatness, looking at the tree planted for Scootaloo, the field where the ponies partied at, the town, and the newspaper. Magenta had made the front page for an over-amazing performance, and gained ten million in revenue from YouHoof alone. One and a half pretty much since it's split between her and Bright. They caught a picture of her right when she took off her hood.
"'Manehattanite Superstar Magenta Streak Wows Equestria By Finally Relinquishing Hood,'" Rarity read. Then looked up and added. "I'll say. She definitely impressed Twilight. And gave Pinkie a run for her bits."
Twilight chuckled and said, "That is an understatement. But I think we all know why we're here."
"How can we break this to her?" Babs asked. She pointed at the newspaper and stated, "Scootaloo's Magenta Streak! She's the most famous pony in Equestria, and the richest teenager! Only nineteen! Way bigger than Daring Do and that new movie with her that's comin' out!"
Twilight sighed and admitted, "I don't even know."
"Well..." Rainbow cleared her throat. "We have to think of something. She looked really bad—the scars, I mean. Like, she looked great. Beautiful, even. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if a stallion or mare followed her from here to Manehattan."
Sweetie made a few signs that Applebloom interpreted. "Or from here to the cruise."
"Or from here to town hall," Silver Spoon added. Everyone turned to her in confusion before she motioned towards the town. Specifically the road leading into it.
They followed her eyes to what was definitely Magenta Streak with Bright Snow walking towards town hall. She didn't have her suit on anymore, proudly walking around with her scars. They were carrying bags fit with promotional items, getting ready for autograph signing.
The Ponyville last night was a great contrast to the Ponyville of this morning. When yesterday evening, the sounds of cheers and bright lights cast over the green for yards. It was nice to be in the silence every now and again.
"I can't wait for Sea Creature's concert in December," Bright stated proudly. "Her Blah Blah Blah ID is definitely going to draw some heads."
Magenta eagerly nodded. She was wearing her makeup again. "Oh yeah, most definitely. We're gonna need some bodyguards once we're back in Manehattan, everypony's going to go haywire when they see us. Especially at the docks if they get past security."
"You need an award this year, you need one. Mark my words, Magenta Streak. You're getting an award this year." Bright and Magenta stopped in front of town hall and stared up at it strangely. Especially at the shape. "It's...round. Are you sure this is Town Hall?"
Without taking her eyes off, Magenta reached in her bags and pulled out a map of the town. Once she looked it over, she nodded. "Yep, this is it. Think some ponies are in there already?"
Bright shook her head. "No, everypony's very tired from last night. That show reminded me of your first nightcore song. Hey, I saw some Kandi Kids in the crowd last night."
After Magenta opened the door she looked to her sister in surprise. "What? I didn't see any! I was looking for some everytime I left the decks!"
"They were in, like, the front-left corner of the crowd. I could've missed them if I weren't dancing out there." The two stopped and looked around in the hall. "How many bits do you think we made in this one?"
"Well the Crystal Empire alone were millions. Around one or two. Ponyville was even bigger than that. Not to mention the online views of the live stream got us both one point five million. I'm going to do an album release party for Higher and Higher. What track do you think is going to be remixed the most when it is released?"
"Energy," Bright replied. She reached behind her and took off her saddlebags to setup. "Definitely Artificial Energy. Mainly because everypony saw you reveal your face during that song. The paparazzi is definitely going to swarm you once you move out to the studio. But why do you have to?"
Magenta sighed and setup the table. "Well besides me being old enough and can actually afford it, and that mom likes to go through my mail, I just feel I'm ready." Bright sighed but nodded. Magenta could feel that she was saddened by it though. Because she stopped talking. Sighing, Magenta set down her stuff, then made her way over, striding on long hooves. "Oh Bright. Hey, you're always welcome to come to my place. I'll even give you a key."
She wrapped a hoof around her sister's neck when Bright added, "But you'll live in the middle of the city. Which, if you don't know, is much further than ten feet down the hall."
Magenta rolled chortled and relented with, "Okay. If it makes you feel better, I won't move out until you graduate High School. So we both can together. How about that?"
Bright chuckled and answered, "You don't have to do that just because I'm sad, I can deal."
Magenta rolled her eyes and deadpanned, "Bright, do you want me to leave or not?"
"Please don't."
"Then I won't. I know mom asked me like a thousand times not to also, but she usually can't make a decision when she's emotional. Now, let's get ready before somepony shows." She planted a big wet kiss on her sister's cheek, much to Bright's disgust and her amusement, then walked back over to her bags to continue setting up. After around two minutes of picture hanging, cloth managing and more, the two whipped out their computer and sat down to wait.
It was silent, save for the tapping on the computer and the birds chirping outside. While keeping her eyes on the door, Bright asked, "Were we too early?"
Magenta nodded and said, "We're always too early. We got to Ponyville early yesterday morning at like seven when we were supposed to be there yesterday at lunch. We had enough time to sign autographs, play an intense game of cards with Songbird, who's like the master at it, go for a walk through that humongous Apple orchard, and help you setup your song. All before the gates for the show were even opened."
Bright nodded and hummed before the front doors opened. Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, and Babs poked their heads in, tiny invisible beads of sweat on their faces.
"Oh hey!" Magenta greeted. She quickly waved them in. "Don't be shy, come on in! I hope you enjoyed the show last night!" They all swallowed hard, then slowly did as asked.
Diamond Tiara nodded and replied, "It was amazing. G-Great work, I really enjoyed it."
Bright pointed at her and commented, "Hey, you were one of the ravers last night in the corner! Wearing all the bands and hugging everypony!" Everyone turned to Diamond who nervously chuckled and rubbed the back of her neck.
"Eh heh heh...yep, I was over there," she silently admitted. Applebloom smirked. She was definitely going to tease her about that later.
Magenta nudged Bright and said, "Stop embarrassing her. I'm a raver myself. You know what? Just to make a point, we're doing a rave theme at my next concert." Ignoring Bright's mumbles, Magenta grabbed a pen in her teeth and smiled at the visitors. "So where do I sign? I see you guys didn't bring anything so I'm guessing on your body?" Before they could even blanche Magenta added, "Anywhere but the teats, you'd be surprised at how many mares ask me to do that. Bright?"
With her hooves crossed, Bright blandly said, "One out of every three—"
"One out of every three!" Magenta exclaimed. "So we had an audience of four thousand twenty-six last night. One thousand three hundred forty-two will be asking me to sign their teats this morning because Equestria has a high mare to stallion ratio. Sorry, but I have to say no."
"Errr... No," Babs said awkwardly. "We didn't actually come here for an autograph."
"Oh!" Magenta and Bright shared a look before focusing back on the group of grown mares. Magenta smiled and said, "Okay! That's cool too. Maybe you can keep us company while we wait. We usually roll out from the base too early anyways."
Diamond Tiara sat down and replied eagerly, "Sure! You know everypony thought you died—OW!" Silver Spoon removed her hoof from the back of her head, silently swearing to teach her about tact later.
Magenta grinned and said, "Yeah. Doctor Sore Health said I had bled out in Manehattan Park and scared all the ponies there. Blood all in the water. So much so they had to cut it off in Manehattan and have it switched out for three hours that day. Some stallion had actually came to the hospital to check on me because he was the one who actually found me."
Bright shook her head and loudly recalled, "I had to take baths in those tiny tubs instead of a shower. Very uncomfortable might I add. Very chaotic when you were rolled in."
"Love you too, Brightlight." Magenta chuckled at her sister's face then turned back. Remembering something, she motioned with her head to Sweetie. "Oh Sweetie Belle! Tell your sister I'll put in a good word for her in our next vlog. Possibly on one of these upcoming interviews for that awesome belt."
Sweetie widened her eyes and made a hoof sign that Bright interpreted, "Really?"
Magenta nodded and said, "Yeah! It works with most of my more expensive clothes from Manehattan and Canterlot! If somepony sees me wearing it at a fashion show she'll get a lot more clientele than she does now, I promise. You know I actually helped two of my Quick Hooves friends get what they want all by a good word. Lightning Dust was actually in one of my videos benching weights and wearing a Wonderbolts Uniform. Talked to Captain Spitfire later on that year when she visited Manehattan with the Wonderbolts for a show and she agreed after I vouched for Lightning's endurance and determination to have her privately tryout off-schedule. A few months after that, Spitfire sent her a letter and agreed to have her enlisted to the reserves two-years before official enlistment.
"Bluebell was actually the director for the track that got us famous, Ready For Love. She was the first pony I put a good name in for. The day after, me and Bright made a vlog on our channel thanking all our fans for listening and watching our videos two weeks before Starfire reached out to us offering a one-hundred million bit contract after ten years. Well we thanked Bluebell in the video and added the link for her myStable page, then published it."
Bright laughed and said, "The next day, Bluebell rushes into the music room at school while Magenta and I were working on a new track, and says that we have to take down the link right then and there. Magenta and I were like huh? And she said that her Z4 was annoying her. Everypony in the industry were sending her messages, overloading her inbox. And boy, was she frustrated. Well we took it down and she ended up going with one of those companies that specialize in media outlets, previously promoted to head of program."
"Or Program Director," Magenta added. She glanced down at the pen still between her lips and calmly set it back down on the table. Why was she still holding that?
Smiling, she looked back up and said, "Bright and I are high influencers in the Elite. Everypony knows of us, specifically myself because of my tastes, and Bright because of her influence in the dance industry. Our parents also because well...they're our parents. So me saying that even a small belt was enough to wow me at our Ponyville Mega-Show is pretty big. Much bigger than working with Hoity-Toity on a fashion showcase. And would be pretty grand business for Ms. Rarity."
Sweetie Belle grinned and was about to make a sign to agree before Applebloom grabbed her shoulders, and whipped her around for a private discussion.
"We can't just accept Scoots' invitation," she whispered. Sweetie made a face of bewilderment then a gesture asking why not. "Because what if she doesn't like what we have to tell her? Then everything'll backfire. So..."
While they spoke, Magenta played with their expensive computer. Showing their nervous fans stuff from the past. Magenta had actually began wearing her suit in the eighth grade. Confusing most of her friends in the process. Their videos had been growing in views for a year thanks to Bluebell before they hit it big directly after, being the first musical group to blow up that quickly from YouHoof. Nopony knew how except Magenta and her group. And it was causing a little controversy when Magenta and Bright had said no comment when asked about it through a street interview in lower Manehattan. Thus adding many more mysteries to "Mystery Magenta."
Bright meanwhile was watching the other two discuss. Whatever it was must've been very important because things were getting a little heated. A lot of sign language and hoof stomping. Bright was sure she saw a curse word in there somewhere. While they argued, Bright looked them over. Applebloom was obviously from Appleloosa or at least had family from there. Her accent was strong and she had a weird purple shield with an apple in it for a Cutie Mark. Country.
Sweetie Belle probably had a Canterlot origin. Or maybe she was just really fancy. Her mane was well kept, complete with a shine while her coat was flawlessly brushed. Very clean, apart from her lover who looked like she farmed a lot. Her cutie mark was...
Wait... Bright stopped thinking and leaned over the table a little to gaze at Sweetie's cutie mark. It looked like a purple shield with an eighth note inside of a star. Her and Applebloom's cutie marks were really similar!
Babs looked at Bright while Magenta spoke to Diamond Tiara about a synthesizer, raising an eyebrow at what she saw. Bright was leaning over the table, glaring at Sweetie's cutie mark. Thinking. Gears were turning in her head. She looked from Bright to Applebloom, Applebloom herself becoming a little frustrated. Babs raised a hoof and waved it so she could see it. But they kept arguing.
"Hey, uhhh...." Everyone stopped speaking and turned to Bright, still staring. She sat back and pointed to Sweetie's flank. "I couldn't help but notice your cutie marks are really similar. Why is that?"
Sweetie and Applebloom shared a glance then turned back to the celebrities with smiles. Sweetie made a few hoof signs that Applebloom relayed. "Applebloom, myself, and a third pony were really impatient for our cutie marks when we were foals. So we created a sort of secret society to look for our cutie marks. Ironically, our special talents were helping other ponies find their cutie marks. It took us four years to figure that out."
"Oh, cool!" Magenta shouted. "Maybe you can help decipher mine, if you can actually make it out." Magenta stood up and turned to her side, showing them her scarred Cutie Mark that had been sliced in half, cutting out a good portion. "I can't remember what it was like before because of my deep Amnesia. But if you could, I'd very much appreciate it."
Applebloom and Sweetie Belle glanced at each other nervously just like Diamond Tiara, Babs, and Silver Spoon were doing. This moment was a really big deal. They were supposed to tell Magenta about her past. Not—
"Hold on." They all turned to Bright who was looking between Magenta's, Applebloom's, and Sweetie's cutie marks. Then suddenly pointed at Magenta's and yelled, "Your Cutie Marks are the same!" Magenta cocked her head to the side. "If you take off this scar, your Cutie Mark would be a mostly-purple shield! I can tell just by looking at it!"
Magenta looked back at her own mark, then the others. "Oh yeah!! Would you look at that! Quite the coincidence, huh?"
Bright glanced at Magenta then back at the crusaders. "Yeah...coincidence." Something was up, she could feel it. These same mares were asking about a pony that wears a lot of clothes with a purple mane and an orange coat in Manehattan, her sister's description. And Applebloom looked pretty desperate. And then they walked in here before everypony else, but not for autographs. Something was going on.
Magenta was receiving the same vibe because no one was saying anything. She looked around her at the other mares, all avoiding eye-contact. They knew something. They knew something about her.
She turned to Applebloom with a look of suspicion and asked, "Is there something I need to know? Do you know something about me?"
The doors for Town Hall opened up and Songbird Serenade poked her head in, interrupting their nearly serious conversation. Then grinned and turned her head. "They're here, everypony! Come on in!" Then walked inside followed by the tour group from last night and a lot of fans, carrying a few things for them to sign. As well as the press who must've spent the night.
Bright and Magenta turned back to the group of mares they were speaking to, still avoiding eye-contact. Magenta motioned to Bright who zipped back to the table for a moment and grabbed a card while their tour group joined them. Pictures were taken and ponies were starting to ask for autographs before Magenta grabbed a pen from a random pony when Bright appeared again. She wrote a note on the card she retrieved on her hoof, wet her lips, flipped it over and kissed it, then presented it to them. Sweetie Belle grabbed it in her magic and put it in her mane. Afterwards the two turned all smiles to their fans, meeting and greeting while making their way back to the table.
Taking that as their cue to leave, the remaining Crusaders and their friends backed out of the suddenly large amount of fans. Then made their way towards the crowded door. Rolling her eyes, Sweetie Belle lit her horn and teleported them all outside into the morning sun. They must've been talking for awhile because everypony was out and about. Including Magenta and Bright's family.
They quickly ducked into an alley and huddled around the note passed to Sweetie Belle. Applebloom read aloud, "'East Manehattan Unique, two PM. Ring doorbell on the gate and present my lipstick to the guard. Bring whoever else knows. Keep it quiet.' We're going to East Manehattan?"
Babs gulped and said, "No way... Y'all may want to pretty yourselves up." Based off their looks they didn't understand. "East Manehattan Unique is the richest neighborhood in all of Equestria. The most private of all of Equestria actually, let alone East Manehattan. Invitation-access only. Nothin' but ponies that have more than nine-hundred thousand bits. Filled with big beautiful homes, libraries, clubs, pools, parks, playgrounds, and golf courses. A city inside a city. They just don't let any pony in."
Sweetie waved it off with a smirk and made a sign reading, "We have Rarity."
Babs shook her head and said, "Nope, she won't even work. Rarity's pretty small time, even though she has built a few boutiques in Manehattan and Canterlot over the years. The ponies in here are far higher than Hoity-Toity, Fleur de Lis, and Princess Twilight, who created Net, combined. Which is what everypony that lives in there uses to run their businesses. Net to them is like somepony hoofing you a really fancy pen to write with. Rarity runs boutiques and a business. These ponies run the corporations that Rarity gets her materials from to continue her business and designs. Along with hotels, and possibly a majority of the homes in this town. You thought the Canterlot Elite had power? No, the Manehattan Elite have power. They run The Canterlot Elite and put Prince Blueblood's snoodiness to shame. Nothing but playwrights, movie directors, CEOs, Founders, and more live in there. Manehattan ain't made for a simple family-owned restaurant. It's built for big-bit careers."
A sudden flash and crack beside them made the group jump and yelp. Princess Twilight looked out of the large street that the mares thought were an alley then back to the crusaders with the rest of the group she teleported with, The Element Bearers, all staring at them for answers. "Well?" She whispered.
Sweetie Belle presented the note to Princess Twilight, who took it in her own. She and the other Element Bearers leaned in and read it line for line. Twilight gawked then made a slowly closing "oh" with her mouth. Rarity gasped and whispered in raw disbelief, "Manehattan Unique?! I thought her parents were with the Canterlot Elite!!"
Applejack turned and asked, "Whatcha goin' on about? It sounds like it's just a neighborhood." Twilight, Rarity, and Babs gawked.
Rainbow rolled her eyes and asked tiredly, "What's the big deal?"
"The big deal," Twilight responded. "Is that East Manehattan Unique is home to The Manehattan Elite."
"The what?"
"I read about them in the history of Equestria when I was studying under Celestia. The Manehattan Elite is a class of Equestrians who are richer than even the exaggerated definition of rich. Imagine a foal classifying the term rich: Gold, silver, extremely rare gems with servants coming and going at their command, homes the size of my castle who can spoil their foals or have Applejack's apple orchard torn down with a nod of their head, and own almost every single business, home, and industry in Equestria. That is the Manehattan Elite. If they just don't like you, they can ruin a career you're working towards in a day, despite everything you've done.
"Imagine Spitfire being Captain again. She's confronted by Floyd Hoofenstein, the movie director for Daring Do's movies coming out and one of those living in there, saying don't put Rainbow Dash in the Wonderbolts. Spitfire will have to obey that because these ponies can ruin her all by putting out a simple bad review. They don't even have to break the law, the citizens unknowingly work for them. The Manehattan Elite own The Canterlot Elite."
Rarity shook her head and added fearfully, "And they just don't let anypony in that neighborhood."
Applejack turned to Rarity and stated, "But you're like the richest pony here in Ponyville."
Rarity grabbed her cheeks and stated Pinkie-Pie style quiet but urgently, "And a pony from The Manehattan Elite owns the entire block of where my Manehattan branch is! They take one third of the revenue I earn each month, as well as the other businesses on that same block! They make fifty times how much I make a month and are probably worth more than fifty million bits! I'm worth only two!!"
"And I'm worth only ten," Twilight added. "I was born in Canterlot and most of my family are Royalty. Including Spike, believe it or not. So we're actually with The Canterlot Elite, but humble to Equestria and stay away from all of that. But I do like to check up on my Net Worth. It boosted up twenty million six years ago after Net was being used by everypony in Equestria. And The Manehattan Elite are taller than skyscrapers compared to little 'ol me."
Babs added, "So saying East Manehattan Unique is just a neighborhood is like saying The Crystal Empire is made out of mud instead of crystals, and that The Crystal Heart is just a glowing stone."
"And the Gold family is one of The Manehattan Elite," Rarity concluded. "Which means Magenta Streak and Bright Snow are as well."
Rainbow, Pinkie, Applejack, and Fluttershy glanced at each other nervously. Fluttershy whispered, "Is it really that serious?"
Babs nodded and said, "The Manehattan Elite are extremely powerful and very selfish. How can we get into that neighborhood?"
Twilight flipped the card over and looked at Magenta's lipstick. She pointed and punctuated, "This is the key to get in."
"Lipstick?" Sweetie gestured in curiosity.
"Each of The Manehattan Unique's members have a sign or item of some sort attached to the invitation for verification with their entrance guards. Like a trademark. A Magenta-colored kiss must be Scootaloo's, or Magenta Streak's. Everypony in there has a different one. We show this to the guard and they successfully validate it, we're in. However, the inside of the neighborhood is the actual issue. Everypony in there, except for the Gold family apparently, are on their high horses."
"One of my High-School friends is a Manehattan Elite," Babs inputted. "And said that the second you step in there, you turn up your nose and flaunt your stuff as if you're big bits."
Sweetie made a gesture that read, "So basically, turn into Diamond Tiara in the past." Everypony turned to Applebloom and Twilight who were trying to hide their giggles but ended up bursting out anyway with Sweetie. The three then grinned to Diamond Tiara who was trying to figure out what she said.
Twilight sighed to stifle her giggles and answered, "Yes, we all turn into Diamond Tiara. It's okay, Diamond, nopony judges you. It was all your mother."
***
After the flow of fans dwindled, and The Quad Dance Team signed their final autograph, the party under the label sighed and relaxed. The tour was finally over and all was complete. It was lunch before they finished signing in Ponyville's empty town hall
Sound Boost adjusted his tie and yelled, "Well! Our work for this tour is done! Good job, everypony! Good things coming our way! Ms. Winds, you should be expecting those bits in your account by this upcoming tuesday to hoof out to your clients, as well as yourself. My clients will be receiving theirs this evening since we're the hosting label. By our finance departments calculations, each of you should be receiving a check of eight hundred thousand."
The guest band cheered and sort of danced in place while the label applauded. They were used to the bits. Afterwards, Sound Boost said, "And thanks to Magenta and Bright's good words, you should also be expecting a lot of mail and letters. Probably even some offers." He turned to Magenta and Bright sitting at the table and asked, "Are you heading to the headquarters after this?"
Magenta shook her head and answered, "Bright, Sea Creature, and myself are working on something in Manehattan Unique for Sea's upcoming concert. We're heading straight to the house."
"Alright! Well, let's pack up and get back to Manehattan!"
Princess Celestia spit-taked her wine into the fountains by her throne after she, Luna, Cadance, and Shining Armor read the note given to the crusaders, shocking everyone in their Castle Throne Room. Including the guards. Luna looked her up and down and asked, "And what was that?"
Celestia coughed and wiped her mouth. Then turned back to everyone else. "I apologize," she answered. Then presented the letter to Applebloom. "Are you sure Magenta wrote that she lives in East Manehattan Unique?" Luna had no idea where that was. But apparently everypony else did, because even Flurry Heart gasped.
Sweetie Belle nodded and made the signs that Applebloom interpreted. "She got a pen, wrote on it, licked her lips, kissed the back, then hoofed it right over."
Luna waved her hooves around and yelled, "Hold on! What is a Manehattan Unique?" Celestia placed a wing over her back and pretty much repeated what Twilight and Rarity said. Afterwards, Luna blinked and muttered, "Oh. Is it really that big?"
"Bigger," Babs answered.
"Great. More nobles. And this time, they're celebrities. Ugh."
Flurry jumped out from between her father's legs and yelled, "Well I'm a princess and I say that they should open those gates when I walk up there!"
Twilight chuckled and asked, "Already abusing your power, Flurry?"
Celestia sighed and said, "Alright. We'll all go. But be warned. The Manehattan Elite are more ignorant than Blueblood. So heads high and coats fresh. Hopefully, somepony can escort us to her home. I have no idea what it looks like."
Nobody in this throne room knew the home of Magenta Streak. But Rainbow Dash may have a suggestion. She raised a hoof and commented, "I might know a pony that can get us in and take us."
***
The Wonderbolt's Weight Room in Cloudsdale was usually packed with ponies. But everyone just had to go that concert last night. As if there was no choice in the matter. That left all the wonderful toys to Lightning Dust. The workout room was her favorite inside the entire facility. And now that she had the place to herself, she could grunt and lift all she wanted to with no timer. Her muscles heaved each time she lifted a hundred. Sweat poured over her fur and her hooves have almost had enough. But she pushed on.
Until Rainbow Dash walked in. She didn't stop benching when she poked into her line of sight from above. "Seriously?" She asked.
Lightning Dust kept going and shook her head. "You can't have enough muscle. I thought you were going to the concert."
"We did."
"Well... I knew... That you would go. Hey, give me two hundred?" Rainbow rolled her eyes but grabbed the weights and slid them onto the sleeves for her. "Thanks. Now..." She pushed up and down. Up and down. "I thought you would sleep it off or something. Like everyone else."
"Yeah, well something important came up this morning. I need to ask you a favor."
"Anything for my hero." She pushed four more time until Rainbow dropped the question.
"I need you to get us into Magenta's neighborhood. East Manehattan Unique. We need to talk to her. It's really important."
Lightning stopped benching. The room dropped into silence. The humidity increased putting sweat onto Rainbow brow. Or maybe it was because she was nervous.
Lightning cast her sight to Rainbow and said, "You're joking."
Rainbow gulped but shook her head. "No, I'm serious. I know getting us in may cause you a little trouble—"
"Oh no, it's no problem," Lightning interrupted. "I can get you in without trouble."
Rainbow turned to her in surprise. The Manehattan Elite didn't sound too friendly. They're power alone was a monster in comparison to other nobility in Equestria. So Lightning saying they won't have a problem with her is a complete surprise. "Wait, what? How? Are you nobility or something?"
She took a swig from her water and added, "I'm not nobility. But I can get you in. You have a pass from Magenta?"
"Yeah, Sweetie has it. I thought The Manehattan Elite would run us out."
Lightning stood up and flexed her body, showing off her figure. "They will to anypony that isn't a familiar face. My friends and I are all Honorary Guests there and have our own keys. Us walking in is like seeing another rich pony walk by. Even though we don't have their wealth. When Magenta said we had actually grew up with her, and are still friends, we became Honorary Guests at the stomp of a hoof. Something about an old Manehattan code I really don't give a flying buck about."
Lightning walked around the bench and picked up the four hundred pound barbell. Then placed it on the hold. She smiled at Rainbow and added, "There are three levels that can get in. The first is the Member, which would be Magenta, Bright, and Doctors Goldhoof and Gold. Then there's the Honorary, which would be me. In the past, Magenta would have to escort me. But she put in a good word for me with the other members. They nearly beat me with a club and threw me out before she said three words. 'She's with me.' They quickly started asking questions. After validation they decided any friend of hers is an Honorary Guest. Technically, you're treated like an Elite Member."
Lightning grabbed her water and a towel that she threw around her neck, then walked out the door with Rainbow. "Third, there are the trustees, or you guys. The guest of the guests. Normally, they ask a lot of questions. But since I'm an Honorary Guest, they trust me to bring in good ponies. As long as you stick with me and don't float off, you're golden with them and with me."
She pushed the doors open for the hallway and stopped in front of the large group of ponies waiting in the hall. Rainbow smiled at them then nodded eagerly, giving them an answer to their unspoken question. They all sighed in relief. Looks like they were really going.
After wiping herself off, Lightning said, "Now. Why I'm confused and shocked is how you don't know where the Gold family lives."
They all turned to her. Rarity inquired, "Should we?"
"None of you know?" They all shook their heads. "Dudes... Magenta's house is the biggest in the city. Not the neighborhood, the city. Magenta bought it then hoofed it over to her parents for...I'm not entirely sure. Was there no address on the card?"
Sweetie reached in the purse she brought then hoofed it over to Lightning to investigate. She flipped it then shook her head. "Yeah, no address. That's because she thought you would have already known where it was. Everypony in Equestria knows where they live. Kind of hard to miss the biggest house in Manehattan."
Rarity had wide eyes. The biggest? "How much money does she have?!" She asked. "I thought she only had over two million bits."
Lightning hoofed the note back over and chuckled. Then answered, "No, she just uses low numbers to keep paparazzi, market sources and news outlets away from her. Picked a random expensive number to appease and keep them away. She has way more than that. She and Bright combined are reaching two hundred million by now. Let me go change and freshen up."
She turned left and walked down the hall, leaving the ponies with their minds blown.
Once Lightning was presentable, they departed Cloudsdale for Manehattan. it was soon apparent that the Gold Sisters' presence was a huge influence on the city. They could tell they were back in town. For one, she was the hot topic. Each time Applebloom turned her head, somepony was either talking about her, watching her on a Z4, those expensive things, reading the newspaper article about last night's show and discussing it, or other things involving Magenta Streak.
It looks like she ruled Manehattan. Rainbow Dash was smirking at her friend Lightning Dust and her getup. She was wearing a long multicolored dress and had put her usually straight mane into a bun while leaving the outside of it straight.
"It's okay to stare," she said suddenly. "I know I look good."
Rarity poked her head in from behind and said, "Yes, darling. I didn't even know you could do manes."
"I can do a lot of things. Okay, we're entering East Manehattan. From here on out, let me do the talking." They all looked forward and eyed the entry with awe. It was a large arch with fountains at the bottom, bearing the words East Manehattan in a steel logo at the top outlined with gold. The arch itself was made out of silver. Already expensive. Even the guards pulling the chariots were casting glances as they rode underneath it and straight into wonderland. Shops, colors, and action. Huge tall skyscrapers made pretty much out of glass flew by as they moved. A large mall on a perpendicular street filled with millennials. Business ponies walking around with very fancy clothes, shoes that had a glint when the sunlight hit it.
Twilight shared a look with Shining Armor. This is straight money in here. While the rest of Manehattan was dark and gray, East Manehattan was like the beauty mark of Equestria.
Lightning Dust pointed in the distance after a few more minutes of riding and said, "East Manehattan Unique, coming up."
Rainbow looked up and about nearly blanched. Right at the end of the street were a pair of large fancy gates. But right behind it was what caught her eye. Right on the left side of the street behind the steel structures was a large mansion that towered over them and cast a huge shadow. Made out of cubes, flat-roofed, with a wall made out of glass that was for a pretty big bedroom. She could see a pony in there doing something even from this far away.
"Whoa," Applebloom muttered before they pulled up and stopped at the gates.
Lightning reached in her purse and pulled out the pass. Then flapped her wings and hovered towards the security box. A police officer walked out wearing sunglasses who smiled when she recognized who was approaching.
"Lady Dust, it's been awhile," she greeted. "Here to see the Gold Family?"
Lightning landed and nodded at her. "Yep. I'm escorting a group she requested personally." She presented the note to the officer on the side with her lipstick.
She stared at the kiss mark for a few long seconds. Then nodded and walked back to the booth to open them. Lightning Dust floated back to the others and settled in the first chariot with the Royalty. The gates lurched in briefly before groaning and creaking open. The officer waved them forward, signalling the Royal Guard pulling the chariots to ride inside. The second they pulled in, everyone finally understood why Twilight and Rarity were so fearful. Everything was huge.
The entire street they were on practically screamed luxury. All they saw were estates, privacy gates, spires, golden cutie marks with diamonds on doors as symbols, and rich ponies out and about strutting their stuff. Just like babs said, muzzle in the air with flashy clothes. Some of the ponies were even wearing different colored hoofshoes like the princesses, fancy glasses with square golden rims, and crowns or tiaras that put Diamond Tiara's to shame.
While they rode, they assessed the homes. Most of them were two stories, but those floors blocked out Celestia's sun and cast shadows on the well cut grass. Just looking at them made Rainbow gulp.
After a while of riding past offices, homes, rich ponies, large golf courses, and pools, Rarity turned to Lightning who had a humble look on her face and asked, "So which one is the Golds'?"
Lightning nodded upwards towards the front. "Right there." Everyone looked up and slowly gawked. Even the guards. In front of them was a building very similar to Quick Hooves Orphanage, just much bigger. Instead of two floors it had three with wings. In the middle, the mansion had tall ornate wooden double doors with the letter G on both of them made out of gold. The building itself was made out of white stone with a flat surface, fitted with windows. The roof in the middle was triangle and slanted with a lot of shapes in the spaces allowed while the ones for the wings were flat. The wing on the right had a lot of windows while the one on the left was made entirely out of glass, reflecting the sun and creating grandeur.
There was a large loop behind the large steel gates that held a keyhole on each that Twilight could make out. Lightning pointed and said, "This is the biggest home in Manehattan. Welcome to the Golds Mansion."