“You think that you might have packed one too many bags?” Twilight Sparkle asked Rarity as the everypony loaded their bags onto the train car that would take them to Manehattan.
“Oh heavens no, Twilight,” Rarity said as she used her magic to lift the bags onto the car. “This bag has all my mane and tail supplies I’ll need while we’re away,” she said as a purple bag whisked by Twilight’s nose. “And this one has my emergency hooficure supplies if we need them and I surely hope not, but best to be prepared!”
“As long as one of those bags has my Daring Do costume in it, you can pack the whole car,” Rainbow Dash cut in, throwing her single bag on the car. “I’m going to win that contest, so that costume is the most valuable thing on this train, got it?” The other ponies nodded, not wanting to throw Rainbow into a fury if they disagreed.
Once Rarity finished putting all her bags on the luggage car everypony headed to their cabins. Rarity was staying in one cabin with Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie and the three planned to do their hair in preparation for their debut at the Manehattan PonyCon.
In the neighbouring cabin Twilight settled in with Spike, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack and she was happy to find that because of the early morning Spike just wanted to sleep and Rainbow Dash planned to reread as many Daring Do books as she could on the trip so that she could play the perfect Daring Do in the costume contest. Applejack had decided to join Spike for a nap and Twilight was happy to pull out a book of her own to enjoy on the trip.
“Manehattan, next stop!” The conductor called after a few hours on the rails. “Manehattan, everypony!”
“We’re here! We’re here!” Pinkie cheered as she bounced around the cabin, almost spilling Rarity’s shimmer blush.
“Pinkie, we’re almost there, it‘ll be a few more minutes,” Rarity said, trying to hide her annoyance. She knew Pinkie was just very excited and Rarity had to admit she was too. Manehattan, city of glowing lights and glamorous ponies. As much as she was excited to see the PonyCon with her friends, she had planned to duck out for a bit and check out the couture and high fashion that Manehattan had to offer.
The train jerked to a stop as Pinkie was in mid bounce and she flew across the cabin, smacking her nose on the wall. “Are you okay, Pinkie?” Fluttershy whispered.
“We’re here!” Pinkie cheered as she jumped back up and bounced around even more. Fluttershy let out a little sigh of relief and the ponies met up with Twilight, Rainbow, Applejack, and Spike to get their bags.
“Spike, could you be a dear and grab some of my bags?” Rarity asked, using her magic to hand Spike three large suitcases. “I believe Twilight took the steps to get us a car, yes?”
“The hotel is only two blocks away,” Twilight told the group. “We can walk there in less than ten minutes.”
Rarity huffed, but quickly composed herself. “You’re right, Twilight. Plus how will I expect to be seen riding in the back of a car?” Everypony exchanged a glance, but the crowd surged behind them on the platform and the girls were shoved with the crowd in the direction of the hotel.
“There’s too many ponies,” Applejack said in alarm. Even though she had visited the big city once as a filly she didn’t like the crowds of ponies pushing and pulling her every which way. “Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, fly ahead and we’ll follow you!” Rainbow made a show of rolling her eyes at Applejack, but really she was glad to be out of the crowd too, and looking at poor Fluttershy who looked a bundle of nerves, she knew this was the best course of action for everyone.
The girls made it to the Four Hooves hotel in one piece and Rarity did a frantic baggage check to make sure nothing had been dropped along the way. Once they were in the lobby everypony took a moment to breathe while Twilight got the key to their room.
As Twilight let everypony into the room everypony let out a gasp. The room was huge and luxurious! Beautiful art hung on the walls, the view overlooked the park, and there were two separate bedrooms as well as a living room in the suite.
“Twilight, how did you get this room?” Rarity asked, shocked.
“Sure is mighty pretty,” Applejack said as she explored the living room.
“Everything was booked up and then I remembered Cadance and Shining Armor stayed here on their honeymoon. I sent Cadance a letter and she was able to get us in.
“Go Cadance!” Rainbow cheered and everypony chimed in.
“Um, Twilight?” Fluttershy said. “Please tell the Princess I am most appreciative.”
“I will, don’t worry. Let’s drop off our bags and get ready for PonyCon!” Twilight had brought a camera and she was hoping to get lots of pictures to send Princess Celestia as well as a set for Cadance in thanks for helping them get the room.
Rainbow immediately started digging through Rarity’s bags in her hunt for her Daring Do costume. Rarity tried politely to tell her to stop, to let her look for the costume, but Rainbow wouldn’t quit. Before long Rarity’s supplies of makeup, mane and tail products, and all her accessories were scattered all over the hotel room.
“Here it is!” Rainbow said as she pulled the costume out of the very bottom of the very last bag. “Somepony zip me up and we can do!”
“Um,” Fluttershy whispered. “Did you see my costume in there?”
“What about mine?” Pinkie Pie said as she bounced around the piles of Rarity’s things.
Rarity pulled out the other two costumes and handed them off to her friends. “You know what, you six enjoy PonyCon, I think I want to enjoy Manehattan for the evening, and I’ll have three more days here before we have to leave to see the convention.”
“You sure, Rarity?” Applejack asked.
“Would you like me to come with you?” Fluttershy offered.
“No, I think that’s okay. You ladies enjoy yourselves and we shall meet for dinner, yes? I’ll find us a nice place to eat.”
“Okay, if that’s what you want,” Twilight said as she helped Pinkie into her Nightmare Moon costume.
“Yes, I think it is,” Rarity said very matter of factly. “I’ll help Fluttershy with her makeup and then I’ll leave with you girls. I’ll meet you outside PonyCon when it closes for the night.”
Once everypony was in their costumes they headed towards PonyCon. Rarity joined her friends until they reached the entrance line, but went no further. “I will be here when the convention closes, girls!” She said and trotted away, excited to experience all Manehattan had to offer.
“Gee, I hope she don’t get lost,” Applejack said, concerned for her friend who was now alone in the big city.
“Oh, she’ll be okay,” Fluttershy said as confidently as she could. “She’s always wanted to come here, she’s been going over the maps for weeks.”
The conversation was interrupted when Pinkie exclaimed “the line is moving! Yippee!” Unfortunately the line didn’t move far and it took everypony almost an hour to get inside.
“Okay, gather around everypony,” Twilight said just before it was their turn to enter. “Everyone has two hours to wander around. There are six of us so I’ve split us into pairs to cover more ground. Fluttershy and Applejack, I want you two together and heading to the right. Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash, you two head straight. Spike and I will take the left. We meet up in two hours for the ‘Writing Your First Book’ seminar being hosted by the editor of the Daring Do books. From there we will line up for the showing of the new Doctor Whooves episode and then meet Rarity outside for dinner. Sound good?”
Everypony nodded and Twilight was delighted to see that everypony was on board with her very organized plan. If everyone followed the schedule they would be able to cover the most ground and not miss out on anything and Twilight could get tones of amazing pictures. Rarity leaving threw off her plan a little bit, but it was nothing she couldn’t handle.
“It’s our turn, it’s our turn!” Pinkie cheered when the got in the doors. Everypony gasped at how large the space was and how many ponies had already arrived.
“Okay everypony, follow the plan,” Twilight said as she gazed across the room. “Meet back here in two hours, okay? Okay?” But no one was there. She saw Rainbow flying off towards the sign that said ‘Meet Daring Do’ and Fluttershy had already made a break for the comic booths, probably hoping to get a glimpse of Rocket the Raccoon. Pinkie bounced wildly away and Applejack had wandered off as well. Even Spike had left her side, probably on the trail of some yummy smelling food.
“Stick to the plan!” Twilight tried to yell after her friends, but they were already long gone. “You guys, the plan works! Come back!” It was no use, everypony was gone and Twilight resigned herself to exploring on her own, promising to meet back in two hours to meet up with everypony. That is, so long as everypony else came back too.