//------------------------------//
// Memories in Manehattan 
// Story: My Little Pony: The Magic Continues 
// by Pony Project 156 
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It was a beautiful morning in the city of Manehattan, a bustling metropolis that was preparing for yet another busy day. Among the residents, a young colt was, after spending a good few years in the city, deciding that all the noisy hustle and bustle was not for him. Things just weren’t working out the way he had expected. He had decided that it was time to move on; to continue the search for his true calling. After all, the science and art of inventing was not very welcomed in Manehattan; certainly not by the hooves of such a young colt as Starjack.

Starjack was a rather lightly-built colt. His coat was a dappled grey and white. A single white patch covered from his muzzle to around the edges of his face. The further back you looked along his body, the darker his coat became, ending the gradient with a dark grey around his tail. His mane and tail were a soothing shade of midnight blue, cut short so as not to obscure his vision. Shielded behind a pair of spectacles framed in dark brown plastic with light brown streaks, his sky blue eyes were ready and willing to draw in any and all information he could.

I remember when we came here the first time, he thought. It was supposed to be just a stop on a long journey, but I believed that it could have some potential. He paused. Even though a few years of labor have gone into my work, it has yet to bear any fruit. He sighed, tossing his bedding aside. Time for a change of scenery, he shrugged, climbing out of bed and preparing for the day.

Starjack began to reminisce about when he was a student at Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. He had left in hopes of making something of himself in Equestria. This decision had taken young Starjack on a long pilgrimage through many places, both in and around Equestria, but he was never able to find a permanent place to settle.

The day before he left, however, his dearest sister, also a student at the school, came rushing up to him. She cared for him very much, and refused to let him come to harm. To that end, she had used her knowledge of ancient magic to give form to her desires, a physical manifestation of magic, which she called Beebo. She wouldn’t reveal to him how she’d managed to create such a being, but she knew Beebo would help and protect her beloved brother.


Starjack and Beebo left Canterlot, and together they survived many obstacles and trials, with Beebo acting as his protector, and acting as a guardian whenever one was necessary. While in Manehattan, Starjack and Beebo found a small studio apartment, and slowly came to the realization that, in Manehattan, if you were generous to a random stranger, that generosity would come back to you twofold. They found time to visit many amazing landmarks in the city, such as the Crystaller building, the Liberty Mare Statue, and Bridleway Theater.

Wherever they went in leisure, they saw ponies enjoying themselves in groups of friends, but sadly wherever Starjack and Beebo went, no friends were found for the two of them. They were always alone, and so they wandered…


"I really have a good feeling about our new destination; it seems to be promising!" He said to himself, packing the suitcases. He started with his lab coats, freshly pressed. Then he put about a dozen pairs of safety goggles in the remaining space. It wasn’t a lot of clothing, but it made up the bulk of his clothing. By the time Starjack had finished packing the suitcases, it was eleven in the morning, and it was only at this moment that he started to wonder where Beebo had gone.

"Hey Beebo?” he called out, looking around the room. “Beebo where are you?" He then noticed a note addressed to him from Beebo.



To Master Starjack

I have gone out to pick up some essentials, such as baked goods, groceries, needed tools and replacements from the marketplace.

I will be back around noontime.

Your loyal helper

-Beebo



"Well, at least I know where she is and that she's okay,” He sighed with relief in his voice. “I swear that filly can be a magnet for trouble..." 

Starjack looked out of the central window of the apartment, placing the note on the nearest table. He started thinking about what life would be like at their next destination. He was hopeful, as it seemed to be promising. He was lost deep in his thoughts about what the town could be like, only brought back by three knocks on the door.

Starjack went to open the door. Standing in the hallway was his helper, Beebo. Despite being a manifestation of magic, Beebo did not take the form of a unicorn. She looked to be an earth pony, a grass green coat with lighter green mane and tail. Her cutie mark was a green, swirling cloud of magic. What made it unique was the way it moved, overlapping smaller white stars that spin along with the swirl of magic, as opposed to the way most cutie marks were static. Her bright ocean blue eyes beamed down at Starjack over her favourite red scarf.

"Good afternoon, Master Star! How was your morning?" Beebo asked with a smile, placing the groceries on the countertop. She fished out an apple pie and placed it on a decorative plate. She also brought out a toasted brioche with dandelion and cheese, wrapped up and ready for tomorrow’s lunch. After that, she used her magic to place the boxes of tools and spares in a neat row in the corner.

Starjack was eyeing the apple pie, but snapped back and spoke "It was good; I finished packing the suitcases and I sorted most of the tools. They are all in their proper cases." He spoke with great pride in his voice.

Beebo acknowledged his enthusiasm. "Good thinking. The train to our next prospect leaves tomorrow, so being organized and properly prepared is the smart play." She smiled, removing her scarf.


Starjack looked at his semi-reflection in the floor tiles and then paused. "Wait a minute, didn't you say in your note that you were going to be back by Noon?" he asked curiously.

"Why yes, Master Star,” she said, pulling out her pocket watch. “It is twelve o’ five P.M. and I arrived at the door at twelve exactly." Despite taking the form of an earth pony, Beebo could easily utilize magic. It was quite the sight; pure mana flowed from her body, swirling down around her legs, and would wrap around objects to move and lift them, much like a unicorn would use telekinesis. Most ponies who saw this assumed it was Starjack's work, at least when he was around. When not, she'd direct all curious onlookers to her hair pin, a small golden heart. “It's enchanted,” she'd say, quelling concerns almost instantly. After all, outright stating you are the physical embodiment of magic would raise suspicions and most likely panic, if not leading to one being labeled a liar and a fraud.

Starjack responded with a look of confusion. "Hmm... I'm sorry, please forget I asked."

“Are you okay, Master Star?“ She asked, a look of worry on her face. “You know I am able to sense when you are troubled by something. Tell me, what’s wrong?”

Starjack paused and stared at the packed suitcases sitting in the corner of the apartment near the window. Beebo looked at the suitcases and turned back to her master, placing a hoof on his shoulder. "Are these thoughts about our next destination, Master Starjack?" Starjack, who was still staring at the suitcases, nodded slowly in reply to her question. "If I may be so bold, Master Star, I feel there is nothing to worry about," She smiled. Starjack looked at his helper with a sad look in his eyes. "Master, you know we have been all over Equestria together, hoping for the next day to bring the happiness that the previous day did not provide, and we have been through a fair bit together as well!" She gently rubbed his shoulder, a hint of happiness and hope in her voice. Starjack knew that what Beebo was saying was true, and he began to remember all the trials they had endured together. The good, the bad, the awkward and the confusing. "I know that some days were tough, but you never gave up, Master Star! You always had a plan which helped us pull through, so I know that we can pull through this, as well."

Starjack smiled and hugged his helper where she stood nearly causing her to lose her balance. "Thank you, Beebo,” he said, as his stress started melting away. “You always know just the right thing to say. I needed that."

"It's quite alright, Master,” Beebo smiled warmly. “It's my job. I will always help you in times of need." She glanced at her pocket watch. It was now half past noon. "I'd better start in on lunch," she said. "Why don't you go and freshen up, Master?" Starjack nodded. Beebo poofed on her chef’s attire, consisting of a crisp white apron and chef’s hat.

“Ooh, you’ve got me excited, Beebo! What’s on your menu for today?” Star asked giddily. He always loved whatever she whipped up.

"I was thinking, Master Star, that instead of me randomly making a dish, why not something that's really well liked in this area instead?” She asked, taking out a deep, cast-iron pan.

"Could you be making what I think you're making?" asked Starjack, hope and excitement in his tone and on his face.

Beebo beamed with happiness, organising her mise en place for preparing the meal. "Yup. I am talking about my special pepperoni pizza!"

"Thats awesome, Beebo!" Starjack burst with excitement. He had been craving it for quite some time.

"Awesome, indeed, Master Star." Beebo conjured up pizza dough from thin air. "It's just what you need to forget about those bothersome worries. Besides, I know you have been raving about it ever since I made it back in Baltimare."

Starjack was dumbstruck. "How did you just do that, Beebo? Where were you keeping that dough?"

Beebo looked at her master and smiled. "I had prepared it this morning. I left it in the void so that it could rise while I was out."

Starjack had forgotten about Beebo's void. It had come in handy multiple times in the past. It was a pocket dimension that could hold basically anything Beebo put in it. After numerous experiments, Starjack and Beebo discovered that, with a good amount of concentration, Beebo could expand and contract the time of any object in the Void. It wasn’t quite perfect, but it could still do amazing things.

"Oh, right. I remember now,” Starjack recalled as he was freshening up. Washing his hooves, splashing his face, brushing his mane. The usual. "The last time you used the void was in the zebra lands. You conjured a spark plug from thin air. That was really something."

Beebo was working on her special sauce, laughing as she remembered the event. The zebras’ reactions were that of pure wonder. All zebra magic came in the form of potions; specific measurements of ingredients meant the difference from a healing potion and a potion of belching. Seeing magic from Starjack's horn was a rare sight for them to begin with, and Beebo's little trick with her void made them want to develop potions of similar capabilities. It had been a fun and endearing couple of months.

"Hey Beebo, need any help with the pizza?" Starjack asked, returning from the bathroom.

Beebo just smiled. "Nah, I’ve got it covered. You just relax, Master Star." Starjack nodded, walked over to the table and seated himself. He knew Beebo would take a while in creating her special pizza sauce. He knew all too well that she held herself to a high level of perfection in whatever dish she made, but this pizza was the crown jewel of her recipe book. It was the first dish she felt she could call her own.

Starjack stood up from his seat and walked over to the central window in the living room. As he stared at the beautiful city, looking over the Manehattan city skyline, the thoughts of their next prospective home came back to him. "Get it together Starjack,” he muttered to himself, his reflection staring back at him with a tense expression. “There is absolutely nothing to worry about, it’ll be perfectly fine." 

After staring absentmindedly for a few minutes, he slowly turned his back to the window and sat at the table once more. Starjack glanced back to the kitchen and chuckled a little as he heard what sounded like Beebo singing and drumming on the pots and pans. Old as time itself, wiser than any living being, more powerful than even the princesses, and Beebo was more often a foal than the adult mare she appeared.

Beebo returned to the table and, with a flash of light, set it to a beautiful red and black colour scheme, using magic to fold the napkins into bishop mitres. She then laid out beautiful plates and cutlery that contrasted the colour palette beautifully.

"Woah!" Starjack was awed as he looked at the table, bare just a few seconds ago, and now looked like something he would see in a beautiful painting. "Where did you get these beautiful plates and cutlery, Beebo?" he asked, observing the cutlery in front of him.

"Oh, I created them," Beebo said, matter-of-factly. "The pizza will be ready soon, Master Star."

Starjack scratched his mane in confusion. "Beebo... Did you just say 'created'?" Starjack puzzled with a look of intrigue. Beebo however, was unable to reply, as she was trying to open the hot oven door. Everytime she tried, the oven door just slapped against her hoof and closed shut again. Starjack smirked. "Um, Beebo? Do you need any help with that pesky oven door?" He asked, trying to hold back his laughter.

"No, thank you, Master Star. This isn't the first time I have had the displeasure of dealing with a stubborn kitchen appliance," she said, frustrated, attempting to open the door with an oven mitt and a wooden spoon.

"Alrighty then, just hit me up if you need my help. You can find me at the ‘Dining Table Inn and Restaurant.’" Starjack giggled at his own joke.

Beebo sighed and rolled her eyes. "Master, I feel like I don't know you sometimes."

Starjack just smiled. "Yeah, yeah. I will be waiting for you at the table, okay?" 

Beebo nodded and tried to open the oven door again. Starjack was waiting patiently at the table when Beebo arrived carrying a stone serving dish. She placed it in the center of the table and hurried back into the kitchen. Starjack heard a sigh of relief; Beebo finally defeated the stubborn oven door. A moment later, Beebo came out, the pizza on her left and a pizza cutter on her right. She gently placed the pizza on the stone base and kept the cutter next to it. "Lunch is served, Master Star," she declared with a weary smile.

"It looks amazing, Beebo," Starjack smiled. "But let's make it a little better, shall we?" Starjack procured a bottle of sparkling apple juice from the cooling cabinet along with two champagne flutes from the shelf. 

Beebo smiled. "Now, that will indeed make this better. Good idea, Master Star."

Starjack smiled and cut himself a slice while Beebo poured the juice in the glasses. Starjack took a bite; the cheese and vegan pepperoni blended together with that special sauce in a perfect harmony of flavours and textures. "It’s absolutely amazing, Beebo," he beamed, savouring another bite.

Beebo beamed with happiness. "Thank you, Master Star."

"So, Beebo, I have been meaning to ask you something. What is our next destination?" Starjack asked with a look of interest.

"Well, Master Star, our next destination is a town called Ponyville," Beebo said, taking a slice for herself.

Starjack’s thoughts were filled with hypotheticals about their new destination. Questions buzzed in his mind as he thought of all the hijinks he and Beebo would find themselves in. He was so engrossed that the worries he’d had before started to disappear. "Well, here's to our new future, in Ponyville." Starjack raised his glass for a toast. "To a new beginning."

Beebo smiled and clinked her glass with her master’s. "Indeed, Master Star."

The two enjoyed an incredible lunch, filled with lively conversation and fun banter. At the end of their meal, they each had a slice of apple pie, warm and crisp. Starjack remembered when his mother used to make apple pie. It was not too dissimilar from this. 

After washing up, they climbed up to the roof and they watched the sun go down over the lively city for the last time, knowing that tomorrow was a new beginning for them. Tomorrow held such excitement, they just knew it would be a wonderful day.