//------------------------------// // Chapter 9: Fillydelphia // Story: Eric Sparkle and the Crystal Caverns // by Skywalker215 //------------------------------// The following morning after breakfast, Eric was in his room packing his clothes, books, plushie dolls, and some of Ron’s pet toys. Afterwards, he played with Ron for a little bit before he went downstairs. “Ron, here boy,” Eric said as he gave a hand signal. Ron came as he was called, then Eric put his harness and leash on him. Once downstairs, Eric rejoined his parents, Spike, and Starlight as they left the castle and went to catch the 9:00 train. At the station, they met up with the rest of their friends, then boarded the train. “Daddy? How long is it to Fillydelphia from here?” Eric asked. “Roughly five hours, that’s why I suggested you pack some books to read,” Storm replied. Eric began reading the ninth and final Space Ponies book. Soon enough after reading, he fell asleep leaning on Twilight, who then blanketed him with her wing. Two hours later, the train reached the Fillydelphia train station. “Eric, wake up. We’re here,” Twilight said gently nudging him. Eric immediately woke up from his nap and walked off in between his parents, then held Twilight’s wing and put his hand on Storm’s back. He lifted himself off the ground for a few seconds. “What are you doing, sweetie?” Twilight asked. “It’s just something that human families do with their kids when they’re strolling,” Eric replied as he kept lifting himself up. Twilight and Storm gave a playful smirk and lifted him up with a wing and magic. “I’m awful hungry, mommy,” Eric said. “Let’s go find something to eat,” Twilight replied. “There’s some food stands in the park,” Storm suggested. Twilight, Storm, and Eric, along with the others got some carrot dogs, tofu strips, and strawberry banana smoothies. “This was a good idea to come here, Eric. Just in time for the Fillydelphia Days Festival tomorrow,” Apple Bloom said. “This is the most patriotic city in all of Equestria,” Scootaloo added. “Mommy, what does ‘patriotic’ mean?” Eric asked. “Patriotic means a deep respect and love for one’s country,” Twilight replied. Rarity and Jasper took a romantic stroll in the park, as did Applejack and Smokey, along with Twilight and Storm, while Rainbow and Forest went on a flight. Eric, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo were in the playground with Spike, Starlight, Pinkie, and Fluttershy watching. Just then, Fancy Pants and Fleur de Lis, with Nightshade, Zuni, Marina, and Slapstick in tow came strolling. Captain Blackthorn and Holly also came to the park. “Hello, Eric,” Nightshade greeted. “Hi, Eric. Hi, girls,” Zuni, Marina, Slapstick, and Holly said in unison. “Nightshade, are you and the others here for the Fillydelphia Days Festival too?” Eric asked. “That’s right, my parents are always making appearances at these events,” Nightshade replied. Fancy Pants and Fleur went off for a romantic stroll, leaving Captain Blackthorn with the mares watching Eric and his friends. Soon enough, Twilight, Storm, Spike, and Starlight checked into a room at the Ye Olde Patriot Inn, as did Rarity and Jasper, Rainbow Dash and Forest Thunder, and Fluttershy and Pinkie. Captain Blackthorn, Holly, Marina, Slapstick, and Zuni got a room as well, with help from Fancy Pants and Fleur de Lis, who also checked in. “I’m getting hungry, mommy,” Eric said as he heard his stomach talking to him. “Now that we’re checked in, let’s say we go out for dinner,” Twilight replied. “How about the Colonial Cafe?” Storm suggested. Twilight, Storm, Spike, and Eric soon met up with Applejack and the others at the Colonial Cafe. “How many?” a hostess asked. “A table for sixteen, please,” Storm said. “We have a large booth just to your right,” the hostess replied. Once seated, they happened to see Blackthorn and Holly, along with Fancy Pants and Fleur de Lis in a booth across from them and looked at the sixteen menus. Eric was looking to see if they had anything he would eat. The waiter came to take their orders and said, “I’m Golden Knife, and I’ll be serving you tonight. What can I get you all to drink?” “We’ll have a sparkling apple cider.” Applejack said on behalf of her and Apple Bloom, ordering first. “I’ll have the same,” Smokey added. “Same for me also,” said Nightshade. “We’ll have the same, too,” Rainbow and Forest said in unison. Next to order was Rarity and Jasper. “I’ll have an iced tea,” Rarity said. “Same for me,” Jasper added. “I’ll also have an iced tea,” said Fluttershy. Next was Pinkie, Starlight, Scootaloo, and Spike. “I’ll have a root beer,” Pinkie said. “Same for me and Spike,” Starlight added and Spike nodded. “I’ll also have a root beer,” Scootaloo said. After them was Eric and Sweetie Belle, along with Twilight and Storm. “I’ll have a glass of whole milk,” Eric said. “Same for me,” Sweetie Belle added. “We’ll just stick with an ice water,” Twilight said. “Ready to order your food or do you need a few more minutes?” Golden Knife asked. “We’re ready. I’ll have the roasted dandelion sandwich,” said Applejack. “I’ll have the same,” Jasper added. “Mac’n cheese for us,” Apple Bloom said on behalf of her and Nightshade. “We’ll have a lily salad,” said Rainbow Dash on behalf of herself and Forest Thunder. “I’ll have the same,” Scootaloo added. “I’ll have a fruit salad with walnuts and pecans,” Pinkie said. “I’ll just have a regular veggie salad,” said Starlight. “Same here,” Fluttershy said. “Hay fries, extra crispy and with cheese,” Spike added. “We’ll have spaghetti with Parmesan cheese,” Rarity said on behalf of herself and Jasper. “We’ll have buttered spaghetti and mozzarella cheese sticks with tomato soup,” Eric and Sweetie Belle said in unison, then giggled afterwards. “I’ll have a clover and daisy sandwich with dressing and a large cheese omelet with extra ketchup,” Twilight said. “I’ll have what my wife is having, hold the dressing and have my omelet a small one, please,” Storm added. Marina, Slapstick, and Zuni also ordered a veggie salad. Half an hour went by and Golden Knife came to the booth with everyone’s food and drinks. As everyone ate, Rarity and Jasper did some romantic feeding, same with Apple Bloom and Nightshade, Scootaloo and Slapstick, as well as Eric and Sweetie Belle. Twilight giggled at this, with Storm saying, “Way to go, son.” After everyone finished eating, it was now 8:00 pm, and Eric was getting tired. “We’re gonna stay with our relatives’ place, so we’ll see you tomorrow for the festival,” Applejack said. “See you tomorrow, mummy. You too, daddy,” Nightshade said to his parents before leaving with Applejack, Smokey, and Apple Bloom. “I’m too tired to walk anymore,” said Eric. “Here, climb on,” Twilight said as she lowered herself. Eric got on his mom’s back and Spike did the same with Storm. Once back in their room, Rainbow Dash and Forest Thunder were about to turn in when something crossed her mind. “Hey, Forest,” Rainbow said in a flirty tone. “Yes, Rainbow?” Forest replied. “You ready for an awesome night of pleasure?” Rainbow asked with a flirty grin and bedroom eyes. “I was hoping you’d ask, of course I am,” Forest said as they got on the bed. Rainbow and Forest began making out, then it soon escalated as the room was filled with the sounds of pleasure. In Twilight and Storm’s room, they had finished tucking in Eric, but he heard some noises coming from his right. “I heard something, think it’s coming from the room to the right of ours,” Eric said, “What is that noise anyway?” “It’s not something you want to hear, and you don’t wanna know for ten years,” Storm replied. “You’re too young to know about it right now,” Twilight added as she cast a soundproofing spell on their room, “There, now you can sleep. Good night, sweetie.” “Night, mommy,” Eric replied drowsily. The next morning after breakfast at the Colonial Cafe, everyone spilt up as they walked around the city. Forest Thunder, Spike, Jasper, and Smoky went with Eric and Storm. Blackthorn, Holly, Marina, Zuni, and Slapstick accompanied Nightshade and his parents. Twilight and the other mares went to have some much-needed girl time. “Seriously, Rainbow Dash, you and Forest Thunder just had to have your way with each other like dogs in heat!” Applejack said. “Rainbow, darling, I know you two were eager take each other’s virginity, but couldn’t it wait until after we got back to Ponyville?” Rarity wondered. “Eric could hear you two from next door, the noise nearly kept him awake! I had to cast a soundproofing spell just to help him sleep! What were you thinking?!” Twilight added. “I’m sorry, Twilight. We were just so caught up in the moment that we didn’t think about anything else,” Rainbow replied, “Now the only ones left of us are Fluttershy, Pinkie, and Starlight.” “Rainbow!” Fluttershy and Starlight yelled in unison as they blushed in embarrassment. Three hours went by, it was noon and the Fillydelphia Days Festival had begun. Eric was sitting on Storm’s back as they met up with the others. “What did you think of the Museum of Equestrian History?” Storm asked. “It was really great, daddy. Thanks for taking me there,” Eric said. “Most welcome, sport,” Storm replied. Four hours later, the festival was in full swing. Eric and his parents, along with the others were attending a duet concert from Countess Coloratura and Sapphire Shores. After their last performance, Rara and Sapphire met up with Applejack, Rarity, and the others. “That was a most beautiful performance, Sapphire,” Rarity said. “You were great too, Rara,” Applejack added. “Thank you, Rarity, dear,” Sapphire replied. “Yeah. Thanks, AJ,” Rara added. “Ow, Sweet Celestia! You’re Eric Sparkle!” Sapphire beamed. “Eric! I haven’t seen you since my concert in Ponyville,” Rara added. “Good to finally meet you, Sapphire Shores,” Eric replied, “It’s good to see you too, Rara.” Soon enough, a light gray unicorn stallion with a brown mane and tail, along with light blue eyes, a blue rock and roll jacket, and a microphone with two crossed drumsticks for a cutie mark came up on stage and started his performance. “Ladies and gentle-colts, give it up for Dazzleflash!” an announcer said. One and a half hours later, Dazzleflash went back onstage from a quick break after performing several songs and then he said over the microphone, “This last one’s for you, Ivy.” (All credit for this song goes to Phil Collins) Once Dazzleflash finished performing, everypony cheered, including his wife, who was a dark red earth pony with a brown mane and tail and wore a purple dress with a frill, along with pearl bracelets and gold slippers, and their foals, Starsong, Lovey Note, Woodwind. After the concert was over, Eric got to meet Dazzleflash and his family. “Hi, Ms. Trinket. Can I please have your autograph on all my copies of the ‘Ponies in Space’ series?” Eric asked. “Good to meet you, Eric Sparkle. You can call me Ivy, and I am always happy to help out a fan of my stories,” Ivy replied. Eric got out all his copies of the ‘Ponies in Space’ series and got them signed. “Thanks, Ivy,” Eric said. “My pleasure,” Ivy replied. “Mommy! Daddy! I got an autograph from Ivy Trinket!” Eric shouted. “That’s great, sport,” Storm said. “How wonderful, sweetie,” Twilight added before wincing in pain. “Mommy, are you okay?” Eric asked. “I’m fine, sweetie. Just having some stomach cramps again,” Twilight replied. “Let’s just have dinner at the Colonial Cafe and get back to the hotel room,” Storm suggested. After having dinner, Twilight and Storm tucked Eric in bed. “Can we please go to Baltimare tomorrow?” Eric asked. “Sure sweetie, then we can go to Manehattan the next two days,” Twilight replied. “After Manehattan, we’re going home. You start school in two weeks, and our friends need to get back to their duties,” Storm added. “Good night, mommy. Night, daddy,” Eric said. “Good night, sweetie,” Twilight replied as she kissed him. “Sweet dreams, son,” Storm added.