It was ugly. Well, perhaps ugly wasn't the word. It was erratic, maybe even insane. It was certainly far more stylized than anything the mare had produced previously. Blobs upon splatters upon smears upon seemingly random swirls in the pigments that were being mixed mindlessly onto the canvas, the clashing hues threatening to become a repugnant brown as the orange messy hooves continued to strike the canvas forcefully. It was almost as if she weren't painting at all, as if she were engaged in a struggle against the art itself, hitting it repeatedly as if trying to punish it. The look on her face supported this conclusion. Her messy hair far more unkempt than usual, her hairband long lost in the puddles on the floor, her ponytail now but a memory. Her eyes were wide and wild, searching across the canvas like a small animal that had been cornered, desperately seeking a way out. Beads of sweat were beginning to form on the creases etched in her forehead. Her jaw remained clench in a steady silence as her hooves worked, continuing to batter the pigments onto the plaster, sending droplets scattering across the berth. The mess in the train car was awful. But there was no helping it now. They would simply have to pay to have it cleaned later. Another expense to be added to the list.
Rarity tilted her head in curiosity as she watched Applejack's feverish painting. This didn't seem right at all. The painting was a bizarre mess. And Applejack herself looked like a mess as well as she sat on the floor, hunched over, smearing the paint wildly around. There was no brush used to create this work, this thing being created. Applejack was in too much of a hurry to worry about that. Roughly she jammed her hoof almost elbow deep into the paint can, drawing it out and immediately starting on another colorful blur. Something had to be wrong. This looked nothing like Applejack's previous art. Even the more impressionistic ones. This was something created entirely out of emotion with little regard to form. Rarity ducked as a green droplet of paint soared by her snout, missing it by inches. She frowned slightly as she watched her friend. An hour ago as the city of Manehattan had come into view, the orange farmer pony had demanded to be allowed to paint. No-one had actually watched her paint before and Rarity felt honored at being one of the few to see one of these beautiful pieces happen. That is until the cans of paint and canvas had been very roughly torn from her grasp and set to floor. The cans were beaten open by Applejack's strong hooves and then this mess of paint had begun. Rarity had said nothing, assuming this was how things typically went for the process.
But now the smears of paint began to make their way off the canvas and to the floor. And now as Applejack's labored breathing was becoming a series of quiet painful yelps, Rarity realized something was indeed very very wrong. She had grown quite fond of Applejack, despite their differences. But the emotion on her friend's face was one she could not recognize. It was beyond anything she'd seen Applejack express. But as the pupils continued to contract and the flurry of hooves continued to mess up the floor, Rarity could feel the hairs on the back of her neck prick up. Applejack was feeling fear, that had to be it. But not just fear, this was mortal terror. It was time to intervene and find out for sure. But any questions Rarity had were answered quickly when the train car lurched slightly as it went over a hill, causing a high pitched squeak to emanate from Applejack's throat, large tears forming and immediately cascading down her face, falling to the floor and mixing into the paint.
"Applejack? Applejack! Dear, what is wrong you? I've never seen you like this! Do you need help are you sick?"
Applejack made a loud rasp as she cleared her throat, suddenly staring at Rarity as if it was their first time ever laying eyes on each other. "No I'm fine I'm fine I'm fine. Finefinefinefinefine."
"No you are not, you look awful and....you're hyperventilating!" Rarity hopped off her seat and put her arms around Applejack's neck, trying not too gently to pull her away from the painting. "Over here. Now."
"I don't...I don't need help I'm f-f-f-f-f-f-f-fine." Applejack began to stutter and shiver violently as Rarity stroked her friend's mane.
"What has gotten into you? What's frightening you? We can change cars if you'd like."
"I ain't s-s-s-scared, m'fine."
"Be honest with me, Applejack! WHAT IS WRONG?!" Rarity shouted, her voice rising as she continued to grow more frightened herself at her friend's bewildering state.
"Maybe I'm a little."
"A little what?"
"Scared." Applejack squeaked as one of the paint cans fell over with a quiet clang causing her to jump. She began to shiver uncontrollably, gasping for breath, her eyes rolling in her head as the volume of her voice rose in panic. "It's real hot in here I need to I uh I-I-I n-n-n-need to get off this! Off this train! HELP CONDUCTOR! HELP STOP THE TRAIN!!"
Applejack suddenly thrashed her way out of Rarity's grasp, pulling the door to their berth open with a loud crack. She paused for a moment staring at the opposite wall then immediately launched into the corridor, followed quickly by Rarity who was determined to help her friend.
"You really need to calm down, Applejack! You're scaring me and everyone else. You clearly need a doctor so just...... wait what....what's wrong?"
Applejack's eyes filled with tears as her face suddenly flushed. Her whole body seemed to grow very pale as her legs began to wobble, losing their energy. She tilted and slammed into the wall of the corridor with a deafening crack, sinking to the floor, her hooves shaking as she tried to keep her head up.
"Rare? Rare!? I can't see ya. Don't leave me!"
"Yes I'm right here!"
"I think I'm sick, I think I'm gonna throw up."
With a strength that surprised even the unicorn herself, Rarity soon found herself tossing Applejack's body inelegantly onto her back and galloping towards the back of the car where the latrines were kept. She kicked the door open and placed Applejack in front of the toilet, rubbing her friend's back. Applejack shivered again, lowering her head into the bowl, starting to make gagging noises. The hooves on her back were somewhat comforting and the feeling of fainting was slowly starting to pass. Rarity pursed her lips and exhaled a cool stream of air onto Applejack's neck, trying to cool her. The poor mare was burning up, her back alone felt like it had been lying on a hot sidewalk during a summer afternoon. Eventually the gagging noises stopped and Applejack's pained gasps of air became quiet breaths once more. After a few minutes she lifted her head from the toilet and sat staring at the wall before turning to her friend.
"Nothin' came out. I haven't eatin' nothin' so I guess I couldn't barf up nothin'."
"You haven't eaten all day? Why on earth would you not eat when you knew we'd be spending most of today on a train?"
"Too nervous."
"Do I need to get the doctor? He's only a few traincars away."
"Nah, I'm fine now."
"Mmm hmm." Rarity raised an eyebrow. She'd heard that before.
"Naw I mean it this time. Thanks, Rare."
"What frightened you so much? You've been acting like a crazed beast for the last hour and then suddenly you're having some sort of panic attack. It's not this train is it? Is the train bothering you?"
"No, I like trains, Rare. Even fast ones like this'un."
"Well, as your friend I am not letting you leave this bathroom stall until you tell me what is wrong. I'm not letting you spend this trip ill or injured for my sake." Rarity crossed her forearms and shot an upset look at Applejack. She had never seen the normally very brave earth pony act this way. Something was clearly giving the mare more anxiety then she knew how to handle.
"I'm afraid, Rare." Applejack whispered breathlessly, tears starting to form in her eyes again.
"Of...?"
"Manehattan." she squeaked out, her voice cracking as she fought to keep her composure.
"Oh you poor thing." Rarity hugged her friend close, patting her back. "What scares you about it? The high crime rates? The smell? It is a very smelly sort of town, I must admit."
"I can't really say."
"Why not?"
"It just....I don't want to talk about it. It just does."
"Applejack if just looking at the city is enough to make you this sick, why in Equestria would you agree to come on this trip in the first place? I told you I could take care of the auction if you wanted me to. Why do this to yourself?"
"I figured since Canterlot turned out ok, maybe this place would too and......and I wanted to spend time with ya."
Rarity broke the hug and gently pushed Applejack away to look into her face with a confused look, trying hard not to seem elated at these words.
"I never had many friends, Rare. Not close ones anyway n'....I like ya. Yer the best friend I've ever managed to have." Applejack bit her lip as she looked woozily up at the ceiling. "I figured if I could get over my heebie-jeebies we could be pals some more. Didn't think it was this bad."
"I'm touched, really. I adore our time together as well and I'm somewhat flattered you sacrificed your sanity to be here with me. But regardless, I'm taking you to the sleeping car. You clearly need to lie down for a while and calm your nerves. We don't need you throwing up all over the train. I wouldn't be surprised if you gave yourself motion sickness from trying to paint in a moving vehicle."
"Have....I been paintin'? Is that why my arms are all muddy-lookin'?"
"You don't remember?"
"Nope. Last hour's been a blur."
With Applejack leaning wearily on Rarity the two made their way back to their messy paint-covered berth. Applejack stared down in confusion at the deluge of random colors and smudges that had destroyed the carpeted floor and the canvas sitting in the middle of it. Colored hoofprints were everywhere.
"I made that, huh?"
"Yes you've been working on it for about an hour and a half. Just painting like crazy as if your very life depended on it. There was such passion in it. I thought it was beautiful seeing you work. Watching you create what I hoped would be a new magnum opus. Then of course I realized you were ill."
"Sure is an ugly son of a gun, ain't it? Hoo wee!"
"It's....not your best."
"Wellp. Let's hang onto it, maybe I can turn it into somethin' nice later when I'm feelin' less woozy."
Applejack glanced up at the window. It seemed the universe had yet another cruel joke to play as the absurdly large metal billboard that read "Welcome to Manehattan! The Industrial Capitol!" flew past, it's massive silhouette blotting out all rays from the sun for the briefest of instants, causing the traincar to fall into complete darkness for a mere moment. Applejack felt all the blood rush to her hooves again as she choked slightly, turning to Rarity with a wobbly grin.
"Heya, I think I'm gonna pass out. Wait. Yep. I am."
And she did. With a flutter of her eyes and a small burp, the orange earth pony crumpled to the ground in a heap, her face slamming into the paint soaked floor. Rarity sighed slightly as she watched her friend's unconscious form quiver while her uneasy breathing grew quieter. This trip seemed off to a bad start already. If Applejack was this nervous of the city alone, how on earth would the auction turn out?
***********************************************************************************************
Manehattan's namesake as the head of Industry was not to be lightly challenged. Every new device, design, and household product that ponies used every day had its origins, and often production, within the massive metropolis. If Canterlot was the mother of modern science, then Manehattan was the father. Textiles, food processing, chemical refinement, long production lines and happy workers, the iconic signs of the bustling city. Peaked brick and mortar skyscrapers dotted the landscape, festooned with stucco and wrought iron balconies and fences. Wrought iron bridges connected the upper floors of some skyscrapers that were close enough to allow such a marvel of midair travel, cutting down on transit time for those brave few who didn't fear heights.
For those who loved the calm serenity of nature, Manehattan was a blight. Foreboding, massive, and grotesque with it's billowing smokestacks, pumping colorful clouds of pollutants into the sky. But for those who loved the design of urban and metropolitan areas, the city was a shining jewel in a sea of mundane nothingness. It went by many nicknames as well, earned from years of complex capitalist culture. The Crade of Equestria. The Birthplace of Electricity. The Steam of the Engine. The City of Bits. The Brick Horseshoe. Manny's Town. The Big Orange. Luna's Pearl. The City So Large that it's In Charge. Empire of Dreams. The City that Celestia Forgot. All amusingly accurate in their own way, to be sure. However the mainstay nickname had always been The Big Orange. Founded almost 2,500 years prior by Maple Orange and Mercy Orange, a traveling plutocrat and his doting altruist wife who dreamed of having a place to live away from the naive aristocratic society of Canterlot. Together they had turned the barren infertile land into a small town. Then gold was struck a few years later inside a private strip mine owned by Gracious Pie, a mare prospector many believed to be mad. The city grew as ponies arrived in crowds, hoping to find their own fortune in gold. When they couldn't, they turned to other means. Housing, business, law practices, enforcement, and railroads soon all became large factors in the city's growth. By the time Maple Orange finally stepped down after nearly 30 terms as mayor of Manehattan, the humble mining town was no more, now replaced by a wealthy and inventive interurban region of technological progress. The last words in his will and testament had been "Never forget, we may not all be earth ponies, but we all came from the earth".
On the southeast side of the city, a beautiful white unicorn leaned on the bannister of her hotel balcony, staring out into the unfathomably large array of tall buildings that covered the sky. Clouds drifted leisurely between the buildings, mingling with the plumes of steam and smoke that gushed upward, interrupted only by the rare flock of pigeons or pelicans that would rush by, seeking the sea or ponies who weren't keeping an eye on their food. The air was pungent, smelling of cinders and copper that made the unicorn wrinkle her nose when the wind picked up. Muffled shouts and music occasionally broke through the dense layers of cloud and smoke, echoing across the expanse of the upper narrows of the city, reminding those who lived at these altitudes that there was a whole world just below them.
The unicorn sat quietly, an expression of sadness on her half-lidded eyes. Had it been a mistake to bring her friend here? Should she have picked up the signs? Why was Applejack reacting to the city this way? Her family's reaction to the news hadn't been great. Her friend's handsome older brother had seemed almost frightened at the news. The grandmother seemed disappointed. But the unicorn had simply carried on, unable to let their reactions ruin her pride and glee. Now she sat alone, her friend inside the hotel room, out cold and whimpering in her sleep, like a newborn. It was devastating to see someone so brave and calm in such a state. Had this all been a mistake, the unicorn thought. Was this all her fault? Should she have insisted to come alone? Insisted it would be no trouble? Now her friend was sick and it was all because she'd been too selfish to just observe and gauge the gulps and exchanged looks of her friend's family. Why had she been so adamant on bringing her friend anyway? Had they really grown so close? Being alone was nothing new. Not on a business trip. But the thought of being here without someone to talk to bothered her. Even now it bothered her, as she sat by herself on the balcony, deep in thought, wondering what her next course of action should be.
A rustling of fabric in the bedroom alerted Rarity that her sleeping friend had finally woken up. It had been a few hours since Applejack had fainted. With the aid of two bellcolts at the hotel they had managed to carry her unconscious form upstairs after the clinic on the train had informed Rarity that there was nothing wrong with Applejack, besides too much stress. The train conductor had been upset about the mess in their cabin, but quickly had solved the issue on his own. After plucking off his stately hat, and revealing a gnarled twisted horn on his forehead, he had soon removed all the paint from the carpet in a small sparkle of purple magic. He bade Rarity farewell, reminding her that if motion sickness was a problem, there WERE other forms of travel available. It had been somewhat embarrassing pulling the unconscious mare through the streets and into the hotel elevator. A few smirks and haughty looks had been flashed in Rarity's direction as she had passed through the lobby. But that was all over now, which she was quite glad for as she sighed and entered the bedroom.
"How are you feeling, Applejack? Want anything? We appear to have an endless stream of soda pop in the cabinet. Not sure if we're supposed to pay for it or not. Cross that bridge when we come to it, I suppose."
"Wuzzat? Who? Oh. Where the heck am I?"
"The hotel, dear. Ritzy Radcliff's Retro Resort, complete with an outdoor pool, and indoor pool, and a pool that's sort of in-between the two."
"How long have I been out?"
"Three hours or so. Ooh! They have a downstairs casino here you know. First time I ever came to this town I must have lost a third of my life-savings on some sort of money-eating contraption. Foolish decisions from a younger, more foolish me."
"Hey, Rare?" Applejack asked, lifting her head from the bed and looking sheepishly down at the comforter.
"Yes?" Rarity had poured two glasses of lime soda, placing one on a cart next to the bed for Applejack. "Here you are."
"Why um....what do you get out of this?"
"What do I get out the what? Hm?" Rarity cocked her head to the side, raising an eyebrow as she took a sip.
"I mean like....I mean besides a cut of the profits of these paintin's I guess my question is, why? Like, why are you so nice to me?"
"I'm not sure what you mean, really."
"Alright, um well lemme think here. I don't wanna sound like I ain't real appreciative of all the things you've done for me lately, I guess I just can't understand why you...uh, do 'em."
"Well you're my friend after all. I'm not just going to leave you on the train passed out."
"It's not just that. I mean.....you've been spendin' all this time helpin' me out. Bein' my friend and showin' me new things and you've paid so much money just to have us travel around."
"So?"
"It's so expensive."
"You have no idea how much I make!" Rarity quipped with a sly smirk. "What's REALLY bothering you?"
"I guess, well, you could be spendin' all this time hangin' out at the spa with Fluttershy or spendin' the afternoon with Pinkie Pie. Ponies you've known for a real long time. You've put up with me n' my bad habits and I know I've gotten on your nerves more than once on this trip. I guess I can't understand why.... me? When you got better options."
"Now hold on just one darn moment." Rarity's face went very stern as she put her lime drink on the table. "Are you insinuating that you are somehow not WORTHY of the same level of love and care I give to my other friends?"
"Well no, it's just it's so costly and out of the way and I feel like you keep givin' and givin' and givin' and I ain't done nothin' nice back for ya. I feel guilty about it all."
"So you feel that I, the Element of Generosity, am being too generous perhaps?"
"Sorta?"
"You worry about the silliest things, really you do. Let's make a list shall we? A list of all the wonderful things you've done for me and the others on a regular basis that you apparently don't think is valuable. For starters, you've saved my life twice, and Twilight's once. Fluttershy's I've love count by now. You've helped us defeat a chaotic spirit, an evil queen, a deranged emperor, an evil rock wizard, one half of the heads of the Royal Family...."
"But..."
"You frequently give me and others free food and shelter. You invite us onto your farm and treat us not like guests, but like family. You funded the effort to rebuild town hall after it was destroyed. You spend all your time every winter helping prepare for spring even though we all know you have more important responsibilities on the farm. You harvested almost your entire acre of trees on your own when your brother was injured, nearly killing yourself I might add. You helped me fix the town's dam. You funded the creation of the halfway house for all the orphaned foals in town so they stop running around the streets at night like hooligans."
"Yeah, but....."
"You helped Rainbow Dash train for the Wonderbolts and even though she didn't get the internship I know she appreciates it and thinks you are the best pony in the world. She'd never admit that, of course. You help Fluttershy round up all the smaller more defenseless animals every year so she can keep an eye on them, even though Celestia knows she could do it herself if she tried harder. You ran away from home and worked like a slave in a fruit factory simply because you didn't want to come home empty handed from a fundraiser. You fought off those ghastly wolves that tried to invade the town last year when everyone else was too frightened to do so."
"Yeah! But..."
"You have basically raised your baby sister on your own. You've taught her how to be a well-mannered and generous young lady. Oh but wait, I've entirely forgotten how your Apple Farm is one of the most important historical and business landmarks in our little town and you have kept it in tip-top shape for as long as I can remember since your Grandmother can hardly do it herself anymore. You've done everything in your power to keep the Apple name a pure symbol of hard work and dependability."
"Yeah but I don't do all that on my own!" Applejack spluttered.
"Then of course there's the barn-raising you do for the ponies without homes. The street-sweeping services your provide in fall after all the leaves flop all over the ground like lazy miscreants. Removing the termites from all the cottages in town when we were overrun. Letting me use you as a model for when I wanted to show off to Hoity Toity. You provide free apples for Sugarcube Corner, and I know they only stay in business due to the apple pastries they make with them. So by that logic, you're the real reason Pinkie Pie has anywhere to live."
"That's kinda stretchin' it."
"But that leaves us at the final point on the list here where you helped me make up with my little sister."
"Shucks, Rare that wasn't-"
"NO!! It was! Have you ever had your sister tell you she hates you? Has Applebloom ever EVER told you she hates you and never wishes to see you ever again? Even going so far as to run away from home and you? Causing you and your family to be besides themselves with worry wondering if she's ok?"
"I...uh..."
"HAS SHE!?" Rarity screeched.
"No."
"Well, it hurts! Alot, actually! And if it hadn't been for you I never would have realized what a selfish pony I had become and she and I would probably never have spoken again. If she hadn't found you and Applebloom after running away I might never have seen her again. I have nightmares about that. But I can rest easy now thanks to you. And all these things you do, all these great and wonderful acts of kindness, and I have yet to ever see you ask for anything from anyone. Whether it's out of pride or reluctant shyness, I have never seen you ask for help or money or even friendship. Even though I am fully aware you need all three of these things. Some more than others."
"I never thought of it that way, I guess. I just do that stuff cause it feels right. It's the right thing to do. It's what my daddy would of done."
"Why do you think I do things for you, then? Applejack you're going to have to learn to stop pushing us all away. You're almost as defensive as Rainbow is at times. I like you, darling. I really honestly do." Rarity leaned forward, planting a small tender peck on Applejack's forehead. "We all love you. You don't need to feel like you owe me or anyone anything, because you MOST CERTAINLY do not. Understand?"
"Yeah, I do." Applejack grinned. "Sorry, Rarity. I've been kinda down in the dumps lately, haven't I?"
"A bit, yes. And if you aren't willing to tell me why right now, that's fine. I am patient. Next time I ask you to enjoy yourself, think of it as an order. It is no longer optional. I am commanding you to be happy when good things happen. Yes?"
"Yes!"
"Fabulous. Now we have three days until the auction and I'd rather we spent them having fun instead of in this lavish little hotel discussing why you're fantastic."
"Heh. Well alrighty, then."
"Good! Now BEHOLD!" Rarity shot a small tornado of sparkles from the end of her horn, lifting her purple suitcase off the floor. The latch clicked open as the case revealed its contents. Two dresses flew out from inside. One was blue with glittery sequin stripes of purple along it's seams. Laced cuffs extended from the shoulders, glittering with lavender sparkles. The other was red with orange ruffles along it's hem. The red one landed next to Applejack as Rarity held hers aloft, admiring it.
"Lovely, aren't they? Not surprising I suppose; I did make them after all." Rarity winked. "We are going to look stunning. Every mustang in Manehattan's jaws will drop to the floor like cartoon characters when they see us, Applejack. Perhaps we can find a nice bronco who can tame the wild farm girl, hm?"
"Aw jeez, Rare."
"Oh I'm just playing with you. Take a look at what I made for you, go on."
"This is even prettier than my Gala dress!" cried Applejack as she studied the article, flipping it in her hooves.
"Oh those old things. I tossed mine out right after the Grand Galloping Gala. It was old fashion the moment I put it on! This however is fresh! Suave. Chic. I know you don't normally enjoy frilly things which is why I tried to make yours seem a bit less flashy."
"It's awful pretty. Prettiest dress I've seen in a long time. Thanks, Rarity. Thanks for everything. I'll try not get freaked out when we wander around Manehattan."
"If you start to feel ill, you let me know. Understand? Don't hurt yourself for my sake. Let me know right away."
"I will."