FILLYDELPHIA! THE AGRICULTURAL CAPITAL OF EQUESTRIA.
Read the train station billboard in giant print across the bottom of a picture depicting two ponies harvesting a variety of fruits and vegetables from a huge bush. Since they were depicted in traditional Equestrian style it was difficult to guess whether the ponies were enjoying themselves, but Twilight couldn’t stop herself from imagining a huge grin on both there faces. Twilight herself couldn’t stop smiling when she saw Big Mac get off the train after Rarity and Applejack, she imagined this must be what its like to be Pinkie Pie, unable to stop feeling happy at small things like that. The couple hadn’t left each others embrace for a moment during the long train ride here, but Twilight already wanted nothing more then to be enveloped again by Big Mac’s hooves. Trotting over to him she beamed the smile stretching her face up at the object of her affection.
“So when exactly is the rodeo going to start? Are we heading there now or do we have something else planned?”
“Uh, Twilight.” Applejack said, startling her since she had already forgotten anypony else was there. “The rodeo doesn’t start till tomorrow, and it’s rather late for us to be wonderin’ round town, we wouldn’t be able to see much.” Twilight looked up at the sky to determine the time and was surprised to find the sun was on the verge of setting. She had spent a little longer in Big Mac’s arms then she thought; not that she was upset about that.
“We do need to check into our rooms though.” Rarity remarked as she supervised the offloading of her things by the train’s conductor who was struggling to pull what looked to be Rarity’s sofa out of storage under the train. “At this rate we’ll never get there before nightfall though.” Rarity sighed and took a short break to stand with the others. “However should we find ourselves out and about at such an hour we could always see the city’s nightlife. It’s certainly not going to be as vibrant as somewhere like Manehattan, but compared to Ponyville I’m sure it will be dazzling.” Rarity proceeded to drift off into a fantasy, leaving her companions to stand silently for a moment before she shook her head and regained focus. “Of course that’s just my suggestion.”
“We’ll see when we get there.” Applejack said. “Personally I think we should get some sleep.”
“Didn’t you get to sleep on the train?” Twilight asked, she thought for sure she heard Applejack snoring through the thin wall separating their rooms.
“Ya bet your tail I did, but I’m goin’ to need a lot more if I’m goin’ to be rested enough to practice, and then compete tomorrow. Lots of physical activity means lots of sleep, and I’m sure Macintosh feels the same way, dontcha.”
“Eeyup.” Big Mac replied. Twilight lost just the tinniest amount of her smile. Big Mac had been awake the whole trip with her, was he supposed to have slept that whole time? She really hopped she hadn’t accidentally damaged his chances in the rodeo by being there with him. Just then the conductor (along with the help of the trains driver and the station manager) finally managed to get the last bag off the train and asked surprisingly politely if they wanted a carriage to there hotel. Rarity of course responded yes, and replied with a question of her own to the effect of if they would be willing to help her load her things onto the carriage when it arrived. The response to that wasn’t as polite.
* * *
It was an absolutely beautiful hotel, for the place it was in. The hotel itself was only around five stories tall and had no staff whatsoever outside the receptionist from the looks of it. The lobby that greeted the ponies looked like it had seen better years but was by no means close to giving up on itself. Grass green carpets and clearly uncomfortable matching chairs were the only things leading up to the well polished but worn desk that sat at the opposite side of the room.
“Applejack please tell me this is not where we’re staying.” Rarity pleaded in a whisper just loud enough for Twilight to overhear as they made there way to the cheery cream colored pony behind the desk. “These colors are absolutely dreadful, and if I have to sleep in a room that’s as badly coordinated as those chairs I’ll be spending more time having them rearrange the furniture then I will using it!”
“I’d ask to see if we were at the wrong place, but I’m sure this is it.” Applejack responded with her voice sounding slightly annoyed.
“Well how can you be so sure? Maybe the other hotels here are expecting us, or at least not expecting a call from the old ponies home to ask if there design choices are working out.”
“There ain’t anypony waiting for us that don’t already know we’re here. And just for your own benefit there ain’t no s on the end of hotel in this town.” Rarity gasped.
“You mean this city only has two hotels! Well I would still like to see the other one, it might-”
“Rarity this is the hotel, the only hotel in Fillydelphia.” Rarity stopped dead in her tracks for a second before she dropped her head and kept pace behind the group.
“Just one hotel, if I wanted a town with just one of every type of building I would have stayed in Ponyville.” Big Mac had already reached the counter and was doing his best to negotiate rooms next to each other for their group.
“I’m sorry but rooms right next to each other is just going to be impossible with the rodeo in town, and four single rooms is even harder. I could put you in two rooms with double beds. Would that be alright?” Said the cream colored mare with an amount of pep in her voice that was a perfect contrast to Rarity’s muttering. Big Mac turned to Applejack and let her take over.
“Are ya sure that’s all ya can do for us? I mean we’re not goin’ to be here for long and we’ve got the bits to pay for it.” The mare behind the desk flipped through a book in front of her quickly before giving Applejack a genuine looking sympathetic expression. It just can’t be done, the best I can do for you is two double rooms, and that’s only if you don’t mind climbing five flights of stairs.”
“You’re expecting me to climb!” Rarity practically shouted causing everypony to turn toward her. Producing a slight blush, Rarity turned so that one eye was facing away and the other was partially concealed by her hairstyle. “A lady can’t be expected to traverse such a height for no reason. Applejack, I ask you find some other means to arrange us, and only if that’s the last option we have should you select it…Please.” Applejack turned back to the mare whom was already flipping back through the book.
“I could get a single room on the first floor, but its small.”
“I’m afraid that won’t work either.” Rarity said. “I’ll need room for my luggage.” The mare flipped the book from cover to cover and back again, but after her third read through she looked up at the group.
“The double rooms on the top floor are the best I have. If that’s not going to work you can wait and see if one of the reservations doesn’t show but there is no way for me to guarantee-”
“We’ll just take the rooms on the top.” Applejack said, not willing to sit in the lobby as they waited for ponies to not show. The mare didn’t have to be told twice as she quickly took everypony’s signature and handed out keys.
“It’s going to be a pain trying to get all my things up there, but I’m sure you’ll manage with some help.” Rarity said, regaining her usual poise in spite of what Twilight knew must be a horrible situation for her.
“My thoughts exactly sugar cube,” Applejack said as she turned and headed out to the carriage where everything still sat neatly stacked atop it. “That’s why your goin’ to use that fancy magic of yours to get us started by lifting your bags off the cart so we can bring them upstairs.”
“You’re expecting me to lift!” Rarity almost screamed.
* * *
It was far past dark when the ponies combined efforts finally got the last bag to the top floor of the hotel. Twilight took a short break to rest on Rarity’s sofa, but before she could get to comfortable Rarity flopped across her lap.
“That was so much work! I thought we would never finish!”
“We would have been done a lot sooner if ya had done your fair share.” Applejack said as she eyed Rarity with a look of displeasure she didn’t even attempt to hide. Rarity responded with a flip of her mane as she starred up at Twilight seemingly unaware that she was pinning her in place.
“Obviously somepony doesn’t know how to treat a lady. I’m not as lucky as you Twilight” Rarity spoke at Twilight but her voice was much too loud for her not to be intending Applejack to hear.
“Now hold up, I’m just as much a mare as the next pony, I know how to act.” Rarity gave Twilight an amused smile before turning back to Applejack.
“There is a difference between a mare and a lady darling.” Sitting up slightly, Rarity cast a quick look around the hallway. “Are we really the only two rooms up here? No wonder this hotel was so full.” Twilight glanced up and down the corridor and despite some difficulty seeing around the end of the sofa confirmed that excluding the open arch to the stairway at either end of the hall there was only two doors to be found, both facing each other in the middle of the passage.
“We’ll still be lucky to get all this inside one of the rooms.” Twilight said as she tried to visualize the task of moving the mountains of luggage once again. Suddenly, an idea came over Rarity, Twilight could tell because her body tensed and froze for an instant before a grin slowly made its way onto her face as she glanced between Twilight and Big Mac.
“We? Oh darling.” Rarity said, giggling a little. “There will be no we, Applejack and I will take it from here, you and Big Mac need to get yourselves settled in.” Applejack’s eyes grew wide and her mouth dropped open for a moment.
“Rarity what in tarnation are ya talkin’ about! We can’t possibly do all this work by ourselves!”
“Oh we’ll find a way I assure you.” Rarity stood and opened the door to one of the rooms with her magic. “You wanted to get ready for the rodeo didn’t you? Well here is a perfect way to build up some strength and stamina.”
“But… even if this was goin’ to help me with that, which I don’t need a lick of help in that area I assure you. Wouldn’t it make more since to have Big Mac build up some of it to?” Rarity gave the most suggestive glare at Twilight before disappearing into the room.
“Oh he’ll be getting a workout tonight either way.” Twilight and Applejack shared the same expression, bewildered, angry, confused, and a couple other emotions rolled into one. “I won’t here a word to the contrary.”
Suddenly, One of the bags was engulfed in Rarity’s magic aura and sent floating calmly into the open passageway. Noise that could only be something breaking or something being shoved aside was followed by a small mumble that was presumably Rarity talking to herself and then another Bag making it’s way into the room.
“Applejack? Would you be a dear and pull my sofa in here next? I want a place to sit while I organize everything.” Twilight turned to Applejack to see how to respond and saw her just standing still, shaking her head.
“Maybe I shouldn’t have said anythin’ about the rodeo to her, I knew this was gonna happen. Best get up Twilight, she’ll just keep callin’ out here till I drag that thing in there.” Twilight was frozen in place.
“You’re not actually going to listen to her are you? We can’t just leave you here to do all the work.” Applejack gave Twilight a stern glare.
“Twi if ya want to go in there and try to talk her into lettin’ ya help be my guest. I know I can be a might stubborn, but Rarity is worse then me by far, she doesn’t know the meanin’ of givin in. I’ve known her longer then ya have known either of us so just take my word on that as the honest truth. I don’t know why she want’s this like it is but I’m just goin’ to move on. I’ll see ya tomorrow Twilight.” What was Twilight supposed to do? She stood and let Applejack begin contorting the sofa into the doorway as bags continued to fly past her regularly. Big Mac just gave the two questioning glances as Twilight stood there watching and thinking intently.
* * *
Another crash, this time louder then the last one. Twilight was sitting cross-hoofed on the sofa (one of the few pieces of furniture her room provided.) as Big Mac searched for a place to put his saddlebags.
“Can you believe her? Asking us to just sit in here while they make all that noise and shift eight tons of stuff around. Applejack is your sister, can’t you talk some since into her?”
“Nope.” Big Mac had located the closet next to the door back out to the hall, now the only question was where to put his bag inside it.
“So we’re just going to pretend like theirs nothing we could do to help them?”
“Eeyup.” Twilight let out an aggravated cry as she fell back into the squeaky and uncomfortable material of the sofa behind her, almost being engulfed by it as air escaped from unseen holes in the cushions. This room, keeping with the style of the rest of the hotel, was just as poorly decorated as Rarity had feared. The walls were bare of everything but dust and housed only the sofa and a small side table by the door to the hall. It wasn’t a small room either, as it seemed to connect to only two other doors that must house behind them the entirety of the space remaining on this floor. Twilight assumed they were bedrooms, meaning Rarity’s accusation would prove false.
A huge red blush kissed her cheeks and her nose scrunched slightly as she thought about Rarity’s last parting comment. Now that she was able to think it over and assess it properly, Twilight was steaming that anypony would think she and Big Mac had moved to that stage of their relationship so early, let alone think they would… buck… in a hotel room. It had still only been a few days since they had told each other there first I love You, but Twilight was sure if Rarity had any say in it they’d already be out picking her wedding dress. Scratch that, Rarity would insist on designing the dress, she’d just have twilight there to watch and gossip.
Big Mac settled on the lower left hoof corner of the closet (it would be the easiest to reach when opening the door, or at least he thought it would be.) and came over to sit next to Twilight, who was in no mood to see just how handsome he looked with his harness off. (He had left it in Ponyville, which made since considering it would only slow him down in the rodeo.) The bulky stallion took a seat beside her and made to wrap a hoof around her, which she only marginally decided she would enjoy.
“Is there somthin’ wrong sugar cube? You can’t be this upset about them two mares cross the hall can ya?” Twilight loosened the stiff nature of her posture and eased a little closer to Big Mac, resting her head on his shoulder instead of the sofa.
“What is with Rarity lately, a couple days ago she gave me this really cryptic message about us falling in love and then there was that outburst at the Ponyville train station. Now she’s got Applejack sorting bags, and did you hear what she said about you and me just now?” That last comment had Twilight turn her head up to see if Big Mac was as appalled as she was. He only nodded. “I just don’t get it.” Twilight put her head on Big Mac’s chest, her horn just underneath his neck, and hugged him gently. Big Mac’s normally strong pull on her felt incredibly relaxed when he circled his arms around her small form and returned her embrace. A feeling of safety Twilight couldn’t tell if she enjoyed washed over her; it was unfair how Big Mac could make her feel so many things she had never felt before without even trying.
“I think I know why she would be actin’ differently around ya now.” Big Mac spoke very slowly, as if each word carried its own meaning and couldn’t be overlooked. “But if I tell ya why, ya have to promise not to say a word to her.” Twilight’s curiosity mixed with the burst of love that came from her heart as each syllable of speech hit her ears, and she tightened her grip just a little. Just enough to tell Big Mac she promised, but not enough for him to tighten his as well and spoil the tender moment that was developing. “When was the last time Rarity told ya about her coltfriend?” Twilight gave the question serious thought despite the overwhelming flutter of her heart at the mention of the word coltfreind while Big Mac was there.
“I didn’t know she had one. Who is he?”
“She doesn’t have one, she’s single. Now when was the last time she told ya about her previous relationships?”
“I don’t know, usually she’s talking about other ponies getting together, I always tune out when she starts up about it.” Big Mac started to run a hoof through Twilight’s mane, initiating a little routine they had worked out that followed what they had done in the hospital in the days after the first time they got to see each other and shared there first kiss. She didn’t know why they still did this, maybe there was a certain magic in the moment they wanted to capture, maybe the repetition made them feel comfortable, but Twilight always loved this part best. Something about knowing how soft Big Mac was being now and how hard and firm that finally kiss would feel made it impossible for her not to go through the motions.
“While that doesn’t surprise me, I should tell ya theirs a reason ya don’t remember her sayin’ anythin’. She’s never been in a relationship, at least not one that anypony knows about.” Twilight wrapped her arms around his neck as she replied.
“I find that hard to believe, she’s always so open with stallions.”
“That’s just it though, she can be like that because she never has anypony to go home to and be the subject of her affection. I’ve lived in Ponyville all my life, and never once have I heard of anypony who claimed to be with her.” The next phase of there routine had begun, where Big Mac began to rub his hoof up and down her back beginning at her cheek and ending just above her flank, and Twilight would make little squeaks against her will each time he stopped to reverse directions.
“Maybe she just doesn’t like to go public about it. *Squeak* after all she’s always worried about fashion and image and stuff like *Squeak* that so maybe she’d just be embarrassed to *Squeak* talk about it.”
“I don’t think so, for one very important reason.” Twilight took one hoof off Big Mac’s neck and began to twirl it in a circle on his chest.
“What’s that?”
“That filly wants to get hitched, bad. Applejack made the mistake of tellin’ her about my run in with Miss. Cheerilee and I swear, she showed up with a book as tall as me full to bustin’ with wedding ideas. All that fashion and beauty stuff she like so much is nothin’ compared to walkin’ down the isle.” Big Mac had switched to the final part of their little ritual, running his hoof from the base of Twilight’s horn to her cutie mark, which produced such an intense longing for the kiss she knew was coming her twirling hoof on his chest began to pick up speed with her heart.
“But what does *Squeak* that have to do with *Squeak* us.”
“Twilight, she must see our relationship as a kind of mirror, a way to look at what it would be like to have somepony like we have. If she can’t live it herself then she wants us to live it for her, in a way at least. I’m no psychologist, but that’s what it seams like to me.” Twilight’s circling was starting to get slightly spastic in anticipation. Without any warning, Twilight felt Big Mac’s hoof change course, making its way up her side to her chin, lifting it up to look him in the eyes.
“How could she not find at least one pony as wonderful as you to be with her though? That’s the only thing that doesn’t add up.” Twilight’s hoof grew even shakier and her body tensed.
“I don’t know, maybe nopony ever got to see her inner beauty, like I’m seein’ yours now.” Twilight could barely take it; she squeezed herself close to him and closed her eyes as they shared the most gentle yet powerful kiss you could imagine. This time there lips were barely touching each other, but the emotion and passion in this moment made it feel like they were almost fusing together. When the kiss broke, and Twilight felt a wave of unending fatigue wash over her body, she opened her eyes to see Big Mac’s gentle smile.
“I’m going to need to think on that, somehow that doesn’t seam like exactly the answer to me.” Big Mac nodded. “For now however, I think we should get some sleep, you’ll need rest for the rodeo tomorrow.”
“Which room do you want? Big Mac asked. Twilight got up and began walking toward the closest door, which was only a few feet away.
“I’ll just take this one.” She opened the door with her magic and cast a look to Big Mac showing nothing but uncensored bliss. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
“Eeyup” As Twilight walked into the room however she wasn’t paying attention and smacked strait into something. Rubbing her nose, Twilight lit her horn again and was surprised to discover she had just walked into a small bathroom, meaning there was only one door left to lead to a bedroom. Twilight’s heart raised just as fast as when she was in Big Mac’s hooves but this time it was fear that egged it on.
“Wait, Big Mac… what’s in the other room over there?” Twilight heard the door to the room opposite open.
“Just a double bed and dresser. Why?” Twilight turned around and saw Big Mac realize the same thing she just did as he stared through the doorway to her. Either one of them was taking the sofa, or they were supposed to share a bed tonight.