”Attention, passengers! We will be arriving in Manehattan port in approximately twenty minutes. Please gather your belongings and prepare for departure. Once again, we thank you for choosing to travel with us on the Mareibbean Breeze’s maiden voyage!”
“Oh, how exciting!” In her modest room below deck, Coco Pommel smiled at the announcement and put down the pamphlet she was reading. Manehattan Travel Guide, it declared against a backdrop of the Statue of Harmony. The pamphlet had been the perfect reading material as they neared the famous city, detailing parks and Bridleway theatres and oh, so many enticing restaurants. Coco knew that the first thing she would do once ashore was find a genuine Manehattan-style carrot dog stand and try the fabled cuisine for herself!
Making her way toward the stairs, Coco felt tingles in her hooves as she realised her journey was nearly complete. The week-long voyage aboard the Mareibbean Breeze had been bearable, but she had to admit that she was clearly not destined to be a seamare. It had taken a day or two for the seasickness to fade, and a further day before she could safely stay on the ship’s upper deck without becoming nauseous, but it was well worth it. Walking up the last few steps to the main deck, the sunlight danced off her aqua mane as the sprawling city came into view.
“Finest port city in all of Equestria, she is. It’s such a relief to be back home,” a nearby crewcolt mentioned with a wide smile. He turned to Coco, gesturing toward the incoming docks. “I love the sea and the travel, but the return trip is always more special to me. My wife and kids’re probably out on those docks, waiting for me. It’s been three weeks since I’ve seen them, and I promised the kids we would go together to visit their grammy over on Aliconey Island when I got back.”
The fond way he talked about his family warmed Coco’s heart. “I’m sure they’re all thrilled that such a loving father is coming home to them. And the weather is so nice for visiting, too!”
The stallion gave a hearty laugh, letting the breeze rolling off the waves ruffle his shaggy green mane. “That it is, sweetheart, that it is. I’ve gotta help us get prepared to dock, but I hope you have a great time in Manehattan.”
“Thank you so much for the voyage! It was a pleasure meeting you!” With a final wave, he trotted off to the stern of the ship, grabbing a rope in his magic. Coco sighed serenely as she leaned over the ship’s railing, staring forward as the outline of the city became more distinct. It’s so nice to hear about a loving family. I wonder how mama and papa are doing back home…
Coco turned around, glancing at her relatively new cutie mark: a shaded purple sun hat with a crimson feather stuck in the brim. In all honesty, Coco had half-expected that she would become an adult before finding her special talent; after all, she was coming up on the eve of her twentieth birthday!
The mark had meant both the beginning of her new life and the end of her life in the Mareibbean Islands, and it was a story that she would truly never forget…
“Pompom, could you help us in here, please? It’s urgent!”
Coco huffed, wiping the sweat off her forehead as she lay down the fashion magazine she had been reading. It was hard enough to find the darn things in the market, and now that she had finally purchased one for herself, the climate in the islands took a turn for the unpleasant. Not even the weather pegasi quite understood the reason that the region had been swept by a fierce heat wave, but the summer sun had cast its rays unrelentingly on the Mareibbean Island chain for nearly two weeks now.
“Mama, please don’t call me that! I’m not a filly anymore; it’s embarrassing!” Coco called as she walked into the living area, noting the small gathering of her mother, Sand Dollar, and her neighbors on the sofas and chairs in the room. “Hello, everyone. Not that it’s not good to see you all, but what is everyone doing here?”
“We’ve been talking and we’ve decided that this heat wave is more dangerous than it seems, dear,” Sandy explained as the rest of the group rose to their hooves. “A lot of homes in town have lost power and running water, so we’re all going to make a trip down to the river to fill up some barrels of drinking water. Grab a saddle and meet us outside, please.”
The look of desperation on her mama’s face was enough on its own to convince Coco. She nodded, trotting back to her room to grab a comfortable saddle and a sun hat to block some of the intense rays. It was a long standing habit of hers; ponies in town were very susceptible to sunburn during the summer months, and as such were advised to be prepared for severe heat conditions. The mare had learned at a fairly young age that the best way to combat the harsh climate was to wear protective clothing, especially a hat on her head. In her opinion, there truly was nothing worse than sitting down after a long day only for the sharp pain of sunburn to rear its ugly head.
When she met her mother outside, the older mare was just tightening the straps on her own saddle. “Coco, be a dear and give the saddle one good tug. We wouldn’t want those water barrels to fall off on our way back.”
Gripping the leather in her mouth, Coco pulled down quickly, fastening the saddle into place as best she could. “Mama,” she remarked, noting the lack of headwear on her head, “where’s your hat? The sun will be up before long and it has been awfully bright lately. You should really put on something to protect your head.”
“Nonsense, hon,” she responded as the duo began to follow the group toward the nearby river. “I’ll be fine. Your father and I are grown ponies; we’ll be fine for a while if we just get this water back to the house quickly. Now come on, we can be there and back before the sun’s high in the sky.”
Coco hesitated for a moment, doubting her mother’s words. Despite their assurance that everything would be all right, she knew that more than a few ponies in town were already suffering from heat stroke. The local hospital could barely handle all of the new cases, and with the heat wave looking unlikely to pass anytime soon, the townsfolk were told to hunker down and stay in the shade. Coco thanked her lucky stars for the fair coat she was born with. Not only was she less likely to get sunburnt, she was also less susceptible to heat stroke due to the reflective quality of her coat colour.
I’ve got a bad feeling about this, she thought as she picked up her speed. I just wish there were something I could do…
As the hours ticked by, the sun hung high in the sky, beating down on the small community as the ponies diligently worked to bring the last barrels of water to the town. Coco sighed inwardly at the amount of ponies out without enough protective clothing on. Two ponies had been sent home after feeling extremely lightheaded. Coco knew the town was full of dark-coated ponies, who were at much higher risk for sunburn and heat stroke than others. The rate that heat stroke was affecting them was clear evidence that too many ponies were in danger during the hottest part of the day.
As she slipped into her room, tired from the heavy lifting during the day but relieved to be finished, Coco thought about the predicament. “There has to be a solution somehow, I just know it,” she pondered aloud to herself as she paced the room. “The heat stroke is affecting too many ponies, and if it happened to mama or papa…” She gulped. Better not to think about that.
Coco glanced at the magazine, discarded on top of her small bed. She lifted it to her face, gazing at the myriad dresses and models adorning the pages. She flipped the page, stopping as she looked at the next model’s outfit: ‘Feather Frenzy’. The model sported a short-cropped lavender dress that looked to be accented primarily with painted goose feathers, and atop her head rested a wide-brimmed hat adorned with a single fluffy swan feather.
Her eyes lit up in fascination as inspiration struck. “That’s it… That’s it! A wide brimmed hat will offer plenty of protection if everyone wears it the entire day. Maybe even a strap so that it won’t fall off while they’re active… but I have to work quickly. There’s no time to lose!”
The morning sun crested the horizon as the ponies of the Mareibbean Islands rose from their slumber, weary about another day against the horrid onslaught of the heat wave. Sand Dollar opened her daughter’s door slowly, peeking her head into the room. “Coco? Wake up sweetie, it’s almost…” She paused. Coco Pommel lay slumped atop her desk, groggily waking up, surrounded by numerous hats of every colour imaginable. “Coco, what are all those hats for?”
Coco rubbed her eyes sleepily, opening her maw wide in a yawn. “Mama? What time is it? Did the workers start?”
“No, hon,” Sandy said with a smile. It was just like her daughter to worry about others before herself. “But that doesn’t answer my question. Why are you sleeping on a pile of hats?”
Coco sprang to her hooves, grabbing one of the feathered hats off the pile. “Do you like them? I saw the design in my magazine last night, so I made them myself for everybody in town! The heat stroke is hurting a lot of ponies, but properly shading themselves can really help them out!” She gathered up the mountain of hats into her saddlebags and nudged her mother to the door. “Come, Mama! There are lots of ponies in need of my help!~”
“Alright, alright!” Sandy couldn’t help but grin at Coco’s eagerness. “Let me take two for your father and myself, then we can hand them out to all of our neighbors. I’m sure they will all appreciate the thoughtful gift, honey.” She gave her daughter a proud nuzzle, trotting toward the front door with hats held in her magic.
The day was shaping up to be another scorcher, but Coco was not to be deterred. One by one, she visited each house in town, politely offering a strapped hat to anyone who would be working outside that day. Some ponies were confused at the random gift, and others chuckled a bit at the frilly designs, but soon enough Coco found herself heading back home, saddlebags empty and a slew of thankful friends and neighbors in her wake. She burst through the front door, spirits so high that she felt she could grow wings and soar at that very moment. She ran to the kitchen, capturing her mother in a tight hug as Sandy prepared some vegetables for lunch.
Sandy swept her daughter up in her forelegs. “It really sounds like you impressed everypony in town! I’m so happy that your idea went over so well!”
“Oh, mama, you should have seen them all!” Words could hardly express the pride Coco felt at that moment. “Everypony that took a hat had the biggest smiles on their faces! I really felt like I made a difference in the village today!” It was like her whole body was heating up just from doing that good deed! … Actually, it felt like just her flanks were heating up. A quick glance at her rear revealed a bright light fading from her flanks, leaving a purple sunhat adorned with a bright crimson feather. “A cutie mark?! A cutie mark! Mama, do you see it? I finally got my cutie mark! Oh, this has to be the absolute best day of my life!”
“This is the worst day of my life!” Coco cried, letting her head hit the desk table with a thud. It had been a month since her cutie mark had appeared, but to her dismay, she seemed to have hit a metaphorical wall. “I can’t get enough material here to work on my designs!”
“Is everything alright, Pompom?” Sandy entered the room, laying a hoof on her daughter’s shoulder. She knew better than anyone that her child was at a crossroads in her life, and as much as she wanted her to stay with the family, she knew that Coco would have to follow her destiny to wherever it may take her. “I heard you yelling.”
Coco gave her a sad smile, sniffing just once. “I’m sorry, mama. I don’t mean to be so loud, but it’s very frustrating. I want so much to keep making dresses and accessories here on the island, but I can’t seem to contact anyone on the mainland to order enough supplies.”
Sand Dollar gave a long, mellow sigh, hugging her daughter to her chest. “Coco, as tough as it is for me to say this as your mother… I think it’s time you spread your wings and left the island. I see the way you look longingly at those fashion magazines. You need to get yourself out there and sample the world’s wonders for yourself. Travel to mainland Equestria; see the sights; meet some nice ponies who share your vision.” She pulled away slightly, smiling warmly through tears of her own. “You are the most generous, talented individual I have ever known. And you need to share that gift with the world, not just keep it hidden in our little paradise.”
“Mama…” Coco looked at her with pleading eyes, “I don’t know if I can make it out there! I won’t know a single pony on the mainland; what if they don’t want to be friends with me?”
“How could they refuse?” Sandy gave her daughter another bone-crushing hug. “A face like that coupled with your natural personality? You’re going to have Equestria eating out of your hoof.”
Knock knock knock!
“In fact,” Sandy continued, rising to her hooves. “Some of the locals think very highly of you after you gifted them those marvelous hats a while back! Come to the door; I have a surprise for you!”
Coco watched, confused, as her mother practically skipped out of the room, but she hesitantly followed, wary about who her mother might have called to their home. A list of possibilities swam through her head: Flora from down the street asking for some gardening wear? Little Jumper looking to sell colt scout candles? Old Mister Abernathy looking for a replacement scarf?
She was mildly surprised to see one of the sailor stallions at the door, decked in full uniform. Sandy finished chatting with him, stepping aside so Coco could introduce herself. “Hello, sir. Pardon me, but do I know you? You look familiar, but I can’t place a name…”
“Heh, we get that a lot, actually. I’d imagine you know my twin brother, Tackle Box?” The stallion asked as he stepped forward to shake her hoof. “Heard you helped him out of a pickle a few weeks ago when his fishing waders got torn.”
“Oh, of course!” Coco cried, grinning widely as she made the connection. “I can definitely see the family resemblance! But if you don’t mind me asking, why are you here? Do you or your brother need some help repairing some clothing?”
The stallion smiled, shaking his head of wild green hair to and fro. “Not exactly. Your mother tells me that you’re looking to get off the island for a while. I’m here,” he explained, pulling a ticket from inside his vest, “to offer you passage to Manehattan aboard the Mareibbean Breeze in two weeks’ time. What do you say?”
Coco jumped as the boat rocked for a moment, shaking her out of her reverie. She hastily wiped the happy tears from her eyes, noting that the vessel had now safely docked at Manehattan harbour. The city streets were clearly visible from her vantage point; she noticed ponies walking, flying, and riding in carriages, all looking in a hurry to get to their destinations.
A few minutes later, Coco had retrieved her luggage from her room and stepped off the loading platform, breathing deep the salty air rolling off of the Trotlantic Ocean. There was a different twang to it here than on her island; it was not an entirely unwelcome change. She happily trotted down the boardwalk, smiling and nodding at the occasional pony she passed along the way. It wasn’t until she reached the end of the planked walkway that Coco realised she had no idea where to start looking to make a name for herself in Manehattan. She fumbled with the clasp on her saddlebag, ready to take another glance at her trusty tourist pamphlet.
“Yoo-hoo! Over here, sunshine!”
Coco looked up, surprised. A few meters away, a pink earth pony with a deep fuschia mane was calling out to her, waving a freshly-hooficured leg in her direction. Coco pointed to herself, confused if it was her this stranger was beckoning.
“Yes, you! With the magnificent scarf! Do come over here!” Coco smiled, relieved to meet another friendly pony so soon after arriving in the bustling cityscape.
She trotted to the mare, admiring her stylish mane as she approached. “Nice to meet you, miss! My name is Coco Pommel.”
The well-kept mare before her bent in a slight bow. “Suri Polomare. Pleased to make your acquaintance, Coco. Now, if you don’t mind me saying, you look a tad bit lost, dear. First time in the city?”
“Oh, yes,” Coco nodded, glad that Suri understood her plight. “I just arrived from the Mareibbean Islands, and it would be such a help to have somepony show me around the city on my very first visit!”
“Well,” the pink mare reached a foreleg around her companion’s shoulders in a friendly gesture, “it would be my pleasure to give a mare of your fine fashion tastes a tour of jaw-dropping Manehattan! Come along, darling.”
Suri picked up one of Coco’s bags, holding it on her back steadily as the pair made their way down the street. “By the way,” Suri chimed in, a sly smirk plastered across her face. “I do so love that scarf you’re wearing. Do you mind letting me have a look at it later on?”