"Ten minutes to Manehattan, fillies and gentlecolts. I repeat; ten minutes to Manehattan."
The wheels of the train were rapidly pulling its coaches down the miles of track from Ponyville to Manehattan. The locomotive had been on it for hours, and the time was taking its toll on the numerous passengers who were all on their way to the big city. Nearly every seat was occupied with ponies on their way to the big city. The most populous metropolis in the kingdom was constantly bustling with ponies of all sorts.
Be it a family going on vacation or an officepony on a business trip, everypony on board had plans for what they could do in the great, five-burrow city.
Silver Shill, however, didn't have much of a plan or a reason for his trip. The grayish-turquoise stallion sat alone in his seat, gazing at the passing landscape through his large glasses. Hours passed by as he tried to entertain himself with the passing scenery. But for somepony who had been on a train more times than he could count, there wasn't much entertainment to find outside. Sighing deeply, Silver Shill shifted in his seat to try to get himself comfortable.
"Sir?"
The startled stallion jolted as the unexpected voice hit him by surprise. Quickly adjusting his glasses, he turned to find that the mare speaking to him was a train stewardess with a beverage cart.
"Oh, my, s-sorry about that, ma'am.", the stallion stuttered, "C-can I help you?"
"That's what I was gonna ask you.", the mare huffily replied, "Ya want something to drink?"
"Y-yes, um, hmm, I'll have a, um, apple juice.", he embarrassingly requested. The stewardess' crabby expression did not change as she pulled out a juice box from her drink cart and gave it to the stallion.
"Four bits.", she demanded. The price confused Silver.
"Wait, four bits? Are you sure? I've gotten one for half a bit-"
"For pony's sake, ya think I make the prices here? I said, four bits!" The spooked stallion backed up against the window in fear while sweating profusely. Nervous breakdowns had become practically routine for the poor pony.
"O-okay, sorry, s-sorry, sorry, four bits it is! Heh, make that five!", he nervously started as he shakily pulled a wallet out of his bag. He had a lot of junk to rummage through to access his money, and the stewardess' obvious impatience wasn't helping him act less jittery. After clearing out his numerous business I.D.'s and cards, he finally pulled out five bits, which the stewardess less than happily snatched from his hoof. As she was about to walk to the next bench, Silver Shill's shaking in the corner of her eye stopped her.
"That's the problem with ponies like you. You're too vulnerable.", she unexpectedly stated as she returned the extra bit.
Before the stallion could even think of stuttering in reply, she moved up to the next row to offer drinks. She was gone, but her words wouldn't leave his head.
Too vulnerable.
It definitely wasn't the first time he had been called out for his vulnerability. His schoolmates and fellow workers would never let him hear the end of it. And don't even get him started on his mother...
The stallion looked around his seat at the mess he had made with the items from his wallet. There were at least twenty business I.D.'s and cards from his past that had fallen out.
Silver Shill, pet shop janitor.
Silver Shill, cashier.
Silver Shill, neighborhood lemonade stand worker.
Silver Shill, bounty hunter.
Silver Shill had lost every job he ever had. Whether he be laid off, be fired, or if he simply quit, he never stood out for being a confident worker.
Silver Shill always knew that he was a doormat and a weak stallion, but that never discomforted made him. That is, up until his last job in Ponyville where he realized just how vulnerable he really was. Through the wrongdoings of making the most honest mare in town lying and by listening to the false promises of his last employers, Flim and Flam, he was led to believe that honesty will not get you far in business or life alike. His vulnerability led him to another bead on the necklace of job losses.
From there, Silver had no real plan. He could not take losing another job. It would just remind him how helpless he was. His constant searches for jobs in the past and career losses did not exactly help him socially, either. Silver Shill had nopony that he felt comfortable to call his friend. And talking to mares was not even an idea for him.
But of all the places he'd ever worked, no job had ever brought him to Manehattan. He figured that as long as he doesn't know what to do next with himself, then the big city was his opportunity for something new.
At least he had himself to keep him company.
"Come on, Silver Shill, get it together! Make words! Why couldn't I stand up to that stewardess?' Granted, I've never been assertive enough to stand up to anypony. Would standing up to her have been too assertive? Yep, too assertive. I don't even know, why bother?"
Too bad that he is just as intimidated of himself as he is of anypony else.
Silver Shill sighed and sorrowfully leaned his head against the train window.
"Why have I lost all my jobs? Why do I have no friends, or special-somepony for that matter? I'm weak. Helpless. Vulnerable. Oh, Mom was right! And so was Dad. And Grandma. And all my counselors. And probably Celestia."
Silver couldn't seem to come to terms with himself.
"Now, what in Equestria am I going to do with my life? Definitely not joining royal guard. I've heard prison at least has toilets and shelter, but, um, I choose not to go there for obvious reasons. L-looks like I'm just gonna be a hobo-- err, no, um, vagabond, yes, that has a nicer, younger vibe to it-- vagabond, for the rest of my whole life. Heh, who'da thought?"
"Fillies and gentlecolts, we are now arriving in Manehattan. Please gather your luggage, the train will be coming to a complete stop in any moment now."
"Who'da thought?"
~
The loneliness of walking the streets of Manehattan on a chilly night was peaceful for Silver Shill. His destination? Nowhere. His motive? Nothing.
"Get used to it, Silver, you're gonna be all alone like this for quite some time. Well, not that I'm already used to being all that lonely…"
The lack of a grin helped the stallion blend in with the other walkers. It was better to be unnoticed that to be seen as a weakling, or at least according to Silver Shill.
After what seemed like miles, Silver felt that his hooves needed a long deserved rest. He had no desire to be seen by the public eye, even simply to take a rest. He found himself, rather, turning down an alley and plotting himself on the ground in there, leaning against an old dumpster. He was, finally, alone once more for himself to contemplate. Or so he thought.
"Hey there!", spoke a gruff stallion with a scruffy beard coming out from under his muzzle. Silver, once more, jumped in surprise and squealed.
"Woah, I didn't know stallions could squeal like that! My name's Fred! Hobo Fred!"
Silver Shill gazed at the stallion before him. He smiled at Silver, revealing an array of missing teeth. Silver was definitely not in the mood to speak with anypony, especially one who looks like he's been on the streets for all his life. He shakily raised a hoof up and waved.
"Hi,", he nervously started, "m-my name's (gulp) Silver Shill."
"Boy am I glad to meet you! Ya really don't know what it's like to live alone on the streets of this town."
"Heh heh, yeah, I r-really don't know…"
"First night on the streets?"
Silver nervously nodded, which resulted in Hobo Fred sitting right next to him against the dumpster.
"Yeah, I could tell. Say, um, what's your cutie mark supposed to be of?", Fred asked as he confusingly stared at Silver Shill's flank.
"Oh, my cutie mark? It's, uhh…"
"Hoofcuffs?"
"No, uh-"
"Glasses?"
"No-"
"Mine's a bindle!"
"Wow, um, ch-charming. Does that, um, mean that your special talent is, well, being a hobo?"
"Yep! I'm a hobo and I'm proud of it! I've been on the streets for years. I don't mean to brag or nothin', but I know every alley and stray cat in this town! It all started when my parents realized they were in debt and…"
Silver Shill wasn't exactly listening as realization struck him.
"Alright, Silver Shill, now's your chance! Become friends with this guy! Talk to him!"
"… how 'bout you, Silver?"
"Der- wha?", Silver Shill's mind raced as he tried to construct a likely answer to whatever Fred had asked him. "Um, griffons!"
"Really? My favorite is cherry!"
"What did he even ask me- oh, never mind. Go on! Talk to him, you little dormat!"
"I- um, nice coat color! Brown?", Silver nervously complimented.
"Brown? Ha, no, it's actually yellow! Aw, heck, I guess I've been in the streets for longer than I thought."
Silver scooted away a little in disgust.
"So, um, I g-guess you haven't taken a shower i-in a while, then?"
"What's a shower?"
"I- uh, well, I, heh, gotta go! Bathroom! Now!", Silver Shill muttered as he galloped out of the alley.
"Okay! The coffee shop on 21st lets us hobos use their's, but none others do! Also, Hobo Bill on 12th street let's you use his alley!"
Silver Shill was now at least a block away from Hobo Fred, and was now stopped to catch his breath. An angry feeling got over him as he realized what he had done.
"Come on, Silver Shill, you fiend! Who cares if he was, well, different? You can't even keep a conversation going for one minute? One minute! Is that the least I can ask for! Well, at least that settles one thing; I am not gonna become a hob-VAGABOND!!", he frustratingly thought to himself. His only alternative was to keep roaming the dark, dirty streets. On his continued walk, Silver found himself outside of a shop with a bright sign for all to see, reading, "Ponytail Pub".
"Oh, and I'm most definitely not gonna try to feel better by going into a bar!"
~
Silver Shill was trying to feel better by going into a bar.
The only other time that Silver had been inside a bar was when he worked as a janitor in a Fillydelphia pub, and he had next to no experience at the counter. Silver's worried expression did not exactly work to his advantage.
"What's the matta, bucko?", the bartender stallion asked Silver as he scooted down to him. His white mane and gruff voice reflected his old age, and he wore an eyepatch over his left eye.
"Oh, um, n-nothing! Nothing at all, good sir!", Silver quickly replied with nervousness overcoming his senses. The bartender stared at him with his revealed eye.
"Well, then order up!"
"M-most certainly! I'll, um, yes, I'll take the, um-"
"Yer an amateur, aren't ya?"
"Y-yes, I'm, um, not much of a drin-"
"I'll start ya off with some cider, how's that sound?"
"Works for me, sir!", said the young stallion.
"Okay, here we go, round two! Let's start this over, Silver. Talk to this stallion! Befriend him!", Silver thought to himself as he took a deep breath. Before he could exhale, a mug of foaming cider was set in front of him.
"Drink up.", the bartender said as he wiped his forehooves with an old rag.
"Okay, approach this, like, hmm, just act like you own the place, Silver Shill! Be as chill as possible! Hey, they should call you Silver Chill! Hahahaha! Oh, Mom was right, I'm not funny at all."
Silver Shill turned in his barstool towards the bartender as professionally as he could and leaned back. He smiled as rose one eyebrow above the other to look "chill".
"Sooo, Mr. Bartender stallion guy!", he started speaking in a loud voice. The bartender's unamused expression was enough to drive Silver Shill to finish speaking. His smile quickly disappeared and he leaned back forward towards the counter. He would not give up this easily, though, and cleared his throat to try again. "Well, um, h-how's business?"
The bartender, still looking unamused, finished staring Silver down as he moved further down the counter to wipe it down with his rag. "Well,", he replied, "business is good."
"F-fascinating, um, heh, sooo, um, you've got a p-pretty swell place here!", Silver nervously complimented as he looked around the building he was in. There was a small amount of other ponies there, with Silver being the only one at the counter. Old signs and curios hung around the walls.
The bartender, staring at Silver once more, slowly started to nod. It was pretty clear to that the bartender did not want to talk, but Silver was in a desperate need of friendship.
"Sooo, d-do you like flamingos?"
"Juss' drink yer cider, I ain't the social type of guy, understood?", the bartender said as he pointed right at Silver Shill, who was having another little panic attack.
"O-okay, cider it is! Cheers! Here I go!", he rapidly said as he fretfully chugged down half the mug. By the time he put the mug back on the counter, the bartender was staring at him once more, this time with an incomprehensible expression.
"Yer whacko, ya know that?"
"I, um, get that quite a lot, sir."
"Yeah, I figured.", said the bartender as he went back to the other side of the counter. Silver Shill sighed in exasperation.
"Whelp, you had a second chance to actually get a friend, and you've wasted it like a piece of, um, un-recyclable garbage! This cider's no consolidation for my condition! Where the hay are you gonna go in life? All I want is one more chance! Please! Just one more pony!"
"Oh, what a long day!", said the soft voice of a mare. Looking down the counter, Silver Shill saw that a mare had sat down on one of the barstools and nearly collapsed on the counter.
Silver could have sworn that his heart went, "Bye-bye!" at that moment.
"Sweet Celestia…", Silver thought with his jaw nearly detached.
"That mare…"
"…that mare…"
"…oh, man, that mare…"
"… that mare…is the most gorgeous piece of beauty I have ever laid my eyes on…"
"…ever…"
"…ever ever ever…"
"…ever."
"That mare is such a ten."
The pony had the most ingenious coat color of a mixture of amber and tan. Her cyan mane was cut in the most adorable way Silver had ever seen. Her collar and flower in her mane complimented her exterior beauty.
"Well, whatya want?", the bartender asked her as she sat.
"Oh, I really don't know, um-"
"Amateur?"
"Yes. I, um, don't drink an-"
"I'll start ya off with cider, 'kay?"
"Hmm, okay.", she said to the bartender.
Her sweet, soft, high-pitched voice was almost too much for Silver Shill to handle. Every second staring at her felt like 50,000 millenniums. She was even more adorable when tired.
"Look at her! That pony's gorgeous and you're just staring at her like a creep! C'mon, make your move, Silver Shill, this is your third chance! Talk! Talk! Talk!"
Silver's thoughts were polar opposite from his persona. He had never sweated so much in his life. Every muscle in his body was tensing up. He tried to make words with his mouth, but nothing came out. Finally, after staring long enough, Silver worked up the courage to share words with her.
Taking note of her tired condition, Silver Shill nervously started. "L-long day?"
The mare turned to face him.
"Ah, darn, I knew this would happen! Look at her! She probably thinks I'm such a vulnerable little weakling that's gonna become a hob- vagabond who doesn't deserve to be in the same room as her perfection and-"
"Oh, tell me about it! Designing costumes non-stop since morning sure is a chore.", the mare said in a high tone.
"W-wait, she doesn't think I'm vulnerable or- oh, for crying out loud, TALK!!! You have it in the bag!"
"Designing costumes? Ooh, what costumes?"
"Oh, you're not going to believe it! I get to design the costumes for Bridleway!"
"Bridleway?!?! She's in the big leagues! And you're actually talking to her! A girl! Don't screw this up, Silver, I'm begging you! Oh, wait, I am Silver. I'm just his personified thoughts presented here so that the reader can-"
"Wow, Bridleway? How did you ever get a job there?"
"A good friend of mine actually gave me her job! I didn't have one, and she ever so generously gave her's to me!"
"Really? She must be a great pony to be giving you something so once-in-a-lifetime!"
"She is, we still write! I'm working on costumes for the big play out now! You know, 'Hinny of the Hills'?"
"Hmm, 'Hinny of the Hills', yeah that's the popular one, correct?"
"Yes! Ponies are raving about it. I'll admit, I got to see it a couple of times, perks of my career, and I loved it!"
"You're actually talking to a girl!!!!! Keep it up keep it up keep it up…"
"So, what do you do for a living?", she asked Silver. Silver felt his ears drop.
"No no no, I can't tell her about all the jobs I've lost! J-just tell her about the last one!"
"Well, um, a-actually, I just quit my last job because my bosses were a bunch of liars and-"
"No way! Oh my gosh, that's exactly what I did! I quit my last job because my boss was a liar!"
"For real?"
"For reals! (Sigh) Suri was such a rude mare.", she chirped before she moved to the stool next to Silver and stuck her forehoof out to him to shake. "I'm Coco Pommel."
Silver could not believe what was happening before his eyes.
"OH MY GOSH SHE'S ACTUALLY INTRODUCING HERSELF!!!! THIS IS THE GREATEST AARGH"
He however, was struggling to make words due to his excitement. "S-S-S-Silver Shill.", he stuttered. The stuttering stopped once their hooves touched and shook. A smile popped up on Silver Shill's face. "Really nice to meet you!"
"Coco, oh what a name, Coco."
Coco chuckled. "You too! So, um, do you drink or-"
"No, actually, this is my second time ever going in a bar! I'm not that far past the legal age so-"
"No way, it's my first! I honestly have no clue what I'm doing, I'm not far past the age, either."
"Yeah, same! I don't know what half the stuff behind the counter tastes like."
"Me neither!"
"I do.", said the bartender. "I've tried it all, and I love it."
The two ponies at the counter confusingly stared at the smiling bartender.
"Anywayyys,", Coco started as they continued their conversation. They talked about a wide range of topics, from cutie marks to The Great Magic War. Coco was having a ball talking to Silver, and laughed at his awkwardness that she found adorable. Silver couldn't believe his luck. He was actually talking to a girl, and she did not think of him like most other ponies that knew him did. The two were just like each other from their career issues to social struggles. They talked for nearly four hours at that counter, and they practically forgot about their drinks.
"So,", Coco spoke, "how long have you been in Manehattan for?"
"Oh, I actually got off the train from Ponyville a couple hours ago. First time in the city!"
"Ponyville? I have friends there!"
"Ay, ponies, I'mma have to cut yer talk short. It's closin' time.", the bartender said to the two from behind his counter.
"Closing time? I thought the sign said it closes at midnight!", Silver started.
"Yer lucky I was a nice guy tonight. It's two in the darn morning, and I need my shut-eye."
"Alright, we can respect that.", Coco said to the bartender with a smile. She then turned to Silver. "Silver, you said it was your first time in Manehattan, right?"
"Yep!", the young stallion replied.
"Well, we don't have to separate now! How would you like a tour of Manehattan from a Manehattan native?"
Silver Shill did not want this dream to end. Was it a dream? Heck if he knew, he was having the best time he's had in years!
"Wait, what, is this a date?"
"I'd love to!", Silver ecstatically replied. Coco squealed and grabbed Silver's forehoof.
"Wonderful! I know just where to start!"
"You're holding my hoof, Coco, you sly dog!"
Coco Pommel pulled the stallion out of the bar and they were now skipping throughout the streets of the city together. At two o'clock in the morning, the streets were vacant and all for Silver and Coco. Coco gleefully showed Silver all the sights of her hometown.
"This is my old apartment! I spent my whole fillyhood growing up there!"
"No way!"
"And here's our town park! Lemme tell you, it is huge!"
"The biggest park in Equestria, right?"
"Yes!"
Silver was not resistant to show Coco his new favorite parts of town as well.
"Coco! I'd like to introduce you to my good friend, Hobo Fred!"
"Oh, well, um, hello there, Hobo Fred."
"Hey hey hey! I missed you, man! You sure were in the bathroom for a long time, am I right?", Hobo Fred exclaimed.
Silver Shill could not have been happier. Coco had given him all the confidence and hope he needed. He was thankful for Coco. He loved Coco. He did not feel at all vulnerable or useless when with her.
The two ensued in all sorts of shenanigans throughout the city, such as balancing on the walls separated the land from sea or skipping around the sidewalks together. It was a shame that it had seemed so quickly. Silver had to take Coco back to her apartment. She needed as must rest as she could get for another day of hard work. The two were standing together in front of the door to Coco's apartment room.
"Oh my, Silver, in all my years of living here, I have not ever had as much fun as I did tonight!"
"I had a lot of fun too, Coco!", Silver happily said to her.
Coco sighed deeply. "Well, let's see here, four twenty-eight in the morning. Hmm, yeah, I sure hope that these three hours of sleep tonight sure will be wholesome!", she said with a lengthy yawn afterwards.
"Oh yeah! Good luck sleeping!"
Silver Shill could not let her go just yet. He had to ask her something, something he feared all mares thought of him. He felt it necessary to get it out of the way.
"Say, um, Coco?", he nervously started.
"Yes, Silver?", she curiously replied.
Silver was hesitant to speak, but eventually asked his question. "D-do you think that I'm, at all, vulnerable? Or weak?"
He cringed at what the upcoming answer may be. It's been the same for everypony he's ever talked to. He's weak. He's a doormat. He's vulnerable.
Coco was surprised at the question, and then started to giggle at the stallion. "Silver Shill, of course I don't think that! You were the most confident and social pony tonight! In fact, I hope you stay here in Manehattan.", Coco said with a sincere smile. Silver, too, had a large grin across his face. He knew that Coco needed her rest, but neither were ready to leave without locking lips together in a deep kiss.
"Wait, her face is moving towards mine, i-is she doing what I think she is- oh my gosh, I-I-I'm kissing a girl! Her lips, they're so, well, I don't know, warm and inviting, and, man this is great! An-wait, her tongue's in my mouth, why the hay is her tongue in my mou- wait, is this what 'making out' is? Well, outta the way, I'm putting my tongue in her's! And, an- YES! Yes! I am kissing a girl! I, Silver Shill, have finally kissed a girl! And I'm still going strong! Haha, nopony can stop me now! Oh, wait, she took her tongue out. And her lips. Oh, she's smiling at me! I guess I did it right for my first try!"
"That was my first.", she happily whispered.
"Mine too!", he whispered.
"That was amazing!", she whispered.
"Why are we whispering?", Silver Shill whispered.
"I have no idea.", Coco said as she yawned once more.
"You need your sleep, Coco, you really should go to bed."
"Yeah, I guess I should, heh. So, um, see you soon?"
"Yeah! Soon! Real soon! When are you free?"
A frown came across Coco's face. "Oh my, I never thought of that! I'm so busy with my 'Hinny of the Hills' work that I'm just not sure if I'll have any free time soon."
"Oh, well, I promise you; I will find time for you, 'cause I sure want to talk to you more!"
"Aww, you too!", Coco cutely replied. "Actually, I work at the Bridleway theatre! Here, the address is on this flyer. You should drop by sometime!", she said as she handed a flyer for "Hinny of the Hills" to Silver.
"Well, I hope to see you really soon, Silver Shill!"
"See ya, Coco! We'll write, right?"
"Heh heh, write right. Ha, oh, I kill myself sometimes!"
"Of course we'll write! Well, I honestly really need some sleep. See you later! I had the time of my life tonight!"
"Met too! This was one of the best nights in a while, Coco!"
After a long while of farewells, Silver Shill had finally walked out of the front door to the apartment building to try to find shelter for the night. He was sure there would be a motel or two open, and he couldn't stay with Coco because she needed her sleep.
"Man, who'da thought that my journey to Manehattan would turn out like this? Who'da thought?"
After several attempts to get at least a thorough conversation going, Silver Shill finally found a friend. Well, more than that. Oh, who was he kidding, Silver was smitten! Coco was the mare of his dreams, and even through his vulnerableness he was bake to get her all to himself. She was just what he was looking for in his time of despair. He now had a purpose to be in Manehattan. He now had a second chance in life thanks to Coco Pommel.
"Oh, what a night!", Silver said to himself as he hopped up and down like a colt on sugar, "What an awesome night! Coco's the greatest! And I finally kissed a mare! And to think it all started with, 'L-long day?' Man, if this was a Bridleway show, the audience would be cheering!"
Realization struck him.
"Oh yeah,", he said on a slightly more upset tone, "she's gonna be way too busy with her Bridleway job to fond time for me! Darn! Right when I thought I had this!"
Silver Shill was about to fall to the ground until he noticed the flyer Coco had handed him.
Bridleway presents a Quillhoof musical:
--------"Hinny of the Hills!"--------
Go out and smell the roses!
Shown nightly at 6:00, matinée Sundays at 2:00.
This was simply the best musical I've seen in ages!
-Trender HoofI want an encore of this play, honey!
-Sapphire ShoresIt was a'ight.
-Rainbow DashContact us or drop by the theatre for cast/crew information, all ponies welcome!
Silver stared at the flyer until a large grin popped up onto his face.
He came up with a way that he could spend more time with Coco. Much more time.
"I've got to join the cast of 'Hinny of the Hills'!"