//------------------------------// // Chapter Five - An Honest Day's Work // Story: The Balance of Harmony // by Thornwing //------------------------------// Rarity sat alone in her room above Carousel Boutique. To say she felt stressed would be an understatement. Around her friends, she tried to put on an air of indifference or play coy and take things in stride. Having only recently returned from her last adventure, which followed quickly on the heels of their battle with Lord Tirek, she wasn’t sure if she could take on another epic task. The young Unicorn waged her own mental war trying to decide if she was really up to the challenge. On the one side, her friends needed her. As a bearer of one of the Elements of Harmony she was duty bound to help. On the other hoof, she was Rarity. Although she dreamed of glamor and fame, chasing down monsters and trekking all over the kingdom on a wild chaos hunt weren’t exactly on the top of her list for how she should best go about achieving those goals. Then, there was her work. Half a dozen projects lay strewn about her bedroom. The sewing machine sat unused acting more like a dust magnet than a tool of her trade. Her creative flow was simply nonexistent. She hadn’t had a single original idea in over a month. Her passion for all things fabulous was quickly slipping away. It was who she was, and her generous nature and love for her friends seemed to be in direct conflict with her life’s ambitions and goals. She grabbed a pillow and fell back onto her bed. What she needed was a break. She felt like if she could just relax and find her center again that all would be right in her world. All her musing and hope for a reprieve from this latest adventure was dashed as the door chime sounded. Ding, ding, rang the call of the bell above her shop door. “Rarity? Are you here?” called Applejack. No more time to waste. I must make a decision. Rarity tried to put herself together, not yet responding to the calls from her friend below. I know I have to be strong and I have to be there for my friends, came her resolute answer to her own questions. “Rarity, what’s the holdup?” called Applejack for a second time. “Yes, Applejack. I’ll be right there,” came the response from above. Rarity gathered the last of her things and levitated them into her saddle bags as she then levitated the packs onto her back. She took in a deep breath and descended the flight of stairs to her waiting friend. “Well there you are, missy. I was beginin’ to worry about you,” said Applejack as Rarity made her entrance into the main showroom. “I hope you aren’t plannin’ on packin’ the entire store along with us this time.” “No, Applejack. I’ve only packed the bare necessities. Shall we be off then?” Rarity’s words were delivered with a brevity and discomfort that Applejack picked up on almost immediately. “Well, hold on there just a second—Is somethin’ wrong?” “If you must know, I-I’m having some difficulty living up to my role as the bearer of the Element of Generosity. Things have been a bit overwhelming recently.” Applejack sat back and removed her hat. “I’m sorry to hear that. Is there anything I can do to help? If you aren’t feelin’ up to this, we can go talk to Twilight about it—I’m sure we can figure somethin’ else out.” “No, no. I’ll be alright. I need to do this for me and for my friends. It’s just that these never-ending quests tend to wear me down. I love helping my friends, but I wish I didn’t have to do it in such a dramatic fashion all the time. I’m not sure if I’m ready to face another adventure so soon.” “Rarity, I have to be honest with ya’. I’m a little tuckered out myself. It sure gets frustratin’ when we’re always bein’ called on to save the day. But I still couldn’t ever say no when I’m called up to fight for the ones I care most about—my family and my friends.” Applejack walked over and threw her foreleg around her friend. “I hope you know I’ll always be there to help and support you, especially when you’re feelin’ down. Shucks, I might even let you model some of your frilly dresses on me if it helps you come ‘round.” “Thank you, Applejack,” came Rarity’s reply as she fought back tears. “I don’t know what I would do without friends like you.” “Aww, it’s nothin’, sugarcube. Sometimes we all need a mane to cry on and a hoof to help lift us up when we’re down. That’s what friends are for.” “You’re a true friend, Applejack.” “Alright then, let’s get a move on.” Applejack swung her hat back on her head. “We best hightail it on outta here before we miss our train.” Rarity lifted her head and gave Applejack a small smile in return. “Manehattan, here we come.” The two ponies could not be more polar opposites in their personal likes and dislikes, but in this moment Rarity felt a bond that broke through all those barriers. Their friendship was pure. She knew it and she knew Applejack knew it as well. They could count on one another for anything. It was comforting to Rarity to have that knowledge as they left her shop and started on this new adventure together. Applejack and Rarity walked side by side as they traveled the short distance to the Ponyville train station. They had both said their goodbyes to Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy earlier that afternoon. The train bound for Manehattan didn’t leave for another hour so they took their time as they made their way through town. Rarity trotted along in much better spirits now that Applejack had given her that pep talk. The ponies they passed in their short walk, however, didn’t seem to be in a very friendly mood. Golden Harvest and Daisy were arguing about the state of their vegetable and herb garden. Aloe hung a ‘Closed’ sign in the window of the spa while Lotus shooed a pair of disappointed clients out the door. The only pony who seemed unaffected was Derpy Hooves—she hopped along in simple obliviousness to the plight of those around her as she delivered the daily mail. Applejack and Rarity soon found Berry Punch standing in the middle of the road crying—her grocery cart had a busted wheel. The pair quickly ran over to help the poor pony in distress. Rarity magically repaired the wheel while Applejack lifted the cart into a level position. “Thanks for your help,” said a still teary eyed Berry Punch, “but I’m still going to be late for dinner.” The young pony let loose another wave of tears as she pulled away with her repaired cart in tow. “What is it with all these ponies?” remarked Applejack. “It’s like they can’t even smile or nothin’.” “I think that’s why our mission is so urgent, Applejack,” commented Rarity. “These ponies are just a sample of what I believe we’ll find. There’s no telling what will happen to them if we don’t get the Elements of Disharmony under control as soon as possible.” “Yer right,” said Applejack as she raised up both her front legs. “Let’s get to that there train station and get ourselves to Manehattan on the double.” They both took off in a gallop toward the waiting train. Twilight and Pinkie Pie came to see them off at the station. They got in a few hugs and some last words of encouragement before Applejack and Rarity finally boarded the train. In no time, they were rolling down the tracks, past the meadows, and up through the tunnels below Canterlot. It was just an hour past sunset when the train made its stop at Canterlot station. Rarity wondered if there would be enough time to take a quick peek at the fashion shop windows that lined the main street leading to the castle. She barely had time to formulate the idea before the option was denied by the imminent departure of their conveyance.The continuing trip to Manehattan would last until morning. Rarity grabbed a blanket and settled in for the night alongside Applejack who was already snoring in the bunk next to her. For all the farm pony’s roughness, Rarity greatly appreciated the presence of her good friend by her side. “Good night, Applejack,” she whispered. “Pleasant dreams.” The sound of two snoring ponies soon filled the cabin as the clickety-clack of the train wheels continued into the night. Notwithstanding the noise, Rarity slept soundly—for the first time in a very long time she felt somewhat at peace. The morning broke only an hour or so before the train was to arrive at its final destination—Manehattan Central Station. In the early morning light as the train crossed the last few miles of track, Rarity made it a point to help Applejack with her main and tail composition. The two ponies chatted like sisters as Rarity guided her brush through the golden tresses normally obscured by Applejack’s cowpony hat. Hard work on the farm had not been kind to this mane, and neither had the overnight train ride. “There, all done,” said Rarity as she fought back the impulse to launch into a full on makeover session. “Why thank you, Rarity,” replied a jovial Applejack admiring her reflection in the hair. “You sure do have a way with that brush of yours. My mane ain’t looked so shiny in ages.” “It the least a friend could do,” blushed Rarity. They spent the last few minutes aboard the train gathering their belongings and going over their basic strategy in finding the lost element. Without having a specific target, the city was a pretty big place for it to be lost in. Rarity recalled that she did have a few friends in town that they might be able to start with questioning. “Perhaps we can pay a visit to Coco Pommel,” suggested Rarity. “It’s been ages since I heard from her and how her work is going.” “Maybe we can have a sit down with my Auntie and Uncle Orange as well,” said Applejack as she tossed her hat back on top of her newly combed out mane. “I know one thing for certain,” continued Rarity, “this is going to be like searching for a needle in a haystack—a haystack the size of Manehattan.” The train arrived at the station and the pair stepped down onto the platform. The smell of fresh country air was nowhere to be found in this bustling metropolis. Rarity hailed a cab and they spent the next few minutes taking in the view of the high rise buildings and pony-cab packed streets as they rode through the heart of the city. They cantered down Bridleway and came to a stop in front of the theatre where they had taken in their private performance of ‘Hinny of the Hills’. That production had run its course, but the signs posted all over the front of the building showed that a new production was soon to open—‘Griffin Lake’. Rarity strode up to the counter with Applejack in tow as she began to ask around regarding Coco. The talented seamstress pony was indeed part of the new production and the chatty pony at the ticket booth was kind enough to let them enter as well as lead them to the costume designer’s workshop. Rarity thanked her for her help and entered the small closet of an office. “Rarity?!” Coco Pommel nearly knocked over her sewing machine as she leapt up from her work to greet her friend. “Coco!” Rarity exclaimed as she met the pony halfway across the small room. “It’s so good to see you again,” Coco beamed. “What brings you to Manehattan?” “I wish it could be under better circumstances, darling,” Rarity began before turning her attention to the beautiful gowns that were hung on the racks all around them. “But I must say I love your costumes.” “What do you mean, Rarity?” Coco sounded a bit concerned now. “Aww don’t mind her,” said Applejack. “She’s just had a lot on her mind lately. Looks like she just needed a little taste of Manehattan fashion to set her right.” Rarity was now ogling the outfits as she strummed her hoof along the costume racks. “Why, these are simply gorgeous!” exclaimed an enthusiastic Rarity. “However did you get the stitching so crisp and even?” “I-I must have a natural talent for it, I guess,” said a bashful Coco. “You surely must teach me how you do it…” Rarity trailed off as she met the stern, but understanding glare of Applejack. “But that can wait for later. We do have business to attend to here.” Applejack spoke up, “Coco, we’re both here on a very important mission. We were wonderin’ if you knew of anything strange goin’ on in town lately.” “I’m not sure what you mean, Applejack,” said a still humble Coco. “There’s a lot of strange things that happen in the city.” “Actually, what she means is, have you seen anything unexpected or unexplainable—something completely out of the norm, even for a city like Manehattan?” Rarity clarified. Coco took a moment to think about the question. “Well, now that you mention it, there is this one thing. About a month ago, a strange little shop opened up down on 13th street. I’ve never seen a more curious set of owners or a more popular product in all my life.” “So, yer sayin’ a new store opening is something strange in this here town?” questioned Applejack. “Well, not just that,” replied Coco. “It’s just that it’s been the talk of the town for as long as it’s been open. All they sell is one thing and the line to buy it is always around the corner and down the next block. It’s kind of strange that a new shop would become so popular that quick.” “I guess we should check it out then,” said Applejack. “What did you say the name of the place was?” Coco replied, “Flim Flam’s Tonic Emporium.”