Chapter 7: Manehattan Romance
Early the next morning, while it was still dark and chilly, Emerald and Fluttershy hurried off to the train station to leave. It would take until the next morning just to get there, at that point they’d be in the city looking for a hotel. Emerald promised her a nice one, but Fluttershy didn’t like him spending so much on anything unimportant if they could help it, and so his excuse was, “I can’t help it.”
As they arrived, Emerald couldn’t stop the wave of unpleasant memories from rushing into his mind like an enraged bull. Thoughts of school, his dad, and Black Flame lingered even after they got off the train and headed deeper into the labyrinth of architectural genius, searching for their hotel. Emerald tried to hide his stress from Fluttershy, but she knew when something was bothering him. It was uncanny how accurate she was, too.
“Emerald, are you having some bad memories?” She asked gently, but louder to overcome the noise from the hustle and bustle of the city.
He put a hoof around her and pulled her close as they walked past an old unicorn stallion who eyed them unusually long. “Maybe a few…but it’s no big deal, hon. I’ll get over it.” He took a quick look around, noticing that they were surrounded by food…they were in the restaurant district of downtown. “Wanna get a bite to eat before we start our wonderful day?”
She grinned brilliantly, leaning her head on his shoulder. “Oh, yes. I’m starving!”
He laughed and led her around until they found something they liked. A small, but classy diner, not fancy, but definitely classy. It was barely after sunup, and the restaurants were all just opening their doors to the early birds. Emerald and Fluttershy had no trouble getting a good table and receiving fast service. Food was layering the table in minutes. They’d both ordered heaping piles of haycakes, doused in far too much syrup.
“I’m not sure I can finish all this…” Emerald said, staring down his stack of cakes, wide eyed.
Fluttershy gave a muffled, “Mmhmm,” as she was already digging in. She swallowed after a lengthy chew. “I’m sorry, I was just so hungry…”
Emerald took his first bite. “Oh, I understand. Right there with you.” It didn’t take long for the both of them to nearly polish their plates, stuffed to the brim.
“Oh, my Celestia…I may have been a bit gluttonous…” Fluttershy groaned, stifling a burp and blushing.
Emerald struggled just to keep himself in his chair. “Nonsense. There’s a difference between gluttony and hunger. We are not the latter.”
She stumbled out of her chair. “Let’s go. I’m too excited to sit here. What do we do next?”
Emerald left the appropriate amount of bits and carefully lowered himself out of his chair, moving slowly to the door with her. “Oh, well, we still need a place, so hotel it is.”
“Okay then.” She replied.
They began walking down the street, towards all the buildings that clearly were for staying the night in.
“Looks like we need a big room.” Emerald commented, staring up into the windows of the high-rise buildings around them.
Fluttershy tilted her head with curiosity. “Why? It’s only us two.”
“I don’t know, our love is big enough to be a whole other pony…” He smiled at his own funny.
She rolled her eyes, although smiling as well. “Ha ha.” They both glanced over to their left at the same time to see a hotel that was very familiar to Fluttershy. “Oh, wonderful! The Mane Fair Hotel! This is the hotel we stayed in we me and the others came here with Rarity for Fashion Week. It’s such a nice place.”
Emerald started leading her to the door. “Then we’re staying here. Rates good?”
She tried to remember. “Um, well, see, I don’t quite remember. Nothing outrageous, for sure.”
They trotted in and went to the receptionist, getting a room and heading off to it.
“You’re going to love what I have planned, sweetie,” he said elatedly as they made their way to their floor. “We’ve got a lot to do today and tomorrow. I just hope you can handle all the fun.” They got to the fifth floor and went through the door to the halls containing all the rooms.
“Oh, I can, I’m sure. I can’t wait to visit the Halter Park Zoo. Or Equines’ Square…Oh, I’m so excited!” She began hovering above him, holding her cheeks and grinning ecstatically.
Emerald chuckled. “Okay, easy does it, girl. We still have to get our stuff to our room.”
Their room was only four doors down from the stairway, making it easier for them to get in and out when they needed. It was just a single bedroom suite, one that had an excellent view of most of downtown. A marvelous thing, but nothing compared to what he had planned.
Fluttershy must have noticed his thinking, because he was smiling, and now she looked interested. “Um, what’s funny?”
Emerald shook his head and went over to her. She was sitting on the end of the bed, and so he sat down beside her. The bed was bouncy, so she went up and down a few times before she settled. They both laughed at this, taking each other’s hoof. “I was just thinking how amazing this is going to be. You, me, and the Big M. There’s things I have planned I know you’ll like, and others I can only hope. But as long as I get to spend every minute I’m here with you, it’ll all be worth it.”
She smiled, an irresistible expression, and Emerald sought the opportunity to kiss her. She wrapped her arms around him, and he wrapped his around her in a tight embrace as they continued to exchange romance. After a few moments, Fluttershy pulled away to look him in the eyes.
“This is so amazing…I love this. I love you…”
Emerald grinned again, but only momentarily before he pressed his lips against hers a second time. This time, it would last a little longer.
In the early afternoon hours, the couple travelled by carriage to Halter Park, where the town-to-town zoo was just opening to visitors, but heavily crowded.
“Oh, my.” Fluttershy murmured. “There’s so many ponies here. How will we ever get in?”
Emerald took her hoof to guide her out of the carriage. “Fluttershy, we’re pagasi. We have wings.” He pointed to hers, which she looked back at and opened.
“But that’s cutting.” She protested. “They got here first.”
Emerald snorted. “We aren’t cutting, we’re using our biological abilities to our advantage. There’s a difference, you know.” He took off, prompting her to flap her wing as well to balance herself.
“Oh, this feels wrong…” She complained, looking down at the irritated ponies below.
“Ease up, girl. Have a little fun.” They flew down to the front of the line near the ticket booths. When they landed in front of somepony, he began berating them for cutting.
Emerald didn’t even look back at him, but Fluttershy gave the guy an apologetic smile.
Emerald handed enough bits over for three tickets. “I’m buying his,” he said, pointing to the now shocked pony.
As they went in, Fluttershy commended him for his act of kindness. “That was awfully nice of you.” She said.
He shrugged. “We cut him, so I bought his ticket. That’s how you do it, Shy.”
Their attention was immediately drawn to the vast array of exotic animals from around the world. Cages everywhere, animal noises, and the smell of nature dominated everywhere.
“Lions, tigers, bears…” Fluttershy said in awe as her head swung back and forth, looking at all the animals with a thrilled toothy grin glued to her face.
“Oh, my,” Emerald added humorously, earning a deadpan look from her.
“And look, there’s an ocelot!” She pointed a hoof, but before Emerald could spot what she was pointing at, she was off to see it closer.
“Wait up!” He called after her, using his wings to zip over in her direction. He landed near her and the cage, and lightly pressed up against the glass to see inside better. The cat was indeed beautiful, and thankfully, not very big, either. “So, this is what mine would look like?” He asked her.
“Oh, yes! Isn’t he amazing? Oh, this is just so exciting!” She took off for the next cage.
Emerald sighed and shook his head. “It’s going to be a long day…” Then he trailed after her.
After they’d seen every animal in the whole zoo at least twice, Fluttershy had had her fill. They left on hoof this time, to first go eat, then later, take her by the sea, where he’d planned on asking the question.
The eatery was nothing short of exemplary. The food, the atmosphere, even the waiters and waitresses were a big contribution to the obviously romantic setting. The name of the restaurant was Lover’s Corner, ironically the restaurant was not on a corner.
“This has been such an amazing day, Emerald.” She said happily, sipping her drink from the fancy glass it was provided in.
Emerald nodded in agreement. “You’re the one that made it amazing. For me, at least,” He finished off the last of his vegetable casserole.
“Oh, don’t be silly. We came here together to make it magical for the both of us. We made each other’s day wonderful.” She told him, smiling across the table at him. The lighting made her pupils wide, and for some reason, attractive.
“You know what, I agree, sweetie.” He took a long sip of his drink now wash the food down. “But to me, it was you that made my day best, nothing else. You’re the light of my life, girl.” He smiled with just the corners of his mouth.
She continued to smile back at him. “Oh, Emerald, you’re so sweet…” She looked off at the band playing soft jazz in the corner.
“So you enjoyed the food?” He asked, trying to keep the conversation alive.
“Of course I did, silly. It was really good. I hope we didn’t spend too much here…” She said, worried.
“You know, you’ve said something like that before, and I think this time I’ll tell you that you are worth every bit, every time.” He replied, leaning forward for effect.
She beamed at him. “Oh, my…”
“I can’t believe it. We’ve been together six months. Six whole months. Honestly, this is the only relationship I’ve ever been in, too.” He went on, running the tip of his hoof around the rim of his glass.
“It’s the best relationship I’ve ever had.” She said honestly. “I had a coltfriend in Cloudsdale, but that didn’t last long and was nothing like this.” She looked him in the eyes. “Or like you. I really didn’t think we’d come this far, but we have. I’m glad you came to Ponyville, or I would have never met you.”
Emerald held back the tears he felt coming on. He could tell she was. “I feel the same about you. You changed my life, girl. I wanna change yours.” He waved for a waiter and got the bill. When he paid, he stood up and offered Fluttershy his hoof. “Let’s go for a walk before we head home, shall we?”
They walked all the way down near the harbor, around the countless docks and piers of lower Manehattan.
“It sure is lovely out here,” Fluttershy was saying as they paralleled the water, watching the sun hug the horizon.
“It sure is.” Emerald agreed. That’s when his heartbeat picked up. And it’s about to get lovelier…