//------------------------------//
// The Manehatten Tour 
// Story: Moving On 
// by Ribe_FireRain 
//------------------------------//


Five years ago


Manehatten was skin-bitingly cold during the winter in Equestria and the night was already into its late hours and sprinkles in the sky that were brightly shining stars illuminated the black canvas like a fireworks display in the cloudless skies above.

In the centre of the lit up city, swarms upon swarms of ponies bustled about and were filing themselves into the Manehatten City Stadium that was thankfully large enough in capacity to hold the quantity of tonight's audience of ponies for the show.

In the back of the stage, the performers in tonight's band were all checking and rechecking equipment, from amplifiers to guitars and electronic drums, the range of the instruments used all appeared to be in a well maintained and functioning order.

Two ponies, sat out back on a small platform with their hooves around each other's backs gazed up at the sky with their heads snuggled against each other. One, a young stallion, had a light blue coat with green eyes and rainbow mane and the other, a mare of around the same age, had a two-tone yellow and orange mane with a slightly darker toned yellow coat with eyes to match.

''You know, this'll be the last tour.'' the stallion said, gently hugging the mare with his free hoof. The mare snuggled her cheek deeper with his and kissed it before looking back to the sky.

''That's a good thing,'' She said with a soft sigh. ''means we can finally get a good sleep for the first time in a long time.'' She yawned.

''It's only been a couple months.'' The stallion said with a hint of confusion in his voice. ''Plenty more tours will be coming up after it, but at least we'll get to spend some time with each other over Hearths Warming holidays.'' 

The mare chuckled, a cheeky smirk crossing her lips and she peeled her eyes from the sky to direct them into the stallion's green eyes with a lustful look behind them.  

''Oh, yes, then you'll be tired.'' She grinned wickedly and clenched both her hooves around the stallion's back and pushed him down as a blush ignited upon his blue cheeks, like two glowing pink orbs in the darkness and his lips came into contact with the mare on top of him.

Regardless of how deeply the mare wanted him, the romantic and tender moment between the two was broken and brought to an end when a voice called out from the inside of the building, the owner of the voice standing in the doorway.

''Hey! Are ya'll love birds ready to do this, or what?'' Looking up in surprise, both the mare's and stallion's cheeks burned intensely at the sudden appearance of their friend, Blaze. He stood watching them with his crimson eyes hidden beneath his trademark, black Stetson cowpony hat and he stifled a laugh as his two friends climbed off of each other and back to their hooves. ''So, havin' fun?'' He grinned.

''Killjoy.'' The mare huffed and Blaze laughed as she trotted past him, brushing his side with her own as she did so and made her way back into the backstage area of the stadium.

The stallion turned his eyes on his friend with a blush and Blaze smiled an all knowing smile back. ''C'mon, Strike, ya mare magnet, we got a show ta put on.'' Strike only gave a short chuckle and hugged his friend for a moment until he felt Blaze's hoof gently push him back a little and when he gave him a confused look, he spoke at a whispering level, making sure nopony else was around to snoop in.

''So,'' He began. ''when are ya gonna ask her?'' Strike blinked and sighed shortly out of his nostrils.

''I don't know, Blaze. You know that I like her and we've only known each other for like five or so months. I aren't that fast with the ladies, you know.'' Blaze guffawed.

''Your ways with them suggest otherwise, lover-boy.'' Blaze smirked and nudged his friend's shoulder and he blushed. Strike lightly punched him back.

''S-Shut up. You're only jealous.'' 

''Nah, Ah'm spoken for. Good luck with her, by the way.'' He turned and made his way to the door, fully disappearing for a moment before poking his head back and saying, ''Don't keep her waiting.''

''Thanks, Blaze.''