//------------------------------//
// In Which a Golden City Loses Some of Its Luster 
// Story: Two Mares and a Carpet Bag 
// by Icenrose 
//------------------------------//

Day 1: Canterlot

The gilded marble columns of the Royal Equestrian Bank and Trust glinted in the dawning light of sunrise behind Trixie as she descended the polished granite front steps, the vast majority of her worldly wealth – a thick roll of banknotes totaling two thousand bits – tucked within her hat.  She spotted Starlight idling on the second landing, carpet bag at her feet, gawking at the city as it slowly shifted from grey to gold, and trotted over to join her.

“It’s pretty impressive, isn’t it?” Trixie asked.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Starlight breathed.

Trixie tilted her head.  “Really?  You’ve lived in Ponyville for this long, and you’ve never been to Canterlot before?”

Starlight slowly shook her head, eyes never leaving the city skyline, and the golden hills and fields below it.  “Never found the time.”

Trixie turned to admire the scene herself.  “It’s my hometown.”

Starlight reluctantly pulled her eyes away and turned them to her friend.  “Why would you ever leave?”

“I love to travel.”  Trixie’s gaze fell to the stone steps.  “And… other reasons.”  She looked back up to Starlight and offered a tight smile.  “I’m sure you understand.”

Starlight returned her smile in kind.  “More than most ponies could.”

They turned back towards the sunrise and basked in the morning glow.  For a hooffull of moments, they lost themselves.

“Ugh, tourists.”

The duo were snapped out of their reverie by a tall unicorn stallion clad in an ascot and top hat, diamond-encrusted wife in tow.  “How our fair city is still allowed to be overrun by gawping yokels is quite beyond me.”

Starlight’s eyelids fell to half-mast.  “Nice to meet you, too.”

The locals simply turned up their noses with a scoff as they strode up the steps to the bank.

Trixie scowled after them.  “That would be another reason why I left.”

“Yeah.  The city seems to have lost some its charm, now.”  Starlight glanced at a nearby clock tower.  “We’d better get back to the train station – The Friendship Express leaves for Manehattan at eight o’clock.”

Trixie grinned at this.  “Neigh, my friend – I’m taking you to my favorite bistro before we leave.  I never visit Canterlot without stopping in for a bite.”

“But Trixie, the train!”

“I learned from the bank manager of a much better route to Manehattan – we set sail at quarter to two.”

Starlight blinked at her.  “‘Set sail?’”