The Crystal War Book I: A Spark to Light the Dark

by NatureSpark

Ch.37 Big City Lights

~Chapter 37: Big City Lights~

Knock. Knock. Knock. The sound of somepony’s hoof rapping against the bedroom door broke the silence that Star had been enjoying as she lay in bed beside the restless form of a sleeping Axel. Reluctantly, but quickly enough to prevent another series of knocks from waking her friend, Star rolled out of bed and made her way to the door. She stumbled once as her rear leg got caught on the straps of Axel’s saddlebags, which had been left lying haphazardly in the middle of the room, but managed to get the door open before her visitor became impatient.

“Oh good, you are awake,” Brass Heart said as he met Star’s tired gaze. “I was worried that I might have woken you up, but I figured it was about time anyway.”

“Axel is still asleep, but I’ve been up for a few minutes,” Star replied.

“You might want to wake her up pretty soon. I figured it would be a good idea to get an early start. The weather is fairly calm at the moment, but who knows how long that will last.” Star nodded her head as she gave him an appraising glance. Brass Heart looked as if he had been awake for an hour or more already with his bright face and fully suited in his armor. Star blushed as she realized how lousy she must look in comparison. Her mane was a mess and she hadn’t washed up yet, but if it was off putting then Brass Heart did an excellent job of pretending it didn’t bother him.

“You’re probably right, but I think I’ll go grab us each a slice of that cake that we passed on last night,” Star replied. “Axel will probably be much more cheerful waking up with cake to eat.”

“I didn’t know she could get more cheerful,” Brass Heart chuckled. “Well I guess I’ll make sure that Dawn is finished packing and we’ll meet you downstairs whenever you’re ready.

“That works for me,” Star replied with a smile as she walked out into the hallway and closed the bedroom door behind her. Brass Heart turned to leave, his heart shaped cutie mark catching Star’s eye just as he entered the room opposite hers. The black mare blushed again as she realized where she had been staring and she turned towards the stairs with a yawn. She had gotten a decent amount of sleep the night before, although Axel’s constant shifting around on the bed woke her more than once, but it didn’t feel like enough to her.

The sight of two other ponies in the main lobby, both of them earth ponies just a few years older than Star, made her regret not running a comb through her black mane before leaving the privacy of her room. Her insecurities were unnecessary due to the fact that both ponies were too involved in their discussion to give Star more than a passing glance, but she still quickened her pace so that she could find Cary and leave. The sound of humming resonating in the back part of the lobby alerted Star to the older mare’s whereabouts and she headed in the direction of Cary’s home with a smile on her face.

It appeared that Cary had the same idea as Star and was in the midst of slicing the cake into pieces when she walked up. The sound of Star’s hoofs making muffled noises against the worn, green carpet made Cary pause in her humming and glance up with a smile. The earth pony was already wide awake, wearing her usual apron sporting the name Village Inn across the front in dark green lettering. One of the best aspects of staying at Cary’s inn was that she offered home cooked meals to all of her guests and today was no exception.

“Good morning, Star,” Cary called out in her singsong voice as she went back to cutting the cake into several slices.

“Good morning,” Star returned.

“Did you sleep well?” Cary asked around the hilt of the knife without drawing her attention away from the delicate task.

“I always do when I’m here,” Star replied with a smile as she watched the grace with which Cary worked.

“I’m glad,” Cary responded as Star opened one of the wooden cupboards above the sink and floated a few small plates over to the table where her friend was working. “Would you like a piece of cake,” Cary offered.

“Two please,” Star replied. “I’m sure that Axel will want one when I wake her.”

“Does she really need cake?” Cary asked with a laugh. “It seems like sugar would be the last thing that mare would need.” It hadn’t taken much interaction for Cary to realize how hyper Axel could be.

“Haha, probably not, but I’m sure that she’d be unhappy if I didn’t at least offer her some,” Star explained.

“What about the other two?” the earth pony asked, referring to Brass Heart and Dawn. “I wouldn’t want to leave them out.”

“Oh, I’m sure that they will be down here to get some anytime,” Star assured her.

“Here you are,” Cary said as she nudged two plates across the table in Star’s direction. “Let me know if you need anything else before you leave.”

“I think this will be fine for now, but on our way back through we’ll probably stay another night,” Star replied as she lifted both plates in the white glow of her magic.

“I’ll be here,” Cary replied with a smile. Star gave a quick nod as she held the plates in front of her and turned to leave.

“Thanks again,” Star called back to her friend as she walked over the threshold separating Cary’s residence from the rest of the inn. She gave a polite nod as she passed the other guests sitting at one of the few table scattered throughout the main lobby, waiting for Cary to serve them breakfast, before heading for the stairs. The plates wobbled for a split second in her magical grip as she ascended the steps into the hallway above, but she quickly righted them.

Neither Brass Heart nor Dawn passed Star in the hall as she carried the twin plates of desert to the room where Axel was still sleeping soundly. She assumed that they had already finished packing and were outside preparing the sky chariot for their imminent departure. The early start they were hoping for would put them in Manehatten before dinner, so Star was as eager to leave as her two escorts.

“Axel, it’s time to wake up,” Star called out to her friend as she pushed the bedroom door open. “I brought you some cake.” Star walked in the room just as Axel opened one bleary hazel eye.

“Cake?” Axel yawned as she sat up in bed, her senses slowly returning as she fully awakened. “That sounds amazing.”

“I thought you might think so,” Star replied, “now get up and eat so we can pack our bags and head out. We’ve got another full day of traveling before we reach Manehatten and I’d prefer to get an early start.” Axel nodded her head absentmindedly in response as she squirmed her way out of the tangle of blankets binding her legs. She rubbed the last groggy sleep from her eyes as she ambled over to the small table where Star had set down the cake and her face lit up with a grin as she reached for her piece.

“How long have you been up?” Axel asked as she brushed a few stray strands of her mane behind her ear. Star didn’t remember the earth pony letting her hair down before bed, but sometime during her restless sleep Axel’s hair had managed to come lose and hung behind her face in a disarray that made Star feel better about her own bed head.

“Not long,” Star replied as she took the first bite of her unhealthy breakfast. Even though it had been out overnight, the rich carrot cake was still super moist. The taste of sugar and carrot tickled Star’s tongue as she chewed and swallowed, immediately following up with another bite. “I spoke with Brass Heart and then went downstairs to grab breakfast,” she added, gesturing at what they were both eating.

“Mmm, this cake is so good,” Axel gushed. “It’s the perfect way to start the morning.” Star mumbled her agreement over a mouthful of carroty deliciousness and took another bite. Within minutes both mares had finished their food, Axel even making sure to lick her plate clean before setting it on the table with a contented sigh.

“Okay, now that that’s over with,” Star finally said, “I suppose we should get our stuff packed up and I still need to brush out my hair.”

“Oh shoot, I knew I was forgetting something,” Axel huffed as she stared up at her own tangled mess of blonde mane. “I completely spaced grabbing a brush.” Star rolled her eyes and snickered.

“You can just borrow mine until we get back to Canterlot,” she said as she dragged her white saddlebags across the floor to her. It took only a few tries for Star to snatch her blue brush out of the pouch and pass it over to Axel. “Just try not to take too long. I’d rather not keep Brass Heart and Dawn waiting all morning.”

“Okey-dokey,” Axel replied with a smile as she took the brush from Star and pulled it through her messy mane. Star decided to pack up her belongings and make the bed while she waited for her turn. Cary normally tended to the rooms after her guests left, but Star always tried to tidy up after herself when she stayed in town. It seemed polite and Cary was busy enough as it was.

Brass Heart and Dawn Glory were waiting out front with the sky chariot when Star and Axel eventually made their way out the door. Both were wearing their usual armor and Dawn was already strapped onto the front of the chariot by means of the various belts and latches protruding from the vehicle. The stallions nodded politely to the girls and continued the conversation they were having about the best cake in Equestria; a conversation no doubt inspired by Cary’s offering of desert for breakfast, Star figured.

Axel tossed her bags into the chariot and Star did the same, although she was more careful to set it down gently for fear of damaging the artifact resting at the top. The earth pony remained on the ground when Star climbed into the chariot, insisting that she needed to crawl underneath and double check the gemstones that held them aloft. She didn’t seem to mind that the ground had a thick layer of muddy frost on it, so Star shrugged in reply and let her attend to the task in peace.

“Is everything in order?” Star asked her red coated friend.

“Yeah, it looks like she’s holding up alright,” Axel’s muffled reply came as she wriggled her body out from the undercarriage. “I was a bit worried after the blizzard, but it looks like she took the beating in stride. When we get to Manehatten I may have to stop to get a few bolts replaced, but we’ll just have to see.”

“Glad to hear it,” Star replied as she offered a hoof out to help Axel into the chariot. “Watch your step.”

“I hope you weren’t planning on leaving without saying goodbye, Discipula Star!” Caresma shouted out with a half serious frown as she trotted through the wooden door of the Village Inn.

“Of course not Cary,” Star replied with a wave of her hoof. “I assumed you would come out here sooner or later if you weren’t too busy.”

“Too busy to see you off?” the older mare asked with mock shock, “Never.” Star leaned over the edge of the cart as her friend walked up, giving Cary a quick hug before sitting back down on the cold bench.

“I’ll see you again in a couple days,” Star reminded her.

“I’ll be waiting,” Cary replied. “Goodbye everypony, it was very nice meeting Star’s friends.” Cary gave them a wave which everypony returned before Dawn gave a hard pull on the chariot, getting it rolling across the frost crusted ground before spreading his wings and making a final thrust as they lifted into the cloudy skies. Star looked back at her friend one last time to see Cary smiling as she returned to the inn. Axel pulled a blanket out of her bag, offering half to Star as they both settled in for the trip.

The blizzard had passed over them, being blown further south and taking its harsh winds with it, leaving the four ponies to travel with relative ease. There was still enough of a breeze to make Axel shiver anytime part of her body poked out from the blanket she had covered her and Star with, but it was noticeably warmer than the day before. As Dawn pulled them through the vast winter skies, Brass Heart took up a position high above them where he could keep a lookout.

To the best of Star’s knowledge there hadn’t been any further problems with griffons in Equestria and it seemed as if the extra patrols were to thank. The princess’ plan was working out and Star figured that Brass Heart’s vigilance was probably unnecessary, but she knew it was better to have the extra protection and not need it than to want it and not have it. The unicorn found her violet eyes drawn upwards, to the tiny speck that was Brass Heart, every so often.

They soared over the forest surrounding Hallow Shades, finally clearing the lush, green area as the sun shifted into late morning. Star noticed how peaceful it was in the air between Axel’s ramblings and the gusts of wind that whisked by them. The sugary treat that they had all indulged in that morning was enough to have the earth pony bouncing in her seat as they rode, so Star did her best to keep the conversation going in an attempt to keep Axel’s mind off of the fact that there was nothing for the two of them to do. It worked well enough for her.

“How long will it take to find the parts that you need for the sky chariot?” Star asked for the sake of making conversation, not because she had any real concerns about Axel not having the time.

“It shouldn’t take too long, although I’m sure the selection won’t be as extensive as what I would be able to find in Canterlot,” Axel replied with a dismissive wave of her hoof. “I guess we’ll just have to see though.”

“I’m sure that we will still have plenty of time to waste before we leave,” Star said as she gazed up at the vast, grey cloud cover. “Either way I’m sure that it will be a great experience for you.”

“I hope so,” Axel responded, “I’ve always been meaning to take a trip into some of the other cities, but I always seem to get caught up in building something; it’s funny how time can just slip away from you.”

“I know the feeling,” Star replied as she thought about Inferno and how long it had been since she had seen the young dragon. It had only been a few weeks, but it seemed like an eternity to the black mare. She missed Inferno’s sense of humor, even though it could be a little sarcastic most of the time, and the smile that she got just being near her. Just when they had begun to accept the full depth of the connection they shared, Inferno had been swept away by Spark’s need to make a difference in the fate of Equestria. It left Star feeling like she was missing an important part of herself.

“It’s strange, isn’t it?” Axel asked, giving no hint to exactly what she was referring to.

“What is?” Star returned as she brought her attention back to her friend.

“How peaceful it is,” Axel replied. “There’s a war looming on the horizon, possibly even in the first stages of being fought and yet…” the red mare trailed off.

“Mhmm, if I didn’t know any better I could almost believe that the events of the past few days were just a dream… or a story I read in one of my books,” Star finished.

Though it appeared peaceful at the moment, Star couldn’t help but feel that it was more like the calm before the storm. They were just passing through the perfect stillness that belayed the imminent disaster soon to follow. No matter how much she wished it was all an elaborate hoax, Star knew the savage reality of what was occurring. The absence of her friends was a constant reminder.

“It will all turn out okay,” Star assured Axel as she pulled her short legs up onto the bench, where they would be kept warm under the blanket.

“Do you really think so?” Axel asked.

“Yes, I’m sure of it,” Star replied, although she was having enough trouble convincing herself that it was true. “Princess Luna and Princess Celestia have always protected us and as long as they are both leading Equestria then I have no doubts.” The words sounded hollow to Star, but she had apparently been convincing enough for Axel, because the blonde mare gave a relaxed smile.

“You’re probably right,” Axel said as she slouched down on the seat. “I don’t even know why I’m worried.” She gave a laugh as she looked out over the land stretching out beneath them. “Having fun in Manehatten should be my only concern today.” Star wasn’t surprised at how easily Axel was able to switch gears so easily, it fit her bubbly personality to be able to flip from serious to lighthearted in between sentences.

“It will probably be too late to do much tonight,” Star admitted, “but we can find somewhere good to get dinner and then I can drop off that artifact at the museum first thing in the morning.” Axel’s face lit up at the mention of a good meal.

“I am going to get about a dozen deserts,” the earth pony said as she licked her lips at the thought.

“We already had cake for breakfast though,” Star replied. Axels didn’t seem to care about that fact. “Haven’t you had enough sugar for one day?”

“You can never have enough sugar,” Axel replied with a deadpan expression that made Star fall over laughing. “I’m serious.”

“Okay, dessert it is,” Star said as she sat up from the bench and wiped away a tear that had formed in her sparkling eye. Axel could be a very strange pony sometimes, but Star had to admit that she was having the most fun she’d had in quite awhile. Axel must have been thinking along the same lines, because she leaned over and gave Star a big hug for no apparent reason. Star smiled warmly as she returned the gesture.

Star and Axel’s conversation continued throughout most of the morning, although they never returned to the topic of war, for which Star was grateful. Eventually discussing food proved to make the two mares hungry for lunch and Star called out for Dawn to take them down for a landing, which he eagerly complied with. Just because the wind had died down didn’t mean that pulling a chariot around all day was an easy task and any breaks were welcome relief for the pegasus guard. They began their descent as soon as Star was able to catch Brass Heart’s attention and motion for him to follow them.

They made camp at the base of the mountains, finding a spot that was level enough that Dawn would be able to get the vehicle rolling again without any problems. Brass Heart was elected to collect firewood, which was a simple task considering there were still trees scattered around, while Dawn Glory rested his aching wings for a bit. Both mares worked on making something to eat, even though it wasn’t nearly as extravagant as what Cary and Axel had prepared for them the night before.

The blizzard hadn’t passed through the area they were currently in, so it only took a couple of minutes after Brass Heart returned for him to get a fire lit and soon everypony was huddled around the roaring blaze. Dawn sat, absentmindedly poking a stick at the burning logs while he and Brass Heart reminisced about the early days of joining the royal guard. Axel and Star joined them a moment later, passing over two sandwiches and a flask of water, which Brass Heart declined in favor of his own flask, which appeared to be full of liquor.

“You know that alcohol only makes you colder, right?” Star asked as she took a drink of water and set her flask down on the damp ground beside her.

“That’s alright,” Brass Heart replied, “because I’ll be flying all around in just a little while, so I’m sure I’ll warm right back up.” He followed up his statement by flashing a quick smile and taking another swig before holding the flask out. “Anypony else thirsty?” he asked, glancing to each of his companions and shaking the flask at them.

Dawn reached for the metallic container as he replied, “I guess I’ll have a-”

“Ladies first!” Axel shouted as she snatched the liquor away.

“…drink,” Dawn finished as his hoof swiped the empty air where the flask had once been. “Never mind,” he mumbled as Axel tipped her head back and took a long drink of the bitter fluid before handing the container back to Brass Heart.

“Mmm, that’s really good,” Axel told them as she wiped the little bit of alcohol that had dripped down her slender neck. “What kind is it?” Brass Heart stared at her in disbelief for a few seconds before cracking a wide smile.

“That was homemade apple pie moonshine,” Brass Heart chuckled, “and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a mare take that big of a drink.” Axel shrugged her shoulders while beside her Star sighed and rubbed her temple in slow circles with one hoof.

“It tasted fine to me,” Axel replied.

“I’ll bet it did,” Brass Heart said as he passed the drink over to Dawn. “Just give it a few minutes and you’ll probably like it even more.” After Dawn was finished Brass Heart offered the flask to Star, but she didn’t really care for liquor and having it surprise her the last time she drank some was an even more unpleasant memory.

“No thank you,” Star said before taking a bite of her sandwich.

“Suit your self,” Brass Heart replied with a shrug as he capped the top and set it back down. Everypony took the opportunity to follow Star’s lead and start eating, pausing only to take a drink or move closer to the crackling fire. By the time the food was gone, so was the apple pie moonshine and with its demise came an increase in the amount of laughter filling their small camp. Most of the noise was caused by Axel, who was giggling more than usual under the influence of the booze, but both Brass Heart and Dawn shared a few good laughs as well.

The fire had died down to smoldering coals when they finally decided it was time to leave again. Star’s horn flickered to life with white light as she scooped up a pile of soggy earth and dumped it on the remaining embers. Brass Heart and Dawn both stretched out their legs and wings before Dawn got his body situated at the front of the chariot where Star helped latch him to the vehicle. Axel grabbed what supplies they had gotten out of the bags and packed them up securely once again, giggling aloud all the while. Brass Heart took off first, returning to his position high above them, just a speck of white against the swollen, grey clouds. Dawn got a running start and pulled them up after him, although staying a good distance lower than his friend.

“Next stop, Manehatten,” he called back as his wings caught a current and he began to glide.

“Woohoo!” Axel screamed with a laugh as she flopped down onto the bench beside Star, who snickered quietly at the earth pony’s antics. The alcohol had certainly served its purpose, Star thought as she watched her friend waving her forelegs in the air. Axel noticed Star giving her a weird look and it only made her laugh even more. It was going to be an interesting flight.

Time passed quickly or at least it seemed that way to Star as she sat in the sky chariot next to Axel, who had fallen asleep soon after the effects of the moonshine had worn off, staring at the sun as it began its slow descent into the western horizon. Snow had begun to fall during that time, but Axel had been to drunk for it to cause her any grief and Star didn’t mind the few flakes that landed on her, sticking in her mane and eyelashes until they melted away. Dawn had mumbled something about his hooves going numb, but that had been awhile ago and he never brought it up again, so Star figured it must not have been too uncomfortable. Only Brass Heart hadn’t made his opinion about the light snowfall known, but that was due to the fact that he was still flying above them and Star couldn’t be bothered to yell about such a trivial matter as that.

Some slight turbulence caused the chariot to shake at that moment, making Axel’s head slide down to the bench, where it landed against the mares’ shared blankets with a quiet thud. The sugar crash from the alcohol and cake had left Axel completely out of it however and her eyes didn’t even twitch at the soft blow. Star stifled a laugh as she pulled the blankets down over her friend’s legs and then proceeded to grab her cloak out of her white saddlebags, folding it up into a rough square so that Axel could use it as a pillow. Star lifted up her blonde maned head and shoved the pillow underneath it before setting her gently back down, all without waking her.

Star took a deep breath, allowing the frosty evening air to fill her lungs before exhaling a cloud of vapor that was quickly carried off on the breeze. The light of the setting sun painted the skies behind them with a myriad of warm colors and Star turned back for one last look before night set in and the daylight dissipated. It was beautiful, that much was clear to anypony, but it couldn’t hold a candle to the brilliance of the stars on a clear night away from the city lights, though many ponies might disagree. Ponyville was perfect for Star gazing, Star remembered as memories of walking the ashen streets surfaced in her mind.

Dodge was beautiful in its own way of course, otherwise Star would have never decided to move there, but over the years it had grown enough that the stars were unable to shine as brightly. Canterlot was worse of course, a telescope was usually necessary to view all of the smaller stars, yet both cities held a different kind of beauty. There was something to be said for the sight of architecture, designed and built by hoof, rising out of nature and creating order out of the chaos. It was in the nature of ponykind to impose a semblance of harmony over all of Equestria. Still, on clear nights, Star could almost believe that the world would be better off in its natural state, but she banished those thoughts quickly. It went against the will of the princesses to think like that, they were responsible for raising the sun and moon and proved that it was in everypony’s best interest to manipulate the elements for their benefit.

“Manehatten isn’t far now.” Dawn Glory’s voice was an unexpected intrusion that snapped Star out of her wandering thoughts and brought her back to the bench of the sky chariot, next to a still sleeping Axel. Star realized that the earth pony had maneuvered her body enough that her head was resting against Star. She had been absentmindedly stroking her friend’s blonde mane and was surprised that it hadn’t woken her.

“Axel, it’s time for you to wake up,” Star whispered into her red ear, causing it to twitch in response. “I can see the city lights up ahead. I thought you might want to see Manehatten from the sky, it’s really pretty.” One of Axel’s hazel eyes cracked open, eyeing Star for a moment before its twin opened as well. Axel let out a tiny yawn as she stretched her legs out and smiled up at Star.

“How long was I asleep for?” Axel asked in a voice still rasping from the burn of the alcohol she had consumed with lunch.

“Well you fell asleep sometime during my story about the time I visited Galloping Gorge, so it was most of the afternoon,” Star informed her as she gestured to the last rays of sunlight poking out from behind the Foal Mountains in the distance.

“I think I may have drunk a bit much,” Axel admitted after sitting up and clearing her throat. Snow speckled her face now that Star’s hoof wasn’t there to stop it and Axel shivered as she pulled the scratchy blankets over her again. “When did it start snowing again?” The rust red mare stuck her tongue out and let a few snowflakes melt on it while she waited for Star’s reply.

“A couple hours after you fell asleep,” Star replied as she tugged the blankets back from Axel, who had taken the majority of them, leaving half of Star’s small body exposed to the cold. “You didn’t even notice it.” Axel shook her head and stared innocently out at the view ahead of them. Manehatten could be seen, a shining beacon against the vast darkness of the ocean. It was actually an island, surrounded by the salty ocean, but in the last few months the citizens had begun to build immense bridges connecting it with the rest of Equestria, although they were still years from being finished.

“It’s amazing,” Axel said in a voice barely above a whisper, her gaze held in rapt attention by the sight of the sparkling lights of the city on the water.

“It does hold a certain charm,” Brass Heart agreed as he pulled up beside the slowly descending chariot. “Did you two pack up everything?” Star and Axel nodded their heads, attention still fixed on the cityscape as they approached their destination.

Snowflakes fell from the sky, reflecting the luminescence of the city and looking like fireflies as they drifted to the ground below. The sound of the ocean lapping against the foundation of the new bridges mixed with the ever present breeze, creating a harmony that was slowly drowned out by city noise as the cart entered Manehatten. They touched down near the southwest entrance and were greeted by the guards stationed there.

“State your names and your business in the city,” one of the soldiers called out to them, his surprise at their mode of locomotion barely contained as he addressed the two stallions escorting Star.

“I am Brass Heart, member of the royal guard and this is my partner, Dawn Glory,” Brass Heart called back as he strode up to the gates next to Dawn, who was pulling the chariot along the brick streets. “We are here under the orders of Princess Luna to escort Miss Discipula Star and Miss Alexia Lynn Sapphire to the Equestrian Museum of Natural History.” Brass Heart’s tone changed as he addressed his comrades, from the laidback tone of a friend to a more professional one.

“Of course,” the guard replied, as he motioned for two of his subordinates to open the gates for the new arrivals, “Princess Luna informed us that you would be arriving soon.” The gates swung open, causing a low rumble to sound as the worn hinges ground against themselves. “Pardon the formality, but we have been under strict orders to stay extra vigilant due to recent events.” Even here, the aftershock of the Ponyville fire was affecting the lives of ponies. Star imagined it was the same in every city across the land.

“Trust me, we understand,” Dawn said as he began to pull the sky chariot over the uneven ground and into the city proper. Both stallions gave a nod to the other soldiers as they passed by and the other soldiers responded in kind.

“Welcome to Manehatten,” the lead guard announced as his stallions closed the gates behind them with a resounding boom.

Although from a distance one could believe Manehatten was a city at sleep, as they entered the gates all four ponies were greeted with the site of the city’s citizens all around, bustling across busy streets to and from whatever business they had even as night settled in around them. Lamps stood at the end of every street corner, basking the roads in their glow and allowing everypony to see clearly at any hour, but at the cost of drowning out most of the natural light of the moon and stars above.

“I can’t believe you were worried about what we were going to do for fun here,” Axel said as she took in the sights and sounds that clashed around them.

“Well, they do call it the city that never sleeps,” Brass Heart replied with a wink.

“I can see why,” Axel said with a renewed vigor. “It’s nothing like Canterlot.” It was true. Though Canterlot was bigger, and even had a larger population, Manehatten boasted newer buildings, some of which reached over six stories above ground. It also housed the main trading ports for international business and so there was also a diverse mix of races and cultures living in harmony throughout the city.

“Where are we headed first?” Dawn asked, eager to remove the harnesses binding him to the wooden contraption in which the mares rode.

“I suppose we should check into our rooms at the Dragonquine and then we can decide how to spend the rest of our night,” Star replied.

“That works for me,” Dawn huffed as he began pulling the chariot once again, “Which way is it?” Star hopped out of the cart; followed by a bouncing Axel, in order to reduce the weight that Dawn was forced to drag.

“Follow me,” Star said as she headed down the busy street in the direction of their hotel. The roads were crowded, as they always were in Manehatten, but they found their way into the flow of vehicles and were soon zigzagging through the maze of tall buildings and rushed ponies.

The Dragonquine Hotel was one of the largest in the city, expanding over an entire block and reaching up six stories above ground, with another few below. Only the richest of ponies and dignitaries from other countries could usually afford to stay in such luxurious accommodations, but being Princess Luna’s protégé had its perks and Star had been given a room on the fifth floor. After parking Axel’s sky chariot beside the many other wagons lined up along the rear of the building, Star and her companions snatched up their bags and hurried through the front doors, where they were greeted by a pair of employees who offered to carry their belongings for them. Star and Axel both accepted the offer, but the two stallions chose to tackle the task themselves due to some sort of military pride, Star assumed.

The main lobby was larger than most homes in Dodge and packed with ponies of every color and race, along with a zebra or two. Star even caught sight of a minotaur before he exited through the same doors that they had just entered. Star walked up to the polished marble counter, where three ponies were busy tending to guests, and took her place in line, followed by her three companions. Each of them talked in hushed tones to one another, commenting on the incredible architecture of the lobby, from the hoof carved buttresses supporting the walls to care that went into the design of each unique painting spaced around the large room. The hotel was the pinnacle of Equestrian ingenuity and a testament to Manehatten’s diversity as it boasted designs from every race.

The line moved quickly and soon Star was walking up to the desk saying, “I am Discipula Star and I’m checking in to my rooms for the next three days.” The desk clerk was an olive green unicorn and she glanced up from her log book at the sound of Star’s voice.

“Welcome to the Dragonquine Hotel,” the mare replied with a painfully weary smile, “You said your name was Discipula Star?” she asked as she hoofed through the stack of papers sitting on the counter.

“That is correct,” Star replied as she cast a glance back to Axel, whose head was whipping back and forth like a madmare as she tried to take in all of the sights.

“Ah, here we are,” the desk clerk replied when she found the page with Star’s booking information. “It looks like your rooms are adjacent and on the… fifth floor.” Star nodded her head in conformation. “They’ve already been paid for, so you can head up whenever you’re ready.” Despite the mare’s obvious exhaustion, she managed to sound sincere as she addressed them.

“Thank you very much,” Star said as she took the keys that the unicorn slid across the marble surface to her.

“Enjoy your stay,” the mare said without breaking her smile as Star turned around and passed one of the keys over to Brass Heart.

“We will,” Star replied as the four of them turned towards the stairs and walked away, with the two employees trailing behind with Star and Axel’s bags.

The walk up to the fifth floor was arduous, but the fact that Star didn’t have to carry her own bags was a relief. They only passed two other ponies heading downstairs, a newlywed couple judging from the way they gushed to each other as they passed. By the time they reached their rooms even Brass Heart and Dawn were beginning to sweat and all six of the ponies were a bit winded. The thick red carpet muffled the sound of their hoofsteps as they trod down the hallway and opened the door of the mares’ room.

“Holy mother of Celestia,” Axel mumbled as her jaw dropped at the sight of the extravagant accommodations. There were not only two beds with some of the finest pillows and blankets, but also three floor-to-ceiling windows that provided a view of the streets below. It was the nicest room Axel had ever seen and the amazement showed on her face as she walked over to the crystal clear glass and gazed down at the city.

“Where would you like us to put your bags miss?” one of the hotel employees asked as he walked into the center of the room.

“Oh, just set them anywhere,” Star replied as she waved a hoof dismissively in his direction. “Just be careful with them. I have very fragile things in my bags.” The gangly earth pony nodded his head and walked over to the far side of the beds, setting down Star’s belongings as gently as he could manage to. The other bellhop did likewise and then they both turned and walked out of the room, leaving the four friends to themselves.

“We’re going to go drop our stuff off in our room and we’ll be right back,” Dawn said as he turned to leave.

“See you in a minute,” Brass Heart added as he trailed after his blue maned friend. Star gave them a polite nod as they departed for their room and then proceeded to join Axel at the window. The earth pony was absolutely enthralled by the stunning cityscape laid out before her, its sparkling lights and luxurious architecture sprawling out for miles around.

“I haven’t seen anything that looks like a museum yet,” Axel said as she pressed her face up against the glass. “Where is it at?”

“It’s on the opposite side of the building, down a few blocks,” Star explained.

“That would explain why I haven’t seen it then,” Axel giggled as she backed up from the window and sat herself on the corner of the closest bed, the weight of her well toned body sinking down into the overstuffed quilts and plush mattress. “This place is amazing,” she said as she threw her body back onto the bed with a sigh.

“Mhmm, it’s quite a bit different than Canterlot,” Star agreed. Axel stared up at the vaulted ceiling and Star decided to join her on the bed. The small unicorn dropped her head onto the blankets beside Axel. “As soon as Brass Heart and Dawn get back we can try to find a restaurant that looks good. You are hungry, aren’t you?”

“I could always use something good to eat,” Axel assured her.

“Well there is no shortage of places to choose from,” Star replied with a grin. “Diner’s here serve food from all over he world, be it griffon, zebra, minotaur or pony cuisine.” Star could feel her stomach rumble as she spoke; reminding her that lunch had been hours ago.

“I’m pretty sure that I’ll eat pretty much anything,” Axel stated as she shot up from the bed with a laugh, her blonde ponytail swinging from side to side as she moved, “Unless they serve something extra nasty like dirt.” Star rolled her eyes before forcing her legs over the bed and standing back up on solid ground. At that moment there was a knock on the door, signaling that Brass Heart and Dawn had finished tossing their bags into the room next door.

“Are you girls ready to go hit the town?” Brass Heart asked as he brought out another flask of apple pie moonshine that he had been hiding behind his wings. Axel turned to Star and gave her a deviously cute smirk before nodding her head enthusiastically. Star facehoofed and accompanied the action with an annoyed groan.

“Oh, loosen up a little bit, Star,” Brass Heart told her in a voice that had lost all of the sternness it had held when addressing fellow officers. “You’re wound so tight that you’re liable to break if you aren’t careful.”

“Fine,” Star huffed with a nearly contained smile as she took the bottle from his outstretched hoof and tossed back a large gulp. It was very good, Star realized as the cold fluid washed down the back of her throat, coating her taste buds in cinnamon-apple flavor. “Mmm,” she hummed with a smile.

“Alright, let’s get a move on,” Dawn shouted with a clap of his hooves. Everypony else cheered as they headed out the door of the hotel room and headed down the hall. One of the employees walking past shushed them, but they all laughed it off as they turned the corner and headed down the stairs on their way to the streets of Manehatten and the nightlife it held.

The flask of alcohol was bone dry before they could all agree on a restaurant, but there happened to be a nice looking place that had posters on the wall advertising the fact that they sold over two hundred varieties of liquor, so Dawn suggested they stop in and see what there was to eat. If Star had been reluctant to drink at first, by the last swig of apple pie moonshine her feelings were in tune with the feelings of her three companions, so all four ponies agreed that this place was as good as any.

The interior was brighter than Star would have liked, the harsh lights burning her night adjusted eyes as they entered into the upscale establishment. The patrons of the restaurant were clearly upper-class ponies, their fancy clothes and perfect posture blended seamlessly with the old fashioned styling of the décor. One fact was abundantly clear, Star and her companions did not fit in with the posh crowd in the state they were in, but none of them were using their best judgment at the moment, so they found a seat, ignoring the sign telling them to wait until they were seated, and waited for somepony to take their order.

Star glanced around the room looking for a waiter as she absorbed the effects of the polished brass candleholders sitting upon the finest silk tablecloths at every table. The sound of mellow music could be heard flowing through the atmosphere, some sort of orchestra that was playing on a large stage in the back Star realized. She turned around in her seat to get a better view of the restaurant floor and accidentally toppled over her glass, causing it to ring sharply as it struck the table. A few of the other customers glanced over at her with disapproving looks, so she quickly sat back down with embarrassment burning in her cheeks.

“I think we may have picked the wrong type of place for having a good time,” Star mumbled across the table to her friends. Everypony glanced around the room, finally noticing the disturbance they were making. They sat back in their seats and attempted to blend in, but it still felt as if they were being watched.

“Here comes the waitress,” Axel observed as she looked over Dawn’s shoulder. A light blue pegasus, carrying a tray of water glasses with her wings. She stepped up beside Star and wordlessly placed the glasses on the table in front of each pony with a well practiced ease before pulling a pad of paper from a pouch on her blouse and setting on the empty tray.

“Have you made your decisions?” she asked without even trying to hide her smug distaste at the newcomers. Star had been ready to leave, but hearing the waitress address her like she was pathetic, just because she wasn’t dressed up in frilly clothes and acting like she had a stick wedged up her flank, made Star want to stay just out of spite.

“Not yet, but why don’t you be a dear and fetch us each a different alcoholic drink and maybe we’ll have decided by the time you get back,” Star replied, her smile thinly veiling the contempt she had for the whole restaurant.

“I’ll just go do that,” the mare responded haughtily. Star ignored her tone, like she usually would have done with the whole situation, but the moonshine was clouding her judgment a bit. As the waitress left their table to get them their drinks, Star decided to finally open up the menu sitting in front of her and figure out what she wanted to order.

“Everything is so expensive,” Axel commented as she scanned the pages of the menu. “I can’t believe how much they want for a plain salad. It’s ridiculous.”

“Don’t worry about the cost,” Star told her with a smile. “Princess Luna sent me off with plenty of money, so I am buying for everypony.” Axel glanced up with surprise evident in her hazel eyes.

“Are you sure, Star?” she asked. Star nodded her head, causing her vision to sway momentarily, something that she didn’t want to repeat. “Okay then, I guess I know what I’m getting.”

“Yeah, I believe I’m ready too,” Brass Heart agreed as he set his menu down on top of Axel’s. Star decided on a grilled vegetable platter, which left only Dawn undecided. The other three waited patiently for him to pick something.

“Just a second…” Dawn mumbled as he buried his face further into his choices. “Umm, I think I know what I want.” He passed his menu over to Brass Heart, who set it on top of the other three. The waitress, who hadn’t even seen fit to introduce herself, returned a few minutes later with their drinks in wing and asked them again if they were ready to order. Star nodded her head, noticing that the mare’s tone had changed since she left. It seemed like the waitress had realized that Star could be a bitch if that was what she wanted, so she changed her attitude around.

“I think we are,” Star replied. They went around the table and relayed their choices to the light blue pegasus, whose cream colored hair spilled over her forehead as she leaned down to write their orders. “Did you get everything?” Star asked in a more pleasant tone now that the other mare seemed to be acting more respectably.

“Yes I did,” the waitress replied. “I will be back with your order momentarily.” Without another word she hurried off, notebook in tow, to go tell the chef what they wanted for dinner. It was late in the evening and Star’s stomach was empty, except for the burning alcohol. She felt the room spin around her and tried to steady her nerves by taking deep breaths, but the atmosphere of the restaurant seemed stuffy in more than one way and nausea began to set in.

“I think I need a little fresh air,” Star suddenly said as she pushed herself up from the table. Her friends met her gaze with confusion as she stumbled back and turned to the front doors of the upper-class diner.

“Are you feeling alright?” Axel asked, but Star was already out of earshot and almost to the door. The three remaining ponies looked at one another, each of their gazes asking the same question; who was going to go check on her? “I’ll be right back,” Axel sighed as she stood up, leaving Brass Heart and Dawn to finish whatever conversation they were having before the interruption.

The room was swaying slightly as Star walked down the isle and up to the double doors of the restaurant. She felt nauseous, but she would die of embarrassment if she made a scene in such a respectable location. Her status as Princess Luna’s personal student meant that she had an important reputation to maintain, because her bad behavior would reflect badly on her teacher. It was something she had lived with for a long while.

Star shoved one of the doors open and stumbled out into the cool night air, where she could breathe easier. The shock of a cold breeze against her body helped sober Star up a fair amount, but as she looked around the feeling of the world swaying slightly wouldn’t leave her. She closed her violet eyes and tried to take in slow, deep breathes, but it didn’t seem to help much. Star’s ears picked up a conversation coming from nearby as she tried to calm her nerves.

“You tell him that if… wants his supply to continue, then he needs to pay me twice the… that I received last time. It has gotten much more difficult to transport… over the borders now that the princesses have sent out more patrols.” Star couldn’t tell the direction because her head was spinning, but she could make out most of the words. Whoever it was, they certainly sounded like they were doing something they shouldn’t be and if Star hadn’t been feeling so ill she may have gone to investigate further, but at the moment it was all she could do just to stand there and listen. It sounded like somepony was trying to get money from somepony else.

“I understand that it is difficult, but I don’t… that you realize what you are asking me to do. Duke… is not a patient stallion and I don’t know how he will react to… demands, but I highly doubt that it will be rational,” another voice, this one sounding almost like it wasn’t a pony at all, replied to the first. Star swore she heard something about a duke, which meant that whatever was going on had something to do with politics.

“Well then I suppose our… is over with,” the first voice responded. It was a difficult conversation to follow when you couldn’t hear every word, Star realized.

“… reasonable for a moment. I will speak with… and see if we can’t work something out,” the second voice pleaded. There was a moment of silence and then the sound of the door opening drowned out the remainder of the conversation.

“Are you feeling sick or something?” Axel asked, her loud voice startling Star out of her concentration and nearly making her fall onto her face. The remainder of the conversation was lost to Star.

“I’m actually feeling much better now,” Star replied as she opened her eyes and scanned the dimly lit streets around her, looking for the owners of the voices she had just heard. Movement from the alley to her right caught the corner of Star’s eye and she glanced that way in time to see what appeared to be a large stallion in a military helmet disappearing around the corner. “I just needed some fresh air,” she mumbled to Axel as she turned back towards the restaurant.

The two mares walked side by side back to their seat, where the waitress, who Dawn was now addressing as Wisper, was just setting the last plate of food down on the table. The stallions thanked her as Star and Axel took their seats and prepared to eat. The food looked spectacular, but the portions weren’t very large and Star wished that they had gone somewhere less expensive, where she could have gotten enough food to actually satisfy everypony.

None of her friends seemed to mind the dismal portions, most likely due to the half empty glasses of alcohol, so Star just shrugged her shoulders and began eating. The vegetables were crisp, the seasonings were fresh and everything was cooked to perfection. The majority of their evening was spent quietly chewing and only when everypony had scraped the last bite of food from their plates did somepony break the tranquility with words.

“Thank you Star,” Brass Heart sighed as he shoved his empty plate away from him. “It may be overpriced, but it was pretty good.” The other three ponies nodded their heads in agreement.

“You are all very welcome,” Star replied before tossing back the last of her drink. “It is the least I could do after dragging you all up here on such short notice.”

They all sat and talked for a while longer, giving their stomachs a chance to settle down before the long walk back to the hotel. Although the city would still have plenty to do all through the night, all four ponies at the table looked like they might pass out at any moment, so they decided to save any more excitement for the next day. Eventually they left the restaurant, promising to never go there again as they walked side by side down the brick streets of Manehatten.

After getting lost a few times, Star eventually found the way back to the Dragonquine and they made it into the main lobby shortly after midnight. Nopony in the building paid the four of them any mind; the employees were used to seeing guests stumble through the front doors at all hours of the night, so they made it to the stairs without any mishaps. Star and Axel supported each other as they slowly climbed up the four stories separating them from their beds, while Brass Heart and Dawn opted to fly straight up the middle of the winding staircase. It was rude, but in their intoxicated state the mares didn’t mind. The stallions reached the hallway they wanted long before Star and Axel managed to get there and they had already retired before Star could force her key into the lock on the bedroom door.

Star stumbled once, over somepony’s saddlebags, but Axel was there to support her. They made it into the room and got the door shut behind them and then both mares dropped face first onto their respective beds, Axel not even bothering to cover up before falling asleep. Star managed to use her magic to pull a blanket over her friend before getting under her own and closing her eyes. Axel’s mumbled thanks was the last sound Star heard before sleep consumed her.

Author's Note:

I spent six days writing this chapter, mostly because I drink more than I ought to. I need to stop slacking... anyway, a drunken night in Manehatten and a short break from the seriousness that has been going on in this part of the book, but it won't last long. So enjoy it while you can.