Late. Again. This is how Fancypants Industries Chief of Security, Colonel Warspite, found himself on the express elevator in the Solar Empire Building. He tapped a hoof nervously. He was sure he would be in for a verbal tongue lashing from his boss. Fancypants, known to Warspite as "The Great Stallion" didn't like to be kept waiting. Warspite smirked to himself at the nickname he had given his boss. Fancypants came from a poor family in Trottingham, worked his way up from nothing to having the most powerful business conglomerates in all of Equestria. The Colonel had great respect and admiration for him, especially since he had picked him up and given him a second chance after he had been dishonorably discharged from the Equestrian Royal Guard.
Just as he thought about this, the elevator came to a stop and the elevator doors slide open. The Fancypants Industries lobby was long and spacious, made entirely of dark marble with potted plants, leather couches and a large water fountain adorning the center of the room. On either side of the large room, the walls where lined with expensive pieces of artwork and as Warspite trotted across the room toward the reception desk, he looked up to the high huge skylight pouring in sunlight the length of the room. Warspite heard Fancypants' secretary before he saw her; she was click clacking away on type writer, the sound echoing loudly around the massive room. She didn't notice him as he approached, focused intently on whatever she was typing. After standing there for a brief moment, Warspite cleared his throat to try and get her attention. She nearly jumped out of her hide and looked genuinely surprised that someone had gotten that close to her and that she hadn't noticed. "Forgive me sir, I didn't realize- You see I was- I-"
Warspite cut her off by raising a hoof and smiling. "No I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you like that, but I do believe I am expected."
"Oh yes sir, one moment please."
She sat back down in her chair and pushed the intercom button on her desk, "Mr. Fancypants, your twelve o'clock is here. Shall I send him in?"
After a brief pause a commanding voice spoke back, "Thank you Rosalyn. Yes, please send him in."
The secretary then pushed another button on her desk and a faint click was heard from Fancypants' office door. "Go right ahead in sir."
Warspite smiled and tipped his fedora at her. "Thank you ma'am."
As he was just about to enter the large double doors to the office, he stopped a brief moment outside the door, took off his hat, buttoned his jacket, straightened his tie, and then took a deep breath before finally opening the door. Fancypants' office was large and spacious, with the same black marble, expensive furniture, and artwork that decorated the lobby furnishing the room along with a massive window that went along the length of the room that offered a breath taking view of virtually all of Manehattan. Warspite trotted toward the large dark oak desk. He could see the back of Fancypants' chair facing towards him, as Fancypants looked out upon the spectacular view. He then sat down in a comfortable chair opposite the desk. Almost as if on cue, the same commanding voice seemed to come from nowhere. "You’re late Colonel."
"Sorry Mr. Fancypants, you know how lunch hour traffic can be in this city." Fancypants then turned his chair around. His face was buried in a copy of the Manehattan Times which he had been apparently reading. He then folded the newspaper in half and threw it down on the desk. Fancypants was a handsome stallion in his early forties by now, with a thin mustache, slicked back mane, and brand new two piece suit, which made him look like the successful business pony he was. "Never mind then, have you read today's headline, Colonel?"
Warspite got up and reached across the top of the highly polished desk and grabbed the newspaper, the headline read: "EQUESTRIA DESCENDS INTO CHAOS!"
Warspite went on to read aloud: "The monarchy comes to a standstill as quarreling over the throne between the royal sisters Princesses Celestia and Luna threatens to tear the country apart."
"Those two idiots are power hungry, Colonel. They’ll fight each other and drag the whole of Equestria down with them."
Colonel Warspite was skeptical, "Do you really think it will come that sir? I mean these two have quarreled before and their situations have always resolved themselves."
"Yes, but never like this. Even now ponies are taking up sides. There have even been riots between their supporters. Fools! Every last one of them! It's even begun to affect the economy and stock market."
"And I suppose since you've called me here sir you have an idea on what we should do about this?"
"Yes Colonel, as a matter of fact I do. A way to save ponykind from complete annihilation in a stupid civil war, and serve as an example on how to live, to the rest of the world, but I'll fill you in on the fine details later. At the moment, I have a task for you and your security teams."
At this moment, Fancypants levitated a folded piece of paper from his jacket pocket. The golden aura levitated into Colonel Warspite's hoof. "That, Colonel, is a list of a few hundred of Equestria's best and brightest. Scientists, artists, authors, actors, business ponies, etcetera. I need you and your stallions to track them down and personally invite them to a little social event I'll be hosting at the Hapton Hooves Hotel this upcoming Saturday. Do you understand?"
Colonel Warspite unfolded the piece of paper and read the first name on the list to himself:
NAME: Promontory
GENDER: Male
PROFESSION: Locomotive Engineer
HOME: Appleloosa
Warspite stood back up and put his hat back on. "Don't worry Mr. Fancypants. I'll get my stallions right on this."
Fancypants smiled widely, picked up his newspaper, and turned back around in his chair. "Thank you, Colonel."
And with that, Colonel Warspite headed out of Fancypants' office. He was off, on his way for the Grand Hoofton Terminal to book a train to pay Mr. Promontory a visit.
It was the end of another hard day’s work for the South-Western Railroad Company. Promontory stepped down off Engine 14 in the rail house and tried to shake some of the coal dust out of his coat. He was a muscular earth stallion, about 24 years old with a brown coat, messy black mane, and icy blue eyes. The rail house was a bustle of activity at the end of the day, other engines always returning from the day and tired ponies getting ready to head home. Promontory sighed, he then took off his cap scratched his head. He could hear 'Choo Choo Ch-Boogie' playing faintly from the radio in the supervisor's office. He trotted over to the main office and waited in line to clock out from a twelve hour shift, of which he’d probably only be paid for ten. Promontory clocked out, threw on his dusty jacket and hat and was about to walk out when the clerk behind the service desk called out to him in a gruff tone, "Hey Promontory! This letter came from the corporate office for ya'!"
The clerk practically threw it at him, and he caught it in his teeth. "Thanks Mac."
He mumbled and continued on his way out the door. Outside in the fading dusk light, Promontory got a better look at the letter. The envelope read:
To: Mr. Promontory
From: South-Western Railroad Co. Board of Executives,
Response to recent promotion request
His eyes lit up. This could be it! He could finally, after years of hard work, finally move up in the company!
The letter was one, hope-dashing sentence:
" We regret to inform you at this time that due to financial constraints, no promotion is available. - Board of Executives"
He wasn't too surprised. He had requested a promotion several times before and had been denied each time in the same manner. He threw the letter down on the ground and continued to trot along down the dusty Appleloosa street. There were a few others he worked walking along about the same, looking like zombies: bloodshot eyes and covered in dirt and coal dust. Most of them where either headed to their homes or to their favorite salt saloons in town. A shout came from behind him. "Hey Promontory! Hey wait up a second while ya'?"
Promontory turned around to see a scrawny earth stallion, with an orange coat and green mane running to catch up with him. His name was Silas and he was about twenty or so. Promontory, in a more irritated tone than intended, grumbled, "Tarnation Silas. I never understand how you have so much dang energy left at the end of the day."
"What's got under your hide?" Silas asked with some concern.
"Aw nothin’. It’s just that those stuffed up busybodies at the corporate office denied my promotion request... again."
"Shoot. Say, I gots myself a great idea: How's about you and I head over to the Salt Block and drown our sorrows in cider! My treat! Waddaya' say?"
Promontory smirked, "Thanks but no thanks. I think I'm gonna just head home and try and catch a few winks of sleep."
Silas gasped in jest. "You passin' up free cider? Shoot, you really must be down on yourself!" Realizing his friend was serious, Silas shrugged and went on, "Fine, suit yourself, goodnight partner!”
"Night amigo,” Promontory said with a smile.
While Silas turned and headed toward the Salt Block, Promontory continued slowly down the street and watched his friend head into the bar. He could hear the piano playing a lively tune and a couple of hoots and hollers from a few patrons in the distance.
Eventually, Promontory made it to his boarding house, up the stairs, and to his room. His room was small, only about 10x12, and was furnished only with the bare necessities: an old cot, a wash basin, a cracked mirror, and a wood cabinet where he kept his hat and duster. The room was drafty and the roof leaked a bit whenever rain came around, but for only six bits a month, he wasn't complaining. It was the cheapest place to live in town. Promontory took off his jacket and hat and threw them down on the floor, not even bothering to put them away in his closet. Next, he blew out the candle lights and collapsed onto the lumpy cot and drifted quickly off into a placid sleep.
Promontory woke up to someone knocking on his door sometime later. At first, he thought he was just dreaming, so he continued laying there with his eyes closed. When he realized he was awake and the knocking was not a figment of his imagination, he jumped up. "Hold your horses I'm comin'!" He stumbled across the room in the pitch black dark, stepping on his hat while he searched for the door. Suddenly, he smacked his snout right into something wooden, hard and flat. He found the door alright. After cussing to himself, he found the knob, swung the door open, and let the bright light from the naked bulb hanging down from the ceiling in the hallway flood his vision.
"Mr. Promontory?" he heard a voice say, his eyes still trying to adjust to the light. He squinted, blinked, and rubbed his eyes. He could finally see who the mystery voice belonged to: in front of him stood a well dressed white pegasus stallion. He had the look of a Royal Guard, except instead of golden armor, he wore a green and blue plaid sports coat, a white shirt, red tie, topped off with a white fedora with a black band. "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Colonel Warspite."
"No disrespect sir but do you realize what time it is?" Promontory said angrily. He was none too happy about being woken up at some ungodly hour.
"Yes. I'm terribly sorry to have inconvenienced you like this, but I got in on a late train from Manehattan." Promontory was dazed and confused. Warspite broke the awkward silence that followed by clearing his throat and going on, "Anyway, I have some important business to discuss with you, may I come inside for a moment?"
"Uh, yeah, yeah sure,” Promontory said unsurely. He wasn’t sure why Manehattan big wigs were bothering him in Appleloosa, but he didn’t like the way it felt.
Promontory moved aside and the Colonel strode right in. Promontory shut the door. The room was, again, very small, and the furniture was barely big enough for two full grown stallions to be in at once. "So what can I help you with sir?"
"I'm Chief of Security for Fancypants Industries, Mr. Promontory. I assume you know who Mr. Fancypants is?" he said in a condescending manner.
"Sure, he's one of those high-class uppity-ups in Manehattan. A big celebrity and what not."
"Well, Mr. Fancypants has asked me to personally invite you to a little social gathering he'll be hosting at the Hapton Hooves Hotel this Saturday in Manehattan."
Promontory wasn't sure he heard right, "You care to repeat that, sir?”
Warspite grinned, "You heard me son. I believe he wants to discuss a little business proposition with you."
"Specifically what about, sir?" Promontory was worried now. He never did trust these big city types.
"Mr. Fancypants didn't fill me in on the details, he just told me to pass the message along to you."
"Well you'd better tell your boss that I already have a job, but the offer is appreciated. Now, if that's all I think I'll say my goodnights Colonel Warspite."
"Oh yes, we already know all about that dead end job of yours," he remarked snidely.
Promontory narrowed his eyes at Warspite, "What do you mean by 'dead end job', sir?"
"You know just as much as me that you’re never going to go anywhere from where you are now. You've worked non-stop, day in and day out for the last six years and have been loyal to your company and what do you have to show for it? A room in a boarding house not fit for any living creature and fatigue."
Promontory glared at the Colonel thinking to himself. Who was he to come barging into his room in the middle of the night, insult him, and tell him how to run his life? He had gotten into fights with other stallions for less but managed to keep a lid on his temper. Promontory headed to his door and opened it and with forced kindness he said, "Thank you again for your oh so kind offer Colonel, but I'm going to have to kindly refuse."
Colonel Warspite sighed and headed out the door. Turning around, he told Promontory, "Well if you reconsider Mr. Promontory I'll be staying in room 205 at the Appleloosa House, and I'll be leaving for Manehattan tomorrow by train promptly at 5 a.m. Goodnight."
And with that, the Colonel proceeded down the hall, around the corner, and out sight. It was only now that the Colonel was gone and Promontory was left alone with his thoughts that the full impact of what he had said hit him. Promontory sat on the edge of his cot and thought. He was going nowhere. He knew deep in his heart he could be so much more than an engineer and that if he stayed with South-Western that was all he would probably ever be.
Later, Colonel Warspite was just about to turn in for the evening in his comfortable suite at the Appleloosa House when he heard a knock at his door. He headed out of the bedroom and opened it. There was Promontory. "Excuse me Colonel, can we talk?"
The next morning the sun was just starting to rise on Appeloosa and Colonel Warspite stood on the dusty platform of the small frontier town's train station. Warspite squinted at the sunrise in the distance, took off his fedora, and wiped his brow. It was going to be another hot one; thankfully he would be on a nice air conditioned luxury passenger train soon. He had sent a telegram to the Great Stallion as soon as he woke to inform him that Promontory had accepted his invitation after all. He checked his watch again; it was getting late. It would be time to board the train soon and Promontory was still nowhere to be seen. Maybe he had changed his mind again. No sooner did this thought enter Colonel Warspite's mind did it dissipate with relief as he saw Promontory come out of the train station and onto the platform toward him.
Promontory wore the same dusty hat and jacket from the night before and had a knapsack thrown onto his back. He looked to be in a better mood than he had been the previous night and smiled and nodded as he approached Warspite. "Mornin' Colonel!"
"Cutting it kind of close, aren't you son? The train is supposed to be leaving in the next few minutes."
"Sorry, had to tell my bosses I was gonna be outta town for the next few days."
"And how well did that go over?"
"Bout' as well as you'd expect but whatever they'll get over it."
At this moment, Promontory finally noticed the train they'd be on. The sight of it made his jaw drop. It was sleek and modern. He was blinded as the early morning sunlight gleamed off it. "Wow, she’s a beauty,” he said. It was a vast understatement.
Warspite laughed, "Nothing like the rattlers and clankers you’re used to driving is it?"
"No sir, not at all."
The two continued to chat idly for a few minutes more as the platform started to grow more crowded with other travelers. Right on schedule, neither a second early nor a second late, the conductor stepped down off of one of the train cars and yelled out so loudly that everypony in Appleloosa probably heard him, "ALL ABOARD!"
Within a few minutes, everypony was on board. Promontory was impressed as he moved from car to car on the train. Everything was so clean and shinny, from the dining cars to the sleeping cars. The train jerked slightly as it began to move slowly away from the Appleloosa train station. Promontory sat by the window in the room that he and Warspite would be sharing for the long ride to Manehattan. He watched out the window as Appleloosa grew further and further away until it was just a dot on the horizon, and then out of sight. Little did Promontory know then but that would be the last time he would ever see his beloved home
Later that night, the pair found themselves talking over cider in the dining car. The rest of car was empty, save for the bored looking bar tender who was wiping down the bar and a young couple, totally enamored with each other at a table at the far end of the car. "So Colonel what's Manehattan like anyways?"
"It's a great town, mind you the ponies are a bit stuffed up and liable to run you over if you get in their ways, but the city itself is beautiful. Why? You’ve never actually been?"
"I ain't never been nowhere till' now. Shoot, far east as I've ever been was Dodge Junction!"
They both laughed as Warspite took another swig out of his glass. Promontory finally decided to ask a question that had been itching at him since they left Appleoosa, "So I gotta ask why are you ‘Colonel’ Warspite if you’re not in the Army or the Royal Guard anymore?"
Warspite looked back at him as he took another swig out of his glass and put it down. "It's an honorific title I retained from my service as an officer in the Equestrian Royal Guard."
"I thought that job was pretty much a lifetime commitment? And you look too young to have retired, mind if ask what happened Colonel?"
Colonel Warspite suddenly grew quiet and somber. He looked away from Promontory and looked out the window at the vast western frontier rolling past them. Feeling he may have treaded onto an unwelcome subject Promontory tried to retract his question, "You know what I'm sorry sir I should have minded my own business."
"No," the Colonel said in a serious tone still looking blankly out the window, "No I'll tell you what happened."
Colonel Warspite loosened his tie and leaned in on the table before going on. "About five years ago, dragons were attacking and terrorizing settlements on Equestria's southern border. I was placed in command of a company of 250 Royal Guards and we were stationed at a small community nearest to the border. So a few weeks passed and the attacks seem to stop. My superior officers decided it was time for us to show these dragons that we meant business and that we were capable of defending ourselves. So they ordered me to move my company across the border and into their territory. I protested strongly against this but to no avail. Most of the stallions under my command were raw recruits, fresh out of training, and most of my officers were young and inexperienced. We made it about a mile into dragon territory completely unopposed, but when we came to an open field... “He paused for a moment, as if he were having flashes of images too horrible to describe. “We were ambushed and nearly all of my stallions were reduced to nothing but ashes in a matter of minutes."
Warspite stopped for a moment to compose himself. He cleared his throat and went on, "Only myself and a handful of others were lucky enough to escape with our lives."
"What happened after that, sir?"
"Well, when nearly 250 Royal Guards are wasted in a pointless attack, somepony has to pay the price. So what did my superior officers and the generals who had ordered the attack do? They saved their own sorry flanks and pinned it all on me! I was stripped of my armor and rank, humiliated for somepony else's mistakes!"
Warspite looked down and away from Promontory, "I lost everything after that. My friends, my home, my family, all gone. I lived on the streets for nearly a year. But that was before I met Fancypants. He picked me up and gave me a second chance. With my near spotless military record and the injustice of what happened to me, he made me Chief of Security for his company and I've never looked back. He made me who I am today."
Promontory nodded and raised his glass, "I'll drink to that sir."
"Well, what about you, son?"
"What about me?"
"Tell me about yourself. Who are you?"
"Isn't much to tell about me. My folks were small ranchers outside of Appleloosa. It was me, my ma and pa, and my two older brothers. I was the youngest. Work on the ranch was hard, we all had to work from sun up to sundown, and since I was the little colt I felt like I had to work twice as hard to prove myself. It was a hard life, but a good one. Then one day, oh I reckon I was about ten or eleven years old, the buffalo were on the war path again and they raided a lot of the small ranches around Appleoosa. Our ranch was one of the one's hit hardest. They blitzed us. My pa and brothers tried to fight them off and my ma hid me in the root cellar under the house. She said she'd be back, but a few seconds later the ground was shakin' somethin' fierce. I thought it was an earthquake and that the whole root cellar was gonna collapse on top of me, but it held. I waited till night when I thought it was safe to come out. There weren't nothin' left. The buffalo had flattened everything... And everypony."
"I'm sorry about your family, son."
"I'm not. They died trying to defend what was theirs and the ponies they loved. That's how I'd wanna go out. Yes, sir. So after that I pretty much had to fend for myself."
"You mean nopony would take you in?"
"Appleloosa was a much different place fourteen years ago Colonel, a haven for all sorts outlaws and undesirables. It really wasn't until eight years ago or so when Sheriff Silverstar and Judge Palmer showed up in town that Appleloosa became a fit place for decent pony folk to live in. I did odd jobs around town and scraped by for the first eight years, but I always wanted to work for the railroad. That was my dream. And I got it. After a long, long time of punching tickets and shoveling coal, I finally got to conducting my own train. I wanted to be promoted to move up in the company. My pa taught me when I was a young colt that if you work hard and persevere that anypony can be successful in this life, and that is how I've always lived my life and done my job."
Warspite smirked, "Well, that was some story. And I'll drink to it."
Warspite took a long gulp out of his glass, trying to down what was left of his cider. He succeeded and, with a content look on his face, sank back into his seat. He then checked his watch, stretched, and yawned, "Well I don't know about you son, but this little trip down memory lane has worn me out. I think it’s best if we turn in for the evening."
Warspite peered out the window and went on, "By the look of things out there, we'll probably be in Manehattan by tomorrow morning."
Promontory looked out the window expecting to see sandy deserts and rock formations, but instead he saw rolling hills and forests. The train had just crossed into the eastern half of Equestria. "Yeah I suppose your right. I'll be right behind you."
Warspite slid out of the booth, draped his coat over his back and placed his fedora precariously on his head, "Well goodnight then son."
"Goodnight, Colonel."
With that, Warspite turned and left the dining car. Promontory sank back into the seat and tipped his hat up a bit. Left alone with his own thoughts again, he mulled over what business deal Fancypants could possibly have for an Appleloosa bumpkin like him. His thoughts were interrupted by the bar tender who was spoke up in a slightly irritated voice, "Hey mac, I don't wanna rush you or nothin' but I'd like to close up for the night. Do ya' mind?"
"Hmm? Oh I'm sorry sir, goodnight."
The bar tender didn't even answer him back, but Promontory heard him mumbling angrily to himself as he left the dining car, something about a "dumb country hick."
"I just have a bit of paper work left darling. Yes, I shouldn't be that long, but don't wait up. Pick out your dress for tomorrow evening? Grand, I need you looking smashing, oh as you always do of course. Je vous vois peu amour."
Fancypants put the phone back down on the receiver and slumped in his chair. He yawned and stretched. It had been a long day. He turned his chair around again to look out at the Manehattan skyline. It looked beautiful at night. He loosened his tie and stared unseeingly out at the cityscape as his thoughts turned to other things. His plans were all starting to come together. He had the money, the materials, and even the location for his great vision, but now he needed the muscle and brains to put it all into motion. He heard a knock at his office door and then heard it open slightly, "Mr. Fancypants?"
It was his secretary Rosalyn. "Do you need anything else before I leave?"
He perked up and forced a believable smile on his face as he spun around in his chair to greet her. "No thank you Rosalyn, that will be all for today."
"Right, goodnight- Oh! I almost forgot! This telegram from Colonel Warspite arrived a few minutes ago, it's marked urgent."
She came in and placed it on his desk. "Excellent. Thank you Rosalyn."
"Goodnight again, sir."
"Goodnight."
She left and, as the door clicked shut behind her, Fancypants anxiously picked up the telegram and ripped open the envelope. The message read:
From: Colonel Warspite To: Fancypants Industries Headquarters, Solar Empire Building, Manehattan
Subject: Urgent message for CEO, Mr. Fancypants
Arrived in Appleloosa stop.
Contacted Promontory stop.
Now returning to Manehattan with Promontory stop.
Good news. Most of his guests had accepted his invitations to Manehattan. There would be nearly three hundred ponies in attendance at his party at the Hapton Hooves Hotel tomorrow evening. He then lifted his gold pocket watch out of his designer suit jacket; the magical aura surrounding it illuminated his dim office. "Half-past ten!" he exclaimed to himself. He knew he had to get to work on the mountain of paperwork on his desk or he'd be there till dawn.
He began to unconsciously sign his name off on paper after paper while his thoughts stayed with his gold pocket watch. His father's legacy, all he had left to remember him by. His father Argyle was an outspoken journalist with the Trottingham Tribune. He had taught him as a young colt that if there was anything you ever wanted or anything in which you truly believed, you had to fight for it and persevere. He had always looked up to him and admired him. He was the pony that gave him his hard work ethic that had gotten him where he was today. A smile beamed across his face as the warm memories came flooding back. Suddenly, the good memories of his father stopped as he remembered how it all ended.
Trottingham
January 12, 1974
It was ungodly early. The sun had only just begun to rise over Trottingham's thatched roofs, but still Fancypants found himself shivering in the early morning cold on the windswept train platform, his father standing next to him. Fancypants looked up at his father. He had a large, intimidating build along with a pure white coat and violet purple mane. His mother, when she was still alive, had told him that was where he had gotten his looks. But his father's face looked different in the early morning light; a face which was usually relaxed and confident was now etched with worry. His eyes had an excited look and he kept looking all around the train platform. "Dad?" he piped up inquisitively, "Is something wrong?"
Argyle forced a smile on his face and hooked a foreleg around his son, drawing him in close. "No, everything's fine lad, just wondering when this blasted train is going to show up..."
Fancypants nuzzled his face into his father’s side. Argyle looked down at him; he could tell his worrying had begun to affect his young son. "Hey? You excited to visit your Uncle Essex in Manehattan?"
Fancypants looked back up at his father and nodded, "Uh-huh."
"Dad?"
"Yes son?"
"Can I see your watch again?"
Jokingly, Argyle said, "Oh I don't know."
"Oh pleeeeeease Dad! I swear I won't drop it like last time!"
"Weeell….since you promised."
Argyle unbuttoned his suit jacket and magically levitated his golden pocket watch into his anxious son's waiting hooves. Fancypants loved that pocket watch, although he could never figure out exactly what it was about it that made him adore it so. "Hey Dad, do you think someday I could have this watch?"
"Sure you can. My father gave it to me, and his father to him, and his father before him. But don't get to excited that's still a few years off."
Totally wrapped up in the gold pocket watch, Fancypants didn't even notice as the train that would take them to Manehattan pulled into the station behind him. A scrawny stallion, wearing a straw derby and two piece suit, hopped down off the train before it had even come to a full stop and called out to Argyle. He looked relieved, "Good to see you Essex old boy! How have you been?"
"Fine, fine. I got down here as quick as I could."
"You have the tickets?"
"Yes, three return tickets to Manehattan we should be there by tomorrow morning."
"Grand. Fancypants you remember your Uncle Essex?"
Fancypants said hello nervously and drew back slightly behind his father. Essex cleared his throat uncomfortably and went on, "Well then, shall we get on board?"
Just as the trio was about to move onto the train, a voice yelled out from the far end of the platform behind them. "Argyle! Stop right where you are!"
Fancypants spun around to see two unicorn royal guards trotting towards them. He looked at his father, his eyes were wide open in fear, but he still managed to push his son protectively behind him. He then whispered to Essex in a hurried, barely audible tone, "Get my son on the train, get out of here and don't look back!"
Fancypants was scared and confused, "Dad? What's going on?" His uncle was trying to pull him back.
"Come along-"
"No! Dad!" He managed to break away from his uncle and ran back to his father, now in tears. "Dad?!"
Argyle spun around and dropped down to his son's level. Fancypants could see he was crying now too. In spite of the tears, he still managed to crack a smile as he tried to reassure his son, "It's okay lad, everything's going to be fine. Go with your uncle. I want you to keep that pocket watch, okay?"
"But Dad you said I wouldn't get that for a few years."
"Well, that time is now,” he paused for a moment, looked down to the ground, then back at Fancypants. “Son, I love you."
Fancypants was crying shamelessly now and threw himself at his father in one final embrace before he was pushed back gently and was told in a soft, but shaky, voice to go with his uncle. The next thing he remembered was watching a horrible scene unfold on the train platform from the car’s interior. His father appeared to be in a heated argument with the two guards. The train suddenly jerked slightly and began to pull slowly out of the station. Then it happened. One of the guards grabbed his father by the foreleg. Argyle hit the guard across the snout with his other free foreleg, knocking him to the ground. Then as he turned to face the other guard, just before going out of sight, the unicorn jumped back and fired a bolt of magic, hitting Argyle square in the chest. He collapsed to the floor. And then, as the train pulled out of the station, Fancypants buried his face into his uncle's chest, sobbing loudly.
Fancypants awoke with a frightened gasp. It took him a moment to realize where he was. He was safe in his office, 36 years later. He was in cold sweat, breathing heavily. He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes, trying his damnedest to calm himself. He glanced over at a nearby grandfather clock. It read 11:30 on the dot. Then, he forced the unpleasant memories out of his mind and sighed, "Back to work." He continued on with his papers in total silence.
Promontory woke the next morning in the cabin he and Colonel Warspite were sharing on the Manehattan bound train. Spooking himself, he sat up sharply not remembering where he was. But then as his memory returned he flopped himself back down on to his bunk. He lay there on his back staring at the ceiling of the cabin as the ultra modern train glided seamlessly down the tracks. As his eyes began to wander around the dark cabin he could at least see that the Colonel was not in his bunk. Probably went to breakfast, he thought to himself.
Feeling a bit hungry himself Promontory decided breakfast might be a good idea. After willing himself to leave the comfort of his bunk he sat up again and swung his legs over the side of the bunk. He then yawned loudly and stretched. Slouching slightly, he rubbed the back of his neck with a hoof. Just as he was about to hop up out of bed the cabin door slid open pouring in the morning light from the hall window, Promontory lifted a hoof to shield his eyes from the bright light. Colonel Warspite then strode in whistling a martial tune as he slid the door shut behind him. "Ah, good morning son!" Promontory still in an early morning haze mumbled back "Mornin'."
Colonel Warspite pulled his large oversized trunk out from underneath his bunk with his teeth and threw it on top of his bunk with a heavy thud. Promontory watched as he popped the lid of the trunk open revealing dozens upon dozens of different ties, shirts, suit jackets, and sports coats that could potentially form hundreds of combinations. As the Colonel tried to match a red tie with little palm trees on it with a shirt he asked glancing slightly over his shoulder, "Did you have a goodnight's sleep last night son?"
Promontory shook his head, "No sir, can't sleep in no strange bed."
"Really?" he said in mock surprise.
"Because somepony was in here snoring up a storm last night!"
Waving him off dismissively with a hoof Promontory said "Oh hush up, I don't snore!"
The Colonel began to laugh, “Then there must have been a buffalo in his death throws in the next cabin! That's the only plausible explanation left!"
Promontory replied sarcastically "Oh! Ha-ha! You’re a laugh a minute Colonel."
"I try my best son." Promontory flopped back down on his bunk and said, "Say Colonel, let me know when we get there will ya'? I wanna get a good first look at Manehattan."
"You can get a good look now."
Promontory sat straight up, "What'd you just say?"
The Colonel motioned his head toward the window with a smirk while he was tying his tie, "Go take a look."
Promontory sprang up off his bunk, scrambled to the cabin window and lifted the shade. It took a few moments for him to take in the multitude of different things he was seeing. The train was moving slowly on an elevated railway above the city streets, massive art deco skyscrapers and buildings made of concrete, glass, and steel rose high into the air all around them. The buildings were covered with bright, flashy, colorful advertisements and the sidewalks and streets below were crowded with thousands of ponies, carts, and carriages. More than Promontory had ever seen in one place his whole life. He stood there staring slack jawed at all this moving past his window, it was amazing.
Colonel Warspite moved alongside him, "I know, that's the same look I had the first time I saw this town. It's a great place. Tell me what do you think?"
"Well sir, Dodge Junction it is definitely not." Colonel Warspite laughed, "Well we'll probably be pulling in to Grand Hoofton Terminal in the next fifteen minutes or so, so get your kit together."
A few minutes later the train pulled into the terminal and the pair hopped down onto the platform. The platform was crowded with hundreds of ponies; Promontory struggled to keep up with Colonel Warspite's pace as he maneuvered around pony after pony, "Colonel! Would ya' mind slowin' up a bit!"
The Colonel hollered something back at him over his shoulder but because of the loud commotion all around him he couldn't make out what he said. He finally managed to catch up to the Colonel in the main concourse; he was talking to an attractive looking mare behind the information counter. Not wanting to interrupt Promontory moved off a bit to the side and stared again all around the massive concourse. Staring straight up through the massive skylight he could make out skyscrapers rising up all around the terminal. His focus was broken when he heard a gruff male voice call out over the indistinguishable roar of the crowds, "Hey!"
As his eyes came back down to ground level he found himself being looked at uncertainly by two uniformed police officers who were nearby. One called out "You alright mac?" Realizing what an idiot he must have looked like standing their gaping at the ceiling Promontory sputtered incoherently, "Ah, well- I, I'm, yeah..."
The two cops looked at each other realizing he wasn't a threat and smirked, the other called out and said, "Stay off the sauce son! It's no good for you!"
The two laughing then strode off disappearing back into the crowds. Thoroughly embarrassed Promontory sulked back and took a seat on a bench near to the information desk. On his left sat an old fat stallion in a two piece suit and fedora who had his face buried in that day's edition of the Manehattan Times, and on his right was a younger stallion wearing a flat cap and tweed suit, he had pulled his hat down slightly over his eyes and had somehow managed to fall into a blissful sleep with all the racket around him.
Watching stallions in tailored suits and hats and mares in bright, colorful dresses going by him and moving all around him Promontory was now becoming painfully aware of how shabby he must have looked in his dusty hat and jacket. This realization caused him to sink lower in his seat with his knapsack on his lap. He was starting to regret coming to Manehattan in first place. What I am I doing here? He thought to himself. Following some stupid dream? Some stupid hope I could be somepony? This city ain't no place for an Appleloosa Bumpkin like me... His depressing train of thought was broken when he heard Colonel Warspite call out to him, he was never so glad to see him. "Ready to head out son?"
"Oh yes sir!" he said sounding more relieved than intended.
"We'll head out through the east exit that'll put us on East 42nd Street we can catch a taxi to the hotel from there."
Promontory nodded in agreement “Okay, lead the way Colonel."
The pair trotted off side by side toward the exit when Colonel Warspite spoke up, "How are you enjoying Manehattan so far?"
Promontory cracked a fake smile, "I'm havin' the time of my little ol' life Colonel!"
The colonel smiled back then looked forward again. As the two trotted out of the terminal despite being surrounded by more ponies than he had ever been in his whole life Promontory had never felt so alone.
By the time Promontory and Warspite actually arrived at the Hapton Hooves Hotel that day it was a little after four o'clock in the afternoon. They had spent most of their day taking in the sights and visiting shops all across Manehattan. Their last stop was a high class haberdashery, Zoot Suiters, located in the city's affluent Upper East Side, where Promontory got fitted for a dinner jacket and three suits. And thanks to Warspite shifting a few extra bits to the tailor, the clothes were altered in store and the pair was on their way to the hotel less than an hour later. Promontory's hotel room was a brand new, modern styled suite located on the fourteenth floor. The most impressive feature of the suite was the stunning view of Midtown Park and the skyscrapers and high end apartment buildings surrounding it.
For the next two hours after arriving, Promontory and Warspite talked over cider again, Warspite recalling several of his heroic exploits from his days in the Royal Guards, Promontory remembering a handful of humorous anecdotes he had heard from the many nights he had spent drinking in the Salt Block with friends. Conveniently, just as the bottle ran dry, Warspite checked his watch and in exaggerated surprise exclaimed "Wow its six o'clock already!"
Promontory shook his head and laughed "Yeah, time sure does fly when you're having fun." and then proceeded to knock back the mouthful of cider that was left in his glass, setting it now empty, down with a clink on top of the glass coffee table between them. "I have a few phone calls to make and have to get ready for the evening myself." he said while gathering his hat and suit jacket
"I'll see you out Colonel." Promontory lead Warspite to the door and opened it for him.
"The party starts in an hour,” Warspite said, turning around to face Promontory just outside the door. “downstairs in the ballroom, so be quick about getting ready son. I'll meet you down there yeah?"
"Right, listen Colonel, I wanna thank you and your boss for your kindness and hospitality, you have my word I’ll pay you back every bit I owe you."
"Think nothing of it," Warspite replied while carefully fixing his fedora on top of his head "compliments of Fancypants Industries! See you at seven okay?"
Promontory nodded "See you at seven."
Promontory quickly showered, fixed his mane, and got dressed. He was surprised, his nerves weren't as bad as they had been for most of the day, his nervousness had all but dissipated. He figured that half a bottle of cider had given him a little bit of "liquid courage". Before heading out the door for the evening Promontory gave himself one last look over in the mirror. He wore a black double breasted dinner jacket with a white dress shirt, red bow tie, and a red silk handkerchief neatly folded into a triangle in the breast pocket. He wasn't used to wearing so much clothes and feeling so constricted, but he had to admit, he looked good.
...
The big band orchestra was playing 'Stompin' at the Savoy' as Promontory arrived in the ballroom. The dance floor was crowded with well dressed, mostly young couples dancing the night away. The orchestra was on a large stage opposite the entrance to the ballroom, the dance floor in front of it, and tables for guests to sit at on either side of the dance floor. The ballroom itself was a massive room colorfully decorated with balloons and streamers for the evening's festivities. Promontory was slightly taken aback by the number of ponies that were already there, probably more than two hundred crowded into the room already and even more coming in the doors behind him. He mingled among the crowd keeping an eye open for Warspite, picking up on bits of conversations as he moved through the party. Most of the stallions were busy having heated discussions about their opinions on politics and the stock market, and their favorite sports teams. While their mares tended to be more concerned with what so and so was wearing, who was planning to spend their vacations where over the summer, and what were the best stores to shop at in town for new furs.
Occasionally somepony would nod in greeting or say hello to which Promontory would return the gesture and continue on his way. Or a waiter would come along with a highly polished tray and offer him an Hors d'oeuvre to which he would politely decline; he didn't want to jinx his stomach. "Promontory!" He heard a voice call out from behind him somewhere; he turned to see Warspite maneuvering his way through the crowd toward him. Warspite patted him on the shoulder when he finally reached him. "Say," he said looking him over. "you clean up alright sport! I hardly recognized you from the other side of the room."
Promontory, feeling slightly abashed chuckled nervously. "Yeah, I guess I do."
"I have some good news for you too." Warspite went on.
"And what would that be sir?"
"Mr. Fancypants said he would like to speak with you in the next few minutes."
Promontory suddenly felt his liquid courage go from him and a knot began to quickly tighten in his stomach again. He cleared his throat. "Good," he said trying his best to put up a confident front. "I'm looking forward to meeting him finally." He believed he had adequately masked his nervousness.
"But what am I supposed to do in the meantime?"
Warspite gave him a perplexed look. "Are you kidding me? You are surrounded by music, cider, and some of the most beautiful mares in all of Equestria! Socialize! Have fun!"
Warspite glanced over Promontory's shoulder and called out to somepony, "Ah, Ms. Starshine!" waving somepony over. He turned to see who it was and was awestruck by what greeted his eyes. She was an attractive unicorn mare, probably about twenty three or twenty four years old, around his age. She had a mint green coat with deep purple eyes, and a blonde mane. She also wore an expensive looking purple evening gown that brought out her eyes.
"Ms. Starshine you look marvelous as always," Warspite said taking her hoof and kissing it the way Promontory had only thought happened in those cheesy romantic moving pictures he had seen. "tell me how are your parents?" Warspite went on.
"It's good to see again too Colonel, they're doing just fine thank you, they're attending another function in Los Pegasus right now as a matter of fact."
"Send them my love won't you?"
"Of course I will Colonel."
"Oh, where are my manners? Ms. Starshine this is an associate of mine, Mr. Promontory."
She smiled graciously. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Mr. Promontory.”
When she smiled Promontory realized how dry his throat had become, he cleared his throat and managed. "ma’Am." Inclining his head politely.
"Mr. Promontory here," Warspite went on. "works for the South-Western Railroad Company and is new to Manehattan would you mind if he tagged along with you and your party for awhile? That is if your escort doesn't mind."
Starshine shook her head and waved the Colonel off. "My escort actually took ill at the last moment, I've been lonesome," she looked at Promontory with her purple eyes; it sent a chill down his spine. "I could use the company."
"Splendid!" Warspite exclaimed. "Well, you two foals wouldn't want an old warhorse like me hanging around, go on and enjoy the party!"
Promontory and Starshine began to walk off when Warspite grabbed Promontory by the shoulder prompting him to turn around, just as Starshine was out of earshot the Colonel whispered "Have fun sport." giving him a wolfish grin and clapping him hard on the shoulder.
… “How many houses?” Promontory asked his new female companion as they both sat at a table, empty save for the two of them, on the edge of the dance floor, uncertain if he had heard her correctly. Starshine giggled. “Four homes. We, I and my parents, live primarily here in Manehattan; we have an apartment in the Upper West Side. But we also own two summer homes, one in The Hooftons and another on Solara’s Vineyard. We also have a home in Heavenly Hills in Los Pegasus for when we travel west.”
He whistled in astonishment and leaned back in his chair. "You and your family must be pretty well off."
Starshine laughed, leaning forward in her own seat. "Oh I would say so. My great grandfather earned the family fortune in diamond mining, after the mine dried up he invested in shipping and manufacturing which gave my family control of the vast wealth it holds today."
"It must be nice ma'am to have all that money, the security of it I mean."
"Oh yeah," She said sounding almost sarcastic. "It's great." Starshine looked disinterested by his statement.
"But what about you?" She asked. "What do you do for the railroad?"
"Well ma'am-" Promontory started to say before she cut him off suddenly.
"Oh stop with the ma'am will you please," She said hitting him playfully on the shoulder. "after all I'm probably younger than you are. Call me Starshine."
Promontory cleared his throat nervously, at that moment he wanted desperately to undo his bow tie, it felt like it was chocking him. "Well, Miss Starshine, I'm an engineer, I drive the trains."
She seemed genuinely interested as he went to on to explain the intricacies of his day to day work. "You sound like you enjoy your work."
"Oh I do," He replied. "very much so. I've always loved trains, ever since I was a little colt. I remember, oh I was probably about seven or eight years old at the time I reckon, They built the San Palomino railroad heading south past my family's ranch. That train came by everyday at 1:30pm sharp, like clockwork. I remember some days the big engine would be pulling passenger cars, other days it would be pulling cattle cars, or lumber in stacks from further up north. I even remember one time, during the Buffalo Wars, it was carrying a company of royal guards to fight buffalo down south. But I suppose I'm boring you with my little trip down memory lane?"
Starshine looked almost hurt when he said that, he could see it in her big purple eyes. "No," She said "Not at all. Your very lucky to enjoy what you do, so few ponies can say that."
"I'm the lucky one?" Promontory asked laughing and astonished. "You’re the lucky one if you ask me, you have money, houses, all these fancy things, and you'll never have to lift a hoof. Unlike me, you'll never have to worry about having a roof over your head, food in your stomach, or money in your pockets."
She narrowed her eyes at him. "My whole life," She said. "my parents used their money to control me, to manipulate me into doing what they wanted me to do Mr. Promontory. To turn me into what they wanted me to be, not what I wanted to be. Everything was always handed up to me on a silver platter, I never ever had to lift a hoof, oh, I know that must sound swell to you but believe me it gets tiresome. Just remember: having too much of something can be just as bad as having too little."
Promontory smirked. "Yeah, I guess you might have something their ma'am- I mean Starshine!"
She smiled and went to say something, but as she did so a slow song started. Starshine squealed in delight. "Oh a slow dance! C'mon I haven't danced all night."
Before he could reply she grabbed him dragging him toward the dance floor. "Hey Promontory!" Somepony called out.
Colonel Warspite had finally returned to collect him. "Sorry to interrupt but Mr. Fancypants is ready to speak with you. Ready to go sport?"
Promontory looked back at Starshine. "I'm s-" She cut him off again.
"Don't worry, you just owe me a dance is all, go ahead." She smiled and Promontory could only manage a solitary nod before turning and walking quickly out of the ballroom with Warspite.
...
"He has the penthouse suite on permanent reservation," Warspite said to Promontory who stood by him quietly on the private elevator to the penthouse. "It’s a gorgeous suite, I believe he had it renovated recently."
Promontory was only half listening; his mind was still with the beautiful mare downstairs in the ballroom. "You alright sport?" Warspite asked abruptly breaking his train of thought.
"Huh?" He said not hearing him at first.
"Are you feeling alright?" He said again a little slower and clearer.
"Just fine sir," Promontory replied wiping some lint off of his left sleeve, trying to seem nonchalant.
Warspite went to say something but was cut off as they both felt the elevator come to a stop and the else aimless steal doors slid open. The pair stepped into a small corridor with a skylight. On one side there appeared to be a small security desk that was vacant. On the opposite wall there was a black leather couch with a potted plant sitting on a mahogany colored end table. "We can just head right in," Warspite said digging a key out of his pocket. "I have my own key.
They stepped into the suite, into what appeared to be a living room; he noticed out of the corner of his eye what appeared to be a billiards table with a sheet draped over it. Promontory followed behind Warspite up the hallway from the living area at the end of hallway were two highly polished mahogany doors with golden knobs. Inscribed on the door read: Fancypants CEO, Chairman, and Presdient of Fancypants Industries.
The moment of truth, Promontory thought to himself, once again becoming aware of his churning stomach. Warspite knocked lightly on the door three times and a commanding voice beckoned them to enter. They both stepped into the room, Warspite stepping slightly off to Promontory's left. "Mr. Promontory to see you boss." Warspite said.
Fancypants was leaning against the front of his desk forelegs folded across his chest, grinning confidently. He nodded to Warspite. "Thank you Colonel, that will be all for now."
Warspite nodded back and gave Promontory a reassuring smile as he turned, walked out of the room, and shut the door behind him, leaving them alone. Fancypants trotted over still grinning his confident smile and stuck out his hoof. "I'm Fancypants, Mr. Promontory, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Promontory took his hoof with his own. "It's an honor to meet you finally sir."
Fancypants laughed. "Don't overdo it. Can I get you anything to drink?"
Promontory replied. "Ah, no thank you Mr. Fancypants I think I've had my fill for the evening.
"Is that a fact sport?" Fancypants asked directing him to take a seat opposite his desk. "Well I hope that means you've been enjoying yourself."
The conversation went on like that for several minutes, idle chit chat, how was the trip? Enjoying Manhattan? Comfortable in the hotel? Etcetera and etcetera. It got to the point where Promontory could no wait no longer. "Pardon the interruption Mr. Fancypants, but as you might understand I'm a mite anxious to know what it is y'all called me up here for."
Fancypants' demeanor seemed to grow darker, quieter suddenly. He looked down and away him. "Mr. Promontory," he began and paused almost unsure of what he was going to say. "You are a hard worker and a good stallion," he looked back up at Promontory. "I am offering you a once in a life time chance to be involved in the greatest venture in my company's history, perhaps the greatest in the history of ponykind."
Promontory gulped. "Well what is this venture and what would you have me do?"
Fancypants grinned. "Follow me."
Promontory followed his potential employer back out into the living room and over to what he had earlier assumed was a billiard table. Fancypants dragged the sheet off the top and Promontory was greeted by what appeared to be a miniature model of a city, it looked almost like Manehattan, but there were certain differences that made him realize otherwise. "Well sir this is a neat little model you have here but what city is this?"
"My city." Fancypants replied while looking over the model with a prideful expression on his face.
"Your building a city?" Promontory whistled in amazement, leaning in on the model city admiring the detail. "Where'd you have in mind?"
Fancypants leaned in on the table and without even looking at Promontory very nonchalantly replied. "The bottom of the ocean."
Promontory looked up suddenly, trying to read Fancypants' face who appeared to be fixated on the model of one of the large sky rappers.
"Oh come on now," Promontory said half laughing. "You're joshin' me."
"Have you heard about what's going on in Canterlot Mr. Promontory?" Fancypants said still looking over his model city.
"Yeah, somethin' about the princesses are in some kinda quarrel again right?"
"It's far more serious than just a mere quarrel between siblings," Fancypants said sharply. "Ponies are taking up sides lad, there have been riots all over the country, business markets are faltering, it's only a matter of time until it escalates to a war! Those two power hungry fools will drag us all into the abyss with them!"
"My city," he said while pointing out over the model. "my city is the only chance ponykind has to survive, to get away from the tyrants and the parasites that are about to bring about Equestria's fall!"
Fancypants could see how Promontory was looking at him, like he had three heads. He cleared his throat, slicked back his mane, and continued on calmly. "Now I know what you're thinking," He went on. "You think I'm another eccentric billionaire with a couple of screws loose, I don't blame you for thinking like that, but just hear me out son: imagine a place of only determined, confident, hard workers and go getters like ourselves, free from the parasites and corruption of the monarchy, a city of only the best, brightest, and most successful ponies... A place of true rapture. Now, like I said previously, I am giving you a once in a life time chance here old boy, you can throw in with me or stay in that dead end job of yours shoveling coal until the next time Discord breaks free from his stone prison. So waddaya say sport?"
Promontory's head was spinning from everything he had just heard. Crazy as everything Fancypants had just said sounded, a lot of it made sense. "What would you have me do Mr. Fancypants, specifically?"
"I need someone to design the city's main mode of transportation, I figured with your extensive experience with the railroad I would put you in charge of the project."
In charge. Those two words reverberated in Promontory's head. He could finally be the big stallion, finally a payoff for all of his years of struggle and hard work. Promontory looked back up at Fancypants. He nodded once. "It's a deal Mr. Fancypants."
Fancypants beamed. "When you reach a deal with somepony," he went on. "you're supposed to shake on it lad." extending a hoof.
Promontory extended his own hoof and participated in a solitary shake sealing the deal. "Well," Fancypants said in high spirits. "Everything is coming together quite nicely now, all I need now is a name for the city."
Promontory shrugged. "How about Rapture? That word you used from earlier? Seems like it would be a good fit to me."
"Rapture..." Fancypants said us testing to see he liked the way it sounded. "Yes, Rapture thats it! Our partnership seems to be bearing fruit earlier than I expected!"
Fancypants gazed back over his shoulder for a brief moment at the miniature model of the city now known as Rapture. Before turning back to Promontory and in obvious high spirits said. "Well, the evening is still young! Go back downstairs and rejoin the party, I'll be back down there myself in a few minutes."
Promontory nodded. "Right, thank you sir." and turned to walk toward the elevator. Stopping suddenly wanting to ask the question that had been burning inside of him since the first time he met with Colonel Warspite. "Mr. Fancypants?"
"Yes son?" Fancypants asked turning back around himself.
"There is something I gotta know. I ain't no artist, or scientist, or successful businesspony, there must be millions of ponies in the city alone more qualified than me for this job, why me? Why on earth me?"
Fancypants sighed. "Because," He said in a sincere tone. "When I was young somepony gave me a chance to prove myself, that's why I'm where I am today. I figured it was time for me to do the same for somepony else."
Promontory wasn't sure exactly what to say and nodded thoughtfully. Neither said another word as Promontory left the penthouse.
Alone again Fancypants leaned over his model city again, smiling. "Rapture..."
