The Iron Palaceby Raki The PirateChaptersChapter One: The House of The Rising Sun and an Abnormally Large Influx of Unfortunate and Aggravated PoniesChapter Two: Cheap Food, Cheap Wine, Cheap TalkPrologue: A Friendly Introduction to a Certain Wall in Urgent Need of Repair and MaintenanceChapter One: The House of The Rising Sun and an Abnormally Large Influx of Unfortunate and Aggravated Ponies“*yaaaawwwwnnn*” Aurora wakes up from her Princess sized mattress on the floor, rustling through the black bed sheets and stretch from what seemed to be a somewhat disturbing slumber. As she scratches her grey mane and starts to crack her neck, she begins to talk to herself – as Aurora does... “What the fuck was that dream about? And who in Equestria was I talkin’ to?” Aurora questioned herself mid-crack, “Been a while since I’ve even thought about back then. Oh well, time for a durry I guess.” The drowsy mare shuffled out from her bed to find her cigarettes in the cyclone disaster that was her bedroom. Blueprints, spare parts, books and takeaway boxes from her favourite restaurant nearby, disgraced and blanketed her hardwood floor – That is, if anypony could see it to begin with. The most intriguing thing about this room however isn’t the amount of crap scattered on the floor, it’s actually the fact that there isn’t even any type of door to get in! After much spelunking, she found her crumpled red packet of Mareboro’s on top of a pile of books near the bookshelf opposite her bed, which by the looks of it, she never used. Almost drooling over the sight of the label, she pulls a crooked cancer stick out from the soft pack with her lips and adjusts it to the side of her mouth. She instinctively rummaged through her mane to find a brass Zippo lighter, flick the cap and ignite the wick in one swift motion. For an Earth Pony, that’s pretty damn impressive. Gazing outside the window above her mattress after lighting up her smoke and wiping the condensation with her hoof, she notices that daybreak hasn’t quite risen yet and sighs. “Up before the alarm again...” Aurora begins to wrap herself in the black quilt with the cigarette in her mouth and opens the window. After a quick observation, there is a spacious balcony with a ragged couch under a parasol, outside of her window sill on the roof. Also bringing the transistor radio on her bedside table i.e. milk crate, she steps outside and sits down, placing the radio next to her. Looking over the balustrade from her couch, a skyline of different coloured brick apartments covered the residential area of the city. She had always wondered why the local weather team put up cirrus clouds at this time, not that she minded it. She found it quite peaceful actually, since they were usually arranged to look like a large, wispy halo blessing the city from the starry red sky above. As she exhales the monoxide smog of death, the small crack of Celestia’s sun appears from the horizon to meet with its fellow clouds, and her ‘alarm’ awakens. “...ood morning New Foaleans! It’s 6am for all of you hard workers out there in this beautiful City of Music! You’re listening to the one and only, Stomp Radio! This is Dusty Duke on the dial, deliverin’ your favourite tunes live from the studio!” Aurora, inspired by the heavenly radio voice, decides to wreak some early morning havoc and manically yells out to the city of New Foaleans, “GOOD MORNIN’ EVERYPONY!!” The neighbours' pets rampaged in a domestic shitstorm of barks, meows and squawks and the by-standing pigeons scurried amongst themselves and flew away as Aurora snickered to herself. As the pets began to quiet down, the radio can finally be heard to be playing a typical jazz song. While bopping her head side to side in sync with the trumpets, Aurora heard a familiar voice coming from the quiet street below. “Hey Aurora! Good to see you shouting about so early!” Abandoning her quilt, Aurora jumped out into the chilly air and peered over the balustrade to see a yellow skinned Unicorn with a red mane, in front of a shabby two storey house with bold red writing above the door which read: The Rising Sun. “Hey Luka! How’s business?” Aurora hollered from her rooftop, “I had some customers from Manehattan bitchin’ about ya last night, callin’ you a barbarian o’ somethin’! They must’a pissed you off suttin' shockin’ to be complained about the way they did!” “Don’t get me started on those pompous clopstains!” Luka vented out to her favourite customer, “As soon as those four walked in at around seven in the evening, they go and insult my shop! Then they sat at their table and whined about the new chairs I ordered the other week! They later asked about my origins and insulted my hometown in the East!” “Oh, you’ve got to be shittin' me...” Aurora empathised with her own feelings. “Yep, but that ain’t the kicker.” “Nooo....” “Oh yeah” Luka continued, “Once they all finished their meals, one of them decided to do some terrible third-rate acting and collapsed on the floor! The other three were trying to convince me that their friend had a peanut allergy! If that dipshit actually had an allergy he wouldn’t have ordered a large serving of peanut satay straw fry! UURRRGHHHH!” Luka raged. “They all seemed in tip-top shape to me, all four of 'em.” Aurora began to chuckle, “Well, ‘cept the fat shit. He had a black eye.” “That sounds about right. I threw a wok at that one, and chucked them all out on the street with my magic. Wasted so many bits on that lot though...” the unicorn sighed in grief. “Don’t worry Luka; I’ll sort ‘em out when they leave.” Aurora promised, “What did the other three get, by the way?” “All together, they ordered a platter of spring rolls as a shared entree; one got a bamboo noodle broth with three glasses of lager, the other had a teriyaki straw fry along with crispy noodles and a glass of soda and wok-face had a sizzling Szechuan chickpea and broccoli dish with rice, a plate of dim sums, a pot of Oolong tea with extra lard and a plate of deep-fried ice cream with a side of dark chocolate sauce. All large servings perfectly cooked and prepared!” The esteemed chef pony had noted in great detail, proud of her culinary accomplishments. Aurora’s jaw would’ve hit ground level over the colossal order. How those four, especially the land whale, managed to even survive on Manehatten’s hors d’oeuvres had left her in a catatonic state of confusion and shock. She didn’t even notice her cigarette fall out of her mouth and off the balcony. “Why do you ask anyway?” Luka asked. Ferrick snapped out of her vegetable state and started shaking the cobwebs out. “N-no reason” Aurora stuttered while trying to recover her senses, “J-jus’ in-ci-den-tals... Catch...ya latahhh...” And with that, the brain-fried pony clumsily stumbled back into her bedroom wall-eyed, with a concerned yellow unicorn observing from the road. Finally settling down after the conversation, Aurora picked up a black book with her teeth and heard the reception bell ting from downstairs. Panicking from the awaiting customer, the teal Earth Pony bolted through the bookshelf, as if it was made of thin air, and then she was gone. ________________________________________ Running through the other side of the bookshelf, Aurora finds herself in a small isolated room which was obviously the office – paperwork strewn all over the office table and receipts stabbed through a small aluminium spike. Behind her was a tall mirror hoisted on the off white wall (which was what she had exited from a few seconds ago), and glanced quickly at her profile before serving the impatient customer that was beginning to bash the dainty bell as though he or she was crushing sunflower seeds in a mortar and pestle. Bringing her black book, she rushed through the office door to her right and saw to the customer’s needs. Arriving at the pine counter, Aurora drops the book on it and gazes over the counter to find a startled overweight brown Unicorn with a black eye, pinning himself to the white wall opposite Aurora. “...Still not used to my eyes I see.” The peeved inventor retorted. “N-no... You just t-took me by surprise, t-that’s all...” The trembling cocoa puff stuttered, while still attempting to keep a formal Manehattan dialect. The large Unicorn began to relax and step away from the wall. “I-I wish to...make a complaint.” “As do I, Mister...” Aurora dropped her Horsetralian accent to one that rivalled his. She flicked through the black book. It’s a tenant ledger of all of the ponies that had ever stayed at The Iron Palace, listing not only their appearances, personal details and their occupations, but also medical histories, preferences and allergies too. She managed to suppress her laughter when she had found the irony of his name, “Raul E. Paullie, is it?” “Mister Paullie will be sufficient, madam.” Scowling over the entire pronunciation of his name, he then inquired, “But what is it that you could possibly complain to me about?” Knowing that this situation was going to happen sooner or later, Aurora knew that she’s have to ‘bring out the big guns’ is she was ever going to convince the snooty lard ass to pay for the humongous food bill they skipped out of last night. She glanced at his bio in the black book again to find the perfect opportunity... “Late last night, I was awakened by a distressed Luka Fry, the head chef of The Rising Sun.” Aurora stated, “With chopsticks as her Cutie Mark... I believe you know who I am referring to.” “I do.” Paullie became curious, “But what does that... brute have anything to do with you?” Remaining composed and in formal manner, Aurora continued. “She had told me that you and your colleagues had not only offended her greatly, but also skipped on your bill with a certain... peanut allergy fiasco. Is this not true?” “That is true, and that lady did nothing for my poor friend who was suffering an anaphylactic shock at that moment.” ‘Rolly Polly’ lied. “Anaphylactic shock you say?” Having read up on allergic reactions from one of the many books in her room, she felt confident that she can bluff him out. “What time did this occur?” “At around seven o’clock. We were there for an hour” “In most cases, it takes approximately two hours for a pony to suffer from anaphylactic shock when caused by a food allergy.” Aurora informed, “Luka told me that the four of you had arrived at The Rising Sun at six. You claim that you were there for an hour and what you say matches up to what she said.” “What? You thought I’d be lying?” “I never thought you were lying, Mister Paullie, I know you were lying.” Aurora began to press the matter aggressively, “You and your cohorts had booked in at 9pm last night. Your allergic friend would have already suffered or would have been suffering from the allergies at or within the time you left the restaurant and arrived at this hotel. If you had sought out medical attention for your friend’s allergy, he surely would have been administered at the local hospital for more than ‘just a few minutes’. Besides, with what he ordered, I don’t think he would have lived long enough to experience his allergic episode, let alone book into a hotel.” Defeated by the evidence, Paullie cocks his head down to the floor for a moment, and then finally musters up enough courage to say something. “A-again, I d-don’t see what this has to do with you...” Sweat began to run down Paullie’s face. Grasping what he meant by that question, Aurora had to do some lying of her own. The fatso was not going to fork over the bits that easily. She peeks over to the left of the counter to see a small stack of sightseeing brochures next to another radio and picks one up, knowing the local businesses – including The Rising Sun, were listed inside. “There’s a reason why these businesses specifically, are listed within this brochure...” Aurora continued with her tall tale, “And it’s simple really: I own them.” “You own these? I apologize, but I find that extremely hard to believe.” Paullie doubted as he examined the brochure, “How can one pony such as yourself, run this rundown hotel alone and find the time to do business on the side?” Ferrick saw a good point in what he was saying and had to think of a way to convince him. She obviously wasn’t going to give up on this. Then she thought of something. It was a bit of a long shot, but it was the only method she could muster. “My, I thought you of all ponies would be able to relate with how I managed. You’re quite an entrepreneur yourself, are you not?” Aurora flattered, “There too must be a reason why you have your own branch of hardware stores spread across Equestria.” "I'm listening..." “It’s simply because we’re good at what we do. We are capable of turning in profit margins regardless of what competition is before us, and we expand, growing into a powerful force within our society. I’m sure by now that you’ve had countless business proposals in your profession.” “I have, but what are you getting at?” “The Iron Palace is one of the only hotels in New Foaleans that continues to light up their ‘no vacancy’ sign. So it’s little wonder why other ponies want a part of that. They too want the many customers that I’m serving on a daily basis, so when they come to me, I make them a deal and voila! That is how I, Aurora Ferrick, expand.” “Touching story, so what is the point of this?” “I was hoping you’d say that. When you have been in this industry for long enough, you realise that as a successful pony, as you should know, you gain a reputation.” This is the opportunity that Aurora has been waiting on since the conversation started. Aurora had figured that the one thing entrepreneurs feared most, was a bad reputation. As an icon, it’s the one thing that can send anypony crashing down. “If any form of...’slip up’ should occur, you could lose just about everything you had ever achieved.” Aurora threatened, “It’ll be quite a shame to hear on this little radio here, the incident of Raul E. Paullie, breaking an innocent chef pony down to tears, after he and his colleagues had harassed her inside her own award winning restaurant... And then proceeded to assault her.” Anger boiled in Paullie’s eyes in disbelief to what he had just heard, but that’s to be expected from blackmail. “You wouldn’t dare!” Paullie yelled. “Oh but I would, and Dusty Duke here will tell the whole city about it...” Aurora stroked the radio with her hoof with a devilish grin. Now in tears, Paullie began to plead. “Look, how much do you want from me!? I’ll do anything, just leave me be!” Aurora turned to Paullie with an even wider smile, staring into his very soul with her blue and green eyes with sinister intent. “Depends,” Aurora dropped her fancy facade, “How much is ya lil’ career worth!?” ________________________________________ Later in the night at The Rising Sun, Luka was cleaning the kitchen in her stained white apron as she waited for her next customer, swaying to the rhythm of an old song blaring through the radio on the counter. As the yellow unicorn was scrubbing away at the stovetop with her magic, the shop door opens and triggers the bell hanging over it, sending a small chime throughout the restaurant. Still being able to hear the bell through the loud music, Luka turned around to see an exhausted teal pony at the door. Luka turned the volume knob to an audible level to greet her cherished customer. “You look terrible dear, long day?” Luka asked with worry. Aurora gave a weak smile in response to Luka’s concern. “Just work really.” Aurora shrugged off her fatigue, then smiled for what was to be expected next, “I have something for you that you’re just going to love!” Aurora skipped past the neatly laid out tables and over to the counter to sit on one of the bar stools facing it. She stuck her left hoof in her grey lopsided mane, pulls out a purple jingly pouch and passes it across the counter. The curious chef lifted up the pouch with her yellow magic and opens it to see its contents. What was inside shined brighter than her own magic, as the fluorescent light above her reflected the treasure's glory onto her face as an array of buzzing fireflies. “W-W-WHAT!?” Luka cried out in sheer surprise, “You can’t give this to me! How much is in here!?” “...Enough” Aurora followed with a sheepish grin, “Surely covers th’ food bill huh?” “It does more than that! But I can’t have all this!” Luka shouted. “I made a promise. I make damn sure to keep ‘em. Besides, I already have my share.” Aurora assured. Luka smiled with joy when she heard those words. Then paused when she thought about what her best friend had just said to her, staring into space. “Your share?” Luka said in suspicion and turned to Aurora with a worried stare, “...What in Equestria did you do?” Aurora averted her eyes away from Luka’s oppressive stare and bit her bottom lip. “N-nothin’...” Aurora nervously stuttered, “But... Let’s just say that I have a new business partner.” Luka continued with her stare. She saw right through Ferrick’s poor cover-up. “Blackmail.” Busted. Aurora turned back to Luka with no reason to hide the facts. “Don’t call it blackmail Lu... I just gave the fat shit... a business proposal, so t’speak.” The teal pony weaselled around the words, “He’s a douche anyway. No one hurts my lil’ Luka.” Aurora batted her eyelids innocently at Luka. “A three month age difference doesn’t give you the chance to call me ‘little’, Nan.” Luka joked back. “Anyway, what are you ordering? It’s on me.” Aurora drooled at those beautiful words of charity. She made sure to take full advantage of it! “I’ll have a nasi goreng with extra buk choy, six spring rolls and a bottle o’ sake please!” Ferrick ordered with a cheerful holler. “The sake’s gonna cost you a Mareboro. You do realise this, right?” Luka whisked her magic and pulled out Aurora cigarettes from her mane. “Just open the windows and we can get right to it.” “That’s a fair call.” Aurora chuckled as Luka helped herself to her deserved smoke. Aurora began to open up the shop windows that sat next to the door on both sides when she was interrupted by two disguised mares – one white and one grey, in dark sunglasses and hooded cloaks, burst in through the door. “Please hide us Miss!” The grey pony panicked in fear. Aurora noticed something interesting about the grey mare apart from the situation at hoof. She was wearing a pink bow tie. Chapter Two: Cheap Food, Cheap Wine, Cheap TalkWhile Aurora was trying to comprehend the instantaneous abruption, Luka wasted no time on the details and hurried the two ponies behind the counter to hide. After they had rushed for the counter and ducked down under the cash register, Luka turned around to begin cooking her friend’s dinner. Catching onto Luka’s guise, Aurora resumed opening the windows for the cigarette later. Ferrick had only managed to open the first shop window when she heard what sounded like a buffalo stampede echo through the dark, quiet street. Even when she knew that stampede was approaching, the sheer agility of the large mob rushed into the restaurant startled her and the obnoxious shop bell chimed through the room once more. There were at least twenty ponies that stood before Luka climbing on top of one another, equipped with bulky cameras, microphones and notepads. The paparazzi began to berate to the chef simultaneously like a drunken choir while she had her back turned towards the kitchen. “One at a time for crying out loud!” Luka snapped without hesitation. It didn’t take long for the horde to shut up and co-ordinate. “Did two mares run in here a second ago, ma’am?” “Look behind you.” Luka replied impatiently, “She’s the first customer to come in for at least an hour now. If she’s not who you’re looking for, buzz off and look elsewhere. I don’t need even LESS customers because of you lot.” Offended and disappointed, a journalist from the rowdy crowd squeezes through to speak. “Very well, but if you ever see them, be sure to give us a call. We’ll make it worth your while.” The smooth talking journalist shifts a business card across the counter and marches with his colleagues out of The Rising Sun in a long, single file as some took a familiar confused glance at Aurora’s appearance. Aurora listened to the paparazzo’s hoof steps dissipate onto the main street and looked out of the window for good measure. “All clear Lu” “It’s safe to come out now and... sorry about the boxes.” Luka assured the two ponies. “Thanks a bunch sis!” The white mare spoke with a nonchalant tone that contrasted her charcoal companion’s modest and more... ladylike speech. As the two rose from under the counter, the other pony began to speak. “We are truly grateful for your kindness, Madam Shopkeeper,” the refined mare bowed in courtesy, “We are in your debt.” Aurora, which was standing in her hind legs as she leaned on the window, shrugged her shoulders to Luka while out of sight from the disguised duo. Luka rolled her eyes at her and brought her attention back to her visitors and held out her hoof. “Luka Fry. Being called Madam Shopkeeper is something I’ll never be capable of getting used to. No offense,” Luka looked towards Aurora with a mischievous grin accepted the hoofshake. “And the strange looking pony behind you with the mane that of an exotic jungle is my best friend, Aurora Ferrick. No offense.” Ferrick poked her tongue out at Luka in jest of her remark. Miss Bow-Tie began to turn around to greet Aurora. “Surely her mane can’t be THAT ba-AAAaah! “; she turned around to witness the grand proportion of Aurora’s silvery mane. The shocked lass removed her dark sunglasses to reveal two dazzling purple eyes staring at Aurora in horror. At a loss for words, she could only voice out one word, “W-wow... Woooow.... WOOOOOOOW.” The white mare softly facehoofed herself, in embarrassment of her friend’s reaction. A blue aura appeared from under her hood and magically uncloaked her and her catatonic friend, while still focused on Luka with her sunglasses still worn. A raver-looking pony with a spiky electric blue mane with white streaks stood before Luka. “Sorry... Luka, was it? Octavia has never done anything like this before and I feel so damn awkward right now...” The white pony apologised with a bright red blush. Trying to suppress her laughter at the hilarity of Aurora being showcased as the grey pony continues to mutter the same word like a broken record, Luka hints to the rocker pony with her eyes by switching her attention between her and Aurora and some slight head twitches. “Why not relate?” Confused by Luka’s statement, the pink faced pony turns around to see what the fuss is about. “Seriously Tavi, I thought you of all ponies wouldn’t get li- HOLY SHIT!” Luka couldn’t hold her laughter any longer from such a priceless reaction! She even had to catch Vinyl with her magic when she tumbled backwards from the sight of Aurora’s wild growth and placed her on a nearby barstool. Vinyl remained seated still as she tried to process what was in front of her. As Aurora gazed upon what she saw as the hyena, the statue and a traumatised socialite on A-B repeat, she got the point – she had a lot of mane. After the newcomers finally collected their senses and the lady with the neatly brushed mane and a purple treble clef brandishing her flank spoke first. “I’m terribly sorry Miss Ferrick! It’s just that I’ve always thought that Vinyl had an... ‘extravagant’ mane, and those eyes! I’ve seen a variety of individuals in my travels, but you are most definitely the first! It’s almost touching the floor!” “It does when it’s wet. Blow-drying’s a bitch.” Aurora scrounges through her mane to try finding her Mareboro. “And... Aurora or Ferrick’ll do. Either one. Luka! You got me smoke on ya?” “Yeah, just light it on the stovetop. I’m pinching another one by the way.” “Go for it.” Aurora helped herself to the stove’s open gas flames that were cooking her well-deserved meal, and parked her rump on the barstool between Vinyl and Octavia. Luka initiated some healthy conversation. “So what are you two doing out at New Foaleans anyway?” Luka began to ‘analyse’ her visitors from head to hoof, “You don’t seem much like work-ponies, so what gives?” “We’re musicians. Well, I am. Vinyl is more of a record player’s worst nightmare in my opinion.” Octavia teased, without any indication whether she was kidding or actually being serious – Especially to Vinyl which grunted with whatever expression she held behind her shades, “But ponies dance to her music and she has a true passion for what she does, so who’s to judge?” “So Vinyl’s a DJ huh? And what instrument do you play?” “Cello. We’re here because we’ve been working together on a little project of ours and are on tour, but recently there have been rumours going around that Vinyl and I are having an affair - Hence the paparazzi.” Octavia explained, “Of course, they are false – I’m a married mare. Have been for quite some time, but even my own husband is growing suspicious over these... accusations.” She sighed at the mere thought of it all, and stared down at the counter in grief. “It’s been tough, especially for Tavi.” Vinyl interjected as she levitated her own packet of cigarettes and a box of matches from her cloak pocket, lighting up two cigarettes for herself and Octavia which accepted with an opening of the mouth, “She’s even picking up on my dirty habits just to calm herself. I don’t enjoy it one bit, but she’s the last pony I’d want to piss off.” Octavia chuckled at Vinyl’s comment and raised her head from the dumps to take a draw from her cigarette. She exhaled the carbon monoxide from her nostrils and held the cigarette with her hoof, “It’s a shame they’re as weak as those ‘Alco-pop’ things that you drink.” Aurora shoved her hooves over her mouth to suppress her laughter. Vinyl took notice of Aurora’s lack of subtlety. “What’s so bad about mixers?!” Aurora removed her hooves as took a few deep breaths to settle herself down before speaking. “Everything! I’ve had stronger cordial than those things! Whiskey’s where it’s at!” “So you ordered sake when I have a bottle of whiskey behind the counter, because?” Luka retorted. “You have whiskey!?” Aurora’s eyes beamed in surprise and delight, “Fuck the sake, Vinyl can have that! I’ll drink that whiskey! You’re wi’ me, right Octavia?!” “Sure. Don’t expect us to go buck wild though; we have an interview with Stomp Radio tomorrow morning, right Miss Scratch?” Octavia queries her DJ friend with a cocked eyebrow. “Huh? O-oh yeah! You can trust me!” Vinyl’s voice cracked during the last sentence like she was caught red-hoofed before she even committed the crime. “Wait. You two are havin’ an interview with DU-“ “Dinner’s up kids!” Luka interrupted Aurora in the nick of time before she yapped on about Dusty Duke and saved the two new patrons from a rabid fan girl moment. With the three customers staring at the counter, they noticed that Luka had prepared extra spring rolls and glasses for Vinyl and Octavia which was surrounding Aurora’s nasi goreng and the two bottles of alcohol. The articulate banquet that lay before them masked the presence of the flooded ashtray and the crumbs of ash that missed it. “Eat up. Your dinner’s on Aurora tonight, isn’t that right dear?” Luka stared at Aurora with a murderous intent that told her that she hadn’t forgotten about the little extortion incident earlier today. Crying on the inside, Aurora buckled under Luka’s oppressing stare, hoping that her first impressions with her new pals aren’t compromised by her sadistic nature. “...Yes Luka.” Aurora muttered pitifully. Not wanting to delve any further despite their curiosity of what had just happened, Vinyl and Octavia dine into their meals and booze. The four mares had their fair share of small talk, food, alcohol and cigarettes. Vinyl and Octavia were out for the count and were resting their inebriated heads in their front legs on the counter, as Luka and Aurora were embracing the current ambience as the radio played a modern dance song. “Techno already?” Aurora enquired, “I gotta get home and get ready for work in the mornin’.” Octavia had risen from her slumber with groggy, half-opened eyes and a trace of drool shining at the right side of her mouth. Then something inside hit her and burst her eyes open in shock. “Oh horseapples! Where are we going to sleep!?” Octavia shouted with slurred words, which interrupted Vinyl’s beauty sleep, “We haven’t book a hotel at all and it’s too late to lodge into one now!” “Don’t worry; I just happen to own one ‘cross the road.” Aurora swayed side by side as she grinned at Octavia with a crooked smile and one eye closed, which had just happened to add a whole new level of dodgy to her already dodgy appearance, “See, I’m smart and carin’” Octavia glanced at Aurora’s cutie mark and was trying to connect the dots, but gave up pretty fast. “Uhh... Thank you... Aurora. Should we bid farewell to your lovely friend?” “It was certainly a pleasure to meet you two celebrities.” Luka bowed. “The pleasure is all mine, Luka.” Octavia bowed back, “Let’s go Miss Scratch” “Ugh... I’m up.” Vinyl mumbled as she stumbled off of her stool in a less that graceful manner and slalomed towards the exit. “See ya later Lu.” “Have fun with that Ferry.” Luka lightly joked with concern for Vinyl’s state as they made for The Iron Palace. The three drunken mares slowly arrived at the brown brick apartment. As Aurora opened the glass door for the musical mares, she sighed to herself when she took notice of the paper sign taped on the door which read: POSITION VACANT NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY FLEXIBLE HOURS APPLY WITHIN The sign was ragged and had discoloured with age, with the what-was-clear tape holding on for dear life. She closed the door behind them and headed for the key cabinet behind the reception counter. Opening the cabinet, she inspected inside to see not keys, but cards hanging on the numbered hooks. Presumably, there was a green card and a red one behind it for each number. Aurora unhooked a red card from behind the green card for Honeymoon Suite. Aurora escorted the celebrities to the top floor and halted at the Honeymoon Suite double doors that stood before them. A slotted device was bolted next to the cedar doors and the inventor inserted the red card to open the doors and revealed a spacious and luxurious room, kitted with a large window that was covered by lush red curtains, an en suite bathroom and an antique hoof carved bed adorned in crimson that was crafted to royalty’s standards and complimented the classic decor of the suite. Octavia marvelled at the dimly lit room in awe with her mouth agape and embraced her hooves in the lush white carpet. Then she noticed something, and it sort of bugged her. “There’s only one bed.” Shortly after her realisation, Vinyl collapsed face first at Octavia’s hooves from the free sake. Aurora was actually quite impressed with how much she drank and withdrew her assumption of her being a cheap drunk with a smile. “Yeah, there is only one bed.” Aurora met her eyes with Octavia’s and shrugged her shoulders. “G’night Tavi.” “Thank you Aurora... for everything.” “Don’t mention it.” Aurora walked through the office mirror and lazily dove onto her black mattress and faceplanted her small stack of two matching pillows. She sniffed her pillows and grimaced at the noxious scent of damp hair, sweat, smoker’s breath and Shanghay food combined. Blindly grabbing the quilt on the floor next to her bed, she wrapped it over her teal fur and let the whiskey work its sedative magic. AUTHOR'S NOTES Yikes! It's been too long since I've written a new chapter. Had to deal with personal issues which I can't really disclose, but I'm back on the beat with this story and hopefully, I'll bloody finish it! I've also looked over previous chapters and made appropriate changes, particularly to Chapter One, kudos to Chuckfinley for the well needed critique (Cheers!). I know for a fact that I need improvement with this whole writing thing, so get nit-picky and feel free to tell me about it. Oh yeah, for shits and giggles I left a few music references (some vague, some not so much) to go with the 'City of Music' theme I got goin' on. See how many you can find! Prologue: A Friendly Introduction to a Certain Wall in Urgent Need of Repair and MaintenanceG’day young fillies and gentlecolts! You fellas sittin’ there are probably wonderin’ who’s narratin’ this grand lil’ tale o’ mine and what it’s all about. Welp, the name’s Aurora Ferrick and I have youse know that I’m... not exactly the most typical pony in Equestria. Now, I’m sure you’ve heard just about everypony goin’ on about how they’re the “cream of the crop” in Canterlot or where ever they come from and I’m happy for the fact that they feel so damn special about themselves. But I’m sure none o’ them ponies have this ripper of a Cutie Mark! Check it out! O-oh right... You probably can’t “check it out”, huh? Sorry ‘bout that. Anyway, it’s a summation symbol, y’know, for calculus and all o’ that good stuff! Funny story how that popped up too! Y’see, I accidently opened a dimensional rift while I was tryin’ to make an electromagnet for a science project we had to do for school. Bein’ a young filly an’ all, I had no idea what that the hay it was at the time, nor did I know how it happened. To this very day I’m still confused how I did that... But at that moment, I figured that whatever that hole was, that appeared from thin air and stole my favourite pencil, it was a lot more excitin’ than a stupid magnet, that’s for sure! So then I decided to try recreating that moment by backtracking what I did to make that hole appear. Sounded pretty easy in my head, but I was absolutely stumped! I didn’t even know what that hole was in the first place, but I knew it was downright awesome! Although, after much, much, MUCH more studying, and I mean, I finished and handed in that magnet I was working on at the beginning of all this, got an A+ and started making another stupid magnet to recreate this whole incident. I almost gave up on it to be honest, I was getting nowhere. But then I found my pencil. It was actually at my next door neighbour’s house. I found it when she invited my family over for a weekend get-together. The pencil was in ‘er bathroom... embedded in the ceiling... and she didn’t even notice it for the past 3 months it went missing. I mean, I think she still didn’t know it was there in the first place. Then I got inspired again! I knew that by finding my pencil, that hole wasn’t some gluttonous pit o’ doom or somethin’; it was a portal – a gate or door of some kind that took ya somewhere else in an instant! Then I thought about magnets and how they work, and then it all clicked! I slaved away at making this work! Another 2 months it took me, but sweet Celestia, it was worth every minute. What I invented were teleportation devices that took you from one place to another in a flash! I got to admit, my little creation weren’t that little; they were about the size of beds. But regardless, I earned my Cutie Mark! That day was so damn awesome... Wow, I got pretty side-tracked there... Sorry ‘bout that. You don’t even know what this story’s about! Heck, you don’t even know what I look like! For starters, I’m an Earth Pony, female, with a charcoal-like mane with silver streaks through it... and it’s all over the place. Has a tendency to flick to the left though, which I’m okay with. Movin’ on, my fur’s a pale teal colour like my mother’s and I also have this strange condition with my eyes that’s called heterochromia. It’s basically where one eye’s a completely different colour to the other. Mum apparently called me Aurora because of their colours; blue and green. Not particularly sure as to whether an aurora really is that colour, since I haven’t read up on anythin’ about natural phenomenon due to personal reasons – which just so happens to be the reason for the story ‘ere which I’m finally gonna get to. It all started back when my parents first met. Back then, my mother lived in New Foaleans; which is where I am now, and she was raised in the dodgy part of it. Her dream back then was to run her very own hotel. Reason being, she enjoyed accommodating and caring for other ponies, no matter what their problems were. She even had the Cutie Mark to prove it. She first got it when she took an orphan filly in to care for. The poor filly had lost ‘er home to a freak accident, which claimed the lives of both of her parents and was forced to live on the streets. Back then, ol’ bird was livin’ alone and struggled to make ends meet financially, but still gave that unicorn orphan everything she had. My fath – Danny, however, is a lot different compared to my lovely mother and he’s the main reason why I’m stuck in this mess. Anyway, he was a professional wrestler from Horsetralia, which just about explains my accent for those wonderin’. He was a massive meat-head by the way. Had an anvil for a Cutie Mark and was coined as “The Iron Stallion” by the media and his fans, most likely because of the surname... He travelled to New Foaleans for a match against some other brain dead moron and got his arse kicked; hard. He suffered from spinal injuries after that fight and had to resign from his wrestling career. Better that than being a paraplegic, I guess. After he got out from the local hospital... Danny, collapsed in the middle of the street from the pain in his back. My mother just so happened to be there, helped him up and nursed him back at her home. Skipping through all o’ the soppy crap, one thing had led to another and they fell in love. From the money Danny earned during his career, he was able to grant my mother her wish – her own hotel. She named it “The Iron Palace” after her new surname, and began her new life along with her newborn which she named Aurora. That would be me. While I was growing up, my mother became victim to a rare strand of virus that the doctors had no idea what it was. She lived life as normal as she could and eventually passed away in her sleep. Mum’s death shook us – it changed us; especially Danny. The incident had rendered him into a terrible depression, and began attempting to drink the pain away with red wine and rum. As time went on without her, The Iron Palace began to fall apart, and so did he. With his injury and his alcoholism, things quite frankly... turned to shit, and brought all of his bottled frustration out on the closest living thing to unleash it; which was me. You think jammin’ your hoof in a door hurts? Try gettin’ bucked into a wall by an overgrown athlete... Eventually, that lousy bastard became desperate. In his reoccurring drunken ramblings to himself, he’d always say that he’ll save my mother’s dream and pleaded Celestia with tears rolling from his weathered face for everything to be how it used to be. Through a last resort and a fateful opportunity, sadly enough, his prayers were answered. He struck a deal with Hoof Orleans’ devil – Ricky DeGatto. Back then, I had no idea who he really was, but no matter what angle I looked at his businesscolt guise, he stank of somethin’ sinister, like a dark alleyway or a haunted house. Ricky had promised to keep The Iron Palace afloat, pay the overdue bills and repair the damages for a percentage of the hotel’s profits after he kept his end of the bargain. Danny agreed to this, unaware of how large of a percentage he was askin’ for. Things were actually going smoothly again once DeGatto fixed the place; customers started flowin’ in, positive word of mouth was spreadin’ like wildfire, and heck, Danny even stopped drinking! Then DeGatto came back after a “nice break”... with his “family”. At first, Danny was able to pay off the fortnightly installments of the outrageous debt, barely. Even on the busiest of weeks, he still struggled with the payments. But as time went on, he had no other option to decline them. This pissed off DeGatto to a much higher level than bat-shit-insane-rampaging-Ursa-Major-on-anabolic-steroids. He angrily commanded his goons to completely trash the place, breakin’ just about everything in sight and threatening Danny to pay him back in the midst of the chaos. All I could do at that time was to cower in my bedroom crying my eyes out, scared that they were gonna come break me. All I could do was barricade my bedroom door and pray. The next day after the most dreadful sleep, I woke up to see nothing but what used to be The Iron Palace. Debris coated the hardwood floor and holes disgraced what were pure white walls. As I walked amongst the carnage, a ragged piece of paper and a black notebook sat side-by-side on the reception counter. The counter was the only thing that seemed clean and untouched. As I approached the counter, I picked up an old photo that was on the notebook. It was a picture of my mother cradling me from when I was just a newborn. Why that was there worried me... I placed the photograph back on the counter and turned towards the paper that could very well explain it. Scared and curious, I flipped the sheet of paper around to see a note with drip stains and rushed handwriting across the page. The note read as this: "By the time you read this, I will be gone. I never once told you how proud I am to have a daughter like you. I know that in the past, my cruelty never reflected that pride either. I've caused you so much pain, and I’m writing this note to tell you that I’m only going to cause you more. I’ll never be able to see myself as the father you wanted me to be because I was never there. I’ll never accept your love towards me because I never deserved it. When Eliza passed away, I became a coward. I became the monster of your life and believed that I was the one that was suffering. It took me too long to realise that you were the one that was hurting. And I treated you as an enemy – an extra burden to my problems. My only wish is for you to hate me. To despise my very existence. To curse at my name. To take revenge on me if you ever see me again. And to forget me after you read this letter. As long as you do this, I’ll at least know you’re alive. I know that the days from now are going to be hard for you, but you need to stay strong. Stay the cheery, eccentric and intelligent Aurora that we know and love, no matter how difficult it may be. I couldn’t do this. Your mother was what gave me strength. Your mother was what gave me a purpose. Your mother was what gave me you. And I threw that away. I blindly used her death as an excuse to justify my cowardice, and by the time I realised this, it was already too late. I had already jeopardised the home we shared our memories, the good and the bad ones. This is why I left The Iron Palace in your hoofs. It was never my wish to keep this hotel. I only wished for the happiness of my family. I believe in you. You have the strength and kindness that your mother once had. I believe you’ll find your true love and be a mother to a beautiful family. You’ll have your own research facility like you’ve always dreamed about, creating the scientific marvels before ponykind and be written within the pages of history, revered as one of the many pioneers that shaped Equestria. I know your mother is looking down on you proud as she always was. From this day forth, I no longer have the right to be your father. Sincerely yours, Danny Ferrick’" And that boys and girls, is why I call my father by his first name.
Chapter One: The House of The Rising Sun and an Abnormally Large Influx of Unfortunate and Aggravated Ponies“*yaaaawwwwnnn*” Aurora wakes up from her Princess sized mattress on the floor, rustling through the black bed sheets and stretch from what seemed to be a somewhat disturbing slumber. As she scratches her grey mane and starts to crack her neck, she begins to talk to herself – as Aurora does... “What the fuck was that dream about? And who in Equestria was I talkin’ to?” Aurora questioned herself mid-crack, “Been a while since I’ve even thought about back then. Oh well, time for a durry I guess.” The drowsy mare shuffled out from her bed to find her cigarettes in the cyclone disaster that was her bedroom. Blueprints, spare parts, books and takeaway boxes from her favourite restaurant nearby, disgraced and blanketed her hardwood floor – That is, if anypony could see it to begin with. The most intriguing thing about this room however isn’t the amount of crap scattered on the floor, it’s actually the fact that there isn’t even any type of door to get in! After much spelunking, she found her crumpled red packet of Mareboro’s on top of a pile of books near the bookshelf opposite her bed, which by the looks of it, she never used. Almost drooling over the sight of the label, she pulls a crooked cancer stick out from the soft pack with her lips and adjusts it to the side of her mouth. She instinctively rummaged through her mane to find a brass Zippo lighter, flick the cap and ignite the wick in one swift motion. For an Earth Pony, that’s pretty damn impressive. Gazing outside the window above her mattress after lighting up her smoke and wiping the condensation with her hoof, she notices that daybreak hasn’t quite risen yet and sighs. “Up before the alarm again...” Aurora begins to wrap herself in the black quilt with the cigarette in her mouth and opens the window. After a quick observation, there is a spacious balcony with a ragged couch under a parasol, outside of her window sill on the roof. Also bringing the transistor radio on her bedside table i.e. milk crate, she steps outside and sits down, placing the radio next to her. Looking over the balustrade from her couch, a skyline of different coloured brick apartments covered the residential area of the city. She had always wondered why the local weather team put up cirrus clouds at this time, not that she minded it. She found it quite peaceful actually, since they were usually arranged to look like a large, wispy halo blessing the city from the starry red sky above. As she exhales the monoxide smog of death, the small crack of Celestia’s sun appears from the horizon to meet with its fellow clouds, and her ‘alarm’ awakens. “...ood morning New Foaleans! It’s 6am for all of you hard workers out there in this beautiful City of Music! You’re listening to the one and only, Stomp Radio! This is Dusty Duke on the dial, deliverin’ your favourite tunes live from the studio!” Aurora, inspired by the heavenly radio voice, decides to wreak some early morning havoc and manically yells out to the city of New Foaleans, “GOOD MORNIN’ EVERYPONY!!” The neighbours' pets rampaged in a domestic shitstorm of barks, meows and squawks and the by-standing pigeons scurried amongst themselves and flew away as Aurora snickered to herself. As the pets began to quiet down, the radio can finally be heard to be playing a typical jazz song. While bopping her head side to side in sync with the trumpets, Aurora heard a familiar voice coming from the quiet street below. “Hey Aurora! Good to see you shouting about so early!” Abandoning her quilt, Aurora jumped out into the chilly air and peered over the balustrade to see a yellow skinned Unicorn with a red mane, in front of a shabby two storey house with bold red writing above the door which read: The Rising Sun. “Hey Luka! How’s business?” Aurora hollered from her rooftop, “I had some customers from Manehattan bitchin’ about ya last night, callin’ you a barbarian o’ somethin’! They must’a pissed you off suttin' shockin’ to be complained about the way they did!” “Don’t get me started on those pompous clopstains!” Luka vented out to her favourite customer, “As soon as those four walked in at around seven in the evening, they go and insult my shop! Then they sat at their table and whined about the new chairs I ordered the other week! They later asked about my origins and insulted my hometown in the East!” “Oh, you’ve got to be shittin' me...” Aurora empathised with her own feelings. “Yep, but that ain’t the kicker.” “Nooo....” “Oh yeah” Luka continued, “Once they all finished their meals, one of them decided to do some terrible third-rate acting and collapsed on the floor! The other three were trying to convince me that their friend had a peanut allergy! If that dipshit actually had an allergy he wouldn’t have ordered a large serving of peanut satay straw fry! UURRRGHHHH!” Luka raged. “They all seemed in tip-top shape to me, all four of 'em.” Aurora began to chuckle, “Well, ‘cept the fat shit. He had a black eye.” “That sounds about right. I threw a wok at that one, and chucked them all out on the street with my magic. Wasted so many bits on that lot though...” the unicorn sighed in grief. “Don’t worry Luka; I’ll sort ‘em out when they leave.” Aurora promised, “What did the other three get, by the way?” “All together, they ordered a platter of spring rolls as a shared entree; one got a bamboo noodle broth with three glasses of lager, the other had a teriyaki straw fry along with crispy noodles and a glass of soda and wok-face had a sizzling Szechuan chickpea and broccoli dish with rice, a plate of dim sums, a pot of Oolong tea with extra lard and a plate of deep-fried ice cream with a side of dark chocolate sauce. All large servings perfectly cooked and prepared!” The esteemed chef pony had noted in great detail, proud of her culinary accomplishments. Aurora’s jaw would’ve hit ground level over the colossal order. How those four, especially the land whale, managed to even survive on Manehatten’s hors d’oeuvres had left her in a catatonic state of confusion and shock. She didn’t even notice her cigarette fall out of her mouth and off the balcony. “Why do you ask anyway?” Luka asked. Ferrick snapped out of her vegetable state and started shaking the cobwebs out. “N-no reason” Aurora stuttered while trying to recover her senses, “J-jus’ in-ci-den-tals... Catch...ya latahhh...” And with that, the brain-fried pony clumsily stumbled back into her bedroom wall-eyed, with a concerned yellow unicorn observing from the road. Finally settling down after the conversation, Aurora picked up a black book with her teeth and heard the reception bell ting from downstairs. Panicking from the awaiting customer, the teal Earth Pony bolted through the bookshelf, as if it was made of thin air, and then she was gone. ________________________________________ Running through the other side of the bookshelf, Aurora finds herself in a small isolated room which was obviously the office – paperwork strewn all over the office table and receipts stabbed through a small aluminium spike. Behind her was a tall mirror hoisted on the off white wall (which was what she had exited from a few seconds ago), and glanced quickly at her profile before serving the impatient customer that was beginning to bash the dainty bell as though he or she was crushing sunflower seeds in a mortar and pestle. Bringing her black book, she rushed through the office door to her right and saw to the customer’s needs. Arriving at the pine counter, Aurora drops the book on it and gazes over the counter to find a startled overweight brown Unicorn with a black eye, pinning himself to the white wall opposite Aurora. “...Still not used to my eyes I see.” The peeved inventor retorted. “N-no... You just t-took me by surprise, t-that’s all...” The trembling cocoa puff stuttered, while still attempting to keep a formal Manehattan dialect. The large Unicorn began to relax and step away from the wall. “I-I wish to...make a complaint.” “As do I, Mister...” Aurora dropped her Horsetralian accent to one that rivalled his. She flicked through the black book. It’s a tenant ledger of all of the ponies that had ever stayed at The Iron Palace, listing not only their appearances, personal details and their occupations, but also medical histories, preferences and allergies too. She managed to suppress her laughter when she had found the irony of his name, “Raul E. Paullie, is it?” “Mister Paullie will be sufficient, madam.” Scowling over the entire pronunciation of his name, he then inquired, “But what is it that you could possibly complain to me about?” Knowing that this situation was going to happen sooner or later, Aurora knew that she’s have to ‘bring out the big guns’ is she was ever going to convince the snooty lard ass to pay for the humongous food bill they skipped out of last night. She glanced at his bio in the black book again to find the perfect opportunity... “Late last night, I was awakened by a distressed Luka Fry, the head chef of The Rising Sun.” Aurora stated, “With chopsticks as her Cutie Mark... I believe you know who I am referring to.” “I do.” Paullie became curious, “But what does that... brute have anything to do with you?” Remaining composed and in formal manner, Aurora continued. “She had told me that you and your colleagues had not only offended her greatly, but also skipped on your bill with a certain... peanut allergy fiasco. Is this not true?” “That is true, and that lady did nothing for my poor friend who was suffering an anaphylactic shock at that moment.” ‘Rolly Polly’ lied. “Anaphylactic shock you say?” Having read up on allergic reactions from one of the many books in her room, she felt confident that she can bluff him out. “What time did this occur?” “At around seven o’clock. We were there for an hour” “In most cases, it takes approximately two hours for a pony to suffer from anaphylactic shock when caused by a food allergy.” Aurora informed, “Luka told me that the four of you had arrived at The Rising Sun at six. You claim that you were there for an hour and what you say matches up to what she said.” “What? You thought I’d be lying?” “I never thought you were lying, Mister Paullie, I know you were lying.” Aurora began to press the matter aggressively, “You and your cohorts had booked in at 9pm last night. Your allergic friend would have already suffered or would have been suffering from the allergies at or within the time you left the restaurant and arrived at this hotel. If you had sought out medical attention for your friend’s allergy, he surely would have been administered at the local hospital for more than ‘just a few minutes’. Besides, with what he ordered, I don’t think he would have lived long enough to experience his allergic episode, let alone book into a hotel.” Defeated by the evidence, Paullie cocks his head down to the floor for a moment, and then finally musters up enough courage to say something. “A-again, I d-don’t see what this has to do with you...” Sweat began to run down Paullie’s face. Grasping what he meant by that question, Aurora had to do some lying of her own. The fatso was not going to fork over the bits that easily. She peeks over to the left of the counter to see a small stack of sightseeing brochures next to another radio and picks one up, knowing the local businesses – including The Rising Sun, were listed inside. “There’s a reason why these businesses specifically, are listed within this brochure...” Aurora continued with her tall tale, “And it’s simple really: I own them.” “You own these? I apologize, but I find that extremely hard to believe.” Paullie doubted as he examined the brochure, “How can one pony such as yourself, run this rundown hotel alone and find the time to do business on the side?” Ferrick saw a good point in what he was saying and had to think of a way to convince him. She obviously wasn’t going to give up on this. Then she thought of something. It was a bit of a long shot, but it was the only method she could muster. “My, I thought you of all ponies would be able to relate with how I managed. You’re quite an entrepreneur yourself, are you not?” Aurora flattered, “There too must be a reason why you have your own branch of hardware stores spread across Equestria.” "I'm listening..." “It’s simply because we’re good at what we do. We are capable of turning in profit margins regardless of what competition is before us, and we expand, growing into a powerful force within our society. I’m sure by now that you’ve had countless business proposals in your profession.” “I have, but what are you getting at?” “The Iron Palace is one of the only hotels in New Foaleans that continues to light up their ‘no vacancy’ sign. So it’s little wonder why other ponies want a part of that. They too want the many customers that I’m serving on a daily basis, so when they come to me, I make them a deal and voila! That is how I, Aurora Ferrick, expand.” “Touching story, so what is the point of this?” “I was hoping you’d say that. When you have been in this industry for long enough, you realise that as a successful pony, as you should know, you gain a reputation.” This is the opportunity that Aurora has been waiting on since the conversation started. Aurora had figured that the one thing entrepreneurs feared most, was a bad reputation. As an icon, it’s the one thing that can send anypony crashing down. “If any form of...’slip up’ should occur, you could lose just about everything you had ever achieved.” Aurora threatened, “It’ll be quite a shame to hear on this little radio here, the incident of Raul E. Paullie, breaking an innocent chef pony down to tears, after he and his colleagues had harassed her inside her own award winning restaurant... And then proceeded to assault her.” Anger boiled in Paullie’s eyes in disbelief to what he had just heard, but that’s to be expected from blackmail. “You wouldn’t dare!” Paullie yelled. “Oh but I would, and Dusty Duke here will tell the whole city about it...” Aurora stroked the radio with her hoof with a devilish grin. Now in tears, Paullie began to plead. “Look, how much do you want from me!? I’ll do anything, just leave me be!” Aurora turned to Paullie with an even wider smile, staring into his very soul with her blue and green eyes with sinister intent. “Depends,” Aurora dropped her fancy facade, “How much is ya lil’ career worth!?” ________________________________________ Later in the night at The Rising Sun, Luka was cleaning the kitchen in her stained white apron as she waited for her next customer, swaying to the rhythm of an old song blaring through the radio on the counter. As the yellow unicorn was scrubbing away at the stovetop with her magic, the shop door opens and triggers the bell hanging over it, sending a small chime throughout the restaurant. Still being able to hear the bell through the loud music, Luka turned around to see an exhausted teal pony at the door. Luka turned the volume knob to an audible level to greet her cherished customer. “You look terrible dear, long day?” Luka asked with worry. Aurora gave a weak smile in response to Luka’s concern. “Just work really.” Aurora shrugged off her fatigue, then smiled for what was to be expected next, “I have something for you that you’re just going to love!” Aurora skipped past the neatly laid out tables and over to the counter to sit on one of the bar stools facing it. She stuck her left hoof in her grey lopsided mane, pulls out a purple jingly pouch and passes it across the counter. The curious chef lifted up the pouch with her yellow magic and opens it to see its contents. What was inside shined brighter than her own magic, as the fluorescent light above her reflected the treasure's glory onto her face as an array of buzzing fireflies. “W-W-WHAT!?” Luka cried out in sheer surprise, “You can’t give this to me! How much is in here!?” “...Enough” Aurora followed with a sheepish grin, “Surely covers th’ food bill huh?” “It does more than that! But I can’t have all this!” Luka shouted. “I made a promise. I make damn sure to keep ‘em. Besides, I already have my share.” Aurora assured. Luka smiled with joy when she heard those words. Then paused when she thought about what her best friend had just said to her, staring into space. “Your share?” Luka said in suspicion and turned to Aurora with a worried stare, “...What in Equestria did you do?” Aurora averted her eyes away from Luka’s oppressive stare and bit her bottom lip. “N-nothin’...” Aurora nervously stuttered, “But... Let’s just say that I have a new business partner.” Luka continued with her stare. She saw right through Ferrick’s poor cover-up. “Blackmail.” Busted. Aurora turned back to Luka with no reason to hide the facts. “Don’t call it blackmail Lu... I just gave the fat shit... a business proposal, so t’speak.” The teal pony weaselled around the words, “He’s a douche anyway. No one hurts my lil’ Luka.” Aurora batted her eyelids innocently at Luka. “A three month age difference doesn’t give you the chance to call me ‘little’, Nan.” Luka joked back. “Anyway, what are you ordering? It’s on me.” Aurora drooled at those beautiful words of charity. She made sure to take full advantage of it! “I’ll have a nasi goreng with extra buk choy, six spring rolls and a bottle o’ sake please!” Ferrick ordered with a cheerful holler. “The sake’s gonna cost you a Mareboro. You do realise this, right?” Luka whisked her magic and pulled out Aurora cigarettes from her mane. “Just open the windows and we can get right to it.” “That’s a fair call.” Aurora chuckled as Luka helped herself to her deserved smoke. Aurora began to open up the shop windows that sat next to the door on both sides when she was interrupted by two disguised mares – one white and one grey, in dark sunglasses and hooded cloaks, burst in through the door. “Please hide us Miss!” The grey pony panicked in fear. Aurora noticed something interesting about the grey mare apart from the situation at hoof. She was wearing a pink bow tie.
Chapter Two: Cheap Food, Cheap Wine, Cheap TalkWhile Aurora was trying to comprehend the instantaneous abruption, Luka wasted no time on the details and hurried the two ponies behind the counter to hide. After they had rushed for the counter and ducked down under the cash register, Luka turned around to begin cooking her friend’s dinner. Catching onto Luka’s guise, Aurora resumed opening the windows for the cigarette later. Ferrick had only managed to open the first shop window when she heard what sounded like a buffalo stampede echo through the dark, quiet street. Even when she knew that stampede was approaching, the sheer agility of the large mob rushed into the restaurant startled her and the obnoxious shop bell chimed through the room once more. There were at least twenty ponies that stood before Luka climbing on top of one another, equipped with bulky cameras, microphones and notepads. The paparazzi began to berate to the chef simultaneously like a drunken choir while she had her back turned towards the kitchen. “One at a time for crying out loud!” Luka snapped without hesitation. It didn’t take long for the horde to shut up and co-ordinate. “Did two mares run in here a second ago, ma’am?” “Look behind you.” Luka replied impatiently, “She’s the first customer to come in for at least an hour now. If she’s not who you’re looking for, buzz off and look elsewhere. I don’t need even LESS customers because of you lot.” Offended and disappointed, a journalist from the rowdy crowd squeezes through to speak. “Very well, but if you ever see them, be sure to give us a call. We’ll make it worth your while.” The smooth talking journalist shifts a business card across the counter and marches with his colleagues out of The Rising Sun in a long, single file as some took a familiar confused glance at Aurora’s appearance. Aurora listened to the paparazzo’s hoof steps dissipate onto the main street and looked out of the window for good measure. “All clear Lu” “It’s safe to come out now and... sorry about the boxes.” Luka assured the two ponies. “Thanks a bunch sis!” The white mare spoke with a nonchalant tone that contrasted her charcoal companion’s modest and more... ladylike speech. As the two rose from under the counter, the other pony began to speak. “We are truly grateful for your kindness, Madam Shopkeeper,” the refined mare bowed in courtesy, “We are in your debt.” Aurora, which was standing in her hind legs as she leaned on the window, shrugged her shoulders to Luka while out of sight from the disguised duo. Luka rolled her eyes at her and brought her attention back to her visitors and held out her hoof. “Luka Fry. Being called Madam Shopkeeper is something I’ll never be capable of getting used to. No offense,” Luka looked towards Aurora with a mischievous grin accepted the hoofshake. “And the strange looking pony behind you with the mane that of an exotic jungle is my best friend, Aurora Ferrick. No offense.” Ferrick poked her tongue out at Luka in jest of her remark. Miss Bow-Tie began to turn around to greet Aurora. “Surely her mane can’t be THAT ba-AAAaah! “; she turned around to witness the grand proportion of Aurora’s silvery mane. The shocked lass removed her dark sunglasses to reveal two dazzling purple eyes staring at Aurora in horror. At a loss for words, she could only voice out one word, “W-wow... Woooow.... WOOOOOOOW.” The white mare softly facehoofed herself, in embarrassment of her friend’s reaction. A blue aura appeared from under her hood and magically uncloaked her and her catatonic friend, while still focused on Luka with her sunglasses still worn. A raver-looking pony with a spiky electric blue mane with white streaks stood before Luka. “Sorry... Luka, was it? Octavia has never done anything like this before and I feel so damn awkward right now...” The white pony apologised with a bright red blush. Trying to suppress her laughter at the hilarity of Aurora being showcased as the grey pony continues to mutter the same word like a broken record, Luka hints to the rocker pony with her eyes by switching her attention between her and Aurora and some slight head twitches. “Why not relate?” Confused by Luka’s statement, the pink faced pony turns around to see what the fuss is about. “Seriously Tavi, I thought you of all ponies wouldn’t get li- HOLY SHIT!” Luka couldn’t hold her laughter any longer from such a priceless reaction! She even had to catch Vinyl with her magic when she tumbled backwards from the sight of Aurora’s wild growth and placed her on a nearby barstool. Vinyl remained seated still as she tried to process what was in front of her. As Aurora gazed upon what she saw as the hyena, the statue and a traumatised socialite on A-B repeat, she got the point – she had a lot of mane. After the newcomers finally collected their senses and the lady with the neatly brushed mane and a purple treble clef brandishing her flank spoke first. “I’m terribly sorry Miss Ferrick! It’s just that I’ve always thought that Vinyl had an... ‘extravagant’ mane, and those eyes! I’ve seen a variety of individuals in my travels, but you are most definitely the first! It’s almost touching the floor!” “It does when it’s wet. Blow-drying’s a bitch.” Aurora scrounges through her mane to try finding her Mareboro. “And... Aurora or Ferrick’ll do. Either one. Luka! You got me smoke on ya?” “Yeah, just light it on the stovetop. I’m pinching another one by the way.” “Go for it.” Aurora helped herself to the stove’s open gas flames that were cooking her well-deserved meal, and parked her rump on the barstool between Vinyl and Octavia. Luka initiated some healthy conversation. “So what are you two doing out at New Foaleans anyway?” Luka began to ‘analyse’ her visitors from head to hoof, “You don’t seem much like work-ponies, so what gives?” “We’re musicians. Well, I am. Vinyl is more of a record player’s worst nightmare in my opinion.” Octavia teased, without any indication whether she was kidding or actually being serious – Especially to Vinyl which grunted with whatever expression she held behind her shades, “But ponies dance to her music and she has a true passion for what she does, so who’s to judge?” “So Vinyl’s a DJ huh? And what instrument do you play?” “Cello. We’re here because we’ve been working together on a little project of ours and are on tour, but recently there have been rumours going around that Vinyl and I are having an affair - Hence the paparazzi.” Octavia explained, “Of course, they are false – I’m a married mare. Have been for quite some time, but even my own husband is growing suspicious over these... accusations.” She sighed at the mere thought of it all, and stared down at the counter in grief. “It’s been tough, especially for Tavi.” Vinyl interjected as she levitated her own packet of cigarettes and a box of matches from her cloak pocket, lighting up two cigarettes for herself and Octavia which accepted with an opening of the mouth, “She’s even picking up on my dirty habits just to calm herself. I don’t enjoy it one bit, but she’s the last pony I’d want to piss off.” Octavia chuckled at Vinyl’s comment and raised her head from the dumps to take a draw from her cigarette. She exhaled the carbon monoxide from her nostrils and held the cigarette with her hoof, “It’s a shame they’re as weak as those ‘Alco-pop’ things that you drink.” Aurora shoved her hooves over her mouth to suppress her laughter. Vinyl took notice of Aurora’s lack of subtlety. “What’s so bad about mixers?!” Aurora removed her hooves as took a few deep breaths to settle herself down before speaking. “Everything! I’ve had stronger cordial than those things! Whiskey’s where it’s at!” “So you ordered sake when I have a bottle of whiskey behind the counter, because?” Luka retorted. “You have whiskey!?” Aurora’s eyes beamed in surprise and delight, “Fuck the sake, Vinyl can have that! I’ll drink that whiskey! You’re wi’ me, right Octavia?!” “Sure. Don’t expect us to go buck wild though; we have an interview with Stomp Radio tomorrow morning, right Miss Scratch?” Octavia queries her DJ friend with a cocked eyebrow. “Huh? O-oh yeah! You can trust me!” Vinyl’s voice cracked during the last sentence like she was caught red-hoofed before she even committed the crime. “Wait. You two are havin’ an interview with DU-“ “Dinner’s up kids!” Luka interrupted Aurora in the nick of time before she yapped on about Dusty Duke and saved the two new patrons from a rabid fan girl moment. With the three customers staring at the counter, they noticed that Luka had prepared extra spring rolls and glasses for Vinyl and Octavia which was surrounding Aurora’s nasi goreng and the two bottles of alcohol. The articulate banquet that lay before them masked the presence of the flooded ashtray and the crumbs of ash that missed it. “Eat up. Your dinner’s on Aurora tonight, isn’t that right dear?” Luka stared at Aurora with a murderous intent that told her that she hadn’t forgotten about the little extortion incident earlier today. Crying on the inside, Aurora buckled under Luka’s oppressing stare, hoping that her first impressions with her new pals aren’t compromised by her sadistic nature. “...Yes Luka.” Aurora muttered pitifully. Not wanting to delve any further despite their curiosity of what had just happened, Vinyl and Octavia dine into their meals and booze. The four mares had their fair share of small talk, food, alcohol and cigarettes. Vinyl and Octavia were out for the count and were resting their inebriated heads in their front legs on the counter, as Luka and Aurora were embracing the current ambience as the radio played a modern dance song. “Techno already?” Aurora enquired, “I gotta get home and get ready for work in the mornin’.” Octavia had risen from her slumber with groggy, half-opened eyes and a trace of drool shining at the right side of her mouth. Then something inside hit her and burst her eyes open in shock. “Oh horseapples! Where are we going to sleep!?” Octavia shouted with slurred words, which interrupted Vinyl’s beauty sleep, “We haven’t book a hotel at all and it’s too late to lodge into one now!” “Don’t worry; I just happen to own one ‘cross the road.” Aurora swayed side by side as she grinned at Octavia with a crooked smile and one eye closed, which had just happened to add a whole new level of dodgy to her already dodgy appearance, “See, I’m smart and carin’” Octavia glanced at Aurora’s cutie mark and was trying to connect the dots, but gave up pretty fast. “Uhh... Thank you... Aurora. Should we bid farewell to your lovely friend?” “It was certainly a pleasure to meet you two celebrities.” Luka bowed. “The pleasure is all mine, Luka.” Octavia bowed back, “Let’s go Miss Scratch” “Ugh... I’m up.” Vinyl mumbled as she stumbled off of her stool in a less that graceful manner and slalomed towards the exit. “See ya later Lu.” “Have fun with that Ferry.” Luka lightly joked with concern for Vinyl’s state as they made for The Iron Palace. The three drunken mares slowly arrived at the brown brick apartment. As Aurora opened the glass door for the musical mares, she sighed to herself when she took notice of the paper sign taped on the door which read: POSITION VACANT NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY FLEXIBLE HOURS APPLY WITHIN The sign was ragged and had discoloured with age, with the what-was-clear tape holding on for dear life. She closed the door behind them and headed for the key cabinet behind the reception counter. Opening the cabinet, she inspected inside to see not keys, but cards hanging on the numbered hooks. Presumably, there was a green card and a red one behind it for each number. Aurora unhooked a red card from behind the green card for Honeymoon Suite. Aurora escorted the celebrities to the top floor and halted at the Honeymoon Suite double doors that stood before them. A slotted device was bolted next to the cedar doors and the inventor inserted the red card to open the doors and revealed a spacious and luxurious room, kitted with a large window that was covered by lush red curtains, an en suite bathroom and an antique hoof carved bed adorned in crimson that was crafted to royalty’s standards and complimented the classic decor of the suite. Octavia marvelled at the dimly lit room in awe with her mouth agape and embraced her hooves in the lush white carpet. Then she noticed something, and it sort of bugged her. “There’s only one bed.” Shortly after her realisation, Vinyl collapsed face first at Octavia’s hooves from the free sake. Aurora was actually quite impressed with how much she drank and withdrew her assumption of her being a cheap drunk with a smile. “Yeah, there is only one bed.” Aurora met her eyes with Octavia’s and shrugged her shoulders. “G’night Tavi.” “Thank you Aurora... for everything.” “Don’t mention it.” Aurora walked through the office mirror and lazily dove onto her black mattress and faceplanted her small stack of two matching pillows. She sniffed her pillows and grimaced at the noxious scent of damp hair, sweat, smoker’s breath and Shanghay food combined. Blindly grabbing the quilt on the floor next to her bed, she wrapped it over her teal fur and let the whiskey work its sedative magic. AUTHOR'S NOTES Yikes! It's been too long since I've written a new chapter. Had to deal with personal issues which I can't really disclose, but I'm back on the beat with this story and hopefully, I'll bloody finish it! I've also looked over previous chapters and made appropriate changes, particularly to Chapter One, kudos to Chuckfinley for the well needed critique (Cheers!). I know for a fact that I need improvement with this whole writing thing, so get nit-picky and feel free to tell me about it. Oh yeah, for shits and giggles I left a few music references (some vague, some not so much) to go with the 'City of Music' theme I got goin' on. See how many you can find!
Prologue: A Friendly Introduction to a Certain Wall in Urgent Need of Repair and MaintenanceG’day young fillies and gentlecolts! You fellas sittin’ there are probably wonderin’ who’s narratin’ this grand lil’ tale o’ mine and what it’s all about. Welp, the name’s Aurora Ferrick and I have youse know that I’m... not exactly the most typical pony in Equestria. Now, I’m sure you’ve heard just about everypony goin’ on about how they’re the “cream of the crop” in Canterlot or where ever they come from and I’m happy for the fact that they feel so damn special about themselves. But I’m sure none o’ them ponies have this ripper of a Cutie Mark! Check it out! O-oh right... You probably can’t “check it out”, huh? Sorry ‘bout that. Anyway, it’s a summation symbol, y’know, for calculus and all o’ that good stuff! Funny story how that popped up too! Y’see, I accidently opened a dimensional rift while I was tryin’ to make an electromagnet for a science project we had to do for school. Bein’ a young filly an’ all, I had no idea what that the hay it was at the time, nor did I know how it happened. To this very day I’m still confused how I did that... But at that moment, I figured that whatever that hole was, that appeared from thin air and stole my favourite pencil, it was a lot more excitin’ than a stupid magnet, that’s for sure! So then I decided to try recreating that moment by backtracking what I did to make that hole appear. Sounded pretty easy in my head, but I was absolutely stumped! I didn’t even know what that hole was in the first place, but I knew it was downright awesome! Although, after much, much, MUCH more studying, and I mean, I finished and handed in that magnet I was working on at the beginning of all this, got an A+ and started making another stupid magnet to recreate this whole incident. I almost gave up on it to be honest, I was getting nowhere. But then I found my pencil. It was actually at my next door neighbour’s house. I found it when she invited my family over for a weekend get-together. The pencil was in ‘er bathroom... embedded in the ceiling... and she didn’t even notice it for the past 3 months it went missing. I mean, I think she still didn’t know it was there in the first place. Then I got inspired again! I knew that by finding my pencil, that hole wasn’t some gluttonous pit o’ doom or somethin’; it was a portal – a gate or door of some kind that took ya somewhere else in an instant! Then I thought about magnets and how they work, and then it all clicked! I slaved away at making this work! Another 2 months it took me, but sweet Celestia, it was worth every minute. What I invented were teleportation devices that took you from one place to another in a flash! I got to admit, my little creation weren’t that little; they were about the size of beds. But regardless, I earned my Cutie Mark! That day was so damn awesome... Wow, I got pretty side-tracked there... Sorry ‘bout that. You don’t even know what this story’s about! Heck, you don’t even know what I look like! For starters, I’m an Earth Pony, female, with a charcoal-like mane with silver streaks through it... and it’s all over the place. Has a tendency to flick to the left though, which I’m okay with. Movin’ on, my fur’s a pale teal colour like my mother’s and I also have this strange condition with my eyes that’s called heterochromia. It’s basically where one eye’s a completely different colour to the other. Mum apparently called me Aurora because of their colours; blue and green. Not particularly sure as to whether an aurora really is that colour, since I haven’t read up on anythin’ about natural phenomenon due to personal reasons – which just so happens to be the reason for the story ‘ere which I’m finally gonna get to. It all started back when my parents first met. Back then, my mother lived in New Foaleans; which is where I am now, and she was raised in the dodgy part of it. Her dream back then was to run her very own hotel. Reason being, she enjoyed accommodating and caring for other ponies, no matter what their problems were. She even had the Cutie Mark to prove it. She first got it when she took an orphan filly in to care for. The poor filly had lost ‘er home to a freak accident, which claimed the lives of both of her parents and was forced to live on the streets. Back then, ol’ bird was livin’ alone and struggled to make ends meet financially, but still gave that unicorn orphan everything she had. My fath – Danny, however, is a lot different compared to my lovely mother and he’s the main reason why I’m stuck in this mess. Anyway, he was a professional wrestler from Horsetralia, which just about explains my accent for those wonderin’. He was a massive meat-head by the way. Had an anvil for a Cutie Mark and was coined as “The Iron Stallion” by the media and his fans, most likely because of the surname... He travelled to New Foaleans for a match against some other brain dead moron and got his arse kicked; hard. He suffered from spinal injuries after that fight and had to resign from his wrestling career. Better that than being a paraplegic, I guess. After he got out from the local hospital... Danny, collapsed in the middle of the street from the pain in his back. My mother just so happened to be there, helped him up and nursed him back at her home. Skipping through all o’ the soppy crap, one thing had led to another and they fell in love. From the money Danny earned during his career, he was able to grant my mother her wish – her own hotel. She named it “The Iron Palace” after her new surname, and began her new life along with her newborn which she named Aurora. That would be me. While I was growing up, my mother became victim to a rare strand of virus that the doctors had no idea what it was. She lived life as normal as she could and eventually passed away in her sleep. Mum’s death shook us – it changed us; especially Danny. The incident had rendered him into a terrible depression, and began attempting to drink the pain away with red wine and rum. As time went on without her, The Iron Palace began to fall apart, and so did he. With his injury and his alcoholism, things quite frankly... turned to shit, and brought all of his bottled frustration out on the closest living thing to unleash it; which was me. You think jammin’ your hoof in a door hurts? Try gettin’ bucked into a wall by an overgrown athlete... Eventually, that lousy bastard became desperate. In his reoccurring drunken ramblings to himself, he’d always say that he’ll save my mother’s dream and pleaded Celestia with tears rolling from his weathered face for everything to be how it used to be. Through a last resort and a fateful opportunity, sadly enough, his prayers were answered. He struck a deal with Hoof Orleans’ devil – Ricky DeGatto. Back then, I had no idea who he really was, but no matter what angle I looked at his businesscolt guise, he stank of somethin’ sinister, like a dark alleyway or a haunted house. Ricky had promised to keep The Iron Palace afloat, pay the overdue bills and repair the damages for a percentage of the hotel’s profits after he kept his end of the bargain. Danny agreed to this, unaware of how large of a percentage he was askin’ for. Things were actually going smoothly again once DeGatto fixed the place; customers started flowin’ in, positive word of mouth was spreadin’ like wildfire, and heck, Danny even stopped drinking! Then DeGatto came back after a “nice break”... with his “family”. At first, Danny was able to pay off the fortnightly installments of the outrageous debt, barely. Even on the busiest of weeks, he still struggled with the payments. But as time went on, he had no other option to decline them. This pissed off DeGatto to a much higher level than bat-shit-insane-rampaging-Ursa-Major-on-anabolic-steroids. He angrily commanded his goons to completely trash the place, breakin’ just about everything in sight and threatening Danny to pay him back in the midst of the chaos. All I could do at that time was to cower in my bedroom crying my eyes out, scared that they were gonna come break me. All I could do was barricade my bedroom door and pray. The next day after the most dreadful sleep, I woke up to see nothing but what used to be The Iron Palace. Debris coated the hardwood floor and holes disgraced what were pure white walls. As I walked amongst the carnage, a ragged piece of paper and a black notebook sat side-by-side on the reception counter. The counter was the only thing that seemed clean and untouched. As I approached the counter, I picked up an old photo that was on the notebook. It was a picture of my mother cradling me from when I was just a newborn. Why that was there worried me... I placed the photograph back on the counter and turned towards the paper that could very well explain it. Scared and curious, I flipped the sheet of paper around to see a note with drip stains and rushed handwriting across the page. The note read as this: "By the time you read this, I will be gone. I never once told you how proud I am to have a daughter like you. I know that in the past, my cruelty never reflected that pride either. I've caused you so much pain, and I’m writing this note to tell you that I’m only going to cause you more. I’ll never be able to see myself as the father you wanted me to be because I was never there. I’ll never accept your love towards me because I never deserved it. When Eliza passed away, I became a coward. I became the monster of your life and believed that I was the one that was suffering. It took me too long to realise that you were the one that was hurting. And I treated you as an enemy – an extra burden to my problems. My only wish is for you to hate me. To despise my very existence. To curse at my name. To take revenge on me if you ever see me again. And to forget me after you read this letter. As long as you do this, I’ll at least know you’re alive. I know that the days from now are going to be hard for you, but you need to stay strong. Stay the cheery, eccentric and intelligent Aurora that we know and love, no matter how difficult it may be. I couldn’t do this. Your mother was what gave me strength. Your mother was what gave me a purpose. Your mother was what gave me you. And I threw that away. I blindly used her death as an excuse to justify my cowardice, and by the time I realised this, it was already too late. I had already jeopardised the home we shared our memories, the good and the bad ones. This is why I left The Iron Palace in your hoofs. It was never my wish to keep this hotel. I only wished for the happiness of my family. I believe in you. You have the strength and kindness that your mother once had. I believe you’ll find your true love and be a mother to a beautiful family. You’ll have your own research facility like you’ve always dreamed about, creating the scientific marvels before ponykind and be written within the pages of history, revered as one of the many pioneers that shaped Equestria. I know your mother is looking down on you proud as she always was. From this day forth, I no longer have the right to be your father. Sincerely yours, Danny Ferrick’" And that boys and girls, is why I call my father by his first name.
