On The Wings of Wind

On the train station platform in Ponyville, Rarity was preparing to board the train with her friends in tow. Their destination? Manehattan for the first time since the Concert that was held there so long ago. While she was excited to go due due to a Fashion Week Contest going on, another thing she really wanted was to actually explore the city properly since they only had 1 day to do so last time.

One thing that was exasperating Twilight was the amount of luggage Rarity had. While most of it contained her fashion line for the contest, it still seemed much. Both Spike and Zephyr were helping to move it as well, Spike because it's Rarity and Zephyr because he figured it was good training. "Thanks for the help! You're making this a lot less painful or tiring!"

"My pleasure, Spike! Though I'm half-way tempted to tell Twilight to "brick" it all so I can carry the entire load on my back."

That got a snort of amusement from the Dragon. "It'd be pointless until we reach Manehattan since she'd have to "unbrick" it to load it onto the train." The Falconite merely shrugged at that.

"By the way, Zephyr dear, are you certain you didn't want a ticket to 'Hinny of the Hills'? I feel awful making you work like this and not--"

Zephyr cut Rarity off with wing getting held up. "For one, I've seen it too much with my mom back when I was living in Manehattan. The ticket would be happier in the hooves... or should I say claws of someone who can properly enjoy it." Spike beams at him. "Secondly, not to sound rude, but all this luggage hauling makes for good endurance training."

Rainbow Dash snorts in laughter at that. "Ever since you got back from the Crystal Empire, you've been training whenever you have downtime and not doing anything else. It's part of why Rarity invited you along, to give you a break!"

"I am thankful for it, don't get me wrong. Plus, it'll be a good chance to visit mom and dad, though I do wish Scoots could come along." Zephyr put a wing to his chin. "I wonder how her pregnancy is doing..?"

"I'm sure she's doing just fine! Dad has always been good with making sure the pressure is off ponies who are unable to take it." Fluttershy made sure to put that out there with a smile.

Applejack chuckles at that. "He does sound like a good stallion! Though we should get on the train soon, or else it'll leave us behind!"

"Well, I wasn't able to do it last time due to... circumstances, but I bid you welcome to Manehattan!"

Zephyr said that as the train crossed the bridge leading into the peninsula city. Pinkie smiles at the outburst. "I'm soooo glad to have you along this time Zephy! It'll make this trip so much easier with somepony who grew up here!"

"That's assuming he remembers everything!" Rainbow shoots that with a grin as the train pulls into the station.

Zephyr rolls his eyes at the comment. "As much as I'd like to say "thanks for the vote of confidence", It really has been a while since I last been AROUND the city. All other visits have been beelines towards my mom's home here."

Fluttershy was about to say something when she let out a soft squee. "Mom's here!"

Sure enough, there was Harpsong waiting at the station for somepony to come along. As the luggage got unloaded, the two siblings quickly went up to her, causing the mother to smile. "Zephyr! Fluttershy! Just the ponies I was expecting!"

"Hi mom!" The two hug her, being mindful of the fact her belly had a noticeable bulge now.

"Thank you so much for your help in planning this, Harpsong!" Rarity beams at the former singer.

That got a giggle. "The pleasure is mine, Rarity! The amount of free time I suddenly had was driving me up the wall, so I'm glad for the distraction. Also, in case you're wondering, the reason I have a lot of free time if because Medishy insisted on taking all the burden himself."

"That sounds like dad. I just hope he isn't overworking himself..." Fluttershy made sure to help support Harpsong in case she needed it.

Applejack noted what Fluttershy was doing and looked to see where Zephyr was. She was surprised when Spike had managed to stack almost all of the luggage onto his back. "Sugahcube, ah know you're doing it fer' training, but... are you going to be fine?"

"Don't mind me!" While Zephyr was straining, he was holding fast even if his grin wasn't exactly reassuring.

Twilight noted Harpsong's baffled look and shook her head. "He's been trying to train his endurance and non-wing strength ever since my older brother put him through a Royal Guard training sermon."

"I've hit a wall with my wind magic while I'm well on my way with flight training alongside Rainbow, so I figured why not?"

Spike shook his head as he took a few more pieces of luggage off the top. "Don't push yourself too hard too fast, alright?" That just got a nod from the Falconite.

Rarity hummed a bit. "Perhaps we should stop dallying. Come now, the hotel isn't far from the station!"

As the group moved through the streets, everypony saw the long line-up to get tickets for the Hinny of the Hills musical. Twilight was stunned. "How did you manage tickets to the musical so easily, Rarity?"

"Turns one some of the designs I made were for the costume designer for the play and he decided to pull a few strings for me! That's what makes Manehattan so splendid! You never know if the pony you're being generous to will return the favor in a big way!"

Harpsong hums uncertainly with a neutral face. "I suppose the city DOES appear that way to outsiders..." Fluttershy gave her mom a worried look but didn't comment.

"By the way, any updates on the baby?!" Pinkie really wanted to know.

"Let's get all the luggage dropped off at the hotel then I can tell you. Wouldn't want to excite Zephyr so much he collapses under the weight." That got a pout from her son, but he couldn't say anything since he was focusing on keeping everything stable.

Once the luggage was under the care of the hotel bellhop, with a generous tip from Rarity besides, Harpsong smiled at the group. "Well, we did discover some things about the baby last visit to the doctor. Zephyr and Fluttershy are getting a baby Pegasus brother!"

Pinkie Pie blew a light-blue party horn at that with a cheer while Zephyr chuckles. "I'm almost sad Scoots wasn't here to first hear it. She was overjoyed at the prospect of a younger sibling by default, I wonder how her reaction's going to be with a "little bro" on the way."

"I'm sure she doesn't care either way. A younger sibling is a younger sibling to somepony like her... and Fluttershy, I imagine!" That earned Harpsong a happy nuzzle from her daughter. "But you all didn't come here to hear me prattle on about the baby. Why don't I show you around the city before Rarity has to check-in for Fashion Week?"

With Zephyr and Fluttershy tagging out on occasion to help support her, Harpsong was able to bring the group to various places and activities. Along the way, Rarity always stopped to show some generosity to ponies who were down on their luck or just needed a lift in their day. It included a cab driver who's wheel had broken which took Applejack to lift it, Zephyr and Rainbow to steady it, and Rarity to actually fix it.

By the end, after Twilight confirmed there was nothing left for the rest of them to do for Rarity, the fashionista mentioned just needing to wait until check-in at 2:00. Pinkie Pie looks at the clock tower. "Funny, that clock over there says 1:50!"

The current time blindsided Rarity. "WHAT?! Oh no and with the runway at the other end of the city, I'll get disqualified if I don't get there on time!"

Rainbow shoots a knowing grin at Zephyr, who immediately knew what it meant and saluted. Rainbow turns to Rarity. "No worries! The Rainbow Zephyr Service will get you there in a jiffy! Just make sure your legs are tucked in at all times and enjoy the flight!"

Rarity, realizing what the two were offering, quickly got onto Zephyr's back. "I thank you both dearly. We passed by it earlier so you--"

"Don't worry, I remember what it looks like."

"Rarity, before you go there's something I need to confirm with you." Rarity looks at a now worried Harpsong. "You plan on dipping a hoof beyond the surface of the Manehattan culture and it may end in tears. Despite that risk, are you absolutely sure you want to continue?"

Rarity, a bit confused as to what the mother was saying, nods. "Being able to advertise my fashion like this is a dream of mine!"

"... Alright, but be careful. What all of you saw today was just the city's surface level that's shown to visitors and tourists alike. Get any deeper than that and... let's just say Manehattan politics makes Canterlot look like a nursery."

Rarity, clearly not getting what Harpsong was implying, tapped Zephyr's shoulder to signal she was ready to go. With a strong flap of wings, the two were quickly on their way. Spike looked up after them before he developed a nagging feeling. "Anypony else feel like we forgot something?"

Applejack thought for a moment before she froze in horror. "Her dresses!"

They all looked around in a panic before the cab driver they helped earlier suddenly came along. "Hey, I'm here to-- oh, Miss Rarity didn't need my help..."

"No, your timing is perfect!" Twilight runs up to him in a hurry. "She's going to a runway for Fashion Week, but forgot her dresses and--"

"Say no more, I'll get you to the hotel they're at! I can even haul her dresses to the runway myself!" Twilight smiles and boards the cab before they were off like a shot.

A bit later, Zephyr returns. "She made it with plenty of time to spare at least. Say, where's Twilight?"

"Oh, she's just making sure Rarity's clothing line-up makes it to the runway as well!" Pinkie was nonchalant about the whole thing.

Zephyr didn't even have time to react when Twilight teleported back. "Okay, the bellhop offered to escort the dresses the rest of the way. Hopefully nothing bad happens to them en-route."

With that little heart attack out of the way, Fluttershy looks at Harpsong with a slightly scared look. "Mom, I need to ask. Between your reaction to what Rarity said earlier and now what you just told her. I-is there something you know?"

"Let me preface that by saying... what has been seen cannot be unseen." Harpsong lets out a tired sigh. "Zephyr already knows but I forgot to mention this at Twilight's coronation ceremony. I became the principal at one of the schools here."

Twilight beamed at her. "Really?! Maybe I can make an appearance as a special teacher for a day!"

"You would be lovely to have, Twilight. However... while Medishy has been dealing with most of it, there's been a lot of 'interference' being ran against us by other schools..."

Applejack quickly caught on since she knew which school Babs was at now. "Let me guess, they didn't like you trying to make an ACTUALLY good learning environment an' are trying to ruin you to save their reputation?"

"That's the short of it, yes. Thankfully the teachers at my school have all come around to me being the new principal even with my pregnancy. But we have to keep an eye open for subterfuge... else something may happen that'll ruin our reputation and cause parents to withdraw their foals from the school."

"Wow... you weren't kidding when you said Manehattan makes Canterlot look like a nursery!" Pinkie wasn't very happy at the news that her friend's mother was going through something so difficult.

Harpsong shakes her head. "Please, don't let my dour mood ruin your leisure time. Not all industries are like that, like the music industry else even Zephyr would've been more exposed to it. We can hope that the fashion industry is also like that."

Rainbow lifts off with a grin. "I agree. Now let's stop dawdling and make the rest of the day great! You still good to come with, mom-- ACK!!!"

Harpsong giggles at Rainbow's slip-up as the Pegasus blushes madly. "Do I hear wedding bells already?"

"MOM!!!" Now Zephyr had a major blush, making everypony laughs at the sight. Once the lovebirds recovered from their embarrassment, they started heading around Manehattan, starting with making a salon appointment for the group the next day.

While on their way to make a reservation at the Far-Afield Tavern, Harpsong remembered something and had both Zephyr and Rainbow hang back a bit. "I just thought of this. Remember when you and your father were inquiring about Scootaloo's wings and if they can be fixed?"

"Yeah... it still hurts that she's stuck like that, especially since we had to help her out of a brief bullying stint regarding that..." Rainbow landed with her own sad face.

"It does hurt, but life just isn't fair sometimes. Regardless, I decided to look into her genealogy to see If I couldn't get answers that way. Turns out... she's my first husband's daughter who was born out of wedlock."

That shocked Rainbow. "Your first husband's daughter? The same one who passed away because of a genetic disease?!"

"Thankfully Scootaloo doesn't have that same disease, though it might have been the reason behind her genetic defect. Thing is, I knew my first husband had a foal somewhere out in Equestria... because he confessed as much to me on his deathbed."

"Was it something he regretted?" Turns out the rest of the group had heard and Fluttershy asked that question.

"Regretted... in a way that he wished he could have married the mother of that foal, but she vanished fearing her family's wrath. It was something that haunted him, both because his foal and lover were out there by themselves and the fact he felt unfaithful to me even though we married long after it happened." Harpsong sighed sadly. "The best I could do... was comfort him with the knowledge that I never will think badly of him over it."

"At least he was willing to take responsibility for it... but ah' wonder what happened to the mother..." Applejack was hopeful that Scootaloo's birth mother was still alive.

"I'm still in the middle of figuring that out, but I think I'm onto a trail. However, until I find definitive proof, I'll refrain from saying much more. Perhaps this investigation will reach its conclusion before you all leave this place." Harpsong shakes her head and smiles. "Let's shake the bad thoughts off for now and enjoy ourselves!"

Rarity had just ran out of the runway building the next day when Suri Polomare, one of her competitors, had just created a fashion line off the fabric sample that was given to her generously. Not only did she make one in such a short amount of time, but also did it in a way to make the Ponyville seamstress look like the copycat. With an unapologetic statement saying it's everypony for herself in Manehatten, Rarity could only leave the building and head to the hotel in tears.

Along the way she tripped and started falling with a small squeal, only to get caught by a red leg. "Whoa there, my lady! Please be careful!"

"I-I'm fine-- wait..." Rarity recognized the voice and looked up. "Burst Mic?"

"Miss Rarity, are you alright? What's going on?"

"I-it's nothing you need to worry--"

Burst didn't let go of Rarity's hoof. "I do need to worry about it. You're Zephyr's friend and a lady besides. It would not do to leave you alone like this." He motions towards a nearby cafe. "How about some tea to help yourself settle down, then you can tell me what happened."

Though reluctant after what she just went through, Rarity slowly nodded as she was escorted to her seat. After a cup of tea and venting towards Burst, she began to feel awful. "My generosity ruined me... and I don't know where to go from here..."

"So you're just going to give up?" Rarity looks up at Burst as he sighs. "I understand that the shock of being taken advantage of is great, but is it a reason to give up on your dream? Are you just going to let that mare walk all over you and let her get away with it?"

"I..." Rarity thought about it before her face switched to a tearful glare. "I refuse to back off from her! The only issue is... I need to develop a new line and quickly..."

Burst smiles, seeing the fashionista had recovered enough from her funk. "My band and I can help. We were just here for administrative purposes anyways so I'm sure Snare would appreciate the distraction. As for the line itself--" He was cut off when Rarity observed the curtains of the cafe and felt linen napkins. "Are you getting an idea?"

"Am I ever! This theme is giving me a flash of inspiration, I just need to work it in!"

Not long after, Burst met with his band sans Zephyr and explained the situation to them. All were more than happy to help, though Snare was a bit iffy about working the spinning wheel. "I get we're pressed for time and this is important, but I wish this weren't so boring!"

Electron snorted in laughter. "Give me a minute."

When Rarity came into the room to check on their progress, she was stunned to see Snare somehow working the spinning wheel with her drums. "How..?"

Strings shakes his head as he used a sewing machine. "Electron picked up knowledge of mechanical devices while working her soundboards and she's gotten practice rigging unrelated objects together to make them work."

"Thanks, Electron! Let's double-time this fashion line!" Snare drums excitably, working the spinning wheel in the process.

"... Here's the latest batch of fabric, Burst..." Iron was in charge of the loom and he had surprised his band with how precise he can be with hooves as large as his.

Rarity was gleeful at the progress. "Perfect! Oh, Electron, the pattern should be this way!"

"Wait, I thought it was-- oh darn it!"

Burst chuckles as he organizes all the fabric that's now ready. "This is an experience isn't it? Here, a good amount of fabric for your line all organized and ready to go."

"Perfect, now to translate it all into dresses! Come on, chop chop!" Snare and Electron didn't look too pleased at that, but chose to bite their tongues for now.

By the time the dresses were done, it was early morning the next day with an exhausted band. While Strings was more used to it than the rest, the different activity got to him. "I think... that was the last of it..."

Snare fell over. "Thank Celestia... I'll never look at dresses the same way again..." Everypony gave a start when Rarity rushed past them with all the clothes that were made overnight. "Sheesh, not even a thank you?"

"I guess the politics of the city got to her." Was Electron's solemn answer to that.

Burst shakes his head. "You all did great with what you had. I'll treat you to a meal after all of you have a power nap. I just hope Rarity will come around..."

Rarity, who had brushed-off all her friends when they inquired about what she was doing earlier, managed to make it on time with her new line-up. Prim Hemline had finished up with Suri's "original line-up", much to Rarity's chagrin. "Now, last but certainly not least, is Rarity's brand new, in every sense of the phrase, line-up she has dubbed 'Cafe Chic'!"

It went amazingly for how much of an ad-lib design set it was. The Cafe-inspired set with things like linen napkin cravats earned a lot of praise and cheers for how creative the overall showing was. Rarity was delighted by the outcome. "While I had hoped to salvage what I could from my blunder, it turned out better than expected! I might even eke out a win! Oh, if it happens, I would love to celebrate... with... my friends..."

She noticed a section of the seats that were empty, the part reserved for her friends. It was then she realized that, in her overzealous determination to salvage her career, she snubbed her friends and didn't give them the time of day. That realization lead to another: she treated Burst's band so horribly despite them going out of their way to help her. All of it lead to one final thought. I'm... no better than Suri now...

With a rainbow glint off the nearby rope reflecting in her eyes, she made a mad dash out of the venue much to the shock of Prim and everypony else. The first place she checked was the hotel for her friends, only to be told they weren't there. She then checked where Burst's band had helped her work on her new line, only to find the building empty as well as it started to rain.

"I... I deserved this after everything I did. By abandoning my friends and giving Burst's band nothing but trouble... I abandoned my values for fleeting fame..." As she started rounding a corner she tripped again, only she didn't squeal and merely accepted her punishment.

The ground never came as a familiar red hoof caught her. "Rarity, what happened this time?!"

Rarity looks up in shock. "B-Burst?! Why are you here?"

"Figuring out where to take my band out for a meal as thanks for their hard work. But let's ignore that for now and get you out of the rain!" Burst unknowingly brought Rarity back into the venue where the fashion show took place. "Now then, what--"

"I'm so sorry, Burst!" Rarity had suddenly cried out with tears in her eyes. "I-I treated you and your band so thoughtlessly and never even gave you so much as a 'thank you' for everything you've done! I..."

Burst patted Rarity on her shoulder reassuringly. "You were under stress and not thinking straight due to the bad circumstances that forced you into that position. I assure you that my band knows you held no ill-will over it all, they were just grumpy from the lack of sleep. Just know that your generosity would never truly ruin you, you just need to be careful of who you give it too in the future."

Rarity looks up at Burst's smile with tears in her eyes. "S-so, you'll forgive me?"

"There was nothing to forgive because I understand. Besides, your friends are worried about you."

"My friends..?" Rarity looks over and sees everypony had just come in the doors, the rain having stopped. "W-why..?"

"Why didn't we show up? Honestly... we didn't know when the show started and ended up missing it." Twilight answered for her friends with an embarrassed blush. "It WAS kind of bad of me to rely solely on you for everything relating to this."

"B-but we heard from a pony named Suri that you had lost! After everything you managed to do..." Fluttershy gave her friend a sad look.

"Oh please! I really don't care about that because I thought the way I treated you all before--"

"Rarity, you didn't even treat us that badly." Zephyr piped up. "Applejack could tell you were stressed to the nines over something. If anything, we feel guilty about not being able to help!" He smiles at his band leader. "I guess Burst picked up our slack with the rest of our band."

"Don't you know it." Snare walked in with the rest of the band, feeling better after the nap. "Rarity, while it WAS kind of rude of you to--"

Rarity shook her head. "It was very rude to not even say thank you, so please don't sugarcoat it! Tell you what, how about I treat you all to a lovely brunch if you're feeling up to it! Your band as well, Burst. Zephyr really couldn't work with better ponies!"

"You needn't trouble yourself so, but we'll gladly take you up on your offer." Burst looks back at his band who all smile. "Wherever you have in mind, I'm sure it'll be great!"

As the big group left the building, Suri and her assistant Coco Pommel come from the back, the former with a sly grin. "Told you it would work! It seems my little "lesson" for little Miss Rarity didn't stick good enough! Ah well, too bad for her!"

Coco felt awful about the whole ordeal, considering Rarity's relationship with her friends and even the band that had helped her out of the kindness in their hearts. She had Suri's "lesson" beaten into her by her employer, yet this one display made her doubt everything she learned. By the time Suri left, the beleaguered assistant had made her decision.

"How did ya' manage to convince the makers of Hinny of the Hills to host a performance in the Far-Afield Tavern? How'd ya' get the whole restaurant booked just for us, for that matter?" Was Applejack's baffled question after the show concluded.

Rarity giggled at that. "Turns out the costume maker loved my designs and wanted to pull some extra strings for me in return for making more of them for the next show. As for the restaurant... that would be a question for Strings, since it was him who convinced the owner to do this."

"Hmm? Pulled a few 'strings' yourself?" Zephyr looks knowingly at his band member, who merely clears his throat in response.

Burst chuckles at that. Earlier he mentioned that the performance felt "nostalgic" enough that he didn't feel ill when viewing it. "At least the restaurant staff got a good show as well and the food was excellent. However, I imagine that you'll be busy thanks to your promise, Rarity."

"Rarity won't be coming back with us?" Pinkie asked that with a heartbroken tone.

"I'm sorry, darlings, but it's an opportunity I can't pass up, even without the favor pulled for me."

Rainbow shook her head. "We know, similar to me going to the Wonderbolt academy. It's just sad we won't get to see you for a while..." Zephyr made sure to wrap a wing around his girlfriend at that, a worried look on his own face.

"May I join everypony here?" The whole group gave a small start when Coco Pommel appeared by the entrance. "I... have something for Miss Rarity."

"Ah... well of course you can come over." Rarity was a bit uncertain, but she wanted to give Suri's assistant the benefit of the doubt considering how badly she was treated. When Coco came over, she gave Rarity a trophy. "Wait... this has MY name on it!"

"Because you actually won the contest, but Suri tried to manipulate your friends into making you not come back. She hoped it would cause the planners to consider it a forfeit, making her the winner. I... went along with it because of her "lessons", but... seeing everypony around you and how generous you were to each other made me realize that, maybe, it really isn't "Everypony for herself" in Manehattan."

Harpsong smiled from the nearby table. "There are spots of darkness in this city, but it is up to you to get out of them and back into the light. Still... that pony's name is Suri, huh..?"

"M-mom, please don't do anything scary!" Fluttershy could tell Harpsong was cooking something up based on her facial expression.

"Oh, don't mind me, just wondering how my old contacts are doing. Anyways, Coco, what will you do going forward?"

Coco shook her head. "I already quit working for Suri because I couldn't handle her anymore before coming here, both with the trophy and a gift for Miss Rarity." Coco gives Rarity a spool full of rainbow thread, which the fashionista admired. "As for my plans going forward... I'll think of something..."

"Perhaps you don't have to look too far, Coco." Rarity had an idea of how to get the mare on her hooves again. "While it might take some discussion, why don't you make costumes for my friend in the show business? While Suri is a piece of work, I'm certain you DID pick up the skills needed from her to carry you far!"

"Y-you'll do that for me?!"

Harpsong giggles. "Once you're done that, you can come to the Windstorm Elementary School to teach the foals about fashion and clothing design while you search for your next big job!" Coco started crying with how kindly she was being treated.

Burst sat back with a smile as he witnessed a mare turn her life around. I'm glad Rarity didn't abandon who she was, even after all of this. Such a shining gemstone of generosity getting tarnished would've left Equestria worse off.

As Rarity started discussing the details with Coco, the spool shone with a rainbow light.