Rarity and Fluttershy are taking Opal and I to Manehattan. It is 8:04 in the morning, four minutes after our companions were supposed to be at the train station with us. I see their figures in the distance, and as usual, the stupid cat and her owner overpacked. They literally need a bedazzled wheelbarrow to haul their things into the train station. The pony with the over pampered purple mane hauls over the luggage with Opal not far behind, and apologizes for being a bit late
"I'm so sorry Fluttershy, dear, it took a bit longer than expected to get all of these things to the station."
I meet the eyes of Opal sneers, and she sneers at me with her hideous face
"Well well, if it isn't the grumpy bunny who overworks his owner because he can."
I stick out my tongue
"If it isn't the spoiled cat that acts like a brat because she can."
Wow. Just by speaking two sentences, I can already tell that we are going to try to make each other miserable throughout the entire trip. Nothing different than normal. Opal sticks out her tongue back, and Fluttershy shushes me before I say something that embarrasses her. Speaking of embarrassment, the look on Fluttershy's face when she saw the luggage made Rarity as red as a cherry.
"Um, Rarity. I know that you like to be prepared and all, but this is just a two day trip. Are you sure that you absolutely need all of those bags?"
She repeatedly nods her head
"Of course darling! Everything in my bags is completely necessary for this trip. In fact, I wish that I had packed more. Now, let's head inside and see what seats are left for us."
So, we all walk into the station, buy some train tickets, and then we all walk out to the ramp. Just as we were about to board the train, we are stopped by a muscular stallion that seems to work at the train station.
"Sorry you two, no pets on the train without a cage. Something went wrong a week or so ago with a pet, and now it's mandatory to have one."
Opal growls at the stallion
"Oh great!"
Rarity protests
"I was at this exact train four days ago with Opal, and I wasn't required to have a cage! Nopony at this station had informed us of this so called new policy sir...."
Fluttershy gently places her hoof over Rarity's mouth and smiles at the stallion
"Excuse me mister train worker, but could you make an exception for us, just this once? I do have a cage with me, but it is only meant to fit a tiny bunny, and it would be cruel to stuff them both in."
The stallion immediately shakes his head
"Nope, no cage to contain 'em, no train ride for any of you."
Fluttershy excuses herself politely and pulls Rarity to the side
"Rarity, how badly do you want to go to Manehattan? If you really want me to put our pets into the cage, I will. But I have to know that you are one hundred percent sure that you want me to."
Rarity thinks for a second
"Darling, I closed my shop for two days, that loses me quite a pretty penny. I don't know if I will be able to take another vacation for months! I don't know if I want to put Opal and Angel through hours in a cramped cage, but I do know that I would really love to go to Manehattan with you."
Fluttershy blushes, and then meekly searches through her filled bag. She pulls out a cage that Opal couldn't fit in, much less the both of us. I sense an opportunity to spite Opal
"You hear that Opal? You are gonna have to suck in your fat gut!"
Opal is quick to respond
"I will! I just hope I don't crush your little..."
She is interrupted by Rarity encasing her in her magic. I think it's hilarious the way that she reacts. She flails her limbs everywhere and hisses at her owner. Her owner can tell that she is unhappy, but she doesn't do anything about it
"So sorry Opal, I really am!"
And with a but of difficulty, she stuffs her into the cage. Before I know it, Fluttershy squeezes me into the cage along with her, and we head into the train.
"I'm sorry you two. It's only for a few hours, and you two might find that you two have more in common than you think."
We are stuffed under Fluttershy's seat, and no light doesn't help with the discomfort. My chest pushes against the metal bars when I try to breathe, and Opal breathing through her mouth with her disgusting breath isn't helping. She must have eaten tuna, salmon, and mayo without brushing her teeth for a week. I manage to position myself so that I am able to speak.
"Hey fishy breath, mind breathing through your nose?"
She hisses
"Sure, as soon as your bunny butt stops smelling like old cheese."
I growl back at her
"All cheese is old genius."
And we quarrel for a good ten minutes. I spite her with an insult, and she retaliates. The cycle goes on until she finally gives up, but she does so very subtlety.
"Let's just stop arguing. We can barely breathe, and it'll get us nowhere. We are both too stubborn, and too argumentative."
Before I spite her again, I realize that she had just started to breathe through her nose. Maybe she isn't that bad...
