Coco Pommel always felt smaller whenever she had to traverse the streets of Manehattan. The hurricane of voices gossiping about the latest news coupled with the blaring horns and bells from merchants filled her ears. To anypony unaccustomed to Manehattan, such a cacophony might make them deaf after a few minutes. However, as Coco resided in the bustling city for most of her life, such noises failed to damage her ears.
Nevertheless, as she pressed her weight against a ragged brick wall, she still yearned for an extra bit of quietness. Today was the first day she had to herself in what felt like centuries, after all. She wished to make the most of it, but as Coco gazed at the gray monoliths looming above her, emptiness filled her mind. Shops and complexes lined the streets as bright neon signs flashed like fireflies. It was akin to combining the feelings of a foal at a candy store and an ant making eye contact with a colossus. Coco knew such feelings wouldn't vanish no matter how long she resided in the city.
There was only one extra problem prodding the back of Coco's mind. Manehattan was louder than ever. Ponies of all shapes and sizes squeezed against each other as they trotted over the sidewalks. Coco wondered if she'd be able to budge an inch without bumping into a passerby. Such a cramped environment tightened her chest. Even inhabitants of a bustling city required some breathing space, after all.
And the warm air swirling about the city added to the dread. Some of the portlier ponies to pass by carried a putrid stench with them; the beads of sweat dripping down their brows were a ghastly sight as well. However, Coco counted herself lucky in avoiding sweating. A sticky feeling clinging to her body was one of the last things she needed, but such thoughts were paltry to the growing scene surrounding her.
"What's with all the commotion?" Coco murmured. She turned her head left to right, but all she could muster was a raised brow. "Manehattan isn't this crowded." She rubbed the top of her head, forcing her knowledge of the city to the top of her brain. "Right?"
Unless her mind was playing tricks on her again, Coco knew she was right. Making one's way through Manehattan on hoof was as complicated as dashing through a thick forest with bees swarming about. But brushing shoulders with somepony every other second was unheard of. It was a Saturday afternoon as well, the glowing sun hanging overhead. Such a day and time had almost everypony reclining on their ragged couch or sitting at a restaurant. However, Coco fit into the third category of designing a commissioned dress most of the time.
Coco's stomach purred for a second, a ticklish sensation brewing in her chest. Perhaps the local cafe was where she was destined to visit. Another purring sound reached her ears, Coco licking her lips for the briefest of seconds.
Cafe Carousel is the place to go. Coco smirked as if to congratulate herself. Perfect. Besides, 23rd Street is always quiet, not to mention pretty. It's just how I like it.
Upon taking a short step, Coco's body froze. It was as if her limbs metamorphosed into stone. Surveying the world around her with dilated pupils, Coco then pursed her lips. In a flash, the crowds trudging through the city decreased exponentially. She rubbed her eyes, but the opened up streets before her remained unchanged. Even the sounds filling the air were quieter, though it retained most of its constant loudness. The urban jungle never lost such a feature.
With quickened breaths, Coco resumed trotting down the street. A dryness in her throat occurred whenever such oddities around her cropped up. The mess she found herself in when she worked for Suri Polomare still consumed a small chunk of her mind. Witnessing the destruction Lord Tirek caused during his return was vivid to where it felt like yesterday. Coco was still unsure how she managed to escape with her life and magic intact. She may as well have a four-leaf clover for a cutie mark instead of the floppy hat she bore on her flank.
And then there was the soup incident with Fancy Pants and Hoity Toity, among others. Nopony wanted to revisit it.
Sometimes, Coco thought everypony had a penchant for trotting into the unexpected.
But after trotting a few blocks down the road, nothing out of the ordinary popped up. Coco swished her tail about, expecting some sort of foreign noise or the reveal of somepony she knew. The tingling sensations throughout her body had to be building up to something. Such feelings always did as far as she knew.
And less than a second later, a group of ponies huddled together came into view. A few of them donned blue and yellow uniforms over their whole body, while the others wore uniforms of the same color and design on their chests. Coco recognized those designs as belonging to the Wonderbolts. While the difference in uniforms eluded her mind, she knew about their legacy and some of their exploits.
"Wait, what are they doing here?" Coco asked herself. Leaning against the wall once more, she locked her gaze on the group of pegasi. "There's no way anypony in the group would be her." As Coco uttered these words, an ice-like mane came into view. "Wait, is that her?" Coco nudged an inch toward the group, not making even the slightest of sounds. She then noticed the mare's tan coat, Coco's heart skipping a beat.
"It is her." Coco held her breath for a second. Her eyes twinkled like stars. "Misty Fly."
Just the mere mention of her name resulted in thousands of memories flooding into Coco's mind. Frolicking through the secluded playground of Canterlot Elementary, sharing notes with each other, cheering each other up whenever one or both of them were crying, and much more were all she could think of. Such thoughts raced by in the blink of an eye, Coco biting her lip. Her heart wanted her lips to curl into a bright smile. Maybe she'd even wave at her as she trotted by. Any social interaction would be appreciated.
But her nerves wanted her visage to remain a blank slate. The chance Misty might not even recognize her crossed Coco's mind. Her face turned pale as if all the blood rushed out of it. Despite being young, not encountering Misty for the past ten years resulted in such a possibility. They were mere fillies the last time they saw each other. Coco moved up to Manehattan in order to pursue her career in the fashion industry while Misty stayed in Canterlot as far as she knew. While working with the best in the industry was thrilling—though Suri was anything but one of the best—the lack of having Misty by her side filled a hole in her heart. Missing one's best friend was to be expected, but what Coco also felt for years was pure heartache.
And she knew why soon enough.
Coco didn't just adore Misty, she loved her. And despite how much they interacted with each other, the butterflies in her stomach prevented her from confessing.
Forget my anxiety. Coco puffed her chest out and exhaled. I'm going to talk to her.
"M-Misty Fly, is that you?" Coco asked in a soft tone. She knew the answer was yes, but she had to say something.
"Coco Pommel?" Misty responded. The rest of the group parted ways, Misty trotting up to the front. "Oh my gosh!" She pressed her forehooves against her cheeks. A radiant grin adorned her face. "It is you!" Not wasting a second, Misty glided up toward Coco and wrapped her forelegs around her. Coco was shrouded in a blanket-like warmth, returning Misty's hug a second later. "I'm so glad to see you again!"
"I'm glad, too." Coco's smile widened, her words an understatement. An electric sensation coursed through her veins as she wished to hop and skip all across the city. She even yearned to announce the reunion to anypony nearby, but acting awkward was something she wanted to avoid.
Misty and Coco released each other from their embrace. "How are you, sweetie?" Misty ruffled her wings, her eyes still gleaming.
"I'm, well—" Coco crossed her forelegs for a moment, gently kicking the air "—I'm doing well. I've been improving a lot when it comes to dressmaking."
"Cool! I heard you've been rising through the ranks and have made some snazzy dresses for Equestria's most famous and beloved ponies."
"Maybe I could make something nice for you one day."
With a sheepish grin adorning her face, Misty then rubbed the back of her neck. "That's so sweet and generous of you, Coco."
"Well, a friend of mine helped me learn about generosity." Coco let out a faint chuckle. "I wouldn't be anywhere near where I am now without her advice."
"That's awesome to hear." Misty paused for a second. "Out of curiosity, what's her name?"
"Rarity."
Misty's smile vanished in the blink of an eye and replacing it was a blank stare. Her eyes shimmered. She appeared to be on the verge of tears as her lips waved about, though she stood firm. Five seconds of silence passed, neither Coco nor Misty budging or muttering a peep.
"You'll have to excuse us, Coco," a Wonderbolt said. She donned a dark orange mane and a yellow coat, Coco focusing on her light blue eyes. "Ya see, we kind of have a history with this Rarity. She's—well—think of her like a sign of bad luck for us. Same goes for Rainbow—"
"That's enough, Blaze," Misty interrupted. Taking a deep breath, she straightened her body out and regained her composure. "Sorry, but we don't want to scare Coco. And sorry if I looked hurt by your words, Coco. I don't—I don't have the best relationship with her."
Blaze sighed, shoulders drooped. "Good point." She raised her head and made eye contact with Coco. "Sorry if I scared ya." A nervous snicker left his lips, trailing off soon after. "Anyway, it's best if ya don't mention Rarity too much."
Coco cocked her head. "How come?"
"It's a long story." In the blink of an eye, Blaze's posture perked up. A bright grin decorated her face. "That's what makes our most recent success the best one we've had in ages."
"Was that what the commotion was for?"
"That's correct, sweetie," Misty answered. "You see, we managed to save the lives of two important mares and their four companions." Misty wings opened up a tad. "One of them was none other Pinkie Pie"
"You saved the Pinkie Pie?" Coco's jaw dropped. Her breath was taken away. "That's amazing!" Wiggling her body to release the tension in her body, Coco then stood up straight. "I'll admit, I'm a little envious of all of you right now." The tip of Coco's hoof reached her lips, a giggle departing her mouth soon after. "I wished I could repay her and her friends after they helped me."
"Well, Pinkie is a bit ecstatic," a mare with a wild, white mane added. "She's fun to be around, though a little loud."
"No kidding, Cloudchaser," Misty said. She snickered. "She's funny as well. At least she wasn't like that one stallion with us." Misty rolled her eyes and groaned. "It was like he was testing my patience."
"I wish I could have the confidence and charisma of Pinkie," Coco mentioned. Lowering her head a little, she sighed. "It'd help me a lot, you know."
"Don't feel bad, sweetie." Coco raised her head and gazed into Misty's eyes. "You're just fine the way you are." Tapping her hoof, Misty's eyes lit up two seconds later. Bearing a smile across her face, she took a hoofstep toward Coco. "Say, how about we talk at Cafe Carousel and grab something delicious together?"
Coco flinched, the irony of Misty's suggestion not lost on her. "Um, I was going there myself."
"Perfect!" Misty swiveled to face the rest of the pegasi. "Say, do you want to join us?"
"Nah," Blaze replied. "I'm good. I wanted to check out some of the gift shops around here, to be honest." She rubbed the back of her neck. "I need to decorate my apartment in Cloudsdale. And let me tell everypony, it needs decorating."
"Shall we meet up by the fountain when we're all done?"
Blaze nodded. "Let's."
When Misty and Blaze nodded in unison, the former joined up with Coco Pommel. Knowing the precise route to the cafe, Coco took a sharp right with Misty beside her. Coco gazed back to where Blaze and the others were, the rest of the group continuing straight ahead to their destination. While Coco yearned to get to know the rest of the pegasi more, only hanging out with Misty was for the better. After all, her timidness was already a hard enough barrier to climb. Doing it with four extra ponies would only make it tenser than ever.
All Coco had to do was keep her head held up high and encourage herself. However, there was one problem.
How am I going to confess without sounding awkward?
Coco bit her lip and her muscles tightened. Perhaps there was no way the situation could be tenser.
Coco Pommel and Misty Fly arrived at Cafe Carousel only a few minutes later. A lush garden surrounded much of the cafe, appearing out of place when compared to the surrounding tarmac and concrete. The rippling sounds of a small river running through the garden reached Coco's ears, bringing a smile to her face. Such a sound had to be among the most pleasant in all of Manehattan, though such a title wasn't anything to flaunt. The aroma emitted from the array of colorful flowers tickled her nostrils.
The mere environment the cafe enveloped itself in was impeccable for something romantic as far as Coco was concerned. Her senses at this place coupled with love couldn't have been a better match. Taking a step onto the smooth, stone pathway, Coco made her way up to the cafe's front door.
"You know, this place reminds me of Cafe Canterlot," Misty said out of the blue.
Coco arced an eyebrow, a bemused expression painted on her. "Cafe Canterlot?"
"Oh, right." Misty giggled with a sheepish grin. "Cafe Canterlot was built four years ago, so after you left for Manehattan. I have a lot of memories regarding the place."
"Any standouts?"
"Well, I had to drink some wretched concoction as a challenge for this program I was enrolled in." Misty stuck her tongue out for a moment. It was as though the taste of whatever glanced her lips still remained. "It's a long story."
"I bet."
"Any memory you'd like to share, Coco?" Misty turned to face Coco. "You must have something interesting to share, sweetie."
Coco hung her head low for a moment. Words struggled to escape her throat.
"You don't have to share if it'd make you feel nervous." Misty massaged Coco's back, the former's hoof smoother than silk. Perhaps the tight uniform she donned helped with such a softness. "I understand."
Coco's head perked back up, then made eye contact with Misty. "I'm fine." She knew her words were a lie, though not because she didn't want to share. It was how Misty would respond to the fateful moment which froze her spine. "Anyway, when I was still working with Suri—before I quit due to her rotten attitude—I saw one pony give her a good verbal lashing."
Misty leaned toward Coco. "What happened next?"
"Well, the pony angry at Suri just happened to be Sapphire Shores."
"She's one of the most famous models in all of Equestria!" Misty let out a faint gasp. "She's supposed to be quite gentle as well, so Suri must have done something awful to get her mad."
"Well, the thing was that Sapphire was furious Suri was lying about who made the dresses." Coco blushed. "You see, a lot of designers have a certain sign in each dress they make. The thing was, I made a dress for Sapphire before I joined up with Suri. It was just before she became the famous mare she'd become."
"That must have been intense."
Coco nodded. "It was. For somepony who was still apprenticing with a master, it was tough work."
A warm smile formed across Misty's face. "You must have left an impression."
"I must have. While my dress wasn't the one which propelled her to stardom, it was nice to see she remembered my work." Coco placed a hoof to her chest. "It surprised me as well. Here was this superstar remembering the shy mare who made a dress for her before then."
"Let me tell you, it shows how talented and wonderful you are." Misty gently poked Coco. "Shall we dine?"
"We shall."
Coco and Misty made their way through the front door and into the cafe's interior. Upon stepping inside, Coco was greeted to the pungent scent of coffee beans and treats which just slid out of the oven. Her mouth couldn't help but water as the delicious aromas reached her. If she had the willpower and the ability to do so, she'd devour one of every food and drink item the cafe offered. However, she was rather weight-conscious, so indulging too much was out of the question.
The circular tables were all spaced apart, a bright sheen on each of their faces which could have suited a mirror. Boxes holding napkins and a lit candle in the table's center completed the scene. Coco scanned the perimeter of the cafe once more, noticing most of the tables already occupied.
"Any preferences?" Coco asked.
Misty shook her head. "It's your call, sweetie."
The pair then trotted over to a table to the left and sat down. Coco stretched her forelegs upon taking a seat. While the coldness of the chair's surface left much to be desired, it nevertheless proved to be a snug, comfortable fit. It was as though whoever crafted the chair used Coco's body as inspiration. And if Misty's relaxed posture and crossed legs were anything to go by, she felt the same way.
Coco placed her hooves on the table and gazed into Misty's bright blue eyes. "So then, shall I go up to the counter and get us something?"
"I'll do it," Misty said.
"Oh." Coco paused. "Okay."
"Anything you'd like in particular, sweetie?"
Coco froze in place for a few seconds. There was an itch at the back of her mind wondering if Misty would find her order odd. Such thoughts always emerged whenever she visited a restaurant or cafe with somepony, and she clenched her teeth each time. However, this was Misty Fly she was with. If anypony would respect her, it'd be Misty.
"I'll have a raspberry scone and a cup of cocoa," Coco murmured.
"Oh my gosh!" Misty responded. Her grin widened. "That's what I have as well!"
"Really?" With flushed cheeks, Coco giggled. "That's funny."
"Yeah." Misty let out a soft chuckle and stood upright. "Anyway, I'll be right back."
Coco's head followed Misty as she made her way to the counter, then brought her attention to the table before her. Gazing into her rippled reflection, Coco couldn't help but wonder how Misty would respond to her true feelings. There was no doubt in her mind she'd treat it with as much respect as possible. Misty was always like that. However, what Coco worried about most of all was staring right at her.
Coco feared herself the most.
After all, Misty had the charisma she lacked and dreamed of having. She had the kind and gentle nature which defined her, but a streak of confidence to go along with it. Coco yearned she could be confident just once. She'd call Misty perfect, but something about her dispelled such a claim. The words refused to sprout from her mind, but the feeling persisted nonetheless.
Misty returned with the treats they both ordered, both her and Coco receiving a scone and a cup of cocoa each. Placing the plate and cup on the table, a soft clack ringing in Coco's ears, Misty sat back down and assumed the same seating posture as before.
"Coco," Misty said. "Is there anything you'd like to tell me?" She took a short sip of her cocoa, her eyes still locked onto Coco. "If there's something on your mind, please tell me."
Coco sighed, shoulders drooped. "You probably wouldn't like it," she muttered unconsciously.
Misty placed a hoof to her chest, lips pursed. "W-what's wrong, sweetie?" She exhaled. "Did I do anything to hurt your feelings? I'm so sorry if I did. Can you please forgive me?"
Coco's eyes widened, the answer to why Misty puzzled her clearer than crystal.
She was sensitive like she was. Sure, Misty did a better job of hiding it than she did at times, but such a quality still lingered within her. The crying during rotten days when they were young, the opened wounds when Rarity was brought up, and her frantic apologies during her accidental murmur all added up. All Coco could conclude was one thing.
Misty Fly was perfect. She was just like her and everything she ever wanted in a mare.
"Did you realize something?" Misty asked.
"Misty Fly, you never hurt me," Coco responded. Her lips arced into a grin brighter than the sun. "You're the best pony anypony could ask for."
"Thank you, sweetie." Misty's eyes shimmered. "I feel the same way toward you."
"You're welcome."
Misty took a bite of her scone, as did Coco. The crisp texture combined with the warm raspberries caused her taste buds to squeal in delight. Coco just had to take another bite and, when coupled with the warm and smooth cocoa, the taste only improved from there. She took another bite and sip, her confidence brimming with each one.
Now's the time to confess. It's now or never.
"Misty Fly," Coco said. "I-I do have one thing I want to share regarding us."
"You're more than welcome to share, sweetie."
Coco took a deep breath, trying to release as much internal tension as possible. She knew there was no going back despite the tightness returning after each breath. "Misty Fly, do you—do you love me?"
"Of course I do, sweetie." Misty pressed her hooves together. "You're a wonderful pony."
"I mean, do you love me?" Coco paused. "It's because I love you."
In the blink of an eye, Misty's smile widened. "I've been waiting for this day for a long time, Coco." She took a deep breath. "Do you know why I call you sweetie? It's because I love you, too."
The two leaned closer to each other, both Coco and Misty then wrapping their forelegs around each other. Upon releasing each other from their warm embrace, the pair sat down once more.
"This—this day couldn't have been any better," Coco said. A warmth formed within her heart hot enough to cook an egg. It was the most comforting warmth she ever felt, and one she dreamed of experiencing for years.
Better late than never as far as she was concerned.
"I feel the same way," Misty responded. "I know we'll make a great couple."
And as they finished their meals, the pair then trotted out of the cafe with skips in their steps. While their contact would be somewhat limited, Coco knew she'd be seeing much more of Misty since they knew where to find each other. Making their way toward the meeting point where Blaze and the others would be, a single thought swirled within Coco's mind.
We're going to have a great future, Misty Fly. I know it.
