Author's Note

Special thanks to BIo for helping me with this chapter and Quartz for writing Zecora's rhymes last chapter

Chapter 41 Manehattan

It has been three weeks have passed since I have recruited Trixie into my group and we entered the city of Manehattan via train. As we exited the station I called for a cab. “Where to sir?” the cab driver asked.

“What's the closest hotel the the marina?” I asked

“Why that’s the Marina inn but you don’t want to go there.” The cab driver said

“And why not?” Gilda asked.

“There's been a lot of... misfortune occurring around the Marina Inn. Things happen and suddenly somebody goes missing. You'd do well not to get involved in things around here." the cab driver said

“Then why suggest it?” Trixie asked.

“Well you asked, anyway I could always take you to the The Hooftin hotel it's a twenty minute carriage ride to the marina.” the Carriage driver said

“No take us to the Marina Inn.” I said.

“Your funeral.” he said as we drove to the inn.

As we checked into the Inn I gave the three women there key’s to there rooms “Trixie you and Zecora have room 101 and Gilda and I have room 102.” I said before handing Trixie a bag of munny “Here.” I said as Zecora and Trixie looked in the bag.

“Is...is this all Platinum bits?” Trixie asked “There are like a few hundred in here...I could easily retire and live a comfortable life with this.” she said as I gave her a look “Not that I would steal your money I was just saying that I could.” she said before giving a nervous giggle. I simply took Gilda and walked away.

“So this room has two beds right?” She asked as we arrived at the room.

“Yes it has two bed I wouldn't ask for a shared room if it didn’t.” I said sternly as I placed my bag down on to the bed I claimed. “Hurry the pawn shop closes in an hour.” I said.

“Fine, just let me use the can first.” She barked back before walking into the bathroom as I walked outside and waited.

“You almost done in there?” I asked.

My response was the door almost hitting my face as she swung it open. “Let's get going.” She said.

“Finally” I said under my breath as we exited the Building I started floating “You coming or those wings just for show?” I asked

She flew up to me, elbowing my side as she passed me. “It closes in an hour, let's hurry up.”

As we landed in front of the pawn shop we entered the building and met the clerk working the cashier. “Yeah a few months ago she sold her armor and I’d like to buy it back.” I said pulling out a bag of munny.

“Oh alright then let me check in the back for the armor.” The clerk cashier. He left to the back so we kinda looked around till he came back. “Alright the armor is going to be three thousand bits.” he said I pulled out some munny out of the bag.

“Will this be enough?” I asked.

“Yes it will thank you.” the clerk said as he handed us the surprisingly light bag.

“Wait is this leather armor I thought it was going to be Iron or something?” I said as we were about to leave this incredibly snooty man came in with this little brat.

“Hello I would like to buy that grifionian Warden armor you had on display.” the man said as we were almost out of the door.

“I’m sorry but that man just bought it.” the clerk said as I cursed to myself.

“But daddy I want the armor to impress those peasants at school.” the brat said.

“Sorry you’ve gotta be quicker.” i said trying to leave the store.

“Alright how about this I’ll pay double for it.” he offered.

“Sorry no.” I said.

“Look kid, with the money your dad has you can get one made.” She replied.

“BUT I DON'T WANT ONE MADE I WANT THAT ONE!” the Brat screamed.

“Awh hell.” Gilda grumbled. “Go shove your heads up your asses.” Gilda said as she took her armor and stormed out of the store.

“Well see you.” I said following her as I could hear the little brat scream as we ran. As I caught up to Gilda I said “You know it makes us look like the bad guys right?”

“So, you already act like one half the time.”

“True.” i replied “but this makes us look more petty.” I said

“From how you act, I probably saved the two a trip to the hospital.”

“Anyway let's head back to the hotel.” I said.

“Yeah, gotta put this stuff back on. Make sure the leather didn't shrink.”

As this was going on Trixie and Zecora where on the other side of town. “So what do you want to spend it on?” Trixie asked looking at the bag. There must have been at least a few hundred bits in there.

“Never been to big cities. What's there to see?” Zecora asked. “And if I rhyme from time to time, sorry, habit.”

“Well there is the big stores and the theater district, but right now We should at least buy some additional clothing you look like you could use it.” Trixie said

Zecora looked at her dress. “This dress is traditional Zebrican shaman garb. It's blasphemy to brew potions without it.”

“Yes but people think you're an exotic dancer and that's not a good thing, trust me i’ve been mistaken for a hooker from time to time too it's not a good thing.” Trixie said as Zecora looked at herself again. “Doesn't mean you can’t keep it it's just you might want something else to wear.”

“I’ve worn this and similar dresses almost my whole life...how do I know what I’ll like?”

“Well we might try some armor I mean we are in front of Equestria’s biggest adventurer shop.” Trixie pointed out.

“True. Not like we don't have the money. Hang on.” Zecora grabbed her sack of belonging and searched through them, pulling out a small box. She opened it and inside was a raw gold ore.

“Why do you have that?” Trixie asked.

“Promise not to tell but...I made it...when I was young I mixed potions of changing and others I dropped in and me thinking I failed was going to dump it… Only for it to turn the ground solid gold. Still have the recipe for it but I try not to use it. This is what I have left after moving to Equestria.”

“Well I’ll keep your secret but you have to tell master Huxley about it, If he finds out...well I don’t know what he will do but I don’t want to think about it.” Trixie said.

“He is hard, but I can tell life has been harder on him than he is to us. Whatever it was scars him deeply.” Zecora said as the two left the room and walked the street.

“I never thought about it.”Trixie said as they entered the Adventurers shop.

“Hello welcome to the largest adventures shop in all of equestria if not the world.” the clerk lady said.

“Yes we need to buy armor for me and my friend something lightweight.” Trixie said

“Oh well we have a selection of lightweight armor’s in the back of the store next to the mage’s tomes.” the clerk said as we walked there.

The armor we found varied in style and type. They had modern, old school, and all made from varying materials. I picked a swat outfit, fashioned to look like royal guard armor but came in my color of blue, and Zecora got some hardened leather vest and pants. “I feel uncomfortable.” Zecora said.

“Cheer up you will get use to the feel, or did you mean something else?” Trixie asked.

“Half and half. I’m a shaman, a healer of body, soul, mind, heart… I feel like I’m betraying my family by fighting.”

“I’ve heard of shamans that fight, thoe this was in a book and they fought with spirits so i’m not sure how accurate it is.” Trixie said.

“That's a different type of shaman. I heal, warrior shamans fight with magic, but are born into that family.”

“I’m sure Huxley has taught you some kind of healing spell, right?” Trixie asked.

“Not yet.”

“Well i’m sure he will if you ask.”

Once our armor was paid for we walked around the streets some more just to sightsee. We saw some casinos, a few bars, a nightclub, a...protest in the streets?

Dozens of people with signs reading ‘Down with Barker’ were chanting. “This is...unexpected.” Zecora commented.

“I think we should leave quickly I’ve heard about protests like these when they get violent not even the passers by are safe from the guards.” Trixie said. We left and kept walking, finding little else til Zecora dragged Trixie into a...morbid looking shope of odds and ends. “Why did you bring me here?”

“This place has items from my homeland.” Zecora said with a smile, browsing through the creepy items. “Dried mouse heads, roach cream, goat tail, mana paper.” She listed off what she saw.

“Oh i’ve heard about these places I’ve always wanted to visit one, I heard they have amulets that can boost your magic output so that you can cast greater spells without the drain.” Trixie said looking around “but maybe not this place.”

“Anything I can get you ladies?” An elderly man dressed in a white suit, white hair and holding a cane. “Anything at all?”

“Do you sell anything involving warrior shamans?” Zecora asked.

“Yes, in the clutter in the back. What about you my silver haired showgirl, anything you wish to ask?”

“Not really I’m just here browsing with my friend.” Trixie asked.

“Still. Feel free to ask.” He said as he went into the back and came back with a large wooden box. He opened it and it held three old books and a few amulet looking items. “All you'll need is here.”

“Thank you.” Zecora said.

“Oh, and give this to Huxley.” The old man said, handing a scroll over to Trixie.

She took it. “Okay, hey wai-” Before she could finish, Trixie and Zecora were somehow outside their hotel door. “What just happened?” Trixie asked.

“...I have a feeling master has friends in high places...or enemies.” Zecora replied.

“Actually I have both” I replied walking to Zecora.

“Oh. Well they said to give you this.” Trixie said, handing me the scroll.

“Thank you.” I said taking a quick look at it. “I’ll study this on the boat ride to the griffon lands.” I said putting the scroll away somewhere.

“So...mind telling us who the white haired old man was master?” Trixie asked.

“An old friend and that's all you’ll get, now i believe it's dinner time and i heard of a good restaurant near here so let's put the stuff away and eat.” I said walking to my room to put some stuff away.

We went to the restaurant and ate fast. Food was food and the bill wasn't too bad surprisingly. We went home where Zecora was messing with her box and I took a look at the scroll.

“Let's see here.” I said, opening the scroll. It was full of symbols that I haven't seen before, and with how long I’ve technically lived that's saying something. “What are you?” I asked looking at the symbols on the scroll. But after a few minutes of trying to figure out what they were I decided to put the scroll away “Maybe i’m not ment to figure it now... he has always been mysterious.” I said remembering a fun time as I chuckled.

“Master?” somebody said knocking on my door.

“Yes?” I said putting the container for the scroll on the desk.

“It's Zecora. I wanted to talk.” Zecora said from behind the door.

I unlocked the door and opened it “Come in.” I said.

She came in, holding a raw gold ingot. “I uh, came to show you this.”

“Thats a nice piece of gold, where did you get it?” I asked

“I uh...made it...long time ago…”

“Alright then why are you telling me this?” I asked.

“Trixie said it would be best...I still have the recipe. Of it wasn't for the gold I made that day I would never have been able to afford the move to Equestria. We just wondered what you think I should do with this and the recipe.”

“Is making gold illegal? I’m not from these lands so I only have a base set for the laws.”

“Yes. Extremely. In my homelands you are punished by having your thumbs cut off and tongue sliced out, and here in Equestria it's life in prison.”

“Get rid of it and burn the recipe I don’t want you to be imprisoned because of what I hope was an accident. And I don’t need my reputation ruined because of taking on an apprentice that has broken a major law.” I said in a harsh tone.

“Yes master!” She said with slight fear. “I’ll burn the recipe and throw the gold in the ocean.” Zecora ran out, last thing I heard before closing the door was her yelling the fire spell and her glider flying off.

I put a hand on my head, was it the right call?, I asked myself...no if my plans get ruined because of one misjudged call I can call this whole planed ruined and that would ruin 500 years of work from both me and god. I had to have made the right call...wait did I hear a glider go off I didn’t teach them that yet. “Trixie?” I asked as she came out of the bathroom.

“Yes master?” she asked as I looked at her.

“One what are you wearing? And Two did you three figure out how to use gliders?”

“First, I normally sleep naked so I figured you'd not wanna see that…yet~” Trixie said, her tone...reminding me of...Lyra… “And second what is a glider?”

“Okay you're not sleeping in this room so put some clothes on.” I said as I walked out of the room looking for Gilda maybe she knew if Zecora figured out the glider...not that it was a hard thing to do I literally figured it out by throwing the thing and hoping something would happen. As I looked around I found Gilda by the bar “Gilda there you are.”

“Sup teach!” She cheered, downing a pint.

“I heard Zecora using something i didn’t teach did you figure out how to use the gliders?” I asked.

“Is that something like a bike or motorcycle our Keyblades turn into?” She asked.

“Kinda it depends on the user.” I said

“Yeah, she made that happen before we left Ponyville. Was messing around with spells then that happened. I was partly drunk so I brushed it off.”

“Alright then.” I said before walking away “so Zecora know how to use the glider.” I said before smiling “She’s more clever then I thought.”

An hour later the sun set and Zecora was walking back through the marina looking for the Hotel “Come on I knew it was around here.” She said.

“Well well look what we got here boys.” a voice said from behind her.

Zecora turned around to see ten men wielding various sorts of weapons from pipes to knives “I wouldn't do that if i were you” Zecora said summoning her keyblade.

“Oh look a magic wielder you must be here for the bounty on our boss's head.” the grunt said before rushing at Zecora.

She dodged easy, elbowing the man's back which sent him flying across the street. She cast freeze at the group, three were frozen solid as the others backed away.”Ugh This is one hard dame call in Brutus.” The head thug said as a large man stepped out of the shadows.

“I am Brutus I will crush you.” He said.

“Great.” Zecora said as a familiar voice came from behind her.

“Hotel a few blocks that way zecora I can handle these guys” Huxley said as Zecora ran off.

“Good call she won't see you crushed by me.”

“Yeah tell yourself that and maybe with a few thousand years of training it might actually be true.” I said as he tried to slam his fist at me, which i caught and gave a little squeeze and caused him to scream in pain. “What we learn never mess with a Keyblade master” I said as I tossed him aside, “Now where is your boss?” I asked as they all ran away. “Oh well problem for another day.” I said as I grabbed the brute and put him over my shoulder.