The rest of the day just seemed to whoosh on by since we heard we were going to Manehatten to support Rarity in the upcoming fashion week. Of course, we all packed and prepared before the next day arrived, all of us managed to meet up in the morning. The Train was due to leave soon, so we had a few minutes to talk before we got on.

"There you are, Rarity! That's the last of your bags." Spike said as he brought out a pile of bags.

"Hehe, that's my Rarity." I said quietly to myself.

"Actually, Spike, I've got one last pile of bags, over there. Won't you be a dear?" Rarity replied as she pointed to another pile.

"Sure...I'll be a dear..."

Rarity turned her attention to us.

"An entire week in the fabulous city of Manehattan! Plus, all of my very best friends there with me!"

"Of course we'd all come along to support you during Fashion Week, Rarity!" Twilight replied.

"Not that you'll need it. We're sure you'll win." Fluttershy added.

Rarity squealed, "I can't begin to tell you how excited I am that you'll all be there with me! However...Perhaps I can show you..."

She then showed eight tickets in front of us.

"What's that?" I asked.

"These are-"

"Ooh, ooh, ooh, I know! A paper fan!" Pinkie answered as she cut Rarity off.

"No, it's-"

"A magic trick! You know, where I pick a card and remember what it is and then you put it back in the deck so you can't look at it and-"

"These are tickets to the hottest musical on Bridleway!"

"You couldn't mean Hinny of the Hills... because that show's been sold out for months! Or could you?!" Twilight asked excitedly

"I could. I do."

"Oh, Rarity, you didn't have to do that, but...since you did..."

"This trip is fun already! I love jumping up and down! Whee-hee!" Pinkie exclaimed.

I didn't know what Hinny of the Hills was, all I knew was that it was one of the musical plays my school in Fillydelphia never did. We then got on board the train and we travelled across to Manehatten. When we arrived, it was a huge city and much bigger than the city of Fillydelphia which was thirty miles from here. Looking around for a moment, it was New York written all over it.

We exited the station with our bags and walked among the streets before we came across a huge hotel building.

"Come along, ponies! I found us a place to stay only a block from the train station in the very heart of this glorious metropolis!" Rarity said as we stood outside.

"Hey, look! That's the theatre where Hinny of the Hills is playin'!" Applejack said, pointing out the dome shaped building.

"Wow, Rarity! How'd you manage to get us seats for tomorrow night?" Twilight asked.

"Oh, I gave some designs to the costume designer, so he pulled a few strings." Rarity replied. "That is what makes Manehattan so splendid and amazing. You do something nice for somepony, and then you never know when they'll do something nice for you!"

"So then you can do something nice for us!" Pinkie said.

"Like get us in to see Hinny of the Hills!" Fluttershy added.

"Which is only the best musical in all of Equestria!" Dash bragged.

"It must be good if Rainbow Dash is impressed. Normally she doesn't even like musicals."

"I know. Ponies just bursting into song in random places at the drop of a hat? Who does that?"

Just then, I heard music beginning to play right on cue...oh the irony when Rarity began to sing.

Oh, Manehattan, what you do to me

Such a huge bustling community

And there's always opportunity

To do the friendly thing

If some are grouchy, pay no mind

Surprise instead with something kind

Lo and behold, you may just find

A smile is what you bring

We walked into the hotel and approached the reception.

"Welcome to the Mane Fair Hotel! Please allow me to take those bags to your room for you!" the hotel worker greeted with a huge bag carrier stand.

"Only if you'll accept this gratuity first." Rarity replied as she gave a gem to the stallion.

"Oh-ho-ho! I'll get your change!"

"Do keep it all. I insist!"

When he took our bags, Rarity got back to singing as we boarded on a cruise ship.

Generosity, I'm here to show all that I can give

Generosity, I'm here to set the bar

Just sit back and watch how I live

We were then at the big pony shaped statue of liberty I guess and me and Rarity were looking through the scope together and sharing a quick moment of love before we all left the statue and moved on back to around the streets Manehatten had to offer.

Some may say, "Rarity,

Don't be so big-hearted and bold

Treating strangers like they're friends

This town's too big and cold"

But this is how I play my cards

I'm not about to fold

Where I see a frown, I go to town

Call me the smile patrol

The others began to join in.

Oh, Manehattan, what you do to us

What if you find a Gloomy Gus?

It's no intimidatin' thing

Just be kind without a fuss

Generosity, I'm here to show all that I can do

Generosity, you are the key

Manehattan, I'm here just for you

Just for you

Rarity sung the last part and the song finished with us outside a fashion store.

"I guess that proves your point, Dash?" I asked.

"Yeah, more than enough." she replied.

Rarity sighed as she looked at the dress on display.

"To think my dresses could soon be displayed on the most glamorous shopping thoroughfare of the most glamorous city in Equestria! Oh, it would be my dream come true!" she said.

"Is there anything left to do we can help you with?" Twilight asked.

"Hm, nothing I can think of. The dresses are all completely finished, all made from a fabulous new fabric I've been developing for months. Stretchy, but not clingy. Shimmery, but not showy."

"Sounds amazing." Fluttershy commented.

"There's nothing left for me to do but check in at the runway with my dresses by two this afternoon."

"Oh, that's funny. Because that clock over there makes it seem like that's only ten minutes from now!" Pinkie said as she pointed to the huge clock.

Rarity gasped.

"Oh, my ribbons and threads. And the runway ballroom is all the way across town! If I don't get there, I'm disqualified! Taaaaxiii!"

A taxi then showed up instantly.

"So now which of you nice folks are hoppin' in?" the taxi driver asked.

"Fashion runway plaza in seven minutes. Can you make it?"

"Hang on!"

Soon the taxi driver and Rarity were out of sight on the way to the plaza.

"Whew, that was close." Spike commented.

We all nodded in agreement.

"Anypony else got a sneaking suspicion we're forgetting something?" I pondered.

"The dresses!" They all replied in unison.

"Quick everypony, let's get back to the hotel and get her dresses sent to the plaza." Twilight suggested.

There was no point in talking about it, we galloped all the way back to the hotel and into our room where the dresses on the dress rack were there. All of us were able to get the same hotel employee to run over and sent them to Rarity. We all breathed a sigh of relief as that was a close one.

Sometime later, it was the afternoon and we were all back at the hotel and walking into our hotel room, feeling happy about what we saw and did in the city. Except for Rarity who I noticed had just turned up to re join us and she didn't look happy.

"Oh, my gosh, what a great afternoon! That was almost too much fun!" Twilight exclaimed.

"Better pace yourself, 'cause the rest of the day is jam-packed!" Dash said.

"First there's the salon appointment to get our manes done." Applejack added. "Well, apart from you, Bond."

"Then our fancy dinner at the Far-Afield Tavern!" Pinkie added.

"And after that..." Fluttershy said

"Hinny of the Hills!" we all said in unison apart from Spike who was carrying bags of souvenirs, before we saw Rarity who began to look more upset.

"Is... everything okay?" Dash asked gently.

"You got the dresses the bellhop brought you and everything, right?" Pinkie asked as well.

Rarity didn't reply, she walked forward to her own bed and fell backwards before she bawled her eyes out.

"But he said he brought them." I said whilst somewhat depressed as seeing Rarity cry broke my heart.

"And then Suri stole them!" she cried whilst trying to catch her breath fast as if she was having a panic attack, "I let one of the other contestants use some of my one-of-a-kind fabric and then she turned it into a wardrobe just like mine, only now it looks like I'm the one copying her! My generosity has ruined me, I tell you! Ruined!"

"Now, Rarity, whatever went wrong, we're all here to help you get through it, no matter what it takes." Twilight stated.

We all agreed right away.

"Come on, Rarity, buck up! All we need is some fabric and you'll be back in business!" Applejack encouraged.

Rarity stopped crying and looked around the whole hotel room, looking for ideas until she found one in her head and gasped.

"This new line is going to be marvellous! Perhaps even better than the last! It's daring, it's bold! Perhaps I still have a chance after all!" she said with determination.

Sometime later, we all began to work on Rarity's new dress designs and it took a long while with all of us working on the sewing machines.

"Twilight! Sew these pieces together according to that pattern there!" Rarity ordered.

"You said if we skipped dinner at the Far-Afield Tavern, you'd order a meal for us while we keep working." Twilight moaned.

"Don't fret. It'll be here in an hour. That's not going to be a problem, is it?"

"Well, we're supposed to be watching Hinny of the Hills by then..." Dash replied before she was interrupted.

"Oh! I see! I go out of my way to get you tickets for a show, and this is how you repay me? By abandoning me in my hour of need?"

The other mares looked down whilst I stood back a little, thinking this was going to get ugly.

"Oh, oh, oh! Fine! Go and see Hinny of the Hills tonight! And then tomorrow morning when you come to see my fashion show without any fashion to show, you can have more entertainment! "Oh, why look, there's our friend Rarity going down in flames! Isn't friendship magic?!"!

"Rarity, calm down. What's gotten into you?" Twilight asked firmly.

"What's gotten into you?! Oh, go ahead! See your little show! Congratu-pony-lations, fillies! Sounds like you've all figured out already it's everypony for herself in this town!"

She then slammed the door, leaving us shocked and feeling sad...I couldn't sit here, I had to do something.

"I'll go and talk to her, don't worry about me." I told them, "If you get tired, I'll come back and finish the work for you all."

"Alright sugarcube, thanks." Applejack said.

I then left the room and began looking for Rarity who stood outside and I looked above to see clouds forming, I guess it was about to rain. Oh no, there's no way I'm gonna let a rainfall drop on Rarity and ruin her mane, she's been through enough. I then galloped outside the building and used my magic to create a big umbrella, similar to the one I made for when Twilight was trying to eat her lunch a few years back. I made it big enough to cover Rarity who looked up to see the umbrella.

"Rarity, do you wanna come take a walk with me?" I offered, "It'll help get it off your chest."

She looked back at me with tears in her eyes as I stood beside her. She sniffed but she nodded as if to say yes. So we held hooves and I brought the umbrella and had it covered both of us as we walked through the streets. Good thing we had our shoes on and a few times I got wet around my mane, but I didn't care. We then came across a huge park and went there and sat on a bench I made dry with my magic. We then hugged closely as it was just the two of us in the park, nopony else was around.

"I'm sorry for yelling at you and the others darling." she apologized, "I was just angry and upset at what happened to me earlier."

"My love, it's not your fault..." I replied before I kissed her, "...I guess Manehatten isn't exactly as perfect as some believe it to be."

"That Suri Polomare ruined me and my fashion dreams, although I wasn't too sure if her assistant was thinking the same way."

"An assistant, you mean she has somepony working for her?"

"Yes dear, her name is Coco Pommel and Suri likes to boss her around by fetching her coffee and all."

"I guess Suri is one of those mares who will do anything to become famous...she must be extremely shallow and lazy."

Rarity began to sing as she looked up at the rainy sky.

Oh, Manehattan, what have I done?

The thought of Fashion Week was fun

But I went way too far

My friends gave to me in ways so kind

And I gave them nothing but a hard time

And now alone I stand

And now alone I stand

"Rarity, don't say any of that." I said, "You're not alone, I love you and I always will!"

"You're right darling...thank you...I love you too."

We then smiled once more before we kissed passionately.

"Let's say we go back to the hotel and have a group hug."

"Quite right...I hope they do forgive me for my outburst"

"I'm sure they will once I tell them."

We then pulled out of the hug and walked all the way back to the hotel and into our room where we saw a set of dresses already finished.

"There. That's the last of them." Twilight said.

"Girls..." Rarity said as she walked into the room with me, "...I'm really sorry for my outburst. I completely forgot about what's truly important to all of us."

"Oh it's alright sugarcube and look, we've got all the dresses done for you." Applejack pointed.

"Thanks."

She then placed the newly designed dress on a rack and walked out with it.

"I'll be back after the fashion show, I hope you can still come."

"Of course we will." Fluttershy assured.

"We wouldn't miss it for the world." Twilight added.

Soon, we all left the hotel and made our way to the plaza for the fashion show. We took our seats whilst Rarity had to go backstage to get her dress showcase prepared. When it started, we were waiting for Rarity's dresses to show up...until it arrived.

"And now, Rarity from Ponyville with her brand new line – and I mean "brand new" – Hotel Chic." the mare on stage announced.

The ponies all whooed and took photos and they were amazing I had to say.

When the fashion show was over, we were waiting for Rarity outside the plaza. When she arrived, she came out with a silver trophy. Looks like she took second instead of winning the comeptition.

"Well my dears, it's not a win, but I'm happy with the designs you all made for me." Rarity said with a smile before she lost her smile, "I'm also happy you're all still here after how I treated you. Taking advantage of your friendship the way I did. How could you ever see past it?"

"Yeah, you were pretty rotten." Applejack said bluntly.

"Wow, Applejack." Dash exclaimed, "I know your thing is honesty, but come on!"

"Earlier today, we may not have seen you at your best, but we know you. And we would never let one thing like that change how we feel about you." Twilight said.

"And also how much we care for you." I added.

"Oh, thank you! You really are the most wonderful friends a pony could have!" Rarity replied smiling again, "You know, I already arranged to make it up to you this evening! Hope you're all available for an exclusive performance of Hinny of the Hills!"

We all cheered before sharing a group hug and leaving the plaza. After we had a group dinner at the restaurant not far from the hotel, we made our way to the theatre which was empty, but then the performance of Hinny Of The Hills began and when it was over, we all cheered and it was the first time I saw the play and I really enjoyed it.

"Wow! That was even better than ah imagined!" Applejack exclaimed.

"I loved it!" Dash added, "Uh, I mean, it was a'ight.

"How did you ever get them to agree to do an extra performance just for us?" Twilight asked.

"Remember my costume designer friend who got me the tickets? Well, I offered to make all the costumes for his next show!" Rarity replied.

"Um, here in Manehattan?" Fluttershy asked.

"Well, um...yes...it will keep me away from Ponyville for a while."

We all sighed.

"But I so wanted you to see this show! And working for this designer is such a great opportunity!"

"We know. We're happy for you, Rarity. We're just sad for us." Applejack replied sadly.

We then heard a door open from behind us.

"Mind if I join you?" a mare asked.

"Sure. Come on down."

She was a beige mare with cyan mane, that must be Coco Pommel Rarity talked about, she had bags on her and she used her teeth to grab something out, it was a gold trophy and she gave it to Rarity.

"This is the first place trophy for Fashion Week. With my name on it! But I thought I lost!"

"You didn't. You won." Coco replied, "Suri was caught for doing a backstage deal with another contestant in order to improve her chances of winning. So, she was disqualified from the comeptition and after you left, I decided to give the trophy over to you. I've worked for Suri for so long, I started to believe that it really is everypony for herself in this town. Until I saw how generous you were with your friends and how generous they were with you. It made me start believing there was something better for me out there. So, I...I quit. I brought you something to say thank you."

She then pulled out a small gift box and gave it to Rarity.

"Hm. I suppose you'll need a job now that you're no longer with Suri."

Coco nodded.

"How would you like to work for my friend making all the costumes for his next show?"

"I would love to do that, but I would need something more than that if I want to make a living."

"Well I have something better." I intervened, "Why don't you come with us and move to Ponyville, you could work for Carousel Boutique."

"Oooh, that would be a real pleasure and plus, I would be able to learn more from you and your friends." Coco replied.

"You know what Bond, you're right." Rarity said.

Afterwards, we all introduced ourselves to Coco and got to know her well, on first impressions, she seemed a bit shy but she became confident after we talked to her. When it was the last day in Manehatten, we all got on the train with Coco and travelled all the way back to Ponyville. When we arrived back by mid afternoon, we showed Coco what Ponyville was like and she was somewhat fascinated.

"Wow...it's very different and everypony seems really friendly." she commented.

"There'll be more of that to come when you settle here." Rarity replied.

"Just come with me to see the Mayor and I'll make sure you have a home here." Twilight said.

"Alright, thank you." Coco replied as she walked with Twilight to the Town Hall.

"Well once again, I can't thank you all enough for being with me at Manehatten, rest assured we'll do this again soon...goodbye my darlings." Rarity said smiling as she trotted along home with Spike who carried her luggage with him.

The rest of us exchanged our farewells before heading to our homes. I got to mine and the first thing I wanted was an apple drink and a quick snack. As I sat on my sofa, I looked back at the few days behind me. Manehatten seemed quite amazing at first, before the bad sides of it showed up. I'm glad Suri got what was coming to her, she hurt my poor Rarity and her generosity.

Well, it all turned out really great in the end with Coco now living in Ponyville as Rarity's employee but I did wonder over one more thing...what was inside that small gift box Coco gave to Rarity, could it be something important or just a gift? Next Chapter: Following The Favours Estimated time remaining: 10 Hours, 46 Minutes