Dear please! Why are you acting this way?

Your mother is right son. You’re being unfair!

I’m being unfair?! Just look at me! I’d think you of all people, Father Sir, would understand being the Navy man you are! You deal with things like this all the time! Don’t you dare call me unfair!

If I had half a mind to hit you I would!

Please do! Hopefully I’d knock that shrapnel lose and into my head and kill me! Not that you’d miss me since ensign Hawk is more of a son to you than me!

Leave the ensign out of this!

Both of you please! Stop this!

You disrespectful brat!

I learned from the best!

***

We walked into the store. It was a Macy’s clothing store. The perfect place to buy new clothes. We walked into the surprisingly empty store.

We drew a few looks from the clerks as we walked in. We walked to the center of the store.

“Well here we are. While this isn’t the place I expected to be this time of week it isn’t all bad. 50000 solar credits and a store to spend it in.”

“What will I need if I’m gonna fit in here?” Spitfire asked.

“Well pants should be simple but shirts could be a problem, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. For now let’s find you some Jeans,” I said, “You do have Jeans in Equestria right?”

“Of course we do.”

“Well then let’s go.”

We walked down the aisles and soon found the woman’s pants. I hated shopping almost as much as I despised being on Earth but it was for Spitfire so I suppose I lost the right to complain the moment I found her in the forest.

“Sweet Celestia, this is a huge load of pants,” Spitfire said.

“Well,” I said, “Have fun. Fitting rooms are thatta way,” I pointed, “If you need me I’ll be in the men’s finding clothes of my own. Oh and don’t worry about price because I can always jack more money from my dad.”

“Are you sure you should be taking money from you parents like that?”

“My mother has enough money to buy a planet and my father is currently on Mars and gets a ridiculously huge Navy paycheck. Plus, I’m only allowed to do stuff like this in an emergency situation like this and I’m pretty sure being stranded just outside Rio classifies as one.”

“If you say so.”

***

By now I’d found some pants, a bunch of shirts, short and long, socks, shoes, and a suitcase to hold it all in. Though Spitfire was still nowhere to be found. I wandered the aisles looking for her when I wandered by a changing room.

“Psst!” whispered a voice.

“Spitfire?”

“Yeah, uh, what was your name again?”

“Jett,” I said, “Now what’d ya need?”

“Jett,” she said, “Sorry about that but can you come in here?”

“Uh, come in where?”

“In here Dummy!”

I looked up at the changing room sign and gulped, “Uh, the changing room?”

“That’s where I am, now get in here! I need your help with something.”

I placed my stuff down and stepped inside. There was a hallway with several open doors leading to the cubicles. One of them had closed door so I headed for that one.

There were several shirts hanging over the door along with… other things. My face instantly flushed at the sight of some of them. Stupid brain, stop being a pervert.

“Good, you’re here. Now how do I put one of these things on?” Spitfire asked.

“Uh, what things?”

“This!” she tossed over a sports bra. I ducked to avoid getting smacked in the face by it and to avoid a socially awkward situation. Scratch that, this was already socially awkward.

“How to I wear one of these?” she asked, “They don’t have holes for my wings.”

“You can’t have your wings out anyway. I don’t know you’re supposed to where one of those. I don’t even have… those parts. Can’t you figure it out?”

“No. I have wings and this thing wasn’t made for people with wings.”

“Can’t you just scrunch them down like you did before? They’re hardly noticeable like that.”

“Yeah, but there’s still the problem of getting this on.”

“Don’t you have bras in Equestria?”

“Yes but there they’re made for people with wings. Not here.”

“Just… Can’t you just…?” Shit. Cat would be on the floor laughing if she could see this. Mom would be hospitalized laughing and Dad would be telling me to go in. Crap, what the hell do I do?

“Just pull it on over your wings. Won’t that work?” I said tossing it back over.

“I guess,” She said, “Here, hold on a second.”

I heard a rustling sound on the other side of the door before it opened. Spitfire managed to the get the undergarment on. It fit surprisingly well on her well-toned body even with her wings.

“This work?” she asked.

“Why are you asking me? I’m not a girl! Is it comfortable?” gosh this was getting awkward. If there was one thing I was taking to my grave it was this.

“Yeah, this actually works pretty well,” She said turning “Does this work for my wings?”

Her large powerful wings managed to shrink themselves down so they fit flat up against her back. No one would notice a thing if she wore a shirt over it.

“Yeah, that will work just fine,” I said, “Now please put a shirt on,” I averted my eyes.

“Don’t like what you see?” she fake pouted.

“What? Uh, no it’s just. No I meant, I mean not like that! Just,” I stuttered. Smooth move jackass. Actually, this is Dad’s fault. If that bastard could see me now he’d be laughing his ass off. I bet he did that on purpose. Fucker.

She laughed, “Oh my gosh! You should see the look on your face! What I wouldn’t give for a camera right now!”

“Uh, I um. Shit,” I whispered, “Fuck, what do I say what do I say?”

“I can hear you!” she giggled.

“Wasn’t asking you!” I said, backing out of the room, “Just please put a shirt on before this gets more awkward than it already is! I swear we’re lucky that this place is mostly empty today.”

She laughed, “Fine. Just don’t be such a downer.”

I walked out of the changing rooms. I swear Dad and Mom did that on purpose! At least Cat still doesn’t know. Shit! Speaking of Cat, she’s probably flipping out right now! How long has it been since we last spoke? The jump! At least she saw me enter the atmosphere safely before I disappeared into the foliage.

Spitfire walked out of the changing room with several pairs of Jeans, shorts, shirts, and a few undergarments.

“So where are we putting all this stuff?” she asked.

I held up and empty suit case.

“Cool. Oh and I found these too!” she placed her stuff down and held up a leather jacket and a pair of mirrored aviators.

She pulled on the jacket and placed the aviators on her head, “Cool huh?”

“I’ll say,” I said, “You pull off the look very well. Almost look like a pilot.”

“Well I am a Wonderbolt.”

“You have planes in Equestria?”

“Yeah, being a pilot is a requirement for joining the Wonderbolts. Why?”

“Again, a long story and again later.”

“Ugh, fine.”

“So you find everything you want?” I asked placing a fedora on my head and pulled out a pair of gold wraparounds.

“Just about. So where are we gonna go next?”

“Now we pay, then we find that cable car and get to Natal and hopefully into orbit.” We started walking towards the registers.

“This is gonna be so cool! I’ve always wanted to see what space was like. The closest any of us ever got was flying high enough to see the curve of the planet but nothing more.”

“I’ll admit it is something,” I said. We got close to the registers, “Let’s go automated. I don’t think half of these people speak Modern English anyway.”

We approached one of the self-checkout lines and began scanning the items. After several minutes of this it was time to pay. I placed a card into the scanner.

The display activated and I scrolled down the list of languages until I found Modern English, the language spoken in nearly all parts of the solar system.

“Good Morning Jett Halsey,” the machine said, “Your total for today comes out to be 10000 solar credits. Would you like to confirm your purchase?”

“Confirm,” I said.

“Thank you for shopping at Macy’s. The receipt has been mailed. Please come again.”

“Like hell,” I said removing the card. We packed everything we weren’t already wearing into our suitcases along with our flight suits. My helmet just barely fit.

“Come on,” I said, “Let’s go.” We walked outside. The weather had changed drastically. The clouds were clearing and the sun was beginning to shine brightly.

“Looks like we’ll need our shades today,” Spitfire said, slipping hers off her head and over her eyes.

“I’ll say,” I said, “Normally it’s cold this time of year but global warming pretty much fucked the environment so I guess anything is expected. Now let’s find a map.”

By now people were beginning to fill up the mall. Looks like we got out of our suits just in time. Now we just looked like normal tourists.

“Hey! Is that it?” Spitfire asked pointing to a large bill board on a corner.

I squinted. Sure enough there was a map on it, “Yeah. I think that’s just what we’re looking for.”

We walked across the street and searched the map.

“Can you even read that?” she asked.

“Not one bit,” I laughed, “But judging from the pics they put on this thing I’d say the cable cars are nearby that observation deck we were on yesterday. Just one block east then five south and one to the west and we’re there!”

“So what are we waiting for?” Spitfire asked, “Let’s go!”

“Feisty one today aren’t we?”

“How do you think I got my name? Spitfire? Duh?” she laughed.

We walked along, blending in with the rest of civilian life. Secretly I was scared out of my mind on how Cat was going to react to this but I guess it’s kind of hard to dispute a girl who has wings. Ok, Problem 1: solved for now; Problem 2, how to stop Cat from killing me when she finally learns I’m alive and well: in progress. I looked at my arm again. Good, not a single sign of injury. Not like last time where I had to wait a week for it to seal itself.

“Hey. Hey Jett!”

“Oh what? Sorry I spaced out,” I said. Wow, Dad, wow. Let me space out but don’t give me the skills to deal with things like… Ah forget it.

“We’re here.”

I looked up. Sure enough we were. We stood before a large hanger like structure that had a series of large cables that emerged from it and ran down the mountain towards Natal. A car was making its way up and into the building. We ran up a railing on the sidewalk that overlooked the city. The cable made its way down the mountain and into one of the tall spires that rested at the edge of the city.

“Well then, wanna hitch a ride?” I asked.

“Is that how we’re gonna get down there?”

“Well there is a train system I think, but that’s boring and runs underground. This offers a grand view of Natal.”

“Can’t fly down there can I?” Spitfire asked though she already knew the answer.

“Sorry,” I said but no.

“You know, I could carry you.”

I cringed at the thought of that, “As much as I would love to let you pick me up off the ground and carry me hundreds of meters above the ground by just your wings alone, we can’t. People would see a winged person and probably freak.”

She sighed, “Couldn’t hurt to ask.”

“Come on. Let’s get our tickets and get down there so you can watch my sister kill me when she learns I’m fine. I’m sure you’ll love to see that.”

We ran into the hanger. It was a large spacious area with a series of four cables, one going down, one coming up, one offloading people, and another preparing for boarding. We quickly got our passes and boarded the car. Inside there were seats along the outside with standing room in the middle. The entire car was a large glass room, allowing the passengers to see through the floor, the ceiling, and all the walls in a 360 degree view.

“This is interesting,” Spitfire said.

“I love the views on these things,” I said taking a seat towards the front of the car. Spitfire selected the seat next to mine and placed her suit case on the floor.

The car dinged and the doors closed. A computerized voice spoke but I didn’t catch a single word it said. Slowly and gently the car began to move out of the station and down the cable towards the city. It began to pick up speed before settling at a comfortably slow pace of about 20 KPH.

“So what is this thing made out of? I’ve never seen glass this strong that can hold the weight of all these people,” Spitfire asked.

“Well I would guess this model is made of reinforced smart glass. Can hold the weight of all of us and still give user friendly service.”

“What’s smart glass?”

“That’d be hard to explain. Hold on a second,” I said and placed my hand on the window. My section’s interface activated. I selected Modern English and tapped a few buttons before an empty window surrounded in a neon blue border was displayed.

“Smart glass is glass like this with a computer inside it,” I said, “You do have computers in Equestria right?”

“Sweet Celestia this is amazing! We do have computers but you put them into windows? And its touchscreen!”

“Here,” I said, “Watch this.” I grabbed the edges of the window and expanded it so Spits could also see it. I placed my fingers in the center and expanded them outward, zooming in the view.

“Check it out,” I smiled, “You can see the city like this. Just move your hand over the window in the direction you want to look and use two hands if you want to zoom in or out.”

Spitfire looked into the window. Her face morphed into and expression of happy amazement as she played with the display, zooming in on buildings, seeing the cars on the streets and even the orbital elevator in detail before the zoom maxed out.

“How did you build this?” she asked.

“Well my world has had an extra few hundred years to build and invent the cities and technology to get the society I live in today. Just think, in a few hundred years you’ll probably have all this stuff in Equestria. Maybe sooner.”

The city was coming closer and soon the skyscraper which the cable ended was coming into view. We could see inside the hanger that housed the cars as passengers from the car before us departed before the car turned and headed back up the cable.

Our car slowed before entering the station before coming to a complete stop entirely.

“You have arrived at your destination,” I said in a mock computer voice.

“Hmm?”

“Old joke.”

We stepped out of the car and onto the platform. For a skyscraper the inside was surprisingly roomy. The station had a large and open floor plan that ended at the center of the building. There were a few trees growing in gardens all over the station. Vendors and stores were open, selling all sorts of things from chewing gum to booze.

“All we need to find now is the exit,” I said.

***

“Well that took longer than expected,” Spitfire said.

“How was I supposed to know that sign led to the Offices?”

“You’ve been here a lot longer than me.”

“Well you have to admit the looks on their faces was priceless,” I laughed.

“What was it that one guy said? ‘Hey você fuckers! Você não está autorizado a ser aqui!’ I don’t even know what he said but it was funny anyway,” Spitfire laughed.

“I can take a guess at what he meant by that,” I smiled.

“Either way he was one angry guy.”

“I’ll say; that coffee cup he threw did a number on that window.”

We had finally reached the lobby of the building. The whole building was open with offices and other rooms all along the outside walls of the structure. The inside center was left open for large hanging gardens vaguely resembling Greek architecture. We walked towards the exit and stepped into the sunlight of the city. All around us was a city alive with activity. Spires raised into the heavens, each one its own tower of Babel.

“So where’s the space port you were talking about?” Spits asked.

“Well if I had an English map I could find out. First off, let’s find a hotel. I have a feeling we’re gonna be here a while.”

“How are we gonna find a hotel if we don’t have a map we can read?”

“Can’t be that hard. In large cities like this there’s a hotel like every other building.”

We started walking. Each sign said something different, in a language neither of us could understand. Finally we came to a sign that seemed to make sense.

Hotel Olympus

“Think it’s a hotel?” I joked.

Fist meet arm, arm meet fist.

“Ow,” I laughed, “What was that for?”

“For making a joke nearly stupider than Soarin’s jokes. And he makes stupid jokes,” Spitfire said.

“Guess you would know,” I said.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” she smiled, pretend bawling her fists.

“Nothing Spits, please don’t hurt me,” I held up my arms in mock terror.

Spitfire lowered her arms, “What did you call me?”

“Spits?”

“Yes. Where did you here that? Only my best friends call me that.”

“Oh,” I said, “Just a nickname I came up with. If you don’t want me to refer to you by that name I won’t.”

Spitfire laughed, “Jeez you need to stop talking in such long sentences. You can call Spits if you want. I think you’ve earned the right.”

I smiled, “As you wish, oh grand master of the flame hair.”

Fist kisses arm.

“Ah,” I laughed.

We walked into the hotel laughing. The lobby was large and spacious with a Greek and Romanesque architecture. Large columns shaped like ancient Greek pillars held up the ceiling though they were probably there for more of an aesthetic purpose.

A lady sat at the front desk.

“Olá, seja bem-vindo ao Hotel Olimpo. Como posso ajudá-lo?”

“Um, English please?”

“Hi, welcome to the Hotel Olympus. How may I help you?” she smiled warmly.

“Hi, I’d like a room for two,” I said.

“Two? Are you sure you wouldn’t like a couples’ suite? We have them for a lower rate than usual.”

Spitfire blushed. Oh god why me? I can see mom giggling, Cat on oxygen, and dad laughing all the way to Mars.

“No a two person suite would be just fine,” I said as calmly as possible.

“Ok, may I please see some identification?”

I placed my card on the desk. The woman scanned the card.

“So this room will be registered to a Jett Halsey?”

“Correct. And I’ll pay when we check out.”

“Excellent. Would you like someone to take your bags to your room?”

“No we’re FINE,” I said. The woman handed us two room keys.

“You room is suite 797 on the 30th floor. Have a nice day,” she smiled warmly.

“You too.”

I grabbed the keys as we left for the elevator. The ride up was awkward. I was eager to get out and breathed a sigh of relief when the doors opened.

“795, 796, ah here we go, 797,” I said, “Here’s your room key, Spits.” I handed her the card.

I slid mine into the door scanner and opened the door. We both gasped as we entered the suit. A large living room sat as the center piece of the suite. In the center was a couch and two arm chairs that sat around a smart glass coffee table. The table faced a fireplace that had a TV sitting just above it. Behind the living room was a full kitchen and sink. Up above the kitchen was a balcony that over looked the living room. The balcony up above contained the bedrooms. The living room led off to another balcony that over looked the city.

“This is amazing!” Spitfire said, “This is even better than the Wonderbolts Manehatten Suite we stay at when we’re in the city! How can you even afford this?”

“Powerful parents. And I’ll admit even I didn’t even know what the hell I was buying when I asked for this. I guess I spent well, however much I’m spending,” I smiled.

“Ooh,” Spits grinned, “A balcony! Think I can have a little fun and stretch my wings?”

“No! If someone sees you, which in this city is a pretty large possibility, I have no idea how I’m gonna explain that. If you need to stretch your wings you can do it here, away from the windows, with the shades down, at night, when no one can see you.”

“Ugh!” Spitfire moaned, “I swear you are worse than our manager when he tells us not to drink when in Las Pegasus! Like that’s gonna happen!”

“Oh this one will be happening, because I can guarantee there will be all sorts of havoc to pay if someone sees you.”

“Like?”

“Well for one, there are a lot of extremist people who would view a winged girl as an angel sent by god, others would want to capture you and see what exactly you were, and from that it just gets worse. So if you need to stretch out just please do it inside away from prying eyes?”

She gave a sheepish smile, “Fine, you win.”

I smiled back, “Thank you.”

“Oh! Didn’t you say you had to call your sister?”

My face fell, “Shit.” I stared at the smart glass table.

“Mind standing by for this?” I asked, “I’m not sure you’re gonna wanna see this.”

“Only until she starts ripping into you,” Spits smiled.

“Oh boy,” I sat at the couch and pulled up the smart glass display. I tapped the communication icon and selected call. I entered in where my sister was from and her name and Ganymede cellphone number. A screen rose from a small pocket in the table so the viewer wouldn’t have to look down at the caller.

“Call,” I commanded. The phone rang, and rang, and rang. Suddenly the screen lit up to reveal a very angry looking woman on the other end holding a smart glass phone.

“Hi Cat,” I said sheepishly.

“WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?!” she yelled.