Chapter 25

Heartbreak in the City

Spike nearly jumped over the table and was looking at the same city skyline that I am.

“Spike! If you need to get to the window, please say, ‘excuse me,’ instead of scrambling over the table like an ill-mannered foal!” Rarity exclaims, chiding him.

Spike’s spines droop and he looks at Rarity. “Uhm, sorry about that... I’m just really excited to see the city! After all, I’ve never been here before!”

I gape in wide eyed confusion about all this. Here it is. An Equestrian equivalent of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. I am attempting to process this information but as we pass the towering skyscrapers and quartz-crystal shaped buildings, I am finding myself hard pressed to know where to start.

Alright, it’s obvious to me that I did not expect this. After all, Whinneapolis was made mention only twice! I think. Well the only time I can think of was on a variation of the first comic book to be produced for the show. There was some sign post that had the name on it, and I was like, ‘Oh! Ha! Ha! Funny! I get it!’ But never did I think that this place actually existed.

Rarity points at some of the buildings. “Now, right there is the IDS Tower. That’s where the auction is going to be taking place tonight. Next to it is the Clopella and Wells Cargo Towers.”

'Clopella... tower...’ Oh geez, I swear every brony out there would be throwing themselves into giggling fits right about now. I mentally sigh. “I seriously hope that not every single thing that I know from the, ‘real world,’ has been mirrored and ponified over here.”

I shake my head, it’s just swimming too much in all of this surrealism. After all, if Minneapolis is ponified, maybe even Sunny Grove, the suburb where I was living, has been ponified.

Most likely however, no. I chuckle to myself and really hope that where I was originally from: Spokane and Otis Orchards, Washington don’t have ponified counterparts. That would really fuck with my chi here.

“You don’t say...” I reply distantly at Rarity.

“Oh, we’re coming up the Great River Bridge! This is always a spectacular sight!” Rarity unfolds a small map that she pulled from her saddle bag. As we start to pass over the bridge, Spike covers his mouth and points at a tree that is just at the entrance of this bridge. It’s covered with horse shoes that have been tied together with string. Once we get to the other side of the river, the train makes a sloping curve, however there is strange looking but familiar building. If you were to take a bunch of spheres, some cubes, a few cylinders, and a pyramid or two that were made of stainless steel, them mash them all up into an atheistically pleasing sort of way you would have the -

“The Weismare Art Centre! I have always wanted to go there, but seeing that I only visit Whinneapolis annually, and I rarely have any time for anything else...” Rarity says as the train passes by an assortment of really old looking granite buildings. “You know darling,” Rarity starts, her tone totally changing, “These two cities are only next to Canterlot when it comes to the arts! Why, many theatrical, musical and comedy events take place here all the time! Along with some very prestigious Equestrian artists and songwriters.”

“You don’t say...” I am still being balled by fact that this place exists, and that I’m here to see it.

Rarity coughs and then sighs a bit. “Well, I’m going to freshen up in the fillies room before we arrive at the station.”

“Ok Rarity...” Spike replies as distantly as I do.

The train continued down the line, Spike eyed the strange buildings and then turned to Heartbreak. The look on her face was a mix of different emotions. Mostly shock, worry and disbelief.

“H.B.?” He asked.

“Yeah, Spike?”

“Are you alright? You look a little spooked,” he replied.

“Huh? What? I’m fine! Just... fine..” Heartbreak protested.

There was a solid moment of quiet between the two as the train continued to dip into and past the various streets and landmarks. Just then they passed a park, contained within was a sculpture of a very large bent spoon with a cherry on it. Heartbreak’s face twitched and her eyes followed the large oddity.

“So....” Spike said looking at Heartbreak.

“Yes, Spike?” Heartbreak asked as her eyes looked up at the various skyscrapers.

“When you said that our worlds were similar... I didn’t think you meant this similar!” Spike quipped.

Heartbreak turned and frowned at Spike. “You were looking at my drawings that I told you not to, didn’t you?”

Spike looked at Heartbreak a bit sheepishly. “It was before you told me not to look at them. I saw a few things that... well, are right here! It’s almost like you’re right back in your homeworld, right?”

Heartbreak bit her lip and glared at the surrounding city as the train started to approach the station. “Yeah...” She frowned at the various ponies that she saw on the platform as the train rolled into the station. “Almost.”

“Well, that’s great right?” Spike asked with a bit of excitement to his voice.
Heartbreak pulled herself away from the window and rolled her eyes. “Yeah. Great,” She replied in a low grumble.

“Is something wrong, H.B.?” Spike asked confused.

“No, can you help me with my saddlebags? I’m sure that Rarity will want to get the hotel as quickly as possible,” Heartbreak replied glaring out the window one last time before the train came to a full hissing stop.

As we get off the train, I am greeted by the sound of bustling voices. Coming to a city is always a bit of a weird feeling. You can feel utterly dwarfed by the immense scale of things. The fact that you can’t look up without seeing some massive structure smack dab in your face. Behind me there is a large square granite building that has a blue-green copper topped shingling on it. It’s almost castle-like in its design, what with those pyramid and cone spires placed neatly at the top of it.

Across the street from us, another building that threatens to touch the sky. The monolithic tower looks like a tall concrete, ‘u’ with a glass middle that goes all the way to the top. The large park-like area in front has a circular fountain that is more like a large pond with foaming white jets that push out from the surface of the water here and there. The water falls in a curtain to a circular basin. I can just make out a sign denoting what the building is.

“Whinneapolis Government Center.” Looking to my left, I can see the street intersections of 4th Ave S and S 5th Street. “Glad to see that not everything has been turned into a horrible pony-slash-horse pun...”

Suddenly I feel something tap my shoulder. “Darling, stop gawking. You’re blocking others who want out.” Rarity says tugging on me to move me out of the way.

I jump out of the way of any oncomers and they nod and smile at me. I nod and smile back politely. “It’s just really... big.”

Right, some would think that none of this is new. None of this should be a shock. But despite living in Minnesota near the Twin Cities for over a decade? I barely got out of the house that I was living in. The only times I ever got out was to my game and fur meets. Both events held at rather specific locations. And I was never the one doing the driving. Mainly because I never learned how to drive, and because the thought of driving scared me out of my mind. All those cars getting too close to me on the freeway and the thought of bumping the wheel accidentally resulting in an auto accident?

Yeah, call me a pansy, call me a wuss, but seriously. It was enough to keep me from driving for pretty much all my life. My girlfriend... my last girlfriend had to ask if I was ok when we were driving and another car got too close to us more than once.

“Excuse me, Ma’am!” Suddenly my thoughts are interrupted by a strange smiling face of a teal stallion in a bellhop outfit. Eyeing his name tag I see that his name is... ‘M. Aid’? What the fuck? Seriously?

“M. Aid?” I say backing away from them.

“Magnificent Aid Colver, miss! But everypony calls me, ‘M.’ So, want that I take your saddlebags for you?” I look at my saddlebags hesitantly.

“No... but thank you,” I reply awkwardly.

“Darling, you’re gawking again,” she looks at the bellhop, “I presume that you’re from the Hoofington Inn?”

“Yes, ma’am! You must be Miss Rarity and-” He looks over at Spike and me. “Company?”

“That would be us!” She replies gleefully. “And I would be delighted if you were to take my bags.” Rarity points out the mountain of suitcases stacked and strapped to trolley.

M grins at Rarity. “Packing light today?”

Rarity turns to me and smirks for some reason. As if to hint to the fact that I complained about her over packing. “Just some of the essentials. Shall we get going? I want a little time to spruce up before we get to the party!”

“This motel isn’t too far is it?” I ask as we start to walk. M has saddled himself up with the trolley and seems to be pulling it along just fine.

“Ooh no,” he replies in a rather distinct Minnesota lit. “Are you sure you don’t want me to take your saddlebags, miss?”

“Oh, yeah. I’m sure I don’t want you to,” I reply. Spike sprints forward to catch up with Rarity. I shake my hoof to see if it is sore or not. It isn’t right now, but I can feel an ache starting. “And please, don’t call me, ‘Miss.’”

“Ma’am then?” He asks me as we hit an intersection. Across the street there are little walking signals. Well, I guess I could call them, ‘trotting signals.’ As we get there, the red standing pony figure turns to a white walking pony figure. “And are you sure? I mean this load is nothing compared to what I normally have to pull.”

“Oh yeah, I’m sure. You don’t have to strain yourself on my account. And please don’t call me, ‘Ma’am,’ either. My name is Heartbreak,” Fuck. Did the Minnesota, ‘nice,’ get put in this city too? “Please call me, ‘H.B.’”

“H.B. you say? Are you sure I can’t carry your saddlebags?” He gives me a funny look as we get to the other side of the street. “You know, you almost sound like a native born Whinneapolian!”

“Oh, you don’t say...” I reply rolling my eyes. Fuck, with the way this pony is talking? I’m getting flashbacks from the movie, ‘Fargo.’ “And yes. I am very sure that I don’t want you to carry my saddlebags.” “After all I told you how many times?! Fuck, there is the Minnesota nice and then there is just pushy.” I attempt to catch up to Rarity and Spike.

However, M keeps trotting by my side. “Are you from around this area?”

Heartbreak rolled her eyes and sighed. “Yeah, I’m not from anywhere near here.”

M smiled and pushed forward as they passed various street performers and artists. “Really? Where ya from then?” Heartbreak turned and nearly fought off a snarl. “Oh! Uhm, no need to get hostile now. I’m just making friendly chit-chat. I like hearing about where all stories that all the folk that come here have to tell. Whether they be pony, cow, donkey, mule, gryphon, the occasional open-minded dragon or whatever have you!”

Heartbreak rolled her eyes again and quickly glanced at M’s flank for a moment. She shook her head in confusion. “Uhm...question.”

“Yes?” M asked.

“If you’re a bellhop, why do you have a box and check as your cutie mark?” She asked.

Rarity looked back at the two. “H.B.! Manners!”

“What?” Heartbreak replied, confused.

“You’re going to have to excuse her. She’s foreign,” Rarity explained.

“Oh, it’s quite alright, Miss Rarity. Ya see, while I’m good at pulling stuff around, my real special talent is proofreading and spell checking,” M explained.

Heartbreak looked up and pointed at a sign. “Uhm, is this the Hoofington?”

“Yes, indeedie! Anyway, there are a lot of artists, writers and storytellers here in the Twin Cities, and so a lot of ponies with my talent type come flocking here too. Which would be great and all, but that means that practically anypony who is an artist or writer already has a proofreader. Sooo, right now? I’m kind of in the middle of this job until I can find somepony to help,” M continued as they got to the hotel door. “Here, let me get that for you,” he said attempting to open the door.

Rarity smiled and waited quietly while M strained to pull open the door.

Heartbreak facehoofed and glared at Rarity.

“Whaat?” she asked innocently.

Heartbreak gave Rarity an annoyed stare.“You really expect him to open the door too?” She asked.

Rarity rolled her eyes. “Darling, it’s part of his job. Besides, he’s more than willing to do so,” she replied. M smiled and nodded as he attempted to pull the door open. “Fine, then why don’t you do it, darling?”

Heartbreak sighed. “Shaky hooves, Rarity...Remember?”

Rarity grimaced. “Very well, Spike please open the door.”

Spike smiled pulled the door open. “Your wish is my command, m’lady!”

Finally we get up to our room. I swear, I don’t know what was taking us so long other than copious amounts of pointless chitter-chatter with the bellhop. I undo the belt buckle on my saddlebags and place them gently next to the bed before flopping down on it. As expected, it’s a very nice posh bed that has been neatly made up. The room looks exactly as I expect a hotel to look. Clean, neat and with generic decorations on the walls. There’s even a little mini-fridge and a small nightstand with what I can only assume is a call-button thing for room service. And of course, a chocolate mint on the pillow.

Well, ok, there was a chocolate mint on the pillow.

The chocolate slowly melts away in my mouth and I sigh contently for the moment. “Good fucking gods, I needed that.” It might seem silly to be getting my knickers, or in my current case, ‘overwear,’ in a bunch over all this. But good fucking gods. That, ‘Minnesota Nice,’ that existed in the, ‘real world,’ exists here. It’s the kind of nice where you don’t want to be mean to the other person because they are being nice, but they are insisting on being nice. Like aggressively nice. How many fucking times did I tell him that I was sure that I didn’t want him to carry my saddlebags?!

Spike hops next to me on the bed. “Sooo...”

Crap, he’s wanting to ask questions. “Not right now, Spike. Maybe later.”

“I just wanted to know how you were holding up there, H.B.” He crosses his arms. “No need to get defensive.”

I rub my temples before laying my arm over my eyes. Just something to block out the light. Block out the sun. “Right, yeah... I didn’t mean to...ugh... Forget it. I’ll be fine, Spike. I’m just a bit... tired. I’m going to lay here for a bit, while Rarity is in the bathroom getting ready. Kay?”

“Alright... but you know if you need to talk, your good buddy Spike is here to listen.” He pats my shoulder. The gesture is not unwelcome, but at the same time? I don’t feel like talking. I’m still processing. Still processing the fact that I am in a hotel that has a real world counterpart. “In the meantime? I’m going to polish my scales.”

Ugh, that last little bit totally wrecked what was a touching moment. No! I will not let my brain spoil that! No making jokes or remarks! He just wants to look nice for this stupid party! “Duly noted, Spike.” I lift my arm and give him a smile. “And... I’m glad you still think of us as... well... yeah...”

Spike shakes his head and walks over to the other side of the room where there’s a small dresser and mirror. He gets a fine bristled brush and starts grooming himself. “Anytime, H.B.”

I lay there on the bed for what seems like forever. In the bathroom, I can hear Rarity singing. She’s singing about looking nice for the party and what she plans on doing there. She’s singing about putting her makeup on and what have you. I sigh and zone it out. I just relax and zone out playing other songs in my head. Old songs from the show, songs that were on my YouTube playlist. Anything to keep out what is such a... ugh, ridiculous reason for singing. It’s not like we are cleaning up winter. It’s not like we’re going to the moon and back. It’s not like we’re even going to Canterlot. We’re just going to some party that is happening before an auction. “An auction, that if you’re lucky? You’ll get a house at.” Yeah, sure we will, because houses that are located in Ponyville that are cheap run on the market all the time, brain. “Hey, I said if you were lucky. Just be glad that-”

“Daaaaaarling!” Turning over, I see that Rarity is wearing, and here’s a big shocker, a dress. It’s a simple looking almost causal thing that might look like it has influences from the 1920’s or 30’s. I don’t know. But there is a small string of pearls that flow around her neck. Her mane has been put up and she’s wearing a little more blush than before. I think.

“So, what do you think? Too much?” She asks me.

Spike has gone all googly eyed and is practically drooling over it. “With you, there’s never too much...” he replies in a daze. Rarity blushes and smiles.

“Why are you asking me? I don’t know the first lick about dresses, remember?” I reply scratching at my cheek with my right hoof.

“Darling, I just wanted your opinion, not a full out critique,” she replies pouting a bit.

I roll my eyes. “Did you design it?”

“But of course!” She replies.

I turn my head and look at Rarity again. “Looks like what I would expect of your work, Rarity. You put your time, effort, energy and I am sure magic into making something that is both comfortable to the wearer and visually appealing. Now if you don’t mind, I am going to lay here for a bit and relax a bit more.” I turn my head back to the ceiling and go back to covering my eyes with my arm. Gods, I must be out of shape. That little walk from the train station to this hotel took a little bit out of me. I mean, I’m not sweating, but I’m still a bit tired and-

“Ehem?” I look over at Rarity who is trying to, ‘subtly,’ get my attention.

“Yes?” I ask.

“Aren’t you going to do anything to get ready for the party? A party, that, I might add, starts in fifteen minutes?” She asks me.

I quirk an eyebrow, then sniff myself. “Let’s see here. Don’t stink,” I adjust my hat. “Hat is on head, and I don’t have a wardrobe. Yup! I’m ready.”

Rarity rolled her eyes. “

” “Darling, this might be a casual event, but there are going to be some important names attending this year. So you might want to try and look your best? Even Spike is making an effort in polishing his scales!” Heartbreak’s face twisted and she covered face with her hat. “What? He is!”

“It’s nothing, Rarity,” Heartbreak replied, coughing hard.

“I need to get her to that party! Come on, Rarity. Twilight’s counting on you! Don’t blow this! What can we do to... Oh! Idea! Options! Show her what her options are.” “Oh my, with a cough like that, you sound like you might need to stay here...”

Heartbreak pulled the hat to the side of her face using her ankle. “I have the option of staying here, instead of going to the party?”

“Well of course you do!” Rarity replied, smiling. “Or at least that’s what I want you to think!” “Your options are: come to the party and socialize with some ponies, with one or two of them being a minor annoyance, or stay here in this quiet, lonesome, and isolated hotel room all by yourself!”

Heartbreak chuckled. “Oh you make one of those sound so horrible!” She started with a sarcastic lit. “Whatever shall I do? Woe is me with only two options! Wait. I know what I’ll do.”

Rarity hoped that Heartbreak wasn’t really being sarcastic and would make the right choice. “And that would be?”

“Stay here by my,” She began to overdramatize. “Lonesome self! Go on without me Rarity! The world of social parties and snooty ponies awaits you! No! Go on! I’ll be fine!” Spike adjusted a bowtie that he put on and rolled his eyes, before groaning.

“Darn it! I don’t have time for this! I really need to get her there!” Rarity thought, rubbing her temples. All this worry was causing her mane and tail to come undone! And at this rate? They would be lucky to catch any of the really juicy gossip that happened at these events. Just then, Rarity heard a ray of hope. Heartbreak’s stomach growling at her.

Heartbreak looked down at her stomach. “Seriously? I fed you on the train. Stop it already...”

“Getting hungry, H.B. darling?” Rarity quipped.

“What do you think, Rarity? Ugh, bodies. Always needing to be fed and junk.” She groaned.

“Well, I did make mention that there would be food at this party?” Rarity asked.

“If you didn’t, I think it was implied. But it’s cool. I can just order room service right?” Heartbreak asked.

“Darn it. She acts like she has an answer for everything! Alright Rarity, you can do this. You can get her to this party. It is important that you get her to this party! However-” “You could. That’s one option. After all the Hoofington is well known for it’s room service. Though, it is a rather expensive option. First there is the matter of the paying for the room service, the minibar-”

“I’m sure I can get a simple meal, Rarity,” Heartbreak replied scratching her side. “And I don’t have to worry about the minibar ‘cause I don’t drink alcohol.”

Heartbreak replied rolling her hoof. She peered at Rarity who was giving her a look. “Alright... I don’t drink much. If at all. And the last thing I need right now is alcohol.”

“That’s not what I was implying, darling. What I mean to say is that food here isn’t cheap. While at the party, the food shall be paid for,” Rarity replied. “Then there is the fact that if I let you stay here, then we would have to come back here, most likely early from the party, just so that we can come back and-”

Heartbreak raised a hoof and sighed. “Right. So my options are, stay here alone and have to pay for my own food. Or go with you to a party where, while the food is free, I have to deal with some snooty ponies?”

“Precisely!” Rarity said. “Sweet Princess Celestia! Why is she testing my patience so?!”

There was a quiet from the mare as she lay on the bed, back hooves dangling over the side and hat covering her face. “Fine... let’s get going and get this fetting thing done and over with already,” Heartbreak replied in a neutral manner before pushing herself off the bed. “Is there going to be more walking?”

“Of course not! We’re going to be using the lightrail!” Rarity replied, smiling proudly.

“The… lightrail?” Heartbreak said facehoofing while her eye twitched.

“Yes, the lightrail, Darling. You see it’s the-” Rarity began.

“I know what the lightrail is, Rarity.” She took a deep breath. “Come on then! Let’s just get going already...”