I had this idea after I discussed with a friend about what kind of pony is the best. She said pegasus and I said unicorn. Not long after that, this was born. It'll be a smaller fic compared to my other ones, probably with five chapters or so. This will be a small distraction between my studies and writing my bigger and more complex fanfics.
- Are we there yet? - Rainbow asked.
- The answer is the same of the last five hundred times yah asked, Rainbow: No! - Applejack answered, looking annoyed through the window of the train.
- Darlings, please. We'll be there soon. And the waiting will totally be worth it! Who wouldn't like to go on a cruise? Oh, this will be so fabulous! - Rarity said, smiling widely as she hugged her pillow, dreamy.
- Ugh. Why did I agree to come in first place?
- Because the Wonderbolts' show you were supposed to go this weekend got cancelled, 'member?
- I did invite Twilight, Fluttershy and even Pinkie first, darling. But Twilight had to go to a royal meeting in Canterlot, Pinkie had some parties to plan and Fluttershy had promissed to take care of some animals. I know you two are not into these things, girls, but I couldn't just waste the tickets Sapphire Shores gave me for designing her lastest dress! Come on, this will be fun! A whole weekend to relax and worry about nothing at all.
- Sorry, Rarity. It's just that it feels weird not to be apple buckin'.
- Applejack, when was the last time you took a break from those apples?
- Hum, never.
- See? This will be a good thing for you, darling!
Rainbow was banging her head against the window sill, tired of traveling. She opened her wings.
- I need to exercise these babies! I haven't flied for hours!
- Rainbow, stop being so demanding. It's not like you were going to die for lack of flying.
- Hey! I need to fly! I hate to stay grounded, and this wagon is too small! If we don't get there soon, I will get sick. - She said, covering her face with her hooves and pretending to faint.
- Geez, what a drama queen.
Applejack and Rainbow looked at Rarity and raised their eyebrows. The white unicorn giggled and cleaned her throat.
- I don't want to complain, but I also need to stretch my hooves soon. Not really used to stay still so long.
- Please, girls, one can totally stay still for hours. Mainly when one is getting a hoofcure. - She then looked at her hoof - I need one, by the way. It will be the first thing I do when we get there. Also, I don't know why you two are complaining so much. We've gone to Manehattan by train before!
- Yes, but it never took this long!
- That's because we're going to the seaport now. We're going to a cruise, remember?
- Yeah, yah wouldn't let us forget that, Rarity. - Applejack said - Yah're really excited about it, hum?
- Of course I am! Can you imagine how many important ponies will be there? I may even get to show some of my designs!
That being said, she used her magic to levitate a lot of plastic bags that were laying on the corner of the wagon and brought them closer to her. She then took a lot of pieces of paper with her drawings, leviating them around.
- Which one should I show first? I really like this one! But that one is also very elegant. Do you think...
- This is so boring! - Rainbow said, slamming her back against the wall and sliding to the ground.
- Rainbow, dear, fashion is never boring!
The pegasus used her hoof to move away one piece of paper that was floating in front of her. She was able to look at Rarity without it covering her eyes.
- Why did you bring all these for? You don't even know if you'll get to meet any fashion-smashion pony in this cruise.
- I have to be prepared, right, Applejack?
The earth pony shrugged.
- Keep calm, Rainbow. She's just taking care of her business.
- Fine, fine. But I need to fly! - The pegasus flapped her wings and attempted to fly high, but hit her head against the ceiling, once she didn't notice how low it was - Ouch!
- Please, darling, don't make such a big deal out of your wings.
- You can't tell me to...
- Hey, here we are! - Applejack said, putting her head out of the window - Manehattan!
- Finally! - Rainbow said, flying through another window and going as high as she could, giving pirouettes and falling backwards in mid air.
The cowmare and the unicorn looked at each other and rolled their eyes. Once the wagon stopped and the doors were open, Rarity got out and took a deep breath.
- Oh, Manehattan! Isn't this city just magnificent! Applejack, would you be a dear and bring my drawings for me, please?
- Sure.
Applejack walked around the wagon and grabbed the parchments that were scattered everywhere around the room, putting one by one inside Rarity's bags. She was startled when the one that was in her mouth was covered in a blue aura and flew away, landing inside the bag. Soon all the others started to levitate and the plastic bags were full of drawings after mere seconds.
- Sorry, darling. - Rarity said, entering the wagon again and using her magic to grab everything. The bags hovered around her as she left the wagon again, followed by Applejack - But we're in a rush. Need to get this as fast as we can and quickly go to the cruise.
"What would I do without magic?" The unicorn thought. The cowgirl behing her looked around, amazed by the city, and didn't seem to be offended by Rarity's actions.
- Rainbow, come here! We can't be late!
The blue pegasus was still making many flying moves up in the sky, but soon she was hovering above her friends.
- I hate those buildings. They're so big and high that I can't fly the way I want. I can't wait to go back to Ponyville.
- Then why did you accept to come with us? - Rarity asked, annoyed.
- I don't know. - She said, landing and starting to walk besides Rarity and Applejack.
- Come on, Rainbow. I bet this can be fun if we try! I've never been to a cruise before!
- Well, me neither. I guess you're right.
- Good. Oh, here we are!
They stopped in front of a huge and bright white ship, that was anchored as many ponies went in, carrying their bags and cameras. Rarity opened her bag and took some papers out of it.
- Here you go, our tickets and documents. This will be so much fun!
She then gave Applejack and Rainbow their respective documents, but cringed when she saw they were holding them with their mouths. She knew that they didn't have magic, but she couldn't help finding that disgusting. After shaking her head, she started to walk and went up ramp that leaded to the cruise, followed by her friends.
They showed their tickets to an unicorn who was checking the passengers.
- Welcome miss Rarity, miss Applejack and miss Rainbow Dash. Your room is on the second floor, number 256. Your bags will be delivered there soon. Enjoy your trip!
- Thank you, sir! - The white unicorn said, giving small gems to the employee as a tip.
- Wow, thank you, mister! - He waved happily as the three mares entered the ship.
- They sure got some fancy stuff in here. - Applejack said - Look at those chandeliers.
- Yeah, yeah, they're cool. But they better have somewhere for me to fly here.
- I'm sure you can fly on the swiming area, darling. There are no ceilings there. You won't hit your head. But if you can keep your wings folded for just a second, you could also see the spa, and the sauna, they even have a theater! I wonder what plays they're playing this weeked! We can go there tonight. Oh, maybe I'll see Sapphire Shores there!
- Yah know, it all sounds nice and all, but maybe we could get a little rest? The trip made me tired.
- Of course, Applejack. Let's look for our room.
They walked through many corridors, being careful not to bump into the many other ponies who walked besides them.
- 251, 252, 253... There it is, 256!
Applejack laid her hoof on the knob and opened the door. The three jaws dropped when they saw it.
- I've never seen anythin' like it before!
- Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!
- My, my, girls!
The room had a light shade of green on its walls, with three beds in one of the corners. There was a huge balcony, that allowed the ponies to see the sea and the lower floors when they looked down. Once that they were on the highest floor, there was nothing above them but the blue sky, what made Rainbow Dash squee in happiness. In the other coners, there were some cabinets, where they Rarity left her bags with her drawings. There were paintings of the two pony sisters on the walls, similar to those the ponies saw in their old castle back in Ponyville. Three windows could be seen, with silky blue curtains that made Rarity suspire.
- Oh, this will be so much better than I thought! - She said, with a huge smile in her face as she fell backwards on one of the beds.
- Yeah, but if you excuse me, I'll go take a bath now. - Rainbow said before she entered the bathroom and closed the door.
- I think I'll rest a little. And about yah, Rarity? Rarity?
When Applejack turned her head, she saw that her friend was already sleeping. She smirked and laid down on the bed in the middle, closing her eyes.
- Applejack, are you still sleeping?
Rarity overheard her pegasus friend's voice.
- No. I woke up a few minutes ago.
The unicorn sat up and rubbed her eyes. When she opened them, she saw the room was dark, meaning she had slept through the whole afternoon. Her friends were laying down on the beds beside her. Rainbow had a towel on her head, hiding her colorful forelock and crest.
- What time is it?
Applejack looked to the wall and stared the clock.
- Around a quarter past seven.
- Oh, good, it's not really late. - She said, getting out her bed - Any of you wanna join me at the spa?
- You're going now?
- Of course! I still need a hoofcure. - The unicorn said as she opened a closet and user her magic to grab her scarf - Wanna go or not?
Applejack shruged.
- Sure. Better than staying here all day.
- And you, Rainbow.
- Fine, fine. But just because I'm hungry. - She said, shaking her head hard to release the towel and her mane - Can we go get something to eat?
- Yes, yes, of course. Now let's go! We have to rush if we want to go to spa after having dinner.
The three friends happily left the room, not aware that trip wasn't going to be exactly like they planned.
The dinner area was enormous, with many white tables and all kinds of food. Rainbow was nearly drooling as she grabbed a plate and waited in line to get her food. She couldn't stay still.
- C'mon, I'm hungry!
Rarity, who was behind her and in front of Applejack, rolled her eyes.
- Darling, please, everypony is looking at us. Soon you'll have your food.
When the pony in front of Rainbow moved away, she quickly started to get what she wanted. She attempted to get a piece of cake, but it felt impossible to use the spoon and the knife with her mouth. She tried to use her hooves, but the piece of cake fell on the floor.
- Oops.
- Rainbow, hurry up there!
- Darling, look at the mess you made!
- Well, it wouldn't have happened if those things were easier to use!
Rarity rolled her eyes and started to use her magic to put the food on her plate while Rainbow still fought with the spoons and forks.
- Let me help yah. - Applejack said, approaching and trying to get some food for herself, but she noticed Rainbow was right: it felt impossible to handle those things.
Rarity finished getting her food quickly and went to a table, waiting for her friends. They were taking too long to appear, and when she turned her head she saw they were on the buffet line, making a mess. The ponies behind them complained about the delay.
"Oh, my", Rarity thought as she left her table and went to help her friends.
- Sorry, sorry, so sorry. - She said as she cut in front of the angry ponies as she approached Applejack and Rainbow Dash - Darlings, what are you doing?
- Well, trying to get some food! I'm starving!
The white unicorn tried to cover her face as she quickly used her magic to prepare two plates for her friends and made her best to get things right. As they left the line and went towards the table, Rarity felt unconfortable and ashamed.
- Did you two have to make me embarassed?
- Hey, those things were impossible to handle!
- So why didn't you call me to help?
- I don't need any help! Mainly of that magic smagic! Boo.
Rarity gasped.
- You know that Manehattan was started by unicorns, most likely things here are made for unicorns.
- That's ridiculous! Not everypony is an unicorn, but everypony has hooves!
- Stop it, you two! - Applejack said - Rainbow, yah can't say anythin'. Remember when we were having that competition and yah cheated?
- I didn't cheat!
- Yah used your wings!
- Well, yaeh, but you didn't say I couldn't use them. It isn't my fault if you're just an earth pony!
Applejack gasped and her eyes widened.
- Well, yah... Yah have to admit that today Rarity's magic was more useful than yah were!
- Just because she has magic?
- Could you please stop talking as if I wasn't here? Enough with this fight already!
The three of them looked around and avoided eye contact. The rest of their meal was spent in complete silence.
After they had eaten, they walked in silence towards their room. Their faces were the only ones that weren't smiling in the whole cruise.
It was always hard to face friends after a fight, but the concept of different kinds of ponies had always been a taboo in Equestria. There had been wars in the past because the ponies couldn't accept each other.
When they entered the room, Rainbow Dash and Applejack went to their beds and sat down on the edge, looking at the floor. Rarity pretended she was looking at her drawings. She sighed and finally broke the silence.
- Any of you wanna go to the spa with me?
The pegasus and the earth pony lifted their heads and faced each other, then looked at Rarity, who frowned and waited for an answer.
- Nopony? Come on, it can be fun.
When no more words were spoken, she just turned around and prepared to leave. But just before she could open the door, the lights went out. They all looked up, and Rarity tried to turn them on again.
- What happened? - Rainbow asked.
- I have no idea... We better go out there and ask somepony.
For the first time that day, they agreeded about something. Soon they were all on the doorway and left the room. For their surprise, the halls were empty.
- Where did everypony go? - Applejack asked - It's not time to sleep yet.
- Hello? Anypony there?
Rarity cast a light spell, showing that indeed there was nopony there. Not even the employees of the cruise were there.
They squinted, trying to see anything any clearer, but it was too dark.
- Rarity, stay closer. - Rainbow said, not willing to explicit that she needed her friend's horn to see things.
- This is all very weird... I think we should...
Suddenly, a metallic sound was heard.
- What was th...
Suddenly, the ship leaned to te right, causing Rarity and Applejack to slid and collapse with the wall. Rainbow started to fly just in time, so she didn't hit the wall.
- What in tarnation?
- What is happeni...
In less than a second, the ship seemed to sink a few meters. The ceiling was hit against Rainbow's head.
- Ouch!
Rarity and Applejack tried to stand up, but when they got it, the ship suddenly leaned to the left and they were thrown against the other wall. The lights flickered multiple times, before that bulbs finally broke.
- What is happening?!
- Where is everypony?
- Help!
The windows, that were shut, suddenly opened and the heaviest rain the three ponies had ever seen started to soak everything. It was like being in a nightmare.
- What do we do now?
Applejack ran and tried to close the windows, but the wind threw her away. She fell in the middle of a puddle, soaking her mane and coat.
Rainbow kept flying around, until she lost her balance and hit her back against a wall.
- I think I broke my wings! They hurt!
Tears of pain started to go down her face and she bit her lower lip.
- Dash! - Rarity screamed. She attempted to run and go help her friend, but the ship wouldn't stay still. She fell on the floor - Give me your hoof!
Rainbow reached out for her, but her whole back hurt. When she had the white hoof between hers, she brought Rarity closer and hugged her friend.
- Applejack!
The cowmare was still laying on the puddle, but she stood up and ran towards her friends, joining the hug.
They closed their eyes, trying to stay strong in the middle of all that chaos. The rain was still falling heavily, the ship seemed to be about to turn upside down. It was hard to breath.
The last thing they saw was a strong lightning, that filled the room with a flash and blinded them for some seconds.
They were still hugging and heavy breathing. It was Rarity who dared to open her eyes first.
- What?
They weren't on the hallway anymore. They were in the middle of their room. The lights were normal, the night was calm outside and they could hear other ponies outside their room.
- What? But... What about the storm?
- And what about the ship breaking and leaning...
- Rainbow! - Applejack pointed at her friend - What about your wings?
The pegasus gasped when she remembered the pain she felt minutes earlier, but was surprised when she looked at her back.
- They're... Normal.
Rarity ran to the balcony. Down there, ponies were eating, talking and playing as if nothing had happened. Not to mention everything was dry.
- I don't understand...
- Do you think we were dreaming?
- How? We weren't asleep!
- And we wouldn't have the same dream, I suppose. But then...
Applejack looked up and turned around. When she opened the door, there were many ponies outside.
- Excuse me, sir - She said, calling a blue pegasus stallion - did it rain today?
- Rain? When, do you mean?
- Like, five minutes ago.
He raised an eyebrow.
- Not that I know of.
- Ok then... Thanks.
She turned back and entered the room again, closing the door.
- I don't get it...
- It was too real to be a dream! I felt my wings breaking!
They all sighed.
- We were the only ones who felt the storm! How is that possible? And where was everypony back then? We were alone!
Rarity paced around the room.
- Why don't we sleep now, and try to figure this out tomorrow? I'm a bit tired.
Applejack and Rainbow Dash nodded in agreement and they went towards their beds and laid down. Even if they were tired and the beds were confortable, it took them a lot of time to relax enough to fall asleep.
They were all thinking the same thing: what had happened that night?
As I said, this is a lot shorter than my other fanfics, but I enjoyed writing it. Let me know if I should continue with this.
