Maidens of Manehattan (Closed: Message For Entry)

[SteelEagle]

 

 

The Friendship Express rolled on towards Manehattan loud and proud, the passengers oohing and awwing as they often did. Applejack was over that sensation by now. Tall buildings could only get so tall and impressive as it could be the first few times wondering how many productive ponies you could stuff inside one of them, her mind wandered towards more important matters. Today, that was the Strand Annual Rodeo. 

A part of it felt fraudulent to her. She was still a damn fine rodeo competitor in Ponyville but she was just happy to win the odd event here or there. Life had certainly humbled her physically, that was for sure. Yet she had been invited along with the winner to attend the Rodeo. Sometimes, being famous had its perks. She had to think on it a few days, but in the end she had accepted. It was expenses paid plus one, to boot. 

 

She had decided to bring Ambrosia. The filly had never seen the Orange family nor had she ever been to the country’s largest and most fashionable city. Applejack may not have really cared much about it, but she knew her daughter would go fetlock over horn over the ‘fashion district’. There were plays to see and family to meet; what else could a little filly really want? Well, she thought a trip to the roller rink and maybe some wrestling, but Ambrosia was not a smaller Applejack. Despite her efforts.

 

Applejack was returning to their little private cabin in the back with some breakfast, the early morning sun piercing the encroaching skyscrapers briefly and casting uniform rays that cut across the bridge. It was a beautiful sight and she was happy to have woken up early enough to see it, sighing happily as she edged the door to the private room open. “Amby, yer up?” She asked lowly, whispering hopefully but not loud enough to wake her if she still rested her beautiful head.

[Blueblood]

All during the earliest part of the journey, little Ambrosia Apple had been bouncing with excitement.  She was going to the city!  The big, bright, glimmering place Auntie Rarity kept that beautiful picture of and Mama would tell her about when she was a little filly seeing the world!  AJ didn't seem to think much of it, but the very feminine filly to which she had given birth had obsessed over it for a while.  And they had family there!  More family!  Not that Ponyville and Sweet Apple Acres weren't full of Aunties, Uncles, and Cousins of varying or no blood relation, but no such thing as too much of a good thing!

 

"When we gonna get there, mama?  Is Auntie Orange pretty?  As much as you?  How tall are the buildings?  How did Luna get the stars to come so low?"  The last question in the endless stream of a curious child came from the fact that she'd never seen so many bright and shining lights in one place, save for the night sky.  But in the photograph of the Manehattan skyline she'd seen, all the lights were in the buildings or on the water, and the night sky was blank against the light pollution.

 

The bundle of energy didn't last forever; after all, travel time matched up with bedtime on long train rides, and soon the little unicorn was dozing off, rocked by the chugging choo-choo on the branch line to Slumberland Station.  She dreamed the dreams of high lights and glamour that filled the heads of most fillies her age; even Applejack's back in the day, though the mare was loath to admit it as of recently.

 

She slept peacefully until a sunbeam and the smell of breakfast stirred her awake, with an adorable stretch, yawn, and shaking of the ringlets.  "Mmm... 'm up, mama..."

[SteelEagle]

 

Applejack had become something of a storyteller, yarn-spinner. It had begun in earnest at the School of Friendship and now was something she enjoyed doing with her foals. Zap Apple was growing just a trite too old to ask the sort of questions that allowed Applejack to uncork a real good one. "Well ya see, they built that buildings so tall here that they couldn't see Luna's moonlight. This made her sad, so she brought them stars lower with a big magical lasso so that ponyfolk could see at night. But now it is too bright at night, an' that's why they call it that city that never sleeps," she said as she looked at the moon outside. In between settlements it really was a beautiful thing, wasn’t it? She was up real early and as a result tended to bed a bit early as well, so she never could appreciate it as much as the sun but Luna certainly had her charms.

“As for your auntie, well, she is real pretty herself. See, despite the city always bustlin’ on account of never sleeping, she understood the importance of good sleep and good diet ta making herself real pretty and real healthy. She listened to her mama real good on that front- got her full eight hours and didn’t fight none about it,” she said as she tucked Ambrosia in and gave her a kiss on the head, right below the horn. “Now you follow in her footsteps and get some good shut-eye, sugarcube. You have a big day tomorrow!”

 

---------

 

Applejack’s heart could only leap out of her chest so much before she had to see a doctor. She had to consider sending him a letter because her daughter was just that dang cute. “How’d ya sleep, sleepyhorn?” She asked with a smile as she unconsciously helped Ambrosia up. Working with a filly’s mane was rough enough when you considered manecare to be ‘clean and out of the way’ naturally, let alone if she had bed-mane!

She put the breakfast down so Amby could have her fair share and then some. Nothing too spectacular, certain not like back on the farm. Some toast, flapjacks, a small skillet. While Ambrosia ate, Applejack started fidgeting on her. She brushed the filly’s mane, patted straight her pelt, washed behind her ears, and then found herself getting Ambrosia’s outfit ready. She just wanted her to look just dandy for her ponyfolk from Manehattan after all, but Applejack really just wanted to make sure that the greatest daughter in the world was the most fed and well-taken care of daughter in the world. 

[Blueblood]

"Mmmm.... 's mama."  Ambrosia muttered her affirmation drowsily, though once Applejack returned with breakfast, the little filly perked right up!  Homemade or not, the smell of flapjacks had the same effect of a cup of coffee upon grownups, and she was soon bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, happily muching away on the griddle-cakes while her mane was worked over.  From time to time, though, she paused, her gaze caught by the approaching vista of the big city, her eyes wide and full of wonder, anticipation.

 

She didn't much mind the fidgeting and fussing; this was Manehattan!  Fashion hub, home of ponies who always got their beauty sleep, though how they managed it in a "city that never slept" was beyond her ability to understand.  Maybe she would when she grew up, Amby was young enough to take adults on trust when it came to things like that.  In any case, elaborate preparation was entirely appropriate to the occasion!  
Once she got to the juice to wash it down, however, she pulled a face at the taste of the opaque liquid.  It was the same color as Applejack, but it didn't taste like apples!  It was sour and sweet and rich and cutting all at the same time.  Not bad, but it took a while for her to reconcile herself to the strange taste.  "What's this, mama?"  She looked up to ask, having just been introduced to the product of the local branch of the family.

[SteelEagle]

 

Applejack was giddy as she watched her daughter react to her first ever orange juice. “That’s orange juice, sugarcube. Your auntie and uncle Orange run tha largest orange groves in all of Equestria and run tha business from Manehattan. ‘cause of that, they make tha very best orange juice in tha world! How’d you like it, huh?” She asked as she finished working on her daughter, happy with how she looked. Truth be told she always did. Applejack wasn’t really sure how somefilly so absolutely gorgeous could be hers, she was just that pretty.

 

“Yer gonna have a lot of oranges on this trip. Ah mean, they got nothin’ on apples, but oranges have their charm,” she giggled as the train started to slow. “Get yer bags ready, Amby. We’re almost there,” she said excitedly, trotting over a few paces to her own side of the room and packing up her own gear. There wasn’t much to it. Her rodeo gear had been kept in bag and locked and beyond that she didn’t carry much for the trip save her bits and hat. 

 

“Ah’ve told them all about you. Told them yer tha prettiest unicorn in all of Ponyville and tha sweetest little filly of all time. Think you can live up to all that?” She asked with faux, playful sincerity. Applejack already knew the answer. How could Ambrosia not pass with flying colors? It was almost easy to forget that she was here for a competition, but frankly she was just more excited to get Ambuy out to see the family. She hadn’t seen the Oranges herself for some time, since shortly before Valen became Moonlight. She wasn’t one to not see family for long, it was like an itch that needed to be scratched!

[Blueblood]

Upon hearing that this strange beverage was a family concoction with the blessing of mama, Ambrosia returned to sipping with a more positive bias, taking a long gulp with a smile.  "It is good, mama!"  She could get used to this, she reckoned; her Auntie Orange would find an enthusiastic appreciator of all things citrus in the little filly!

 

Soon enough, breakfast was finished, and it was time to gather the bags to exit the station.  Being a little unicorn, Ambrosia didn't have the cargo capacity of an earth pony, so she could only handle a proportional backpack.  Still, she did her best, keeping up excitedly with mama as the train pulled it and it was time to get off.  "I sure can!"  She enthusiastically affirmed her intention of living up to every bit of absolutely deserved praise that AJ heaped upon her!  "Let's go!"  She was practically bouncing on her hooves, ready to get out on the town!

[SteelEagle]

 

It took Applejack only a few moments to lead Ambrosia to the nearest exit off the train, near the rear and the least hectic of them all. She knew what she was doing, or at least what a disaster it had been the first time she came to the city when she leaped right on out of the middle train doors and into about six ponies trying to get on. Nah, rear was the best. 

The doors to the train opened and immediately the two small town folk were hit by a wall of sound and figures. Ponies nearly jogged off and others moved swiftly on, Applejack gently nudging her daughter forward quicker than normal. Ponies of all shapes and size, and many creatures aside could be seen in all directions. They moved quickly, Applejack directing Ambrosia through the crowd until they left the station.

 

Now they could see the city in full bloom and Majesty. The skyscrapers rose higher and higher, creating a forest, a jungle, of construction that blocked the sun when so close. The streets were chock full of ponyfolk scurrying to and fro, with new and strange languages being heard in bits and snippets. Carriages shot past in their dozens as pegasi above moved in veritable flocks, kept in control by a sky bound traffic control system.

Applejack made sure to keep her body directly in contact with Ambrosia's, to help the filly with any anxiety she might feel, her tail gently draped over her daughter's back. "Pretty crazy big city, huh?" She asked gently, but with a hint of excitement peaking through. 

[Blueblood]

The immediate rush of exit occupied most of Ambrosia's attention at first, as her little legs scampered to keep up with her mama's.  Once she finally emerged onto the street, she felt almost overwhelmed by all the ponies!  She'd never seen so many, not even at the Apple Family reunion or any of Ponyville's town festivals!  It didn't dampen her excitement, but it did make her a little trepidatious, scooting closer to Applejack, and thankful for the comforting drape of her tail.  "It's... so big...  Everything is so much, mama!"  Her head and eyes seemed to move on separate swivels, unable to pin down her focus on anything in particular.

[SteelEagle]

 

She was happy that her daughter hadn't freaked out. It wasn't all that uncommon from what she had been told that ponies from country towns like their showed up in the big city and felt afraid of all the noise, the speed, the nature and intensity of the city. Plenty of time for that to happen in any case. "Sure is mighty big! Why, that  thar buildin' - called a skyscraper- is almost as big as your uncle!" She said as she trotted forward. Her tail was still around her daughter and kept tight as she picked up the trot. Even with her picking up the speed she was getting passed by a growing number of ponies. The city may as well have acted like it was a marathon at all time. "They like ta move fast here, sugarcube. Wanna ride on mama's back?" She asked as they started crossing a street.

 

The sounds and smells of the city roared on by. The city was home to dozens of different cultures and species, some unique and others banal, and food carts could be seen anywhere. Applejack sniffed the wind, and her stomach as full as it was could not help but wonder what else it offered for her.

 

What she was paying much attention to was traffic. How could she? So many carts and carriages and ponies trottin' to and fro made it hard for a mare like her to keep on top of everything. And so it was that a one-stallion cart galloped at full speed towards the crosswalk. The carriage stallion looked up almost too late and came to a skidding stop, loudly bellowing for Applejack to get out of his way. He wasn't fast enough, and the cart nearly ran into Applejack at full speed- who, not moving, put one leg out and stopped him mid-gallop. "Hey! Ah'm trottin' here!" She replied loudly, yelling but not angrily. The stallion sighed and muttered an apology as she continued walking across the street.

[Blueblood]

To a pony as little as Amby was, big was big.  Sure, it was fairly obvious that a skyscraper was larger than Uncle Mac, but she was equally unable to budge either with either her phsyical or mental strength, so for now it all went in the same category.  This land of giants was intimidating, no question about it, hence her eager acceptance of anything that let her be taller.  "Yes mama!"  She eagerly got up on top of Applejack's shoulders when she bent down, the strong farmer's back still able to bear with ease the weight of a foal and her bag.  One day, this would no longer be the case.  But today was not that day; today Ambrosia apple could look more big things in the eye, and giggle and laugh in her security.

 

Even the cab bearing down on them in traffic phased her not, because she was with mama and mama was strong.  "Yeah!"  She threw out her own hoof in solidarity, no doubt mollifying the driver with how cute she was as they vanished around the corner.  Much more comfortable in her surroundings now, she began to look around again, more in pure wonder than trepidation.  "How do they get so high, mama?"  She asked, the flood of questions starting, "Where are they going?  Why so fast?  Where are the trees?  Are we near the Oranges yet?"

[SteelEagle]

 

Hopefully that puller realized that he would never get a cuter, angrier commuter in his life. How could anyone even pretend to be angry at her after that display? Applejack giggled as she finished crossing, trotting gainfully to keep pace with the rush of creatures all around.

 

“Well sugarcube, they build using steel, marble, and stone ta make tha buildin’ strong and stable, an’ they have these very smart engineers workin’ their tails off ta make sure they build ‘em right. As for where everypony is goin’- there’s so many things ta do an’ see that ponies wanna get going quick-like from place ta place. An’ that doesn’t even ‘count for all the ponies heading ta work! An’ there is so many of ‘em- excuse me- that ya don’t wanna get stuck in big, huge lines!” She said as they got stuck in just that near a crosswalk.

 

“Y’all won’t see as many trees here as back in Ponyville. They do have this really pretty park, very big one too, in tha middle of tha city but they had to cut down a lot of trees ta make room for them big buildings. Bit sad, ain’t it? But Ah reckon somethin’ had to go for the city ta get as big as it is. I’ll take ya to tha park before we leave. Sound fun? Tha Oranges are just a few more blocks. They’re so escited ta meet ya!”
 

[Blueblood]

Mama AJ, as always, had ready answers for her questions, and Amby accepted them all with the faith of a little foal.  It made sense, after all.  Mountains were taller than trees, therefore buildings made of stuff from mountains would be bigger than stuff from trees!  And there were so many things that Amby wanted to do she almost wanted Orange-mama to walk faster.  

Especially since Auntie and Uncle Orange were close.  "Uhuh!  I'm essited to meet them too!"  'X' sounds were still a little difficult for her to pronounce, but that didn't make her any less cuter.  If anything, more so.  "I wanna tell them they make good juice!"

[SteelEagle]

 

Applejack nuzzled her daughter gently as she spoke, partially out of habit, partially because it was entirely too hard to resist her. The crowd moved forward and Applejack followed, the hustle and bustle not distracting Applejack enough to miss a few quick glances and even a silent, ‘aww’ from some passerby's.  She couldn't blame them- they made for a fine pair, even if she had to imagine most of the aww were directed at the adorably bundle on her back.

 

“Heh, Ah’m sure they’ll be happy to hear it,” she laughed as she continued to trot. Applejack knew that the Oranges would love her and it would be good to deal with them again. They sent letters and conducted business normal-like but there had been some minor...bumps across time. From her first launching herself at them as a filly to leaving them just as quickly, plus the awkwardness that happened later with her cousin, and she would be happy to just see them and have a great day. 

 

“There’s tha house, sugarcube,” Applejack said, nodding to a large multi-story townhouse with the family’s sigil and flag in front. The crowd thinned out as many ponies started trotting down into the underground transit system, and Applejack was soon approaching the gate.

[Blueblood]

Just as Applejack could not resist nuzzling Amby, Ambrosia could not resist preening a little as she felt the admiring eyes of all passers by upon her.  And why shouldn't they be looking at her, world's cutest filly atop the world's greatest mama.  It felt like she was on... parade!  "*Gasp*  Momma, is the parade gonna happen while we're here?  Auntie Rarity said there was a huuuuuge parade in Manehattan.  With ginormous balloons of Princess Celestia and stuff!  She even said they were gonna make a balloon of you!"  That may have been the fall parade that Rarity was referring to, though to be fair the wide avenues of the city paid host to many a parade.

 

But that was for later, for now, the crowds were thinning as AJ turned into a residential neighborhood, and they came across a gated path to a townhouse.  And older gentlepony with a white moustache in a spangled uniform of red served as the gatespony, and he nodded, smiling at the two.

"Ah, g'mornin Miss Applejack... or should I say Missus Applejack?  And why that must be little Ambrosia!  What a charming little filly y'got there!"  His accent wasn't the harsh one of the streets, but the gentler lilt of one of the many Neighrish which had made their way to the city.

"Dat's us!"  Amby nodded excitedly, giggling, "You have a funny voice mister, I like it!  Like you're always singing!"

"Oho, there's never a time a song's far from me lips!  I'd happily sing you a ballad, but you've got family a'waiting, so I'll wait until you come and see me again.  The master of the house has been a-longing to meet you!"  Chortling, he unlocked the gate and swung it wide, gesturing for them to enter.

 

[SteelEagle]

Applejack gave it a long thought. Rarity knew the celebrations of any city almost as certainly as Pinkie did, so Applejack tended to rely on her expert knowledge. She’d rather spend her time on more practical matters, but it’d be a lie to say that she wasn’t mighty proud that the largest parade in Equestria had a big honkin’ balloon of her in it. She worried whenever she saw one of them that they were super liable to run into something sharp and comedically launch whoever was holding the rope into the sky. 

 

“Well, Ah do reckon thar’s tha largest Togetherness Festival Day parade in all of Equestria while we’re here,” Applejack smiled as she reached her head over to give her daughter a quick peck. No real reason. She couldn’t resist Ambrosia’s endless charms for any length of time. “Ah think yer gonna have a wonderful time at it. Oops,” she overacted her mistake of ‘leaking’ it for a second as they trotted onto the property.

 

She nodded to the gatestallion as she passed. “Nice ta see ya too, Mr. Connemara. Hope tha wife is treatin’ ya proper like,” she said, happy to see he was still working for the Oranges. She knew he did things other than be the gatestallion, but he had been the gatestallion ever since Applejack had been a filly. Of course he was now an elderly one that made Applejack consider briefly her own advancing age before she banished those thoughts.

 

She knocked on the door once and then twice. It wasn’t long before the door opened gently, revealing an older if not quite elderly mare, her bright blue eyes and pale yellow coat still the same as they ever were. Her orange mane had some grey streaks in them- strategic ones anyway that seemed to contrast with the bright orange. She wore a beautiful necklace of orange and green gems.

“Applejack! Ambrosia! I am so very happy to see both of you!” She said as she leaned in to give both of them a gentle hug. “This is such a delight. Oh, Mosely! Mosely my love, they’re here!”

 

A stallion trotted into frame, his well-tailored suit in the midst of being removed. Pale yellow like his wife but with a still-vibrant green mane, his pale blue eyes wrinkled but still kind. “What a fantastic day. Can this be the great Ambrosia I’ve heard so much about? Please, come on in. Our home is your home!” the stallion said, Applejack obliging him quickly.

It was great seeing them. The Oranges often came to Ponyville, or at least used to. Changes in business, their own age, and some other personal issues had ended those trips not too long before Ambrosia’s birth. They exchanged letters often and promises exchanged, but there was always something. Of course it took two to tango, so Applejack was pleased to take this step.

 

“Mighty happy ta be seeing y’all,” Applejack said, hugging her uncle.
“Oh, you and your country terms, Applejack. Still as charming as ever!” He responded with a hug and a nice laugh.

[Blueblood]

"Yay, parade!"  Ambrosia cheered, and her present cheer would in no way diminish the cheering she would do on the actual day of the festival.  That was the advantage of being so young; good things didn't have to be artificially rendered surprises to be felt strongly and sweetly in their moment.  Anticipation could take root, and bloom in its time.

 

And speaking of anticipated joys...!  "Unca!  Auntie!"  The sight of new, or at least new to her, family was enough for the little filly to bound off her mother's back, practically bouncing off the cobbles right into a hug around the Aunt's leg.  "I had your juice on the train!  It was really good!"  Having said her important piece, she nuzzled into Auntie's chest like her mother, before releasing her grip, stepping back, clearing her throat, and going into the closest resembling thing she could manage to the curtsey Rarity had taught her, "Ah, a-hem!  It's so fraffly nice to see you!"  Exciteable little country filly as she was, she couldn't help but aspire to finer things and manners, even at this age.  Perhaps, especially at this age!  This was the branch of the family that flowered into big-city glamour, and she wanted at least something of that to rub off on her.

[SteelEagle]

Applejack wasn’t quite sure what fraffly meant. Was that one of them Trottingham phrases that Rarity sometimes tossed about? At lease she wasn’t speakin’ fancy. She wasn’t about to tolerate that tomfoolery, even from Ambrosia. Sometimes, a mare had to draw a line and she would certainly kindly ask Ambrosia to not speak fancy if she did, if it would be okay and all. 

“Well, I am quite pleased to hear that somepony with such a refined palate enjoys the fruit of her family’s labor,” the auntie said as she leaned down and nuzzled Ambrosia.
“Well Cara, don’t you mean, enjoy the fruit juice of her family’s labor?” Mosely said with a big smile. Big and broad, like his joke that they both laughed at in that snooty, upturned way that Manehattanites of the high city tended to laugh. Cara joined in. Applejack did too, to be polite.
He looked at the Apples and waved them towards the main sitting room.

“Please, make yourselves comfortable. I will have some drinks ready in a moment- and I do believe the Orange Cream Granita should be ready. You are in for a treat, Ambrosia Apple!” He said as he trotted off.

Applejack sat down with a bit of stretch and yawned.
“How’s tha city life treating’ ya, Aunt Orange?”
“Oh Applejack, you don’t need to be so unfamiliar. Cara will suffice! I have done well, in any case. Tell me, how is farm life?” She leaned in towards Ambrosia. “Attacked by any of those...’roosters’, I believe they’re called?” She could barely get the words out, as if the thought of such a creature was absurd!

[Blueblood]

It was indeed one of those Trottingham phrases, a smoothing over of 'Frightfully'.  The super-refined ponies of that part of Equestria prided themselves on being able to speak without using their lips at all!... Though ponies from more hot-blooded regions would snidely allege that they couldn't use their lips for much of anything useful anyhow.  As for keeping Ambrosia from using Fancy talk... well, some forces of nature wouldn't yield even to the strongest of Earth Ponies.

 

But that was a confrontation for a much later day.  For now, the little filly bounded after her Aunt and Uncle, cheeing at the promise of a treat.  She giggled at Auntie Cara's talk about the rooster.  "Nooo, ol' Crowy's a sweetie!  He lets the hens eat first like a gennlecolt!"  She recalled the words from a little lesson that her mama was giving her older brother about manners at the dinner table.  "But the bas- basi- baketlets are sca-a-a-ary.  One look and -unk!"  She froze in place, imitating the pose of a pony suddenly turned into a stone statue.

[SteelEagle]

Cara couldn’t really understand what was being said. The names, the phrases, they were as foreign to her as the idea of enjoying country life in the first place. What wasn’t alien to her was the incredibly adorable and charming manner in which Ambrosia conducted herself, which lent every colorful syllable that twang of youth exuberance you could not help but love. That same exuberance did compound her own ignorance, however happily she would admit to it. While gently holding and cooing over who was possibly the cutest unicorn ever, she mouthed the word ‘baketlets’ at Applejack.

“Basilisks can be a real scare. They can turn ya right into stone, just like that,” Applejack nodded towards Ambrosia’s demonstration. Cara looked shocked, horrified, but only so much because Ambrosia also made an adorable statue. “That sounds so dreadful! Well, you do not need to fear when you are here. Manehattan has none of those wild monsters that I am sure wander into your Orchard. You will be safe, secure, and well fed here!”

 

“Like oh my Twilight, dad. I told you, like, I got this. This isn’t the first time I’ve made Cream Granita. Push off for a moment.”
“I know sweetie, but maybe I could just take a look-”
“Daaaaaaad stoooooop. You know I totally set it right earlier. You are being a major hoser right now,”
“Listen, I’m just- hey, stop using-”
“Hehehhehehehee, psych!”

 

 The first thing that came out of the kitchen was floating Orange Cream Granita, held in the firm telekenic grip of the second pony. Moonlight Glitter, upper body showing some signs of her baking adventure and mane in a net, trotted proudly in. “Hey there Jackie! Amby, how’s the best little Apple filly doing?” She said as she set the Granita down. Mosely came in last. He still wore a pleasant expression, but exasperated.

Children, what could you do with them?
“I totally made this for you two. Here, have some!” She said as she brought up a cup of the stuff and almost threw it at the guests. Cara took it before it was tossed though, smiling.
“Thank you, dear. I’ll take it from here,” she said, subconsciously reaching for her sides. A unicorn filly just realizing what she could do with magic and how to use it? Well, they had lost a few pieces of fine china already.

[Blueblood]

Amby's ears perked up as soon as she heard that voice from the kitchen.  Could it be...?  The sight of the young mare emerging with her drinks left no doubt.  "Cousin Moony!"  Ambrosia called out cheerily, excitedly clopping her hooves, using both them and her magic to catch the orange cream granita, all those tea parties with Princess Twilight coming in handy!  

 

Taking a sip from the thoughtfully-provided straw, her eyes lit up at the taste.  "Mmm, dee-licious!  Thank you very much."  Ever polite, she nodded to all three oranges in the room, with Mosely being the first to acknowledge the gratitude.  "Mm, yes, a family recipe.  One which I'm glad to see Moonlight Glimmer respects... at least, in how it turns out in the end."

 

Any family drama in the kitchen to which this might have alluded passed right over Ambrosia's innocent little head, as she happily partook of her treat.  She was only silent for half a minute before a thought came into it.  "Hey... if cousin Moony is here... can we see Cousin Babs too mama?  She lives here, right?"  It hadn't sunk in how big Manehattan really was; after all, in Ponyville, everypony knew everypony, so surely it was the same here, right?  Especially if they were family!

[SteelEagle]

“Glitter, dad. Glitter, tsk” she corrected her dad. Again. Always with the corrections! She even added a small eye roll, though her smile didn’t fade as sat down right next to her favorite niece. Only niece, but still. She nudged the cutie. “I’m soooooooooooooooooooo happy you’re here! Like, oh my Celestia I’m gonna show you off to all my friends and they’re just gonna die!” She said as she telekinetically drifted some orange cream down her throat.

 

“Haha, well, she ain’t a purse,” Applejack said mostly under her breath before she answered Ambrosia. “Maybe. Ah reckon she might be in town- actually, come ta think of it Ah don’t rightly know. We’ll have ta see ‘bout that, sugarcube,” Applejack pondered a moment more before she dove into her treat. It was good- the Oranges certainly knew how to make the best out of an inferior fruit. “As grand as always. Thanks, y’all! Hey Uncle Orange, mind helpin’ me with tha bags?” She asked, intending to decamp at least a small bit here.

Cara enjoyed her cream with the two fillies, more than happy to be mother and grandmother for now. "Oh, you did a very commendable job, darling. I hope you share your talents with your classmates?" She asked-told her daughter, a smile that could also be a demand on fierce and true. Then she got a good idea. No, a great one. "Oh! Let me get the delay-camera," she said as she shot up and started trotting happily away.
 

[Blueblood]

"Ah, correct; do excuse me Glitter."  Mosely was nothing if not a devoted and supportive father, but after all, he'd needed to change his habits of referral towards his offspring long after he'd ever expected to have to; and it wasn't as if ponies had consistent patterns of what they wanted to be called in terms of first or last names.  It would have been much simpler, of course, if Moonlight Glitter had swapped one of those names for the family fruit, but it was quite clear that her talent and future were not to be found amidst the Orange groves...

He'd be lying if he wasn't slightly saddened by this; as Moonlight's flair for the orange cream drink showed she had lost none of ther adroitness in handling that fine fruit.  All respect to the Apple, of course, but citrus was where it was at.  

 

Ambrosia, meanwhile, was beginning to have the heretical suspicion that all fruits were actually equally delicious when cultuvated with earth pony care, but even at her age knew not to speak of such things in the presence of Mama.  She only slurped, enjoyed, and tried not to make too much of a mess as she bounced with excitement at hearing Babs had to be in town.  "Yay, I wanna see her!  Where does she live?  Is it far?"

Mosely pursed his lips.  "I believe our mutual cousin resides in the Lower Manehattan neighborhood of Hooflyn.  Or was it the Broncs?  Business doesn't take us there very often."

 

"Huh?  Y'all got family in town but you don't see 'em?"  The very concept was alien to Amby, and it troubled her beyond what even the prospect of looking cute on camera could assuage.  Her innocent little mind had yet to grasp any kind of concept like class division, and while it wasn't quite true that such things actually split the clan... it did put some distance between some of the tree branches.

[SteelEagle]

It was the Broncs, and Applejack knew just what Mosely meant. They were a loving family, but the Oranges preferred certain company, and they certainly preferred it when those outside their circle made their way to the Orange estate. It wasn’t that they wouldn’t or couldn’t make the trip- they did so, all the way to Ponyville for quite some time. But it was sometimes easier hopping on a train and ending up in some exotic, picturesque rural community than fighting through Equestria’s largest city to get to one of its less...gentle boroughs. 

 

Class division for sure, and it had taken Applejack ages to understand what that had meant. Such a division used to exist in a smaller manner in Ponyville- just ask Rarity- but had evaporated after Twilight’s arrival. Canterlot? That whole town was nothing but one big class divide. They didn’t even make a secret of it, either. Applejack had helped save Equestria so that earned her the respect of the denizens of that city but nit really their affection. Manehattan just happened to have all manner of classes in all types of abundance. She also wondered if changes in the family had made Mosely want to play his cards closer to the chest.

 

She wanted to pry a bit more because not seeing the Seeds seemed a bit much even with all that said, but she didn’t find it appropriate for Ambrosia. “Well, Manehattan is a real big city, sugarcube. So big that tha various neighborhoods in it- called boroughs- are individually as big as Canterlot. So sometimes it just so happens that you get a bit delayed is all. It don’t mean you don’t try and see ‘em when you can, right Uncle Orange?” She offered an easy layup as she gathered the bags. “Where can we set these down? Wanna help me?” She said as she started walking down a hallway.

 

As she started down the hallway, Cara came in with a very large camera. Cameras weren’t entirely uncommon in Equestria- a new fad, really, since their invention a few decades prior- but Cara had splurged recently for a brand new camera that had a delayed image capture. Sure, maybe fancy unicorns hold handle taking a picture while being in the picture, but others needed technology to close the gap and she was right and prepared for it! “Girls, girls! Get close!” She said happily as she set the camera up. “Say cheese in four...three…” she said as she started galloping into position.
Moonlight did as told, holding Ambrosia close and using her magic to start cleaning up her creamy face! (And, if needed, little Amby’s too!)

[Blueblood]

Mosely had barely time to nod in assent to Applejack's question before his wife came back with the camera, though he did silently mouth, "Talk after bedime for her."  He knew full well what Applejack meant, but there were other considerations... that he'd rather not say in front of little, innocent ears.

 

Said pair of ears were currently being cleaned of stay orange droplets by her mother, no doubt, as Ambrosia was making an effort to pose herself as cutely as possible.  Moonlight Glitter would have an expert eye for that sort of thing, and she'd be able to see how good a moddle the little filly would make.  Or singer.  Or dancer.  Or actress.  Or basically anything on stage where folks could see her.  She was the sort of cute that would blossom into beautiful one day, and this would be a picture that future biographers would prize to show her early blossoming!

"Applepies!"  She said right before the flash, a phrase that never failed to bring a smile to her face.

[SteelEagle]

“Gotcha,” Applejack nodded and dropped it. She didn’t want to think that there was anything more to the dynamic but it made sense that there might be. She had dowplayed it to her filly earlier but there was a strata at play that Applejack never fully understood herself. Didn’t make much sense to her but then again not a lot about cityfolk did. With his help she was sure to get squared away in their digs for the time being, so she reckoned on that. “Thanks for yer help. Stayin’ in tha guest room, Ah suppose?”

 

The camera snapped bright and cheery, almost as cheery and delightful as the fillies and mares in it. Cara got up and trotted excitedly over, checking the result. She was very escited to report that it came out looking fantastic- she’d need to have it developed for high resolution, but it looked so wonderful as is! “My dears, we look absolutely divine. You could work on your posture somewhat, Moonlight,” Cara offered. Moonlight rolled her eyes playfully. She was a bit too free flowing for her more structured mother sometimes. 
Plus, she had something significantly more important to discuss. “Awww, you’re so photogenic. Like, so cute. Jackles should make tiny plushes of you. Like, total killer money idea, filly,” she said, rubbing the filly’s mane as she stood up, her tail’s practiced swishing cleaning Ambrosia’s face playfully. “Amby, whatcha wanna do, huh?”