Maidens of Manehattan (Closed: Message For Entry)

[SteelEagle]

 

Moonlight was swept up with the rest and was very excited to get to her seat. She had listened in to the conversation but as much as she wanted to talk and talk and talk she also knew that sometimes you needed to listen. And hope. Not that she had any concerns that her mom and Yu wouldn’t get along because of course they would, how could they not? They were gonna rock it. They were ushered into the Gardens- the city’s largest indoor stadium, and a marvel of pony engineering.

 

The Manehattan Gardens transform for the occasion, decorated with vibrant banners and rustic touches that evoked the countryside, like wooden fences and bales of hay along with the town flags of all participants, Ponyville included. Spectators, both locals and visitors, pack the stands to cheer on their favorite contestants. The event was popular in the city for its cultural displays and athleticism, even if the average Manehattenite couldn’t claim to have a deep and abiding love for the rodeo itself. Vendors sell treats like apple fritters and caramel corn, adding to the festive atmosphere. Applejack couldn’t claim to know the exact numbers just yet, but the rodeo certainly made for a very lucrative day.

 

Their seats were close to the field, but were spacious and were finely made of faux leather. They had small tables and cupholders, and as they got seated an employee approaches. “Is there anything I can get for you ladies?” He asked, his thick Roman accent hidden only barely by his years of living in thew city. He was their attendant, and each of them had food included in their ticket.

 

“Oh! Uhh, I was wondering- like, what about the Carneighie Deli? Oh, like, you wouldn't believe how good their hay sandwiches are they totally freakin' rad,” she said excitedly to Yu. "Oh! Oh! And ice cream! Amby, this place has the BEST ice cream!"
 

[Blueblood]

While Yu had spurned the the gift of goggles, she was surprisingly into the countrified merch being hawked to all attendees between the ticket stand and the bleachers.  By the time the quartet had made their way to the ringside seats, she was wearing a cowpony hat with a golden bandanna around her neck, catching some crumbs from an enormous apple fritter she was currently splitting with Ambrosia.  "They say every country has some form of sword and fried dough.  This one's pretty good; I have to say!"

"Appul fwitter is da befft!"  Abrosia acclaimed, her mouth full as she sang the praises of life's greatest pastry, just like her momma had when she was her age.  She was scanning the arena for first sight of her mama, excitedly at first, but with an increasing sense of worry as the seconds ticked on.  Yu wouldn't have known, and Ambrosia couldn't have explained, but the arena, the cheering crowds, the watching for Applejack... it was starting to dig up memories the little filly had suppressed.  Bad memories.  Memories of seeing her mama hurt...

 

"Mm- *sniff*, mama?  Where's mama?"

[SteelEagle]

Moonlight had her own apple fritter and inhaled it like it was air. Filly had the metabolism of the sun. No wonder Celestia had so many cakes. “Apple Fritter is the bomb, totes. I bet your brother made this one!” She offered happily as she leaned in towards Ambrosia, catching the shift.
Moonlight had a good idea as to why Ambrosia’s mood underwent a change. She put her hoof on the filly’s mane- and with her magic, tickled her stomach. “Jackie’s gonna be out soon,” she said as she saw the crowd starting to rise. “First we gotta sing the Anthem!” She said as she stood up, helping the filly up and leaning into Yu. She would sing the words a half-second before and try and help her friend sing along- she wanted her to be part of the experience!

 

The crowd rose and sang the Equestrian National Anthem, and it ended with a wild and explosive display of unicorn magic and an indoor aerial display from the Wonderbolts- sans Rainbow, who was out with a ‘cold’. The crowd hooted and hollered and the energy was ready to explode- 

And once it did, Ambrosia didn’t have long to wait.

 

The rodeo started with a bang; top competitors were the first to go in a variety of events, starting with Pole Bending and the Steeplechase. The most famous name in all of Equestrian rodeo, Calamity Mane, was the first out- and though she was no longer that serious a competitor, she sure did look mighty fine out there and always got the show off to a good start. Young stallions and mares in the prime of their lives; former champions looking to repeat; fierce competitors looking to make a name for their themselves. 

 

Soon it was Applejack’s turn. She got the loudest ovation of all, being a well known Equestrian heroine and all and a famed competitor herself. She shot into the two events like a bolt of lightning, even if her top speed and overall athletic presence wasn’t what it used to be. She made up for it with experience and precision and despite not being (even at her best) as fast as some of them, she finished with an excellent time- fourth in both by the time she was finished. She finished with a round of applause and hooting and hollering from the crowd and took the customary lap around the stadium as other competitors started their own runs. Many of them came by the family, said some polite words and exchanged some friendly trash talk with a family they had heard a lot about from Applejack- and most couldn’t help but say how cute Applejack’s daughter was.

 

In a few minutes she made her way to her family. “Well, Ah hope yer havin’ a good time!” She said, a small bead of sweat threatening to exist on her forehead. “How’s mah little angel doin’? Nopony causin’ y’all any problems, Aunt Orange?” She locked onto Yu. “Why, you must be Moonlight’s friend! Pleasure ta meet ya, Ah’m Applejack!”

[Blueblood]

"Eh?  Bro's no cook!"  Yu was confused for a minute, before realizing where the mistake might have come from.  "Oh, you mean Zhao?  No, Zhao's not related; I doubt he's cooking here, but he'd like the recipe if your folks want to share it, Amby."  She tousled the curly mane of the little filly, successfully being comforted by her cousin.

 

"Sharing is caring!"  She replied, making sure to swallow her bite of fritter before answering.  Everypony deserved delicious apple fritters, as long as they gave credit to who made the best apples for them!

 

The start of the national anthem brought Ambrosia to her hooves, singing out... well, not exactly the lyrics, but she made up for accuracy with enthusiasm!  Yu followed behind with more precision, but less volume, her own singing voice lost in the crowd.  Not that she felt like standing out... at least, more than she was already.

 

Soon enough though, Ambrosia's eyes were glued upon the arena show, especially once her mama was out to strut her stuff!  She joined with the cheers of the crowd as the best rodeo mare to ever... rodeo, rodeoed!  She was sure that AJ deserved all the ribbons, but mama was nice enough to share with everypony else.  And she was right, as mama always was, because all the competitors were smart enough to see who the cutest filly was!  She giggled, thanking each of them while feeling like a Princess.

 

Once AJ finally arrived, she hopped right onto her back to hug mama, while Cara looked on indulgently.  "Oh, she was darling!  Makes me almost wish that Moonlight had been... well."  The orange mare had missed out on having a little filly, and knowing that her daughter would have been likely happier then... it tugged at her strings, a little bit.

 

Yu reached out to shake AJ's hoof, grinning, "Hi there, I'm Yu!"  She waited to see if mother would take the bait like daughter, before said daughter began to bounce and wave excitedly on top of her back.

 

"Look, mama, look!  It's High Bar!  Hi friend!!"  Sure enough, there a few seats down at the ringside was a little filly she'd met once at a ponyville Hayburger restaurant, the only other pony she really knew from Manehattan.  She wasn't watching Yu's reaction, which was telling to the observant: the qilin was still smiling, but her eyes and teeth were entirely without humor.
"So it is, little fruit, so it is..."

[SteelEagle]

Moonlight stopped for a second. She had been speaking to Ambrosia, regarding Big Mac making the fritters. But then again, she was looking between Yu and Ambrosia so much and changing it up that she wasn't at all surprised that her words had went into the wrong ears. 

"Oh, I didn't mean-" she began before she realized what the subject had turned into. "Ooh, how is Zhao, anyway? He doesn't have a fillyfriend, does he?" She asked, implying a great deal just by the asking, not that the mischief in her eyes could have done any less. She did have to consider the mischief inherent in the Apple family selling recipes. "Oooh, talk about a scandal. Apple family recipes being sold to the highest bidder. Or shared," she laughed before leaning in and whispering to Yu. "Same thing in Manehattan, right?" She ended with a wink.

Applejack soaked in both the love of her little filly and the adulation she received for good behavior. She didn't need reinforcing in her belief that Ambrosia was the best filly of all time- sorry, all present- but it certainly didn't hurt. She snuggled Amby and let her crawl on her back a moment. The line of competitors getting their flowers for the first series of events was approaching so she wouldn't have long, but she loved her filly hard for all the times she could not. "Well, Ah'm happy ta hear she was," Applejack said, betraying her joy with humility. She was processing the second part of that even as Moonlight laughed and nudged her mom. "Well, ya know, like, you could have just told me, duhh," she winked playfully to let her mom off her own hook. Moonlight was a happy filly and Valen(cia) had been a happy colt. She was just now herself. Her family had done everything they could do!

 

Applejack for her part was just happy to see Moonlight's friend. She shook Yu's hoof firmly but kindly. "Nice ta meet ya, Yu! I hope it wasn't just mah old flank bringing you out, Yu. How's Yu doin'?" She replied with a smirk. Wordplay wasn't lost on a schoolteacher who moonlighted as the wife of an athlete, after all!

---

 

High Bar was monitoring assets. That was her job today. That was what her dad told her. No, she wasn't here to enjnoy the rodeo. No, she wasn't here to maybe get an autograph from Calamity Mane (he would get her one, why does she care how?). No, she wasn't here to hang out with a friend or just enjoy a night out. She was here to work. She was here to track assets, owned and potential, as well as keep an eye out on some other X-Factors. Oh of course he loved her, oh of course he would finally allow her to visit her friends. No, he didn't know she needed to get some homework done- he was going to make sure she did well, so he didn't consider it. All she needed to do was be a good little filly and do her work, and then he'd make it up to her. Pahh. If she had a bit for every time he kept a promise she'd have died of starvation within a week.

 

And so here she was, trying her best to do a job and not enjoy herself at a rodeo of all places. She had fantastic seats and used them to keep notes. One of their owned athletes was running a little slow. Another mistimed a jump- no crash, lost time. Nothing too much so far, but she'd have to keep an eye on their lowered expected performance bets. At least the food was good. The seats came with so many amenities. She imagined they were quite expensive, but she had no idea how to conceptualize bits anymore. When was the last time she even held a real one? She shuddered to think. 

 

She had made one decision, however. When she saw Ambrosia and her family sit not too far away, she had demanded that the 'employee' assigned to serve her work with Ambrosia instead. A good stallion- he listened. And like all good stallions, he told her what she needed to know. Namely, what her father needed to know. After he served Amby and her family he would report anything of interest. So far, there wasn't- except for that foreign criminal. You could Yu out of Long Guo, but you can't take the Triad out of Yu. That raised her blood pressure. Great. Her dad would want even more information now. She'd collapse into the ground if her faux fur coat was how comfortable it was. As she slide, she found herself almost nuzzling into it. 

 

It was at that moment that Ambrosia called out to her. She snapped out of her momentary stupor and waved back excitedly, trying to regain her composure. Drats. Well, now she just had to say hello to her friend. What would her father say, the poor dear?

 

A smile on her face she bounded towards Ambrosia and embraced her, belying her air of authority rather quickly. "Hello there, Ambrosia! I didn't expect to see you here. I guess I should have," she said, waving to Applejack too with a smile. "Oh, and hello there. I'm not sure if I caught your name- was it Yu?" She asked sweetly, though as she moved to let Ambrosia go she gave Yu a quick deadpan look with her eyes before smiling at Cara. "You must be...Cara Orange, is it?" 
 

[Blueblood]

Of course Yu caught the mischief in her friend's eyes, and echoed it in her own.  "Oh?  As far as I know, he's single... that said, couldn't tell you if he even likes mares as much as I do.  But if you want a date, I could always set you up!"  She left unspoken exactly which of the qilin Moonlight would be dating if she accepted the offer...

 

She instantly decided that she liked Applejack, any mare that could fall so easily into her world of puns was a gold-standard pony in her book!  "Hu Mi? Yes, that's me, I'm Yu!"  She never failed to laugh at her own joke there.  Which was good, since she'd need all the good humor she could muster as she kept a corner of her eye out for High Bar's approach.  She was not unaware of the little filly's family, status, and likely reason for being here.  She'd seen her type often enough in Long Kong, and honestly felt a little sorry for her, as well as wary.  Despite her choice of lifestyle, Yu had been blessed with a normal fillyhood and loving family, and High Bar had the look of a filly that was doing her best without either...

 

Ambrosia, on the other hoof, was too young and innocent to recognize anything other than the face of a friend.  "High Bar!  I didn't know I'd see you!"  She hopped off her mama's back to give her friend a greeting, though whether it would be a hug or a nuzzle depended on which High Bar allowed.  "Uh-huh, that's Yu, this is mama, that's cousin Glitter, and she's Aunt Cara!"

 

Cara gave a polite bow on being introduced.  "A pleasure to meet you; I wasn't aware my dear niece had already made friends in our fair city.  Pray, how did you two meet?"

[SteelEagle]

Applejack wasn't long for this game of puns. She did like Yu. Good sense of humor for a little filly. And a good sense of humor was in her experience an excellent way to judge somecreature's character. The other filly, Ambrosia's little friend- there was something familiar with her. She couldn't quite make it out- her memory of the time around her accident was hazy at best and this filly came from the depths of that time and nowhere else. "Nice ta meetch'all," she said, making sure to give her aunt a hug and ruffle her filly's mane a bit. She had no time left though, the throng of athletes behind her now waiting on her to finish their own trot before the next event began. "Ah hope y'all have fun now- wish me luck!" She waved happily.

 

"Oh, go out there and break a leg!" High Bar offered with faux sweetness and excitement before turning to Ambrosia. "That's a showpony term for good luck," she said before grabbing Ambrosia in a tight hug and speaking with Cara. "I met Ambrosia in Ponyville. I was sent there on business, and we at some sort of..." she trilled her hoof to try and get the term right, "Fast food 'joint'? And I saw her and her stinky brother in the ballpit," she let go and the playfully sniffed the air, "he isn't here, is he?!" She asked before laughing, hopefully entangling Ambrosia in the charm long enough to do a bit of sleight of hoof.

 

"A date?" Moonlight tittered. "Oh filly, like, I don't know if he could handle all this, honey," she said, missing the subtext. She knew that Yu swung from a certain box but didn't think she'd be the batted ball. As the athletes walked on by she was excited to shake their hooves. She also made sure to grade them in a little sidebar to Yu. "Seven...six...four...NINE!" She blushed as she pretended to lose her balance onto Yu. "Oh my, I've got myself the vapors!" She said in her most outlandish western filly voice, at least partially successful because of Hazel Blossom.

 

In between all this deserved tomfoolery, High Bar shook the hands of the athletes successfully- and slipped a note to one of them from her sleeve. He may have been a six in Moonlight's world, but in the world of rigged events he was a solid ten. After a few more she turned to Cara. "I'm so sorry I didn't say anything at first, but it is very nice to meet you, Missus Orange."

*********

Applejack was happy to have the first turn of events out of the way. She hadn't broken down and she didn't embarass herself. In the ring they set up for the next event while rodeo clowns performed some tricks and made fools of them to entertain the crowd. Behind them strong calves were being led to their stands and some of the first competitors started to prep for the next event of the show- Calf Roping. And in another section of the rodeo, several strong bulls were likewise getting ready to knock some unwilling competitors right off. They would take turns, and both events were wildly popular- as the preparation neared completion, the crowd swelled with excitement as the games were about to continue.

[Blueblood]

Yu waved goodbye in good humor to Applejack, well aware that unlike her, this was... not exactly a job for her, really, but something of a working holiday.  There to entertain, rather than be entertained.  Though Manehattan was no country town, it could understand a show better than any city in Equestria, and how it must go on.

 

So it made sense that superstitions would carry over, though Ambrosia was too young to have ever heard of such thing, "But that's mean!"  She said, with entirely genuine hurt.  "I don't want anypony to break a leg out there, not mama!  Not again..."  The memories came up again, throwing her into such a forlorn mood that even a cynical, aged-too-soon filly like High Bar couldn't help but feel awful at the sight of it.  True, it was only half a minute later that Amby was laughing at the clowns, arm in arm with her friend, but... the moment would still linger, in the back of the mind.

 

Meanwhile, the two older friends were watching the parade of athletes, the qilin easily falling into the bit, blowing cooling mists from her dragon breath that would act as good as epsom salts to Moonlight had she actually fainted, though most of it was disappated in a showy cloud that would look good in a newspaper 'pony-interest' photo.  "Zhao could turn a handle better than he could handle turns like yours, for sure; but let's see your nine cook with gas on the field today!"  No rodeo mare, but her tongue was as dextrous around words as AJ's hoof was around ropes.

 

It was honestly all Cara Orange could do to keep up with this lot and still watch out for her niece in the show.  "Hm?  Oh, quite, pleased to meet you as well.  You say you were sent... on business?"  It wasn't unusual in the Apple or Orange family for younger ones to help out in the business, but that was usually by garden chores, farm work, or intern errands.  Traveling away from home on business was... hm, well, not too unlike what Applejack had done when staying with them in Manehattan, but High Bar looked younger that AJ did back in the day... or was Cara just getting old?  Couldn't be...

[SteelEagle]

Calf roping began in earnest and it was not long before even the most ignorant of the event could tell those who had the knack for it and those for whom effort became extraordinary. Young calves were headstrong and energetic and those that had been selected for this rodeo were the best of the best. Likewise, the competitors had before them a challenge. Keeping pace with the calves wasn't just a question of speed or athleticism, though it was that as well, it was a question of instinct. The calves could dart and move and charge in unexpected ways, with every half-step a demerit in such a fierce competition. The rope toss needed to be quick and accurate, showcasing the anticipation and skill of an experienced farmhoof. Finally, you needed to be able to bring the calf down and tie it up all safe like. They did not want to go down and many great rodeo champions have scars and bruises from particularly exciting young calves.

 

Some excelled in one phase and others tried to be stable, and everypony who was anypony today put their all on the line. Applejack would be no different. When it was her turn she charged out in line with the released calf and did well to try and keep up with it. She wasn't as fast as she used to be but she had done this often enough to read the calf pretty well and was soon in position to lasso the critter. And in this she was among the very best in all of Equestria, and with one quick and accurate toss she had the calf wrangled up nice and good. Now came her troubles. She didn't have the same strength she used to, especially in the neck, and she had to be more cautious in how she applied pressure. She lost a bit of time, but soon she was on top of it and the calf was in the dirt, the farmer struggling slightly with her stiff back. Once she had the calf in position though she had the fastest time to tie of any competitor, completing in a few motions what others spent ages on. In short time she had managed to finish, and popped up excitedly.

 

Her time had been great. There were many competitors left, but at the moment she was in second place- fractions of a second behind all-timer Calamity Mane. With a wave of her Stetson that she picked up off the ground and a roar of approval, she made way for new competitors while navigating the back towards bull riding.

 

High Bar for her part felt a little bad about her play on words with Applejack, but only because Ambrosia was upset. She found her wordplay rather delightful, and was happy soon enough to have Ambrosia back happy as they cheered on the competitors. She got the attendant to get some ice cream shakes for them because if there was one benefit to living her life, it was shakes on call. With her friend momentarily mollified,, she leaned into the filly while talking to Cara. "My father wanted me to be there for some important meetings. My father has many important con-tacts in the country and he wanted me to get to know some of them. A meet and greet, I think he called it?" She asked, keeping her tone and enunciation pristine. She was an astute filly and well-educated at that, and was certainly putting in a performance for the elderly, old, aged mare.

 

Bull Riding was a classic, and everypony who was anypony knew the concept. If anythiing, the bulls themselves were famous on their own accord. Competitors had to hold on for at least eight seconds and a number of them would fail to do that, with the score being up to fifty for bull and rider alike. Many would score low or given zeros, while records in the 90s were possible but considered exceptional. Scores were given for constant control and rhythm in the rider in matching their movements with the bull. Points were us deducted was rider is constantly off balance. For points actually to be awarded, the rider must stay mounted for a minimum of eight seconds, and they were scored only for actions during those eight seconds. The ability to control the bull well allowed riders to gain extra style points. These were often gained by spurring the animal.

 

Applejack got her turn pretty quick and went to ride a large bull from Mustangia. She got positioned, got a cheer from the crowd, and was off. She held on tough and rough and managed to stay on the full eight seconds, even as the bucking of the bull and the wildness of its movements eventually caused her lower back to scream in pain. She bit down and did her best though, and it was only at the eleventh second that she was thrown off, crashing to the ground with a thud and a roll that sent her Stetson once more flying into the dirt. She used the momentum and got up, grabbing her hat and galloping off to get away from the angry bull before it was corralled itself to the cheer again of the crowd. It had taken just a few seconds, but she was out of breath and waiting for the score. She had a thin line of blood running down from a cut which needed tending to, but beyond that and maybe small bruises she got away from it fine.

 

After a while her score was announced: 72. A good score, but she probably wasn't going to ribbon. Still, considering how many competitors got fat zeroes she was pleased.

 

Moonlight was not. "Tch! As if! Talk about turning this and that, Jackie should have gotten like, I dunno, 99!" She said, still mostly obvlivious to how it was scored. She sighed and leaned to her friend. "Hey filly, I need to wash up. Wanna come with?" She asked as she got up and started a trot, expecting some girl time with her Qilin Qontact. 

[Blueblood]

As Ambrosia showed the crowd how cute a filly could look sipping a milkshake almost as large as herself, Applejack showed her stuff on the field.  As far as her daughter was concerned, mama was the best no matter what the judges said.  Auntie Cara was more sanguine in her judgments, impressed no doubt, though by nature more likely to be charmed by precocious politeness.  High Bar was doing good work on that line, bringing a smile to the older mare's face.  "Ah, getting you enmeshed in the network?  Well, as long as you take an interest in the business its good to get a hoof up early.  Ah, just what business is that, by the way?"  An innocent question, but perhaps not a wise one.

 

Yu, for her part, was definitely keeping an ear out for how High Bar answered that question, though not because she didn't know the answer already, but rather because she did...  "Equal to the number of cider bottles on the wall, eh?"  She raised her own refreshment with a wink, "Too bad we might have lowered her score by taking them down to pass around- oh, but that's another kind of bucking, ain't it?"  A bit dirtier of a pun, but then she was something of a lightweight, both on the scales and with the drink.  Draining the one in her hoof with a hiccup, she took the cue to follow Moonlight to wash up, leaving a slightly shocked Cara in her wake.

[SteelEagle]

High Bar found it easy to please adults. It was easy when you were her age. She was so used to dealing with them rather than fillies her own age- or in Ambrosia's case, somewhat younger- that the playbook had been revealed long before her father had drilled lessons into her. Be polite, speak well, be sweet, and speak proudly. Cara was no different, and High Bar was pleased that it was going well so far. "My father owns and runs Strategic Logistics, Incorporates. A smoother network for a stronger Equestria," she spoke the company motto into being. "Importing, exporting, national and international shipping. Even has some sub-cideraries," she fumbled the word, "that he owns as part of that. Security companies, entertainment, restaurants, and others," she said proudly. "Also runs the Central Manehattan Home for the Needy and the Charity of the Sun and Moon's Manehattan branch."

 

It was all true, in a sense. He was the owner of a dozen shell corporations and through his associates many more, most of them small. SLI was itself very well known and thought of, even if portions of it were being run directly by her father as part of the Family. Speaking of, she clapped her hooves at the success of the competitors, showing her appreciation for the roughhousing and success of her purchased talent. One of them was likely to podium- and good for her, that mare's debt was significant. Like before, the competitors started making their rounds on the way out. In time, Applejack came around, shaking hooves and smiling brightly even as she looked a little more weary than before. When she got to them, her first order of business was picking up Ambrosia- who had, indeed, won the ribbon for being cutest drinker of milkshakes. "Aww, is mama's number one filly havin' a blast?!"

Moonlight held back a conspiratorial giggle as they departed her mother leaving an innuendo in their wake. "Ohh, naughty! Filly, you're trouble," she winked as they left. She winked once they were out of sight, "besides, I don't have my flighty little colttoy around here," she giggled again, before they were soon lost in the crowd. She knew that she had to bring something up, especially because she had held it off a few days longer than she should have. But so much had been happening! Uggh. Anyway, they made their way to the bathroom. "There's, like, sooooo many ponies everywhere like oh my Celestia," she murmured before they breached the entrance. It smelled nicer in here, if only because there was somewhat less of that sweaty, stallion-y musk hanging around. "So, how's the business?" She asked vaguely as she got to the wash basin and started up, looking around to make sure all was well.

[Blueblood]

"Oh does he now?"  Cara's expression became simultaneously sharper in its attention, yet abstracted in its focus at the mention of Strategic Logistics, Inc.  She wasn't as deep in the weeds of business matters as Mosely, but nopony could be married to a Manehattan merchant and not hear troubling stories surrounding that company.  Never directly implicated, of course!  The representatives had been nothing but cheerful, and the shipping services good as far as they went, but... trouble always seemed to follow in their wake.  Spooked dock workers, breakages, mysterious absences due to improbable injuries...  All adding up to the reason that Mosely was currently engaged in a paperwork battle of attrition in a hotel meeting room rather than enjoying time with his family.  "I suppose he's currently busy with... his businesses?"

 

All this passed over Ambrosia's head, as it was currently going through a minor brainfreeze from too eagerly gulped a cold treat.  "Mnn, ngghh...."  She moaned, holding her head until mama could arrive with healing kisses around her horn.  "Like a blast in my head..."  She took a deep breath, letting the magic of mama work through her before perking up again.  "Mama, my friend High Bar is here too!  She's here on Cidering-things!  Is that like our cider?"

 

 

Meanwhile, Yu's eyes were rather more attentive in checking the holes and corners, though more rapid.  She was more practiced in the necessary art of watching one's own back.  "I remember you saying... who was he, again?"  She chatted, giving all eavesdroppers a plausible reason for two young mares to break off gossiping until they got to the washroom.

"Mm, as good as it usually is before the smart money pulls an exit."  For the first time that day, Yu really let her smile slip like a dropped theater mask.  "When you don't have to dodge spot checks when storing the goods in warehouse crates, that usually means they know what's up, and are just waiting to pull a sting.  If we don't 'wasp' our backs, they'll catch us in the honeypot, and that'll 'bee' the end of it."  She clicked her tongue, letting out a burst of flame from her mouth to heat the water to a more comfortable boiling point for her scale-clad hooves.  "I don't think your da would mind so much if its him that found out, and he could probably pay the police to just get you two weeks in juvie, but if our fellow-travelers in the underground sniff out the loophole we found in the fruit trade, there's gonna be hell to pay."

[SteelEagle]

High Bar's ears did twitch at the sharpness, but she wasn't too put off. SLI was an infamous company. They were the best at what they did but they had so many moving parts that they could cause headaches, especially for old-fashioned business types. Their many subsidiary companies moved alongside them, flanking the main corporation. When business ponies managed to see past their snouts, it was an easy transition to a brighter future. When they instead embraced rankled tradition and gave credence to rumors and innuendos. In any case, High Bar nodded. "Yes, ma'am. He is always so busy! He says that it is important for a business owner to have a proper grasp of even the smallest com-po-tent of the business. That's why his employees love him so much. He is kinda old- no offense!- but he still does labor right next to his newest employees. Frankly, he works his tail off, from root to tip!" She said, clearly and obviously proud of her dad. It was all true. Ths business he was doing may not be wholly pleasant, but even his somewhat disgruntled daughter would admit that he never forced his stallions to do something he would not do himself. "Though today I think he is busy at the Mayor's Charity Summit," she said, herr voice tone growing concerned, "are you aware that local immi-grants are facing four times as high an uni-ployment rate as Equestrians? That's awful! My daddy wants to open a public works department in Little Long Guo to help them settle in and become proper Equestrians!"

 

Applejack for her part could not care less about any of that. She was mostly all-in on her daughter. She helped rub her filly's head- did a unicorn have worse brain freezes?- until she returned to her smiling form. Applejack kissed her daughter out of habit and then heard what she said. "Cidering thing? High Bar, you sellin' cider or some such?" Applejack asked, wondering what ciders could possible exist outside of apple cider. She was more defensive than she meant to be. High Bar nodded. "Actually, yes. I have an uncle who purchased Barland Pear Fields nesar Fillydelphia. Actually makes a well-regarded Pear Cider here in the Strand. Nothing to compete with yours, I assure you."

It had started when they first met. Yu had told Moonlight a great deal about her family. Namely, the hardships they had endured, the struggles of their homeland and much more. Once that had been established, it wasn't hard for Moonlight to morally justify helping Yu shave around the law. It was for a greater good- the health and safety of her family and those they cared about. Moonlight was sure her parents would understand, but lawponies and the like in Manehattanw ere well known for being under the hoof of the mob. Yu confirmed that conspiracy to Moonlight. Her father was rich enough to get her off easily, but Yu and her poor family would be run over and run down by the mob! 

"Well, I got something that might help," she said, leafing through her saddlebag briefly before sliding it past the fire towards Yu. Facts, figures, and other details she had overheard from her father. "I think he's more worried about Bars and Stripes than anything, or else he thinks thats where, like, its all coming from. Should have some schedules and codes and whatnot, but, like, yeah it'll be more dangerous. What can I, like, actually do?" She asked. Ever since this started she had been giving information and helping out. Unknowingly, she had given Yu a lot of information that would more than implicate her. Moonlight's friendliness and openness to helping this Qilin meant she was in deep, but she could barely even recognize the water.

[Blueblood]

Cara nodded, slowly, herself not exactly trusting the sole endorsement of a young filly, but still wanting to humor somepony who obviously at least admired their father.  "A real 'pony of the people', he sounds like.  I don't doubt he often mentions building the business with his own two hooves?"  Yu had slipped off with Moonlight before she could comment then on the problems facing her community, though she had little doubt that integration was difficult for them.  "Well, its good to see him do public service for those less fortunate.  I do hope he remembers to send Mosely a prospectus when it comes time to pass the hat for any donations to the cause."

 

Caring as little as her mama for details of business, Ambosia's ears did perk up at the mention of Pear Cider.  "Like great-grand pear, mama?"  Having gotten her curls from Grandma Pear Butter's side of the family, she had early heard of their story, and why they had visited that very old stallion she could barely remember.  It stuck in her mind, because that was the day Mama had to explain that sometimes ponies cried because they were very happy, rather than being sad.

 

Yu Hu Mi, a semi-employed immigrant, was currently neither happy nor sad enough to cry.  Her face was resting in its default expression of an amused smile, though it was masking a rather more pensive mood at the moment.  It was clear from the get-go that Moonlight Glitter was pretty naive concerning the world Yu lived, moved, and worked in; not unlike she herself had been when she first arrived in Long Kong.  The difference there was, she was thousands of miles from the village she had grown up in with no plans whatsoever of returning, while Moonlight had a pretty bright future ahead of her that she was risking all to help a qilin she had only just met.  It was the sort of thing a mare might feel guilty about exploiting, but Yu was finding her conscience troublingly untroubled.  *Guess it's true what they always told me... the heart of a Triad member is a pearl, for hard layers form around it the longer it stays within the clan clam.* 

 

But what could be done?  Her people needed her, and it wasn't as if she had anywhere else to go in this city.  Needs must, no matter how many sour grapes you had to tread, whines never made the wine taste any better.  "Mm, do?  Call in the invoice credits you got, and tell them to put the bits and bank notes in the orange crates in the unmonitored section of Warehouse 7 for pickup.  We're cashing out of the operation, should have enough to keep the lower east of Little Long Guo afloat."  Her smile slipped for the first time.  "If that'll be enough to keep out those SLI snakes.  If that 'community center' gets through zoning, we'll never get that bastard off our backs.  I've seen that 'unemployment aid' scheme run before; show up for a job, submit your papers for official recordkeeping then- bam!  Your passport and visa are held hostage, and now you have to work for whoever they say at practical slave wages, or you're cut out and deported."

[SteelEagle]

High Bar giggled. "Sometimes, when he is trying to be really funny, he'll say he built the corpo-rations headquarters with his own hooves. But that'd be silly, he isn't that strong!" She tittered before looking back to Cara. "I'm just joking. He always tells me to remember that our success is because of his employees. He always makes sure to give them the credit. Almost too much!" She finished, and not having to tell a lie to do it. Her father made sure it was the underbosses and the foot soldiers, the made mares and his top lieutenants, that received the bulk of his praise. They felt like he cared for them, which made it easier for them to get their hooves dirty while he kept his clean. They did receive all the credit for the crimes committed- especially from law enforcement. "I'll make sure daddy sends Moss Lee something real soon," she smiled brightly. All things being equal, that had already been done.

Applejack did nod when it was mentioned. She was aware of that sale. The Barlands were distantly related to her family but before the family reunited they had fallen on tough times and sold the farm off. They still worked those fields, but now as employees. Something about it didn't sit right with her, but she reckoned it could be a lot worse. She distracted herself from that with her daughter, who in certain lights could reflect Pear Butter in subtle ways. Maybe that's why Applejack loved her so much, but it was probably because she was the greatest filly of all time. She brushed her daughter's mane out of the way out of habit before placing one more kiss on her. "Yep, just a little bit there, sugarcube," she said as the stallion behind her gently cleared his throat. Oh yeah, she was holding up the meet and greets. She put her daughter down and looked over at the gang. "Alright, y'all, be safe and have fun," she said as she started waving and moving on.

Moonlight had to roll the idea around her head. She didn't grasp everything business wise, but she knew what an invoice credit was. Sometimes her father sent them out to try and correct an issue with a previous payment or invoice, meaning that they owed the other business some form of credit. Other times, the opposite was true- her father received invoice credits from a supplier or more rarely a business that had underpaid. The credits themselves were as good as bits from a business sense, but they had to be called in. To be safe, she'd need to take some time. "Huh...invoice credits...like, okay. I think I can do that..." she said hesitantly, her heart grappling with multiple titans. It was wrong to steal, but it was right to help the less fortunate. She didn't want to upset her father, but her heart bled for the unfortunates who were under such a microscrope. She didn't want to get into trouble, but Yu was sacrificing so much more and how bad a friend would Moonlight be if she didn't make some effort?

 

Hearing about SLI and what they were going to do made Moonlight's coat crawl. They were always trying to look sp peachy keen but if that's what they were doing, then Moonlight needed to help her friend no matter what. She nodded, as if trying to convince herself. "Yeah...I-I think I can, like, get that for you. Umm, how fast does it need to be?" She asked, for the first time clear trepidation in her voice.

[Blueblood]

Cara made a mental note to have that package examined before Mosely opened it, but kept her smile on her face as she nodded, "It's important not to lose touch with the work at the ground level.  Which does remind me, need to schedule the next orchard tour..."  There was still that twinge of trouble that Applejack felt with her as well, but she had no intention of ruining a nice day out for her great-niece.

Ambrosia, completely free of troubles and topped up with mama-kisses, waved goodbye as AJ returned to the arena.  "Ride 'em, mama!"  She cheered, happy with family and friends, without a care in the world!

 

 

Yu ran through a few calculations in her head.  "Point is to cash out and roll up operations before we're put in the joint and smoked, so... don't rush it, but best to tie up the loose ends in two weeks.  Should be enough time to spread it out... unless there's some kind of audit going on?"  The desperation of the situation was no reason to hang a friend out to dry, especially one that went in with such pure intentions.  Rather purer than the somewhat drifting reasons she'd ended up in the underworld.  Still, if times got desperate...