//------------------------------// // Act 2: Much needed Vacation // Story: Friendship is Failure #25- Death to Twilight // by DakariKingMykan //------------------------------// ACT TWO Twilight was on a train with Spike heading for Las Pegasus for a much-needed vacation from the School of Friendship and Friendship Missions altogether. “This is going to be so much fun!” Spike said all giddy and excited. “I can’t wait to hit the buffets and the swimming halls.” Then he noticed Twilight seemed rather uneasy, which was expected, she had many objections about going on this trip and being away from her post. “I wonder how they’re all getting on without me back home.” she said for the zillionth time. Spike sighed, “Twilight, you’ve been working too hard, and you need some time off. Starlight’s in charge of the school, and she and the others will be just fine without you.” Twilight tried to calm herself. “But what if there’s something wrong in the world, like a friendship problem that needs solving. I should be there to at least supervise or make suggestions upon it.” “My point proven. You’re overworked, and I’m glad the others talked you into this.” “Talked me into it?” joked Twilight “More like forced me into this without much consent. They even packed my luggage and insisted I go.” Spike slumped back into his seat. “Face it, Twilight. You’re just a work-a-holic, who can’t find much time for fun anymore. You’d rather be solving a problem.” Twilight felt struck at what he just said. “I am not a work-a-holic. I know how to have fun and relax.” “Sorry, Twilight, but grading test papers and having adventures isn’t exactly the idea of fun I’m talking about.” They decided to give it a rest, not wanting to start an argument, and they were too far along their journey to go back anyway. Twilight refused to teleport back anyway. Soon, the train arrived at Las Pegasus Station, and the massive metropolis spread out before them. Spike was awed at the glamours sights, and Twilight was a bit too. She was trying her best to keep her mind off work. She and Spike gathered their luggage-- one suitcase each-- and they soon hailed a taxi-coach to take them to their hotel. Twilight kept looking all over the streets to see that every pony was getting along well and that no one was having any troubles. “…Are you okay?” Spike asked. He sounded very serious; suspecting that Twilight was slipping again. “Fine, just fine. I’m ready for this.” Spike was not convinced. “Grand Star Hotel.” the driver suddenly said as he stopped the coach. Twilight and Spike looked up and gazed in astonishment at the large building ahead of them. This hotel was white coated with golden edgings around the building showing its forty stories. The ground level was wide enough to be the size of a small shopping mall, stretching out in all directions. Atop the roof were large golden stars that shimmered in the sunlight. “Look at this place.” exclaimed Twilight. “It’s even bigger than our castle and school put together.” Spike checked the brochure he had. “It’s been voted among the top three hotels in all Las Pegasus. You must make a reservation at least three months in advance to get here.” Twilight had a reservation, but it was made by her friends behind her back-- A full week’s stay for her and Spike, including room service, spa treatment, and shopping, and of course, full buffet privileges, which Spike was still drooling for. “Maybe this will be fun after all.” Twilight said to herself. Spike was pleased to hear her say that. Soon, they settled into their room, which seemed just as prestigious as Twilight’s bedroom at home at the castle. A large four-poster bed, big enough to fit at least four ponies in. A large, soft couch which Spike took comfort with, and a commanding view of the city from being many floors up. “Wow!” exclaimed Spike. “You can see everything up here.” Twilight was still able to see many citizens in the streets below and beyond, but she quickly held herself back to avoid relapsing. “I’m not going to break!” she kept telling herself. “I’m here to relax.” Then she felt, “Maybe I could send Starlight at least one message… just to tell her that we’ve arrived and all.” “Twilight…!” Spike scolded. Twilight bit into her limb. “You’re right, I’ve got to get a grip.” She took a deep breath, and then she and Spike went off to enjoy the sights and hotel luxuries. They went swimming in the large indoor water park and took a moment to relax in the hot springs. They had their spa treatments, complete with massages, mud baths, and complementary cider in fancy glasses. “Ahh, this is delightful.” Spike drowsed, and the mare masseuses giggled at his compliments. Twilight rolled her eyes. She and Spike even went shopping, and they bought souvenirs for their friends back home. Spike even bought a large Star-Shaped diamond for Rarity. “She’s going to melt when I show her this.” “Spike, that’s so expensive.” protested Twilight. “We need our money to last all week.” “No sweat.” Spike insisted and he motioned across the lobby at the casino. “Uh, Spike…” Twilight said pointing at a sign which read, “Patrons must be 21 years or older to enter. Those who are underage must be accompanied by an adult.” “So… you’re an adult.” said Spike, but Twilight shook her head, “I never gamble, Spike. It just feels so wrong and dirty-- taking risks with money like that.” Spike could already see he was defeated there, but he cheered up that evening when he and Twilight went to the All-You-Can-Eat Buffet for dinner. He ate so much that he let out a huge belch. “Spike!” Twilight snapped, only to suddenly let out an equally big belch herself. Spike snickered. Then, suddenly, there was a small fanfare, and an announcement was made. “Mares and Gentle-ponies, presenting our hotel’s owners and proprietors… Goldie and Silver Star.” Out came two Pegasus Mares… Goldie Star: A yellow pony with a shimmering blonde mane and a cutiemark of a dollar sign in a gold star. And her younger sister, Silver Star: a faded gray pony with a light gray mane, and a cutiemark of a cent sign in a silver star. The sisters were greeted by gracious applause, and some of the patrons came up to shake hooves with them. The sisters made it to the center of the restaurant, and Goldie announced, “Honored Guests… Your admiration of our establishment is most appreciated.” Silver then added, “It’s a great pleasure for us to serve you and treat you all well, and we only hope that we shall gain further opportunities in the near future.” “Carry on!” the sisters both said together, earning themselves more applause, especially from Twilight herself. Spike would have applauded had he not fallen asleep with such a full belly. “Aww, Spike…” Twilight sighed. She paid for their dinner, and then levitated Spike onto her back to carry him back up to the room and put him to bed on the couch. She knew Spike was a heavy sleeper on a full-stomach, and he most likely wouldn’t wake up until morning. Still feeling restless and not ready for bed, Twilight decided to go walking around the hotel--really, feeling her nerves tinkling with a need to snoop and see that all was well enough for her satisfaction. “At least spike won’t be able to nag at me this time.” she chuckled. The hotel was still bustling, even in the late hours. Many families had already returned to their suites to head to bed, while others were still swimming, or at the spa and at the casino, but there really wasn’t all that much out of place in Twilight’s view. “This is just what I like to see,” she said to herself. “Everyone is getting along well, nothing chaotic happening…” Then she felt worried. “What if I’m just looking in the wrong places? Surely some-pony somewhere could use help with something.” She was about to get her wish as she passed the main lobby when she could hear arguing coming from the office behind the desk. The Star Sisters were in a meeting with another hotel owner-- A dark brown Earth pony with a red mane and a cutiemark of a business contract. Name: Big Buy Bill. and they were speaking quite loudly so it was quite hard not to ignore them. “We told you before…!” snapped Goldie “We are not selling our hotel!” “But look at your profits?” Bill pointed out showing them diagrams of seriously declining income. “If you sell to me, I promise, your hotel will be in great hooves, and you’ll receive quite a profit from it.” “Again, the answer is “No!” insisted Silver. “We will only sell our hotel when, and only if we have absolutely no hope and no other alternatives, and at the present we are not in that situation.” “Besides,” said Goldie. “We know you and why you really want this hotel, and we assure you, it will never be yours.” Seeing the fruitlessness to argue further. Bill gathered up his papers and left, “My offer still stands.” he called. Then he was gone, while Twilight stood behind a large stone column, having overheard everything. “What are we going to do?” cried Silver. Goldie shook her head, “There’s got to be a way for us to make more money. We can’t take out anymore loans from the bank, and our stock is all dried up. If we don’t get our profits soaring soon, we’ll just have to sell.” Silver looked as if she would faint. Then she and her sister gazed at a large family portrait on the wall of the girls when they were younger, with their parents standing in front of the hotel. Just then, there was a knock at the office door. “Excuse me…?” Twilight called. The sisters could hardly believe their eyes. “Princess Twilight Sparkle…?” exclaimed Goldie. “Oh, right… you are registered with us for a week.” said Silver. “Um… what are you doing here. This office is off limits to guests.” Twilight explained how she overheard things and being rather honored to be in the presence of the Princess of Friendship, the sisters couldn’t help but explain their troubles. “Our parents inherited the hotel from our grandparents…” explained Goldie. “It’s been in the family for generations, and it started out as just a regular building of low-income condominium units built by our 20th Great-Great Grandfather.” Silver then added, “Our parents passed away in a road accident, and they left us the hotel, which we were prepped and worked to takeover anyway, and we’ve done well… expect up to now.” Goldie showed Twilight another diagraph of their declining profits. “We aren’t getting enough guests, which means we aren’t making enough money to maintain our business.” Then the sisters looked furious. “The worse we do, the easier it’ll be for us to accept Big Bill’s offer if we expect to make ends meet.” “Well, why don’t you accept?” asked Twilight. Goldie answered, “You don’t know Big Buy Bill, when he purchases other buildings, he changes them completely for his own personal businesses. He bought a boarding house and turned it into a comedy club. He bought out a mansion and turned it into a wax museum.” Silver then pounded her hoof on the table. “Who knows what he’ll do to our family’s hotel if he gets his hooves on it. Our family’s reputation will be surely ruined and disgraced.” Twilight felt very sorry for the sisters. She had only been at their wonderful hotel for a day, and she’d hate to see it go bankrupt. “How much money are you looking at?” she asked, and Goldie offered her a paper with such a large sum on it, that Twilight’s eyes nearly popped from her head. Even she, as Princess of Friendship with a massive fortune of her own, couldn’t just loan that much money all at once. But suddenly, a great thought struck her mind… … Back in the present, Twilight groaned, “Yeah, some great idea it was… and it led me to this.” She referred to her entrapment. “You’re doing great, Twilight.” Starlight said “Now, keep going. What happened after that?” Twilight didn’t answer. She was looking rather weak with the heat blazing at her. “Twilight! Answer me!” cried Starlight, and she could feel the spell starting to weaken. If Twilight passed out, all hope would be lost! “Twilight!!”