What Happens in Pegasus

Las Pegasus is an unusual city. It started as an extravagant cloud city in the sky, built by pegasi, with a focus on being a huge gambling and recreation resort away from prying eyes.

After it became apparent that earth ponies and unicorns also wanted a piece of the action, the Las Pegasus council agreed to shift the entire cloud city to ground level, and began paying suitable unicorns to watch over the city entrance. There, they would cast cloud-walking spells on any and all non-pegasi, free of charge; the city made enough profit from the resorts alone.

Eventually, rich earth ponies and unicorns decided they’d like to live there, or at least close by. As a result, normally-constructed houses, hotels and even casinos made from brick and mortar began to spring up around the cloud city’s edge, expanding Las Pegasus by giving it a ground-built district that curves around the city itself. That district became more and more popular, especially since it’s the first district everypony goes though when visiting Las Pegasus.

So there it was; a huge, cloud city resort, based entirely on the ground, fused with a later-built addition from ground materials around the entrance. A city that’s one-of-a-kind.

You and Dash step off the multi-pegasus drawn chariot, a few blocks away from Hurricane’s Palace in the cloud-based district. You’d both taken a train from Ponyville to Las Pegasus’ nearest train station, and from there, a courtesy chariot to the throng of hotels near the city’s centre. You would have flown, but your saddlebags would have weighed you both down. Besides, the whole weekend is meant to be taken easy. To chillax, as Rainbow would put it.

After taking in the nearby sights, you both trot into the lobby of your hotel. It’s refined and sophisticated, with a lively atmosphere. The carpets and furniture alone look like they cost a year’s wage to you. A pianist plays some light jazz in the background. The staff are well-groomed and posh, with elegant mares and classy gentlecolts drifting back and forth, asking if everypony is having a nice time, and taking orders for wines and spirits. A few of the younger members of staff are stuck with bag-carrying duty.

Normally, you and Dash wouldn’t be caught dead in a swanky, high-class place like this. But since it’s already paid for - and not a single bit from your own wallet - well, who’d turn that down?

Strolling up to the front desk, you tell them about your reservation. It’s booked under your own name; a suite two floors up, with a two-pony bed. Not bad.

You decline the bellcolt’s offer to carry your saddlebags, since you’re both just wearing them anyway. You could handle carrying your things up some stairs, it‘s not difficult. However, nothing prepares you for a completely different sort of ‘difficult’ when…

“Is that who I think it is? Hey, Rainbow Dash!”

You and Rainbow turn around to face… either the best or the worst thing imaginable. Spitfire, the famed, fiery-headed captain of The Wonderbolts, stands right in front of you, next to Soarin’. Soarin’!?! The same chump who Dash yelled out two nights ago when you were-!?!

“Yeah, I remember you, alright,” Spitfire smirks as she nudges your multicoloured lover, “Winner of the Best Young Flyer Competition and weather-manager for Ponyville!”

“Yep, that’s her alright!” the blue-maned, blue-coated stallion chirps, “I remember her from the last gala we went to. Remember that, Spitfire?”

“Oh, I remember that one…”

The look on Dash’s face is a mixture of pleasant surprise and hidden embarrassment. She hadn’t forgotten about the incident a few nights ago either, and here she is now, in mid-discussion with the one pony you didn‘t want to be here, while you‘re both on a romantic vacation to forget about the said incident.

This must be why your elderly friend chose Las Pegasus for a resort; he knew Rainbow Dash was a fan, and he knew where they were due for a performance. That sly old stallion. If only you'd told him the whole story.

“So you guys are performing in Las Pegasus?” Dash asks, just for the sake of moving the conversation along.

“Oh, yes,” Spitfire says, “You didn’t know? We can put your names on the guest list if you like.”

Rainbow Dash gives you a pleading look, something she almost never gives. You nod; this weekend is for her, after all. Even if it gets turned completely upside-down in the space of two minutes.

“Okay, great,” Soarin’ grins, “We’ll put down Rainbow Dash and… uh…”

You give him your name, “…or just ‘rookie’ for short.”

“Rookie? That’s what you like being called?” chuckles Soarin’, “I guess I‘ll have to start calling myself Wonderbolt!”

If that was his idea of a joke, he shouldn‘t quit his day job. You give a courtesy laugh along with everypony else, anyway.

After Rainbow Dash spends a few more minutes basking in the presence of the Wonderbolts, they finally agree to catch up on the rest of their plans for that day.

“Alright, remember you two,” Spitfire says as she turns to leave, “We’re performing at midday tomorrow! You’ll be on the guest list! See you there!”

*******

You fling your saddlebag down by your side of your hotel-room bed, and throw yourself on top of the covers. It’s surprisingly comfortable, which is expected from a five-star hotel, but it still doesn’t get rid of that uneasy feeling you gain from meeting those two in the lobby; Spitfire, and especially Soarin’.

“Are you okay?” Rainbow Dash asks, lying down next to you on the bed, “You weren’t expecting the Wonderbolts to be showing up here, were you?”

You shake your head; the only reason you took this vacation in the first place was so you wouldn’t be reminded of… ugh, and here you are thinking about it again when you’re supposed to be unwinding.

“We don’t have to go there if you don’t want to.”

What?

You turn your head to face Dash. By the look on her face, she was being totally serious. Despite getting the one-in-a-million chance of meeting the Wonderbolts in a packed city, and getting a free show out of it, she’s still more than willing to turn it all down for your sake. That’s Rainbow being her faithful, loyal self. That’s the pony you fell in love with.

You still wonder how you became lucky enough to date a wonderful pony like her.

“Nah, we’ll still go there,” you peck her on the lips, “This weekend’s all about making the best of things, so we might as well go to this free air-show. Besides, they’re your heroes, I don’t want to stop you seeing them.”

“Thanks,” Dash sighs in relief, “You’re my hero too, Rookie. C’mon, since we’re doing the Wonderbolts thing tomorrow, I’ll let you chose what we’re gonna do today.”

“Get settled in?” you shrug, “This place has a pool and spa, after all.”

She mulls it over for a moment. “Okay, but no hoof-massages or anything like that.”

“Deal.”