CRACK! BAM! KHATHOW!

The thunder cracked as rain fell down from the heavens above to the old cobblestone streets below.

"It's raining bats & frogs!" A very disgruntled unicorn mare blurted out as she did her best to keep her hat from blowing away as she ran.

"I think you mean cats & dogs Trix! And yea it is, are we almost to the hotel yet!?" The second unicorn mare asked, as she quickly trotted beside her friend, using her magic as an umbrella to take the blunt force of the heavy rain above them. Though it didn't much help with all the droplets the wind was still blowing in their face.

"Trixie did not ask do be corrected Starlight Glimmer!" The showmare huffed as she ran. "But yes, once we turn left at the end of this road we should be able to see the Le Trot!"

"Good" Starlight wheezed. "Because I honestly dunno how much longer I can keep this spell up and I don't want to get any more soaked then I already am!" Starlight exclaimed.

The two friends turned at the end of the street in unision and let out a sigh of relief as they saw the big ol marquee in front of them that read...

"GRAND OL LE TROT HOTEL: THE RUSTIC RELAXATION DESTINATION"

"FINALLY!" The two ponies cheered in unison.

The two mares slowly walked through the enterance and Starlight closed her eyes and smiled in relief as she was finally able to stop using her magic to try to shield them from the rain. As she opened them again she looked around and took in the sight around her. The main plaza of the Le Trot was magnificent. White marble pillars, gold paint on the ceiling and golden & bronze fleur-de-liz insignias across the walls. Black marble floor and in front of then a grand golden & ruby staircase leading up to the second floor where they could see an elevator at the top.

"Trixie, this, this place is magnificant!" Starlight exclaimed as she continued to look around eyes wide and mouth agape.

"Hehe, yes, Trixie knows. After all only the finest will do for The Great & Powerful Trixie and her Super Sensational & Special Bestest Friend!" Trixie exclaimed as she gave Starlight a wink.

Starlight blushed and let out a small giggle.
"Flattery me too much Ms. Lulamoon and I might think you're flirting." She said in a sultry tone.

"Well now, Trixie can't say she thinks thats a bad thing." Replying in kind.

All of a sudden as if out of nowhere the two mares were broken out of their moment by hoofsteps and the sound of a dinging bell.

"Good evening ladies. How may I be of service?" They heard a stallion's voice say.

Looking to their left the two saw the male unicorn behind the check-in desk giving them a rather stoic look.

The two blushed wondering if he had heard their little back and forth but they decided to move forward none the less.

Trixie put her hooves up on the counter and after clearing her throat exclaimed. "Hello good sir, I am Trixie Lulamoon and this is my mare, er merry friend Starlight Glimmer."

"Ahh, yes, you were the mare that reserved a room for the week, for oh what was it again? A magicians convention I believe." Gold Key asked.

"That is correct good sir. Trixie is in town for the annual Manehatten Magic Megacon!" She replied with excitment oozing from her voice.

"Very good. I am Gold Key, the proprietor of this establishment, and just let me say that we are delighted to have you spending the week with us." He said with a smile.

"Um, who's we?" Starlight asked. "No offense but this place looks pretty deserted."

Gold Key let out a small sigh "well it is rather late, most of the staff clocked out by eight you see and as I am the only one who actually lives in the hotel, yes it is quite deserted here but given you are checking in at 10:30 I am not quite sure what else you expect."

"Um, sorry." Starlight replied.

"No offense taken my dear" Gold Key replied. "I know the weather was not kind to you on your journey here. So let us get you to your rooms so that you can rest & warm up." Gold Key said as he levitated a key off the rack behind him.

The three ponies entered the elevator and Gold Key pressed the button for the fourth floor. "You two shall be staying in room 418. It is one of our finest sweets. A fully stocked fridge with the finest foods and ciders. An extravigant bath/shower combo, a nice selection of the most recent novels and theatre magazines and the comfiest king sized bed in all manehatten."

"Wait, a king sized, as in one bed!?" Trixie asked with a gulp.

"Why yes, is that a problem?" Gold Key smirked.

"Not at all" Starlight replied. "Right Trix?"

"Haha, of course not." Trixie blushed.

"Excellent, ah, here we are" Gold Key announced as they stepped out and trotted down the hall to their room.

Opening the door to the room the two mares were in awe yet again as the suite was indeed quite impressive. Burgandy floor and drapes. The blue crystal door to their left leading to no doubt an equally impressive bathroom. Black tiles in the kitchen area with a crystal chandelier hanging in the middle of the room, its light illuminating the entire space. With the king sized bed to their right wrapped in dark royal purple sheets.

"WOW" the two mares awed in unison.

"So, the room is to your liking then I take it?" Gold key asked.

"Oh yes, very much so." Trixie replied
"Uh, uh huh" Starlight stamnered.

"Excellent!" Gold Key smiled.

"Now of course there are a few notes & rules to go over. First off. This hotel is protected with ancient runes that nulify magical forces. So no magic will spurt from those horns of yours, pegasi are unable to fly, and earth ponies strength are tempered." Gold Key exclaimed.

"Wow, that seems kind of extreme doesn't it?" Starlight asked.

"Perhaps, but this is an old hotel and upkeep is not cheap, we want to prevent as many accidents as possible."

"That makes sense, I guess." Trixie nervously muttered. "But how come you can still use magic then?"

"Well as I said, I am the owner of this establishment. I need to be able to protect it and its occupants." Gold Key explained. "On to the next points. Breakfast is at 8:30 A.M. sharp. And other meals can be ordered via roomservice from noon to eight. And the final most important reminder is of course to be sure to lock your doors before you go to bed, for safty percautions of course. Wouldn't want to be sued just because some silly fillies forgot to lock the door and wake-up with their saddle bags missing." Gold Key smirked.

"Um, OK, I guess all that sounds reasonable...kind of" Starlight replied with a tinge of uncertainty in her voice.

"Well then, I bid you all good night." Gold Key bowed as he left the room closing the door behind him.

There was a brief pause.
"That guy is weeiirrdd!" Trixie said turning torwards Starlight and throwing her saddlebag down on the floor.

Starlight just rolled her eyes. "Well i'm going to go take a warm shower and go to bed. How about you?"

"That sounds like a plan to me!" Trixie smiled.

Trixie woke-up in a cold sweat. She looked around and realized that it was still dark. She tried to use her horn to light up the room but to no avail. "Oh thats right, no magic in the hotel she thought." She stared at the night stand next to her and saw 2:25 A.M. flashing on the alarm clock.

"Ugg, why is Trixie up so early!?" She quietly mumbled to herself staring at the peacefully sleeping Starlight Glimmer beside her.

"Sweet Celestia she's cute when she's sleeping" Trixie thought. Smiling at her marefriend.

Trixie's happiness quickly faded though as she looked in front of her and saw a ghastly figure at the foot of their bed. A ghostly figure of an earth pony mare holding its head in its hoof, its eyes black and empty, its smile full of sharp fangs.

"AAAHHHH!! GHOST!! STARLIGHT H-HELP!!" Trixie screamed holding her hoofs over her eyes.

All of a sudden Trixie heard a rustling and felt a hoof touch her

"EEP!" She yelped.

"Whats wrong Trix!?" She heard Starlight Glimmer ask.

Trixie stuttered her eyes still closed. "Over t-there" she whined pointing forward with her right hoof.

Starlight looked forward only to see an empty room. And let out a disgruntled huff. "It was just a bad dream Trix, go back to bed"

"I-it was not, it was real Starly, Trixie saw it with her own two eyes!" The mare said giving out a low sob.

Starlight huffed but scooted closer and embraced the shivering unicorn next to her. "Its ok Trix. I'm here and I won't let any mean ol ghost get you, promise." She said with a gentle voice.

"You mean it?" Trixie said leaning further into Starlight's fur.

"Of course, after all, what kind of Marefriend would I be if I let a ghoul eat my girl?" she replied with a wink.

Trixie just smiled as the two lied back down and returned to Luna's dreamland.

Meanwhile, invisible in the corner a dark spirit just smiled and scoffed. "Aww, how cute, and pathetic!"

Author's Note

A few notes.

-sorry if this was kind of tame but gotta build up first.

-yes Starlight & Trixie are a couple in this story but they are both kind of new to it, thus the reason Trixie is reluctant to call Star her marefriend infront of strangers.

-The scares are just getting started... more heavy terror in future chapters.