A long road starts with the wrong step
Twinkleshine walked merrily down the streets of Canterlot under the bright shiny day, a day that made the marble unicorn feel like she was under the biggest spotlight of the world. Her aim was straight forward to the best district of Canterlot’s, one known as Fame and Fortune, where all kinds of agencies and talent hunters resided, offering the opportunity of a lifetime, and all the ponies that had the desire to become a star could be seen walking down this same avenue, trying their chances in one of the many agencies to show they could become the next super star.
It was her dream, her passion, to become the next famous star among the celebrities and be praised for her acting skills from the best talents there was. “This will be the first chapter in my career to the stars! Look out, Canterlot! Here comes Twinkleshine!” shouted the unicorn, causing several heads turn directly to her, which in retaliation made the marble unicorn blush in embarrassment and trot faster down the street.
Today was her meeting with an important stallion that had, probably, made some space in his busy agenda to interview Twinkleshine and give her the opportunity to cast for a role in the new movie they were to be making.
“I’m almost there. I hope I can impress the agents and get a good spot for the upcoming movies… No, none of that kind of talk, Twinkleshine. You are going to get the stellar role!” she shouted once more, causing the ponies in her vicinity to look at her with strange looks, which made Twinkleshine chuckle and blush once more. She quickly decided to gallop out of their sight and make a beeline straight to the building she was going to have her interview.
Passing by several buildings, she soon slowed her pace once she spotted the one she was to visit, and without missing her pace, she made her way inside the small built office that held a desk and four simple chairs, with several photos of celebrities and some of Canterlot scapelands. In the middle was a coffee table with several old magazines sprawled all over it.
Twilkleshine walked directly to the receptionist and stopped close to him. “Hello? I’m here to meet with Mr. Ratburn. My name is Twinkleshine,” she said to the stallion, who was a green coated unicorn with a brown chocolate mane, who was reading a fashion magazine in an uninterested manner. He looked at the ivory unicorn in a bored manner and sighed.
“He’s currently busy. Sit over there until you are called out, please,” he said in a flat, careless voice, barely giving the marble unicorn a care in the world before resuming on reading the magazine lazily on his seat.
Twinkleshine merely nodded and took a seat on the couch and waited patiently as she glanced at the clock and then back at her hooves. She noticed how her hooves were shaking and let out a squeal of excitement, which the receptionist groaned and rolled his eyes at how childish the mare looked.
The receptionist tried to ignore Twinkleshine as much as possible, annoyed by how the mare before him was acting all childish like and did his best to focus on his magazine and reading about the gossip it provided.
Twinkleshine was sitting patiently, glancing at the door now and then, expecting the door to open up at any minute, but she decided to play it calmly and tried to act with a certain amount of disinterest and anticipation, waiting for the moment of the meeting they had arranged come closer.
Several hours had passed, and nothing had happened since she talked to the receptionist, who was still engulfed in the magazine he held from earlier. She wanted to stand up and ask the receptionist if she was too early for the meeting, or at least to call the agent to let him know that she was here, that was... until she heard the latch of the door inside the building move.
The door opened to reveal a dim gray coated unicorn stallion with a brown mane and moustache, who noticed Twinkleshine on the seat and smiled at her. “Miss Twinkleshine! So glad you could arrive,” the stallion greeted, holding Twinkleshine’s right hoof and kissing it, “Please follow me to my office. There is so much we will be discussing.” His tone was of a proper gentlecolt and was just as chivalrous, guiding the mare to a small hallway and directly to another room inside the building.
The office was decently spaced, with several awards and trophies displayed on a shelf on the wall. It had a simple desk and two seats in front of another one, much bigger than the other two in front. “Please take a seat, miss,” invited the stallion as he took his place behind the desk.
Twinkleshine took his offer and sat on the couch on the right, smiling expectantly before talking, “Mr. Ratburn, I am thankful that you accepted me for this interview for the job as an actress. I know I am new in this business, but I am more than willing to-”
“Let me stop you right there, miss,” he interrupted with a kind expression on his face. “I am afraid that we won’t be able to have anything for you to work with.”
Twinkleshine was confused by his words and tilted her head slightly, doing her best to comprehend what he implied, “I am sorry, but I don’t think I follow,” she said, trying to keep a smile on her face.
“Miss Twinkleshine, I am afraid to say that we are looking for ponies with experience and talent on the matter, and you being just on your first day is something that we call in this business as… an actress in training,” he explained, trying not to cringe on the last part and not wanting to be so rude with the mare.
“Actress in training?” she repeated, the disbelief was on her face as she leaned closer. “Why would it be a problem if that’s the reason I was invited for the job, to gain experience?” she asked, knowing that she was being rejected from the very start of the interview.
Mr. Ratburn arranged his mane with his right hoof and breathed deeply, “Miss Twinkleshine… It may sound unfair, but you have to understand that it will take us a lot of time to have you become the actress we need you to be. We will be investing plenty of bits on making sure that you can have the pose, style and charisma that this house of production needs from you to be a glamorous star that will be the center of attention,” his voice was stern and cold, he was now looking at the mare with certain disinterest as the discussion dragged on.
Mr. Ratburn took a deep breath and eased his posture. “Look, I am truly sorry for making you come all this way just to tell you all this, but this part of the industry is where we must face the facts and be confronted with the cruel reality of this business: that only the few selected ponies that can have the natural born talent are those who can step on the stairway of success and fame,” he finished, giving a little attempt at an apologetic look at the marble unicorn.
Twinkleshine took a deep breath and nodded. She knew that discussing things further would only make her look desperate and decided to leave with dignity. She got off the chair and walked close to the desk. “Thank you for your time, Mr. Ratburn. I appreciate that you offered up your time to tell me this,” she managed to keep herself composed, turning around and walking outside the door and shutting the door behind her as she walked out of the building, not even sparing a word to the receptionist.
The calm quietness of the agency house soon changed into the noises of carriages passing by and the trotting of other ponies around the street. With disappointment on her face, Twinkleshine trotted down the road, being tired of the entire ordeal that just happened a few moments ago, wondering why she was called just to be turned down like that. She decided to put aside her frustrations away to keep herself calm and composed for a moment. Feeling entirely disappointed that the interview wasn’t in any way what she was expecting and that she had just walking around aimlessly in her depressed state.
She was so focused on the paved ground, deciding to walk back to her home to relax for the rest of the day, that she didn’t notice the mare who walked near her from the opposite direction.
“Twinkleshine, what a surprise!” shouted the mare, Twinkleshine soon recognized the voice and lifted her head up to see the mulberry mare was trotting quickly to catch up to her friend.
“Huh? Twilight! A surprise indeed to see you here,” Twinkleshine felt her bad mood vanish, replacing it with a smile towards her friend. She gave her a hug the moment they got within hooves’ reach.
Twilight smiled, breaking the hug, “I remembered that you had an interview today. So, how did that go?” Her smile soon was an expression of concern as she looked directly at her friend with a frown after she made that question. “Why are you so gloomy? Something happen?”
Twinkleshine sighed, once more walking past Twilight. “There is a cafe here at the corner. We can talk there, my treat,” she invited with a faint smile on her face, taking the lead to the local cafe.
Twilight was surprised by the sudden invitation and soon made a hoof pump in excitement, “Yes! First one on one friendship bonding is happening! I can’t believe Spike was right on letting these things happen out of the blue!” she murmured to herself, strutting happily behind Twinkleshine.
It was truly a surprise to Twilight to meet with Twinkleshine, and it was even more to have a little bonding time with each other. She had been planning to make a schedule for each friend on different dates, until Spike found out what she was planning and said that it was preferable to let these things happen on their own, ‘let things flow’ as he quoted. Twilight scoffed at the idea of letting things occur just like that. it was something that never suited her in the slightest, and she was certain that she could just make out a schedule including an activity for each friend in ample time to work on taking in consideration the preferences they all had, including times to eat lunch or if they encountered with a third party.
But as things turned out, she had the opportunity here and now when Twinkleshine appeared. Having free time herself, Twilight couldn’t dare to hesitate on taking on the chance and followed her. Schedules can be rearranged at another time anyway.
Twilight and Twinkleshine were now close to the cafe and made their way inside, passing by a few customers and taking seats near a small table where a waitress arrived to request their orders. They ordered a cup of coffee and a hay sandwich each and waited for a few moments until it became slightly awkward for the two of them to speak.
“So… um... you were acting a bit gloomy back there on the street?” Twilight asked, trying her best to be subtle, but she soon flinched in nervousness, as she knew that it wasn’t subtle enough.
Twinkleshine smiled sadly, giving pause for a second and began to explain, “Today was supposed to be the day where I would have an interview with a movie agent and start my career as an actress, but things didn’t go the way I thought they would,” she was now looking away as her smile vanished and was now completely sad, remembering the rejection she had to suffer.
“What happened? They didn’t offer you a job?” Twilight asked, leaning closer in concern for her friend.
“Worse than that, they didn’t give me any opportunity at all,” she replied, “Seems that the stallion I met up with wanted to have some natural born talent that would just save him time and money, I guess. He wasn’t really interested in somepony like me that still is new in the world of acting and celebrities,” she explained with a bored tone as she watched the window outside.
Twilight was taken aback by that last bit of the explanation and leaned closer. “But you had an appointment with him, didn’t you?” she wondered out loud, surprised by the news.
Twinkleshine shrugged in confusion. “I don’t know. I had sent my profile and application to them, and then after a few days, I had a call that said to arrive at his office,” she admitted, groaning in disappointment. “He seemed more invested on the idea of having a famous mare that could just make a movie out of good looks and popularity and just win him bits easily,” she assumed while focusing on her meal.
Twilight mulled over the situation, while chewing on her sandwich, “That is really unfair that it happened to you, since you want to be a famous star.” After finishing her drink, she sighed, “You must have worked so hard on studying acting and taking lessons on the matter, so it would be a waste not to give you a proper chance at being an actress in any agency in Canterlot.” Twilight was now looking directly at her friend and considering that using this method of approach was a good method of motivation to lift Twinkleshine’s mood.
The white unicorn smiled softly and nodded, sitting straight on her seat and nodding, “you’re right, Twilight. This might be a setback on what I want to achieve, but I can’t just drop everything just like that because somepony thinks I am not good enough,” she said, feeling more motivated within a moment. “But where can I go now? It’s not like I can go to any agency out of blue and request kindly to be the star of their next film, just like that.” The confidence that she once had vanished the moment she realized that there was nothing else to do in the near future except for waiting to be called once more.
Twilight was in deep thought. She wanted to help Twinkleshine in her situation, and she was thinking on the many subjects she knew about the different agency houses in the city that could be interested in giving her a job. Sadly, that didn’t last long, as the mulberry unicorn didn’t have any clue about what she could do to help Twinkleshine directly.
Except for one thing, she knew one mare that could help, one that could even give her the job she knew Twinkleshine would need in order to become the superstar that she wanted to be.
“I know somepony that can help,” Twilight slowly suggested, then looking at her friend she was more certain with her words. “Follow me. I know a place that can certainly help you.” She paid for the lunch and began to walk out of the cafe.
“Really!? Hey! Wait up!” Twinkleshine was excited as she jumped off from her seat and rushed behind Twilight out to the streets once more.
The white unicorn rushed to catch up to Twilight and smiled. “Soooo, what’s the plan?” she inquired as they both trotted down the street of Fame and Fortune Ave.
“We will be visiting with an old teacher of mine and asking for her help,” Twilight explained vaguely, keeping her eyes forward as they continued to walk until they reached a luxurious building that was pink and held golden details around the windows.
Twinkleshine was about to say something about Twilight being very vague and avoiding the answer directly, but the fact that she recognized the agency building and who the pony that worked inside was gave her enough conviction to make her believe that Twilight knew well who would help her have a chance to become the future actress she wanted to become.
“This is the Super Shooting Star Agency, a place that can certainly help you with whatever you need,” Twilight stated with a proud smile to her friend, watching how Twinkleshine awed at the building before her.
The marble unicorn was excited, as everypony knew that this was one of the most famous house agencies renowned throughout the entire kingdom, and Twinkleshine knew that this was the true opportunity that she wanted to obtain for herself to start her career.
Super Shooting Star Agency
Twinkleshine was surprised beyond her wits that Twilight had brought her to the most famous agency house of all Equestria, and it was nothing short to say that ponies knew very well that the Super Shooting Star gives the opportunity of a lifetime.
The agency house was the most prestigious one for more than a decade, being notorious for the fine line of actors and actresses they educated and offered to many production studios, while winning the prestigious trophies and academy awards they gained with each movie they produced. This agency was indeed the best opportunity that any pony with aspirations for acting could have.
“I can’t believe that you know about this place, Twilight! I mean, how can you know about this place!?” she was as excited, holding onto Twilight’s forelegs and leaning closer to her face, focused on her friend with an expectant glee.
Twilight was a bit nervous as she chuckled lightly, looking at the side of the street to avoid eye contact, “Well, it’s more or less of a long story,” she explained sheepily, trying to break free from the grip of her friend and walk forward to pass by the gate’s entrance.
“But seriously, Twilight, this is the same agency where Fleur De Liss works for, and she is the most famous actress in the entire kingdom. By the stars, everypony knows that if you want to make it big like her, you just need to be at this place,” Twinkleshine’s eyes sparked as small stars gleamed from them on how excited she was. “You just have to tell me about it!” she said with a gleeful smile.
Twilight nodded, looking at Twinkleshine. “I will do that, but for now we can come here and meet up with an… uhm... a friend,” she said taking the lead into the main entrance.
Twinkleshine was a bit confused, but her thrilling emotions made her decide to follow Twilight into the building, which was guarded by two stallions that were stationed on each side of the main door.
The two guards were big and well toned in body muscle, with low cut brown manes and grey coats, wearing black shirts and sunglasses that made them give an aura of intimidation, “Name,” the one of the left said, not bothering with greetings of any kind.
“Twilight Sparkle,” Twilight smiled as she addressed the stallion, being polite to the stallion as she waited to be allowed to pass inside.
“Sorry, miss, but you can’t get in, only selected members,” the stallion replied sternly, looking at the mulberry unicorn through his shades.
Twilight was surprised by his words and tried to insist on her request. “Have you checked the list? I am pretty sure that I am allowed to walk inside,” she smiled gently to the guard, showing her profile to make sure that she was recognized.
Twinkleshine was getting a little nervous, noticing that both stallions were now staring at them and hating the idea of being kicked out of the place. She wanted to call Twilight to leave, but something inside her wanted to have hope for them to get inside.
The stallion remained unfazed, not even moving from its current spot. “Sorry, miss, but I must ask you to leave,” he instructed without even glancing at the mares for a moment.
Twilight lowered her ears as she began to turn away. “Alright… Just tell Lady Platinum Series that I say ‘hi’,” she said before giving the first step back to the street.
“Wait!” shouted the other stallion, moving from his place and lowering his sunglasses to reveal his brown eyes that had widened in surprise. “By my stars, if it isn’t Miss Twilight Sparkle!” he said with a big smile on his face.
The lavender unicorn perked her ears and made a face of recognition. “Shield Bash?” she guessed. Once the stallion nodded that she was right, Twilight smiled brightly, rushing to the stallion.
“It has been quite the while you’ve been here, Twilight,” Shield bowed slightly to the mare and punched his partner on his foreleg. “Sorry for the rude treatment. These shades make it hard to see the colors of the ponies’ coats, and the newbie was just doing his job,” Shield chuckled lightly, stepping aside to let Twilight and Twinkleshine pass inside. The other guard did the same, correcting quickly his own mistake and giving space for the two mares to walk by.
“Thank you, Bash. See you later,” the lavender unicorn, along with her friend, walked in the agency building and left the two stallions behind while they made it through a big hallway of walls, painted in salmon and ivory frames, giving proper detail to a maroon colored carpet that was beneath them, and several chandeliers were set to illuminate the place. Twinkleshine admired the simple room, to even compare it with Ratburn’s agency wasn’t even unimaginable.
They walked in silence until they reached a big lobby, where Twinkleshine could no longer hold her surprise at the marvels contained within.
The room was big, decorated by countless photos of new and old celebrities, with a display of several prizes and awards that Twinkleshine could recognize as being in the highest of categories. Chairs of mahogany along with a coffee table was set on the right of the room, and on the left, next to a white door, was a reception counter where a violet mare with a yellow curly mane was currently working on some paperwork, soon noticing the arrival of the two mares.
“Please take a seat, and you will be…” the mare said professionally until she noticed the lavender unicorn and her companion. “Oh, my sparkling stars! It’s Miss Twilight,” the mare squealed in excitement as she rushed around the counter to greet the mulberry unicorn up close. “What a pleasure to see you here!” the mare greeted, surprising the mulberry unicorn, grabbing her hoof and shaking it as fast as she could, making Twilight tremble in the aftershock.
“He-hello, we wo-would like to me-meet with Lady Platinum,” Twilight greeted back still shaking from the gesture, soon finding her hooves on steady ground and smiling politely. “I would like to talk to her,” she requested, smiling brightly to the hyperactive mare.
The mare nodded quickly until she soon felt realization. “Yes. Of course. My name is Oopsie Daisy, by the way. Oh, can I get your autograph!?” she said, grinning widely with her eyes wide open to have her reply. When she received a nod from Twilight, she squealed and rushed to jump over the desk, leaving her hind legs wiggling in the air while she reached for a note and quill.
Once back, Twilight nervously held the note and quill and signed on the paper with ease. “Here you go,” she said, returning the objects to the mare, who hugged them tightly as if they were the most precious thing in the world.
“Oh, I can’t believe I am one of the few ponies to have the autograph of Twilight Sparkle!” she said to herself and levitated the two objects back to the desk. “Oh, right! You two came to see Lady Platinum! Just one moment! I’ll just go and call for her!” she shouted almost in panic and dashed to the door at the end of the room, only to trip over, fall and recover quickly out of the room.
Both mares decided to sit down on the comfortable couch letting the slightly awkward moment to slip by, glancing around at the different decorations and photos that hung around, letting the silence take over for the moment. It didn’t last long enough, as Twinkleshine leaned too close to Twilight and smiled with sincere curiosity, which the mulberry unicorn noticed and leaned back.
“I can make a guess and say that this seems to be a proper time to tell me about how you are related to this place, Twilight,” she pressed forward, her eyes glinting with curiosity, “I mean that mare just burst into a total fangirl just when she saw you, just like the guard at the entrance.”
Twilight looked around and noticed nopony was there to be used as a distraction. She resigned herself to tell the story that her friend was so eager to know. “Well, it was during the times when we still were part of the School for Gifted Unicorns that one of my assignments of being the princess’ pupil was to learn about etiquette and proper manners when meeting nobles and dignitaries,” she began, adjusting herself on the couch and looking at Twinkleshine with more tranquility, “I wasn’t really into the matter, but knowing that it was a must in my final notes, I had little to say in the matter and had to endure them.”
Twinkleshine listened attentively, nodding each time she felt like she needed to. “So, when does being in this agency relate to the story?” she asked with her never wavering curiosity.
“My studies were mostly in this place, and Lady Platinum was assigned as my teacher. That is why I am well known here,” she said, smiling shyly.
“And a truly dedicated student she was,” the voice of a mature mare called as she, along with Oopsie Daisy, arrived. She was an elder mare with silver coat and white pearl mane that was tied in a bun. She was dressed with a professional cherry colored blazer, and her cutie mark was two masked ponies of black and white each. “Honestly, if she had stayed here, I could have molded her into a proper star of the cinema and even more,” the mare added, smiling at Twilight, chuckling lightly.
“Lady Platinum!” Twilight jumped off the couch and rushed to hug the older mare, but was stopped by the halting motion of the hoof of said mare.
“Now, now. Twilight, is that a proper way to greet somepony?” Platinum said with a smile, shaking her head in disapproval.
Twilight nodded in understanding and soon took the proper pose of a Canterlot noble, lifting her chin high and walking with measured steps towards Platinum Series. Once in reach, she bowed courteously and spoke in a refined tone that any high class pony could speak, “Good evening, Lady Platinum. A pleasure to meet with you once more.”
Platinum replied with a small bow of her own. “The pleasure is all mine, Lady Twilight, for your pleasant visit,” she said, chuckling gently as the mulberry unicorn did the same. “Oh, come here you.” She then pulled Twilight and hugged her while laughing.
Both mares hugged for a moment and broke apart. Platinum eyed Twilight with her critical eye. “My, Twilight, you have been growing up very well since the last time we have seen each other,” the elder mare said, nodding in approval of whatever she seemed to judge upon inspecting Twilight. “But do please tell, why the sudden occurence of your wonderful arrival?” she now asked, not losing the smile on her face.
Twilight, who was currently smiling, relaxed herself a little, “I’m sorry that I haven’t visited sooner, Lady Platinum, but I wanted to ask for your help with a friend of mine.” She stepped aside to introduce her to her friend. “This is Twinkleshine. She wishes to have a moment with you.”
Lady Platinum glanced at the marble unicorn and walked toward her.
“Oh my stars! Lady Platinum Series, it is nothing but an honor to get the chance to meet you in person!” Twinkleshine squealed in excitement, offering her hoof to greet her. “I mean, you’re one of the first ponies to ever win every single award that have ever been made in the cinematography!” She was so excited that she couldn’t stop showing it by the way she held onto her hoof.
Platinum chuckled politely and nodded. “Thank you kindly, Miss Twinkleshine, I appreciate that you are well known of my success in my golden years,” she ventilated herself in mock embarrassment and soon calmed herself a little. “So, what can I do for you, my good mare?” she asked, feeling in a good mood to help Twinkleshine.
“Well, the thing is, Lady Platinum, that I wanted your help to become an actress…” she requested meekly, smiling weakly while looking at the grey mare before her.
Platinum’s smile faltered and soon focused her eyes on Twilight, who smiled nervously as her eyes begged her to accept her friend’s request, “That seems like a bold request for one to make, Miss Twinkleshine. But please, let us discuss this further in my office,” she said in a flat tone before turning around and walking towards the door that was at the end of the room, Oopsie Daisy walking behind her boss with a quick pace.
Twilight and Twinkleshine exchanged glances before deciding to follow them through the door.
Beyond it was a corridor with several other rows of doors that settled in line, and on each wall was a full body portrait of a famous actor or actress. But Twinkleshine was still in a curious state as she trotted to catch up to Oopsie Daisy and lean closer to a whispering level. “How do you know about Twilight? Is she really that famous around here?”
Oopsie Daisy nodded quickly. “She is indeed. Miss Twilight is well known among those who work here because of the movies she has acted in,” she replied, smiling widely as she leaned closer to Twinkleshine. “Every year, during Heartswarming Eve, Lady Platinum gathers us around to watch the film of Twilight’s play of The Origins of Equestria. She was an exceptional Princess Platinum.” Her eyes gleamed of how the memories danced in her head.
“You acted as Princess Platinum!?” Twinkleshine was surprised, looking back to see her unicorn friend, her eyes now fully on Twilight.
“It was a long time ago. When we were foals, my parents wanted me to participate in the school play, and Lady Platinum helped me with my acting and dialogue,” she explained, looking a little embarrassed. “I never expected they recorded the entire play. My parents have a copy as well,” she sighed looking at the floor but still moved forward.
Platinum Series laughed for a bit and glanced at Twilight, “Honestly, Twilight, there is no need to be ashamed for such a talent of yours. Compared to those other foals, you were the best of them, for you never had any trouble with your lines or your acting. It was truly splendid to watch you on scene,” she said with a warm smile as the group neared the end of the hallway.
They reached the office, which was a white ivory door with golden frames and the cutie mark of its owner, and went inside. Inside was as luxurious as any prestigious office could be; A desk of marble filled with office products, a wall decorated with photos that had been taken in the front part of the building with Platinum Series being surrounded by mares and stallions through different times, a movie projector with a stack of organized super 8 films that were neatly organized and labeled by name and year and a set of three yellow couches with red swirls that was in the tapestry, that surrounded a black coffee table with a crystal panel to see through.
Platinum Series couldn’t hold back her smile, watching the faces of amazement from her guests. “Do make yourselves comfortable, please,” she invited while walking to the couch and taking a seat. “Miss Daisy, please make some apple tea and serve some cinnamon cookies,” she requested politely to her secretary, who responded with a firm nod and prepared it from a minibar that was in the office.
Twilight and Twinkleshine sat on a different couch, taking a seat on it and getting comfortable, but still looking nervous for the former and excited for the latter.
“I know what Twilight has requested of me, but I would like to hear an explanation from your own words, Miss Twinkleshine. What is that you wish from me?” her voice was calm and collected, her eyes pierced thoroughly through Twinkleshine’s very being and her posture was nothing but neutral from any sign of interest towards the marble unicorn.
Twinkleshine was nervous now and felt that she couldn’t talk for the sake of her own being, but she was not going to stutter in front of such an important mare. “Yes, Lady Platinum. I would like to have an opportunity to become an actress under your guidance and help.” She bowed, closing her eyes and awaited for the answer, almost pleading to hear an approval of any kind.
“Very well,” Platinum said with a single nod in approval, her head up high and eyes closed.
“Wha- really!?” Twinkleshine asked, trying to confirm what she just heard and trying not to tempt fate by hearing an answer in denial.
Oopsie Daisy soon returned with a trolley that held the three cups of tea and a platter of cookies for her boss and guests and was getting near until she tripped over her hind legs and fell to the floor, pushing the trolley throughout the remainder of the distance near her boss, who held the platter and served the tea and cookies calmly for her guests.
Platinum Series held her teacup in her magic and gave a sip from it before continuing. “Why, yes, I do mean it,” she replied easily, setting the teacup on the saucer that was on the table, “After all, this was a request of a good friend of mine,” she said smiling at Twilight, who smiled awkwardly back.
Those last words struck wrong for Twinkleshine as she looked at the silver mare with a confusion in her eyes as she tried to register what the meaning implied.
“Oh, don’t look like that. You will be working as an actress now. I can even pull some strings and give you a stellar role in any movie. Isn’t that wonderful?” Platinum Series said, giving a bright smile as she clapped her hooves in excitement.
There it was, a pang of guilt that made her heart jump as she glanced to Twilight, wondering if it was all this easy.
“Well, I mean there will be the downside that somepony won’t be getting the role, since you will be getting it without question.” The voice that Platinum now gave was almost mocking, but it still held the canterlot accent of a refined lady.
Twinkleshine felt guilty as her heart hammered in her chest, and it was quite strange to feel it, since this is what she wanted. To have it all delivered on a silver platter seemed to be just too much, and to know that she might just take it out of somepony else was more weight upon the guilt upon her back.
“I… I think... I- I gotta go,” Twinkleshine soon jumped off the couch and trotted to the door, not looking back to Platinum or even Twilight.
“Twinkleshine, wait!” Twilight followed suit as she tried to catch up to her friend.
“Are you sure of what you are doing, Miss Twinkleshine?” The question made the marble unicorn stop herself from turning the knob of the door and think. “This is what you wanted. Why run away from it?”
Twinkleshine was now having an internal debate with herself and wondered if she could easily obtain all that she wanted. Of course, she wasn’t so naïve as to believe that things can ever be that easy, and yet...
“I appreciate that you would help me in all ways, Lady Platinum, but I can’t accept this if I don’t do things by doing some hard work and effort. Thank you anyway,” she said, turning around to confront the mare with a smile.
Platinum’s face was calm, but a faint smile can be seen in her features, “Did you know that the motto of our agency is: The Opportunity of a Lifetime?” she said, motioning Twinkleshine to walk back with her. “One pony won’t be able to have a second chance to obtain the same offer twice,” she said, sipping her tea once more, “Do you think that you can obtain such an opportunity like this one if you wait long enough for it to happen? Or that your hard work will allow you to be recognized to work here or in any agency in this kingdom?” she asked, looking seriously towards Twinkleshine.
“Well, I do think so... If I work hard enough, I can meet the expectations of those who are willing to give me the chance,” Twinkleshine replied, still looking uncertain if the answer was the best to give.
Platinum smiled and nodded curtly. “I like your answer, Miss Twinkleshine. Hard work is always rewarded,” she said while turning her back to the mare and walking to a big window that was at the end of the office, behind the desk. “My great grandfather was a traveling artist. He and his family, along with some of his friends, used to travel from town to town around all Equestria to perform the arts of theater and entertainment for everypony to see and enjoy. It was that kind of hard work that brought wealth to our family that made us prepared to the changes of time. When theater soon evolved into movies, my father invested in it, being the pioneer of movie acting to such an extent that we were recognized by Princess Celestia herself. Father was such a passionate stallion that he soon made a production business and a chain of theaters.”
Twinkleshine heard intently every word the older mare said, noticing how nostalgic she looked by telling her about her family.
“It was hard work that brought us here, and it will be the same for those mares and stallions down there as well,” Platinum Series pointed to the other side of the window that gave a view of a room below, where a group of ponies seemed to be dancing in choreography while an instructor barked orders in front of them.
“They, too, want to be actors and to be accepted under our guidance, or as pegasi call it, under our wings. They come here to learn day in and day out, but they also know that not all of them will be working in this same agency. You, on the other hoof, have something they don’t, an advantage so to speak,” she soon added, turning around to meet with Twilight. “It was because of her that I decided to take your request and fulfill it. Why reject such opportunity?” she soon asked, taking her eyes from the ponies below to focus on the marble unicorn in front of her.
Twinkleshine glanced momentarily to Twilight, before looking at Platinum Series. “Because my dad raised no sloucher that would take things by mere right. He told me that I should put on some elbow grease for things that are worth obtaining, and that nopony has the right to deny the reward that I have worked so hard for,” she replied with conviction.
“I like your answer, and I admire your passion for what you want to work for,” Platinum nodded, walking to her desk and pulling out some papers, “But,
I’m afraid that this decision won’t be a wise one for your career.” The words cut through the entire room like a bad omen that was recited to the marble unicorn.
Twinkleshine felt heavy, and her heart hammered in her chest. She could feel that even if she was going to work hard to succeed, she was going to be in for a great trial.
Author's Note
Chapter two is here!
Hope you guys enjoy it and write your comments about the chapter.
