//------------------------------//
// Spa Days and Make Overs 
// Story: Peace and Harmony 
// by Lienia Harmony 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 1: Spa Days & Makeovers


I trotted down the street passed Rarity’s boutique to the spa, where I was meeting Fluttershy and my sister for a bi weekly day, though for them it was weekly. I usually preferred not to do the spa, but Fluttershy asked me to join them at least every two weeks. I think it was because she needed someone else to interject Rarity’s ramblings about Canterlot fashion and social rankings.
Upon entering I noticed Applejack sitting beside Fluttershy in the spa lobby. “Oh, hey Applejack. I wasn’t expecting to see you here.”
“Well, Hi there, Lienia! How are y’all?” she got up and greeted me with a hug, wrapping her foreleg around my neck.
“I’m just fine, Applejack,” I replied, returning her hug. “Who talked you into joining us?”
“Shoot. Old Fluttershy here said it might do me some good, especially with how mah back has gone out from all the apple bucking this last season. But don’t get any ideas that Ah’ll make it a regular thing. This is just for mah back.”
I laughed. “No worries, Applejack. I wouldn’t doubt it for a second.”
The two of us laughed and I greeted Fluttershy similarly, only she was much quieter and also slightly distracted by the fashion magazine she was reading.
So I lounged back and waited for Rarity to run in exclaiming some excuse as to why she was late or sprouting off about someone who commented on her hat. I listened to the other ponies in the spa, and after about fifteen minutes I heard Rarity trot in with none-other that Miss. Twilight Sparkle, Bearer of the Element of Magic and Personal student to the Solar Princess. If Pinkie Pie and Rainbow came through the door, I was gonna leave the spa.
Thankfully, neither did, so I went through the motions and avoided Twilight, praying she wouldn’t recognize this little reverse palomino unicorn who stuck next to the young apple farmer. Thankfully she was too busy planning something with Rarity.
So, while sitting in the hot tub, I turned to my companion of choice. “So Applejack, how’s the orchards?”
“Well everything is just fine. The apples are gonna be ready for bucking soon in the west fields.”
“That’s wonderful.”
“It sure is. Ah just hope my back won’t get thrown out no more.”
“Well, if you know where any hot springs are, you could go there to soak, especially if they are close to the farm. Then Granny Smith and Big Mac could benefit. Applebloom to on those days she comes home sore from her “Crusading”.”
The earth pony looked thoughtful as her mind tossed around the idea of finding a hot springs. “Well, it would make it easier for me and ol’ Big Mac to rest our joints… and sometimes Applebloom is right sore, and it would help Granny smith with her hips…”
I smiled as it seemed she really was finding the logic of my suggestion. “And it would be a good way to unwind. You take picnics out there and you could have dinner under the stars.”
Applejack’s grin confirmed it. She loved that idea. “Ooooheee! Ah’d love that! Lienia, could y’all come help me?”
“Of course. What are friends for?” I replied with a smile.
She laughed and hugged me as we got out of the tub to get massages.

Once it was all over, Rarity lead me back to her boutique. Rare had told Rarity to try and find me a special somepony, so Rarity was try to… well, Rarity-fy me.
So I stood there trying not to scream my head off as she poked, stabbed, pulled, pushed, and essentially tortured me as she tried to get me in a dress. Then she had to add things to it and style my mane and put on makeup and other fru fru stuff on me.
And then she just had to make adjustments… on EVERYTHING!!!
“Rarity! Isn’t this—ow—a little much—erk—just for—ow—a date!” I cried out as she sewed on a hem while it was on me. Then a hair pin was shoved into my curls and horseshoes shoved on my hooves. “Ouch!”
“Oh quit your whining. If there’s no pain in fashion there’s no gain!”
“That doesn’t even make sense!” I snapped at her as she stabbed me with the end of a feather to try and make me stay still.
Rarity huffed and that feather was jabbed into my mane—more of through it and it smashed into my skull. “Only because you have zero interest or knowledge of fashion. But luckily, you have me to make you more presentable to the gentlecolts of the world.”
I growled as she pulled at the collar of the dress. “Or, since it’s really, YOUR mother wanting me to find a special somepony so she can have grandchildren, YOU should give your stupid career a break and try to find YOUR special somepony!”
Rarity looked taken aback at my statement.
You see, just because my cutiemark represents peace, doesn’t mean I’m totally peaceful. Especially when it came to snooty little Rarity. Sometimes I wanted to strange her with her own ribbons. That’s how much she annoyed me.
“Lienia. You know that I can’t even think about settling down until I am known all over Equestia for my designs—”
“FOR CELESTIA’S SAKE RARITY! PONIES ONLY WEAR CLOTHS FOR VERY, VERY, VERY SPECIAL OCCASIONS!!!!” I finally lost it. I briefly wondered if my outburst was heard all the way to Twilight’s, maybe even Sweet Apple Acres. “Unless they are snooty like you. If it was just a shawl, I wouldn’t have cared. A collar thing or scarf or maybe a hair bow.  At most a nice small informal dress… BUT THIS?!?! THIS OVERKILL FOR DATING!!!” my purple maned adoptive sister was stumbling back as I jumped from the stool and pushed her back against the wall. “If you must make me a dress, make me a small short dress, not this ridiculous gown. And these horseshoes do not even fit and are pinching my hooves. And the headdress is beyond overkill.”
Rarity had tears in her eyes. “I thought you were peaceful.”
I blinked, then stepped back and looked away. “Forgive me… but you didn’t want to ask me what I wanted and I wanted to tell you.”
The fashionista unicorn took a breath and nodded. “You are right, I got distracted… I will make you a simpler dress… and perhaps a scarf.”
I nodded, and then allowed her to help me out of the clothes, and I trotted out. I was still slightly seething about the way she treated me, and so soon I was at full gallop down the road out of town.