//------------------------------//
// A Relaxing Break 
// Story: Crescent Moonbeam Ep 1: Introductions 
// by GlitterBit 
//------------------------------//

Pinkie, Twilight, Spike, and Crescent walked along the road. Pinkie bouncing along as Crescent and Twilight followed. Crescent, once again, avoiding any cracks in the road. Pinkie watched for a few seconds before joining in giggling. Twilight smiled and rolled her eyes.
 
Eventually the group staggered their way over to the nearest restaurant, Cafe Hay. As they approached a voice called to them.
 
“Oh! Darlings! Care to join me?” It asked. Pinkie and Twilight recognized it and began trotting over to a white unicorn with a beautifully styled mane. Crescent noticed Spike absentmindedly fixing his scales. Crescent hung back, but slowly made her way over. Another one of Twilight’s friends she thought. She tried to remember the picture she’d seen again. White unicorn, purple mane, diamonds, generosity. What was her name again? She fussed with her mane as she walked over.
 
“Oh, and who is this?” The white unicorn asked.
 
“She’s Twilight’s cousin Crescent Moonbeam.” Pinkie said looking around for a waiter, her stomach rumbling.
 
“Well hello Crescent. I’m Rarity.” She said extending a hoof.
 
“That’s right!” Crescent shouted as she remembered. She put a hoof over her mouth at the outburst. Everypony smiled and laughed a little, Crescent blushed and gently shook Rarity’s hoof.
 
“We all have our different quirks dear. Don’t feel too bad.” Rarity said as a waiter walked up bringing a drink, which Rarity levitated over to her. 
 
The waiter looked at the rest of the group. “Any orders?” He asked taking a notepad out.
 
“Yes.” Twilight said. “I would like a daisy sandwich.” She said politely.
 
“I’ll have a kumquat smoothie.” Pinkie said.
 
The waiter looked over at Crescent expectantly as he jotted down the orders. Crescent hastily picked up the menu and began looking over the items. The waiter’s attention shifted to Spike.
 
“Still don’t have gemstones?” He asked. The waiter’s silent stare was practically a glare. “Alright. I’ll take some extra crispy hay fries then.” He lamented.
 
The waiter took the order and looked back at Crescent who was still looking over the menu. Sandwiches, salads, soups, drinks, sides…  Too much She thought and looked over at Twilight. “Any suggestions?” She asked.
 
Rarity spoke up. “Well their sandwiches are all fresh, so any of them are good, but I personally favor the Cucumber Cabaret.” Rarity offered. She looked at Crescent who was searching the menu for the sandwiches description.
 
“Of course if you don’t like sandwiches their soups are delightful as well. I favor Peas and Carrots personally, but feel free to get whatever you want.” Rarity offered again. Crescent began looking for Peas and Carrots on the menu. The waiter stood impatiently.
 
“I’ll have the Cucumber Cabaret.” Crescent sighed, trusting Rarity’s suggestion. The waiter wrote it down and walked off.
 
Twilight and her friends talked for a bit catching up on what was going on that day in all of their lives. Crescent stayed mostly silent as they talked, not wanting to interrupt and uncertain how to enter the conversation.
 
Eventually the rest of their food came. The waiter put the Cucumber Cabaret down in front of her. “Thank you.” She managed to say as he left.
 
The waiter nodded and said “You’re welcome.” Before going back inside the cafe.
Crescent was about to take a bite of the sandwich, which smelled really good, when Rarity spoke up. “So Crescent where are you from?” She asked.
 
Crescent took a bite of the sandwich and chewed for a second. “I moved here from Canterlot.” She said.
 
Rarity’s face lit up. “Another pony from Canterlot! What luck! You wouldn’t have happened to pass by my boutique by any chance?” Rarity asked.
 
Crescent shook her head. She hadn’t been to any boutiques for a long time. She vaguely remembered that Rarity made dresses or something like that.
 
“Oh.” Rarity sounded a bit deflated as she sipped at her drink.
 
Crescent felt a little bad. Apparently Rarity was quite attached to her boutique in Canterlot. “Umm… I didn’t really live in Canterlot. I lived a little bit outside the city, so I didn’t see it all that much.” Crescent said hoping it would sound like she just hadn’t been in Canterlot all that much instead of avoiding her shop or something like that.
 
Rarity perked up at that. “You mean you lived in the Canterlot Estates?” Rarity asked. Crescent immediately felt like she’d stepped into something much worse. The Canterlot Estates were where the most rich and influential of the Canterlot Elite lived. It was the most prestigious place to live, short of the actual castle. Her hospital had been more of a partitioned place inside Canterlot than its own private estate.
 
“Umm…” Crescent said, but Rarity continued. 
 
“You simply must tell me! What is it like living there? The grandeur, the elegance, all the most sophisticated ponies in all of Equestria. It simply must be amazing!” Rarity said. She noticed Crescent was looking around nervously. She took her glasses off and cleaned them with a hoof.
 
“That… not exactly… I meant…” Crescent stammered trying to explain, but found it too hard to explain. She groaned and put her face down on the table. Twilight moved her half eaten sandwich out of the way before she landed in it.
 
Rarity and Pinkie Pie exchanged a look with Twilight. Spike looked like he was going to try and explain, but Twilight cut him off. “She’s been a little out of the loop while she’s been recovering in the hospital.” Twilight smoothed over.
 
Pinkie gasped and dashed off to go do something. Twilight and Rarity glanced after her then shrugged. Crescent wasn’t sure what it meant, but she wasn’t sure whether or not that was good. She didn’t look up from the table.
 
“It’s quite alright dearie if you haven’t been to my shop. Perhaps I’ll be able to show you around my original boutique sometime. We might find something for those wonderful eyes of yours.”
 
“You like my eyes?” Crescent asked looking up. Her one blue one green eyes were slightly magnified through her glasses.
 
“Of course darling.” Rarity said taking a sip of her drink. “They shine in a most interesting way and the different colors really lend a bit of a…” Rarity paused and thought for a second. “Unusual glamor, to your style.” She finished.
 
“You think?” Crescent said putting a hoof through her mane. She noticed Rarity scrutinizing her mane. Crescent looked over the mane in her hoof. It looked alright, a little more of it was sticking up than usual. She grimaced, she’d forgotten to brush it that morning.
 
“Would you like to take a trip to the spa with me perhaps?” Rarity said eyeing her mane again. “Ponyville has one of the best spas I’ve ever been to. Including the ones in Canterlot.” Rarity added.
 
Crescent shuffled a little worriedly, she’d never been to a spa and didn’t really know what you did at a spa. “I’ve never been to one before.” She admitted.
 
“What! This must be addressed! We will go at once!” Rarity stood up dramatically and tossed her mane.

“Great! I can get my claws done.” Spike said looking over his claws.
 
“Sit down let’s finish lunch first then we can go over.”Twilight said tucking into her sandwich again. Crescent went back to eating hers too.
 
The group finished their lunches, paid, and began walking over to the Ponyville spa. Rarity and Twilight waved to the various ponies they knew as they walked. Crescent stayed slightly behind carefully walking along slightly behind.
 
They walked up to the spa and Rarity walked through the front door, the bell jingling quietly.
 
“Hello Ms. Rarity.” A pony said walking up as they entered. She was blue with a pink mane and tail. She had a white headband and collar on and spoke with a slight accent. “The usual for you I assume.” She looked past Rarity and gave a quick respectful nod. “And Princess Twilight. Are you two going together today?” Then she noticed Spike and smiled at him. Then looked at Crescent.
 
“Oh! Who are you dear?” She asked, as she made a note in her ledger.
 
“She’s Crescent Moonbeam. She’s with us.” Rarity finished.
 
“Ah! Welcome to the Day Spa Ms. Crescent.” The pony said taking a brochure from a shelf. She handed it over the counter. “Tell us if there’s anything else you’d like today.” She looked over at Rarity. “We’ll charge your account as usual.” She said.
 
“Thank you.” Rarity said stepping behind a changing screen for a second before coming out in a monogrammed bathrobe. Twilight followed suit and spike just followed rarity into the spa. Crescent cautiously stepped behind the changing screen and pulled a bathrobe on.
 
“It’ll be alright Crescent.” Twilight assured her holding the door open for her. Crescent cautiously stuck her head through the door and looked around. “Come on.” Twilight said scooting Crescent forward with a wing and letting the door closed behind them.
 
Crescent walked forward as Twilight started going over what Rarity’s Usual was. “We’ll first have a steam, then a facial, followed by a massage and mud bath. We’ll probably finish with a soak and hooficures.” Twilight outlined.
 
The spa had a hallway that led to a big common room. Doors led off the hallway into the different areas of the spa. Rarity was standing outside one of the rooms, Spike was next to her holding a leaf fan.
 
Crescent tilted her head and adjusted her glasses. “Does Spike…” She paused. “Like Rarity?” Crescent asked, thinking back to just before lunch. He’d straightened his spines before meeting her and acted a little more quiet during lunch.
 
“Shhh.” Twilight said as she scooched Crescent further in. “Spike kinda wants it secret, though everyone knows.” She explained.
 
“Excuse me princess. If I might talk with you for a second.” The pony from the front desk called.
 
“Sure just a second.” Twilight responded turning to Crescent. “Go ahead with Rarity and Spike. I’ll see you guys in a second.” Twilight walked back to the front desk. 
 
Crescent looked over at Rarity and Spike. Spike waved and Rarity motioned her over. “Come on darling you simply must try a steam.” She said opening the door as Crescent walked over.
 
They all entered the steam room together taking seats around the room as the steam enveloped them. Rarity sighed happily as she settled herself. Crescent sat down and felt a little uncomfortable. The steam room felt a little too muggy and enclosed to her. It kinda reminded her of when she had to go to focus groups on extremely hot days. 
 
All those ponies in the same room, all talking, trying to figure out what was going on in their heads. It hadn’t been bad. Several ponies enjoyed it and talking it out had helped them figure it out and settle their problems. Sadly it hadn’t seemed to work for her.
 
Crescent sighed and closed her eyes. She was out now. Practically on her own and everything was going well. She didn’t have to see all those ponies leave when she couldn’t. She didn’t have to worry about having more delusions. She was happy that those days were behind her and she could relax now. Actually relax for once. She was free to live her life. The room suddenly felt a lot more open and enjoyable. Crescent sighed again and smiled.
 
“It is quite relaxing isn’t it?” Rarity asked hearing the sigh.
 
“Yes. It is relaxing.” Crescent responded.