“My, I can’t believe you made Rogue Gold fall in love with Synergy Star!” Bling complained.
“That was actually pretty funny.” Dazzle suppressed a laugh. Bling had acted all gutsy and tough, saying that the mini-boss that Napoleon set up was lame. After having his flank handed to him, he decided to insult the mini-boss out of spite, but rolled a one. Napoleon took the liberty of making his character and the mini-boss a couple.
“I told you ‘wait until you roll a one’.” Napoleon stuck his tongue out at Bling.
Coco opened the glass door to the spa.
“Thank you, sweetheart.” Florin said as she trotted in.
“Thank you, Coco.” Montresor tipped the hat he was wearing before following his wife inside.
Napoleon, the Hearts, Dazzle, and finally Bling and Marigold stepped inside. Dazzle stayed behind to catch up with her mom.
“Hello, welcome to Mane-icure Spa of Mane-hattan,” Two ponies at the desk greeted them. They kind of reminded Dazzle of Aloe and Lotus back in Ponyville. She would go there often with Silver Spoon to relax. Especially in the middle of summer.
Florin flipped open a brochure, and searched through the contents. “I know just the thing!” She turned to Dazzle and pointed to a hairstyle in the brochure. It showed a filly with wavy hair, like her mother used to do her hair.
Dazzle shook her head.
“What? No?” Florin asked. “Which one do you want?”
“I have bad memories of that hairstyle.” Dazzle looked through the contents. “How about that one?” Dazzle chose the one that said pixie cut under it.
“You sure?” Florin asked. “I have bad memories for that hairstyle actually.”
Dazzle nodded. “I want to try something new.”
“Okay, pixie cut.” The spa pony at the desk noted that one down.
“Make that three more.” Florin said. “I know for a fact that Dazzle has better taste than I do…” She pointed to Coco and Ms. Heart.
“I wouldn’t say that…” Dazzle cut in.
“Oh no, Florin, I’m going to try something else.” Coco said. Her smile was a little too wide for Dazzle’s liking.
Coco pointed to a hairstyle in the book.
“That? Really?” Florin’s jaw popped open. “You don’t come across as that type of pony, Coco. Are you going through a mid-life crisis already?”
“What did she pick?” Dazzle asked.
Florin waved the brochure towards her and pointed out to a hairstyle that seemed crazy. Absolutely crazy, it was spiked and going in all directions, like the style of some Wonderbolt’s mane-styles, but a little rattier.
Coco’s grinned sheepishly as her tan cheeks grew rosy. “After a couple months of Dazzle not brushing her hair, I just wanted to try something out.”
“Well, whatever you are going for, I’ll go with you.” Ms. Heart said. “Two pixies and two rockers.” She called out to the spa ponies. She leaned towards Coco and whispered. “Thank you for choosing that. I don’t think Iron Heart would approve if the idea came from me.”
“I heard that!” Iron Heart shouted over.
“Heard what?” Bling asked.
“Nothing, Bling-Bling,” Marigold said. She stood up at the desk and happily added, “I’m going to do the standard washing today.”
“What about the boys?” Dazzle asked.
“They told us that they’ll stay behind,” Florin said. She turned towards them, who have taken their seats already. “Right, Monty?”
“Eeyup.” Montresor nodded.
“Alright, follow me upstairs,” One of the spa ponies said. She motioned up a staircase, leading up to a landing, and then another flight that led to the second floor. Once Dazzle came up, she gasped. The whole room had row upon row of barber/hair-stylist equipment. The place was busy and alive full of clamor and mane-dressers that rushed to and fro to get their services done. A window stretched from wall to wall on the far side of the room, outside it, you could see the building across the street. From the looks of it, the department store already was preparing for the summer sun festival in a month or two.
“Dazzle!” Coco tapped on her shoulder.
Dazzle spun around.
“You’re the guest of honor, so you go first,” Coco motioned to attendant, who had a chair prepared for her.
Dazzle trotted over and hopped into the seat. The attendant lowered the chair down using the hydraulic step that was placed at the chrome base. “I need to help the others out. Sit tight, and the dresser is on her way.” She rushed over to Coco first. From the conversation in the back, the attendant wanted to get to Coco first because… well… the magazines would be after her and her new hair style. Even more so, the attention the hair dresser would get from doing the honors…
Dazzle rocked her hindlegs back and forth as they hung off seat. She gazed into the mirror, an action that she didn’t do too often. Her mornings consisted of hurrying through the bathroom. She would brush her teeth in a hurry, not staring back at her reflection for too long. From a half-remembered nightmare, she recalled a mare in the mirror that crawled out and attacked her.
“Hi, welcome to ―” A filly greeted before stopping dead in her tracks. “Oh, it’s you.”
Dazzle’s gaze in the mirror shifted over to the filly behind her.
From last time, she was sporting a different style in her hair. Her green eyes stared Dazzle down.
“You work here? Aren’t you too young?” Dazzle asked.
She pointed to her cutie mark. “At first, my family thought I was good at chopping apples. Nope. Turns out I’m good at barber work.” She scoffed. “Who knew, right?” She continued, “Thankfully, the owner of the shop saw my talent, and so, now I work here.”
Dazzle nodded. It was quite similar to how she got into the hospital volunteering.
“So, if I got it correct, pixie cut?” Babs asked, trotting towards the drawers below the mirror. “Just need to clarify, because there is no going back once I start chopping.”
“I’m sure.” Dazzle said.
Babs pulled out a pair of scissors, and a trimmer. She plugged the trimmer into a nearby outlet, and set it on the cabinet. Babs wrapped a tissue paper around Dazzle’s neck and then buttoned up the cloth to make sure hair didn’t get on her coat.
Within a minute, Dazzle felt Babs take the first chop of the scissors. As she watched the first bundle of long hair fall to the ground, she contemplated taking back her decision. The strands of purple and white hair looked sad on the ground, the long years of how long it took to grow it out, now cut short- literally.
“Ehm, so how are you doing?” Babs asked.
“Fine.” Dazzle answered. “How are you?”
“Good.” Babs said.
She felt the firm tug of Babs’ hooves and then the release of the scissors. Firm tug… then a release. Each motion traveled up her spine and across her skull.
After a long moment of silence, Dazzle added, “We visited Vertigo today. She’s doing fine after the Corrosion.”
“Hmm.” Babs nodded.
That didn’t work. Dazzle thought a little jab would cause a little more reaction, but Babs didn’t do so much as sniff at it. She added, “It was quite the scare when the Corrosion hit the school, huh?”
“Yup.” Babs snipped another few strands of hair.
Dazzle couldn’t help but feel tense at this interaction. Usually in an awkward situation, as her parents taught, is to muster up a lot of grace and walk away. Unfortunately, she found herself in the interesting position of being unable to escape since her haircut was only half finished.
Dazzle continued. “How long have you lived in Mane-hattan?”
“All my life.” Babs answered. “How long have you been here?”
“Almost a year.” Dazzle said.
“You are pretty darn lucky that Coco took you in.” Babs said.
“Yes, I am.” Dazzle owned up to it. She sensed that Babs was taking jabs at her also.
“Lemme guess, you got kicked out of Ponyville because one your stunts went too far?” Babs asked.
“Uhm, yep.” Dazzle chose to answer simply. It was a fact of the matter that she didn’t want to go through the story again, especially not for Babs. Babs wouldn’t listen- she’d even go so far as call Dazzle a liar. Besides, her summation of it was true enough. Babs would take it as it was. She had learned over the past few months that there was a time to stand down.
“Serves you right.” Babs replied.
Dazzle grit her teeth and sighed. “I’m sorry for the way I treated you back in Ponyville, Babs.”
Babs paused. She shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Are you?”
Dazzle did her best not to react. For one, she was cutting her hair, even the slightest movement would jostle her enough that a mis-snip would make it onto her mane. For two, Babs would read it that it was bothering her.
“Look, I came here without―”
“Without what?” Babs said. “Without friends by your side?” She spat. “I’m sure as soon as you get trust of the entire school, you’ll abuse that power again.”
“I’m not that way. I’ve changed.” Dazzle said.
“Oh, I know how you are. Manipulative. Pretty around those who have power, and then cruel to those who you believe are your inferiors.” Babs answered. Dazzle felt her tugging become stronger, like she was about to rip out her hair.
A thought came to Dazzle’s mind. Something that might be able to change Bab’s mind. In time. “Have you spoken with Applebloom lately?”
“Yeah, got her cutie mark.” Babs said. “I guess that is why you came here. There were no other blank flanks to harass.”
It was useless. Babs had her mind made up. Honestly, Dazzle didn’t blame her. The way she was treated when she was visiting wasn’t so much of a warm welcome. All Dazzle’s life, she’d been taught to assert herself at school, at social interaction, to be the best of the bunch, the way her parents treated her was no less of how she treated Babs when she first came to Ponyville. She was just passing that line on, and it was all her fault.
“How can I prove it to you that I mean friend and no longer foe?” Dazzle asked. She bit her lip. Dang. Her mother used that card to gain allegiance and loyalty by bargaining her way in.
Babs grumbled. Like a wind-up toy, she sprung to life. “Oh! I got an idea! How about you disappear?”
Dazzle’s heart sank. She wanted to retaliate, but she figured it would only make the situation worse. Besides… Florin and Coco’s giggling could be heard from a couple stalls over. She didn’t want to put a damper on their day off.
Dazzle thought about it a little more. Maybe Babs was right. She didn’t really belong here. Sure, she made some friends, and brought them together, but that was only a little push. Was she truly making friends so she could protect her hide and use her influence for her own gain? Perhaps she was. What made her feel better was when she was around Vertigo, Napoleon, and Bling. Was she just doing this to feel better?
“I can disappear.” Dazzle said. “If you want me to stay out of your way, I will. If you don’t want to see me, then I will make sure I’m not scene.”
Babs paused. A twist in the corner of her mouth gave away. In her composure, Babs said, “That sounds good to me. You have a deal.” With a quick final snip, Babs undid the cloth cover and the tissue paper. She took out a hairdryer, plugged it in, and then dusted off the last of Dazzle’s hair.
“There ya go. Done!” Babs said.
“Thank you.” Dazzle nodded.
Dazzle trotted over towards the sounds of cackling Coco and Florin. Once Dazzle peeked around Coco’s stall, her jaw nearly dropped to the floor.
Coco’s mane had been redone in the way that Twilight’s was when she came back from the spa around the time after her tree got blown up and the castle appeared. To see Coco with this new style unnerved her. It was unlike Coco in every which way.
“Oh-ho! Hey Dazzle!” Coco giggled. “I’m not used to your new look. Come on up!” She turned towards the stylist. “If that’s alright with you, of course.”
“Not at all! Go ahead!” The Stylist said, waving a tan hoof caked in gooey translucent gel.
Dazzle took a step up and looked in the mirror. She noticed a couple tears welled up in her eyes, but not enough to fall. She sniffed and wiped a hoof over her eyes.
“You okay?” Coco asked.
“Yeah… just…” Dazzle paused. “Just hay fever.”
“Ah, I see.” Coco said. She looked in the reflection. “So, Ivory Shine, what do I need to do to maintain this style?”
“Oh, it’s not too hard.” Ivory said. “You know how you sometimes get static-y hair after sleeping in your bed?”
“Yes.” Coco said.
“Just go from there. Run a little gel and then go crazy with your mane-brush.” Ivory finished, miming the action. “Just in time too! You’re done!” She took of the cover and the tissue paper.
Ivory took the handle of a nearby mouth-held mirror and angled it so Coco could see the back.
“Looks good!” Dazzle said.
Coco smiled. “Well, let’s see how Florin is doing.”
“Present time!” Coco chimed in the middle of Bling’s roll.
Bling cursed under his breath as the D-20 landed on a three.
“Bling...” Marigold growled.
“Yes ma’am.” Bling sat up straight like a stick.
“Watch your language.” Marigold said before rummaging through her saddlebags. She pulled out a wrapped present and held it out to Dazzle.
“May I?” Dazzle looked to Coco.
“Don’t be silly, it’s your birthday!” Coco said.
Dazzle slowly took it and unwrapped the box carefully. Underneath the wrapping, she read a logo saying “Rose and Marigold’s Jewelry.” She lifted the ornate lid and found the present tucked over the folds of red felt.
A tiara, only this one was different. Instead of shiny silver, it was gold. She lifted it out and placed it atop her head.
“Ah, back to how it was when I first met you. You look better with a tiara on.” Marigold said.
“Hold on, one sec!” Coco rushed into the hallway.
“Gold is very expensive to work with, thankfully Napoleon was able to lend a hoof in helping us make this.” Bling explained.
“Wait, you made this?” Dazzle replied.
“Yup, we could’ve filled it with Tungsten, since the densities of Gold and Tungsten are th― OOOF! HEY!” Napoleon scratched his mane and batted an eye at his mother.
“Okay!” Coco came rushing back out of the hallway, holding a mirror in mouth. She came up to Dazzle and allowed her to see her reflection. The new look stared back at her. Amazing. For some strange reason, she liked the new look of a pixie cut and a golden tiara.
“As Napoleon was saying, he suggested Tungsten to cut back on cost, but because of its high melting point, it is hard to work with.” Bling said with a nod towards Napoleon. “It was my first time working with metal, so it was adventure for the both of us.”
Napoleon snickered. “No explosions, just in case you were wondering.”
“Thank you!” Dazzle said.
“You’re welcome, Dazzle.” Marigold said.
Florin trotted up to Dazzle, holding the gift in her mouth by the ribbon. Dazzle accepted and carefully unwrapped it. A book― no… a magazine. She read the title: Coco Pommel and Mare-ison Bergeron: who is the masked mare?
“It took a while for me to convince Coco that not all celebrity gossip is bad.” Florin said. “Just think of it as your journal… from another pony’s perspective.”
Dazzle shook her head and smiled. “It’s great, Florin, Thanks!”
“That’s not all… here’s another journal entry for you!” Suddenly, Ironheart approached her and pulled a present from behind his back. It was a wrapped present with another magazine wrapped on top and inside the bow. However, it wasn’t a celebrity gossip magazine, but a little more refined. A scientific journal, as Yttrium had shown her.
“Corrosion Cure on the horizon: breakthroughs and breakouts” Dazzle read as pulled the bow loose.
“That’s not all. Dig a little deeper.” Ironheart said.
Dazzle ripped through the wrapping paper and opened the box. Inside, she pulled out a microscope along with a couple petri dishes.
“What?! Lucky!” Napoleon said.
“You don’t have one?” Dazzle asked, a little in shock. She would’ve thought with all the instruments strewn around his room that there would be a microscope buried underneath a heap.
“No.” Napoleon answered.
“Don’t worry, we’ll share.” Dazzle winked.
Napoleon and his parents smiled.
Ironheart continued. “Oh, you don’t know the full capabilities, this one has an enchantment on it so that it can zoom all―”
“― the way to atomic level.” Dazzle chuckled. “Sorry, couldn’t help myself. Yttrium has shown me how to operate this microscope.”
Ironheart shook his head. “Surprising, as always.”
Lastly, Coco came with a gift, holding it in the same way that Florin carried it.
Dazzle slowly opened it, slightly giddy to see what Coco had in mind. A white labcoat, only smaller. Dazzle slipped it on.
“I tailored it so it would fit to your needs.” Coco trotted up and then tugged it. Suddenly, a flap came out of a trim of the lab coat, and then Coco rolled it out. “It was hard to make it seem seamless, but I did what I could.” She smiled. “You can adjust the coat from filly-size to mare-size and vice-versa with a simple tug or tuck.”
How ingenious. Coco was right. Nopony would see the alterations unless they were really paying attention.
---
“Did you have a good birthday?” Coco asked, peeking her head into the room.
“Yep,” Dazzle said. She yawned.
“Glad you had fun.” Coco said.
Right as Coco was about to flick the light off, Dazzle interrupted, “Mom?”
Coco turned to Dazzle. “Yes, Dazzle?”
“Something’s bothering me.” Dazzle said. “Remember that feeling that I had around Hearth’s Warming? It’s back, but it’s talking different.”
Coco trotted over to Dazzle’s beside and sat down at the foot. “What is it saying?”
“It’s something that the hair-dresser said to me while we were getting our hair done.” Dazzle said.
“Ivory? What did she say?” Coco asked.
“Not Ivory. The other one, the one that did mine.” Dazzle said.
“I didn’t see her.” Coco said. “I’m sorry. What’d she say?”
Dazzle shook her head. “Coco, are you sick of me?” A tear fell from her eye.
“OF COURSE NOT!” Coco rose from her seat and clung to Dazzle. “Why would you even think that? Is that what she told you? Who is she?”
“Her name is Babs, and before I came to Mane-hattan, she acted like my friend… then yelled at me and…. pushed me in the mud.” Dazzle said. Her tongue twisted and she choked on her words. Why did it come out that way? The way it came out was nothing short of irresponsible. True, Babs did that, but she didn’t want to mention the part that she picked on Babs. Why did she bring it up anyways, it was her fault, not Babs. Babs was just telling the truth.
“Your classmate? What is she doing working?” Coco said.
“It’s the same case with my job and Yttrium.” Dazzle explained. “I’m sorry for bothering you. Forget that I said anything.”
Coco paused. The room was flooded with silence. Only the lights outside her bedroom window were the ones to show that time was passing.
Finally, Coco said softly, “You know, I think I might have just the remedy.” Coco swiped a pillow from Dazzle’s bedside. “First, you press your muzzle into the pillow.” She fluffed up the pillow and put it over her face. In a muffled voice, she said, “Then, you scream.” Coco screamed into the pillow, most of it muffled out, but what Dazzle could hear was just above a moderate-noisy high-pitched scream.
Coco took the pillow off her face and held it out to Dazzle “Here, you try.”
Dazzle took the pillow and pressed her face against it.
“Don’t hold anything back, let it all out in one go.” Coco instructed.
Dazzle belted out a scream as much she can. She emptied her lungs, and her vocal cords burned with high-pitch squealing. Her mother, Babs, her mistakes. She hated them all, she wanted to be rid of them, each second, she could feel her vessel deflating like a balloon. From heavy to light, she just had to let go of the things she bottled up inside.
Finally, she finished, and lifted her muzzle from off the pillow.
“Feeling better?” Coco said.
“Yeah, actually…” Dazzle said.
Coco giggled. “I learned that from Rarity. She came to visit me shortly before you came to Mane-hattan. I told her how I was feeling, just like you are feeling, and then showed me how to manage my emotions.” Coco played with her spiked and flowing hair. “I was having a very hard time, and then she came just in time. I had a hard time dealing with criticism, but what she told me is that I can vent my frustration as long as I don’t take it out on anypony else―” She cupped a hoof over her mouth and hushed to a whisper “―Or anypony’s else’s property for that matter.”
“Th―Thank you.” Dazzle said. “I actually feel a lot better now.”
“The life of an artist is always rough, you need a let-out somehow.” Coco said.
Dazzle smiled.
Coco bit her lip and latched onto the dropped pillow. She took it and smacked Dazzle in the muzzle with it.
“Hey!” Dazzle picked up her other pillow and hit back.
Coco wiggled her snout after she got hit. “Oh, you clocked me good there!” She retaliated with another hit.
“You’ll pay for that!” Dazzle giggled as she swung.
Coco dodged and parried. “Pillow fight!”
Amidst the hit of fluffy pillows, laughs, and play-screams, Dazzle felt something she hadn’t felt in a long time. It was small, almost forgotten, but it resurfaced with every pound in her heart. For a start, it felt good. She felt like she belonged.
She was loved.