//------------------------------// // The Spa: // Story: Afterlife // by Star Sparkle //------------------------------// Inside the spa building Rarity said ‘’Star, today is on me, so you can choose anything you want, even all of it.‘’ ‘’Thanks Rarity, but I can’t accept that.‘’ I said, even though Twilight had giving me so much. ‘’I will hear none of that Star, I insist.‘’ I nodded but felt wrong for doing so. I walked over and looked at the options and saw different kinds of massages, mud bath, filing of my horn, but as I knew my horn is an extension of my skull, I dismissed it as an option, else there was seaweed wraps, facial masks, steam baths, hooficures and many more things that I had no idea what was, including many things that could be done with my mane and tail. I looked back at Rarity and said ‘’A massage sounds nice.‘’ After some silence Rarity found out that I had said all what I wanted to say, genuinely shocked she said ‘’No no no no darling, I said I wanted to give you all you wanted, isn't there anything else you would want?‘’ I shocked my head as I said ‘’Well, I don’t know what anything else on the chart is, but I know what a massage is.‘’ She thought for a moment before she walked to the desk and said ‘’A filly’s special for myself and my friend here, Star Sparkle.‘’ As she pointed at me and I was quickly put in a white bathrobe, with white fluffy trim, before we walked in. Inside the spa we went over to a big wooden barrel and after we got the bathrobes off we went into the water. As we relaxed in the warm water I saw that the ponies that owned the place walked back and forth. As I didn’t know what I was in for, I asked, a bit more nervous that I would have liked ‘’Um… Rarity?‘’ She got out of her trance and answered ‘’Yes, is something the matter?‘’ I shook my head and said ‘’Oh no, I was just curious, you said something about a, Filly’s Special. What’s that?‘’ ‘’Well, a filly’s special is a spa treatment that, well, it’s items are very popular with young fillies, but I do also enjoy it myself.‘’ ‘’Well, what’s in a filly’s special?‘’ I asked. She thought for a moment before she said ‘’The filly’s special consist of a nice hot tub to get clean, then it’s a steam room, then it’s time for a grooming of once mane and tail, before getting a massage, after the massage it’s a mud bath and finishing off with a hooficure and the grooming of once coat.‘’ Only the mud bath sounded weird, but fair enough. Time passed and I couldn't get the feeling of exploiting someone I just met to go away so I asked ‘’Rarity, how much did this spa treatment cost?‘’ It sounded like she got a bit annoyed that I asked her, as she said ‘’Star, darling, I said it was on me and I mean that.‘’ But I still felt bad and said ‘’But… Isn't there anything I can do to repay you?‘’ She sighed before she thought to herself ‘’Hmm… Well, I don’t want you to feel like you owe me. But this is not a favor, it’s a gift, so you don’t owe me anything.‘’ I got back to and relaxed but I didn’t feel better as I said ‘’Okay… But if there is anything I can help you with, just let me know.‘’ By the sound of silence, I took that as a sign that I could never repay her and so I tried to relax. After some time Rarity said ‘’Come on Star, it’s time for our steam bath.‘’ I got up and Rarity got my bathrobe on me before we walked along a corridor and walked into a room. The first thing I noticed was the air was very dry and warm, the room inside was all wooden, the floor, walls and ceiling, with a wooden bucket of coal, and metal bucket of water. After we had sat for a few minutes the spa pony said ‘’You two relax and I will be back in fifteen minutes.‘’ She walked out, closed the door and left Rarity and I alone. I laid down to let the steam deep inside of me before Rarity sighed and said ‘’Star, what we talk about in here is just between us, okay.‘’ I nodded as I answered ‘’I promise.‘’ I could see it in her eyes that she tried to find the right words before she said ‘’Star… I, as well as the other girls, have been told by Twilight what you told her, about how you came here and…‘’ As she talked, I got flashes from those days and I could feel my eyes as they got warm before I shed a tear, Rarity noticed and pulled me into a hug as she said ‘’Star, I’m so sorry, please, I- I didn’t mean it.‘’ As I was able to collect myself I said ‘’It’s okay Rarity, it’s in the past now.‘’ She loosened her grip on me and said ‘’Still, I'm sorry for bringing it up.‘’ I dried my eyes with my hoof and asked ‘’Is that why you wanted to give me this spa treatment?‘’ She looked straight into my eyes and said ‘’No, it is not.‘’ She paused and more relaxed said ‘’Twilight talked so lovely of you that I just wanted to meet you, but when Twilight asked Pinkie to not throw you a ‘Welcome To Ponyville’ party, I knew that, that wouldn’t be the place, so I wanted to bring you here instead.‘’ I didn’t know that Twilight had talked with her friends about me when I wasn't there, it made sense, so now curious I asked ‘’What did Twilight say about me?‘’ She closed her mouth tightly as she thought before she said ‘’It is difficult to explain, but by saying ‘yes’ to the spell. That made you unpopular with, well, all of us… Remember, Twilight really cares about you. Never forget that.‘’ I looked down to the floor, I didn’t know what to think or to feel, it was like I was trapped between what I wanted and what everyone else wanted. Time passed before Rarity whispered ‘’Star, are you alright?‘’ I looked back at her and said ‘’Yeah, I’m fine, I just don’t know what to say. I know that Twilight cares about me, but there was just no other way.‘’ She took me in for another embrace and while she stroked my mane she said ‘’It’s okay Star and we have also forgiven you, I just wanted to be honest with you.‘’ A small window of silence came before she said ‘’And truth be told, after Fluttershy asked what we would do in your situation, none of us knew what we would do.‘’ I looked up at her and responded ‘’To be honest Rarity, when I said that I accepted the risk, I internally regretted it, all the way until I woke up.‘’ But as I talked about it, my eyes got warm and I shed a few tears, she put my face on her chest and held me to her, while she tried to comfort me. More time passed and as my tears had disappeared I let go and laid down on the wood to get more steam and more relaxed I asked ‘’Um… Rarity, can we avoid the subject, of before I woke up as a pony, it always makes me cry for some weird reason.‘’ ‘’Of course Star, if that is what you wish for.‘’ I smiled and as a pony came in to get us, we were led out of the steam room and into the room from before, with the wooden barrel with the warm water. We were led over to two massage tables, first Rarity went on hers and I was lifted onto the other one. As I lay on the massage table the pink pony with the blue mane said ‘’Hello I’m Aloe. Your mane and tail are so unique, is there anything special you would love to have done?‘’ As I didn’t know what to answer, I said ‘’Hi Aloe, I’m Star and um… I only know that it looks good when it’s wavy and the blue is nicely together and above the pink.‘’ I looked to Rarity to get an approval, with a smile she nodded and said ‘’I think that will look absolutely adorable on you.‘’ The spa pony Aloe nodded in agreement and said ‘’I will make your mane and tail look adorable. Now lie down, relax and I will take care of you.‘’ I lay down and relaxed as she fiddled with my mane and as I looked at Rarity, she had some sort of green cylinders in her mane and tail. As the pony that had worked on Rarity’s mane and tail came over, she introduced herself ‘’Hello Star, I’m Lotus Blossom and I will make your tail as beautiful as you are.‘’ I smiled and felt as the blood went to my head as I respond ‘’Thank you Lotus, it’s nice to meet you.‘’ She gave me a warm smile before walking towards my tail and began her work. Now with a clear vision too Rarity, I saw that she had a sweet smile on her face, probably because of how relaxed I was. As I have never tried this before, it still felt nice and relaxing. After a couple of minutes Lotus went back to Rarity and Aloe came over to me and said ‘’Now your mane and tail are done, are you ready to get your massage?‘’ I nodded and mumbled ‘’Mm-hmm…‘’ As I was too relaxed, her hooves came on my back and my massage began. After some time where I must have dozed off I woke up to ‘’Um… Miss Sparkle?‘’ I yawned as I said ‘’Yeah, is it already over?‘’ Aloe shook her head as she said ‘’No no, your muscles are too stressed, so we need to put lava stones on you, to loosen your muscles.‘’ Now fully awake I sat up with a tense body and said ‘’No it’s okay, I feel way more relaxed now.‘’ Rarity came over as she heard what I said and said ‘’Lotus, Aloe, can we have a moment?‘’ Both nodded and departed the room before she continued ‘’Star, is something the matter?‘’ I shook my head ‘’No, I just don’t want hot stones on me.‘’ ‘’Star, I believe you were a bit asleep at the time, but Aloe found out that you have a lot of stress within you, maybe from what you have experienced. But I promise that Aloe will take really good care of you.‘’ Rarity said as she tried to comfort me. Still not happy about the lava stones I said ‘’But aren't the lava stones really hot?‘’ She took her hoof under my muzzle and said ‘’They are not too hot, but if it helps, then I can hold your hoof.‘’ I fought my instinct to run and nodded as Rarity called the spa ponies back and explained that it was my first time and she would hold me, they both agreed and I laid back down on the massage table. Rarity held my hoof as they took out a lava stone and I felt the heat even when it was just above me and just before it hit me, I did a few little twitches all over my body, as I tried to prepare myself and went it hit, it was way cooler than I imagined and I relaxed as Rarity asked ‘’Was it as bad as you thought?‘’ Now relaxed I mumbled ‘’Nuh-huh.‘’ The rest of the stones was placed on before I let go of her hoof and she let me go and said ‘’I will take my massage right next to you, alright.‘’ ‘’Uh-uh.‘’ Before I dozed off. I got out of my trance as Rarity asked ‘’Star… Star… Are you awake?‘’ As I felt more awake I said ‘’Uh-uh, yeah I’m awake, is it time for the mud bath now?‘’ ‘’Actually, as you need a more thorough massage, I will then take the mud bath next to you. Is that okay with you?‘’ Rarity asked. I nodded just as the lava stones came off my back and the voice of Aloe said ‘’I will begin now.‘’ While she gave me a massage Rarity got wrapped in seaweed and then went into a pool of mud, once she was in the mud I asked ‘’So… Rarity, what are you doing for a living?‘’ ‘’Why, haven't Twilight told you? Oh well, I’m a designer, of dresses mostly.‘’ She answered before she said ‘’I have actually thought about what you said earlier, if I would need some help.‘’ ‘’Yeah, what is it?‘’ I asked as I wanted to repay her. ‘’From the first time I saw you, I got so many inspirations and I would love if you would like to model for me.‘’ Rarity said. It felt like my heart stopped in a heartbeat as I asked ‘’You want me to be a model in dresses?‘’ ‘’Yes of course, your coat, mane and tail colors are very unique and magnifique. But only if you want to of course, but do not think that you have to.‘’ She answered sincerely. I was speechless and as I didn’t know what to answer I said ‘’Uhm… When is it you would want me to model?‘’ ‘’Well, I’m not sure, but I will say when it’s time, but it could be in a couple of months.‘’ She answered. I nodded and said ‘’Okay, but I don’t remember ever having tried a dress on before so it will be a first.‘’ She gasped as she said ‘’Well we can’t have that, now can we? Don’t worry Star, I’ll make sure that it’ll be fun.‘’ I gave her a weak smile and began to relax again. After my massage I could really feel a difference, it was like my body was made of jelly now. Rarity and I were then escorted over to some beds of sorts and there they began on our coats and hooves, with the combs that came down my coat, that was so pleasing and relaxing. In the end my hooves became really shiny and a coat so soft, as the things in my mane and tail came out a mirror came in front of me and I almost lost a tear, I looked beautiful and I felt it. After I had admired myself for a couple of minutes Rarity and I said our goodbyes to Aloe and Lotus and walked outside. Outside the spa both Rarity and I stretched ourselves before Rarity asked ‘’Darling, do you know your way home?‘’ As I looked around, but it all looked the same and I said ‘’No, it all looks the same.‘’ She gave me a soft smile before she said ‘’Then I’ll walk you home.‘’ I gave her a smile and walked after her, as we walked I said ‘’Thank you for today, it was fun.‘’ ‘’I’m thrilled you enjoyed it.‘’ Rarity said with joy in her voice. With the Golden Oak Library in sight I said‘’I can walk the rest of the way. Thank you Rarity.‘’ But she shook her head as she said ‘’No no, I’ll walk you all the way home.‘’ As we were in front of the door and Rarity was about to knock, Twilight opened the door and looked at me with wide eyes but with a sharp tone said ‘’Star. Go to your room! Now!‘’ By instinct I lowered my head in shame, remembering back to that second night and as she said ‘you’ll never go home’, while she thought I was asleep. I looked back at Twilight with tears in my eyes, but Twilight in a sharper tone said ‘’That dosen’t work on me Star. Go to your room!‘’ And I ran up the stairs and into my room, slammed the door and jumped on the bed and under the sheets and cried ‘She’ll never let me go ho-.’