//------------------------------//
// Pampering? 
// Story: Why She Serves 
// by Natedogg2006 
//------------------------------//

"Fizz, if you eat one more cucumber slice I swear to me you aren't getting your massage."
    
Fizzlepop snorted a laugh at the joke, which prompted her to actually place the watery vegetable back over her eye and decide not to question how the mare had spotted her through her own. "I had nothing to eat yesterday except a small breakfast and obscene amounts of sweets. If they want to show me luxury at the current moment they should have some sort of buffet prepared."
     
"There'll be finger sandwiches when we're getting our hooves done. You can wait."

Fizzlepop grumbled as her stomach did the same. "Is that going to be before or after my massage?"

"After. I don't think it's good for you to have food in your belly during a massage."

Fizzlepop grumbled some more for a moment before a thought came to her, causing her to blindly look in the direction of the other mare. "Wait, what in Equestria are finger sandwiches."

A door opened nearby, distracting her from the conversation as she had to squash down her automatic response to feeling restrained while an unknown pony was approaching her. The dainty hoof steps of one of the spa ponies were easy to distinguish even before their accented voice cut their conversation  short. 
  
"Excuse me,  Miss Sparkle, Miss Berrytwist. We are ready for you in the massage room if you'd like to start getting cleaned up."
     
"Of course Aloe, we'll be there in just a few minutes."
 
The mare gave a slight bow before leaving the room. "I thought she was Lotus?" Twilight looked over, lighting her horn and floating her slices from her eyes to see Fizzlepop holding one of her own slices up away from her eyes as she indicated the direction the mare had left. She felt her face heat up just a little. At what she didn't quite know. 
     
"Don't tell anypony this, but I'm honestly not sure." This seemed to catch Fizzlepop off guard as she gave the other mare a disbelieving look. "Yeah. Even though they have reverse colors, they sound and act almost exactly the same." She set her own cucumber slices down on a platform between them where the extras that had been freshly sliced for them had once been as she let out a slightly frustrated groan. "I'm pretty sure I mix up what I call each of them every time I come here, but they never say anything."

By this time Twilight was standing from her mud bath. Fizzlepop seemed to be thinking about what she had said before responding. "Well if it helps, the one who introduced herself as Aloe is the one whom I believe sustained a childhood injury to her rear right knee. Her gait indicates an old injury that didn't quite heal correctly."
     
Twilight stared down at the mare now beginning to extract herself from the other mud bath. "Do you always analyze ponies for possible combat advantages?"
     
"Every pony I meet and every room I enter for any strategic advantages or ambush potential, yes. It's a very old and ingrained habit that I have no intention of breaking anytime soon."

Twilight just rolled her eyes and turned towards the shower stations on the side of the room. She then turned back at the sound of a crunch. By the time she did Fizzlepop was already three cucumber slices into what had remained of their used ones and was lifting a forth to her lips. "What, we were done with them were we not?"
     
Twilight gave her an incredulous glare before shifting to her best attempt at a pout. "Yeah, but you're not the only one who's had nothing but chocolate since yesterday."
     
At this Fizzlepop's eyes went wide and her hoof stopped with the slice nearly at her lips. Twilight barely managed to maintain the fake pout at the sight of the usually stoic commander of the guards very suddenly blushing and looking very pensive at her action. She turned away in embarrassment, holding the slice out as she did. "I'm sorry. You didn't want me eating mine during the treatment so I thought you wouldn't care for eating your own. I should have considered your needs before my own."

Twilight worried briefly that she had struck a nerve, but decided she could easily fix it if that was the case. With a slight sigh she stepped forward. Fizzlepop turned her attention back to her own hoof as she heard a crunch and felt the slice being pulled away from her. Twilight sat, eyes closed as she chewed the bite and swallowed quietly. She gave the other mare a slight smile as she wondered if the slice had been one of her own or one of her companions. "I was kidding, but thanks."

Fizzlepop smiled back as they both proceeded to the showers. It didn't take them long to clean the mud from their fur, but Twilight noticed that the other mare seemed to be taking a little longer than was necessary. She was drying herself off when she noticed Fizzlepop rubbing a hoof across her own fur with a confused look on her face. She did this a few more times before stepping back under the water. 
 
"What's wrong Fizz?" Twilight inquired. 
  
Stepping back out from the spray and shutting it off she ran a hoof over her fur again. "I'm not certain. I think I'm having trouble removing all the mud from my coat."

Twilight quirked her head at this, giving the mare a once over lingering from place to place as she did. "You look alright, I don't think you left any that I can see."

For some reason Fizzlepop felt herself warming, but brushed it off. "Well then it must be something in the mud leaving a residue. I told you a mud bath was an oxymoron." She kept rubbing her hoof through the fur of her chest. 

Without thinking about it, Twilight stepped over and raised a hoof. Fizzlepop felt the warmth from before intensify as the other mares hoof brushed lightly over her chest. After a few passes, and then a few more, Twilight could only shrug. 

"I don't know what's wrong. Just feels like regular chest fluff to me."

"..... Take that back."

Caught off guard by the command Twilight could only stutter out a response of, "what?" 

"Take it back. I am not a fluff."

"..... Is there something wrong with having fluffy fur?"

"Yes. I mean no. It's ok for some ponies. Your coat is nice but I don't have a fluffy coat. I've always had coarse fur."

Twilight stared for a moment, before smiling deviously. "So in other words, Commander Shadow has never used high quality products for her coat and is now going to have to find new ways to insinuate that the ponies she's training are soft. She can't make fun of them for having a fluffy coat if she's fluffier than they are."

The smile held firm, and Fizzlepop could only grumble at it. Her gently sparking magic lit and snatched a towel from the rack beside Twilight, bumping the mare in the back of the head as it traveled. "You're lucky you're cute," she found herself grumbling again. Twilight could only laugh, though Fizzlepop noticed her gaze drift up to her mane for a moment before she gave a shrug. 

They got themselves dried off before leaving the room. The next room they entered was a little more open with two oddly shaped tables set up facing one another. The spa mares sat beside and each gestured for the mares to lay down. 

Fizzlepop had to force herself to retain her usual stoic demeanor at this point. She resisted the urge to move more quickly to the odd structure, deciding to keep pace with Twilight as they chose their places. She wasn't sure exactly how to lay on the bed, but luckily the position of the tables made it so she could watch Twilight as she settled herself in. Aloe spoke as she adjusted herself into what felt like the correct position. 
  
"Have you ever had a massage before Miss Berrytwist?"

"No unfortunately. My life until recently has been devoid of most luxuries. However, a massage is something I've always heard is good if one lives a high stress life. Many creatures have actually told me I could use a massage, among other things." She added the last part under her breath, nopony seemed to notice. 

As Fizzlepop was finding a comfortable position she noticed her masseuse applying oil to her hooves. "Indeed, a massage is great for anypony who has to maintain a high level of stress. Princess Twilight has often mentioned you as a pony who would do well to learn how to relax."

From where she lay Twilight now perked her head up as Lotus was oiling her own hooves.  "Oh there's no reason to bring any of that up." 
 
Tempest now directed a scrutinizing gaze at Twilight, transitioning it back and forth between her and Aloe for a few moments before settling on Aloe. "What does she say about me?"

Aloe now looked between the two mares in question, clearly not sure how to continue. Twilight decided to follow up. "The same things that I've always said about you Fizz. That you're a good pony who has a hard time seeing the good inside herself. I've.. spent a lot of time asking a lot of ponies about ways they think might get you to loosen up. The spa has actually been one of the most suggested ways."

Aloe nodded along with that explanation, smiling brightly as she did. Fizzlepop chuckled at the answer. "Well if you've gone as far as asking these two,  then of course they'd suggest bringing me here. They own the place after all."
    
Twilight matched Fizzlepop's chuckle as they let the subject pass and settled back into position. Their attendants finished their prep work, however upon her hooves making contact with the fluffy fur on Fizzlepop's back Aloe suddenly pulled away in shock. She tried again but only managed to keep a hold a few more seconds this time. 
 
"Is something wrong?" Fizzlepop asked, rising just a little from her place again. 

Aloe seemed out of sorts as Fizzlepop could hear her mumbling something in what she could tell was Prench, but couldn't translate. She put on what was clearly a fake smile before responding. "Oh no not at all Miss Berrytwist. I just think there might be a better way to service you, if you don't mind a little change."

"No, do whatever you think will help." 

The masseuse stepped away and Fizzlepop heard her approach her sister. Both mares could hear the two spa ponies converse in their native tongue for a few moments. After this they seemed to switch places. Aloe now took up a position beside Twilight as Lotus approached Fizzlepop. 
 
"My sister believes you are in need of some, special services." She said this while running hooves across her back, she paused to mutter something in Prench for a moment before continuing. "And I believe she's right." Although Fizzlepop was more than a little bit skeptical, she nonetheless gave a nod to the mare. She became even more curious when she seemed to now take a few steps behind her. "Alright then, please try to relax."

Fizzlepop only barely managed to keep a reflex at bay as she heard the pony take a trotted couple steps before kicking off the ground. Her eyes did instinctively lock on a few sturdy blunt objects she had noticed in the room upon entering when she felt the somewhat familiar feeling of hooves impacting her back. However those instincts melted away in an instant as the mare now standing on her back dug the hard but smooth edge of her hoof into a mass of tough muscle below her shoulder blade. 

"GRUUUUUUUUGUUGHHHHHHHH!!!!!" All ponies in the room turned to the sound. Fizzlepop herself wasn't sure where the sound had come from despite being sure it had somehow originated from her own mouth. From her now arched back position she could see all the eyes on her, including that of the pony applying the pressure. All were staring in shock at the reaction, but right now she didn't care. She managed to articulate the one thought that she wanted to at the moment despite her condition. "Did I tell you to stop!"

It was barked like a command only an experienced drill instructor could manage. This was why all ponies in attendance automatically got back to their tasks. Aloe massaged Twilight. Twilight proceeded to enjoy her massage, though with an eye still on the display. Lotus stood up on her hind legs and reached up to steady herself against the ceiling, and push herself deeper into the ministrations.
 
At the moment the difference between pain and pleasure were indistinguishable to Fizzlepop, but it really didn't matter. She didn't think she could force herself to break away from the assault on her spine. Lotus now stepped with her entire hoof rather than just an edge. She pressed it firmly between  the mare's shoulder blades and pushed with her whole body into the vertebrae, slowly. 

A sickening cracking sound went through the room. Tempest smashed her hoof into the thankfully firm and cushioned table. As the mare on top of her increased the pressure and more cracks could be heard her hoof repeated the action a few times over. She thought it was over, but with how deeply the hoof was driven in she knew the removal would be jarring as well. As the pressure began to let off her hoof was about to raise for another strike, which was when she felt another on top of it. 

Through the haze of her brutal relaxation she managed to look up and see the always calming eyes of Twilight. "Are you going to be alright Fizz?"

For some reason the pain seemed lessened as the mare above her sought out more tangled knots of muscle below her fur. The relaxation of the experience was starting to become more apparent. Instead of raising her hoof for another strike she found herself instinctively turning it over where it lay. Her back stopped arching and she managed to settle back into the table. 

"I think I've needed this for a while." She couldn't figure out exactly why her voice sounded so tired at the moment, or why her vision seemed to be getting blurry as she looked over the relaxing form of the mare in front of her. Twilight's smile at the words brought one to her own cheeks. 

"That's great to hear. Relax, everything is OK."

She said this to Fizzlepop as her own massage continued, her own masseuse now reaching her wings. Upon being prompted, Fizzlepop's princess flared her wings out before her. In the moment they seemed to catch the light of the room perfectly, framing the mare's face and seeming to give her an angelic glow. At least that's how Fizzlepop saw it as her vision seemed to get even more blurry and her eyelids started to feel heavy. Her foreleg curled around the one on top of it. 

"Your wings are gorgeous, like an angels." She felt her eyes drift closed. "I.. think... I'm....."

***

Fizzlepop opened her eyes at the feeling of something grinding on her rear hooves. When they did she felt her hoof reaching to a familiar place. The moment it did however she felt another hoof stopping it. She looked over to see Twilight in a chair next to her and realized, with some confusion, that they were now both upright while another pony sat below each of them using various implements on their hooves. "You left her in the changing area when we got into our robes anyway Fizz. Take a breath and let yourself wake up."

She gave a shake of her head as her senses came back to her. "Did I somehow manage to fall asleep during my massage?" She asked this while noticing some bit of disappointment enter her voice. "I don't even remember most of it."

"Passed out would probably be more accurate. Even if you don't remember, I'm sure you'll be feeling it for a while yet." She smiled as Fizzlepop began moving her neck and shoulders around, clearly impressed by the results. "I've never seen anypony enjoy a massage that much. We all thought you were going to throw Lotus off for a second when it started." Twilight stopped briefly as she lit her horn and levitated a glass of ice water with a long straw sticking out into her view. "You should drink water after a massage otherwise you'll be sore tomorrow. We don't want a reverse of what happened to me."

Fizzlepop muttered a simple, "thanks", as the idea of that made images flash through her mind. She didn't get very far into the thoughts as she lifted the glass to her mouth, stopping when she realized something. "... Did they already do my front hooves?"

Twilight gave a little giggle at that. "Yeah, you were out pretty good."

Fizzlepop considered this while lifting her other hoof to examine it. "I wouldn't have even thought I could be moved, not without accidently atttacking somepony."

"I just used my magic to carry you. It was the easiest option for everypony involved. And I didn't want to wake you while you were sleeping so peacefully again."

Fizzlepop finished taking a long sip from her glass. "You must be very gentle."

"I try my best." Twilight answered with a small smile. 

"They're... shiny. I thought a hooficure was just for cleaning and shaping."

The young stallion working below her, presumably another member of the spa staff,  decided to chime in on this. "We can do just about anything you wish. Including polishing and painting if you desire." He seemed to notice Fizzlepop recoil at this and gave a small laugh. "But her highness didn't think you'd care for those treatments. So what you have there is just our all natural rejuvenating lacquer."

She looked down at him in question, but Twilight answered her unspoken inquiry. "They said there was a lot of wear and tear, but mostly just what you'd get from being very active. But they did notice a few spots that looked like some old and untreated damage, probably from hitting things really really hard." Fizzlepop decided not to argue this observation. 

The stallion working on her continued again. "It's probably causing you a lot of pain that you've just gotten used to at this point. But if you come in for regular treatments you'll start to notice the difference and they'll probably be much stronger within a matter of months."

"I'm afraid that will be impossible." The answer was largely reflexive. "I don't actually have any source of income and such expenditures for my own sake are not necess.."

"I'm putting her on my membership. We'll work out scheduling at another time."

"Sparky no! I have no idea what that'll cost but there's no way I'm worth the.."

"Your princess demands it." Fizzlepop's further arguments were cut off, her mouth slamming shut and her posture going rigid instinctively, nearly kicking the stallion below her as he finished his work. It made Twilight giggle just a little as she reached over to pat the other mare on the shoulder. Fizzlepop relaxed a little at the touch. "After all, I need to make sure the head of my royal guard is in the top physical shape possible don't I?"

"Yes your highness." Twilight glared. Fizzlepop let herself smile just a little. "Yeah Sparky."

Twilight smiled warmly as the stallions stood and she nodded her appreciation and to give them their leave. She suddenly seemed to remember something. "Oh I'm so sorry I almost forgot. But it'll be perfect for while we wait for our hooves to dry." She lit her horn. Fizzlepop felt her eyes widen and her mouth water as a plate with tiny bite sized sandwiches came from the other side of Twilight where she hadn't been able to see them. One of them was enveloped in a glow and floated away from the others. "Are you still hun.."

Twilight drew back in shock at the feeling of her aura enveloping the morsel itself becoming enveloped. It cut itself off as the small bit of nourishment was pulled away in the other mares mouth. 

Fizzlepop chewed and swallowed quickly,  letting a groan of contentment escape her while oblivious to the shock of the other mare. "Whatever fingers are they are delicious. Another."

Twilight's shock passed quickly at the words, smiling as she picked another up in her magic. Fizzlepop snagged the next offered treat as Twilight spoke lightly. "And I thought that was the line."
 
Fizzlepop swallowed again. "What was that?"

"I don't think they're made from fingers. Maybe it's just a Prench word for the way they're prepared or something like that."

Fizzlepop considered this for a few seconds, picking up a third and fourth in her magic as she did. "That seems like it could be, but although I don't know much Prench I don't think it sounds very Prench." She munched another, small sparkles shooting from her horn as she chewed. 

"Neither do I, and the last time I tried to research it I ended up on a massive tangent. Somehow my research led me to actually find some information about the mirror portal."

Fizzlepop ate a fourth, and a fifth. "That portal to the other world you've talked about? I wonder how those would have been related."

"Not sure, I got myself a little lost in a studying frenzy at the idea of actually finding some relevant information about inter-dimensional magical theory." She pulled the plate away as Fizzlepop grabbed the last two in her gently sparking aura. 

Seeing this the other mare looked down to the sandwich she hadn't immediately inhaled. Her aura now transitioned from sparking to crackling just a little as she floated it back over. "I'm sorry, I did it again. You've let me indulge far too much and it's making me selfish, even towards the mare who has already given me so much."

"Fizz, you were out for a while. I already had mine." 

Fizzlepop seemed relieved, but didn't immediately pull away. "Oh, I'm glad for that. But even so I didn't know that for sure so it was still selfish of me." She began to pull the sandwich away, but Twilight saw that she hesitated while doing so ever so slightly. 

She reached forward and snatched the last bite of food from between them. "But thanks, I was still hungry." She gave a cocky smile, one that caught Fizzlepop off guard but made her smile back nonetheless. "I keep telling you that if ponies offer you something out of the kindness of their hearts, you don't have to assume you're burdening them for it."

Fizzlepop rolled her eyes at the obvious friendship speech she had apparently triggered. "Yes I know, but you're different. I'm sure I'm already burdening you and yet you still wish to give me more. I can't keep taking without giving back."

"You give back plenty Fizz." She said this while lifting a hindhoof to where she could see it better. "In more ways than I'm sure you're aware." Before Fizzlepop could inquire as to the meaning of this Twilight jumped down from her chair. "I think our hooves are done. We've got facials next then it's on to the salon."

Fizzlepop couldn't help but cringe at that. "Oh joy," she said dryly, letting the sarcasm solidify the words as she spoke them.

***

Twilight glared. It didn't intimidate Fizzlepop at all, but she knew how stubborn her princess could be. With a shrug and small groan she finally looked away from the purple death glare. "Fine. I'll at least admit that the entire experience was less grueling then I imagined. But I still don't think future visits are necessary and even if they were I would not miss the facial."

Twilight smiled immediately. "Then you shouldn't have any problem in having a membership so you can come back anytime you like."

"That is a rather large assumption to jump to Sparky."

Twilight's smile only grew. "Well I'm about to go do it. If you're really opposed to it feel free to stop me. If not, then I'd say you should probably get some more water." Twilight took one step away and her smile turned cocky. Fizzlepop grumbled as she turned towards a table with some waiting refreshments. She could practically feel Twilight's smug smirk as she made her way to the counter that separated the spa from the salon. 

Even so, she turned back and watched Twilight as she went, sipping on some ice water as she did.

That was the moment she didn't hear something. She set her water down silently as her ears began twitching back and forth. There was a void in sound in the room and Tempest was going to find where it was, wasn't, coming from. Her eyes scanned as she shifted silently out of the direct eyeline of everypony in the room. Ponies chatting and roaming about, Twilight waiting to talk to the ponies at the front desk, the hiss of the steam rooms down the hall...

One of the steam rooms had shut down and no pony had yet exited it. And if it was just ponies taking a few extra minutes to socialize she'd at least hear something. And there it was, the door began to open slowly. Too slowly. The way it did when somepony didn't want anypony else to notice. She moved smoothly and silently as a blue hoof poked out, a small mirror cradled in its frog. Ducking where she wouldn't be spotted Tempest reached down towards..

She sneered. Her knife was still back where she had changed into this ridiculous bathrobe. She stripped it quickly. A decision had to be made. Without her blade she didn't have the means to check the corner without potentially exposing herself. 

Worth the risk.

She made a quick motion to see what was still going on down the hall. Another quick decision. If this was a threat she needed to intercept quietly. The mirror was gone so whoever it was would be moving soon and possibly in the direction of Twilight. Easiest option, find a way around and try to get behind them in time. Best option...

She moved smoothly so that despite her rapid pace she wouldn't be noticed right away by ponies in the room. The door that had opened was the third down the hall. She moved to the second door and slid inside without making a sound. 

Inside a pair of mares were caught off guard by her intrusion, their lips separating quickly. "Sorry to intrude. I mean you no harm but I need you to remain silent for now." She would have usually demanded silence, which half the time seemed to make ponies scream. She would have to remember this as the gentler approach she used seemed to keep the mares from making a startled reaction. Although the gray mare did seem to gulp dryly. The white unicorn just shrugged and pulled her back into her. Fizzlepop didn't have time to think about how far they'd go with her in the room as she had to listen closely through the sound of the steam being pumped in. The next door in the hall had opened and she could hear very light hoofsteps. This had to be timed right. 

Whoever was on the other end of the door was only a half step past when she began opening her own. She slipped out without making any disturbance, finally laying eyes on the threat.

She then stopped and gaped. 

They were in one of the more generic bathrobes provided, and she was doing her best to cover herself as much as possible, but it was obvious to Tempest who this was as she reached the end of the hall. She seemed to be trying to scan the room ahead of her as Tempest finally spoke. 

"Rainbow Dash?"

"Whoa!!!"

The shock caused the prismatic mare to jump and wings to flap in an uncontrolled manner. The motion propelled her into the lobby, and subsequently into the ceiling of the lobby. Followed immediately by the floor of the lobby. Each impact was accompanied by a loud thud and by the end every eye in the room was focused on the multicolored mass. Twilight was the first to address the situation. 

"Rainbow Dash? What are you doing here?"

Despite her state the voice caused Rainbow to jump up in a second. She assumed what she clearly thought was a nonchalant posture and proceeded to very obviously not look at Twilight. 

"Twilight hey. No, you've got the wrong idea. I'm not actually here. Well obviously I'm here but I'm not here here. I have a very good reason to be here and it in no way involves me wanting to be here."

Twilight's eyebrow quirked in a way that would make Applejack proud. "Oh yeah, and what might that be?"

Rainbow Dash finally managed to look at Twilight, but the size of her eyes seemed to indicate she hadn't planned on that response. 

"Uuuumm? Well I was just somewhere close to here, being awesome you know. But then somepony, umm, asked me to come here, you know, for them. Yeah that's it. Somepony who actually comes here a lot. Like...."

The mare's mind was clearly racing, unable to decide on a lie to tell. For some reason a thought jumped into Fizzlepop's head, and she was moving with purpose as soon as it did. "Clearly it must have been Fluttershy. A request from her would be the only thing that could possibly get you into a place like this."

Fizzlepop stepped into Rainbow's view, now slipping back into her retrieved robe from where she'd discarded it. 

Rainbow immediately latched onto the life line thrown to her,  pointing immediately to Fizzlepop as she voiced her agreement. "Yeah, that's right. Fluttershy totally told me to pick something up for her. That's what it was." Having finally managed to explain herself properly and truthfully Rainbow Dash managed to calm down. It was then that she noticed what she was pointing at. She blinked several times in confusion. "Huh?"

General business seemed to be returning to the room as Fizzlepop responded. "I noticed that Fluttershy's errand forced you to take a detour through the steam room. If I might ask, how was that experience?"

Rainbow blinked again, now taking in the rest of the mare including the fluffy pink robe she was tying back around herself. "You... actually want to know about spa stuff?"

"Well, Twilight intends to keep dragging me back here it would seem." She rolled her head to the side to give a look to the other mare. This prompted her to stick out her tongue and turn away to continue whatever conversation she was having at the front desk. "And while I enjoyed their massage greatly, I'd likely replace the facial with another activity in the future."

"..... The steam room is nice. I mean,  I've been dragged here by Fluttershy a few times and it's something I don't mind. "

Fizzlepop betrayed no reaction at the obvious lie. She merely nodded her head in affirmation. "Fluttershy has mentioned that she greatly enjoys the steam room as well. And she has also mentioned that your word is one to be trusted. I may have to give it a try on my next visit."

That caused Rainbow's confusion to increase. "She said that?" Fizzlepop just gave her a nod as if it was the most obvious thing. Rainbow decided to press on. "So you, like it here Tempest?"

"It is not the least enjoyable thing I've ever endured. And also it seems to be becoming less taboo for ponies to use my real name by the way."

"And you don't care what that will make ponies think about you?"

Fizzlepop let a scoff escape her. "If anypony has some objection to anything I choose to do, I only hope they have the fortitude to say it to my face so that I might.. inform them as to how much their opinion means to me. If I am content and Twilight is happy then that is all that matters to me."

"Yeah, that's totally true. Who cares what ponies think." Her eyes seemed to be lost in deep thought for a few moments. Then something seemed to bring her back to reality as her confusion returned and she looked back and forth between her and Twilight. She looked like she would say something, but words never came. 

Fizzlepop heard some strain in Twilight's voice behind her, making her decide to end the conversation. "Well, I won't keep you from your task. Fluttershy is lucky to have a friend who would endure such hardships for her sake."

Though she turned back to Twilight she paid attention to the rainbow mare behind her for a few more moments. She sat, still out of sorts for a few moments before she was approached by one of the spa ponies. 

"Miss Rainbow Dash. We're almost ready for your facial. But I also noticed your limited membership plan runs out in a few days. While we have a few minutes would you like to re..."

"I'm upgrading to the premium package."

The stallion seemed caught off guard for a moment, but like a true salespony recovered quickly. "Oh great. Perfect timing as well, we're running a special this month. With a new premium membership you get one of our exclusive robes. What color would you like?"

".... I'll take the pink one."

Fizzlepop couldn't help but smile as she came up behind Twilight who was apparently having some sort of disagreeable discussion with the mare behind the counter.  

"Are those really the only packages you have? I could have sworn Rarity and Fluttershy shared some kind of membership plan."

"Oh, no no no. Miss Fluttershy and Miss Rarity each have their own membership. You certainly could get her her own membership as a gift. We do allow for that sort of thing. Although the other option would be cheaper by a fair amount and open up a few extra options."

"If this pertains to her getting me a membership then I would suggest the even cheaper option of simply forgetting the whole thing."

Twilight turned to give her a glare, but then just rolled her eyes. "I'm getting you a membership. I just didn't know there were, limited options for membership. Specifically with having multiple ponies on a single account."

"I'm sorry your highness, this has never been an issue before. We just simply never anticipated it."

Fizzlepop decided to weigh in again. "If I have no option but to leave here as a member today, then I insist on it burdening her as little as possible. Whichever option was cheaper will be fine." She suddenly felt she might regret this position when this statement seemed to make a slight blush come to Twilight's cheeks. 

"Well, I guess either way they'll be linked to the same address." The mare at the counter hesitated for a moment, but Twilight gave her a nod of consent. 

"Alright then. Would you please fill out this form for us,  miss...?"

Fizzlepop groaned. "Fizzlepop Berrytwist."

The pony was clearly caught off guard by this, but seemed to stay stunned for much less time than most of the few she had ever openly given her real name to. "Miss Berrytwist then." She said as she slid a form in front of her. "We just need a few personal details." 

Fizzlepop could tell it annoyed Twilight when she ignored most of what was written on the form and just began filling in information. 
But she quickly ignored that as well as she found it oddly satisfying to actually be able to answer questions on a form like this without needing to ask clarifying questions. She felt ok with giving her real name for once. Twilight was an obvious choice for her emergency contact. Thanks to a recent shopping trip she now could give her rough measurements, even if she wasn't sure why they'd need that for slippers and a robe. And finally, she didn't hesitate as she listed the castle of friendship as her official address. A signature and date at the bottom and she was done. 

"Very good," the mare said as she accepted the paper back. "We'll file that away with Princess Twilight's. Congratulations to the both of you. We hope you'll both enjoy your couples intimate escape all inclusive package."

She was entirely too casual for Fizzlepop's taste as she turned away to file the paperwork. Eyes slightly wide, Fizzlepop turned towards the mare she now shared a spa package meant for married couples. At least her face seemed to be as red as her own felt. 

"I, it's ok. I didn't mean for things to get quite this, intimate. But I don't mind sharing. I mean, no matter what happens between us you're still my friend, and we technically live in the same place. I don't mind if some ponies get the wrong idea about... us, at least for a while."

Fizzlepop wasn't very good at humor, but the situation seemed to warrant some kind of effort to break the tension. "Yes, I believe this is acceptable. After all, I am legally bound to you for the foreseeable future. There are certainly worse ideas ponies could have about our situation."

She wasn't sure if it was her words that did it, but Fizzlepop did note that something seemed to harden in Twilight's eyes after a few moments. The mare's natural colors began coming back to her cheeks as she stood and gestured to the other side of the establishment. "Yeah, we're stuck together. For now. So let's just enjoy our time." Fizzlepop tried to smile, but couldn't help a slight grimace at the door they approached. The word 'salon' was written across it in such stylized cursive it was barely legible. "Did you have a chance to decide how you want your mane cut?"

"... What?"


***


"Listen, I will not be sending you out of here with a Mohawk, I have my pride as a stylist."

"Well I have my pride as a soldier. I have to be able to present a strong image if I'm going to be able to do my job effectively."

"Sweetheart, you got the bad mare thing down. I don't think the mane will affect that at all. In fact, I'd dare anypony to try to talk down to you just because you want to properly show off those magnificent locks."

The fight had begun immediately after the mares shampooing and scalp massage had been completed. Fizzlepop hadn't been wearing her mane up in her usual style for most of the week, but she had clearly been maintaining it. This was why Twilight couldn't figure out why she was showing so much resistance to having work done on it by a professional. If she had to describe it, she thought she was acting similarly to when she tried to get her to talk about...

Fizzlepop reached up to straighten her hair seemingly for lack of anything better to do with her hooves. That's when Twilight noticed that the style she'd gone with for the last week seemed to be pushed up in one particular place. 

"Excuse me." The stallion holding some clippers turned to give her his attention. "Could you give us a few extra minutes to decide. I'm sure we can come to a compromise."

Fizzlepop didn't like the tone in which Twilight spoke, it usually meant she was going to become uncomfortable very soon. "Sure thing sweetheart. Feel free to have some refreshments, I'll be back in a few to check on you two." He gave a derisive glare to Fizzlepop as she defiantly sat herself down next to the stylists chair rather than in it. 

The door to the room clicked shut as he left. Fizzlepop noted that the amateur didn't even bother to pretend he had kept walking. He likely had his ear pressed to the door already. Twilight turned to Fizzlepop with understanding in her eyes. Fizzlepop was having none of it at the moment. 

"It has nothing to do with my horn." She knew Twilight would see straight through the lie, but she at least had to try it. A flaring of Twilight's nostrils confirmed. Fizzlepop grumbled in response. "No pony looks at the freak with the broken horn when the pony with the mohawk who can break them in half walks in."

"If it's something that makes you feel better then you can keep it." That had been much easier then Fizzlepop had anticipated, so much so that she could only gape. Twilight smiled as she continued. "You've opened up about a lot of things, but I know that one is still a really sore subject. And even more so, you can keep your mane that length and still wear it however you like if you feel more comfortable later."

Fizzlepop let out a sigh. "Why must you make it so hard to be angry with you. It's the only way I know how to deal with uncomfortable situations." It was true, she had been prepared for a fight on the subject. Twilight deciding not to fight with her on the subject left her with no alternative but to accept the situation. "Fine then, how do we proceed?"

"Well, since we don't need to worry about getting anything more than a trim, you just need to decide on a style you wouldn't mind wearing for the evening. Did you have any ideas?"

Fizzlepop gave her answer no thought. "You decide for me." Twilight gave her a deadpan glare. "What? Do you honestly believe I know the first thing about mane styling?"

The deadpan remained. "Mohawks require a lot of maintenance. And believe it or not, most ponies know that." Fizzlepop had to resist the urge to bite her lip. "That's why I thought it was weird that you didn't know the natural texture of your own coat. You might not care about your coat that much, but you take pride in your mane. As much as you do in a lot of things about yourself. And you're allowed to show that pride if you want to. It doesn't make ponies think you're weak."

Fizzlepop looked away. Twilight worried for a moment that she had gone too far, but as she attempted to speak up again a raised hoof stopped her. Memories of various conversations with the ponies she now called friends passed through her mind before she spoke. She decided to put aside her fear. To not worry about the stares of ponies. And she decided she wanted to make a statement. 

"When I was a filly I had a, friend. If I had to classify, then at the time she would have probably been my best friend. She had told me her mother was letting her get her mane done over the weekend. We made a plan that whatever she had done we would try to copy for me the next week at school. I never did get the chance."

"Why not?"

"Because later the same day we made the plan, I chased a ball into the woods." Twilight cringed, Fizzlepop simply shook her head before she could make an attempt to apologize. "I saw her after, with the other ponies that abandoned me. I would have tried it for myself as a way of proving I didn't need them anymore, but I didn't even know what the style she got was called."

"If you wanted to try, I might be able to figure it out if you described it."

Fizzlepop smiled a small smile as she thought about it. "I also didn't think I could pull it off because it would take a lot of pride if I was going to do it, much more than I had back then." Twilight quirked her head in question. "It involves braids, but done so that they're flat against the head." She looked up, the edge of her broken horn just barely at the edge of her vision. "It would leave me nothing to hide behind."

The mares locked eyes. After a few moments, Fizzlepop finally nodded her head. Twilight smiled warmly. "André." The stallion was back in the room almost before the words were spoken. "We were thinking of something in a Prench braid." She gave her date for the evening a hoof up, leading her to sit in the stylists chair. She then continued to hold the hoof she'd led her by and locked her gaze with the other mare again. "Something elegant. For the both of us."