//------------------------------// // Words and Wonder // Story: Fay's Tale: Family // by Lil Sunny //------------------------------// After waking the next morning and getting breakfast. Fay attended school for the day where the 8 participants for the evening’s spelling bee were announced. Snips, Silver Spoon, Twist, Sunny Daze, Cotton Cloudy, Pipsqueak, Featherweight and of course Fay were all entering to win the grand prize of a spa day with their guardian and a friend with their guardian. Fay did her homework with Sweetie Belle and Starlight arrived to pick her up. They were all going straight to the schoolhouse for the spelling bee. “Do you think I can win Sweetie?” “Sure you can, you’ll do great. Just relax and focus, we practised a lot this afternoon.” “And last night too my little filly. You’ll do great.” Starlight said with a smile. “Absolutely darling, we all believe in you.” Rarity patted her head. Cheerilee stood at the front of the stage where around 50 parents and students had shown up in the audience. “Welcome to the Ponyville Elementary Spelling Bee! Each of our fillies and colts will take the stage and be given a word to spell, if they’re right they’ll go to the back of the line until they get one wrong, then they’re out. One chance, one winner, one big prize!” “Come on Fay!” “You can do it darling!” “Do it for mommy Trixie!” “Go get 'em my filly!” A few voices could be heard calling out for Fay. “Well, it seems we have a fan favourite. No pressure now. Twist, you’re up first. Your word is deciduous. “Deciduous. D-E-C-I-D-U-O-U-S.” “Correct. Good job.” Snips, your word is. Punctual. “Uhh, Punctual. P-U-N-C-H-Y-O-U-A-L-L.. “Sorry Snips, that’s wrong. But you tried your best.” All of the kids lasted a couple of rounds, but after a few more only Twist and Fay were left. “Alright Twist, your word is Twilight.” “Twilight, T-W-E-Y-E-L-I-G-H-T” “Sorry Twist, not quite. Fay you’re up. Can you spell Twilight?” Fay beamed. “Mhm, she’s my auntie, she’s mommy’s friend. Twilight. T-W-I-L-I-G-H-T.” “Congratulations Fay! You won!” “Yay! What do I win?” “A luxury spa day for you and your parent or guardian, plus a friend and their parent or guardian. Who are you taking?” “Well, mommy Starry. And Sweetie Belle and Rarity too.” The crowd cheered as Fay was presented with a medal and four spa tickets. Starlight rushed the stage to give her a big hug and put the spa tickets into her bag. “Way to go Fay! You did it. I’m so proud of you. You’ve done so much in so little time. I couldn’t be happier to be your mommy.” Starlight sniffed and began to cry as she held the little filly in her hooves. Rarity and Sweetie Belle came up to the stage and joined in the hug followed by Trixie. “You really want me to come with you to the spa Fay? So you see me as a friend now huh?” “Mhm, and your big sissy can come too. She’s real pretty.” “Oh darling you do make a mare blush. I do take pride in my appearance, thank you for allowing me to accompany you. In reality I’m not actually her legal guardian but so long as our parents are out of town doing goodness knows what, I’m responsible for her. So we shall enjoy a day of pampering tomorrow shall we? The perfect way to begin the weekend.” Starlight dried her tears and pulled Rarity to the side. “Listen Rarity, I need a favour.” “Whatever it is, I'm sure I can manage.” “You think you could make a blanket in 5 days?” “I could do it in a few hours honestly, why do you ask?” “Next Wednesday is Fay’s birthday. We want all her friends round, including Sweetie Belle of course. But I need a present for her, something she’ll always treasure. She has a ragged old blanket that she was apparently wrapped in when she was dropped at the orphanage, and I thought maybe I could have a new better one made just for her. Think you’re up to the challenge?” “Ohohoho darling, I assure you I can make a simple blanket, but you don’t want that do you? No, you want something to dazzle her. That she’ll remember forever. Well I am more than capable of that too. You’ll have your blanket. I’d try to find Pinkie Pie soon if I were you. She's throwing a lot of parties these days along with her job at the bakery and occasionally teaching cookery classes at the School of Friendship. Honestly I don’t know how she finds the time.” “I’ll talk to her on sunday. Tonight is about Fay, and tomorrow we celebrate with some rest, relaxation and pampering.” “Have you ever visited the Ponyville Spa? Aloe and Lotus are incredible at their jobs.” “Nope, surprisingly. But I trust that it’ll be great because I'm sure a pony like you would be there a lot.” “Be thankful I take that as a compliment, some mares may not be so kind.” Rarity smirked. “Nonetheless, they are professionals and they’ll make you feel sublime.” Fay walked up to Starlight with a wide smile. “All the ponies con gatchu lated me. Well, not Twist, she’s mad. But miss Cheery said she’s just a sore loser. Can we go home now? I’m hungry.” “You’ll have to work on that speech dear, tell you what. Why don’t I treat the five of us to a lovely meal? Gustave’s is quite a lovely place after all.” Rarity mused. “Really miss? Thank you! You’re really jenn air us.” “Generous Fay, you’ll get better someday. Seriously sis? You never take me there, but I’m not complaining.” Sweetie belle smiled too. “Well I guess that’s that. Come on then everypony.” Starlight led the way followed by Rarity, Trixie and the two fillies in the back. At the door a pony in a suit greeted them. “Ah Miss Rarity, welcome. A party of five? Quite the gathering I must say, what’s the occasion?” “I won a spelling bee!” Fay proudly said showing the stallion her medal. “So you did little filly.” he chuckled. “Very well then, right this way.” He led them to a large table with room for three on each side. Fay and Rarity sat either side of Sweetie Belle while Starlight and Trixie sat on the other side. “You haven’t said much since our little filly won Trix, cat got your tongue?” “I didn’t think anything more needed to be said, our wonderful little gal is getting to be a great and powerful speller. We’ll have her mastering her math, smashing her speech practice and wrangling her reading and writing in no time at all.” Trixie was clearly proud of Fay, she looked on with adoring eyes at her little daughter. A waiter came to take their orders. “What can I get for you fine ladies this evening?” “Griffonstone special salad my good man.” “Make it two thanks.” “Three please, I’ll try it too.” “Mommy, what should I get?” “Whatever you like honey, it’s your celebration dinner. Why don’t you ask Sweetie Belle to show you the kid’s section?” “It’s right there Fay, see anything you like? I’ll have the Corn Carrot Dog and Hay Fries please, with some Lemonade.” “I want the hayburger and fries please, thank you mister. Ooh and a cola.” “And drinks for the rest of the ladies?” “Gin and tonic my good sir.” “I’ll take a cola too.” Starlight said “Make it two” Trixie added. “Excellent, your drinks will be out momentarily and your food shortly thereafter.” After a few moments a moustached griffon delivered their drinks. “Well well, what do we ‘ave here? A filly with a medal non? What did you win mademoiselle?” “I won a spelling bee!” “Super! I am glad to hear it. Miss Rarity, it is nice to see you again.” “The same to you Gustave. Ladies, this is Gustave le Grande, owner and proprietor of this establishment.” “With a few more branches across Equestria, of course this is the main branch. We began in Manehattan but Ponyville is where my heart belongs to. After I left the griffon lands to seek creatures who would indulge in my cuisine, I found my way to this quaint town and I am here to stay.” Two server ponies came and put their plates of food down in front of them as Gustave backed off. “Well, don’t let me keep you ladies from your dinner. Bon Appetit.” He bowed and walked away. Fay took a small bite of her burger. “Yummy yum yum yum! This is better than that other place!” “Well now, 4 yums. You must be enjoying your food, why I haven’t heard Sweetie make a noise like that in years. Starlight told me you went to McHayburger the other day, that place is rather low rent compared to a fine establishment like this.” Sweetie Belle blushed. “Cut it out Rarity! I’m not a little kid, I don’t do that stuff anymore.” “Just because you’ve grown up doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy a few childish things dear sister. Why, I still love ice cream and cartoons sometimes when I’m just feeling blue.” “I guess so. This corn carrot is great. The outer layer is chewy and the carrot inside is crunchy.” “Trixie loves this salad, I assume you’ve been here many times then Rarity?” Rarity chuckled. “Oh this is the finest restaurant in town, so of course a few stallions who thought they might have a shot with me offered to dine here and pay. But I’ve slowed down since then, now I’m only looking for mister or miss right. Whichever comes first. I did hear Appplejack placed an order for some rare mountain flowers in the market, I wonder who those could be for. Well I guess we’ll find out sooner or later. Oh listen to me ramble on, tonight is about you little sweet pea.” Rarity ruffled Fay’s mane. “Don’t be afraid to order some dessert once you finish your burger and fries. They do lovely home made ice cream here.” “Yummy! Fay loves ice cream!” The filly smiled bright. Trixie chuckled. “The sooner we get her in with that Kirin stallion to learn how to speak properly the easier it’ll be to listen to.” “Like you never refer to yourself in the third person honey.” “When Trixie does it, it’s for emphasis and pride, not because Trixie cannot, but because she chooses not to.” The mare in question held her head high. “Doesn’t make it any less stupid.” Sweetie Belle remarked, causing the rest of the table to start laughing. After dessert was served Rarity paid the bill and the two families set off for their homes. Fay was quickly sound asleep and the next morning after breakfast, she and Starlight headed for the Ponyville Spa. “Starlight! It’s wonderful to see you again, thank you for letting me join you today Fay, oh you’ll just love the service here. And those tickets are for the VIP Luxury service too. You lucky and talented filly.” “Sis, she brought me. I had to bring a guardian and mom is out of town. You got lucky.” Sweetie Belle smirked. “Nuh uh, Fay picked both friend and pretty mare! I knew Rarry would have to come too if Sweetie did and pretty mare like Rarry must really like the spa.” “Rarry? Oh goodness darling, that’s a delightful way of putting it. Well I suppose you’ll get better at talking in time. For now, shall we go inside?” “Lead the way Rarry” Starlight chuckled. Inside they were greeted by two earth ponies, twins with inverted pink and blue coat and manes. “Miss Rarity! Welcome! Are you here for your usual?” “Not today darlings, Starlight if you wouldn’t mind.” “Sure, here. My little filly won these tickets last night, they entitle us to a luxury VIP treatment.” “Ahh of course, Cheerilee purchased them with her own bits. So generous to her students. So you won the spelling bee little Sweetie?” “Not me, my friend Fay here won it.” “Hi! I’m Fay.” Aloe and Lotus chuckled. “Such spirit for a young pony. Right this way. We shall begin with massages followed by the steam room, hooficures and finally the hot tub. With complimentary drinks of course. What will the fine mares wish to partake in today?” “I would love some of your fine imported wine my good mares.” “That actually sounds good, I’ll try it too.” “What do you think Fay? Juice boxes?” Sweetie Belle grinned. “Juicy Juicy!” The twins laughed again. “Very well, fine wine and juice boxes shall await you at the hot tub. First, massages. We are always very gentle with the young ones, please be sure to tell us if you feel strange or hurt.” “Ok miss. Thankies!” Fay and Sweetie Belle were worked on by the twins as two large stallions, one incredibly muscular with tiny little white wings massaged Rarity and Starlight. “Oh this is great, you always know just where to push Bulk.” “YEAH! I mean, Yeah, I know. You learn after a while where the tense spots are, and when some customers keep coming back you learn them personally.” “Oh daaaaaarling this is heaven. Such skilled hooves has a mare never felt.” “Oh yeaaaah…you’re right Rarity this is fantastic, I should have started going here with you a long time ago.” Fay lay wordlessly and smiling in absolute bliss as her tiny filly body was rubbed and pressed free of all stress. After the steam room and hooficures the four were brought to the bath house to relax in the hot water. As stated their drinks of choice were waiting for them and They all sank deep into the warmth. “So Fay, how was your first spa treatment?” “It was really good mommy! Blue pony is really good at making Fay feel special.” Lotus giggled. “Just doing my job little one, you are always welcome back here any time with a parent or guardian you know.” The four ponies relaxed in the hot water of the tub and enjoyed their drinks. Rarity held up her glass to Starlight.” A toast to Fay, for being an excellent young lady.” Starlight smiled and clinked her glass with Rarity’s. “Absolutely, to Fay!” Sweetie Belle held up her juice box. “Yeah, to Fay!” Fay held up her own. “To me!” She looked confused. “Wait, what did I do?” “You won a tough competition and won a luxury spa day for all of us. In my book that’s wonderful darling.” Rarity spoke with a chuckle. They relaxed for a while longer before getting out and drying off. “Well darlings this was a lovely day, you must come with me here more often, it’s wonderful isn’t it?” “Fay feel really good now.” Sweetie Belle giggled. “Oh fay, you’re still funny. Y’know sis I’d be more than happy to come with you any time. Just because Apple Bloom likes getting muddy and Scootaloo is a tomboy doesn’t mean I’m not as feminine as you are.” She nuzzles Rarity. “I’d be happy to bring you dear sister.” Rarity reached out a hoof and hugged Sweetie Belle close to her. “It was a great day but I think we need to be going now. It’s the weekend so we’ve got a whole lot of mommy and daughter bonding to get through isn’t that right Fay? “Mhm, bye bye Sweetie Belle, bye bye Rarry!” The two waved goodbye to the sisters and walked back to their home. The rest of the day was fairly uneventful with simply a day of relaxing, puzzles and cartoons followed by dinner and an early bed for a tired young filly.