//------------------------------// // AM // Story: 26 Candles // by PuzzlingInsanity //------------------------------// The squeak of the faucet handle signaled the end of her morning shower as she carefully stepped out of the bathtub, making sure that she didn’t slip and break her leg again. Once her hooves were carefully on the fluffy gray bath mat lying on the bathroom floor, she proceeded to wrap her black hair in a baby pink hair towel and dried the rest of herself off with an old red beach towel. Taking a look at her blurry reflection in the mirror, she rubbed the sleep out of her yellow eyes and put on her glasses. Careful to avoid tripping on the sandy-blonde tabby cat waiting in the doorway, she went into her room and picked out her outfit. After she put on her clothes, she looked at her reflection in the vanity, smiling to herself as she removed the hair towel and shook her head slightly. She thought the monochromatic gray ensemble looked good on her. Satisfied with her outfit, she left the bedroom and made her way into her kitchen. Puzzling Insanity sat down at the table and pulled a pair of black boots onto her hooves before looking at the time on her phone. It was nine-thirty. She had one hour to finish getting ready for her special day out. She brushed her hair and pulled it back into a tight ponytail before setting out her makeup on the table. Carefully, she removed her glasses and turned on the small mirror’s light, preparing to get dolled up. When she had finished putting on her makeup, she examined herself in the mirror. Puzzling’s eyelids had been dusted with two different shades of pink, she had added just a kiss of pink to her cheeks and her lips were carefully painted with dusty rose liquid lipstick. Looking at her phone again, she could see that it was ten o’clock. Her mother would be there to pick her up in half an hour. She smiled as she saw all the messages she’d received so far that morning. Friends and relatives had flooded her social media with birthday wishes, and more messages were coming in. Puzzling stood from her chair and took several selfies from different angles, hoping to go through them and pick one to post on social media with all the other photos she planned on taking that day. At ten-thirty, Puzzling heard a knock at the door and unlocked it, allowing for her mother to enter the trailer with a white cake box. “Happy birthday, sweetie,” Heart Guardian said, entering the kitchen and putting the box in the fridge. “You ready?” Puzzling Insanity laughed. “I’m so ready to go,” she said. “First stop: nail salon.” At eleven o’clock, Puzzling gave her mother a hug and checked in at the salon. “Hi, I’m Puzzling Insanity,” she said. “I’m here for my nail appointment.” The nail tech smiled and said, “I’m Jewel. Nice to meet you, Puzzling. If you’ll just sit here, we can get started.” The fanged mare sat down in the chair and took a deep breath as Jewel brought her supplies over to the table with her magic. “You have lovely hands,” the unicorn said, buffing the earth pony’s nails. “Thank you,” Puzzling said, watching as the nail tech got her fingernails ready for the application of acrylics. “So,” Jewel said, pushing back Puzzling’s cuticles, “what brings you in today? Got a date? Formal event? Special day today?” Puzzling smiled. “It’s actually my birthday today,” she said as Jewel applied some nail primer and prepared to find the right size nails for her fingers. Gluing the fake nails on, the unicorn smiled and said, “Well, happy birthday! Is this length okay?” She floated a small pair of manicure scissors about half an inch past the fanged mare’s natural fingertips. Puzzling nodded, continuing to watch as Jewel cut the nails to the desired length and began to apply the acrylic. “This is always fascinating to watch,” she said. “I bet it’s relaxing too,” the nail tech said. “What shape would you like me to make your nails?” “Coffin, please,” the earth pony said.  “Always a bold shape,” Jewel commented, shaping the earth pony’s fake nails. “I’m sorry for asking you so many questions, but what color tickles your fancy?” As she asked, the unicorn floated several different color options over for Puzzling to look at. Puzzling looked over the many options and smiled. “I like this one,” she said, pointing at a display tip painted piggy pink. Jewel smiled as she floated three small bottles and a nail lamp over to her workstation. “Alright, first, I’m gonna apply a base coat,” she said, opening the first bottle with her magic and gently brushing the base coat over the nails. Turning the lamp on, she set the timer and guided Puzzling’s hand under the light. Puzzling Insanity looked at her other hand as Jewel worked, admiring what had been done so far. “You are an artist, you know that?” The unicorn’s smile got a little bigger. “Thank you,” she said. “Now it’s time to add some color.” Puzzling switched hands as the first bottle was closed and the second bottle was opened. She watched as the nail tech applied two coats of polish to each nail on her hand and carefully guided her hand back under the lamp, starting to apply color to the nails on her other hand. Jewel closed the second bottle and opened the third bottle as they waited for the polish to dry. “So, do you have any other plans once we’re done here?” “Well,” Puzzling said, “my mom’s buying lunch and that’s pretty much it other than cake at home.” “That’s always fun,” Jewel said. “Alright, top coat time; give me your hand, please.” The earth pony nodded and did so, continuing to watch as the unicorn applied a layer of top coat to her nails. She once again found her right hand under the heat and light of the nail lamp as the process was repeated on her left hand. Soon enough, it was time for payment, and Puzzling had to make a phone call. “Hello? I’m done, Mom; you gotta come here and pay. I’ll tell you when you get here. Okay, I’ll see you in a few minutes. Love you too.” As she hung up the phone, she turned to the unicorn and said, “How much do we owe you for this beautiful work?” “Fifty bits,” Jewel said. Puzzling reached into her purse and pulled out a bit bag, opening it and putting ten bits on the table. “Here’s your tip,” she said. The unicorn smiled as Heart Guardian entered the nail salon, already fishing her bit bag from her purse. “Okay, so how much is it?” Puzzling looked over at her mother and said, “Fifty bits.” The middle-aged mare placed fifty bits on the table and said, “Thank you.” Jewel’s smile grew as she said, “Think nothing of it! Hope the rest of your day goes great!” Puzzling took out her phone and took a selfie with her hand over her muzzle, showing off her nails. "Alright, sweetie, are you hungry?" Puzzling Insanity nodded as they left the salon.