"Sweetie Belle?" Rarity called and looked around. "Sweetie Belle! Where in Celestia's name are you? I need to ask you something!" The mare let out a sigh and moved up the stairs. It had been through a rough day, and she was looking forward to relaxing under dimmed lights. And this time, since the business had been booming the last month, she wanted to bring her sister.
"Sweetie Belle?" she asked again. Suddenly, she heard the faint sound of something clicking behind the door to her right.
Sweetie Belle's room.
"You in here?" she asked and opened the door to see the filly sitting on the floor and. Sweetie Belle placed what she held on the floor and turned towards her.
"Oh, hey Rarity!" she squeaked with a smile. "What brings you here?"
Rarity looked at the items in front of Sweetie Belle. It looked like some contraption made out of wood. "What are you doing, Sweetie?" she asked curiously.
"Oh this!" the filly responded. "Apple Bloom said they had spare planks after their last refurbishment. She asked if I wanted to use them, which I of course thought about. So, I'm building my own sewing machine!" She nearly giggled at the end. "What do you think?"
"Oh," Rarity said back and put a hoof to her smile. "That sounds like a lovely idea. I see my fashion business has inspired you?"
"Well, kinda," Sweetie Belle said. "I'm not originally planning on sewing clothes, you see."
Rarity cocked an eyebrow. "Oh?" she asked curiously. "What then?"
Sweetie Belle pointed at her bedroom window. "I could really do with some curtains," she explained. "And I would love them to be personalized, if you understand. I want to have something self made." She let out a happy sigh before she looked back at her sister. "So I heard you were calling for me. I tried to answer back, but you didn't seem to hear me."
"Oh, right," Rarity said and cleared her throat. "I was just wondering if you would like to come to the spa with me."
Sweetie Belle tilted her head. "The spa?" she asked. "You're inviting me to the spa?"
Rarity nodded. "I have had quite the income lately, so I thought, why not treat my sister with a trip to the spa? You've been a good filly, so I thought you deserved it."
Sweetie Belle glanced at her sister. Her muzzle grew a wide smile. "Yay!" she exclaimed and jumped up from the floor. She ran around for a little while before she gave her sister a warm hug.
"Thank you."
Rarity chuckled softly and wrapped a hoof around her sister. "Let's get ready then," she murmured.
The two unicorns were pleased to be welcomed by the sweet fragrance of the season's blooming flowers outside the spa's entrance. They took the time to smell them a bit closer before Rarity pushed the double door open. A small bell sounded as they walked inside.
"Just a moment!" a voice called through the lobby. "We will be with you shortly~"
Sweetie Belle looked curiously around at the plaques that adorned the light blue walls. Award after award were placed on a neat timeline, accomplished by blue and red ribbons.
"Rarity?" Sweetie Belle asked. "Why is this just a boring room with framed papers? I thought the spa was supposed to be something ponies loved to relax to."
"Oh Sweetie Belle," Rarity chuckled. "This is a lobby, dear. We're just waiting for the personnel to lead us in to the real spa room. You will see the difference."
"Urgh!" Sweetie Belle groaned lowly. "But waiting is boooooring..!"
"Oh hush you," Rarity said and took notice of a pony appearing behind the desk. "We are up now." She stepped over to the counter and gave off a friendly smile to the pink mare.
"Welcome to the PonyVille Day Spa~" the mare smiled. "I take it you would like to order the usual, Miss Rarity?"
"Not today, Aloe," Rarity said and looked at Sweetie Belle. "I would like a small package as a treat for my sister, you see. I'm sure that would be a nice gift, don't you think?"
"Yes, indeed," Aloe nodded. "Has she had any of our treatments before?"
"I purchased a bottle of your bubble bath a few weeks back," Rarity said back. "It was a birthday gift for Sweetie Belle."
"I loved it," Sweetie Belle smiled. "It was really relaxing."
The two mares chuckled and nodded back at the filly.
"Well then," Aloe continued and picked up a quill. "Shall I tell my sister to prepare a small for two~?"
Rarity nodded and smiled softly. "And if it wouldn't be of too much trouble, dear," she continued. "I would like Sweetie Belle to pick the oil for her massage." She looked at her sister. "In case she wants a different scent."
"Certainly, Miss Rarity," Aloe smiled and started scribbling. "I will let the masseuse know~"
A small while passed by before Rarity and Sweetie Belle finally stepped into the spa area. The soothing music echoed lowly between the walls, accompanied by the gentle scent of lavender and mint leaves.
"Good afternoon~" cooed Lotus as she came out from her office. "I was told there would be a sisters' day out, am I right?"
"That is correct," Rarity nodded and smiled.
"In that case," Lotus continued and placed her clipboard on the shelf next to her. "I would like you to follow me. I have prepared the hot tub for you~"
The two unicorns followed the light cerulean mare to the other side of the spa, where a faintly smoking bath was waiting for them.
"Allow me to assist your sister's entrance," Lotus smiled and held out a hoof.
Sweetie Belle took a good grip and dipped a hoof into the water. She flinched a bit as the warm water made its first contact with her skin.
"Is it too warm?" Lotus asked and looked at Sweetie Belle.
"Nono," the filly quickly responded. "It's good. It was just at first." She moved her attention back to the water and slid down gently.
Rarity chuckled and sat down on the opposite side, letting the water run up along her torso and to below her shoulders.
"Well, you both seem to be getting comfortable~" Lotus smiled. "I will go help Aloe out in the reception. You just call for me if there is anything you need." She turned around and trotted off, leaving the unicorns to their bath.
The gentle tune rolled through the speakers of the spa in harmony with the relaxing scent of blackcurrants and tea leaves. Sweetie Belle leaned back and stared up in the ceiling.
"Enjoying the bath, Sweetie?" Rarity asked and closed her eyes.
"I guess it's alright," Sweetie Belle said back. "But it sure wasn't as exciting as I imagined it would be. Is this really what ponies like to do?"
"What do you mean, darling?" Rarity questioned.
"Lying in a tub and just listen to music," the filly answered. " It doesn't really sound that grand, if you get my point."
Rarity chuckled and looked at her sister. "You're just too young to understand, darling," she smiled. "When you get older and start working five days a week, you'll learn to appreciate the simpler things." She looked around. "Like this."
Sweetie Belle gave off a low sigh and smiled. "I guess you're right," she nodded.
An hour passed by, dodging the two ponies' knowledge. Eventually, Aloe came out from behind a divider and went up to Rarity.
"Miss Rarity," she smiled softly. "Our masseuse is ready to take you two in for the next part of your treatment~"
Rarity opened her eyes and looked up at the pink mare. "Is that so?" she asked back and nudged her sister gently. Sweetie Belle blinked a few times and moved her attention up from the water.
"Huh..?" she said lowly. "Is the bath over?" She rubbed her eyes.
Aloe nodded and turned around. "It is time for your massage~" she smiled.
Rarity stretched her hooves before she pushed herself up onto the edge of the tub. "Sounds lovely," she said back and lifted her sister out.
Aloe handed them a towel each and stepped towards the dividers she came from. "Oh, by the way," she said and looked at Rarity approaching her. "There is another customer here who is also awaiting a massage. Is it okay that you go together, or do you wish privacy with your sister?"
Rarity tilted her head curiously. "Another customer, you say" she asked before casting a look at her sister. "What would you prefer, Sweetie?"
Sweetie Belle smiled widely. "Of course she can be with us!" she squeaked. "Maybe it's somepony one of us knows? I wouldn't mind a chat."
Rarity smiled back and nodded towards Aloe. "It is alright," she said. "Lead the way, darling."
"As you wish, Miss Rarity~" Aloe cooed and rounded the corner. "Right around here~"
Rarity and Sweetie Belle followed after and looked into the room.
"They said it is alright," Aloe said and nodded friendly. The pony she was addressing smiled and looked at Rarity. The alabaster mare's jaw dropped as she saw who the other customer was.
"Good afternoon, Rarity," Princess Luna said. "And to you too, Sweetie Belle."
Rarity blinked a few times, just to make sure her eyes weren't pulling a trick on her. She eventually decided to accept it and cleared her throat. "Good afternoon, your highness," she said back with a confident smile. "It is a surprise seeing you here in PonyVille. I assume you have some sort of errands here?"
The royal alicorn smiled and shook her head. "If you mean business of political or economic matter," she started. "I will have to say you are wrong. My visit here in PonyVille is purely based on a day out."
"You mean like a vacation?" Sweetie Belle asked.
Luna nodded. "You can say that, yes," she smiled. "Although it is only for a day, it is always a pleasure to get out of Canterlot and the castle."
Rarity smiled back. "So, your highness," she started before she was interrupted by the princess.
"Please," Luna said. "You and I are not within the walls of the castle. You may call me Luna."
Rarity's face grew an insecure look. "Don't you think that's a little too personal?" she questioned.
"Oh not at all," the princess said back. "You and I are friends, Rarity. To be perfectly honest, I think the old ways and formal speak are growing old. The modern Equestria should not be ruled under an outdated regime."
Rarity tilted her head. "Are you sure?" she asked.
Luna nodded. "One day, I shall have a talk with my sister on this matter," she said back. "But for now..." The alicorn lay down on her bench. "We should not think more about that. Instead, we should do what we came here for; enjoy a good massage."
Rarity sat down on the bench next to her and smiled warmly. "Yeah," she said. "That would be nice." She turned towards her sister. "Sweetie, would you get on the bench? The masseuse will be here soon."
"Okay!" Sweetie Belle squeaked and skipped up on the one as instructed.
Shortly after, the door opened, and all eyes were focused on the ponies who stepped in.
"Good afternoon," the one on the left started. "My name is Essence de Fleur." She pointed a gentle hoof towards the stallion by her side. "This is my accomplice and brother, Azure. We will be your ponies of service for this treatment."
The princess greeted them with a nod. "A pleasure to make your aquaintance," she said.
"Oh the pleasure is all ours," Azure replied with a smile. He stepped over to Rarity, while the other mare went up to Luna. "Now, I want you to relax while Fleur and I get started."
Rarity nodded and closed her eyes. She let out a quiet sigh as the stallion's hooves pushed down between her shoulder blades.
Luna chuckled softly and did the same, though a bit more audible with Fleur's hooves pushing down on her back.
"So tell me, Luna," Rarity started as she moved her eyes to the royal alicorn. "How are things going back in Canterlot? Are there any happenings you've encountered, that you'd like to share?"
The princess looked up in the air as she pondered the question. Eventually, she moved her attention over to Rarity.
"Well," she started. "In regard of planned gatherings, there is a concert in the Canterlot Theater. I hear Octavia and her friend Vinyl are having a duo."
"Oh really?" said Rarity. "What kind of music are we talking about? Classical, or that modern beat Vinyl practices?"
"I believe it is a combination of the two," Luna replied. "It was just something I overheard when I was at the café, so I might be wrong."
"Oh well," Rarity sighed and rolled onto her side as guided by Azure. "I might hop on a train and see it when it plays."
"Splendid!" Luna chuckled and stretched out a leg. "I shall save you a seat. Front row, of course." She chuckled again.
Rarity smiled back and closed her eyes in order to further enjoy the massage. Soon after, the filly waiting for her turn stood up and walked over to Luna before she sat down on the floor.
"So, Princess," she started and smiled softly. "I don't mean to intrude on anypony's privacy or anything..." She looked down and fiddled with her hooves.
The princess looked at her. "What is it, young one?" she asked.
"Well," Sweetie Belle continued. "I was just curious about whether you have done anything exciting lately."
Luna smiled at the filly. "Is that all you wanted to ask?" she questioned, trying not to giggle. "Well, I do not recall much of anything you would find -too- amusing, but I have actually experienced a rather special moment. It was two nights ago, I believe."
Rarity looked at her. "Oh?" she asked.and continued curiously: "Would you like to let us in on your little story?"
Almost immediately, the alicorn froze. Although not too bright, a red blush rose on her cheeks.
"Is everything alright, your highness?" Fleur asked and removed her hooves from the alicorn's shoulders. "I wasn't too rough, I hope."
Luna closed her eyes slowly and stroked a hoof lightly over her shoulder. "I am alright, thank you," she said in a low, soft tone. "The question just struck me while you did that. It reminded me of what I did for him that night."
Sweetie Belle tilted her head and gave off a curious expression. "For who?" she asked.
The princess looked over at the filly, then over to Rarity. She let out a sigh. "I might as well tell you," she started and sat up. "But only if you promise not to let my sister know."
Rarity looked at her with a cocked eyebrow. "Princess Celestia can't know?" she questioned. "Why not? Have the two of you got into a spat of any sort?"
"Oh no," Luna chuckled and shook her head. "My sister and I are not on bad terms at all. It is just that she would probably not be too fond of my newest experience."
Rarity maintained her skeptical look. "Your highness," she said. "You can count on me keeping this between us. What happened?"
Luna nodded and cleared her throat. "I met a stallion," she started before she tapped her temple with a light hoof. "I know, I meet stallions every day. But I assume you figured I refer to a meeting in a more private setting. Anyway. We talked for a bit before I decided to invite him in to my chambers."
Sweetie Belle looked straight at the princess. "Sorry for interrupting," she said before the alicorn's moderate cyan eyes landed on her own. "But did you fancy him?"
"Sweetie Belle!" Rarity barked and glared at her sister. "Don't ask questions like that! Of course she do-"
"Rarity!" Luna called and put a hoof on Rarity's mouth. "Do not yell at your sister. She is right, actually."
Rarity's glare turned into a gaze of confusion. "Wait," she said back. "You got your eyes on somepony?"
The alicorn nodded.
"Well then," Rarity continued. "Who would that be?"
Luna smiled and opened her mouth.
"Shining Armor," a new voice said from the entrance. The three of them turned around and looked at the pony who had recently spoken Luna's mind. The princess herself froze.
"T-tia..?" she stuttered.
"Luna," Celestia said and stepped in. Her eyes were stern. "You need to come with me now. You and I need to talk."