//------------------------------// // Act II: Part 4. Sociability check // Story: Eight legs of fun! // by Voltsthevoltvolts //------------------------------// Maddie and Vanessa were relaxing in a warm bath while rarity and Fluttershy were having a hooficure. While they were all in the same room Rarity and Fluttershy seemed disconnected from the world around them as they received their treatment. Maddie tilted her head back in warm thermal bath and sighed happily. "I could do this every day. This is so nice." "Yes this is lovely." Vanessa sighed. "I love this... So relaxing, I can feel the years of stress melting away." Vanessa sunk slightly deep in the bath, she then flicked her head causing her mane to come down. Vanessa then dunked her head under the water and pulled back up, her mane was now completely drenched and hiding her face. "I didn't think that would work..." "Yes, I think your mane is too long to be able to do that." Maddie laughed. Maddie then dunked her head underwater and flicked it back up, her mane flew over the back of her and she winked at Vanessa. "I take it that was your intention?" "Pretty much. Still deciding on what to do with my mane though, I might regret cutting it but in its current state I can't do that much with it." Vanessa sighed. "I might ask Rarity, she seems to know about stylized manes." Vanessa sunk back down again. "Yeah, I know what you mean. Your mane is lovely but all over the place. I would defiantly ask somepony for advice." Maddie picked herself up and go out of the bath, she levitated two towels over and wrapped one around her mane and head. Vanessa got out the bath and Maddie wrapped the second towel around her mane. Rarity and Fluttershy switched places with Vanessa and Maddie. Soon Vanessa was getting her hooves filed, she sighed happily as she relaxed into the chair. "This is nice Maddie, I could really get used to this." "Yes spas are truly wonderful. I feel the stress just melting away." Maddie chuckled happily. "So, what was life back in Manehatten? I know it was hard for you but you have never really gone into detail about it." "Well I guess I could enlighten you. I mean, it is all behind me now. I guess the best place to start would be at the start..." "You sure you don't want to come Vanny? I'm sure we can make a room free in Canterlot." Vanessa's father sounded slightly disappointed in his daughters decision to stay in Manehatten. "Are you sure you will be alright here?" "Yes Dad, I will be fine." Vanessa rolled her eyes. "I'm sure I will eventually find some friends." "Gosh, my little Vanny... Living in the big city all by herself, its her versus the world now!" Vanessa father laughed happily. "Well if you are sure I guess I will have to leave now..." My Dad was always an oddball, even more-so then me. He would spend hours a day looking for bones for a museum. I guess I thought I would settle in quickly, but we all know how that turned out. I became aware of what Manehatten thought about me while I was shopping in town, a couple of aristocrats were talking about me. I listened in from behind a stall. "From what I have heard she has thousands! And she puts the webbing in her hair!" "If there's one place a spider belongs, it is certainly not home. What if they get out and bite somepony?" "That would be dreadful, and to top it all off she has nerve to talk about it like it is normal! I personally think that she should leave and take all those venomous scuttle-bugs with her!" After that I could here ponies everywhere talking about me. It was like I had opened my eyes for the first time. But everypony has spiders in there house. No place is is free of them, but it seemed I was the only pony who wanted them in my house. The worst part was, is that half the things they were saying weren't even true! "Vanny are you sure your alright, you look so stressed." Vanessa's brother cautiously asked her, he was sleeping over due to work sending him over. "I'm fine, its just this place. Its a dump." "Your house is in good nick though..." "Not my house, this whole city. Everypony talks about me and my spiders. But nopony talks to me... Heck I think they avoid me." Vanessa sighed. "I haven't gone out in weeks..." "Look sis, you need to leave. Get away from this horrible city. Come live with us in Canterlot, it will be fine we can take the extra pony." "No, I don't need to leech off of Mum and Dad. I would rather move to a quiet village or something." "Have you considered Ponyville? I heard that it is quiet over there." "Hmmm..." That was a whole two months before I moved, what happened during those months made me want to leave even more. I borrowed some money from my parents, which I didn't really want to do... And started searching for a property in Ponyville. I was half tempted to inquire about the abandoned library, but the librarians pay would not have covered all my costs. "Maybe that house, its right next a cake shop." Vanessa's mother had decided to visit Vanessa and assist her in choosing. "I know you said you didn't want anything too central, but seems like the only decent sized house on the market." Vanessa was giving her a happy stare, however her true feelings were evidently seeping through. "Vanessa, you need a break from all this. Come to Canterlot with us. Your father misses you so much..." "I will, just after I move. I promise you this." Vanessa sighed. "I promise." I guess that I still need to do that. But I need to get settled first, it could be a meet my parents. "Wait... You want me to meet your family?" Maddie exclaimed. "Don't you think it might be a bit too soon for that?" "I don't think so, if I can be honest I would rather we get it done quickly. I'm pretty sure that there is a bet going on the my house about my sexuality." Vanessa smiled warmly. "Trust me, the last thing they will do is disapprove of it." "You really thing that they will approve of it?" Maddie slowly asked nervously. "Yes, I am sure of it." Vanessa half snapped, Maddie looked shocked at this sudden burst of dominance from Vanessa. "Sorry about that, but I'm sure they will be accepting and even supportive." "If you say so Vanessa, I trust you." Maddie said sounding like a scolded foal. "I am truly sorry for snapping like that. I just get a bit protective over my family. Sure they can say things about me but the moment they start on my family I up the ante." Vanessa sadly sighed. "I am sorry." "Its understandable. I just should have trusted you, I mean what kind of marefriend am I if I don't trust you." Maddie sighed. "Sorry, most of my relationships have been with mares experimenting. Nine times out of ten it ends after I meet the parents, I guess I was just worried I would lose you." Maddie suddenly blushed and lowered her voice. "I forgot we were with company..." "I didn't." Vanessa chuckled. the two spa ponies moved away from the pair. "I guess that's us done." Vanessa looked over to Maddie who nodded and got up. "Guess we should head back home and finish unpacking your stuff then." "Sounds like a plan!"