//------------------------------// // Spa Day // Story: Save me // by WhiteFur //------------------------------// I crawl into bed after my long day with Cadence. We spent most of the days watching movies or talking, the hours just dragging on and on. In normal circumstances, this would have been a dream come true; a day just for cadence and I used to be the only thing I ever wanted. But that is in the past, before Equestria was in danger. All I could think about the entire time was how I wasn’t studying, working, or preparing for the next threat. The day was a waste, and I feel no better. “Is everything okay, princess?” Flash asks as he comes in the room, armor no longer on. “No, everything is not alright! I just wasted the whole day and now I'm behind. What happens when we’re attacked and I don’t have the knowledge to protect everypony?” I scream at him, but as soon as I get it all out I instantly regret it. He walks over to me. “Twilight…” I gasp hearing him say my given name for the first time, “Twilight, you are not healthy enough to save the world, you can’t even save yourself. I don’t care if this sounds harsh or mean, but you're killing yourself. The ponies who love you are not going to let you waste away in front of us. You need to get healthy, and you need to let us help you if you want be around to help anypony.” He's standing right next to my bed, his blue eyes stern. My body starts shaking uncontrollably. His eyes soften as he climbs onto the bed with me, wrapping me in his soft wings. I press my face into his chest letting tears I didn’t know I was holding back cascade from my eyes. He pulls me closer, wrapping himself around me as he coos and offers small words of encouragement. After a while I’m able to calm down and gain control of myself. I feel exhausted, as if the tears had been holding all of my energy, and now they were gone. “Flash, I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.” I say, hiding my face, a blush slowly emerging on my face. He lifts my chin with his hoof, forcing me to look him in the eyes. “For a long time now princess you have been taking care of everypony. You've been saving the world. You're stressed from all the battles, probably still in shock after your transformation. Your mind and body still need to adjust, and now while everything is at peace you can. Just let us, let me, help you.” I cuddle closer to him. I’m so small I fit right into him. “I don’t know how.” I whisper closing my eyes. He puts his muzzle between my ears, inhaling. “Just relax and let us help, don’t fight us.” He lays his head down, snuggling into me. “Okay,” I say, barley a whisper, letting myself be venerable with him. I’m scared that he's right and terrified that he isn’t. But for right now in his embrace I feel safe. Slowly I let myself drift into sleep, cocooned in warmth and happiness. The sun drifts through the window as a cool breeze blows across me, gently waking me up. The first thing I notice is that there are no longer soft wings around me. I am alone, and my body feels heavier for it. I raise my head, scanning the room for him, but I can’t see him anywhere. I lay my head back down, stretching out and lengthening all my muscles one by one, feeling each relax and ache at the same time. Just as I start to relax again, there’s a knock at the door. Before I can say come in, a blue unicorn magic spreads across it, opening it up. “Darling, did you miss me?” Rarity says, sweeping gracefully into the room, Flash right behind her. My spirit lifts seeing the two of them, a smile spreading across my muzzle. “I’m sorry to just spring in on you, but today you and I are going to the spa for rest, relaxation, and a makeover.” She says with a sense of glee soaking each of her words. I can’t help but feel gleefull as well. I get out of bed, my body still exhausted though. I walk over to rarity but am unsteady on my hooves, stumbling a little. Before I can fall though, a soft wing holds me up. I turn to stare right into the beautiful blue eyes that belong to Flash. “Well this is cute, but sweetie we really should be going.” I step out of the embrace, a blush spreading across my face. “Alright take me to the spa.” I say as we walk out of my room. “What, no fight?” She fakes a look of surprise. “What can I say, somepony last night made me see reason.” I glance behind us, locking eyes with Flash. There’s a blush on his face, but he still looks stoic, the perfect guard. He adjusts his helmet and follows us. “I can see that.” She says with a wink. We keep walking, as Rarity tells me about all the news in Ponyville that I’ve missed yesterday, as well as the latest fashion trends. “Oh darling we miss you so much, and it’s only been a day. I don’t know how we are going to be able to function without you for so long.” “I promise to write you guys.” I say as we reach the spa, Flash still right behind us. “You better, I want all the details about your stay here.” She glances at Flash and I know that means she wants 'those details', a blush once again coming to my face. “Now were here so let the pampering begin.” We’re whisked away to treatment after treatment, not much time for small talk. The whole time Flash stays close to my side offering me small smiles and nods of encouragement. I am able to relax for the first time, in what seems a long time. Three hours later I’m standing in front of a mirror, all the pampering and preening over. I can’t believe the pony standing in front of me. Her mane and tail are no longer matted, but long, silky and even have a wave to them. Her body is a skeleton although her coat shines and her hooves are polished. I finally see why everypony was so worried. I had avoided mirrors for so long, just not caring for what I saw. “You look beautiful princess, almost back to your perfect self.” Flash walks up behind me, starring at the Twilight in the mirror. I blush turning to look at him. “Do you really think so?” I can’t look him in the eyes, starring instead at his chest plate. No longer does it have a crystal heart, showing his allegiance for the Crystal Empire. No, now he bares my cutie mark. “I've thought so since the first time I laid eyes on you, Twilight. You take my breath away.” I look up in his eyes; they shine with truth and something else, something I don’t want to think about yet. We stare at each other for a long time, my heart and body growing stronger every moment. “Oh sorry did I interrupt something?” Rarity asks as she sweeps into the room. Flash and I spring apart, both of us blushing scarlet. “No, you're fine.” I say, stepping down from the podium. Rarity looks breathtaking; she is almost shinny from her beauty, though you would think so standing next to her. Usually I would feel ugly in comparison, but instead I feel more beautiful for being in her presence. “Darling you have your shine back!” She grips me in a tight hug, “Now let’s go grab a bite to eat, shall we?” She lets go of me as we exit the spa, looking all the more happy we both head back to the castle. We have a big dinner, my small stomach packed to the brink with food. Everypony is happier now that I had my makeover, and I do feel better myself. I can finally admit now that I am not healthy, that I need help. We pass the night in fun with Rarity, Shinning, Cadence and I. Before I know it it’s time for Rarity to return to Ponyville. “Tell them I forgive them and they were right, I needed help. I love you all for looking out for me.” I grip her in the tightest hug I could manage. “Darling, we love you as well, and we trust you’re in good hooves, just make sure to write us and tell us how you’re doing.” She says, winking at Flash, a blush once again spreading across my face, his too. “Now good bye darling.” She gives me one last hug before she boards the train, leaving me. I wave her off, more and more weight exhausting my body as her train fades into the distance.