Fallout: the Return

Chapter 3: Spa

Saturday. In my opinion it was the best day of the week. Jason didn’t have to work at all today, and Leo gave me a full night’s rest for once. Nothing could wipe the smile off my face as I lay on my couch in the living room.

I was resting for a bit while Jason played with Leo. My two stallions were playing with wooden blocks with different letters and colors on them. Leo letting out squeals of joy as he repeatedly knocked over Jason’s block fortresses.My resting nearly caused me to fall asleep before there was a knocking at my door.“I’ll get it,” I said as I shook sleep from my eyes and hopped off the couch, yelping in pain as a hoof came down on top of a block.I limped the rest of the way to the door. When I opened it, I saw Rainbow Dash with a large smile plastered on her face, a pair of what looked like tickets in one hoof. She didn’t have the bandaging on her head from yesterday.“You ready?” She asked.Jason groaned, “Rainbow, you’re early. I haven’t told Fluttershy yet.”That piqued my curiosity. “Told me what?” I asked with a curious tilt of my head.Jason facehooved, “It was supposed to be a surprise, but Rainbow showed up early. I’ve managed to get ahold of two coupons, and the rest of the bits you need to pay for your spa trip I have right here.” He got up, and retrieved a bag of bits from under an overturned bowl on the coffee table. He handed the bits off to Rainbow which she put in her saddlebags.I looked to my husband, blushing a bit, “Oh you didn’t have to do that. I’m perfectly fine staying home with Leo.”Jason let out a laugh, “Nonsense, you run yourself ragged staying up all night while I sleep like a rock. You deserve this, honey.”I looked to the coupons. Then back to Jason. Then it was back to the coupons again.I do stay up a lot, and I am sore… but what if there is an accident, what if I’m not here for Leo’s first word. What if-“Honey, take the day off and enjoy yourself. Leo and I’ll be fine for a few hours.”I let out a wide smile and I swore I made something akin to ‘squee,’ before jumping right out the door. “I’ll see my two stallions in a few hours. Spare milk is in the fridge.” I called as Rainbow and Jason laughed at my antics.As Rainbow and I walked away from my house, she nudged me with a hoof, “Wanna race to the spa?”“No, even though I had a nice sleep for once, I’m still tired.” I gave a forced yawn for extra emphasis.“Oh, bummer.” With that idea gone, she changed subject, “How are you coping with… you know?” She said hesitantly while waving a wing like it was going to magically tell me the words left unsaid.I gave a sigh, she was my oldest and best friend, so I could tell her anything, “I woke up screaming night before last,” I hid behind my mane, “I busted Jason’s lip before he could wake me up.”I saw Rainbow wince, “Don’t worry, Orion’s dead and you’re husband was originally from the NCR, not the Legion.”I rolled my eyes, “I know that, he is my husband after all,” I then gave a small giggle, “You thinking of marrying Nolan and having a foal?”Her face turned pink, “Um... so tonight is Nightmare Night. What are you going as?” Rainbow asked, changing subjects.I shook my head, “Can’t tell you, it’s a secret.” Now it was my turn to change subject. I didn’t get a good look at her hair after she crashed through the window, but now that she was up close. “You’re growing your hair out and making yourself more girly for Nolan aren’t you?”Her blush deepened before she lowered her head and squeaked out quieter than I ever could, “He says it makes me look pretty.”I nearly fell over laughing.“Oh hardy har, har, laugh it up why don’t you.” She said through clenched teeth and an extremely red face.I suppressed my laughter and gave one last giggle before I asked, “So how have you been the last few months?” I asked her that because, truthfully, I hadn’t talked with her for quite a while. Between housework and Leo, I didn’t have as much time as I used to.“Besides the occasional dream about Hoover Dam, I’ve been fine.” She said with a forced and totally unconvincing tone. Oh Rainbow, I’ve know you the longest of all of our friends. You are definitely a bad liar.“Tell me the truth, Rainbow.” I said in a stern, motherly voice. It was the same I had used to get Leo to stop chewing on Pumpkin’s hair.She let out an explosive sigh, looking down dejectedly, “I wake up six fifteen sharp, dress in my old uniform, do three flights around my house, a set of fifty push-ups, and three more laps around my house before I undress and arrive at work at seven exactly. Once at work I never slack off.”She let out a laugh and looked back up at me with sad eyes, “Remember how I always slept till I cleared the clouds at the last possible second? Nope, not anymore. I’m still stuck in this soldier mentality and it’s driving me bonkers.”“Huh?” I half mumbled in confusion.She let out another sigh, “Remember how after you and Applejack were taken, the other girls and I joined the NCR. They stationed us at Hoover Dam, and being so close to the fort and you drove me crazy. I trained my blimen flank off to keep myself from charging across Hoover Dam towards the Legion by myself. Now I can’t slack off because I have to be on the move constantly or I get jittery.”“Oh,” I said hiding behind my mane, “Well maybe this spa trip will help you break out of that rut.”“Hopefully,” She muttered.I then remembered something, “Wait, don't you hate the spa?”She rolled her eyes, “Yes, but I won’t pass up a trip with my best friend. Plus I may even like it.”Good enough for me.

<~-~>

It took us only a few more minutes of silent walking until we reached the spa, and once inside our ears were greeted with the sweet sound of a piano accompanying Nightmare Night decorations.A lone mare with a bright orange mane was sitting behind a counter, reading a magazine, totally unaware that we walked in.“Ahem,” Rainbow Dash faked coughed.The mare behind the counter put down her magazine and gave us a beaming smile, “Hello, and welcome to Calm Waters spa. What would you and your friend like Miss Fluttershy, or should I say, Mrs. Brody?” she asked in a thick accent. It was the same accent spoke by Aloe and Lotus; Eastern Equestrian if I was correct.I gave a blush and hid behind my mane. I just never understood why my new last name made me blush.“Oh the usual, a full spa treatment please,” I gave a smile as I made a motion for Rainbow to give the mare the coupons, “We have two special offer coupons.”The mare scrutinized the dates and information before smiling, “Two half-off coupons. You lucky mares only have to pay twenty-five bits each.”Rainbow forked over the bits and the counter mare chimed a bell. From the speed Aloe and Lotus responded, I swore they beat Rainbow for a land speed record. I could almost see a faint trail of dust from how fast they moved.“Please follow us,” The both said in a creepily perfect unison.I followed along with Rainbow to a mud bath. Rainbow shed her saddlebags and we were each directed away from each other to our own tub of steaming earth.It had been over a year since I last had a spa day. My pregnancy and Rarity’s new… look, had stopped our old routine get together. I enjoyed every last second of my stay.

<~-~>

About three hours later, Rainbow and I trotted out of the spa side by side.I lost count of how many times my body was popped and acupunctured… but at the end of it all, I felt like I was a brand new mare. My once dull coat was now shining like new, and my constantly bedraggled mane was back to its slight curl. Every ounce of stress and fatigue was brushed away by the expert massaging of Aloe.Looking over to a smiling Rainbow Dash, I noticed how new she looked. The spa day stripped away her rough, sweaty, tomcoltish look, and replaced it with a more feminine one. Her longer than average mane was combed down and her hooves were filed down slightly by the Spa Sisters during one of their trademark hooficures.I heard Rainbow take in a deep breath of air, “Whoa, I feel awesome!” She exclaimed, “I never knew why you and Rarity would pay fifty bits each for all of that, but now I do.”Maybe I can ask her later if we can do this again.I giggled, still drunk on the feeling of newness I felt from myself. “Yeah, a few hours with the sisters and you’re feeling just like new.” I went quite often to help relieve the stress from caring for several animals, and the pain from hauling around all the heavy bags of feed.“Heh, yeah. Catch ya later Shy!” Rainbow exclaimed as she rocketed off.“See you later.” I replied, but she most likely didn’t hear me due to having already flown halfway to her house.A brisk ten minute walk later, I was back at my house. I could see Ponyville’s clock tower in the distance reading 3:17. I still had a large portion of free time left before tonight’s celebration.Opening my door… I let out a loud squeak in shock.Everywhere I looked I saw red. My walls, furniture… just everywhere.And sitting right in the midst of all that red, was my son, playing with a large pack of crayons.“Ohhhh Jasonnnn,” I cooed out.My husband was by the coffee table, watching Leo color. At the sound of my voice he instantly looked nervous for a second before crying out, “I tried to stop him… but he was just too strong!”I gave him a flat, unamused look. We both had just paid for this house with our own bits.Jason shook his head as he looked down, “I’ll get a bucket and sponge.”As soon as he reached the kitchen, I walked over to where Leo was playing with the crayons. He looked up with a toothless smile and a loud giggle, before going back to coloring the tan carpeting red.I laid down before nuzzling Leo.After almost four seconds later, I had a sleeping foal under my chin. It seemed that destroying the walls and carpet tuckered his wittle self out.Fluttershy, you’re thinking in baby talk again.Jason returned after a few minutes of searching the kitchen cupboards for the cleaning supplies - I obviously had them under the sink. Since the bucket and sponge didn’t immediately jump out at Jason, I had to leave Leo sleeping on the floor to get the supplies for him.After retrieving the supplies, Jason and I trotted back into the living room, and Jason stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Leo.I giggled at my husbands proud smile, “He’s a little cutesy wootsy. Just like his father.”Jason gave a snort in mock annoyance, and in a posh accent replied back, “I’m not cute. I so happen to be a devilishly gorgeous stallion with the most lovely and kind wife ever.”My plan to embarrass him backfired as my cheeks lit up in a blush, my ears folding back slightly.“Guess what Fluttershy?” Jason asked with a confident grin.“What is it?” I asked back with a smirk.“Well, while you were out, Derpy dropped off some mail,” his smile grew even wider, “I got a job. An actual job!”I gasped, “You didn’t?”“I sure did, honey. No more odd jobs to pay the bills.”I nearly tackled him in a hug, planting several kisses on his neck before giving him a real big kiss on the lips.Separating from the kiss, I was blushing pure red. “Sorry… I got excited,” I apologized in a low voice, rubbing the back of my head with a hoof.Jason rolled his eyes, “You’re my wife. We can kiss all we want to.”I smiled and gave him another light peck on the lips, then whispered sultry in his ear, “I’ll go put Leo in the crib. Then we can kiss all day and all night long.”“Really?”I put on a flat expression, “No, you still have to clean up Leo’s mess.”I was super glad Leo was asleep, otherwise he would’ve heard Daddy say something he shouldn't, and Mommy hit him over the head… really, really hard.

<~-~>

I was a little scared, but I had Jason right beside me as Nightmare Night started off at exactly eight o'clock. The loud chime of the clock tower’s bells echoing throughout the town started off the celebration in the town square. Colts, fillies, and even adults were dressed in a wide variety of scary and bizarre costumes, as games with spooky themes were played.I was dressed in a white labcoat made for me by Rarity with my mane tied in a ponytail. A red cross in the middle of a red circle decorated my shoulder.I was dressed as a doctor from the Old Mormon Fort in the middle of Freeside. Jason, was in Legion armor made by Rarity. I know what that uniform meant on other men - well stallions now - but on Jason, it meant I was safe. Leo was in his stroller, dressed as a lion, but squeaking like a mouse at everypony that passed us by.Rainbow had told me earlier that the rest of our friends would be at Twilight's library. It took a few minutes to get there, and when I did, I saw all my other friends, standing outside the building with their costumes.Raul was dressed in what appeared to be tissue paper. His dry and near leather-like skin gave him the perfect illusion of being an undead mummy. Rarity was dressed in her Veteran Ranger outfit, complete with red-eyed night vision helmet. Nolan, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie were dressed as NCR soldiers, no doubt using their real uniforms. Upon seeing Jason in a Legion uniform, Rainbow and Pinkie tackled him and play wrestled.Looking to Applejack, I realized she just wore her normal attire; her stetson, blue jeans, and a red checkerboard shirt. She grimaced at the sight of Jason’s Legion uniform, but calm down a bit afterwards. Tigris was in a stroller next to Applejack, looking at all the other ponies walking around with a happy smile on her face. Like Leo, she was dressed up as an animal; a tiger.The last of our group that I saw was Spike, leaning against the door of the library with a bored look on his face as he checked the length of his right hand’s claws. He was dressed in red robes with a quill tucked behind one of his ears.I looked and looked, but I couldn’t see Twilight amongst us. Turning my gaze to Spike, I was about to ask him where she was, but the front door flew open and sent him sprawling across the ground in front of us.Twilight stepped out of the library, or at least I thought it was Twilight. From head to hoof, the pony on the porch was covered in dull-grey armor. The large grey helmet had two black hoses running to oxygen tanks on the back.“Whoa,” was everypony's collective response.Twilight spread her armored wings and jumped up. As she hovered I heard her mumble, “Power armor flight compatibility, check.” Then she saw Spike sprawled out on the ground. With a panicked gasp audible to all of us, Twilight landed with a metallic clang and immediately began apologizing to Spike.“Scribe Spike, reporting for duty,” Spike said with a salute as his eyes spun. I could almost hear the birds tweet around his head. He shook his head rapidly before getting up.Applejack let out a whistle, “That’s some fancy getup Twi.”Twilight shrugged with her wings, “I based it off my old T-45d armor. I even integrated a self-repair enchantment and a single use shield talisman. Also, give Spike some thanks, he helped me forge most of the metal.”Spike nodded, “Nothing better to stop a magic blast than Dragonforge steel.”Pinkie popped up behind Twilight, making most of us jump in shock at her sudden appearance. A hoof was on her chin as she narrowed her eyes to a squint, “For some odd reason, I think an alicorn in power armor is ironic. Anypony else think that?”I gave Twilight a good long look, “No, I don’t think it is. Should I?”Pinkie shrugged, “Probably not. Now let’s get us some candy!” Before anypony could stop her, Pinkie disappeared in a flash of pink colored dust.“Pinkie,” everypony in our group groaned in unison, except for Leo and Tigris, that is.“No, let her partake in the festivities of this night as she pleases,” with a gasp, I turned my head to see Princess Luna walking towards us. I wasn’t scared of her any more… much… okay, maybe a teensy tiny bit slightly terrified of her.“Princess Luna!” Twilight nearly yelled. I could tell she had an expression of pure joy on her face, but it was hidden under all the metal she wore.“I see thou has partaken in studying and building human armour.”I barely heard Spike mutter under his breath, “That’s almost all she does.”He, of course, was ignored by Luna in favor of listening to Twilight rattling on about ‘pneumatics’ and ‘hydraulics’ as well as all sorts of technical words I didn’t understand.Twilight then said something that caught my attention, “Oh, I have an update on my reverse engineering of human weapons. The powder we use in our cannons fouled the grooves in the barrels of human weaponry, so after several tests, I managed to make my own propellant based off ammunition we brought back with us. I also managed to make a magic version of my laser rifle, with only a thirty percent chance of blowing up in your face.”Luna was a bit reluctant, based off her expression, “We do not understand why my sister has encouraged your study of these… guns, but nevertheless We will update her as soon as We can, but for now, We have children to scare.”I looked at the two in confusion before there was a flash. Princess Luna took on the form of Nightmare Moon before flying off. The sound of screaming children and maniac laughing off in the distance told me Luna was enjoying herself possibly a bit too much.Rarity gave a ghoulishly dark chuckle. The red eyes of her helmet scanned us slowly before she said obviously with a smirk, “Well girls, lets show these amateurs some true costumes.”Raul smacked his own face with a hoof, “Dios mío, Rarity! You forgot the men.” Spike and Nolan then stood by his side, glaring at Rarity.“Oh hush, you can tag along as long as you don’t slow us down.”Twilight interrupted us, “Actually, I think we should split up. That would maximise the area we cover before the festivities is over… who want’s to draw straws?”Rainbow Dash gave a groan, “And proof once more that Twi’s an egghead. Also, someone that jolly in armor like that is downright creepy.”I had to admit, Twilight was intimidating in all that armor.We split into groups, Rainbow, Rarity, and Raul were in one group while Nolan, Spike, and Jason were in another. That left Applejack, Twilight, and myself, along with Leo and Tigris in the final group.Looking at the armored alicorn, I felt confident that the mare under the armor would protect me, no matter what.“Follow me, girls,” Twilight giggled out as she levitated an empty bag for candy. She didn’t know it, but half the town was staring at her as she walked. I could tell that the local princess dressing up in strange armor was quite shocking from all the confused expressions. The confused stares made me want to hide behind my mane, but I didn’t because, ‘When the going gets tough, it’s time to get rough.’Following behind Twilight with my own candy bag tucked under my wing, I pushed Leo along, Applejack right beside me with Tigris’ stroller.As we were side by side, I swore the two foals’ babbles were them talking to each other.For around a minute, we followed behind Twilight - who was silent the whole time - before Applejack spoke up, “So I see Jason was in a Legion uniform.”“Yep. Rarity made it,” I said with a bit of pride. It had taken quite a lot of convincing to get Rarity to make a Legion uniform.I could almost hear her face redden, “Did ya forget what the Legion done to us?” She hissed loudly.We both stopped and let Twilight continue on without us, oblivious to our impending argument.Did I forget the slavery and rape I was put through? “No, and I never will.”Applejack gave a sigh as she faced away from me, “They’re the reason I’m too ashamed ta be undressed in public, knowing that I’ve- I’ve been used that way.” She let out a sniffle, “I’m scared to be around any stallion except my brother. How do you do it, dealin’ with all of this?”I’ve dealt with all of this before, ever since I was a young girl with an abusive father. I already knew the answer, “I don’t. I try and try to deal with it all, but no matter what, I can never fully cope. I still have nightmares and days that I break down, but Leo and Jason keep me going.”She nodded, “I know what ya mean. Every time I see Tigris smile, my heart melts an’ all that pain does go away. So, thats how you cope, your new family?”I nodded.She wiped a tear away with her hoof, “Come on, Twilight’s probably noticed we’re gone by now and is worried sick. I doubt her having a freakout in that armor would be good, we all remember the Smarty Pants incident.”I gave an eep and took off after Twilight.

<~-~>

I didn’t know what time it was when I finally gotten home with Jason and Leo, but Jason had collected more than enough candy by himself to give even Pinkie Pie a sugar rush. And trust me, after living a large portion of her life in a near constant sugar rush, it took quite a lot of candy to give her a buzz.Leo was asleep, cradled in my right foreleg. I changed him, set a bottle of my mare’s milk into the crib with him, then I made my way to my room before falling asleep right next to my husband.