Wishing is Magic

Rainbow Wishes wasn't really surprised when she realized they were the first clients of the day. Even if she had never been to this place before, she had enough sense to realize ponies didn't come this earlier in the morning, especially after a storm.

"Regular, please," Sassaflash told the twin mares in the front. At least, Rainbow Wishes assumed they were twins.

"So much for not coming here often," Rainbow Wishes snorted as the mares led them back to a pastel room filled with several cots.

"I'm very picky when I do show up!" Sassaflash defended herself, holding a hoof up. She lay down on one cot. "They remember my demands. Right, Aloe?"

"Yes," the mare, Aloe, confirmed with a slight giggle. "You need your cucumber slices exactly three and a half inches in diameter." Rainbow Wishes smiled as she too lay down on the cot. She closed her eyes as Aloe's sister put cucumber slices on them.

She hadn't realized her shoulders had been so tense until another spa pony began to massage her back.

"Ah, that feels good," she breathed, relaxing her shoulders.

"It's good," Sassaflash agreed from her cot.

Rainbow Wishes's concerns and worries melted away as the massage continued. All she could focus on was the massage.

"We're done here," Aloe said gently, prodding Rainbow Wishes's shoulder as the massage ebbed away.

"Really?" Rainbow Wishes whined, lifting up one of cucumbers to peer at Aloe.

"Don't worry, Rainbow," Sassaflash interrupted. "We've going somewhere else."

"Alright," Rainbow Wishes agreed, standing up.

"Follow me," Aloe instructed. Sassaflash and Rainbow Wishes followed her into another room. This room was walled with oak wood panels, with a pit of smooth, grey stones in the middle.

"A sauna," Rainbow Wishes realized. Sassaflash nodded in response and flew in.

"We'll pick you up in exactly seven minutes and forty-five seconds," Aloe called. Rainbow Wishes stared at Sassaflash. She grinned sheepishly.

"Are you sure you aren't some secret fashion pony?" Rainbow Wishes asked, narrowing her eyes in a joking way. Sassaflash laughed.

"I doubt it!" As she spoke, her mane fell in front of her eyes from the steam. "Hey! I can't see!" She scrambled to pull her hair back up. Rainbow Wishes laughed.

Suddenly her hair was in her eyes again. Rainbow Wishes's care free feeling vanished in an instant. She was sitting exactly like she had been only several seconds earlier. Luckily, Sassaflash didn't notice.

How can I relax in a spa if a time wizard is going to be released in a matter of days? She thought.

"Well-" Sassaflash was cut off by a knock at the door. An indigo unicorn poked her head inside. Her hair was wrapped up in a pale rose towel.

"May I join you?" She asked.

"Sure!" Rainbow Wishes replied. "The more, the merrier!" The unicorn nodded and stepped inside.

"I'm Forsythia," she introduced herself. "I know you, Sassaflash. What's your name, flower?"

"Flower?"

"She calls everypony that," Sassaflash explained.

"Oh! I'm Rainbow Wishes!" Rainbow Wishes responded. "Nice to meet you, Forsythia."

"Pleasure is mine!" Forsythia beamed as she sat down next to them. She used her magic to pour a pitcher of water into the pit. The whole room was filled with steam. Rainbow Wishes felt the individual drops on her muzzle.

"I love meeting new friends!" Forsythia continued. "Where are you from, Rainbow Wishes?"

"I'm from Canterlot," Rainbow Wishes explained. "I was sent on vacation to Ponyville for a week."

"I'm so glad!" Forsythia exclaimed. "I get to meet you!"

"Did you grow up here?" Rainbow Wishes asked. Forsythia shook her head. "I grew up in Appleloosa." She shuddered. "I don't want to speak badly, but it wasn't my taste. I'm into the lush greenery of Ponyville."

"Extra lush after the rain," Sassaflash added. The three of them laughed.

At that moment, Aloe chose to open the door.

"Sassaflash and guest," she called.

"That's us," Sassaflash said, standing up.

"See you later, Forsythia," Rainbow Wishes said, smiling as she exited with Sassaflash.

"I'm sure I will!" Forsythia responded, waving good bye.

"Where are we headed next?" Rainbow Wishes asked, trotting down the hall behind Sassaflash and Aloe.

"Mud bath," Sassaflash responded simply. Rainbow Wishes cocked her head. Mud bath? Ponies actually bathe in mud?

The trio entered another room, but in the center of this one was a large pool of mud. Sassaflash flopped right in, causing a little splash. Aloe's nonchalant expression indicated this was Sassaflash's usual.

"Come on in!" Sassaflash exclaimed. "It feels good!"

"I will!" Rainbow Wishes agreed, slipping into the brown goo. She laughed.

"So this is what a mud bath is!" She scooped up some mud and splashed Sassaflash with it. Sassaflash grinned and poured some on Rainbow Wishes's head.

"Hey!" Rainbow Wishes giggled as the mud oozed down her face. "You're going to pay for that!"

"Stay calm," Aloe commented, but Rainbow Wishes and Sassaflash were already engaged in a fun mud fight.

After a few minutes, Forsythia entered the room.

"Oh my Celestia!" She exclaimed. Rainbow Wishes looked up from her fight. The walls were splash with mud, as was a disgruntled Aloe.

"Oops," she said sheepishly.