I started the first official day of my surprise vacation in as cliché a manner as I possibly could. That's right; it was beach episode time, and I couldn't wait.

As you might imagine, there were a few reasons for my excitement. First and foremost was the novelty of the beach itself, magnified tenfold by the fact it was floating several hundred meters above the ocean on a supersized artificial island. Neo Capital, the sprawling metropolis I called home, was thoroughly landlocked, several hundred miles from the nearest coastline. Suffice it to say that I didn't exactly make regular trips to the beach.

The other reason, surprise, surprise, was the generous amount of tantalizing femininity I found myself in the middle of. While there were many couples and a generous helping of single-looking males of both species on the prowl, from what I'd seen so far there were more than enough females to go around.

Bonus points if you didn't mind wings, fur, or horns.

I know it sounds like one Hell of a night in Tijuana, but as I observed the women…mares…of Equis, I found them growing on me (insert lame & predictable 'growing' joke here). While I wasn't ready to hop in sack and do the horizontal dance with no pants with one at the moment, I didn't discount the possibility.

I think it was the colors. I'd always been attracted to unconventional hair colors and styles and as far as I could tell, Equis was full of them. I especially appreciated pink; it was uncommon to see (back on Earth, anyway) and always seemed to radiate feminine goodness. Other colors were great too, but pink seemed to stand out for me.

Maybe that's why I noticed that one mare with the long pink hair…mane…whatever, in the middle of the crowded arrivals platform.

I'll admit that while I was a little disappointed that I still hadn't seen her, it was hardly a deal-breaker. Instead of lamenting, I smiled and wandered about, exploring the beachfront Breeze had recommended. After thanking her for the information, I had invited her and Sven to join me as soon as they had some time off, an invitation she, and after a quick text message, Sven both accepted. While that wouldn't be for another day, I was more than happy to check things out solo for a while.

It wasn't long before I found myself stretched out upon a beach chair a little ways from the main beachfront, sunglasses perched upon my face as I soaked up the sun, trying to become less pale, difficult to accomplish given Neo Capital's cool and generally overcast climate. I breathed a peaceful sigh as guests of all ages and species frolicked and played around me in total bliss.

Presently, my stomach gurgled, prompting me to check my phone. I was surprised to find that it was already 1:00. I had spent two hours basking without even realizing it. Time for some lunch, I guess, I thought as I gathered what little I'd brought from the room, namely a towel, my phone, and a t-shirt, all tucked into my small backpack for easy transport. My waterproof VIP guest pass, a credit card-like object that fueled my stay, hung around my neck, relieving me of the need to carry my wallet (and risk losing some very important personal effects). Everything in the resort was purchasable with the card, a privilege available only to the very rich or very famous.

As I was neither, I felt a small sense of pride, like I'd beaten the odds somehow. That's what you get for having good taste in music, I thought with a smile.

"Now…where to eat, where to eat?" I wondered aloud, checking the app's built-in food find. Hmm…Seafood Sensations sounds good, think I'll check that out, I decided, checking out the precise location. It was a bit of a walk to the other end of the beach, shorter if I walked along the beach itself, seeing as it was just barely off the beach itself. I grinned at the thought of fresh beachside seafood and began my trek.

***

"I don't know about this, Fleur," Coco mumbled, fidgeting under her oversized white t-shirt as her cousin spread their beach towels out. They had stumbled upon a fairly secluded section of beach, nestled roughly halfway between the Astral Resort and Thunderhead. Unfortunately, even given their seclusion, Coco's shyness seemed to be in full-force. "What if somepony…" She gulped. "…sees me?" she finished in a near-whisper.

"But that's the point of a bikini," Fleur replied, returning to her cousin. "To be seen and to be…" She leaned down and playfully blew in her cousin's ear. "…admired."

"But…what if I don't want to be admired?" Coco asked. "What if I'm…I'm…"

"What if you're what, my dear?" Fleur asked gently with a small smile. "What's on your mind?"

"What if I'm not pretty enough to be admired?" Coco practically whispered, prompting Fleur to gasp.

"Not pretty enough to be admired?" Fleur asked in disbelief, hands on her hips. "Now where did you get a silly idea like that?"

"I don't know, I just…I mean, I'm not like…like you, or…" She paused as Fleur gently cupped her chin.

"Now you listen to me," Fleur stated soothingly. "I'm not even like me. Those mares that you see in magazines and films…that's not reality. You can't get down on yourself just because you don't look or sound or act like them."

"Well…I guess that makes sense but you do it and you're one of the nicest ponies I know. I mean…you're definitely real." Coco replied.

"That's true but my point is that I never allow that world to be my world. It's my job and that's it. I use what I earn there to gain new experiences in better places and with better ponies. Why do you think I invited you to join me here for a vacation, hmm?" Fleur asked with a small smirk.

"I…I guess that makes sense," Coco said with a smile of her own. "Thanks, Fleur. You really are the best."

"I try, my dear. Now, let's see how that suit looks on you!" With practiced expertize, she pulled the loose shirt up and over her cousin's head before the surprised Coco could protest.

"Fleur!" Coco gasped as her tasteful swimsuit was revealed to the salty air.

"The best way to boost your confidence is to push yourself," Fleur explained, laying down on her towel. "You don't have to pose for Playcolt but there's no reason you can't show the world you're not afraid." She leaned over and gently squeezed her cousin's arm. "You're beautiful, Coco, and I promise you I won't be the first or the last to tell you that."

"Thanks, Fleur," the younger mare replied with a smile and light blush.

"You're very welcome. Now, how about those guys we saw earlier? Pretty hunky, huh?"

"Fleur!" Coco admonished, trying to suppress a giggle. "They were…okay I guess…not really my type, though."

"Me neither," Fleur agreed nonchalantly, surprising her cousin.

"Really?" Coco asked. "But…you said they were hot. I mean…you spend time with those kinds of guys all the time." Fleur shrugged.

"Oh, I was just seeing if you noticed," Fleur stated with a mischievous twinkle in her eye, making Coco roll her eyes. "But yeah, you're right. Sure, eye candy is nice but when you're around as much sex appeal as I am all the time…you start to kind of…ignore it. The novelty wears off and then all of a sudden, they're just like everypony else to you. It's the ones who are genuinely different from what you're used to, different in a good way of course, that really become interesting." Coco watched as Fleur's expression became wistful, almost as if her search for that special someone was ongoing as well.

"They can…make their way into your heart and then before you know it, you're best friends. I guess what I'm saying is don't judge a book by its cover, 'cause you never know what you might miss." Fleur smiled as Coco processed what she'd been told, hoping that she would take her words to heart and make her cousin realize that she was a book worth reading.

"I'll remember that," Coco assured her with a nod.

"Glad to hear it! Now, shall we suntan?" Fleur suggested, stretching out on her towel, allowing the sun to bathe her lithe body and generous curves. Emulating her cousin, Coco did the same, sighing in relief as her muscles stretched and her shorter yet slim & trim figure embraced the day as well.

They couldn't hold back their smiles as the waves lapped at the shore.

Meanwhile…

Man, this is quite the walk, and in the hot sun, too, I thought, checking the map on the park app. According to the map, I was about halfway between the Astral Resort and my destination, the large collection of bistros and other eateries located just at the base of Titan, the mountain home of Thunderhead Park. So far, there hadn't been another soul in sight and I wondered if I had taken a wrong turn somewhere. I sighed and pressed on, hoping that the app wouldn’t lead me astray.

The unmistakable sound of girlish laughter reached my ear from around the next outcrop. I stopped and wondered if this part of the beach was, for some reason, private, which would explain the lack of anyone else around, Equestrian or otherwise. Maybe it was some rich chicks who wanted the entire beach to themselves.

Well, if that's the case, I'm sure they won't mind if I'm just passing through. If they do mind, I'll just take the monorail or something. With that in mind, I pressed on towards the outcropping, practically reaching it...

…right before tripping over something and falling (thankfully) into the soft sand. I heard a cry and leapt to my feet, my training instincts kicking in as I quickly scanned the immediate area. Presently, I looked down to find a young bespectacled Equestrian man…colt…whatever, maybe a couple of years younger than myself, rubbing the part of his head that had become forcefully acquainted with my the lower half of my shin. Off-white with a chestnut-brown mane and tail, he was a rather unassuming fellow.

I was wondering how it was that neither of us noticed each other until it was too late when I did notice something else: a small, easily-concealable pair of binoculars that, given the lack of anything ornithological around save for the seagulls, probably weren’t for birdwatching. In fact, judging by his position, it was clear that he'd been watching them for some time already.

Hmm… I thought as we simply stared at each other, waiting for the other to make the first move. Embarrassed face + binoculars + secluded beach + peeking on the girls right around the corner = !

"Oh no, you don't," I exclaimed, grabbing his arm as he leapt to his feet. "What were you doing here with those binoculars?"

"None of your business!" he replied in a slightly higher voice than mine, confirming his youth.

"Peeking on unsuspecting girls like a pervert is the business of anyone who thinks that's completely repugnant," I countered, holding him firmly. "Who do you think you are, anyway?"

"Who the Hell do I think I am?" the colt demanded, wrenching his arm free and rubbing it. "My name is Gizmo, and you're looking at the guy who designed this place!"

There was a pause as I considered what he'd just said, unsure of how to react or even if I believed him. After some deliberation, I replied as eloquently as I could, given the situation,

"…what?"

Author's Note

Sorry for the short chapter but here's hoping you guys like it anyway. Also, don't forget to check out my other stories and show them a little love!

As always, stay classy, FiMFiction.