About an hour later, Sunset finally recovered from her headache and intense case of the munchies but she wasn’t ready to call it a day just yet. So far Twilight and Fluttershy hadn’t been able to find a solution. That left possibly four other options.

Rainbow probably wouldn’t have anything useful to tell her and instead she’d ask if she was up for playing Splatoon or something. Applejack would probably suggest that a few hours of exercise (meaning working on the farm) would do the trick. Pinkie…she didn’t want to go there. The last thing she wanted to do was tell Pinkie that she was going “loco in the coco” or however she said it. If anything, Pinkie would encourage to just “let it flow.”

That just left Rarity. Well, if anyone knew what it was like to be stressed out, it’d be Rarity. More than that, she was a good listener and maybe she would actually have good advice (aside from going shopping or trying out dresses). Sunset pulled out her phone and called Rarity.

Once she picked up, Sunset quickly explained her situation. “Oh darling, you couldn’t have called at a better time!” Rarity exclaimed. “I was about to head to the spa for my weekly visit and I was going to pick up Applejack but unfortunately she couldn’t come…again. But I think a few hours at the spa are just what you need!”

Well, she certainly hadn’t been to a spa in awhile, not since living in Canterlot. “You sure?”

“Sunset, have I ever been wrong? I promise, you’ll leave feeling like a new woman! I know I do every time I go there.”

“Well…alright. I’ll be ready in a few minutes.”

“Splendid! See you then!”

Sunset almost forgot she had left her bike near the pet store. She made a note to herself to pick it up later on. About ten minutes later, Rarity pulled up outside her apartment. Never actually seen Rarity drive before, Sunset was surprised she was driving one of those hybrid cars. “It’s gotta be one of her parent’s cars.”

“Goodness dear, maybe it’s a good thing you called after all,” Rarity said as Sunset got in. “You don’t look so good.”

“It’s…been kind of a crazy day so far.” Sunset reluctantly decided to fill Rarity in on the details on the drive over.

“Oh dear…well Sunset, I won’t lecture you on my opinion of drugs,” Rarity sniffed slightly. “But I suppose you had good intentions.”

“Hey, I didn’t ask for LSD.”

“Is it just like they say it is?”

“It’s…something alright.”

The car soon pulled up to a large facility that had a few fountains on the outside. “You’ll have to remind me to get you a membership,” Rarity said as they got out. “They give you a ten percent discount each visit you know.”

They went inside and Sunset was suddenly hit with the smell of lavender and rosemary. The inside was even more impressive as there were also a few fountains along the two floors. “This place looks expensive,” Sunset said.

“Well like I said darling, a membership is a good thing to have.”

There were two women near the front desk and upon seeing Rarity their eyes lit up and both approached. “Ah Miss Rarity, it’s so good to see you again!” one of the girls said with a slight accent as the three girls all pecked each other on the cheek.

“Miss Applejack couldn’t make it I assume?” the other girl asked who had a similar accent.

“I’m afraid not,” Rarity sighed. “But I still managed to bring a friend. Sunset, this is Aloe and Lotus, the owners of this fine establishment. Aloe, Lotus, this is Sunset. We’ll both have the usual.”

“Of course,” Aloe said. “I’m assuming Miss Sunset would be interested in a membership?”

“Uh…I’ll have to sleep on it,” Sunset said with a hesitant smile.

“No worries, since this is your first time we offer a discount.”

“Don’t worry Sunset, I’ll take care of this,” Rarity said as she pulled out a credit card. “It’s my treat after all.”

“Wonderful. Lotus will escort you both to the steam room.” The two girls were given robes and towels before they were taken to the steam room. Once inside, Lotus went outside for a moment to let the two girls undress in private.

“So…what’s ‘the usual’?” Sunset asked.

“Only the best deal here,” Rarity said, who seemed more than happy to explain. “First we start off with a nice thirty minute steam bath which will help soften our skin. Then Aloe and Lotus will personally give us a fifteen minute massage and I will say this now, they have the touch of angels, and then-”

“Wait a minute.” Sunset couldn’t believe she hadn’t thought of it before. “You mean, we’ll be undressed when they give us a massage?”

“Yes? Surely you knew that Sunset.”

“No I mean…” Sunset sighed as she put on her robe. “You remember what happens when I get in contact with someone?”

Rarity blinked for a few moments before catching on. “Oh…well certainly you should have that part under control yes?”

“Honestly, I’m not so sure…I guess if I try to block it then maybe I’ll be okay.”

“No need to be nervous Sunset, I suppose you’re not quite used to getting touched so intimately with your…other body. But I should warn you Aloe and Lotus can get rather…intimate with their clients.”

“What?”

Lotus then came back into the room with some water which she poured onto the hot rocks in the middle of the room. “There you go ladies. Enjoy yourselves!”

After she left, Sunset looked back at Rarity. “What did you mean by that?”

“Oh it’s nothing really,” Rarity waved it off as she sat down on the bench. “I’m just saying those girls have the magic touch and…well…obviously no one else touches me in such a way.”

Sunset suddenly had a number of visions in her head, none of them appropriate. “Well…I guess…uh…”

Rarity suddenly started giggling. “Oh darling I was joking! Honestly, you think they have sex with their clients? Well…there’s always been a rumor that you have to say a certain word for them to-”

“Rarity.”

“I’m kidding! Come now, sit down and relax! Everything will be fine!”

Sunset finally sat down and after a few minutes as the steam filled the room, she couldn’t help noticing she did feel slightly more at ease. “Huh…this is how my bathroom ends up after a shower but I never feel this good afterwards.”

Rarity smiled. “See? It’s worth every dollar.”

“And you do this every week?”

“Of course! I do try to invite someone to come with me, but usually its Fluttershy because it seems she’s the only one available these days. And Rainbow Dash apparently wouldn’t come anywhere near here with a stick.”

“Yeah…I can see that actually.”

About a half hour later, the two then moved to another room where a pair of massage tables awaited them, as well as Aloe and Lotus. “Oh girls,” Rarity spoke up. “I hope you can understand but Sunset…well this is her first time and all so she might be a little…sensitive to the touch.” Sunset rolled her eyes. Again, that wasn’t true but she decided to let it go since Rarity was trying to help her out.

“Ah, we understand,” Aloe said. “Do not worry Miss Sunset, everyone’s a little nervous the first time but I promise you’ll find yourself relaxed soon enough.”

“Um…if you say so,” Sunset replied as the two of them sat down on the tables. Perhaps it was because here nudity was seen as a taboo that she felt a little more…exposed when she undressed in public. That had never been a problem in Canterlot and the spa mares there went everywhere.

It wasn’t long before she felt contact on her back and Sunset braced herself mentally. However, nothing happened, much to her surprise. “Uh…Rarity?”

“Yes darling?”

“…Nothing’s happening.”

“Oh…” Rarity looked up slightly. “Well good! Maybe this is what you needed after all!”

Maybe she was right. Lotus’ hands definitely were like magic and her body almost felt like it was going to melt. It almost reminded her of-

“Soft feathered wing on my back…” Sunset shook her head slightly. No, she couldn’t bring that up now. That would only get her emotional. “Lotus…how do you and your sister do it?”

Lotus chuckled. “It takes much practice dear. I’m willing to brag that our competition doesn’t have the expertise we have.”

Rarity groaned slightly in pleasure. “That’s for sure…no wonder people are so stiff-necked in Manehattan.”

The whole ordeal went on for fifteen minutes, although to Sunset it felt much longer and while she wasn’t going to admit it out loud, she didn’t want it to end. She wasn’t used to being touched in certain places and there were a couple times where her body jumped involuntarily but apparently the two siblings were used to this. Afterwards, the two of them felt very much relaxed and were now sitting together in a mud bath.

“Thank you Rarity,” Sunset said. “I really did need this after all.”

“You’re most welcome,” Rarity beamed. “I really do hope it helped. But perhaps whether it does or doesn’t we could try to make this a weekly thing.”

“I have no objections,” Sunset smiled. “But uh…what’s this part for again?”

“The mud bath is supposed to be very good for your skin,” Rarity said. “How else do I keep my skin so flawless~?”

Sunset chuckled. “Fair point. I still feel kind of bad for Fluttershy though. I need to make it up to her somehow.”

“Well…you didn’t hear this from me but I know she loves the shampoo they sell here,” Rarity said, giving her a wink. “Mane n’ Tail in fact. It’s actually kind of funny because it used to be a shampoo for horses but people started using it themselves and it became a big brand.”

“Is that right?” Sunset grinned. She’d have to buy a bottle herself then.

“Oh yes. But Fluttershy loves that brand and I’m sure that would make her feel better.”

“Sounds like a plan then. So uh…do we have to shower after this?”

“But of course! You don’t think we’d go around covered in mud do you?” Rarity looked surprised.

“Right…stupid question.”

After they got out and showered down, the two of them got dressed again and were about to leave the building when-

“Rainbow Dash?” Rarity stared.

The prism-haired girl was currently in a bathrobe and suddenly turned around, staring at the two girls. “Aw shit…” she cursed. “Uh…it’s not what it looks like!”

“…Then what does it look like?” Sunset asked.

“I…uh…” Rainbow’s face slumped. “Alright, you got me.”

“Darling, why didn’t you tell me you’ve been coming here?” Rarity asked. “I would’ve been more than happy to invite you!”

“I dunno…” Rainbow said simply. “I…guess I had a reputation to keep up.”

“That you hate going to spas?” Sunset asked.

“No, that I…look you’re not going to tell everyone about this are you?”

Sunset and Rarity glanced at one another. “We won’t if you don’t want us to,” Sunset said.

“I suppose we can keep this little secret between the three of us,” Rarity grinned.

Rainbow sighed in relief. “Thank God-”

“However, you’ll have to agree to come with one of us from now on,” Rarity continued. “No more coming here on your own.”

“Fine,” Rainbow sighed loudly. “Anyway, I’m surprised to see you here Sunset. Did Rarity guilt-trip you into this?”

“No…it’s kind of a long story.” Sunset then gave the short version of what had been going on.

“Yikes, that is concerning,” Rainbow said. “That’s like me running the mile and suddenly I run around so fast I cause a fire.”

“…Something like that, yeah,” Sunset replied.

“Well, Sunset hasn’t had any problems since she’s been here,” Rarity pointed out. “It would seem stress is the big contributor.”

“Maybe,” Rainbow said. “But you know Sunset…did you ever think perhaps you haven’t quite…accepted it yet?”

“But I have.”

“No, I mean like truly accept it,” Rainbow said. “Like Charles Xavier for example. He couldn’t quite control his powers and the whole thing terrified him, but it was mostly because he couldn’t accept who he was and it was only when he did that his powers stopped going on overdrive.”

Sunset blinked for a couple moments. “Rainbow that’s…actually good advice. Thanks.”

“Heh, I come through when needed.”

“I mean, maybe everything else I’ve experienced was just a side effect of my powers running rampant,” Sunset continued. “Instead of fighting it, I just need it to flow through like a river or something and-aaahhh…”

She suddenly cut off because everything behind the two girls suddenly changed. Gone were the ambient colors of the building and now there was only gray and black. The water of the fountain had now turned to blood.

“Oh dear Celestia…it’s getting worse!”

“Sunset, are you alright?” Rarity said, obviously oblivious to all that was occurring.

“Yeah…um…just feel a little woozy,” Sunset said. “Probably from earlier today. I think I’ll head home and just call it a night.” She then turned around and left the building.

“But darling that’s quite a long walk I can-” Rarity suddenly stopped as the door closed.

“What…just happened?” Rainbow asked.

“I’m not really sure,” Rarity said. “I guess I was wrong to assume she’d feel better right on the whim.”

“Should we get a hold of the other girls?” Rainbow asked.

Rarity sighed. “No, not yet at least. Maybe she is just tired from today. Let’s let her rest and hopefully she’ll let us know how she feels tomorrow.”

Author's Note

Bet you didn't expect that huh?