Celestia's sun was shining brightly overhead, just on the edge of the shady umbrella over Twilight's head. The Princess of Friendship laid on the beach chair, reading the latest Shadow Spade novel as she hummed contently.
With how busy things had gotten between the world saving, running the Friendship School, solving friendship problems, and the general craziness her life could be even at its most calm, just sitting down reading a book was something she didn't get to do nearly as often as she'd like anymore. Having a day off just to catch up on her reading list was great, and spring break (as well as a thankful lack of world threatening emergence and friendship problems) was just what the doctor ordered. While all the students had headed off to spend it how they felt like the staff had decided to hit the beach.
“Twilight, are you gonna sit there reading all day?” asked Spike, putting on his swimming goggles...while looking at the towers of books surrounding Twilight, so big that it reminded him of the book forts she built as a filly. It had been a very, very long reading list. He knew, he'd written it up for her.
“Spike, everypony does something different to relax, and this is what I do,” the mare replied, looking up from her book. She then gave an endearingly nerdy smile as only she could. “But no, I'm not going to do it all day. Me and Fluttershy are going to go count the local sea turtles later.”
“Huh, whatever you like. I'm going swimming,” Spike said, giving a wave and running to the cool, blue ocean with a cannonball.
Twilight gave a chuckle, looking out across the sunny beach. It was a great day, not a cloud in the sky. And everypony was taking full advantage of it.
Rarity laid in her fancy beach chair near the Alicorn, sun bathing in the warm daylight. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon having had the same idea nearby. And being Rarity, naturally wearing the most fashionable sunglasses she could find. The mare went to apply some fresh sunscreen (as with all things cosmetic with Rarity, fancy and expensive)...and noticed a nearby pony's sunblock coming up empty as they tried to do the same. Rarity's sunblock levitated into their line of view without a moment's hesitation.
“Here, darling, you can use some of mine,” the fashionista said with a friendly smile. Twilight shared it.
“Comin' at you, Scoots!”
Twilight turned to see a white volleyball hit over to a little orange pegasus. Scootaloo got in position and launched it up and over the net, smiling from ear to ear. Applejack did a diving save to launch it back...just barely allowing it to hit the brown sand before it was sent hurling over to Apple Bloom. The little Earth Pony jumped up and spiked it over the net, hitting the ground on the other side despite the pegasi's attempt to intercept.
“Good job, AJ, that's match point for you two,” said Rainbow Dash with a smile as she got back to her hooves and dusted the sand out of her hair.
“...Nah, it hit the ground and Ah saw it,” Applejack said without hesitation as she poured sand out of her hat. “Yah all won, good game,” she continued, giving Rainbow Dash a hoofshake.
Apple Bloom and Scootaloo shared a hug and hoofshake, looking rather adorable emulating their big sisters.
...Right before their competitive big sisters decided it was time for best two out of three.
Twilight's gaze moved across the beach to where Pinkie Pie had...somehow built an entire, somehow fully functional playground out of sand that hadn't even been started the last time she'd looked over there. While the logical part of her mind was questioning how in Celestia's mane she'd managed that...the part that was the party pony's friend reminded her Pinkie Pie was exempt to the laws of physics and couldn't help but smile as foals (Sweetie Belle included) gleefully played on it to Pinkie Pie's delight.
“Alright, now Mr. Toothy, open wide...”
Looking out over the cool blue ocean, Twilight saw the wide open jaws of a great white shark just outside of where most were swimming...with Fluttershy pulling a piece of coral out of its gums.
“There you go, all better,” the timid, kind pegasus said with a smile as she gave it a kiss on the nose. “Now let's get you a little further out where you and the ponies will be safe...” This led to the surreal image of Fluttershy smiling while riding a huge, surprisingly happy looking great white shark out to sea where it and the swimmers would be safe from each other. As people said, if you were doing what you loved you don't work a day in your life.
“So, what do you think of the Great and Powerful Trixie's kite!”
Speaking of surreal images, looking over she found Starlight Glimmer and Trixie standing nearby flying kites. Starlight's was a normal plain purple kite...while Trixie's was a smiling cut out of herself.
“Great...and this is going a lot better than last time when you tried flying on that shinobi kite...” Starlight admitted with a chuckle.
“Trixie didn't know the park had a kite-eating tree...”
The Princess of Friendship gave a chuckle...then blinked, hearing an engine and looking out to sea...
To be greeted by Discord standing atop of pyramid of clones of himself wearing bright yellow and purple plaid snowsuits all skiing on giant pretzels behind a ship made of Swiss Cheese driven by the Smooze. The Discord pyramid jumped off a generated ramp that exploded in a green fireball that'd make Michael Bray's eyes go wide for no reason...and was shaped like Discord's face.
Twilight was briefly worried about Discord doing his normal antics...until she noticed how many people cheered the strange display and clapped. The Discord pyramid bowed, the top rows sticking to the lower rows' shoulders like glue.
Discord was getting plenty of attention. He wouldn't be trouble. Besides, even the Spirit of Chaos could just relax sometimes.
Twilight gave a content sigh with a smile as she returned her eyes to her book.
Some days you saved the world or dealing with whatever friendship problem that a magical, ancient tree sent you to deal with. Some days, it was nice to just relax on the beach with a bunch of friends, doing what you loved.
And Twilight was happy today was one of the latter.
The End.
