Beyond The Frayed Threads

by Snow Quill

Rating: teen
Tags: Sad, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Moondancer, Suicide / Self Harm
Length: 7196

Time at the spa isn’t something Moondancer would consider to be an effective use of a day, but when one is given a coupon, one doesn’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

Ever since Twilight blew back into Canterlot and insisted on becoming friends again, Moondancer’s life has been...better. Still not great, years of isolation can’t exactly be overturned overnight, but she is going outside more often at least.

One thing that is slow going, though, is getting her hygiene back under control. She had been doing the bare minimum for her mane and fur and unfortunately it was finally catching up to her…

That doesn’t mean she’s happy about getting a pity coupon. Moondancer is just going so she doesn't waste a gift. She doesn't really want to go. Honest.

CW - Heavy depression themes, self harm/self harm scars, and unhealthy coping mechanisms.

Written for the Quills and Sofas Passion for Fashion contest with the prompt ‘faux pas’ and presented here with much expansion (this entry is over 5k words more than my original contest entry lol). Thanks to everyone who read and commented and helped me edit afterwards - you guys are amazing!

Cover art by me! (If you are an author looking for cover art, send me a dm!)

Published 2021-02-15 15:40:00 UTC
Last updated 2021-02-15 15:40:00 UTC

Lies A Silver Lining

Author's Note

Before you read, this story is really personal to me. It was hard to write some parts because it was basically writing my life. I hope that people enjoy it, though, it is not a happy story. There are uplifting moments and some not so sad/dark parts, but overall I would consider this story to be real. This may be my own perception, but I hope others see it that way as well. To the people who read this, thank you.

Lies A Silver Lining

Moondancer sighed as she looked up at the building in front of her, her magic adjusting her glasses as she glanced at the sign. Sunrise Spa huh? This is ridiculous, I don’t need a spa treatment.

She pulled a neatly folded up paper from her sweater pocket and looked over it again.

Dear Moondancer,

My friend Rarity said she had a coupon for a free deluxe spa experience but can’t use it before it expires, so she wanted me to give it to you! I hope you enjoy it, you deserve some relaxation and pampering.

Your friend,
Twilight Sparkle

Attached to the short letter was, indeed, a coupon for a free ‘deluxe spa experience’ here, at the infamous Sunrise Spa in Canterlot. If rumors were to be believed, even Celestia came here to get treatment.

Moondancer sighed again. She knew of Rarity - who didn’t know the Element of Generosity - and couldn't help but feel pitied by a pony she hadn’t even met. Moondancer was trying hard not to feel offended at the implication that she needed a whole ‘spa experience’.

She knew her house was in rough shape, and maybe she hadn’t been taking the best care of her mane and coat, but she still showered and brushed at least. Most days anyways.

Oh buck it all. If she wants to spend money on a spa treatment with all the bells and whistles for a stranger, then by all means I won’t throw it away. Doesn’t mean I have to be happy about it though.

She huffed and shoved the letter back in her pocket, keeping the coupon out as she finally walked towards the front door and opened it.

The inside of the spa was pleasant, with soft twinkling tunes and a fresh fragrance that Moondancer couldn’t quite place. The decor was white, but not blindingly so, with splashes of color expertly placed to keep a relaxing yet clean looking environment.

Moondancer’s frown deepened, a quick glance down at herself making her feel like a stain of dirt upon a lovely white tablecloth. She was about to turn tail when a stallion appeared at the front desk, “Oh, hello there, do you have an appointment?”

Moondancer gulped, adjusting her glasses nervously before forcing herself to walk to the front. “Uh, no, my apologies, I didn’t realize I would need an appointment. I have a coupon though.”

He smiled warmly, “Normally we suggest making an appointment, but we happen to be having a slow afternoon. May I see the coupon?”

Moondancer placed the coupon on the counter and shuffled in place as he took it and looked it over. “Ah! A deluxe package huh? Lucky for you, our top therapist has no more appointments this afternoon.” He glanced at a clock on the wall, “She should be ready in 20 minutes for you, is that okay?”

Moondancer nodded, a little dumbstruck with her luck. “Oh, uh, yes, that’s fine. I don’t have any plans.”

“Wonderful! May I have your name to book the reservation?”

“Moondancer.”

“Thank you very much Miss Dancer. Go ahead and take a seat, and please, help yourself to any refreshments.”

She turned away from the counter and walked over to the small refreshment table he pointed at. She poured herself a glass of lemon water and took a seat, trying her best to relax and look like she belonged there.

Of course I don’t really belong in a place like this, but I can at least pretend for a couple hours, right?

An exceptionally quick 20 minutes later, the stallion walked up to her. “Miss Dancer? Ebony is ready for you, if you’ll please follow me to the treatment room.”

She stood, “Alright, and, uh, just Moondancer is fine.”

He smiled again, “Very well Moondancer.”

For some reason that made her blush as she followed him across the lobby and through a door. He led her down a well lit hallway before stopping at a door with an elegant golden 3 on it. He opened it, “Once inside, please disrobe and put your belongings in a cubby, we have robes for your convenience if you wish to cover up. Ebony will knock on the door when she is ready. Enjoy your treatment.”

Moondancer nodded and stepped inside, gaping at the spacious room within. On her left was a vanity mirror with a barber chair in front of it, on the back wall were cubby shelves and robes hanging next to it, and to her right was a massage table and another door, labeled ‘shower’.

The door closed behind her with a quiet ‘click’ and she hesitantly wandered over to the cubbies, forcing herself to not glance in the mirror as she passed it.

She already knew she looked bad, she didn’t need to confirm it right now.

She pulled her sweater off a little more roughly than necessary, but it was just as old and battered as she was; what was a little more wear and tear? She did take a moment to fold it up though, running a hoof over the scratchy fibers that hid her body from the world.

In a flash of panic, she realized that she was bare and that she would most likely be bare in front of a stranger that would be in close contact with her body.

She hurriedly grabbed a robe and pulled it tight around her, mind racing as she thought of ways she could avoid someone seeing. I can just skip a massage right? Yeah, she can’t do anything that I’m not comfortable with, and unless she can massage through a robe it’s not gonna happen.

Her shoulders and back ached at the thought; she knew she had a lot of tension and knots, but she just couldn’t do it.

I really should have thought more about this spa experience before coming here… Is it too late to leave? I mean, it’ll be a waste of Rarity’s money, but I never asked her to spend it on me anyways! So there!

A delicate knock on the door startled her and she whipped around to face it. A soft, feminine voice came through, “Miss Moondancer? Are you ready?”

Buck.

Her nostrils flared as she took a deep breath and, with the manner of a pony going to the gallows, sighed and hung her head. “Yeah.”

The door slowly opened and a tall, beautiful unicorn mare walked through. Her coat was a lovely shade somewhere between pink and lavender, her black mane done up in a professional bun. She smiled softly at Moondancer as the door closed, “Hello, my name is Ebony Orchid, and I will be your therapist today. What service would you like to start with? The deluxe package includes a mane and tail trim, wash and style, a massage, full hooficure, and a thorough fur brushing.”

Moondancer squeaked, then coughed and gestured at the barber chair. “Uh, I, I think I’ll just take that mane and tail trim, if that’s okay. Maybe the hooficure too.”

Ebony nodded. “Of course, whatever you wish. Go ahead and take a seat. Would you care for any refreshments?”

Moondancer shook her head and shuffled over to the chair and settled on it, eyes on the pristine counter in front of the mirror. She heard Ebony walk over and glanced over as she rummaged through the drawers and pulled out brushes, combs, and scissors.

“Are you looking for a general trim or is there a particular style you might like to try?”

“I don’t know, I haven’t really styled my mane before.”

“Alright. Do you mind taking out your hair tie?”

“Huh?”

Moondancer glanced up and met Ebony’s gaze in the mirror. Ebony smiled and gestured towards the tie that kept her bangs up. Moondancer blushed as she quickly took it out, her hair falling limply around her face.

“Thank you. Now, if you’d like, I could try showing you a few styles that I think would work well, or I can simply trim this back and get rid of the split ends.”

Moondancer was surprised at the kindness in her voice. The mare wasn’t disgusted with her mane like she expected, or maybe she was just really good at hiding it?

She pushed her bangs out of her eyes and finally took a good look at herself in the mirror. She knew her hair had more than a few split ends, and Celestia knows there were probably some matts in there as well...

Maybe it was time for a fresh start, to finally let go of the mare she had been for the past several years.

Moondancer met Ebony’s gaze again, “You know what, I, I think I do need a new look. I don’t really know anything about fashion, but you are an expert right?”

Ebony nodded and Moondancer continued. “Then I trust your opinion. What do you think would look good on me?”

Ebony hummed and picked up sections of her mane in her magic, “I think you could do a variety of styles, you have a lovely face that lends itself well to just about any style.”

Moondancer blushed harder, eyes wide. My face? Lovely?

Ebony continued, oblivious to her thoughts as she manipulated her mane as she talked. “For example, a classic updo would do wonders to show off your eyes, but curls would also work to frame your face. I also believe a ponytail or bun would work for similar reasons and give you a professional academic look.”

She released her magic and winked at Moondancer, “I suppose those glasses aren’t just for show after all.”

Moondancer laughed lightly, hoping her bitterness didn’t come through, “Yeah, I love to study. It’s pretty much my whole life.”

“Books are fascinating things, and with so many different things to study, I can imagine just how much time you spend reading. I hope you don’t mind me saying, but I think it’s a good thing you came in today. Studying is not a bad thing to pursue in life, but ponies tend to forget they need to take time for themselves. At the very least it looks like your hair could use some love.”

Moondancer sighed, her ears falling. “Yeah,” and, more quietly, “most of me does.”

She ran a hoof through her mane, eyes locked on her mirror image but gaze much farther away, “Are you sure you can fix it?”

Determination sparkled in Ebony’s eyes, “But of course! I have treated many ponies in similar positions and they have all walked out looking and feeling like a million bits. I hope you forgive my arrogance, but there is no one I can’t help.”

The passion in her voice gave Moondancer hope. A fancy makeover wouldn’t fix all the bad things in her life, but maybe if she looked better, she could start to feel better too.

Ebony gently placed her hoof on Moondancer’s shoulder, her voice soft now. “I don’t dare to presume, but I’ve had many unhappy souls in my chair who let their bodies go because they simply cannot care to do anything about it. I make no judgments in this regard, and anything confessed in this room remains in these walls.”

She paused, letting her words sink in. “A makeover may not change things, or it may change everything. Whatever happens, I hope you can at least gain some peace.”

Moondancer narrowed her eyes slightly, the hope of feeling better fading as she stared at Ebony through the mirror. “That sounds suspiciously like what a real therapist would say. You aren’t just a spa pony, are you?”

Ebony didn’t flinch at her accusatory tone as she calmly draped a salon cape over her, “I am a therapist in a few fields. I do happen to have my certification so I may offer advice and even diagnose, but I cannot prescribe anything.”

“If I wanted a shrink I would have gone to one.”

“Would you?”

She’s got me there…

Moondancer huffed, “Okay, maybe not, but, this doesn’t exactly feel like the right environment for pep talks and words that belong on inspirational posters.”

Ebony shrugged and sprayed some water over her hair before starting to comb through it. “I’ve had many clients who find it the perfect space, especially with my qualifications, but if you find it uncomfortable I will not pry further.”

Why the buck am I even still indulging her at this point?

Moondancer, of course, knew the answer. Despite her grumpy front, she really was desperate to get back to who she was before that failed party years ago. She was so tired of being tired and, after reuniting with her friends, wanted to look the part.

She knew she was dirty, despite her friends' claims that she ‘looked fine’. They were only being kind after all, probably afraid they would scare her back into isolation. She found herself wondering if they were wrong to be scared.

Moondancer grunted in pain as Ebony’s comb found a knot. “I’m sorry, I’ll try to be gentler.”

Moondancer hated how much sympathy was in her voice. She clenched her teeth, “No, don’t be gentle. I need to feel this pain so that I won’t let it get this bad again.”

Ebony paused, no doubt trying to think of something to say, some psychological platitude about how that’s not a good way to deal with her emotions.

Moondancer had read her share of books on psychology to try and figure out what happened with Twilight, but instead found some very uncomfortable things she wasn’t ready to admit to herself and never went into that section of the library again.

Ebony, to her surprise, didn’t say anything, simply continued to try and get through the knot. She wasn’t as rough as Moondancer was when trying to brush her mane, but she wasn’t gentle either.

It was like she somehow knew the perfect balance, for even as Moondancer’s eyes stung with tears the pain was never unbearable.

Just how long has she been doing this?

“Gah!”

With one last painful jerk, the knot finally relented. A tear slipped down her face, a strange sensation of loss welling up in her chest.

Loss for the pony she was. The pony who, despite being miserable, had been at peace with her world. Her world was books and books were her world. Books couldn’t hurt her other than the occasional paper cut or drop onto a hoof, both of which were usually due to her own clumsiness.

The pony she was wasn’t in a good place, but she was safe. She was comfortable.

And now, she was losing that.

A box of tissues floated in her blurry vision and she grabbed one, putting her glasses on the counter before dabbing at her eyes.

Ebony continued to make slow progress through her mane, firmly picking through the knots. With each knot loosened, the feeling in her chest tightened until she was fighting for every breath.

Ebony didn’t relent, nor did she show any obvious signs of pity, something Moondancer was grateful for.

Only when Ebony was able to smoothly run her comb through Moondancer’s hair did she speak again. “Do you have a preferred scent? I have many different shampoos and conditioners.”

The knot in her chest loosened enough for her to squeak out, “Lavender.”

“An excellent choice. Now, do you mind if I wash your mane or would you prefer to bathe yourself after I have brushed through your tail as well?”

It’s been ages since I’ve let someone wash my hair...Well, when in Roan…

Moondancer cleared her throat and forced the knot downward, where it squirmed in her stomach. “If you don’t mind washing my mane, I am not opposed to the idea.”

Ebony chuckled and took off the drape, gesturing for her to stand up. “Miss Moondancer, if I may be blunt; it’s my job. One I have no qualms with in the slightest.”

Moondancer flushed with embarrassment, keeping her eyes on the ground as Ebony led her to a washing chair she had missed earlier.

The chair was comfortable and Moondancer let out a soft groan as she stretched onto it. A scholar's life was not one with good posture, and any stretching tended to leave her back aching and hooves tingling.

She fought back a wave of nauseousness that threatened to sweep over her as she laid her head back and closed her eyes.

Moondancer hated washing her mane. It wasn’t so bad when she actually had a routine and washed it every other day, but lately it was weeks before she mustered the courage and bit back her bile to try and get it to some semblance of ‘clean’.

And now, poor Ebony was going to be subjected to it.

Moondancer’s ear flicked as the water was turned on and made a heavy, thundering noise in the bowl. It was almost comforting, reminding her of stormy nights where she would put her books down and sit by a window to listen.

Moondancer shuddered as Ebony pressed the small shower head to the base of her neck, slowly working it over her head and rinsing her mane.

The water was pleasantly warm, cooler than the scalding showers she usually took, but pleasant nonetheless.

The knot that had settled in her stomach slowly loosened, slipping away as the oil and dirt from her mane went down the drain. With each pass of the water, she felt herself letting go. Little by little, the mare she was was slipping away.

“It’s alright to grieve for yourself.”

Moondancer squinted an eye open, sure she had heard Ebony say something, but she wasn’t even looking at her - at least as far as her blurry, glasses less vision could tell. She sighed and closed her eye again.

The water turned off and Ebony picked up her mane with magic, twisting it and squeezing the water out of the strands. Moondancer cringed at the squelching noise of a bottle being squeezed and then felt her hair become weighed down by shampoo, the soft scent of lavender wafting over her.

The tingling tendrils of Ebony’s magic worked their way across Moondancer’s scalp, digging in deep in a very thorough cleanse. It stung a bit, but like with her knots, Moondancer was grateful for the pain.

Maybe with enough of it she’ll finally learn her lesson.

Her chest and forelegs began to itch as well, but she tried to keep her mind off it. The less time she thought about that pain, the better.

The less she would crave more of it.

Moondancer was startled out of her thoughts by the water being turned back on and the shampoo being rinsed out.

Ebony repeated the process of wringing out her mane and then worked conditioner into her hair. “The conditioner needs to sit for a few minutes, are you okay if I start on your tail? You can sit up for it if you like.”

Moondancer took a moment to think before nodding. “Yeah, can you help me up?”

She held out her hoof and felt Ebony grip it, Moondancer grunting as she was half pulled up into a sitting position. She opened her eyes and reached out for her glasses on the counter with her magic, letting out a soft sigh of relief as they settled on her face.

Moondancer furrowed her brows as Ebony held out a small towel to her, “If you could, please wrap this around under your tail.”

After seeing the confusion on Moondancer’s face, Ebony added, “For modesty.”

Moondancer blushed, “Ah, y-yes of course.”

Ebony respectfully turned her head away as Moondancer adjusted the towel under her and laid out her tail, cringing as she felt the oiliness of the hairs. It wasn’t as bad as her mane for some reason, but the feel of it still made her squirm.

Ebony stood just behind her and started to comb through her tail. Strangely, there weren't as many knots as in her mane so the process went much quicker and smoother.

Moondancer was again struck with a peculiar feeling, not quite the same loss nor her hope from earlier. It felt almost like… peace.

It was a foreign feeling, more fulfilling than the ‘comfort’ of her world before Twilight came back. She wondered how long it would last.

“Alright, your tail is brushed. Go ahead and lay back, I’m going to get my hooficure supplies ready.”

Moondancer nodded and waited until Ebony was turned away before removing the towel. She slipped her glasses into a pocket in the robe and laid back with her hair in the bowl, closing her eyes and waiting.

‘No matter what happens, I hope you can at least gain some peace’. That’s what Ebony said earlier. Is this how I am supposed to feel? This is weird. Is this how normal ponies feel all the time? Is that why they are so...carefree?

“Does this mean I’m becoming ‘normal’ too?”

“I’m sorry, what was that?”

Moondancer jumped a bit, opening her eyes and trying to focus on Ebony’s blurry pink and black outline. “Oh, uh, nothing, just talking to myself. You know us scholars, always thinking about something.”

Ebony’s hum didn’t sound totally convinced, but thankfully she dropped the matter. She does that a lot, guess she really does have some therapy background.

Moondancer relaxed into the chair as Ebony began to rinse her mane of the conditioner, trying to clear her mind. This was supposed to be relaxing, lots of ponies went to a spa to relax so that’s what she should be doing.

She found she was a little disappointed when the water turned off and Ebony wrapped her mane in a towel. That had felt good and she was a slightly sad it was over.

“Can you sit up again? I just have to make a few adjustments before I can wash your tail.”

Moondancer grunted as she sat up, her lower back twinging and her core screaming at her. She let out a huff of annoyance once she was fully up; she really needed to exercise more. She put her glasses back on and glanced to the side where a small tray was, full of supplies for a hooficure.

She looked down at her hooves and lifted one, wincing at the dry and cracked sight that greeted her. She stiffened when she realized the robe arm had shifted down, exposing thin white lines in her fur.

Quickly, she put her hoof down and pulled on the robes, trying hard to ignore the increase of itchiness. Maybe I should skip the hooficure after all…

“I have the bowl set up now, feel free to lay down for this part. I’m going to shampoo your tail and then start on the hooficure while the conditioner sits if that’s alright with you.”

Moondancer looked back at Ebony and gnawed on her lip anxiously. “Uh, I, I’m not too sure about the hooficure actually.”

Ebony raised an eyebrow and tilted her head slightly, but didn’t say anything.

Moondancer gulped and glanced away from her, “Yeah I, I have a kit at home so I’ll just do it myself later.”

“I will not push if you really feel that way, but I will ask you to think about it a little more. I have eyes, Miss Moondancer, and your hooves are not those of one who has a kit she uses at home.”

Moondancer winced. Ebony didn’t sound angry per say, but her words cut deep nonetheless. “I, okay, I’ll think about it I guess.”

“Wonderful! Now, if you would please adjust yourself so your tail is in the bowl, I am going to get some water. Would you like a bottle?”

Hydration was important, Moondancer knew this. It was the one thing she did keep up on. “Actually, yes please.”

“Perfect, I will be right back.”

Moondancer watched as Ebony walked across the room to a small fridge; another feature she had missed in her initial look around the room. She shook her head and scooted back on the table until her tail was laying in the washing bowl, a towel placed against the lip to keep her modest.

She laid down, the chair wide enough to do so with comfort. Hmm, maybe like this the robe won’t ride up.

She stared down at her legs, seeing through the fabric and tracing the plethora of small scars that covered them and her chest. She remembered the first time she had felt the itch, about a month after her failed party.

It was small at first, like a bug bite, where patting the area would take care of it. But then it grew worse.

As the itching spread across her limbs, she tried everything. Dabbing with warm water, lotion, fur oil, aloe, even going to the doctor but nothing helped. She was told it was most likely in her head, some sort of psychosis. When he handed her the referral to a therapist, she smiled and thanked him and then buried it in the trash on her way out.

She remembered cooking one night, slowly chopping up carrots for a stew. The itching had been terrible that day, buzzing in her mind like static. She had grit her teeth and tried to tune it out, but it kept getting louder and louder, until it felt there were sharp needles pricking her fur from the inside out.

And then, that blessed moment of clarity as she had finished the carrot and looked at her knife. The buzzing stopped and the itching subsided for a moment as a single thought echoed in their place.

A knife would stop the itching.

And so it did.

That first line stung, but within the fire hot shock of pain was relief. The itching stopped and she could finally live again.

A water bottle in her vision startled her back to the present and Moondancer shuddered before taking it, unscrewing the cap and taking a long sip from it.

“Are you alright Miss Moondancer?”

Moondancer took a few breaths before answering, “I…”

She sighed and stared down into the water bottle. “You said you are a certified therapist right? The kind that ponies can talk to about their problems?”

“Yes, that is correct. Only talk about what you feel comfortable with though, I am not here to ‘push boundaries’ or ‘make you face the problem’ like others do.”

Moondancer’s lips quirked as Ebony stammered and continued, “O-of course, there is nothing wrong with those methods, they are just not my preferred way of helping. It’s why I started this spa, to provide a relaxing and safe atmosphere that uses traditional and holistic approaches as well as science based methods.”

Moondancer sighed deeply, her whole body sagging as the air left. “I, I think I’d like to talk to you about something, but I need a little more time to get my words together.”

“Of course, why don’t I start on your tail while you think.”

Moondancer nodded, “Thank you.”

As Ebony started rinsing her tail, Moondancer focused inward now to get her feelings in order. Her emotions were a jumbled mess that even she lacked the vocabulary to properly express, but maybe they would make sense to a professional used to reading between the lines.

Moondancer continued to think and sort as the shampoo went on her tail. Where would I even start? Every pony knows and loves Princess Twilight Sparkle, and especially here in Canterlot I can’t go spouting off about how terrible a friend she was to me. Who would believe me anyways?

Ebony began rinsing her tail. I mean, she’s an Alicorn princess! And the Princess of Friendship for bucks sake. I’m just a bitter old unicorn in a broken down home with split ends in my mane and cracked hooves.

That thought made her pause and she glanced up at her towel wrapped mane. Well, my mane and hooves won’t be so bad anymore. I may still be bitter, but is there really a reason to be?

“Ebony?”

“Yes?”

“Have you ever been hurt by someone you considered a friend, and, and then they left for a long time and then came back trying to pretend nothing happened? And then,” tears stung her eyes and her voice started to crack, her words tumbling out, “You had finally moved on from what happened but seeing them again brings back all the hurt you felt and you can’t help but be so angry and even after everything has settled down and they’ve apologized you just can’t let go, not until they have felt the same way but it’s also such a terrible thing to think cause anger doesn’t help anything and-”

“Moondancer, breathe.”

She sucked in a breath, her lungs aching and eyes burning. As she gasped and caught her breath, Ebony spoke. “It’s okay to feel angry. It’s okay to be hurt and want to hurt. But you are right; anger doesn’t help. But that anger isn’t something to be ashamed of. It’s part of processing grief and hurt.”

Moondancer sniffled and nodded. “I was, I’m still hurt about it. It changed my entire world and it’s led to how I am today.”

Ebony quietly worked some conditioner into her tail, sensing Moondancer had more to say.

After a deep breath, Moondancer continued. “I suppose that’s not entirely accurate, I’ve always been…”

She struggled for the right words, “Quiet? Depressed? Unsure of my place in the world? Anyways, it certainly didn’t help.”

Ebony came up beside her with a shallow bowl of fragrant water and gently picked up Moondancer’s front hooves and placed them in the warm liquid.

Moondancer sighed, “I suppose I probably could have done more. I could have moved on quicker, or at the very least not let it consume my life. I knew that my life was spinning out of control, I knew that my house was filthy and I really should clean it, I knew I should have washed my mane more, put an actual effort into brushing my fur but I just...couldn’t.”

“You are here now though. I can’t speak to the state of your home, but you are making an effort for your body.”

Moondancer snorted, almost angrily. “Yeah, after I got a pity coupon that Rarity the Generous couldn’t use due to an expiration date.”

Ebony raised an eyebrow, “Expiration date? The deluxe spa package doesn’t expire.”

A spike of anger flashed through Moondancer’s chest as she slowly turned to stare at Ebony. “Excuse me, there’s no expiration date?”

Ebony nodded and as gently as earlier, took Moondancer’s hooves out of the water and moved the bowl. “My apologies, I thought you knew.”

Moondancer huffed, her ears flicking as she processed this information. “So it really was a pity coupon, wasn’t it.”

“I don’t believe it was. You said Rarity gave it to you, right?”

Moondancer nodded numbly.

“You also called her Rarity the Generous.”

“I guess I did…”

Ebony picked up Moondancer’s hoof and began to gently file down the broken and overgrown keratin, “Wouldn’t it make sense she was simply living up to her element and being generous? I sincerely doubt she was trying to offend you.”

Moondancer’s anger died down in the face of her ally-turned-enemy; logic.

She took another drink of her water, the action helping to clear her mind. A question began to nag at her though, burning with curiosity and begging to be asked. It was silly, ridiculous, possibly even idiotic.

And yet…

“Did you and Rarity plan this? Or, was Twilight part of this?”

Ebony moved onto her other hoof, her expression a perfectly pleasant poker face. “I dare not break client confidentiality, but she gave me permission if you had asked. In short, yes.”

Moondancer waited with baited breath, but kept her anger at bay for now. There was most likely a perfectly reasonable explanation for all this.

“Twilight came to me and booked a similar session. She told me she had a friend who was struggling, who she knew needed help but probably wouldn’t accept it if it was offered. I told her that if she could get her friend here, I would do my best to help her.”

“Twilight talked to you about me?”

“Only in the vaguest of terms. She gave me a brief summary of the situation and your name, but that is it. This is not said to bring you any alarm or discomfort, but she did feel quite guilty and wanted to help you.”

Moondancer sat in stunned silence. Part of her was angry, angry that her so-called ‘friend’ had gone behind her back and talked to a therapist about her, and then had essentially forced her to go to said therapist. Another part was disappointed that she had to be tricked into what was essentially an intervention. And yet another was...relieved.

Relieved that Twilight had seen the signs and, knowing Moondancer wouldn’t do it on her own, gave her a push to get the help she needed. She had even conscripted another friend into it to make her feel better about it!

As Moondancer had her revelations, Ebony moved her front hooves to soak in a different pan of water. “She, she really does care, doesn’t she?”

“It would seem she does.”

Tears slipped down Moondancer’s cheeks as Ebony began to rinse her tail, the droplets falling into the water her hooves were in. All these years I’ve felt sorry for myself, I’ve shunned the world and locked myself away. I chipped away at myself and cut my soul to ribbons.

Vaguely, she felt her tail being wrapped in a towel. How many times did I have to stop myself from letting the knife slip just a little deeper, where the only reason I kept waking up every morning was for books of all things.

Ebony dipped her rear hooves in bowls of water and started to dry her front ones.

It was strange, having her existence of the last several years suddenly brought into a new perspective.

Moondancer slipped into a quiet, contemplative state. This is it then, the proverbial kick in the flank most everyone needs at least once in their life. I need to get my act together. Twilight and Rarity have given me this chance, now I need to make the most of this opportunity. For them, for the rest of my friends, and for myself.

On the surface she recognized that this train of thought wouldn’t last forever, that just because she was feeling better now didn’t mean anything for the near future, and she would likely slip and fall a little.

But…

That little spark of hope from earlier ignited again, blooming into a small flame.

“Ebony?”

Ebony put Moondancer’s hoof down and started putting the hooficure tools away. “Yes?”

“How much would it be to see you in a normal session?”

“Hmm, well a half hour treatment is 40 bits, an hour is 75, and 90 minutes is 100.”

“Really? That’s surprisingly reasonable.”

Ebony smiled and gestured towards the barber chair. “Well, I want ponies to be able to keep seeing me for as long as they want or need to. Not to worry, my prices keep me in a comfortable lifestyle.”

Moondancer nodded and stood up, almost stumbling as her hooves hit the floor. She could actually feel the tile now and the influx of sensations made her head spin. Ebony steadied her and led her over to the chair, undoing the towels wrapped around her mane and tail before helping her sit.

Moondancer’s hooves were tingling as she sat down, but the sensation wasn’t bad, just...odd.

Ebony draped the salon cape over her and began to brush through her mane. “Now, what were we thinking style wise?”

Before Moondancer could answer, a wave of exhaustion swept over her and she blinked blearily. “I think, just cut it back a bit for now. I’m really tired all of a sudden, and I didn’t hear a nap mentioned in the deluxe spa package.”

Ebony chuckled and began to trim her damp mane, “Well, you could take a nap during a massage, but it isn’t recommended; communication is key and I can’t exactly communicate if you are snoring.”

Moondancer playfully pouted, “Hey, not everyone snores.”

“That wasn’t a denial that you do not snore, however.”

Moondancer blushed, muttering under her breath.

Ebony chuckled again, but didn’t make any further comments as she focused on trimming Moondancer’s mane.

If getting her mane washed was the best feeling in the world, comparable to finishing an especially thrilling story, then getting her hair trimmed was second best, like finding a book she had lost for a week.

She could feel her head getting lighter, even if only slightly. She sagged a bit in the chair, eyes fluttering close as the gentle ‘snip snip snip’ filled the room.

Moondancer tried her best not to yawn, or even worse moan, as the haircut continued. It would have been nice to get a new style, but that probably would have been too much change in one day.

“Even if you do not want a full massage, I can do a quick 15 minutes on your upper body.”

Moondancer shifted a bit, “I appreciate the offer Ebony, but I, I can’t do that right now.”

“Hmm. If I may ask, do you have body image issues? I can assure you that-“

“It’s, it’s not that exactly.”

Moondancer felt a little bad cutting Ebony off like that, but now was as good a time as any to talk about the other thing. “Before, you said that anything I said would stay in this room, is that true?”

“Yes, to a certain extent. You have to understand that I’m an obligated reporter, if you pose a danger to yourself or others I have to tell someone.”

Moondancer sighed, “What if it’s not a current danger, just one I’m stuck with the consequences of today.”

“I suppose... I’ll have to make a judgement call in a situation like that.”

Moondancer gnawed on her lip, “That’s fair enough I guess. I have, well, I didn’t have the best coping mechanisms and I started to get an itch.”

“An...itch?”

Moondancer gulped. “On my hooves and chest and, and it was so bad and hurt but nothing was helping…”

Ebony was silent and Moondancer shuddered. “There was only one thing that made it go away.”

Ebony had stopped trimming her hair and Moondancer forged forward. “I always felt terrible after of course, but, in the moment, I was only thinking about how to stop it.”

She laughed bitterly, “In fact, my legs and chest are screaming at me now, but I don’t want to go home and ‘scratch’ it. Is there anything you can think of that I can do?”

Ebony let out a deep breath, and as she spoke, her voice was soft. “I have found snapping a rubber band imitates the...scratch enough that it stops. A hot shower and a light scrubbing may also help if you are able; sometimes it’s just a matter of dead skin build up. Other than that, you may want to seek out a support group. I know a few that are run by very reputable ponies.”

“I don’t think I’ll be ready for a support group yet, but I’ll try the rubber band thing.”

Ebony nodded and picked up the last sections of Moondancer’s mane to trim. There was a bit of awkward tension in the air, but Moondancer felt slightly better with her confession. And now, she had new tricks to try and deal with the itch.

The rest of the haircut went smoothly, if quietly. Moondancer couldn’t think of anything to say, and wasn’t sure if she wanted to talk. The day had been long, emotionally taxing, and the most feelings she had confronted since trying to avoid Twilight’s hoof of friendship.

After a quick dry and brush, Ebony removed the salon cape for the final time. “Well Miss Moondancer, it appears we’ve come to the end of your treatment.”

Moondancer let out a soft sigh of relief. She had enjoyed this trip much more than expected, but she needed a nap.

She looked at herself in the mirror, eyes widening. It was simply amazing what a little haircut could do for a mare's self esteem.

“I hope this isn’t too presumptuous, but I have a few product recommendations and suggested routines to get your coat back in line with your mane. Don’t worry, they are simple and can be done at home quite easily.”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. That would be a good idea.”

Moondancer stood up from the chair and shook her head, almost giddy from the lightness. “Thank you Ebony, I do feel better.”

Ebony smiled, “I am happy to hear that. Take your time getting dressed, I’ll leave some pamphlets up front with Tidy for you. I hope you have a wonderful day Miss Moondancer and I do hope to see you again.”

Ebony bowed her head before leaving, Moondancer waiting until the door clicked close before going over to the cubby, where her sweater waited.

She slipped off the comfy robe and tugged on her sweater. “Hmm, maybe it’s time to get a new sweater…”

She sighed. That would mean another trip out at some point. Maybe she could ask Lemon Hearts or Twinkleshine to take her shopping.

She left the room and wandered down the hallway to the front. Once out there, the stallion, Tidy, from earlier smiled at her.

“Hello Moondancer, did you enjoy your treatment?”

She nodded, “Yes, it was just what I needed.”

He clapped his hooves together, “How wonderful to hear! Ebony left me some papers to give you, product recommendations and suggested routines. We do sell products here, however there is no pressure to walk out with them.”

Moondancer looked over the pamphlets and noted their prices as well as their alternatives. “I think I’ll go ahead and take the products here, and…”

She furrowed her brows as she saw the coupon tucked away under the pamphlet. “What’s this doing here?”

“Ebony was insistent you take it back as you didn’t fully use it.”

“Then what do I owe for today?”

“Well, with the products, it would be 80 bits.”

Moondancer narrowed her eyes, glancing up at the clock. “What about the 90 minutes I spent in there?”

“First timers discount.”

Moondancer’s jaw dropped, “Seriously?”

Tidy chuckled, “Very. Now, would you like your purchase in a bag?

“Yes, please. And, what’s Ebony’s schedule next week?”