A Bad Day at the Spa

Despite Applejack's violent outburst, she was allowed to continue her spa treatment after calming down, and after being wrapped in seaweed, she slipped into the mud bath. "Y'all can't be serious."

"Oh, we most certainly are," sighed the bath attendant. "This sort of thing has happened before. Most of our workplace injuries stem from the dreamer steamer."

"Then why do ya keep usin' it?"

"It draws in a massive amount of income, is easy to use, has a low maintenance cost, and it's what a lot of the ponies that come here ask for. I'm surprised Rarity didn't tell you about it."

Applejack sighed. "She didn't tell me nothin' about this place until early this mornin'. We was on the train, en route to Manehattan before she realized she wouldn't be able to make it, and it weren't 'til a few hours later that she gave me her pass. She didn't have time ta tell me jack shit. The real question is, why would somepony bearing the abilities of Princess Luna, and representing her in public, ever do that to somepony's dreams?"

There was a short pause before the attendant responded. "I can go check if he's still bleeding, if you want to ask him yourself. Just so long as you don't hit him again."

"Y'all blindfolded me with cucumbers and kelp. Why ya wouldn't allow me ta eat when ya had perfectly tasty cucumbers is beyond me, but the point is, Ah can't even see 'im. How could Ah hit 'im?"

"I'll go see if he can come in."

Applejack heard the clippity-clop of hooves retreating and, moments later, a different set of hooves approaching. This set was heavier, larger, and only consisted of three hooves.

"Are we feeling better?" asked the stallion, though his voice was slightly distorted, as if his lips were swollen on one side. He was probably still holding the ice pack against his face.

"Before Ah answer, Ah need ta know something."

"I'll tell you what I can."

"Why did ya make the dream that way?"

"I was just following orders."

"Whose orders?"

"Yours, ma'am."

Applejack raised an eyebrow skeptically.

"When you made an appointment and selected your treatments, you had to have filled out the paperwork. I can fetch the papers now, if you'd like to double-check them."

"Ah don't believe you," said Applejack bluntly.

"Then I suppose I should try to prove it," he replied, turning away. "I'll be right back with evidence."

He left and came back a few moments later, along with what sounded like the hooves of the bath attendant. He read off the appointment number, the date and time, and the name "Rarity." Everything matched up with the information Applejack knew to be true.

"Since you won't believe me, I've brought along somepony you've placed at least some trust in, and she'll read the copy of what was written about your dream requests."

"Me?" asked the bath attendant as the sound of paper changing hooves echoed behind Applejack. "Okay, here's what it says:"

As the contract claims that I will be put under three times, I think it fitting that I request three smaller dreams.

First, I want to be treated to a shopping spree. I want ruby, heart-shaped earrings, a diamond necklace, and golden heels and cuff links. Of course, there's a dress, as well, with evening gloves. See the attached picture.

There was a sound of rustling paper, followed by a gasp. "Wow," said the bath attendant. "I knew Rarity was good, but this is spectacular. And she managed to just put this out in a request? This is one of the most beautiful evening gowns I've ever seen!"

"Yeah, it was lovely," replied Applejack. "Keep readin'."

I want the clothes to want to be on my body. Have them come alive and beg to be put on me.

In the second dream, I'd like to have my makeup applied in a style that matches the dress and is preferably minimalistic. I should already look spectacular after the spa treatment, and won't need a lot of dressing up, but I would like my mane to look like the attached picture, but in my colour and length.

"The picture kind of looks like you," said the attendant. "I mean, you probably saw the dress in your dreams, but this is a beautiful mane."

Do NOT cut my hair to length! I cannot stress this enough!

After styling, I want to have a fashion show where I am the headliner. I want to be recognized as the most fabulous pony in Equestria.

For the third dream, I'd like to go on a date with Prince Paramour. Except, don't make him the lead singer and bassist of Grey Aegis, make him an actual member of some royal family. I'd like to go out to dinner, and have some fun under the table. Afterwards, I'd like to go back to his place, where we'll make a new member of the royal family. It is imperative that he finish in such a way that I become impregnated. Only in the dream, though, not for real.

And not a word of this to anypony at all!

Also, I tend to squirm and wiggle when I'm excited, so you may have to hold me down to make sure I don't cause any big problems.

"You see?" said the stallion proudly. "I was only following the orders you wrote down, Miss Rarity."

Applejack lifted up one of the cucumbers to look at the papers. These were a photocopy of the originals, and they very clearly had Rarity's fancy script. A hoofwriting expert could compare this to one of Rarity's documents and immediately be able to tell that Rarity had written this. Additionally, it was Applejack in the photo, all dressed up fancy from when Trenderhoof visited Ponyville.

She sighed. "Well, Ah... Ah guess Ah owe ya an apology. A good one, at that. If ever you're in Ponyville, drop by Sweet Apple Acres, and we'll hook ya up with a bottle of cider, an' any damages from this whole thing, too. Ah'm real sorry fer hittin' ya. Ah thought you was just some perv that tried ta force me inta this. By the by, my name's actually Applejack. Rarity couldn't make it."

The stallion smiled, or rather, gave his closest approximation of a smile, and waved his hoof. "Don't even worry about it. This place has great dental insurance. I'll be back to work in less than a week."