The next day, Maya showed up in her office, but only to meet the ponies she didn't know the address of. "Such a different world." The ponies didn't all walk around with ready cellphones, so she couldn't just call or text them to inform them of things, nor could they her. The main way they did either of those things was just to walk over and speak in person.

It was refreshing, in a way, and terrifying, in others. Her mind still spun over the idea of keeping things straight and on schedule, with all the paper forms and notebooks and such she still had to deal with. "Things were easier before computers." But that felt only half true. Being able to type some things would be nice.

She turned an ear towards a hoofstep outside. "Okay, that's probably Apple Bloom." She looked at her desk clock and smiled. "Yeah, you're early, girl." She met the door to her office, opening it to let in a young mare. "I have news, and I hope you won't be mad."

"Whazzat?" Apple Bloom bounced up into a seat and sat on her haunches on the soft material.

"I'm taking today off." Maya inclined her head. "I hope that doesn't bother you too much. It's been a busy day or so and I'm worn out."

"Oh! Sure." Apple Bloom hopped right back to the floor. "Should I go then?"

"Please, don't." Maya stepped aside. "Stay and talk with me? We don't have to work on anything at all today."

Apple Bloom's expression darkened. "Really?" She sniffed at the air, smelling the emotional load in the air. A sly smile crept over her face. "Ya don't know what to do with yerself, do ya? Yer bored."

Maya pressed a hoof to her chest. "I am not. I'm really tired and need a break." She frowned as she considered those words and herself. "I can be both of those. I am tired, need a break, and yes, I am a bit bored. I don't know what to do. Can you help? Would you help?"

Apple Bloom trotted over to pat Maya on the shoulder. "'Course I will! What kind of Cutie Mark Crusader would ah be if I didn't help a friend out in need?" She twirled for the door. "Now! Yer an' adult, so ah won't bore you with foal things, but ah know some 'dult fun things to do too!" She scampered for the door with a giggle, throwing it open.

Maya tossed on her cloak and hurried after Apple Bloom. "You're very eager. You must have a lot of energy."

"Course ah do! I'm still a filly!" She stepped outside, eyes fixed on a point on the road. "Come on! Let's get going." She darted down the road. "First stop, Ponyville Day Spa!"

Maya hopped along after her. "Ponyville Day Spa? Sounds nice. What do they do?"

Apple Bloom swerved off the main path to step over a stream. "The ponies there give you a massage and wash your mane and coat!" She fluffed up her own mane with a laugh. "Ah don't visit often, handle mah own needs, but ah hear 'dults love it fer relaxin'. Should ask Rarity, she swears by it."

Maya wobbled across the bridge and to the other side. "I don't know how much I can afford it, but I suppose if you recommend it, I should try it at least once."

They soon arrived at the charming little building. Apple Bloom had the door open in a flash, waving inside. "Thank you." Maya went past her inside to the pleasing aromas that reminded her of gentle shampoos. "Mm." She took a long breath, feeling a sense of calm come over her. "Yes, I think I need this."

Apple Bloom skipped over to the counter, dragging herself up onto the step-stool to look up at the clerk. "Hey, Aloe! Gotta customer fer ya. This here's Maya and she's a nice pony that deserves to feel like a princess fer a day. Can ya help her?"

Aloe Vera gave a pleased smile at the two ponies, bending down a bit to meet them. "Certainly. But first, I must see if there are any issues I should know about before we begin."

Apple Bloom raced off, confident that she'd done her part. "Have fun!" being the last words audible from her before she was gone.

Maya offered an open hoof. "I don't have any allergies, or anything I know of that can cause me problems." She flashed a shy smile. "I'm pretty new here still, so I don't know everything I can or can't eat."

Aloe shook her head. "You won't be eating much here, unless you sample one of the cucumbers we place over your eyes." She chuckled softly. "That happens sometimes. Come along, we'll get you that princess treatment."

Maya followed Aloe, though still clearly nervous. "How much will this be?"

Aloe peeked over her shoulder. "Oh, a bit-minded pony?"

Maya froze. "W-what? No. I'm just used to knowing how much something will be. I don't like surprises. I mean, if it's a surprise party, I love those."

"No worries, we work out prices with everypony differently." She pointed into a room with a large pool. "First, soak in these heated waters to soothe your worries away. Then, I'll prepare a special mixture for your fur and mane that'll make you feel like a million bits."

Maya dipped a hoof into the water, smiling as she sank her other hooves in and eased herself down into the soothing warm bath. As promised, the heat radiated into her, making her muscles unwind in ways she hadn't even realized they were tightened. The smell wafting upwards was helping, making her feel more and more relaxed.

She shut her eyes, resting in place with only the sound of trickling water to keep her company. "Mmm." Her mind slipped away, giving in to the warm relaxation. She let herself be cradled by the sensation, floating in a limbo state of deep relaxation. "Yes, I needed this." She shivered gently with a silly smile. "This is wonderful."

Aloe Vera emerged shortly to collect Maya from her waters, bundling her up in a warm towel and bringing her into another room where a mirror awaited. "The change is amazing, is it not?" She waved to the reflection as Maya stepped up to view herself.

"Wow." It was a thousand subtle things. She really had been wearing herself down, and she felt, and looked, rejuvenated. Her eyes had a bit more sparkle, her coat seemed glossier and shinier. "I feel good." She shook herself out and bounced on her hooves. "Nice job!"

Aloe chuckled softly. "We're hardly finished. A princess deserves more than just a warm bath. For one, your hooves look overdue for some loving care. Come and sit." She led Maya to a cushioned table, providing another towel. "These can get a little wet."

Maya gladly draped herself over the padded table, curling up with a soft sigh. "Thank you."

Aloe began filing away at Maya's hooves, evening them out to perfect little circles that shined with how bump free either had become. "Much better. But, one more step." She put her file away and brought out a palette of different colors. "We paint. Do you have a design in mind, or shall I allow my own muse to guide me?"

Maya shifted over to the side to view the selection of colors, thinking it over. "I've always been fond of blue." She looked at Aloe's coat, nodding at the pink shade. "And I think it'll look good with your color."

"You flatter me." Aloe tapped her chin. "I suppose it could be very striking, a bold move. One we can make." She began dabbing Maya's hooves with blue and pinks in equal amounts, forming bands that ran from top to bottom all along each hoof.

Maya burst into giggles, watching the art form. "I love it!" She stretched out her forelegs to stare at the fancy hooves. "Thanks!" She smiled at Aloe, wiggling the hooves back and forth. "Wow." She checked them over a few times.

Aloe smiled at her happy customer. "Our decadence is not yet complete. The princess package was asked for, and so it shall be. Next, your mane. Lovely, and deserving of some attention, hm?"

Maya looked to Aloe's own flowing blue mane. "It's very pretty. You must be a wonderful stylist."

"I have practiced, I am glad you find my work enjoyable." She swept a hoof towards the mirror. "You can watch as I transform you." She moved in behind Maya and got to work, brushing, snipping, and styling her pink mane. With each bit of focus, she transformed the way the mane laid over Maya's head.

Maya watched through the entire process, smiling wide at how cute she looked with her new look. "You are amazing at this!"

"I hear you are good at your own job." Aloe dropped back to all fours. "There you are, how is that?"

Maya turned her head left and right to view different angles. "I am entirely in love." She slipped down to her own hooves. "You know about my job?"

"Talk of the town." Aloe giggled as she led the way onwards to a new table. "A new friendship speaker, and so skilled? Everypony has a few words about it. Now, up. Time to work your muscles with deep massage. I will not be performing this. Bulk?"

A huge pony emerged. Unlike most others, he was incredibly muscled everywhere, except for the tiny wings on his back. "Alright, little one." He flexed his hooves. "I'll start by removing the stiffness from your legs." He wrapped a large hoof around Maya's and pressed a hoof against her back. Maya wondered how the odd combination could help, until he bent her in a new angle. She yelped in surprised pain, but relief flowed through her an instant later.

"Goodness." Maya shuddered gently. "I suppose it was stiff."

Bulk worked at her muscles, shifting them in new ways she hadn't felt before. He eventually finished, leaving her to take a few uneasy steps. "You, hm, are good at this." She barely caught herself from stumbling. "I feel too relaxed to even stand right now. But that feels nice, better than how I was."

Aloe led Maya back into the main lobby, checking a sheet. "Hm, no one else is booked. Would you like a facial?"

Maya snorted gently. "Oh, goodness, um, no thank you. I'll save that for another time." She stepped up to the counter, ready to pay. "I think I should be on my way home now."

Aloe pushed the bits back. "You have helped a few friends of mine. That I can help you continue to help them? This is a good thing. Please, continue your important work."

Maya made a worried sound, but nodded. "Alright. I'm sorry if I come across as rude. I've had ponies angry at me for refusing their money. I didn't want to cause a scene, and you're making that hard."

Aloe smiled gently. "Ponies can get confused and upset. If you insist, I will take your bits. And I will, next time. Just this once, allow me to treat you for being a good pony, and as a welcome to Ponyville, yes?"

Maya couldn't say no to that, not to those smiling eyes and kind heart. "I suppose I could accept it, just this once. It would be wrong to turn down such a generous offer."

Aloe reached over the counter and hugged Maya gently. "Then enjoy the rest of the day, as a restored pony, yes?"

Maya skipped outside, swinging her head around to take in the sight of her mane floating about. "This is amazing!" She pranced along with her hooves sparkling in the sun. "So pretty!" She felt lovely, and the fatigue that had been building was entirely banished. She just had to decide what to do with the rest of her lovely day.

Author's Note

Makes sense to me that the G5 pony would end up with glittery hoof paint.

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