Bright turned with wide awkward steps, looking himself over. "Interesting..."

Rarity nodded at her glittering familiar. "Fantastic is the word you're searching for."

"Yeah!" That he wasn't entirely sincere was not well hidden. "Rares, this isn't... I love it, but it's not really the look for a secret agent." He plucked at the audacious swimming attire she had made for him, sequins shining. "Is this even ready for swimming?"

"Oh, it is." Rarity nuzzled her colored familiar. "Quite ready. And, darling, it's made for that. I expect you to hit those waves and swim like an eager dolphin. You won't be wearing this on duty. I prepared a whole different wardrobe for that."

Bright nodded. "Oh, good, wait. Wardrobe? Not just a suit?"

"Heavens, no." Rarity waved that right away. "I won't have you looking slovenly. You'll have a different suit for every day of the week, at least. Dear, how you look reflects on me. I want you to look good. I want to look good. Everycreature wins here, hm?" She batted her lashes with a broad smile. "Now, are you ready for some fun in the sun?"

Bright's ears perked up as his initial hesitation faded before Rarity's infectious enthusiasm. "Well shoot, with killer duds like these, I'd better make a big splash out there and show 'em all off right!"

He struck a dramatic pose, his sequined suit glittering radiantly in the tropical sunlight flooding through the resort suite's windows. "Check it out - Bright by Rarity bout to set this beach on fire!"

Rarity giggled indulgently. "But do try not combust anything with that brimming confidence, darling. I know you'll dazzle admiring eyes enough without resorting to actual conflagration."

She grabbed a floppy sun hat and designer sunglasses in her magic. "Now let us be off to flaunt our finery and relax awhile free of peril or pressing investigations, hm?"

The vampony paused, smiling softly at her enthusiastic fuzzy benefactor. "And Bright? However much I gift you glam and glitter, never doubt you shine brightest from within, dear heart."

Rarity nuzzled him fondly before floating towards the door. "Come along then! Drinks with tiny umbrellas and pampering pedicures await!"

Bright bounced along eagerly in her wake, his bushy tail swishing with anticipation of sunny fun and games ahead. The resort sprawled vibrantly before them, other vacationers already dotting the beach and pools.

Sweetie had arranged their spot on the beach with a large flat blanket and an umbrella hanging overhead. She was enjoying none of that, far too occupied working on a grill on something that teased the senses in a good way. She was wearing a one-piece slender number that brought her fur flat, preparing her for water. "There you are. The first round of grilled veggies will be coming up shortly. Be prepared."

Luna, on the other hoof, was beneath that umbrella, arms draped over a small pillow. "There you are. Good to see you, Rarity, Bright. I was wondering if you'd gotten cold hooves, as they say."

"Perish the thought." Rarity went to join Luna, sinking onto the blanket next to her. "I am ready to enjoy a day!"

Bright's nose twitched eagerly as Sweetie's sizzling vegetables perfumed the air most agreeably. But another alluring scent soon distracted his keen rabbit senses - the irresistible aroma of...

"Donuts!" He suddenly pivoted, tiny paws skittering frantically across the sand towards the tantalizing treat tucked under a beachgoer's foreleg just upshore.

The surprised pink mare yelped as Bright's entire head disappeared into her beach tote scrounging for the saccharine snack within. "Hey, what in Equestria?!"

She glared at the brash interloper now munching her donut inches away without a care, crumbs speckling his fur. But her harsh admonishment died seeing only an overeager oddity not malice staring back. With a resigned sigh and discreet smile, she simply produced another donut from the bag.

"Go on then - but just one more, fuzzy! I only packed two..." The rabbity creature chirped gleefully, polishing off his prize before turning to bound eagerly back towards his party.

Rarity tsked in faux reproval as a sugar-dusted Bright rejoined them. "Oh dear, we simply must refine your etiquette around sampling strangers' comestibles..." She winked slyly. "But I trust your discerning palate found her offerings delectable?"

"You bet!" Bright licked stray glaze from his fingers, unabashed. "Can't go wrong with donuts on the beach! This vacay rocks!" And he cheerfully helped himself to Sweetie's freshly-grilled snacks without waiting for an answer.

Sweetie cocked a brow at the gorging Bright. "For having lost mass, your appetite sure wasn't harmed."

"Nope." With a complete lack of self-reflection, he grabbed a glazed carrot and chomped it in half. "Mmm, good job, Sweets! These are good!"

"Glad to hear that." Sweetie shook her head, carrying a cart over to slide in front of Luna and Rarity. "Here you are, girls. Enjoy these before Bright finishes off the whole grill and comes hunting."

Rarity waved at a pony. "Sir! Please, a moment of your time."

The stallion wandered closer. "Ma'am?"

"Yes, kindly, would you fetch me a drink?" She produced a glittering bit. "Preferably a colorful number, with a little umbrella in it? You know the sort!"

The stallion chuckled and tipped his wide hat. "Sure thing, miss. Be right back." He trotted off across the sand.

Luna inclined her head. "I should have asked for one myself. You have a talent with getting help when you need it."

"Need is a strong word." Rarity sighed with a happy smile. "But I did want it. I'm feeling 'chill' and didn't want to ruin that walking over there over the hot sand."

Rarity smiled coyly as she reclined into the plush beach towel. "My secret, Your Highness, is simply understanding what certain gentleponies prioritize." She winked subtly towards the strapping enlisted server then returning with her fruit-garnished cocktail.

As Luna and Bright likewise placed drink orders, Sweetie finally joined the others beneath the colorful umbrella, stretching out with a satisfied sigh. Rarity waved the pony closer. "Take this for the trouble." She slipped a fresh bit in their grasp, along with a quick peck on the cheek.

The stallion had no complaints.

"I must say, while decisive action is my forte, even I can appreciate languid inaction's charms for a spell." She glanced sidelong at the vampony already being hoof-fed grapes by an attentive Bright. "I presume you savvy relaxation better than any, Rarity?"

Rarity giggled airily, sipping her ornate beverage. "Oh I hardly claim expertise lazing, darling...merely highly refined enthusiasm!" She sighed happily, gently batting Bright's paw away from another grape to leave him pouting.

"To answer sincerely, sweet company counts above all." She smiled softly at their little circle, so improbable yet somehow fated. "The trappings merely gild time together unhurried by harsher burdens. That we can relax as comrades now despite where paths began..."

Rarity lifted her glass in salute. "Savoring this glimpse of harmony - come what fell fortunes follow - makes every lovely libation sweeter, would you not agree?"

Bright looked around suspiciously. "So when does the beach explode, or some huge monster pops out of the ocean, ready to try devouring anything it happens to see?" Unable to feed Rarity, his mind raced onto other tracks. "This is too relaxed."

Luna grabbed Bright in her magic, petting down his head and back. "Relax... Today is a well-earned moment of respite, little one. Not every journey has to have some wicked beast in need of taming."

She snorted gently. "Besides, if one is foalish enough to appear, we're all here, ready to show them a thing or two."

Bright exhaled, settling as Luna's soothing pets worked their intimate magic. "Yeah yeah, you're right...guess beating scary stuff up so much got my head in fight mode too much..."

He smiled sheepishly. "Sorry 'bout being so twitchy...you princesses probably like, compel any old sea monsters to chill way out in the deep parts so everypony can just relax, huh?"

Luna chuckled indulgently. "In truth most myths of legendary leviathans lurking off coastlines prove fanciful yarns spun by salty mariners..." Her eyes briefly flashed with memory. "...though not ALL such tales quite stretch truth overmuch."

Rarity leaned in eagerly at the intriguing hint of hidden histories clearly awaiting tantalizing elaboration. But Luna simply resumed her languid repose, mischievous smile hinting she had long since mastered balancing vigilance with enjoying life’s gentler interludes.

Taking the cue, Rarity drew Bright into the shade beside her. "Quite so...this peace was hard-won and well-deserved. Enjoy the fruits of prior heroics!" She smiled slyly. "Now then darling, I believe you still owe Auntie a hooffull of pampering following that little unasked excursion..."

A head peeked up from the waves, gills at their neck and eyes trained on the land-dwellers, foalish in their relaxation as they were. "I see you." The creature looked around sharply at the call, just to recoil as Bright emerged like an eager dolphin, crashing into them.

Bright grabbed the mystery beast, only to stop a few swings in. "Wait, are you even a monster?"

"I am not." The pony-like thing pouted, one eye swollen from the attack. "Will you stop hitting me?"

"Um, sure..." Bright slid off her into the waters. "Sorry? You looked like a monster."

"Well so you do you." She waved her powerful dolphin-like tail beneath the waves. "--to me. And you actually attack things. That makes you way more of a monster than I am."

Bright's ears wilted, chastened by the unexpected aquatic creature's sobering rebuff.

"I...guess you got a point there..." he muttered, sinking lower towards the seabed, cowed and crestfallen. "Didn't mean nothing bad, just got overexcited I think..." His own monstrously-altered form glared accusingly back in warbled reflection.

"Not exactly normal myself..." He rubbed one arm with the other hand with a shamed laugh.

The pony paddled closer, her earlier reproval softening seeing transparent remorse. "Look, no real harm done...I think my pride got bruised more than anything." She extended an olive-branch fin. "I'm Malinda by the way, ambassador of Queen Sandy's city. Just getting some overland supplies when you cannonballed me!" She smirked good-naturedly.

Bright tentatively shook her fin, relief trickling back. "Name's Bright...I'm kinda new around here. Shouldn't have just gone and attacked and stuff though." His shoulders slumped but Malinda simply waved the matter away.

"Eh, no one's hurt so forget it. But maybe next time use those big ears and listen before leaping into the fray, yeah?" Bright flushed, properly abashed but thankful for mercy. "Now, you're not a water creature. Good swimming, by the way, but you're looking tired."

"A little." Bright was doing his best to keep float, but he was a fluffy land creature by any measure.

"Then let me help, and we can officially put this behind us." Malinda scooped Bright up in her arms and powerfully thrashed her tail, propelling her towards the land. She stopped when the ground was in reach, releasing Bright in the lapping water. "No closer for me. Me and dry don't get along."

"Darling, what friend have you made there?" Rarity, having braved the sands, was as close as one could be without getting wet. "Hello there! Thank you for fetching him, hm. Bright, you shouldn't be swimming so far away, really."

Bright splashed his way back towards shore, exhaustion readily apparent as each soggy bound grew more leaden. He managed a wan grin back in Malinda's direction nonetheless. "Thanks for the lift...and y'know, not holding a grudge over the dumb sneak attack thing..."

Malinda simply waved brightly, the very picture of easygoing forgiveness. "Hey forget it, stuff happens right? Enjoy the rest of your shore leave, lieutenant fuzzball!" With a flick of her powerful fluke she dove below the scintillating surface to resume her aquatic mission.

Rarity extended a concealing beach towel with her magic as Bright finally trudged from the lapping tideline, fur hanging in damp disarray. "Oh my dear boy, while I applaud aquatic adventuring, perhaps we ought reserve further exploits until I revise your sea-faring ensemble..."

She fussed over his bedraggled appearance before catching his wounded expression. Rarity softened, gently bumping her head to his with understanding smile. "There now, no harm nor foul. Even missteps may bloom insight yes?"

Guiding him back towards their colorful encampment, she added slyly. "Do take cheer! I'm certain our Princess guardian has already smoothed any diplomatic ruffles with yon oceanic ambassador..."

"Appreciate it, but you said I'd swim like a Dolphin." He put his hands on his hips.

"Oh, darling you did." Rarity inclined her head at the waves. "You darted away from us like a flash. It would seem speed is not the issue... But endurance..."

Author's Note

Wait, no interruptions to the beach episode? This is clearly a trap...

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