Does a chapter need a name?
My home and business is overlooked. It isn't as tall as any other shop, or as elegant, or as well advertised. It was a nice little brick house with three rooms. When you walked in through my shop's door, you would be in a room with a desk at the back of the room, and a couch on the side. The walls would be black, as black as my mane, with a faint golden swirl, of which I put on myself. The floor would be wooden, glossy with polish. The ceiling? That would be also black with the golden swirl, and a couple lights. There would be two doors.
One would lead to my living quarters, which if I invited you in would contain a television, refrigerator, a table and two chairs, an oven and a microwave, and drawers filled with the usual cutlery, plates, and bowls.
The other door, however, would be where my business took place, have I given you what my business was yet? Ah, sorry. I help ponies relax, usually through massage. The first thing you would notice when you entered the room was how dark it was in there, and how.. relaxing it smelt. Sounds weird? Well, after you experienced it, it wouldn't be. You see, the walls would have shelves on them. The shelves would be filled with incense and candles, some burned out, some still flickering. In the middle of the room would be a bed. Now this is because sometimes my massages would get ponies so relaxed that they lose control of their limbs, so I let them sleep. All the walls, floor, and ceiling would be the blackest you could imagine. It was bewitched to be this way, for when the pony would lie down on the bed, the ceiling would turn into the night sky. A calming, relaxing, peaceful night sky.
Business was usually slow, if there was any, most days. Sometimes, however, I would get two ponies coming in at the same time. If that happened, I simply gave them a coin to toss and told them that the one who lost the toss would have to sign the sheet for an appointment, and assured them that they would get first priority if another pony came in at the same time as them, which happened every other blue moon, as I like to say. One day a very interesting pony literally walked into my shop. I saw this happen and ran out to ask if they are ok.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I just didn't realize that I was that close to your shop already." I noticed her eyes were pointed in different directions.
"Are you sure you are ok? It looks like your eyes went a little.. loopy." Obviously I passed the line, she looked hurt.
"Why does everyone tease me about my eyes?" She put on a pitiful look. "Its not my fault.."
She pointed to a package on the ground.
"That's for you." She said without feeling. I obviously shouldn't have pointed out the eyes. "Have a great day." She turned to leave, and was about two yards away before I called her back.
"Look, Ms.."
"Derpy Hooves."
"Hooves. I wasn't aiming to make fun of your eyes, I guess it just came out wrong." I sighed and traced my hoof in a circle on the ground. "I didn't know you were that stressed.."
"Oh, its ok. But stressed? That's a new one."
"Yeah, stressed. You look like you need to relax for a bit. Do you have an hour to spare?"
"At six I do."
"Ok, well come back then and I'll help you with that."
"Sure thing." She nodded and gave a little smile, then took off. I turned my attention to the package she brought me. Probably my new incense. It was.
I walked back inside and sat down behind my desk in my swivel chair. My mind drifted to the mailmare. She was a cute one, not that I'd ever admit it. I tend to keep my personal feelings to myself. Even though I tried to steer my thoughts away from Derpy, they kept returning. Her golden mane and beautiful, interesting eyes of the same color. Her grey coat, much like mine, but lighter.
I envied her. I didn't have much color compared to any other pony, save Doctor Whooves that came in every thursday. We got along pretty well, he was an interesting bloke, not to mention my best friend here. Other 'regulars' to my shop included: Pinkie Pie, who came in every Monday to try to get out any stress from it being, well, Monday. Lyra, who would sometimes say that my hooves during massages felt like hands to her, if only I knew what that meant. And of course, Lotus, who was my apprentice.
Six o'clock came pretty quickly, and right on time, Ms. Hooves walked into the shop, bells jingling merrily to notify me that she was here.
"What exactly is this place?" She asked.
"Its a place you can come to get away from the world, to relax and to be relieved of any stress you could possibly have." I replied, getting into my act. "Shall we begin?"
"Ok!" She chirped, and I led her into the room. She took a look around and said, I kid you not, "Um.. I don't feel like losing it today.."
I burst into laughter, forgetting my act.
"No no no.. You see.. I give massages. The reason I have the bed here is because.." I explained to her why, and noticed the realization show on her face, along with a blush.
"Oh."
Awkward silence.
"So.." I said, breaking the tension, "Can you please lie down so that we can begin?" I've got to find some way to rephrase that. It cannot sound anymore awkward than that. Sure enough, even though she was well aware of what I was doing, the blush spread on her face.
"Ok.. Um.." I figured she wanted my name.
"I am Soul Cleanse."
"Ok." Derpy said and fluttered up onto the bed. "You can start now." I nodded and began to massage her. She made little squeaks and sighs of relief every now and then, and it took all of my will to not bend down and kiss her on the cheek. I did make sure that she got the best massage a pony could hope for. Finally, i finished the massage, pressing down in between her wings, which I found the most tense.
"Wow.." Derpy sighed. "You are a master of your work.."
"You flatter me, Ms. Hooves." I said. She tried to move, but found that she couldn't move any of her limbs.
"Soul.. C'mere.." She said finally. I did so.
"Nah, a little closer." I inched closer.
"Like, right next to me close." She said, sounding frustrated.
"Ok." I leaned right next to her, and toppled over, onto the bed.
"Whoah!" I cried out, for two reasons. One, the fact that I fell over, and two, the fact that the wall-eyed mailmare had just kissed me on the cheek.
"Oh.. I'm sorry.. That was too sudden.. I just don't know what we-"
Before she had a chance to finish that sentence, I had locked lips with her. I pulled away after a couple seconds.
"How's that for sudden?" I asked with a smile on my face. Her face was priceless. Her mouth was open in shock and her eyes were.. Focused. They were both staring in the same direction for once.
"That.. Was very sudden.." she replied. "A good sudden though.."
"Do you want to take a little nap and let your body get all back in order?" I asked.
"Sure." She replied, her eyes still focused. If she looked adorable before, she was amazingly adorable now. "But do you want to lie here with me?"
That took guts, I could tell. Without saying a word, I walked out and flipped the open sign to close and walked back into the room.
"Of course I do." I nodded and smiled. I walked over and lay down beside the mare, thinking about how perfect this was. We stared at the faux sky for a while, until Derpy finally fell asleep. I rotated her onto her side and hugged her, pressing her up to my body protectively, thanking Celestia for this mare.
Should I continue?
