Closed for Renovations

by cygne

Rating: teen
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Rarity, Romance, Fluttershy, Slice of Life
Length: 1875

Rarity needs Fluttershy's help to relax when the spa is closed for renovations

A short little romance about Rarity and Fluttershy's trip to a hot spring in lieu of their weekly spa date. Will Fluttershy be able to overcome the voice inside her head telling her she's not good enough?

Cover art by megasweet, colored by explosivegent, edited by myself (art used without express permission)

Published 2013-03-08 05:10:02 UTC
Last updated 2013-03-08 05:10:02 UTC

Closed for Renovations

Fluttershy, you big dummy! You need to pay closer attention to the time when you have appointments to keep... Fluttershy was running woefully late to her weekly spa date with Rarity. She had been so busy tending to to a possum she’d found lying unconscious in the road, she completely lost track of time. Rarity will be so disappointed in you. Why can’t you be a good and reliable friend like she is? Doubly disappointing was that it took Fluttershy all of an hour to realize that the possum was merely playing possum and was never unconscious to begin with. She gave the critter a mild scolding before letting him go off on his merry way.

As she cantered down the road and approached the spa, she heard an anguished voice groaning loudly into the air.

“Why me?! Why, why, why...?”

At first Fluttershy was startled. She considered escaping back down the road to her cottage, but then she realized the voice belonged to her friend. When she spotted Rarity, the unicorn was pounding her forehoof against the door to the spa, sobbing melodramatically. Rarity may be a bit over the top sometimes, but at least she can express her emotions.

“Rarity, what’s wrong?” Fluttershy squeaked, her timid voice just barely audible over Rarity’s cries of grief.

Rarity looked at Fluttershy, eyes flooded with tears, and simply pointed at the spa door in answer. The door was locked. Above it, a sign was posted that read:

Ponyville Day Spa and Beauty Resort
* * * Closed for Renovations * * *
Our apologies for any inconvenience.
Thank you for your continued patronage.

“Have you ever heard of anything so positively heartbreaking?” Rarity asked, clutching her chest as though her heart were literally breaking.

“Oh my,” said Fluttershy, feeling that somehow the spa being closed was ultimately her own fault. “I suppose we’ll just have to check back again next week to see if they’re open...”

“Fluttershy, darling,” Rarity said, regaining some of her composure. “Don’t you know how important our spa visits are to me? I would be a walking stress time-bomb without them!”

“Oh -” said Fluttershy. Rarity continued, not hearing her.

“If I don’t get my weekly dose of pure relaxation and indulgence, I am simply doomed! I’ll be completely unable to focus on my work, irritable toward my little sister and my friends, and worst of all I will be absolutely hideous all week! I can feel my skin getting drier as we speak. Am I peeling? Tell me I am not peeling.”

“You are not peeling.”

“Oh and my poor, poor mane! How ever will it keep its lustre? I’ll have to hide myself away until the spa is open once again.”

As Fluttershy listened to her friend lament, she got an idea.

“Well...” began Fluttershy, but then she decided not to say anything. Rarity doesn’t want to hear your stupid idea. You should just keep your big mouth shut.

Rarity stopped her weeping.

“What is it, Fluttershy?” she asked, suddenly all smiles. Her smile is so effortless. Why can’t you be pleasant and beautiful like she is?

“Oh, it’s nothing...” said the pegasus meekly. None of her friends knew this—she was far too ashamed tell them about it—but Fluttershy always had this voice in her head, telling her all the things that she did wrong, and all the ways that she was wrong. She knew her friends would think it was stupid. Why do you have to be so self-conscious? Can’t you just be yourself like everypony else?

“Come on now, dear, what were you going to say?” Rarity gave her a reassuring look.

“Well,” she began, “a bear friend of mine has awful stress problems... He told me about a hot spring he found in Whitetail Wood that has been doing wonders for his upper back tension...”

“Ooh-hoo-hoo!” Rarity cheered gleefully. “Let’s have our own spa then, just the two of us!” Rarity began to trot toward the wood, but stopped short and turned around to face her friend. “What a wonderful idea, Fluttershy,” she added, with a wink.

* * *

The two ponies made their way to Whitetail Wood, which was bursting with springtime flair. Flowers were in bloom all around and the leaves in the trees were at their brightest green. Squirrels and chipmunks scampered about and birds and butterflies flew overhead. The sky was a perfect blue and the sun was shining warm, gentle rays down past just a few white, fluffy clouds. When she was surrounded by nature, Fluttershy felt almost free of her doubts and fears. Almost. You think you have anything in common with Rarity? She is an elegant, intelligent mare. And you? You’re nothing.

“Why, Fluttershy, it is simply beautiful out here!” Rarity exclaimed. She was clearly enjoying the fresh air, but was not exactly accustomed to traipsing about in the wilderness. Fluttershy couldn’t help but notice how very careful Rarity was about where her hooves fell as she walked. When she was not looking down at her steps, though, Rarity was basking in the sun and sky above her, and the impressive forest scenery all around.

“This is getting to be quite relaxing already!” Rarity said pleasantly after narrowly escaping a patch of mud.

“The hot spring should be just around the corner here,” said Fluttershy, hoping she remembered the bear’s directions correctly. She had listened to them very intently, but was still worried that somehow she’d gotten the way mixed up.

Suddenly, a great pool of steaming water came into view. A small spout above it was gurgling fresh, hot water out of a rocky outcropping. The water flowed down a tiny waterfall and poured tantalizingly into the deep natural basin. Both ponies marveled at the sight.

“Wonderful!” Rarity rejoiced, sauntering over the pool most ladylike. “You have outdone yourself this time, my dear.” Rarity dipped a tentative hoof into the water.

“Perfect temperature!” she called to Fluttershy, who had stopped to watch from a safe distance. Fluttershy couldn’t help but stare as Rarity lowered herself slowly into the water. She was so impossibly beautiful. How dare you look at her that way? You must be completely sick to have thoughts like that about your friend. Fluttershy blushed and turned away, utterly ashamed. She instinctively began to walk away from hot spring, but then Rarity called out to her.

“Fluttershy! The water is just delicious. You simply must come in and join me.”

Fluttershy turned back around and noticed that Rarity had already dipped her head under the water. Her perfect mane was wet and heavy, wrapping luxuriously around her horn and clinging to the sides of her face. Fluttershy’s cheeks turned an even deeper shade of pink as she reluctantly drifted toward the spring. If Rarity knew how you felt she would be mortified. Disgusted. You’ll probably let it slip since you’re no good at keeping secrets. You’re about to ruin one of your only friendships, aren’t you?

Fluttershy eased herself into the water, trying to ignore the cruel voice in her head which was getting louder and louder. Her heart was pounding. Her breathing was quick and labored. Rarity noticed the pegasus pony was shaking a bit more than usual, and realized that something was surely wrong.

“You do not look like you’re very relaxed, my dear!” Rarity said, concerned. “Is something the matter?”

“No, Rarity,” Fluttershy responded, not daring to look her in the eye. She doesn’t believe that. You can’t even lie properly.

“Fluttershy. You are my best friend,” Rarity reassured her. “You can tell me anything.”

“I can’t,” Fluttershy said, feeling defeated.

“But -”

“I just can’t!” she snapped, her assertiveness training coming back to her if only for a split second. She felt the hot sting of embarrassment and regret wash over her. You really blew it.

Fluttershy nervously dunked her head under the water, attempting to cool her temper and shut the voice up, but it only made both worse. You can’t cool down in hot water, numbskull. She lingered under the water as long as her lungs could stand it. But soon enough she had to breathe and face her friend once more. When she surfaced, her soaked mane covered both of her eyes, so she couldn’t see Rarity’s expression, but the voice in her head filled in the blanks. It’s about time. As if somepony like Rarity could put up with you for very long. She’s so angry. She hates your guts. She’s going to yell at you.

But Rarity did not raise her voice. Instead she leaned over and gave Fluttershy a heartfelt hug.

“Whatever is wrong, darling,” she said, holding the terrified pegasus tightly, “just know that I am here for you. Whenever you are ready to talk about it, I will be ready to listen.” Rarity released Fluttershy from the embrace and gingerly brushed her wet, pink mane out of her eyes. Fluttershy was finally able to see the unicorn’s face, still close to Fluttershy’s own, smiling sweetly.

Fluttershy tried to look away, but saw the encouragement in Rarity’s eyes and in her smile. Fluttershy’s heart was awash with feelings of comfort and love. The voice in her head had nothing to say that could undermine that. She was suddenly brave.

“Rarity, will you be my marefriend?” Fluttershy sputtered out before she could stop herself.

Fluttershy’s mind went completely blank, horrified by what she had said. She saw the look of total shock on Rarity’s face. She didn’t need the voice to tell her what a mistake she made, she could see it for herself. It’s over. But after that instant of surprise, Rarity’s expression changed. Before Fluttershy knew it, Rarity’s lips were pressed up against her own. They were kissing. They were really kissing.

Rarity’s lips were so soft. Fluttershy felt her friend’s breath lightly tickling at her muzzle. Their tongues gently brushed up against one another. Rarity’s arms wrapped around her once again in a tight embrace. It was the safest Fluttershy had ever felt. Their bodies, submerged in the soothing hot spring, were pressed up so close against each other as they kissed and kissed.

After what seemed like forever, their lips parted but their faces remained close. Their manes were tangled and stuck to each others’ cheeks. A thick cloud of steam rose from the pool and hovered around the ponies’ heads. Fluttershy’s heart was still racing, but it was joy, not fear, that stirred her. Rarity nuzzled up against Fluttershy’s neck, giggling quietly. Then Rarity whispered, “I never thought I’d ever say these words, but... thank goodness the spa was closed today.”

Author's Note

This is my first ever mlp fanfic! I know it's very short, but I am pleased with how it turned out. I know the end is a bit cheesy... I hope I earned it with Fluttershy's inner voice making her miserable until the end.

Any constructive criticism is more than welcome! :)

Hope you all enjoyed reading it!

Edit: After a few days of reading people's comments I've changed a few things. Though I do think it's now pretty much complete, I'm not married to it. So criticism is still welcome. Thanks!