---> Enter from: Contest Event

Angel Feather entered the Spa, sans the bag of tarts she'd been carrying before - she decided she'd had more than enough and more were dangerous so she'd disposed of them quietly along the way.

The red-maned pony had not yet been inside the spa, so she stops just a little inside the door, looking around curiously. She'd been to others, of course, but since arriving in Ponyville, she hadn't taken the time to come. She still wasn't entirely convinced this was a good idea, but she needed to relax and this was a good way for her to do it...

"Hello?"

--->Boutique

Rarity walked through the door, surprised to see Angel Feather. She set her hat on the hat-rack and set her bag down on one of the waiting room chairs. How long had she been here waiting for service? The spa must be understaffed at this hour.

"Hello, darling," she said politely, "Waiting for Aloe and Lotus?"

Angel turned, surprised to see Rarity as well, then realized that was rather silly - after all, other ponies had to come here, too. "Hello! Are they the ponies who run the spa? I'm sorry, I've never actually been here, before. I haven't been in Ponyville for terribly long, and I just never found the time before today."

"Yes! They both own the spa, and they have quite a few ponies who are around to help them when it gets busy," Rarity explained, smiling, "I'm a regular here, you see! I have my own robe and everything! I try to go once a week with my friend Fluttershy, but... I do seem to be rambling! They are probably with somepony at the moment. Shouldn't be long!"

The fashionista tried to think back, wondering if she had ever met this mare before. She had seen her at the contest earlier, but beyond that, her mind was going a bit blank. So many new ponies were moving into town, and unlike Pinkie Pie, she didn't go out of her way to meet each and every one of them.

"I am Rarity, by the way. Have we met, dear?"

Angel nods as Rarity explains about the spa, then laughs a little. "No, I guess it shouldn't be long, then."

Angel smiles as Rarity introduces herself. "No, we haven't met before. I saw you earlier, talking to Loose Leaf, though. I'm Angel Feather. The Angel Care Clinic is mine. I, um, well, I have heard of you before. You have the Boutique, don't you?"

"Yes! Carousel Boutique, where everything is chic, unique, and magnifique~" Rarity announced, putting a hoof in the air for dramatic flare, "If you are ever in need of a dress or something else, then I will be your guide into fabulosity! I do hope you don't mind the fanfare, as it were. Well, you own a clinic! You must know how important advertising can be."

Another clinic! This town certainly was filling up with ways to help ponies in whatever way they needed! Spas, acupuncture, and... whatever Angel Feather's specialty was!

"And what precisely do you specialize in?"

Angel smiled broadly at Rarity's display, then nods quickly. "I haven't really started advertising yet, but I'll do so soon. I'm a psychiatrist, primarily. I'm good at helping with most anything that ails a pony, but my specialty is mental health. It's my hope that not many ponies have to come by - I'd rather everypony be happy and healthy - but my clinic is there for anypony who needs help... And I'm probably cheaper than going to the hospital, too."

"A psychiatrist! You know, I just have a feeling that you will have quite a bit of work in this town, darling," Rarity confessed, shrugging her shoulders slightly, "Some of the ponies in this town can be a tad... Eccentric."

She included herself in that count, of course.

"Well, while we are waiting, care to indulge me in a simple question, dear?" she asked, looking down at the floor for a moment before raising to meet Angel's eyes, "What advice would you give a very busy pony to relieve a little stress?"

Angel didn't look at all surprised at the question - most ponies tended to have little questions they liked to ask when they found out what she did. She gives Rarity a smile, and says, "Well, you're here, so you're already doing the very first thing I recommend - set time aside out of your schedule to do something that you enjoy and relaxes you, and I rather suspect this fits that, for you. Otherwise? Try to find a way to reduce how busy you are, overall. If it's work related, perhaps you might find somepony to lend you a hoof when you're at your busiest?"

While Lotus knew much about Unicorn physiology due to her career, she wasn't quite so well-versed in magic and didn't know what to make of Luna's experience.  It worried her terribly though... the obvious strain the event put on her friend made her heart go out to the Alicorn.  "Well... you're alright now though, aren't you?  Maybe we should call someone who knows more about this sort of thing.  Twilight Sparkle?  Or perhaps even Princess Celestia?  Surely your sister knows how to handle something like this?"

--

While Rarity and Angel Feather milled about in the foyer hoping for service, there was no sign of Lotus coming out from the back.  She didn't even realize anyone else had come in.  However, the two didn't have to wait for too long before the door opened up in their wake to allow the other half of the beautifying duo to come ambling through.  Aloe blinked in surprise at seeing the two mares there at that time in the evening.  From the looks of her, she hadn't just been out on an errand herself as she shuffled out of her flattering coat.

"Miss Rarity~!  I didn't expect to see you tonight.  And you've brought a friend?" she asked with a friendly smile for the two.

Luna glanced up to Lotus gently, noticing how anxious she seemed. "I...  I think so..." She smiled. Just having the mare around was calming, someone to talk to to sort things out, and as she calmed down, she could think a little better.

"Actually, I think you're the very pony I need to see, Miss Lotus.  You said before about my magic being built up and blocked? Right? This felt a lot like when we discussed it before, which is why I came here..." Luna paused, then tipped her head. "I... suppose you really haven't had the time to research the issue like you intended to before our meeting in Canterlot, have you?" Luna smiled kindly, at that, indicating she wasn't upset with that fact.

She raised a hoof to her cheek. "Actually, I must rearrange that appointment in Canterlot for now. My vacation here in Ponyville has been extended - I'm unsure as to how long." She gave Lotus a warm smile. "But, make no mistake, I still want to meet with you, and regularly. You've already helped me very much."


The Princess settled back into place on the table, and closed her eyes. "If you've plans this evening, I do understand, of course. I wouldn't ask you to abandon them on my account. All I need this evening is... rest, I think. My plans to return to Canterlot were upset today, and I've had no time to arrange a place to stay...  so i thought i would ask you, if you bed is still open to me." she said softly. "I've already been such a distraction for Miss Rarity, I wouldn't feel right asking her again. "

Luna then gently exhaled, relaxing there on the table. "I...  really don't wish to go to Miss Sparkle myself with this. I'm concerned that if I take such problems to her, or to my Sister, they will worry and overreact. I'm unharmed, but I do want to know what is going on." she said gently. "For now, though.. I would settle for one of your wonderful massages, if you don't have plans." Luna begged gently for her massage, glancing up to the spapony with hopeful eyes.

After a short pause, Luna closed them again, and said. "I am sorry to trouble you so, Miss Lotus..."

"Like an assistant?" she asked, looking over to the side in thought. Rarity was making a hefty profit, more than enough to keep someone's salary going for a little while. Could she really hire someone? Perhaps someone to handle the store-front while she created dresses? Well, she couldn't trust anyone in Ponyville with an eye of fashion that held a shadow to her own. Costumers would be walking out all mismatched and clashing!~ Maybe just a personal assistant then, to do some house-work and chores?

"I'll... Keep that in mind, dear, thank you," she nodded, eyes returning to Angel Feather as the door to the spa opened. She greeted Lotus with a polite smile.

"Good evening, Aloe, darling!" she said, "I'm just here to move an appointment. Start with Angel Feather here, if you please. She was here before me."

With the exception of purposefully late-scheduled appointments, the spa usually didn't take customers during the evening hours.  But even with that being the case, Lotus would never turn aside somepony in need -- it was against her nature, and she would be loathe to do it to anyone, let alone a friend like Luna.

"I'll get the candles then."  she smiled warmly to put Luna's concerns aside.  It wasn't an inconvenience in the first place and the Princess was more than welcome to stay in the spa as long as she liked, be it for a visit or needing to borrow a bed.  Lotus explained as such and chatted to try and keep Luna distracted, not wanting her to dwell on problematic thoughts while she lit soothingly scented candles in their low stands nearby the spa tables.  "Just relax back and let me take care of everything, alright?  Do you hurt anywhere?"

--

Aloe looked back and forth between the two mares for a moment before she gave Angel Feather a fond smile.  "Well, it is a bit unusual to squeeze in an unplanned appointment this late in the evening, but there's no harm in it.  Come to the desk, darlings, both of you -- tell Aloe what you would like."  the blue-coated Earth Pony said as she trotted along to the front counter to get the appointment book out.  "What date would you like to move to, Rarity?  And Miss Angel Feather?  What may I put you down for tonight?"

Rarity followed Aloe over to the front desk, having Angel Feather come up alongside her. She figured that it wouldn't be much of an issue if she went first in announcing what date she was changing her appointment to. It was faster than picking what sort of treatment one wanted, and it would allow her to get along to Shai's house to drop off her things.

"Well, Fluttershy and I typically have our appointment later in the week," Rarity explained, though Aloe already knew this, "But I would like to move it up to tomorrow. Things have just been so stressful, Aloe, and I could really use one of Lotus' massages along my back, the sooner the better. Speaking of, where is she, darling? Is she running an errand also?"

The Princess  of Night settled easily. Lotus's  soothing manner was more than enough to banish most idle stress, and the anxious worrying was easily assuaged by her charming banter. Luna watched her with a smile, and settled into place. The aromatic candles were the same as before, and Luna inhaled deeply as they were lit, clearly savoring the aroma. She sighed happily, and peered through half-lidded eyes at Lotus. "Well, aside from the headache, just... like before, I suppose. You said my stress just seems to keep manifesting, right?  It feels that way all over again, at least a little."

Truth was, it never was quite as bad as when Lotus first tended to her, and that long, evening session had worked wonders for her. But still, the Night Princess seemed to develop anxious tension with astounding ease and speed. Worse for her, was that having been shown how  much more wonderful she would feel without it, she had stopped merely ignoring the tension as if it were just naturally 'how she felt'.

But those headaches, and this latest development... clearly an entirely different animal. There was no telling if another head massage would  alleviate or exacerbate situations, given how the previous session had included a distinct, sparking reaction from a magical buildup release. Without more dedicated study, there was little Lotus could know for certain on the subject - it most certainly wasn't an especially common problem, but it could be linked to the issue of magic use under duress, perhaps.

Angel joined Rarity at the desk, and looking thoughtful. "Well... It's been long enough since I was able to do anything like this that, frankly, I just don't know where to start. But mostly, I just need to relax for a little bit and take my mind off things, so... I am sorry about being here so late. I can come back tomorrow if you need..."

Aloe nodded as she changed the notes in the ledger to move Rarity and Fluttershy's appointment up, as well as reserve their usual time on the original day just in case. Rarity did sometimes call for extra pampering, after all.  Angel's apologies for the late scheduling was met with a dismissive wave of the Spa Pony's well-conditioned hoof.

"Nonsense dear, think nothing of it.  Lotus and I live to serve.  How about I jot you in for a nice hot herbal soak and a muscle rub, then we'll see how you feel after and go from there, hmm?"  she offered kindly.  Rarity's question about her sister was met with an idle tap of her chin.  "Lotus should be here, actually.  I don't know why she didn't get the two of you taken care of before... she's probably taking inventory and didn't hear the door.  Come, come, the both of you.  We'll get you two nice and unwound before long at all."

Aloe closed the ledger book and trotted along out from behind the desk, gesturing for the two mares to follow her into the spa proper for their well-deserved pampering.  Naturally, she was completely unaware of the royal guest already taking Lotus' entire focus at the moment.

Lotus, meanwhile, had already begun her work with Luna.  With fragrant candles glowing all around and a thick mixture of soothing oils laid across the Alicorn's back, Lotus had set to working out the bundles of tension all throughout her back with a slow, methodical effort.  She could already tell where the trouble spots were going to be.  There was lots of binding and stress built up in certain areas that she'd been so careful to unwind during the last visit, now back in full force.  For the time being she focused her attention mostly on the area between Luna's fanned wings rather than risk anything closer to her horn or the base of her skull.  She didn't want to aggravate any sort of condition without some research on the matter first.

Savoring the calm quiet of the empty spa, Luna settled in, and splayed her tense wings across the tide table, as Lotus turned her careful and expert attentions to her flight muscles.  The regal mare pressed her face down into the cushioned table, and let out a breath, eyes shutting. ahhh... relief...

Luna drew up both wings with a quiver, and kicked her hooves slightly as she did a full body stretch while Lotus worked and groaned aloud as she let loose the tension in her legs and shoulders. She let the warm and relaxing glow of the massage settle into her back, teasing all her limbs with the prospect of a soothing massage.

Magic. Hooves.

Luna settled in, but, as the sounds of ponies in other parts of the spa reached her calm, sensitive ears, she spoke softly to Lotus. "I believe Aloe is home, if you need a moment to see her."

Rarity followed Aloe inside the Spa. She didn't intend to stay, of course, because she still needed to drop Shai's outfit off, but who could resist the allure of scented candles, warm baths, and the promise of a massage, perhaps? Ooh, one couldn't say no outright! She could at least wander about inside for a moment or two. What would be the harm, after-all? It was still early evening, and as long as she didn't tarry too long, she would still make it to Shai's at a reasonably polite time!

"Oh, I can't be long, Aloe," Rarity said quietly as she followed her back, "I do have another errand to run before it gets too dark, but-"

Were those royal sounds of contentment?!

Always attuned to the noises or royalty, however strange that may seem, Rarity couldn't help herself and poked her head into one of the massage areas only to gasp in surprise at what she saw! Princess Luna was still here?! Why, just this morning, she was wishing her a fond farewell, and she intended to ship her dresses the next day?

"Princess Luna?" she exclaimed, then quickly hushed up as she noticed Lotus working, "Whatever are you still doing here, darling?"

Luna glanced up from the table at the familiar mare's voice, and felt her cheeks darken just so - though, it was hard to make out in the relaxed, dim lighting.  "Oh, it's been such a busy day, Miss Rarity. And my plans have been changed at any rate. I'm afraid my vacation is to be extended." She paused. "'Tis my sister's request, but I know little about why."

Luna closed her eyes again, and breathed deep of the calming incense. "As for why I am here." She paused, and shook her head. "Today has been awfully stressful, and I've had such a headache. Especially since raising the moon this evening. Lotus is helping me." She observed. It was only doing so much - her head was still achey, but the relaxation in her body was helping her to loosen up and relieve the stress.

Luna smiled. "Did you schedule something for the evening, too, Rarity? Mine wasn't really scheduled, Lotus is just kind enough to attend the situation despite the hour. "

"Extended?" she asked, tilting her head slightly to the side, "Why, that is hardly anything to be down about. I do hope everything is alright back in Canterlot."

Was the Princess really able to make it all the way to their capital and back in such a short time? Oh, yes. That's right. Chariots. Maybe that is what she should do with all of the bits the Princess had paid her just a week before! With her very own chariot, she could advertise in Cloudsdale and Canterlot and still be back to work!

Only, who would fly it?

"I'm sorry things have been so stressful, darling. I do know how you feel, to a point. Of course, it is nothing compared to doing something so drastic as raising the moon every evening, but it can cause headaches," Rarity explained, walking a little closer to Luna and Lotus, "And I'm just hear to change an appointment, I'm afraid. Tell me, darling, do you have a place to stay?"

Luna raised her eyes up to Rarity as she came closer. "I... had asked Lotus if I could stay here, but I don't wish to push her from her own bed. Are... you asking me to stay with you again, Rarity?" She smiled a little. "I would like that, I think."

Settling her eyes closed again, she let her muscles relax under Lotus's skilled hooves, and her mind calm. The severe ache and tingle had faded under her attention, to mere shadows of what she'd initially experienced.

"I had been dealing with a situation in the Everfree, before pausing to raise the moon. I felt fine before, but afterward...  umm..." She paused, and went quiet. There was something she wasn't saying, but perhaps it was for the best.

"But of course, darling! It would be my duty, and my pleasure! Besides, I wouldn't want to have Lotus put out on the couch just because you couldn't find somewhere else to stay! My home is open to you as long as you may need it, and even longer, should you want!" Rarity exclaimed, rearing back and giving an excited flailing of her hooves. It wasn't quite lady-like, but she was excited to have her royal guest again!

After that showy bit, Rarity couldn't help but blush and clear her throat politely, covering her face with a hoof. Her face crunched gently with concern for her friend who was obviously going through some hard times. Still, the fashionista had felt similarly when using her magic after a long night of dress-making or designing. She went to Twilight, of course, and found out that it was a uniquely unicorn ailment having to deal with magical back-up. Rarity's cases were usually rather minor, but someone with Luna's magical power...

"It sounds like a bit of magic build-up to me, darling," Rarity offered quietly.

After a little chatter with Lotus about Luna's situation, Rarity and Luna departed for Rarity's for the evening, and Lotus was left with a condition to study so she could help Luna out. It seemed that Luna was feeling better too, after  Lotus's expert care.

-- End Day 8 --

This message was last edited by the GM at 03:04, Tue 23 June 2015.