Lotus nods in understanding; she isn't a mind-reader and can't be certain but the mare is fairly sure that the captain's tactful remark probably isn't what he'd have said in different company.  She listens with interest as he mentions his hooves and nods her understanding; there may be a way to get around that by different phrasing or methods, though Lotus doubts that any such thing will work with the bat-stallion himself.  Still...  "When we were last out of Ponyville, we happened to see a few Posh-Polishing booths--where was that, Aloe, Manehattan?--and it seemed popular with the stallions.  It was just a simple cloth polish though; we didn't really have the chance to inspect it closely."

Lotus too is interested in hearing about how the captain cares for his wings, and so when the topic veers towards the curious revelation that the singing bat-pegasus didn't originally come with Princess Luna, she tries to steer it back again.  "Do you oil them, by chance?  A soft-bristled brush or a stiff one?"

"Hoof buffing is one thing, but any more than that is not necessary.  All a stallion needs to care for his hooves is a stiff pick and a dry cloth." the captain said squarely.  He wasn't trying to be rude at all but was simply curt by nature and less than thrilled to be there in the first place, so it didn't do much to make him come across as personable.

"Sir, that's awful!  There's all sorts of conditions and problems that can arise from improper hoof care.  Our techniques are not just beautification -- they're to ensure a higher quality of health as well!" Aloe was a bit more perceptive to the soldier's disdain for the situation.  She recognized his old-fashioned attitude just fine.  There were plenty of older ponies who were raised by the grizzled pioneering generation who thought life was just fine going along chewing gravel and spitting vinegar.

When Lotus piped in to sway the conversation back to less defense-riling topic, the stallion huffed softly and extended out his wings overhead.  Bat Ponies had a much larger wingspan than normal Pegasi and it gave the armored guard a rather impressive image as he flexed and flattened his wings down for the mares to take a closer look at.  He didn't like being poked and prodded, but if their scrutiny was necessary, then so be it.  Besides, it would spare that bashful Moonsong the pain of being under a magnifying lens... as an officer and a gentlecolt, he felt it best to bite that particular bullet first so that it'd be easier on her later.

"I don't personally use oils, though I know a few who do.  It's not really for looks though -- some oil rubs do have a gloss or shine to them, but they're primarily nutrient rubs to promote healing and fend off fungal growth.  Bat Ponies are not common, so we're not exactly a large market for shampoo makers.  The membranes of our wings are rather thin and lined with sensitive receptor cells.  It helps us to control ourselves in flight far better than a feathered Pegasi could, but it also means our wings are prone to tearing and shredding more easily.  They heal rather quickly though." the captain explained at length.  Closer examination of his wings showed that they had plenty of marks where they had torn in the past and healed up again, leaving them streaked with long, subtle scars.  "While not to say we're delicate or anything, I would never dream of using a stiff brush on my wings.  It'd be like chewing on steel wool."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:24, Tue 19 June 2012.

Lotus tries not to cringe at the thought of the stallion digging around with a sharp tool to clean his hooves and manages to just look mildly uncomfortable instead.  Split hoof, fungus, hoof rot, swelling...  Lotus tried to push them all far, far out of mind and instead concentrate on the more useful aspects of the conversation.  When the captain flares his wings to show them off, Lotus makes a soft sound of awe and takes the chance to really get a good look.  She's hooves-off for now, and listens almost as intently as she looks while the guard pony explains.

Once Lotus sees the scars she makes a thoughtful sound and wonders if they might not have an ointment to reduce their appearance completely--not that they're easy to spot anyway--but that might also strengthen the tissue.  Scar tissue, she knows, is usually weaker than the flesh around it and more prone to repeat damage because of it.  'If they already are at greater risk of wing damage, maybe something like that might help...?  Hm...'  Aloud, Lotus says:  "You have very impressive wings, and I can absolutely see why a stiff brush would be unpleasant and uncalled for.  If it might help, when your wings do get damaged you might consider a warm salt soak?  It should take the pain out and help promote full healing instead of scarring.  Though it is so amazing the way they barely scar at all--wouldn't it be nice to bottle that, Aloe?  Aside from that, if you think you might be interested, we have an ointment that seems to work well in repairing scar tissue in general."

She waits for his response, then straightens and happily smiles once more.  "I believe we will be frequently asking your thoughts and advice throughout the morning.  Shall we begin?"

Aloe seemed impressed by the soldier's wingspan as well, though given the saucy grin she quickly bid behind a lifted hoof, it was obvious to her sister that she had different thoughts running through her head just then.

"We generally rely on magical healing from the royal physicians.  And, to be honest, I'm rather fond of my scars.  I earned every one of them." the captain said, though he paused and glanced over at a jagged mark on the end of his right wing.  "Well, I still don't think I deserved that one, but there's a mare in Canterlot who swears otherwise."

Was that a shot at humor?  It didn't seem to fit the dour older guard and he certainly didn't try to continue along that vein.  Instead he folded his wings back down at his sides and nodded in consent to getting started.  The sooner they began, the sooner he could leave.

"Wonderful~!  Now, let me help you out of that stuffy armor~~." Aloe purred.

"Wh-what?"

-Que Time skip to Afternoon-

>>Afternoon<<

After the initial moment of needing to work hard to stifle her giggles as Aloe helped the unfortunate captain free of his armour, Lotus was then all business.  Granted, with Lotus, "all business" meant that she was serene and gentle and pleasantly firm about her job.  She tries her best to respect the things that the captain is adamant about while also taking care to encourage and demonstrate treatments so that a little knowledge might go a long way towards banishing preconceived notions.

Still, by the time she's done her part in not just beautifying and de-stressing but also attempting to educate--and being educated, of course--Lotus is quite ready for something more to eat and a cool drink before the guards are likely to switch out.  She places a cold tea before the captain, the straw already angled for ease of sipping.  "Is there anything else we can do for you?"

A single trip to the spa wasn't going to be enough to make Captain Equinox a true believer, but even he had to admit (grudgingly) that maybe there was something to it.  While he stoutly refused most of the indulgences that usually went into proper beautification and care, he at least accepted the basics.  A good wash and coat treatment, a very slight cleaning at his hooves (which he insisted he do himself, but at least used the tools and chemicals they supplied for him), and an invigorating mane scrub.  He declined teeth cleaning... which frankly was a relief to Aloe, who couldn't help but flinch when she found that the captain had a jaw full of stout fangs.

As it turned out, Bat Ponies were fairly different than other Ponies in certain regards.  Their coats were much finer and wings a bit difficult to work with, but both glossed up beautifully with a bit of preening.  The captain's coat practically glimmered after just a good brushing and careful use of color-balancing shampoos and oils brought out a real luster that even he couldn't help but admire.  It would be good to keep in mind with Moonsong whenever she came to visit.  One of the only real downsides to the visit was when a massage was attempted.  The captain was actually quite willing and admitted to being tightly wound, but Aloe and Lotus (even working together) lacked the necessary muscle to get any real kinks out of his knotted shoulders.  That was less a matter of his specie and more the result of many years of stern, dedicated military service.  While Aloe wasn't able to get any progress out of the effort, she at least seemed to enjoy trying quite a bit...~~

"I think I'm quite fine, Miss Lotus.  Thank you though.  I'll admit that I was rather wary coming here in the first place, though it seems I was perhaps too quick to judge." the soldier sighed after a drink of tea.

"Are you sure you don't want to try any mane coloring?  You would look amazing with a little streaking..." Aloe asked, half-whining.  She'd been quite disappointed when he refused the first time and pouted further as he shook his head yet again.

"No, thank you.  The styling was quite enough.  Try it with Silver Crescent; he's a bit more..." Foppish?  Dandified? "...fashion-oriented than I am."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:03, Fri 22 June 2012.

About the time Lotus learned that she needed to bring out the finest and softest brushes they kept to avoid over-working the captain's coat--mostly for the occasional foal treatment--she was willing to accept that her preconceived notion that bat-winged pegasi were not simply a variation on the more common feathered variety but their own unique 'family' of pony altogether.  Spending so much time working with the captain also allowed her to see the finer details that she was curious about: namely his curious eyes and those surprising teeth.

When all of their hard work in bringing out the shine and gloss of his mane and coat paid off, all Lotus could think of was the shining and inky depths of the sky between the stars.  For Lotus it was an oddly poetic thought, but it was lost rather swiftly amidst her rather tiring attempts to aid Aloe in giving the stallion a massage.  In the end she decides to show the captain a few stretches and postures that will help to relieve his own tensions, but she also gives the recommendation that he find the burliest masseuse he can to work the knots out before he risks permanent harm.

All the same, when the captain assures her her that he's well she smiles brightly and happily.  As Aloe tries to prompt him toward just a little more beautification than the stallion is interested in, Lotus hides her smile behind a delicately positioned hoof as though to stifle a soft cough.  When she can speak without betraying her inner laughter, Lotus asks another question.  "Will you be requiring a receipt of services rendered?"

"I think that would be a wise idea, thank you.  The Princess is never quite as concerned with finances as the Treasurer is.  I'm sure she would appreciate knowing what sort of spending spree Princess Luna has been on during her vacation." the guard nodded his head at the offer of a receipt.  He couldn't help but feel a little guilty over indulgences when he thought back on how badly Number Cruncher had been left... well... crunching numbers when Princess Luna had left the castle with a trunk full of Bits.  The kingdom was certainly in absolutely no danger of bankruptcy, but accountants did so love to panic about money...

Opting to ignore what she feels is a distinctly graceless and tactless display from the captain, Lotus smiles cheerfully to him as she trots over to the appointment book.  Finding the receipt book and a pencil, Lotus commits the day's treatments and elapsed time with a graceful flourish.  Returning with a smile, Lotus offers the slip of paper with a gracious bow of her head.  "We hope that you'll come and see us again the next time you're in Ponyville, sir.  We were so glad to have you."

"I suppose time will tell.  Thank you both again." the captain said as he tucked the receipt away within his armor.  With that the bat-pony turned and marched right on out of the spa -- he had another appointment to keep called 'actually doing his job' and took wing to head off for the Town Square.  Meanwhile, Aloe watched him go with unabashedly wandering eyes until the door shut in his wake and ended the view.

"On one hoof, he's got this exotic, rugged older stallion thing going on.  That is very, very nice~~." the spa pony sighed pleasantly.  But then her expression shifted to a less appreciative one as she tossed her mane.  "On the other, what a jerk~!  I've never met a pony so jaded as that one!  He was no fun at all..."

--> Captain Equinox exits to Ponyville Town Square
This message was last edited by the player at 04:01, Tue 26 June 2012.

Lotus bows her head as the stallion turns and heads on his way, but when the door shuts she puffs out a little huff of a sigh.  She goes about tidying and prepping the salon for their next guest as she listens to Aloe, but Lotus does pause at the last.  "Now, now, Aloe.  You know we shouldn't speak ill of our guests--even if they are as full of sour grapes as that one."  She winks at her twin despite her dry and playfully chiding tone, clearly in agreement with at least some of what Aloe has expressed.

"Hopefully the younger guard will be far more manageable, and at least now we know several more tricks for not only stallions but those bat-pegasus as well.  With the new mare in town we might need all the tricks we can pull off--someone with a voice like that probably has the attitude to go with, wouldn't you think?"

"Ooh, I hope not.  The last thing we need is another Prima Donna prancing around town.  That mare always gets on my nerves." Aloe rolled her eyes.  Aside from the notion of there being a wanna-be debutant flouncing around Ponyville, there actually was a unicorn named Prima Donna who more than lived up to her name.  That demanding mare was a nightmare to work with...

"Right now all I want is lunch.  Trying to get those kinks out of the captain's back really took it out of me.  Honestly, where's Quake when we need him?" she grumbled as she helped her sister in cleaning up.  Thankfully they hadn't made much a mess in the first place since the soldier had refused so many of their varied services.

Lotus rolls her eyes with an 'ugh' of agreement before she can catch herself, but then she softly coughs and smoothes her expression out again.  It wouldn't do, not at all, for a guest to see them carrying on like this.  She laughs and nods as Aloe speaks, though she playfully tries to shoo her sister away when she tries to help.  "This is all the mess there is, don't worry about it.  Just make me a sandwich, would you?  And a glass of tea?  As for Quake, I'm wondering that myself--didn't you say you ran into him last night?  I would have thought he'd be here.  Perhaps he had a bit too much cider and hasn't gotten up yet."

Delicate, graceful and demure as Lotus is, she knows just as well as anypony how hard it can be to wake up the morning after a few too many mugs of hard cider have been enjoyed the night before.

"He and Roxy both said they'd come in this afternoon.  Ooh, if they flake again, I'll have their tails." Aloe pouted at the thought.  She partied just as hard, if not harder than most, and she still managed to come in to work!  Truth be told she would have liked a day off as well but knew that Lotus was going to be up bright and early... she couldn't just leave her sister to fend for herself, after all.

Aloe did some fending of her own as she was sent off to the kitchen and went about readying lunch for the two of them.  A BLT -- barley, lettuce, and tomato -- sandwich was just what they needed to get rid of those grumbly bellies.  She dug out some refreshing citrus tea as well to get steeping once the pot was ready and, just a little after the time Lotus would have finished cleaning and prepping for their next guest, lunch was served.

"Oohh, I thought they'd be in earlier."  Lotus replies, feeling a little bit more calm about the pair now that she knows they aren't really absent at all, at least not yet.  When the last of the tidying is finished, Lotus takes herself to the kitchen to meet Aloe and share lunch, but she's still very much thinking about the day's events thus far.

"We should really tidy up the room Shai Ni is borrowing when we have the time: there are still some boxes in there that need to be moved to the store room, that little bed is barely more than a cot, and the floor could do with a waxing.  If she's going to be with us until she finds another home, I'd feel awful to expect her to be cooped up in there at night.  Oh, oh, and.  And we should make sure we double-check the upkeep the captain does on his own with the other guard to find out if they're consistent.  We should probably ask Rarity too, don't you think?  We could always order a small stock of whatever doesn't spoil quickly so we'll have something on hoof for the new local and for whenever the Princess comes to visit again.  Do you think she will?  Visit again, I mean.  It would be so nice to have regular royalty coming through."  Lotus eats now and again between words in little nibbles at her sandwich and sips at her tea, and is careful to never speak with her mouth full as she rattles on.

"We could market specialty hoof-picks to stallions, maybe teach the colts that come in with their mothers, start teaching them young how to properly manage hoof care?"

As Lotus spent her time chattering on and only nibbling at her lunch, Aloe listened patiently.  Her sister was a dear mare and always so considerate of others, but sometimes it worried Aloe just how much others were always on her mind.  She'd voiced her opinion of Lotus needing 'me time' plenty of times already though... but sometimes it needed a little more emphasis.  Once Lotus took a second to breath at the end of all that Aloe reached forward and pushed at her hooves, abruptly stuffing the bulk of her sandwich into her mouth to keep her from rambling further.

"Alright sister, I demand that you set the world down off your shoulders at least long enough to eat a sandwich." she deadpanned.

Suddenly finding her mouth full of sandwich, delicious thought it may be, is a bit surprising for anypony.  Well, perhaps anypony but Pinkie.  Lotus blinks rapidly in curious response to Aloe's demand, and though she wants to apologise for her prattling she can't really talk around this big of a mouthful.  Munching as delicately as is possible with most of the yummy sandwich in her mouth, Lotus softly clears her throat and sips her tea once she's able.

She finishes her sandwich in silence, her mind spinning fervently as she tries to figure out exactly what it is that has set Aloe off...and then just spinning fervently off on topics that likely would just further Aloe's pique.  'I do suppose I talk too much sometimes...  And I was going on a bit there, maybe after dealing with the captain Aloe just isn't up to listening to me endlessly chatter.  Maybe I should surprise her later on with something--Oh!  I could whip up some of that special facial cream she likes so much and when Shai is back and the Princess has had her treatments, the three of us could have a little sleep-over!  And maybe tomorrow we could close the spa for a little while, and I could make sure that Aloe has a break.  She's always working so hard.'  One doesn't need to hear Lotus' thoughts to know that the gears are rapidly spinning: her mouth may have disengaged from the chatter, but the monologue is still running on, and on, and on, and on...

With the moon lifted into the sky - this time with much less pomp and circumstance - Luna set off for the spa. As arranged, she knew that she'd been given an after-hours appointment, and felt quite grateful for the fact, though upon considering matters she questioned if it would be wise to worry the caring ponies for so much work in one day.  Still - she needed at least to show up, and she'd see how they felt when she arrived.

Arrive, Luna did, as clouds masked the lovely sky. Her horn as before projected a field to deflect the water from her. She let herself in smoothly to get out of the rain, and dimmed the glow of her horn to dispose of her umbrella spell.Smiling as she caught sight of Lotus, Luna lowered her head in greeting, just so. "Miss Lotus. I trust I've not kept you waiting too long?"

-

Thanks to her spot at the window Lotus has some fore-warning of the arrival of the Princess, so she's able to be ready and waiting to kneel and bow her head as Luna enters the spa's foyer.  "Not at all, Princess Luna.  I'm so glad you could make it; I worried that the weather would trouble you."  Lotus sounds genuinely pleased to greet Luna, with friendly warmth suffusing her voice and expression.  It's easy enough for her to see that the towels won't be needed, but Lotus doesn't seem to mind: after standing again she picks them up daintily with her mouth and balances them on her back before addressing Luna once more.

"Please follow me, Princess, I have a warm clay bath waiting for you!  If you like, I thought we might start with the clay bath, then follow that up with a scrub and soak in the hot tub?  Once you're satisfied there, I can start your massage, then move on to the beautification."  Lotus lists off the summary of prepared treatments as she guides the way into the spa proper.  She looks up at the regal mare with a hopeful and eager expression; Lotus wants very much to let Luna decide on the sort of pampering she'll receive over the evening.

-

Already feeling more comfortable, Luna tailed the pink-maned pony, though her first few steps were slower, as she stretched out each of her limbs, then her wings a little bit. "I didn't expect the rain today, but it was hardly a serious problem." she said lightly, pausing to glance out a window at the soft downpour. The sound on the rooftop was faint, but soothing in its own way, she decided. Catching up to Lotus, the princess gave her an uncertain look.

"A clay bath... you mean, taking a bath in mud?" She asked, looking doubtful. Though, Lotus had surprised her before with how wonderful some odd-sounding treatments ended up being. She couldn't help but grin a little, though, as the idea was rather funny. "You're not teasing me, are you?" she ventured, noting Lotus's entirely honest tone, then gave her horn a gentle shake. "You are professional. I've enjoyed everything you've suggested so far, so I shall defer to your expertise here, too." 

-

Lotus slows so as not to leave Luna behind, and as she watches the mare stretch a bit she can't help but recall her twin's teasing earlier that day.  Looking away with a bit of a blush, Lotus resumes her sedate forward pace once more.

She pauses after just a few steps however, with one hoof slightly lifted and her head canted just a bit to the side.  "Actually?  It is essentially a mud bath.  But it's different, too.  Do you know, I'm not really sure how to describe it?  They do feel nice, though."  A little flustered, Lotus giggles softly as she speaks.  The spa mare shakes her head at the question of teasing, but at the last she softly laughs again.  "It is quite nice.  The clay is ground to a very, very fine powder, then mixed with herbs and oils and then thinned just a bit with water.  Almost all of the ingredients are local, but some of the clays come from as far away as Neighpon."  

Arriving at the copper tub with its gently perfumed mix of wet clay, Lotus checks the temperature and consistency with a hoof before nodding appreciatively.  "If you get a hoof in and it doesn't seem like something you like, we'll move on."  Lotus looks up at the Princess with an encouraging smile, then continues.  "It's almost universally beneficial, though really it's best for your skin and coat."

-

"Of course." she chimed rightly at the reassurance that they could move on. She was still marveling... the idea that they would import clay from so far away seemed odd, then again - the whole concept was a bit strange to the princess. Nontheless, she carefully stepped a hoof over the side and down into the clay. She'd not expected the warmth to be so strong, or the consistency to be thinned so. She could almost feel the grains of clay against her, as she moved her hoof in a lazy circle in the tub, then climbed in the rest of the way. lowering herself into it, the Princess closed her eyes as the sensation wrapped around her, and she leaned back, letting the material  envelop her from the shoulders down.

"Ahhh...  it does feel strange, but it's comfortable...  though." She squirmed a little bit, trying to get used to the feeling, and the idea that she was basically soaking herself in dirt. "It's still dirt." She laughed a little, opening her eyes and looking down at herself. "I'm taking a dirt bath..." She didn't see this one coming.

Glancing up to Lotus, Luna was still smiling, even though she did find this practice a bit strange. She seemed willing to try it, though. "Lotus, you don't have a neck cushion, by chance? Something I can lean back on?"

-

Lotus stands by near at hoof and watches as Luna first tests the bath, then begins to settle into it.  The spa pony is quick to carefully take up the Princess' mane before it can get into the clay mix; not that a soak would be bad for the shining tresses but that this will give her time to brush it and pin it up for further treatments later.

"It is still dirt," Lotus agrees with a little giggle.  "I promise I won't tell anyone."  She says the last with a gently playful tone; Lotus isn't sure how the regal mare will take to a bit of good-natured ribbing.  Quickly and gently twisting and pinning until Luna's flowing mane is out and out of the way, Lotus nods readily at the request.  

"Absolutely, Princess."  One of the earlier towels is quickly put into service as a cushion: a swift re-folding and a careful bundling makes it into a pleasantly plush roll that she settles into position at the base of Luna's head.  "How is that, Princess?"

-

Luna settled back once Lotus had made her a rest, and nodded a little as she reclined and sank abit lower in the bath. "Mhm. That's better. Lotus, you need not call me Princess...  Luna will do." she said softly, as she thought back to something Shai had mentioned earlier in the day. "You have things like incense, right? and drinks?  I think both could be nice." she added. "Unless you had that planned for later?" she ventured, half-curious, half-requesting.

-

Lotus wears a slightly abashed expression as she bows her head, turning the uncertain gesture into a nod at the last moment.  "Of course Pr--L-Luna," she stumbles a little uncertainly over the loss of the honorific, but her smile is warm and eager as she looks to Luna to be sure that it is indeed alright.

"Oh!  Absolutely.  Would you like more of the cool wheatgrass tea, or would you rather have something warm?"  She readily agrees, then gives a light shake of her head.  "My plans are entirely at your whim, Luna."  There's a slight pause before Lotus says the regal mare's name, but this time she doesn't stutter, and the royal title doesn't slip in.  Trotting over to a shelf as she speaks, Lotus browses the spa's standard selection of incense before placing a few premium choices on a small tray.  Lotus returns with the tray in her mouth, then carefully balances it against the wide rim of the tub.

"This is a sweeter mix of cool, green notes and a soft bit of night-blooming jasmine.  This one is a bright and sweet mix of roses and honeysuckle.  And this one is water lily with just a touch of amber."  The spa pony points out each little dish of incense as she describes them; the initial mix is a pale green powder while the second is a blend of red and yellow petals ground quite fine.  The third is an odd grouping of what looks to be slender petals rolled into small balls and then dried.  "These are our special spa-mixes, but there are plenty of others if you'd like something else?"

-

Luna hesitated a moment when presented with so many options. Raising a mucky hoof from the bath, she pointed toward the first of the three presented incense options. "Perhaps this one, with the jasmine.  To be honest, I don't know much about this sort of thing, so we can try different ones, if you think it'd help." she settled back under the water. "As for drinks... Warm, I think... It's a cold, wet, rainy night, so something to warm up with sounds good to me..." she said quietly.

She paused, and closed her eyes, settling to a more hushed tone than earlier. "Thank you for making time for me, Lotus."

-

Nodding, Lotus readily moves away to set up the incense burner.  "We can try as many as you like, and if you wanted I can package up a few for you to try later as well."  She carefully strikes the match held in her lips and sets the small piece of charcoal to heating, then nods at the drink selection.  "I think I know just the tea, Luna."

Lotus is almost to the little nook where the spa refreshments are kept when she hears the quieter thanks, and it takes her a moment to catch up with what Luna said.  "I'm always happy to make time for friends."  Her soft smile is shy as she says it; Lotus isn't really sure if it's acceptable to suggest that she'd like to be the friend of a princess but it doesn't change her concern and budding care for the other mare.

Once she has the kettle heating and the blend of tea mixed and ready, it only takes a few minutes while Lotus quietly moves about the spa before the scent of the incense is wafting through the air in slender curls of smoke.  Soon after that she returns to the side of the tub with a tray in her teeth; with the tray hooked over the wide lip of the tub the mug of steaming tea is perfectly balanced and easily accessible.  "Would you care for honey or sugar in your tea?"

-

Kicking her hooves just a bit, Luna stretched out and let Lotus work. As the fragrance started to waft into the air, she inhaled deeply, and nodded a silent approval. Slowly, she was getting past the fact that she was neck deep in mud - more importantly, it felt nice.

She opened her eyes as Lotus returned to her side, and levitated her drink up for a sip. It was just a small one, though, before she nodded. "yes, let's add a little sugar. not much, it's quite good." she added. "The rain is rather nice to listen to, as well. "

-

Lotus waited with a bit of anticipation to see how the tea would go over--it was her favourite blend, and not one she normally made for clients.  Suppressing a little giddy stomping of her hooves, Lotus instead keeps herself to a happy smile as she adds a little bit of sugar and stirs it in.

Settling the spoon aside and looking up toward the ceiling as though she might see the rain falling, then gave a pleasant little sigh before speaking.  "It is.  I love a clear day, but there's nothing quite as nice as the sound of a rainy evening."  Lotus pauses, then offers a smile as she goes on.  "It does unfortunately hide your lovely night sky, though."

She trots quietly away to check on the other bath, and then to make sure that her gift to the Princess is neatly folded and ready to be used.  Despite being a rush order Lotus is confident in it--but she can't shake the shy anxiety that grips her when she thinks about actually giving it to Luna.  Putting her fretting aside, Lotus returns quietly to the side of the clay bath to check on Luna.  "How are you feeling?"

-

The princess eagerly sips her drink, and shares a soft smile with the spapony at her comment about the night sky.  It was a warm and happy smile, which left quickly as she went back to her drink, but the warm glow of contentment remained. Left alone for a moment or so, Luna savored the soft rainfall sounds, and the warmth of her drink.

When Lotus returned, the Princess sat up slightly, and stretched her neck, turning her head to the side. "Ahhh... I'll admit, more tired than usual. I spent much of the day up, and I don't normally do so..." she said, yawning slightly. "Is it time for me to move to the other bath?"

After a pause, she began. "I hope the Captain wasn't a problem for you today. I ordered them to come get some rest - because you're very good and because they'd not do so unless I... well.. ordered it. He considers this sort of thing frivolous, and I do hope he was well-behaved for you?"

-

"I believe I can sympathise; some nights I stay up far too late managing inventory or tagging along with Aloe and her friends."  Lotus replies, then gives a slight shrug of her shoulders as she continues.  "The only treatment with a time limit is the massage, and that's only because eventually my shoulders will give out."  Another lightly playful remark said with a warm smile and a little giggle.  "If you're ready for the fragrant soak, though, I'll help you clean up for it?"

"He was...  a very interesting guest, but in the end I think he found a few ways to enjoy himself.  He was a gentlecolt, though--they both were, truthfully--and we learned so much from their visit."  Lotus replies.  While the elder guard certainly was a little difficult now and then, it was definitely quite amusing to see Aloe try not to get frustrated with the Captain.  The thought makes her giggle, and then she can't help but explain her amusement.  "I think Aloe was expecting someone a bit more pliable, and it was actually quite funny watching her try to convince him to accept some of our beautifying treatments."

-

Luna's smile became outright mischievous. "I see.. hehe.. sounds wonderful. I'm sure you two handled him well?" she prompted with a grin. "To be honest, I was glad to be rid of them for most of the day. Having guards over my shoulder can be stressful."

The princess stood slowly, stretching, then offered Lotus a nod. "I think so, yes. Let's move on to the next." she added lightly.

-

"I think perhaps my sister gave the Captain almost as good as she got," Lotus replies with another giggle.   Once her mirth has subsided a bit, Lotus goes on:  "I can't imagine what it must be like to have someone following you around constantly."

Nodding her head at the last, Lotus quickly moves the tea and its tray out of the way, then takes up a wooden spa bucket.  Speaking around the handle gripped in her mouth, Lotus waits until Luna is fully on her hooves in the spacious bath.  "I'm just going to give you a quick rinse, and then we'll get you into the big tub."  The bucket water is almost as warm as the clay bath, a careful precaution so as to avoid chilling her royal guest, and after a careful slow sloshing to make sure she's gotten as much of the clay off as possible, Lotus sets the bucket aside and hops down from the step-stool next to the copper tub.

-

As Lotus tended to her rinse, Luna enjoyed a laugh at her guards' expense. "It's not such an issue except when they become so stubborn that they're a headache. At least mine let me in the spa unattended." she chimed.  She closed her eyes as Lotus rinsed her, though it was hard to tell in the dim light where her dark coat was clean and where it was still damp from the clay bath. Still, Lotus was a professional, and did a through job.

Luna followed her out of the clay bath and toward the other, adding a thought. "Is your sister out this evening, as well?" she ventured, biting her lip faintly... Had Lotus decided to stay home just for this?

-

"That is true!"  She replies with a laugh once the rinsing is done, and when Luna exits the tub Lotus is quick to toss a towel over her back.  "They did seem a little reluctant to bother you once you were here, too."  The trip from clay soak to fragrant bath may be a short one, but she doesn't want Luna to get chilled on the way.  She'll remove the towel just as promptly when Luna starts to settle into the hottub, and she's in the process of quickly folding and rolling another headrest when she answers the Princess' question.  "I suppose she must be.  I wasn't sure where she'd gotten to after she helped me clean up earlier; she may have gone to get a few more things for Shai.  Shai Ni's home burnt down last night, so she's staying in our guest room."  Lotus explains as she moves to place the rolled towel behind Luna's neck.

-

"A home.. burnt last night?" Luna frowned  sharply. "I hope my celebration didn't have anything to do with that..." she said, anxiously.  Settling into the hot bath, Luna leaned her head back naturally, and settled it just onto the rest Lotus placed for her.

"I hope I'm not keeping you from something else." Luna said then, quiet again.  The cleaner, warmer waters of the hot tub seeped warmth into her, fighting off the slight chill of the quick walk between baths. Settling into the bath, she bushed a hoof along her side, to rinse out her coat more cleanly. There was a bit of runoff from the clay bath left over, but very little in truth. Once she'd gone over herself and settled back down, she turned to look at Lotus with half-lidded, tired eyes.

"That is kind of you girls, though. I hope everything will be alright for her."

-

"Oh, no, no, I'm sure it didn't," Lotus hastily assures, "and maybe 'burnt down' wasn't the right way to describe it.  I believe Shai said that the walls are still there, but the roof isn't.  I'm not entirely sure what happened.  Her home is--or, well, was--on the outskirts."

Lotus blinks in surprise at the next remark, then rapidly shakes her head.  "Oh, no Luna!  I'm thrilled to be here," the spa mare protests as she leans against the side of the large hottub.  "There's nothing I enjoy more than helping other ponies, Luna.  I'm glad to be able to do this for you."  A little blush has crept onto her cheeks, but Lotus isn't really sure why.

"I hope so, too.  We often work with her here at the spa, so it's rather nice having her here.  If you'd like, I could speak with her about an acupuncture treatment?  It's a little strange at first, but it's amazing how good it feels afterwards."

-

Luna seemed relieved by her response. "Good... I'm glad.. I was just afraid I was forcing you to be here rather than you wanting to be here." she said gently, then lent her ear to the talk of another treatment. Yawning a little, Luna nodded. "Well, it can't be much stranger than a bath in mud... I suppose I'll try it. What's it like?" she asked

-

Giggling softly Lotus shook her head again.  "There's nowhere else I'd rather be."  She smiles as she says it, though she has another giggle as she answers Luna's question.  "Well...  It's going to sound stranger than the clay bath.  Shai Ni uses a lot of very, very thin needles?  And she places them in spots like massage pressure points, but it doesn't hurt.  When it's over with, it's almost like a long, deep-tissue massage but without the soreness and stiffness that can sometimes come of it."  Lotus moves around to where Luna has rested her head and carefully unpins her mane as she speaks.  Though Lotus doesn't sound entirely sure of just what Shai Ni does, she does sound very certain of the results.

Aware of how tired the Princess is, Lotus works carefully to first brush out the elegant mare's mane before she starts to work a light conditioning lotion into it.  Starting from the root up, it allows Lotus to give Luna a gentle scalp and neck massage before she concentrates on spreading the conditioner through the long mane.  "When Shai comes in I'll let her know, and perhaps some time tomorrow, if you have time, she can show you first-hoof how it works?"

-

The princess tensed up a little bit at the mention of needles, but Lotus was soothing enough, as she started brushing her hooves over Luna's head, that the anxiousness faded. "W.. well. I suppose it won't hurt to learn more about it at least."

The princess smiled happily, beamed, really, as Lotus said that she'd not rather be anywhere else. Neither, Luna realized, would she. The regal mare closed her eyes with an assenting breath, and let Lotus have her mane to play with while she finished off her drink, then basked in the warm, soothing water, enjoyed the incense, and the soft, rainy patter on the roof. It threatened to make her drift off, but part of Luna insisted on keeping awake, leading to a few lazy stretches throughout the soak and mane treatment.

-

Lotus nods in understanding; she'd been pretty skeptical herself about the whole matter before Shai had explained it.  It still seems a little odd, but Lotus has a hard time arguing with the results.

She falls silent as she tends to Luna's mane; it's easy to lose track of time as she works with the shining lengths.  After a little while of quiet, though, she carefully rolls and pins Luna's mane against her neck once more.  "Let's dry you off and start on the massage?  If you'd like, you can take a nap for a little bit, too?"

-

Luna yawned again. "Mhmm... a short one at the most, I don't want to sleep through this. It would be rude...  Besides, I want to enjoy it, and your company, Lotus." She said softly, and couldn't help settling in place, with a faint yawn.  She also couldn't help the warm smile she directed upward, along with her sleepy eyes, to Lotus.

-

A blush colours her cheeks at Luna's words as Lotus looks down at her guest; shyly she smiles and gives Luna's shoulders a light  massage as she tries to get her brain back in gear.  Why am I blushing this much?  "Ah...  Would.  Would you like to rest here, or on the massage table?"

The idea that the Princess is enjoying her company thrills her, and really Lotus can understand part of her reaction:  Who wouldn't be thrilled by royalty wanting to spend time with them?  But that doesn't really account for why her heart feels like it belongs to a hummingbird.  Maybe this is just what it's like to befriend someone so regal, but Lotus' mind keeps revisiting Aloe's teasing from earlier in the day.

-

Luna smiled, and closed her eyes. "This is fine for the moment, Lotus. It's just warm enough to rest in, and that feels nice." Thankfully, the princess had shut her eyes. "Your hooves are incredibly gentle. It's wonderful." The princess sighed happily, and let Lotus melt her shoulders as she settle din to doze for a short nap.

Her rest was deep and soothing despite its brief span, where she was warm and comfortable. Hazy dreams, but good ones.

-

Lotus continues the soft massage as Luna drifts off into sleep; she's afraid to go far just in case a sleeping shift causes the mare to slip beneath the water.  That, and after the compliment paid her about her hooves Lotus isn't really sure she should stop the massage--what if it rouses Luna?

She listens to the rain outside and tries not to feel strange about watching her guest sleep, though after a little while she does step away enough to refresh the incense and make sure that there's more tea ready at hoof for when Luna wakes.

-

For all of Lotus's worry, her departure didn't wake the princess, though, she shifted slightly once Lotus was otherwise engaged, her head turned aside gently, cheek resting on the edge of the rest rather than her neck, her hooves curling in beneath the water. It was her own movement more than anything that led to her slow awakening.

The princess of night yawned as she fluttered her eyes open, and raised her hoof to rub her face. She looked momentarily lost, before spotting Lotus and smiling. "More tea?" she asked, hazily.

-

She looks over as Luna speaks and smiles with friendly warmth.  "It's almost ready."  Lotus pours the hot water over the refreshed herbs in the mug and, after giving it a moment to steep, she mixes in just a little bit of sugar as to Luna's previous taste.  She carefully returns with the mug on the tray and settles them on the broad edge of the bath.  "Did you enjoy your rest, Luna?"

-

The princess nodded, and leaned up to sip out of the cup, then laid back down, lightly sloshing the cooled water about. "Mhm.  Thanks to you. It was nice. I mean...  I hate to be alone - so having you here was nice. " Luna settled ther ea while longer, sipping her warm tea, before the cool water started to get to her and she sat up a little, stretching languidly.

-

"I'm happy to have been here," Lotus replies.  As Luna looks to be ready to exit the bath, Lotus finds herself a little anxious again.  She trots to a side table and takes up a neatly folded robe.  The dusky blue colour took some haggling to get just right and on a rush job, but the embroidery is what really had Lotus worried until she'd had the chance to retrieve the freshly made robe from the spa's favourite seamstress: the silvery-white moons and tiny stars winding around the hem and cuffs had thrilled Lotus with their quality, but now she's worried that the gift won't live up to Luna's royal standards.  "Your robe, Luna."

-

The princess turned and saw it, and then it as her turn to blush. she stepped to the edge of the bath, and then glanced up at Lotus. She could recognize the fine work that went into the embroidery, and she recalled a promise to have her a personal robe for this visit, now that she thought.. .Luna smiled warmly, after a moment of pleasant surprise, and stepped out, into Lotus's waiting hooves with the robe.

The softness and warmth of the material as it settled against her coat revealed the care that had been taken with the robe. The princess let Lotus close it and tie it shut, while she looked down and back at herself, noting the delicate star and moon designs. "Lotus... did you have this rushed just for me, today?" she asked, looking up at her with a wistful look. It must've cost her... so much... and yet Luna adored it more and more as she gave it time to settle on her form. A happy feeling of conflict, if there ever were one.

-

Lotus held her breath for a moment as she waiting on Luna's reaction, and the giddy relief that washes through her leaves the spa pony feeling fit to burst as the regal mare smiles.  Helping Luna into the new robe, Lotus has a little blush of her own as she steps back and catches herself admiring the Princess in her new robe.

"Well...  I did promise I'd have a robe ready for you."  Lotus replies in a bit of a bashful tone to accompany her shy smile.  "We employ a local seamstress for all our spa supplies that aren't provided by Rarity, and when I saw that she had that blue I just had to ask her to hurry on it.  Does it fit alright?"

-

The princess turned, looking back at herself. "It's rather comfortable." she admired, and pranced lightly in the loose but warm material. "It fits nicely, I think. It wasn't too expensive...?" she ventured warily, trotting along back to Lotus and lightly giving her a friendly neck nuzzle.

-

"No, no, not at... at all."  Lotus' words falter a bit at the nuzzle, and sheepishly she nuzzles at Luna in return.  "I'm glad you like it.  I was worried that it wouldn't be right."  She admits, trying to ignore her blush as she continues.  "Are you ready for your massage?  Would you like something to eat?"

-

Luna nodded as she stepped back out of the friendly gesture, and nodded once more, to reaffirm. "Yes, though, perhaps a snack first. What do you have here?" she asked, and she stepped lightly, to follow Lotus  where she might be led. "And yes, a massage after that. I've been looking forward to it since yesterday." she admitted.

-

"We mostly have light snacks in the spa kitchen, but if you'd like anything more substantial I'd be happy to make you something.  We've got chilled dandelion salads and sprout sandwiches, and I'm sure we have a few fruit bowls too.  In the other kitchen there's some vegetable soup, too."  Lotus replies, casually offering to open up the household kitchen amidst ticking off a few of the items on-hoof in the spa itself.

A bit worriedly, Lotus looks over to Luna as she leads the way to the spa's snack nook.  "Oh no, did everything tighten up on you again already?  I was worried that I couldn't work all of the tension out during yesterday's visit."

-

Luna joined her, to look the listed options over personally, as she carries on the conversation. "Oh, no, no, it's not your fault.. I just...  never really realized that I always feel like that. You just... helped me not to, for a while." she smiled, and nudged her warmly. "..but if it is possible to feel so relaxed all the time, I would welcome it." she considered her options.

Luna rolled back her shoulders and stretched out her neck again, glancing up to her companion. "I'd like something light - nothing that would demand much preparation. Perhaps a fruit bowl."

-

Lotus smiles in response to Luna's reassurance and nudge.  "If you'd like, I can always try to get in touch with other masseuses in Canterlot--there's no reason you shouldn't always have someone with able hooves to help handle that stress."  Despite the offer, worry lingers at the back of Lotus' mind.  Surely there's a reason for that much stress, but she doesn't know the life of a royal and so Lotus can't begin to fathom why it should take such a tole on Luna.

"I'll have it ready in just a moment, then."  Lotus smiles as she sets to work retrieving the cooled fruits.  A quick rinse for the grapes, a check of the pre-sliced apples, pears and oranges, and then a few cubed pieces of honeydew melon and a scattering of whole strawberries go into a bowl.  The bowl itself Lotus places before the Princess at the little table in the nook, though afterward she seems a little uncertain of what to do with herself.  "Do...  do you wish company while you eat, or would you rather I let you be?"

-

Luna glanced to Lotus with a smile. "If you wish... It'd be nice, though, I'm unsure how others might approach such treatment. I like your manner very much." Luna said softly, then turned to the food. When Lotus spoke up, hesitantly, Luna smiled, closing her eyes as she enjoyed a bite. "Please, do stay. Have some for yourself as well. A small snack, then on to the massage." Luna put a hoof to her shoulder. "As I said, I enjoy your company, Lotus."

-

"I can certainly get in contact with them and find out the details.  The only other option I could think of would be for you to make regular visits here.  And though I'd be thrilled to have you as a regular, wouldn't that be more hassle for you?"  Genuine worry and warmth colour her tone as Lotus readies the fruit.  "Then again, it is only a train ride away--I could always come to you?"  

When Luna asks her to remain and offers to share the meal, Lotus initially thinks she should decline--it wouldn't be polite to eat a guest's meal, after all--but the welcome weight of Luna's hoof and the reassurance that her company is wanted melts her inner argument.  With a nod she settles opposite Luna at the little table.  "Thank you, Luna."  Still a little sheepish, Lotus leans forward to help herself to a grape.
</quote>


"I do enjoy Ponyville... I find it much more pleasant than Canterlot. I doubt I could relocate here, but frequent visits would be alright. And perhaps I should invite you to Canterlot sometime. You and your sister both, of course. As I said before, I'm sure my Sister would enjoy this as well. " Luna added, and smiled across the table to Lotus. She leaned forward to nom a grape off the bunch as well, then levitated an apple along as she sat back upright.

"No, I think always is a poor choice. Perhaps we shall make arrangements over time. Sometimes it may suit more for me to join you here, while otherwise it would be best for you to come to me. Though, I wouldn't wish to disrupt your work here too frequently. " Luna smiled warmly, then gave an affectionate nod, as Lotus thanked her. She bit her apple, chewing and swallowing demurely, and levitated a napkin to dab her lips with, as she savored the juicy fruit.

-

Lotus looks rather surprised at the notion that somepony could like Ponyville more than Canterlot, but as she listened and considered it started to seem less odd to the mare.  Canterlot may be busier and quite a bit more posh, but here in Ponyville you knew your neighbours and you knew you could count on them.  Would Shai Ni so easily have been taken in if she'd encountered her household disaster in Canterlot?  Hopefully so; Lotus didn't like to think badly of other ponies in general, but there was a definite warmth to this little town that made it incredibly appealing.  

"I'm certain Aloe would jump at the chance to attend to you and your sister," Lotus replies with a soft laugh.  Continuing to delicately pick the occasional small bit of fruit as Luna goes on, Lotus starts to nod her understanding, only to shake her head and hastily swallow a bit of pear.  "Please don't worry about that, Luna.  If anything, Aloe and I could always take turns, too.  It wouldn't cause any upset with our regulars, and it would be a great way for us to expand our current line of treatments, too.  Not to mention that we'd have the chance to stock up instead of sending away for supplies..."  Lotus trails off thoughtfully, then catches herself thinking purely in terms of business and offers Luna an apologetic smile.  "Aloe says I get too caught up in the spa, and I suppose she's right.  What matters is that I would be more than happy to clear an entire year's worth of schedule to make time for you."  She blushes slightly as the words come out but giggles as well; Lotus can only hope that the over-the-top and yet quite genuine statement will get a laugh from Luna too.

-

Lotus wouldn't be disappointed. She laughed happily, and there was a warm glow in her smile as she looked across the table to Lotus. "I trust it won't come to that, but I am honored." she looked down to finish off her apple, dabbing her lips clean, then back up to Lotus. Another napkin was brought up, to dab her lips off lightly, wiping away a bit on her lower lip with a delicate touch. "There you are. Shall we?" she asked, rising again.

Luna waited for the Spapony to stand to lead her along, even though she knew where they were going. "We will do this then. Soon, I shall invite you to Canterlot to tend to my own care. If my Sister's schedule permits, I'll ask for both you and your sister. I'm unaware what facilities exist in the palace itself, but if it lacks facilities for this, I shall see if we can't get something suited." she commented warmly.

-

Smiling brightly as Luna laughs, Lotus enjoys a giddy thrill as the regal mare smiles so beautifully.  Her lashes then flutter in surprise as the little bit of fruit juice on her own lips is wiped away, and with a modest bow of her head to accompany her light blush, Lotus manages a quiet 'Thank you' in response.  "Yes, of course," comes in a clearer and less bashful voice, but her cheeks are still pink as she stands and takes up the dish to put it in the little sink.

She sets a leisurely pace towards the waiting massage table as she listens, and Lotus nods before speaking.  "We have a few tables that fold up for storage and travel--as long as we have a quiet place with enough room, we can always bring most of the supplies.  I don't know that we could convince anyone but Big Macintosh to haul those tubs, though."  Lotus giggles at the last; she's not sure she'd even want to ask that strapping stallion to manage it--but she bets that Aloe would enjoy the view, even so.

Once at the table, Lotus stands by to take Luna's robe and to make sure that the massage oils are at the proper warmth.  "I thought, if it's alright with you, that I'd start with a relaxing massage, then work up to a deep-tissue massage to try to get those knots at their root."

-

Luna shed her robe gracefully and put it into Lotus's waiting hooves, then climbed up smoothly to sprawl across the table on her stomach. She nodded slightly, and laid her cheek on the cushioned rest for her head, to watch Lotus for a few minutes. "That sounds nice. Don't take it as an offense if I drift off, Lotus. I'm so tired and this in particular was so wonderfully soothing earlier."

The Princess closed her eyes, and righted her face on the table, opening her wings wide, and out to either side, to get them out of Lotus's way. She let her weight sink onto the table, and exhaled deeply, focusing herself on clearing her mind and relaxing for now. The Princess's weight coming to rest on the table was visible to Lotus's keen eye, she could see how those muscles were trying to just release and rest, but thy wouldn't manage it alone.

In the course of studying their tension, she'd look along the Princess's back, up to her tense back, between her wings, and the base of her neck. Even her limbs seemed heavy this evening, from a mix of daily activity and long-term, exhaustive damage. The princess herself didn't quite seem to understand how awful her condition was, but in her own words she'd said that she never felt out of the ordinary before... she had grown used to such tension and exhaustion to the point where she barely noticed it, but it was there, plain to see for Lotus's eyes. Luna did need her right now.

-

Lotus takes a moment to fold the robe before setting it near at hoof but otherwise out of the way.  Smiling as she looks up from testing one of the gently fragrant oils, Lotus shakes her head.  "I won't, I promise.  I will try not to wake you if you do fall asleep, though." 

She watches as Luna tries to relax and worry again darkens her eyes as the tension makes itself so very obvious.  It's so frustrating to see that, to know that Luna is so accustomed to the stress that it's 'normal'.  Pushing the agitation with her presently rather nebulous concept of Luna's day-to-day aside, Lotus starts with carefully applying the same treatment to Luna's tail as she had earlier to the regal mare's mane.  With that out of the way, Lotus sets to work on a gentle massage.

Starting at the base of Luna's neck, Lotus spreads a small amount of the heated massage oil as her hooves seek to gently banish surface tension.  The soft relaxation massage has a twofold goal: to help Luna ease into a more restful state and to pinpoint the worst of the tension knots.  As Lotus makes a mental map of the latter her concern for Luna only grows.  'This can't be healthy...  Poor Luna.'  She wants to answer that need to the fullest capacity that she's able as a professional masseuse, but Lotus is also realising that she wants to go above and beyond to fix it, whatever 'it' may be.

Tilting her head to see if Luna has dozed off, Lotus hazards a question if the Princess is still awake.  "Luna...?  You said this level of tension was 'normal'; how long has it been this way...?"

Luna didn't open her eyes as Lotus began, the warm oils on her back, and Lotus's expert hooves brushing gently over the surface of her coat, working out the light, the simple day to day tension that has built up over the course of the day. As with the previous day's efforts, she knew that it was as if there were alyers upon layers of tension, built up and waiting, her neck feeling solid and hard under the softer layer as her hooves worked.

The princess exhaled serenely, but her eyes opened with Lotus's question. She didn't have a displeased expression, and her tone was gentle and conversational - she was happy to talk with Lotus, rather than upset at the distraction. "Oh.. my..." she moved a hoof to her lips a moment, then laid it to rest. "I... simply couldn't say. It's been a very, very long time..." Luna trailed off... how long had it been? Years, at least... Her banishment? Had it done this to her?

Or, was it even before then? Luna tried to recall, but the events were so far away - and many were hazy, with the passage of time, nightmares best put aside and not thought about. Simply doing so caused a physical response though... the regal mare tensed suddenly, and shut her eyes again,  hiding a delicate bite of her lip as she forced her mind onto happier things, focused it back on Lotus's touches, along her back.

-

She listens quietly to Luna's initial answer, and as the royal's words wander into silence Lotus continues the massage.  She assumes that Luna is simply considering her answer, but the sudden tension brings a little sound of surprise from Lotus.  "L-luna?  Are you alright?"  

She leans low over the other mare's back, her eyes wide with concern as her hooves briefly still, then somewhat haltingly resume the massage.  Lotus feels tension building in her own neck and shoulders as she tries to keep her fervent want to help restore Luna's calm from effecting the gentle manipulation of the stressed muscles.

-

"Yes.. yes.. I'm fine, Lotus..." she replied softly, and nodded her head delicately. The princess took a slow and deep breath. She clearly wasn't, though she was quick to put away the anxious feelings again, their effects lingered, guilt and shame and her long and troubled history leaving fresh tangles under Lotus's hooves. They unraveled at her touch, easy and simple... but it was clear the mare had a monumental task ahead of her.

"Is something wrong?"

-

Lotus bites her lip as she works to smooth away the refreshed knots of tension; she thinks she might need a massage from Aloe after the evening is done.

"It's...  I...  I'm worried about you, Luna."  Her voice is soft as she answers, and it takes her a few false starts to get her words sorted out.  The massage never stops; Lotus is almost afraid that if she pauses for even a moment that Luna might curl up in a thrumming ball of stress.  "You're carrying so much stress and so much tension.  It can't be healthy, and I can't help but worry so much about you."  Ignoring the light blush that manages to tinge her cheeks despite her concern, Lotus continues in that same quiet and caring voice.  "I'm not sure I can fix all of this, but I want to try.  I want to make all of this go away.  You do so much and you mean so much...  t-to all of us, I mean."  Lotus' words come to a faltering stop, and instead she just concentrates on working the stress out of Luna's shoulders.

"_{I wish I could make it better.}"  The spa pony murmurs to herself, unaware the words are spoken aloud.

-

The Princess let Lotus get it out patiently... but it surprised her, once she had. Luna turned her head, to look back, but was greeted by a twinge and she settled her face forward again at the slight spasm of a muscle. Wincing a little, she caught Lotus's whispered, and a warmth brushed through her own cheeks at her words.

She was important? No.. Celestia could and had done her only real job for centuries. Even now, she was more a political hindrance than an asset, and she hated Canterlot sometimes. All the political... horseapples. Despite all this tumbling through her mind, she didn't tense up, as Lotus's words glowed warmly in her. She was important to somepony. Of course she was. Celestia loved her, but there was never time to spend with her, never time when her sister wasn't busy.  Many of those in Ponyville loved her, needed her, but they had been fine without her, and would be. Even Lotus. Still, hearing it from the mare behind her, who was working to take care of her, who wanted so much to make things better - not because she was a princess, but because she was a friend... that helped her.

Luna shook her head. "I don't do much, Lotus... And what I do, my sister has proven she can as well." She said gently. "Equestria would be fine without me. It was fine, without me." Where had this come from? Lotus could sense it was something Luna would never normally voice. She'd poured a secret out for Lotus, it seemed, and as the regal mare shut her eyes tight, a wave of tension threatened to wash through her. Lotus could feel it, as Luna drew an uneasy breath.

Luna didn't begrudge her sister. She was beyond her selfish desire to rule... but Canterlot didn't want her - it had been saddled with her return, and Luna couldn't... ignore the fact that Canterlot's high society was so rigid and stuffy and judgmental. Even she, and her sister, weren't beyond the eyes of the populace. Luna didn't like to be judged, certainly not beside her sister... and not after all that she'd done.

-

Lotus can't hear the Princess' thoughts, but she can feel the ramifications of them in Luna's neck and back.  When Luna asserts that she doesn't do much, and that it can be handled by Celestia, Lotus feels... an odd kinship.  Aloe could easily run the spa, and she probably wouldn't work herself into the ground, either.  She wouldn't worry and fret the way Lotus does, and it would probably mean for a happier work day and certainly it would make for rather vibrant evenings if Lotus wasn't around to insist upon inventory right this moment when, really, such things could wait.  It strikes a chord, and the spa pony can't quite help the words that come next.

"Oh, Luna..."  Lotus breathes the words, and despite her own self-doubts the spa mare finds herself leaning over Luna to gently hug her about the neck.  "The moon was lovely without you, but it wasn't beautiful until you returned.  The stars didn't dance until you came back.  Equestria might have seemed fine, but our nights--our lives--weren't the same without you to safeguard our dreams.  Princess Celestia certainly did an admirable job, but she isn't you."  She isn't really sure where all of that came from, but from the warmth in her cheeks to the steady, almost nervous hammering of her heart, Lotus speaks true to her own thoughts and feelings.  Somewhat awkwardly she leans away again, not really sure if Luna will be all that thrilled about the sudden hug.

"I'm glad you're back.  And I'm glad you're here.  And... And I'm glad you're my friend."  Lotus finishes quietly, then hesitantly looks to the other mare to see her reaction to the little outburst.

-

The Princess was taken aback by the embrace, and Lotus's words. Warmth bubbled in her heart, and she gently arched her neck, returning the neck-nuzzle to the tender mare. Lun's eyes opened, glistening faintly with moisture - she wasn't crying, but perhaps had been close to it? or, was close to it now?  They closed again, and the dampness vanished against her dark coat, as Luna let Lotus back away. She was smiling, at least. That was a good sign.

More than that, she feels, beneath Lotus's hooves, better. She's not entirely better, of course...  but Lotus can feel that some of that tension, some of that stubborn, resilient stress  is more relaxed, yielding to her hooves more easily. Even so - it wouldn't fade away painlessly; it was deep and solid and set in her body, a physical manifestation of her anxiety. "I... I'm glad, too..." she said, and breathed a weary sigh, shutting both her eyes snugly as she settled. "I'm sorry to trouble you so much, Lotus. Do you need to stop?" she offered, quietly.

-

The smile is reassuring for Lotus, but the subtle ease of the tension that she can sense through her hooves brings a cheer to her heart.  "You don't trouble me, I...  Well, your stress troubles me, but that isn't your fault.  And I'm nowhere near to stopping now."  She brings a bit of light-hearted happiness into her voice that gets easier as she speaks: she wants to reassure Luna, to make her smile again.

Even if Luna's eyes are shut now, Lotus pantomimes pushing sleeves back before resuming her work.  A little more time around her neck and shoulders, and then Lotus sets to work on the flight muscles at the base of Luna's glorious wings.  Even if she's here all night, Lotus plans to work out every knot and kink and line of stress that she can get to.

-

The princess let out a soft groan, lowering her head a bit further. Lotus's hooves were firm now, serious and eager  to conquer the tension  in her back. The mare tensed up slightly as the firm, but careful pressure rubbed and soothed her neck muscles, until the ache dissolved to a warm glow. Luna released a breath she hadn't noticed she was holding, and felt... something... leave her with it. as her flight muscles were  the focus of attention now, the mare stretched her neck gently, and settled herself down again, to let the tingly warmth settle and sink in.

Luna nuzzled her cheek into the cushioning, discreetly wiping her eyes against it. Contentment warmed her heart, as she opened an eye to glance back at Lotus, offering a smile. Her own cheeks were flush now, after the earlier display. "Forgive my words from before, Lotus... I... I should be more careful what I say when I'm with others. I am not so skilled as my sister at handling public attention." she said gently. "It's improper to discuss such matters... improper for me to feel that way..." she added, faintly. She said it - but in a whisper, as if she weren't supposed to.

-

Lotus' expression is somewhere between distant and carefully focused; she can see some of the tension in the way Luna holds her wings or doesn't fully relax here and there, but so very much of it is by feel.  Her eyes even shut for a few moments as she concentrates first on the left wing base, then on the right: pushing, rubbing, carefully squeezing at the bunched muscles until she can coax them towards pliancy.

"Mm...?"  Lotus mentally catches up, then quickly shakes her head as her eyes open.  "No, no, please.  You don't have to watch your words with me.  Feeling bad is...  part of life, I think.  Not being sure of yourself or where you stand...  I want to help you work that out, too.  I-if that's okay."  She hastily adds at the last, suddenly worried that Luna may be apologising as a way to allow Lotus to save face for overstepping the bounds of their friendship.

With care she supports the weight of Luna's left wing and extends it, using her right hoof to follow the muscles and tendons along, easing them as she goes.  She doesn't have Aloe's skill at aligning joints and so Lotus doesn't try; wings are so delicate for all their strength and she'd be terrified of doing damage.

-

As Lotus worked her wing, Luna let her, managing to relax her own muscles and yield to Lotus's hooves.  She spread it, and sighed at her soft touch. Lotus could sense, even in her wing, faint tension... but also, it was hardier, stronger than any other wing she'd worked on before. The bones weren't any less delicate, but they felt stronger, individually as well as together. The glossy, midnight feathers were warm and smooth, and for the most part, flawlessly arrayed thanks to the treatment the previous day.

Luna glanced back at Lotus, and stared at her softly. Feeling bad was... part of life? The princess frowned deeply, and Lotus could fee it generating a stressed breath. Luna lifted her head from her rest, and reached her hoof back, touching Lotus's shoulder, and shook her head. "No. It shouldn't be..." She turned quickly back to lie down, and shuffled her hooves about, before settling back in place, so Lotus could return to work.

Once she was settled anew, she spoke quietly. "How do you mean to help me?" She'd settled for a whisper this time - the soft sounds of the stronger rain on the roof above persisted, but her whisper pierced the noise, and the dim lighting. Her heavier breath in, then out, showed in a release of the lighter, surface tension of Luna's brow. Against the cushion, she kept her eyes closed now, resting them. "I welcome it... yet..."

-

Lotus marvels at that strength and beauty as she works, and with the same care she lets the wing settle in the interests of 'rounding the table to work at the other.  She's stopped by the touch on her shoulder and her gaze lifts to meet Luna's.  She isn't sure what to say at first--Lotus agrees with her, definitely, but on the other hoof...  "Perhaps it shouldn't be a large part of life, but...  But nothing good would be quite so sweet without a little bad, would it?"  The question is tentative; Lotus doesn't sound so sure.

She's come around to work gently at Luna's right wing now, and the whispers make her pause.  For a moment Lotus balances on her hind-hooves, listening to the silence as she considers how best to answer.  "However I can, Luna."  A soft smile accompanies the words, and after a moment she resumes the wing-massage.

-

The princess didn't answer, but as Lotus went back to work on her right wing, she mulled her words over? Nothing good would be so sweet without a little bad...?  So many meanings, that could have. As Lotus's hooves gently caressed her wing, she took a slow, deeper breath.

She wasn't sure what to make of what Lotus had said. As Lotus finished with the wing and moved on, she could feel Luna's inner, heavier tension, still tight, still heavy... some of it had relaxed, but just a little, enough that her deep massage might cleanse it away. As she continued tending to the surface tension, Luna settled to rest, closing her eyes, placidly letting Lotus work in peace.

-

In the quiet, Lotus lets her mind drift as she leans into the massage.  Now that the more gentle work is done, Lotus can follow the supple line of Luna's spine from neck to tail to work at as much of the core tension as she can ease away.  Her hooves are improper tools for this work: she bends her forelimbs and uses her elbows instead.  More precise and far more gentle on Luna's coat and skin.

Somewhere in the quiet, Lotus begins to softly hum beneath her breath.  The melody is frequently broken by her breathing and by effort, but it's a pleasant tune with the hallmarks of a lullaby.

-

The soft tone of Lotus's humming lulls the Princess into a doze with ease. She scarcely notes the shift from hooves to elbows, as the delicate work slowly works deeper, into the taught muscles in her back. Luna gives slightly, back arching a little as she stretches, her eyes fluttering, half-open. "Mhmm?" That felt... really good.  As she settled against the cushioning to soak in the attentive touches, Luna couldn't help but almost purr faintly,

The Princess glanced up to her, satisfied with the light massage, a pleasant tingle cascading through her, though, at the same time, Lotus could feel she was only tending to the surface. Treating the symptoms, perhaps. Deeper, she could still feel tension, down at the root of the muscles, in her joints, Luna herself felt the ache of these things, not, masked by the soft glow of Lotus's massage now.

-

When Lotus is finally satisfied that she's managed all she can possibly do without sprouting a horn and working magic, she eases on the massage again until she can switch to a set of brushes to smooth and gloss Luna's dark coat.  She spends significant time there, making sure that the lengthy massage hasn't left even a single hair out of place, before she even thinks of working at Luna's wings, horn, hooves, or mane.

"How is that feeling, Luna...?"  Lotus looks up after a time to ask, still wishing she could fix it now--but wholly committed to putting her all into working the full of it out over as much time as it might take.  "Do you want a break, or anything to drink?"

-

The princess nodded gently, as  the soft brushes teased through her delicate coat. She lifted her head slowly, and opened her eyes, then let out a  heavy sigh, coupled with relaxation through her whole frame. "Amazing, of course..." The princess trailed in a pleased, lilting tone.

Luna stretched a little. "Just a short break. More tea..." The princess slowly got off the table, but put one hoof to the table to hold herself up, as she  settled her weight back on her hooves. She drew her wings in gently, then stretched them wide, smiling.

A yawn overtook her, and she stretched her legs and neck a little, before following Lotus to the snack corner again. "I'm already feeling much better." Feeling much better, yes. But Lotus was only dealing with symptoms, even still. Where had all of this come from? How quickly would it return?

-

Lotus smiles happily at the assessment, and for the moment it's enough to stave off the worry.  "I'm so glad to hear it."  She's a little surprised to see that Luna means to follow her, but she takes it readily in stride and helps the Princess into her robe if she'll accept it.  It's a short task to mix the herbs for the tea and soon she's sweetening it as before once it's steeped, but even that little amount of time is enough to put a little crease of worry in her brow.

"Luna...  If it isn't too much for me to presume...  I would like to set up some sort of regular schedule before you leave tonight?  Whether it's a massage or just a beautification or...  or just being someone to talk to about things that might bother you, I'd like to be there for you."  She settles the gently steaming mug before the Princess, then continues to speak once that's dealt with.  "We can work out a rotating schedule, like you'd mentioned, of you coming here and I visiting you, and Aloe coming when she can to also pamper your sister?"

She's not sure why she's approaching this so oddly; Lotus has heard plenty of stress-fuelled stories while working at the spa.  She's got a good ear for listening, and usually a good shoulder for lifting some of the burden too, but something tells Lotus this is different and she's wary of alienating her new friend by pushing too hard.  "The visits could be anything you like, really.  I'd rather see you as a friend than just as a masseuse."

-

Luna slips into her robe  happily before joining Lotus for the drink. She levitates hers to her once it's done, and sips lightly. Ah...

Luna turned her attention up to Lotus again, as she spoke up about arranging a long-term schedule. The princess took another sip before putting a hoof out to Lotus. "If you want to plan something, we could arrange for that. I would enjoy that. Your massages are wonderful." Luna added. "If you had other things in mind, perhaps that would be good as well. And there is always something at the canterlot theater, have you ever been?"

Luna took a seat back on the massage table, and put a hoof to her cheek thoughtfully. "

-

She feels a bit of relief as Luna so easily agrees, though mention of the theatre gives her a little pause.  "I've never been, no.  I've been to a few productions elsewhere, but mostly little things--the school does a few rather interesting renditions of the classics.  Do you go often?"  Lotus replies with a little giggle; the youths of Ponyville are always amusing on stage.

Accompanying Luna back to the massage table, she'll take the robe and fold it again, her attention fully on the regal mare as it seems as though she's about to say something more.

-

The princess smiled to her companion, and sprawled back onto the bed, floating her drink close, to sip through her straw. "Actually, I've gone fairly often. It's nice to escape notice by letting someone else take the stage." Luna said. "Plus, it's rather fun. The stories can be quite complex. We could do that next time, before the massage?"

-

Lotus readies her beautifying supplies as she listens to Luna, and her expression is one of great interest.  "It sounds wonderful...!  I'd love to, yes.  That really sounds like a wonderful start to a relaxing visit."

Carefully balancing a little pot on a hoof, Lotus switches subjects just a bit.  "Since you had a pretty thorough buffing and polishing of your hooves and horn yesterday I'm only going to do touchups there as needed, but I was going to brush in a light glosser on your wings, then dry and style your mane and tail.  Is there anything else you'd like me to do?"

-

As Lotus went over her plan, Luna nodded delicately. It sounded fine to her. "Unless you have some other treatments in store, that sounds wonderful." The princess wa quiet for a short while, closing her eyes, then spoke up again. "What time is it, bychance? I hope my absence hasn't troubled Rarity or my guards." she added.

-

"Well, the beautification and styling are generally the last steps," Lotus replies in an apologetic tone.  She'd rather Luna stay longer, herself, but Lotus reasons that the Princess likely has other and better things to be doing with her time than just keeping a spa pony like herself company.

"The time?  Oh, it's...  Oh."  Looking up at the clock as she answers, Lotus lets her words trail off as she blinks in surprise.  "It's actually later than I thought it was--I lost track of the time."  She nods to the clock, the hands of which show that roughly two and a half hours have slipped by.  "I hope not, too.  But I suppose if they got worried your guards would have come to check on you, yes?  Or perhaps Miss Rarity has them tied up with her latest line for stallions?"  The last is spoken with a giggle--Lotus can't imagine even Rarity managing to coax the Captain into anything too posh, charmer that she is.  "If you're worried, though, I can put a rush on the final touches?  I promise the quality won't be lacking."

-

Luna laughed, and shook her vhead lightly. "No, no.. You're right... They all know where I am, and it's not as if I have plans this evening aside from rest and relaxation. Please - take all the time you wish, Lotus. I don't want to exhaust you for tomorrow, though." She said gently. The regal mare of night offered a warm smile, up to the spapony. "In fact, I would as soon rest here if your guest room were free, but under the circumstances, best I return to Rarity's Boutique after we're done. But worry not - take as much or little time as you like - I shall enjoy it fully in any case."

-

She nods in understanding, then laughs softly.  "I don't mind if I'm a little tired; I can sleep in tomorrow."  Lotus takes a slow breath as Luna continues, and shyly she speaks in response.  "Well, if you do end up feeling too tired to walk back, you could sleep in my room?  I can share with Aloe; I don't mind."

Lotus carefully sets to work at inspecting Luna's hooves; even the slightest imperfection from yesterday's treatment is gently buffed away before a fresh coat of protective lacquer is applied.

-

The princess nodded slightly. "So long as I am not troubling you, Lotus. I wouldn't want you to give up your room on my account. " She held her hooves out one by one as Lotus attended them, circling her. The regal mare was aglow with serenity, now, and Lotus could feel secure in a job well done as she continued to touch up Luna's last few hooves, and on to her horn.

The surface and its elegant spiral were much as she recalled it. The tip had clearly been used frequently for magic throughout the day, perhaps her steady water deflection spell? As she attended it, though, Lotus could sense a charged tension in Luna's brow, around the base of the horn. The sensitive nerves and conduits to help focus magic, Luna seemed to have a buildup of tension deep into them as well, and oh - the headache it must cause her sometimes?

-

"It's no trouble at all, really.  I'd be glad to have you stay over."  Lotus giggles, busily filing and buffing and retouching Luna's hooves.  She's extra careful with Luna's horn, and in the end a buffing and a thin coat of polish to make sure that it shines radiantly.  Lotus is thrilled by the calm in Luna now, and dedicated to the notion that she'll continue to quash the stress as it rears its head.  And, maybe eventually, she'll even soothe the root issue away.

It's as she's carefully tending to the polish of the horn that her own distraction melts away and she notices the tension in Luna's brow that she'd missed before.  "Hm," Lotus murmurs a thoughtful sound to herself, then sets aside the polish.  Gently she applies a careful, circular pressure with a hoof to Luna's brow in a steady outward motion around the horn.  Sinus pressure points she knows well--no few mares and stallions endure spring sneezes from all the pollen of the area--and Lotus delicately stimulates those as well as she works her way toward Luna's temples.

-

"Then..."  the mare purred softly. "...perhaps I shall accept that offer." Luna whispered delicately, and closed her eyes. As Lotus attended to her horn's care, then turned her hooves to Luna's temples, the mare's brow furred a little as the sensation started to make itself known to her. Heavier, tighter feeling - it was something she felt familiar with. She was used to it.

As Lotus began her slow and firm, gentle circling massage, Luna felt the sensation pressing into her scalp, gently trying to coax the heaviness out of her head. The manual stimulation of those nerves, their tightness, sent a soft spark cascading up Luna's midnight horn, a simple magi-static discharge not uncommon save for how bright it was, so sudden, flashing into the air with enough of a spark to make Luna flinch.

Lotus, had she been a less learned or attentive mare wouldn't have recognized it immediately - Luna had channeled magic beyond her ability - it was common with ambitious unicorns who stretched beyond their experience with the scope of their raw talent. This, though, was something else - her system clogged with latent, untapped energy she'd channeled at some point in the past. Such a heavy buildup was a rare case, and certainly dangerous for a Unicorn - not that  one could always expect an Alicorn's greater potency to work the same way, but there were at least familiarities to Lotus's trained eye and hooves here.

Luna issued a slight groan as the magic jolted out of her horn, then glanced up to Lotus, her eyes widened with a hint of surprise, her horn tingling with the static shock of being jolted so. With a faintly distressed look, Luna lifted her head slightly. "Nhh...  What was that, Lotus? My horn.. tingles, a shock of some sort? It smarts a bit, though...  Not truly painful." she said softly, her trusting eyes looking to the professional for some explanation.

-

Satisfied with that answer, quiet as it is, Lotus resumes her intense concentration upon the new-found stress.  Her hooves pause against Luna's temples as she watches the spark work its way up the Princess' dark horn, her eyes wide as her mind flashes through the possibilities.  "L...  Luna...?  Are you...  Are you alright?"  Lotus stammers, her hooves gently slipping down from Luna's temples to the sides of her face as her gaze shifts to meet the regal mare's.  Concern and anxiety vie for dominance in her expression as she listens to Luna's query.

"I...  I'm so, so very sorry.  I didn't mean to cause you any pain, I...  I sensed a tension and thought I might try to ease it, too, and then...  Luna, have you over-extended...  No, it isn't that--is your magic blocked?"  Incredulity brings her voice to a worried edge at the last and her eyes flick upward to Luna's horn again, then once more to meet the other mare's gaze.  "If that's what it is--if it's a buildup of magic--that could be the source of your strain and your stress...!"  Concern meets hope as Lotus continues, and she offers a warm smile intended to cheer and reassure.  "Are you alright, though?  It didn't hurt you?  I wouldn't ever want to hurt you...!"

-

As Lotus started to panic, Lina could merely watch. The Spa-pony's hooves on her cheeks, Luna stayed still as she looked up at her, sensing Lotus's frantic inner reaction. Her answer comes only once Lotus is done - Luna leaned up, and nudged her cheek to Lotus's in a gentle, friendly gesture, fleeting though it was.

"I can assure you, Lotus - I have endured far worse than a shock to the horn." Pausing and lowering her attention, lying her head back down, Luna processed what Lotus had divulged. Over-extended?  Magic-blocked? Luna seemed to withdraw, after those ideas were presented. Was this a safe thing to do?

Left to think about some of the things she'd done with her magic, Luna seemed to withdraw into herself, a heavy breath heralding the undoing of so much work. she anxiously poked a hoof at the floor, stretching her neck a little with a wistful frown.

"I... I am fine. But perhaps we should move on...?" She ventured, her cheeks faintly darkened in the dim light, hard to see, and as she looked up at Lotus again, her eyes showed a sense of anxious worry. What was Luna afraid of?

-

The nudge is calming and exciting for a number of conflicting reasons, and dimly Lotus reminds herself to give Aloe a shaking when she comes home.  Relief is the next big emotion when Luna starts to reassure her, and Lotus releases her gentle hold on Luna's face.  As she watches Luna seem to pull back into her own thoughts, Lotus lightly strokes at Luna's mane in what she hopes will be a calming fashion.

She sighs softly as she watches much of her hard-fought work banished by renewed tension, but Lotus banishes her own outward signs of worry and instead softly smiles in the hopes that the gentle expression of warmth might be contagious.  "Yes, of course Luna.  I'll start on your mane now?"

-

Lotus's talent was there, and more than that, Luna liked her manner, her gentleness. The touch of her hooves on the Princess's mane lets her close her eyes, and draw back in a deeper breath. And out again, slow and heavier. Luna nodded gently, then, managing a tranquil smile. The tingles in her horn were starting to fade steadily, and as Lotus started to work on unpinning he rmane, Luna put her head to rest, breathing slow and deep.

Calmed and reassured, Luna let the warmth of Lotus's care envelop her again, her wings stretching out widely to either side. She didn't say anything now, but as before, Lotus could sense Luna's tranquility. She was still in need... but she wasn't getting any worse now, thankfully.  Unlike before, there was something that kept the calm from being total, as if what had happened - or perhaps whatever was now on her mind - had her troubled, shaken deeply.

-

Lotus is careful in unpinning the regal mane, and as she runs a brush carefully through the lengths she can't help but to gently stroke Luna's neck with a free hoof as well.  Drying and styling an already elegant mane isn't difficult at all, though she does add a very drops of a very light glossing oil to further enhance the natural shine.

"Do you want me to style it in any particular way?  It's so lovely the way you wear it normally."

-

As Lotus tended to her mane, Luna opened one eye to glance up at her, as her beautiful mane drew out in Lotus's hooves. "I find my usual style is nice... though.. if you have ideas, I'm willing to see what you have in mind." she said gently.

Luna brightened a little. Maybe Lotus would have some ideas for her mane. The regal, flowing style was gorgeous, glorious... but...  surely Lotus had a million other ideas for  a mane like Luna's?

-

"Hm...  We could try a few long curls to frame your face, but...  Honestly... Hm..."  Lotus trails off as she considers.  Finally, after a few moments more of brushing in silence, Lotus bashfully admits: "I think we could try a number of styles, but, truly your natural style is beautiful.  We can always toy with it a bit on a different visit?  It might be fun to spend time seeing a few different styles."

Once Luna's mane is tended, Lotus moves on to unpinning, glossing, and brushing out Luna's tail.  "I'll go through some of the spa's style books and see if I can find a few things you might like."

-

"Alright...  I understand. It's a bit late... Best to work on my mane when we have better light?" she said. "But yes. It sounds excellent for a future visit."

Luna smiled gently, and slowly lifted her head up. "I think... if you don't object, I will take you up on the offer of your room. Once you've seen to my mane." she said softly. "Though, I do admit, you make it sound very exciting - trying out different manestyles." She said, with an optimistic grin.

-

"Mm, better light and more time.  We can try a little bit of everything...!"  Lotus giggles.  Running the wide-bristled brush through Luna's tale, Lotus nods her understanding.  "As I said, you're more than welcome to take my room.  Do you want me to wake you when I get up tomorrow morning, or let you sleep in?"

Aloe is never going to give this up, not once she hears that Lotus invited Luna to sleep in her bed.  Still...  even knowing she's in for some considerable teasing from her twin, Lotus can't help but be happy to be able to make the offer to Luna.  At first it had been such an awesome thing, so breathtaking, to pamper royalty.  It's no less amazing, but she's overjoyed to have made a friend of the exotic Princess.  Someone who, for all her differences, seems so easy to relate to and to want to make happy.

Smiling to herself, Lotus presently finishes the brushing and light styling of Luna's tale with a few last strokes, then settles the brush on the side table with a little self-satisfied nod.  "All done, Luna.  You've soaked in clay, luxuriated in a hot bath, had a lengthy massage and a full brush-down, a touchup to your hooves and horn, and a styling--if it's alright, I'll wait until tomorrow to preen your wings; I know how sleep can sometimes put the feathers out of sorts for some."

-

Luna stretched and slowly took to her hooves as Lotus announced that she was done for now.  Luna felt lighter, happier, and pranced about to Lotus's side, giving her neck another light nudge. "Alright, that's a sound idea, Lotus." She laughed softly, and trotted along to the window, glancing out into the night, and the rain.

She waited, watched the storm outside, for a few minutes, before turning back to Lotus. "As for morning... I'll admit, staying at Rarity's wasn't conducive to sleeping in - Sweetie Belle woke me up bright and early. If I can, I'd like to sleep in. But I don't wish to become a hindrance."

-

Giggling bashfully, Lotus watches the Princess' light steps and smiles brightly at the nudge despite her blush.  "You won't be, I promise you.  Here, I'll give you a quick tour of the house so you won't get lost if you wake up earlier than we do."  She'll offer Luna's custom robe as she speaks, and after that's tended she'll lead the way through the spa towards the household proper.

"Well, I'll do my best to make sure that doesn't happen here--but Aloe likes to sleep in, and Shai Ni is so quiet that you'll probably not even know she's there."

-

The princess settled into her robe happily, and followed Lotus closely, drawing her wings in so she doesn't bump anything as she follows her along to Lotus's room. Striding into the bedroom, the royal mare pauses to look the room over, her horn alighting as she opened the window curtains, allowing a view out to the rainy night, the moon's light making a few clouds light up softly.

Turning back to Lotus, the Princess smiled affectionately, and brushed a hoof over the bed. "You are sure that--" Luna began, then shook her head slightly. "Thank you, Lotus.

-

Along the way Lotus will point out where the bathroom is and also which way to go to find the kitchen if she wants a midnight snack.  She also will gesture to another pair of doors in the same hall as her room:  "That's Aloe's room, and that's where Shai Ni is staying."  Her voice is very soft; if Aloe or Shai had slipped in earlier she doesn't want to wake them if they're already at rest.

Lotus lifts a hoof to discreetly stifle a yawn as she enters the room with Luna; being so near her own bed has helped the weight of the day settle on her like a heavy blanket.  Though she certainly doesn't want to rush off and leave Luna alone, Lotus isn't sure she's going to have enough energy to wash her face and brush her teeth, but it doesn't trouble her.  The day has taken far more out of her than she'd expected, and even though she couldn't get to the heart of the problem and nor could she leave a truly lasting calm to Luna's tension, Lotus knows she's made a good start and a friend.

She smiles as Luna starts to question again, then giggles softly as the regal mare seems to assure herself that, indeed, Lotus is more than sure that she's welcome to the room.  "You're very welcome, Luna."  Lotus steps forward to give Luna a hug, and almost timidly lets her cheek rest against Luna's after a light nuzzle before stepping back again.  "If you need anything at all, please don't mind to wake me; I wouldn't want to be a poor host to such an esteemed guest and friend."

-

Luna returned the Spa-mare's warm nuzzle with one of her own, stretching her wing over Lotus as well, though it was brief. "Of course, Lotus. Thank you."  She said again, then turned with a soft smile to the bed. Her horn lit gently as she turned the sheets down carefully, , and she slid smoothly out of her robe, and into the sheets. She folded the robe up at the same time, and laid it to rest on Lotus's nightstand, whilst she nestled down into the sheets,

-

Lotus stands by for a moment, not really sure what to do with herself as Luna's magic tends to all the basics.  "Good night, Luna.  Rest well."

Retreating to the doorway, Lotus will pause for any answer, then pulls the door almost shut before going about her nightly ablutions before finally aiming to tuck herself away on one side of Aloe's bed.

--> From: Ponyville Business District - The Carousel Boutique

Arriving a bit after Luna, Shai hears Luna and Lotus in the main spa and smiles, deciding to leave the two of them to their business of pampering the princess.  Lotus knows how to do it much better than Shai, and if they need her help, they can just knock on her door.  Quietly and unobtrusively, she makes her way to the spare room she has been given and silently closes the door behind her, then goes about ensuring the new dress she has received from Rarity is properly taken care of and hung in such a manner as to keep it neatly stored and wrinkle-free.  It is not an easy task, to be sure, but Shai has practice with keeping fine clothing in peak presentable condition, and this new dress is not too different from her dresses from her homeland.  At least, in the level of care necessary to store the garment.

With that done, she carefully goes through the small pack of her things she had previously brought inside, fishes out a small bowl and several sticks of lotus flower incense, and sets them aside to give to Twilight in the morning.  With that done, she sets up a different bowl and lights a stick of incense she keeps on hand strictly for this occasion, and gives thanks to her ancestors for another good day, letting them know she will be careful on this 'date' and hopes they will continue to watch over her.

After her prayers, she fetches a small brush, an ink block, a scroll of parchment, and a bit of water, then sets about writing to home with all that had happened this day, including the generosity from Rarity and a request for a few bolts of untreated, undyed silk - the finer the better.  Of course, she is going to include bits in the letter.  And, since it is not being sent off just yet, perhaps a photo of herself in the dress, with the stylistic touches Rarity gave to her mane and tail.  Maybe even a photo of herself with Big Macintosh!

Yes, that would be a wonderful gift for her parents, no matter how the 'date' turns out.

Giving her eyes a little flutter in anticipation, Shai cleans the brush and then leaves everything out to dry before brushing her teeth and then removing her mane and tail ribbons, setting them out on the end table, and curling up for some sleep.  Even with her power nap, she is still tired, and the sounds of happiness, however faint, through the door help lull her to a most wonderful sleep.

End Day Two: Shai Ni

Enter from.. Everfree Forest Thread XD;

Luna was tense. Worse, something... when she'd raise the moon had just felt wrong, and.. erupted, like tension, but worse.. and worse still, was what she'd seen. Luna didn't want anyone else to see it ,a nd she was glad, when Starcrasher had failed to actually look into the clouds  rather than simply wiping them away... She was glad she didn't have to see  it all over again...

Still, she felt worried and without  Starcrasher there to be strong for, she felt a hint of skittish panic, and it came out in her urgent rapping upon the Spa door...

As Luna waited at the spa entrance, the door would soon open and reveal a familiar pale blue mare on the other side.  Lotus seemed surprised to see Luna -- had she been expecting someone else?

"Luna~!  You look like you've been running marathons." after all their talk of getting arrangements set to visit in Canterlot, the Spa Pony wasn't expecting to see the Princess return to their hearth so soon.  She was not unwelcome at all though.  Lotus quickly pulled the door open to let the Alicorn inside.  Aloe was nowhere to be seen and the Spa was actually rather quiet without her boisterous presence.

Luna strode inside when invited, and looked around the quiet place... "Nopony home but you?" she asked curiously, and smiled at her, though it was a bit strained. "I'm glad you're here. I've had a long afternoon and evening... I don't suppose we could move up my next appointment?" she put a hoof to her head with a soft groan. Luna wasn't the type to be dramatic when asking for something, so up she did seem to actually be tensed up. "I.. actually need to talk to you.. about.. this...  and my magic, something happened this evening, too..."

"No, just me... I was with Aloe earlier, but we both wore ourselves out looking for somepony today.  I was tired and came back, but she wanted to go have drinks." the Spa Pony explained her day shortly.  She and her sister had been absolutely aghast at seeing the state Loose Leaf had made of herself and her poor mane... she'd inflict all sorts of ruin upon her appearance if she let that sugar and fruit syrup linger!  Mere water wouldn't be enough!  They'd rushed to go get some supplies from home for an emergency beautification treatment, but by the time they got back, she wasn't at the cafe any longer.

She was honestly rambling though.  Luna was in discomfort and seeing a friend in such a state made her fret.  Even as she spoke she guided Luna along to one of the spa tables so that she could recline and get off her hooves for a while.  She didn't even need to acknowledge the request for attention -- it was simply given without a second thought.  "Are you alright?  If I can do anything to help..."

The fretting Princess naturally followed Lotus, and pulled herself up onto the table. Strange, how  a week ago this was bizarre but interesting to her, and now, she found it like a refuge.  Closing her eyes, Luna exhaled sharply, and stretched her hooves out, fore and aft. "I do hope so, dear Lotus...  Forgive me, unannounced, and in such a state." she felt safer already,though,  and calmer too.  She turned to look over her shoulder at the  mare, biting her lower lip most delicately, her tense wings giving a flick to stretch, and jerking wide with her jumpiness.

The regal pony settled, as Lotus  showed her concern, and Luna settled her head on a cushion, exhaling fully again. Her eyes slipped oepn once more, and she spoke of what had happened. "It happened after I raise dthe moon this evening... A headache, like the one I had earlier, when you were  massaging my head." She said softly. "The one that  produce that spark of magical energy, I mean."  Luna blushed a bit, and kicked one of her legs anxiously behind her.

"I suffered the same headache, and then it jolted again, but it didn't stop. I just felt my magic surge wildly, and it just erupted out of me..." she bit her lip. "It was horrible..." she shook her head. No. She couldn't speak of it.. No pony in Equestria needed to know what terrors she'd...

She paused, realized she'd left a big gap, and cleared her throat. "Nopony was hurt, it was just... shadows, a storm cloud... I..." She was grasping,  and it was perhaps a half-truth. Randomly manifesting a Stormcloud shouldn't unsettle the Princess of Night so easily.