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Organised by
RogerDodger
Word limit
400–750
As Lambs
“We really should do this more often, Twilight. I regret how little we see of one another these days.”
Twilight Sparkle smiled. “Oh yes, Princess - I mean, Celestia! I love Ponyville, but I would gladly come and visit more than once every two or three moons. Canterlot still feels like home. At least you were able to say yes, this time.”
“Well, I have had good reason. I did not realize how stressed I was until I began my visits here.” As Celestia spoke, Twilight glanced back at the marquee of the Sublime Fusion Spa. Faint aroma of lavender and sandalwood saturated the reception area, helping to calm nerves even before pampering began.
“What brought you here the first time, Celestia?” she wondered. Cake and sweets she understood, but she’d never much pictured Celestia in the same light as Rarity.
“I’ve enjoyed similar establishments before, but it was my assistant who was adamant I find time to relax. Her good-natured badgering finally wore at me and I agreed as much to shush her as from anticipation. I am glad I did. You’ll understand, Twilight. They do things like no other. It is unique, and wonderful. I hope Luna will agree to come soon enough, but -”
“I suspect she’s like Rainbow Dash. Rainbow hates anypony touching her hooves and can barely sit still long enough to get her mane done.”
Celestia laughed. “Much as that, yes. She’ll say yes one of these days.” The far door opened, a lithe sea-green mare beckoning them to accompany her. The two were soon settled beside one another, splayed out for seaweed wraps as hooves began massaging knots in back and wings. The room was full of hazy incense, and soon, she felt as butter before the masseuse.
“You know, Celestia,” she murmured, “Luna told me she’s concerned about you.”
“Did she, now?” Celestia replied, and turned her head. Eyes met, Celestia’s calm gaze to Twilight’s own. “Why is that?”
“She’s worried because you have shrouded your dreams these last weeks,” Twilight replied. “I didn’t even know you could do that!” Of all Celestia could have done, Twilight did not expect laughter.
“Do you know why I hide my dreams, Twilight? Have you asked when is her birthday? I am planning a surprise for her, and it would hardly do to slip-up and ruin the occasion because my subconscious gave it away.”
Twilight’s ‘oh’ of understanding led to renewed silence between the pair. Slow, relaxed breathing, the clink of bottles of oil opened to rub into and renew their coats, brushes running through their manes.
“Twilight, you must - “ Celestia’s voice, hasty and strained, broke the silence. When Twilight opened her eyes and looked, her mentor was relaxed and smiling again. “Excuse me. Jasmine here hit a sensitive spot.” The masseuse chuckled, as Celestia continued, “As I was saying, you mustn’t let my sister get to you. She can be melodramatic over the littlest things. I love Luna, but…”
“I know, Princess. I’ll keep your secret.” Twilight shut her eyes for cucumber slices, and her happy nicker affirmed her utter contentment. She felt some boneless slug with how relaxed she was. A few minutes later, something slimy and wet slapped against the underside of her ear, but Twilight thought nothing of it.
“I can’t believe we get to go before they even open, Twilight! Oh, this is just wonderful! Aloe and Lotus are unhappy, I know, and I promised them I will only go once, but I just couldn’t resist when you gave me the opportunity!”
“Of course, Rarity. I did help the Sublime Fusion staff in clearing a hurdle or two with the mayor, and they wished to express their thanks. It’s truly a life-changing place, and soon they’ll be everywhere from Los Pegasus to the Crystal Empire. Cadance already said yes.”
Twilight Sparkle’s lips formed the words, yet they were not her own. Her body obeyed its new puppeteer, while Twilight cried out soundlessly, trapped in the void of her own mind. Don’t listen, Rarity! It’s not me! Please! Yet her body only smiled, beckoned Rarity along, and Twilight impotently begged for somepony, anypony to realize the truth. She was a prisoner of sensation, hearing, seeing, yet not acting.
Rarity wouldn’t notice. She trusted Twilight, as Twilight had trusted until it was too late to matter. And as the door opened, as Twilight was walked inside, the unseen invaders drew one pony closer to completing their silent conquest.
Twilight Sparkle smiled. “Oh yes, Princess - I mean, Celestia! I love Ponyville, but I would gladly come and visit more than once every two or three moons. Canterlot still feels like home. At least you were able to say yes, this time.”
“Well, I have had good reason. I did not realize how stressed I was until I began my visits here.” As Celestia spoke, Twilight glanced back at the marquee of the Sublime Fusion Spa. Faint aroma of lavender and sandalwood saturated the reception area, helping to calm nerves even before pampering began.
“What brought you here the first time, Celestia?” she wondered. Cake and sweets she understood, but she’d never much pictured Celestia in the same light as Rarity.
“I’ve enjoyed similar establishments before, but it was my assistant who was adamant I find time to relax. Her good-natured badgering finally wore at me and I agreed as much to shush her as from anticipation. I am glad I did. You’ll understand, Twilight. They do things like no other. It is unique, and wonderful. I hope Luna will agree to come soon enough, but -”
“I suspect she’s like Rainbow Dash. Rainbow hates anypony touching her hooves and can barely sit still long enough to get her mane done.”
Celestia laughed. “Much as that, yes. She’ll say yes one of these days.” The far door opened, a lithe sea-green mare beckoning them to accompany her. The two were soon settled beside one another, splayed out for seaweed wraps as hooves began massaging knots in back and wings. The room was full of hazy incense, and soon, she felt as butter before the masseuse.
“You know, Celestia,” she murmured, “Luna told me she’s concerned about you.”
“Did she, now?” Celestia replied, and turned her head. Eyes met, Celestia’s calm gaze to Twilight’s own. “Why is that?”
“She’s worried because you have shrouded your dreams these last weeks,” Twilight replied. “I didn’t even know you could do that!” Of all Celestia could have done, Twilight did not expect laughter.
“Do you know why I hide my dreams, Twilight? Have you asked when is her birthday? I am planning a surprise for her, and it would hardly do to slip-up and ruin the occasion because my subconscious gave it away.”
Twilight’s ‘oh’ of understanding led to renewed silence between the pair. Slow, relaxed breathing, the clink of bottles of oil opened to rub into and renew their coats, brushes running through their manes.
“Twilight, you must - “ Celestia’s voice, hasty and strained, broke the silence. When Twilight opened her eyes and looked, her mentor was relaxed and smiling again. “Excuse me. Jasmine here hit a sensitive spot.” The masseuse chuckled, as Celestia continued, “As I was saying, you mustn’t let my sister get to you. She can be melodramatic over the littlest things. I love Luna, but…”
“I know, Princess. I’ll keep your secret.” Twilight shut her eyes for cucumber slices, and her happy nicker affirmed her utter contentment. She felt some boneless slug with how relaxed she was. A few minutes later, something slimy and wet slapped against the underside of her ear, but Twilight thought nothing of it.
“I can’t believe we get to go before they even open, Twilight! Oh, this is just wonderful! Aloe and Lotus are unhappy, I know, and I promised them I will only go once, but I just couldn’t resist when you gave me the opportunity!”
“Of course, Rarity. I did help the Sublime Fusion staff in clearing a hurdle or two with the mayor, and they wished to express their thanks. It’s truly a life-changing place, and soon they’ll be everywhere from Los Pegasus to the Crystal Empire. Cadance already said yes.”
Twilight Sparkle’s lips formed the words, yet they were not her own. Her body obeyed its new puppeteer, while Twilight cried out soundlessly, trapped in the void of her own mind. Don’t listen, Rarity! It’s not me! Please! Yet her body only smiled, beckoned Rarity along, and Twilight impotently begged for somepony, anypony to realize the truth. She was a prisoner of sensation, hearing, seeing, yet not acting.
Rarity wouldn’t notice. She trusted Twilight, as Twilight had trusted until it was too late to matter. And as the door opened, as Twilight was walked inside, the unseen invaders drew one pony closer to completing their silent conquest.