Chapter 2 - The Starlight I Relax With
Trixie couldn't help but notice how noticeably stressed Starlight looked during her magic sessions with her or Twilight. Sure, she was a hundred times better than her at magic, as she made it look so easy, but Starlight also occasionally used really powerful spells, which obviously drained her energy effortlessly.
So, Trixie decided to do something special for Starlight, and set a private appointment for the both of them at the Ponyville Spa…the only problem was asking Starlight if she wanted to go; she didn't want to catch her at a bad or busy time, so she had to be careful…she also really didn't want the others to find out their "date."
"Starlight?! Starlight, are you in he-oh!" Trixie called out throughout Twilight's castle, but she caught herself when she walked into the map room, and found the said Princess of Friendship and her dragon sitting at their respective thrones, "T-Twilight?"
"Oh, hey Trixie! What're you doing here?" Twilight greeted with a friendly smile and wave.
"And good luck finding Starlight. She left with Princess Celestia for a meeting with Thorax in the Changeling Kingdom this morning," Spike informed flatly.
"What?!" Trixie gasped, "Why?"
"Princess Celestia, Starlight and Thorax needed to discuss terms of peace between the Changelings and Ponies, and being one of the heroes of both species, the princess thought it would be efficient if Starlight attended the meaning, too," Twilight explained.
"No, she can't be all the way out there! Not today!" Trixie exclaimed and suddenly galloped out of the room, leaving Twilight and Spike to shrug at each other in confusion.
Meanwhile, Trixie literally ran all the way across town to get to Sugar Cube Corner, in hopes a certain pink Earth Pony would be the first thing she sees when she walked through the door.
"Pinkie Pie, I need your help!" To Trixie's luck, Pinkie was at the front counter once more.
"Hi again, Trix! What cha need?" Pinkie asked with a bright smile.
"First of all, don't call me that," Trixie threatened with a growl, but then she panicked again and slammed her hooves on the counter, "And second, I need the fastest route to the Changeling Kingdom!"
"The Changeling Kingdom? Why?"
"Because Starlight's there, and I really need to get her back to Ponyville before sunset."
"Huh, ok…but nopony's built any train tracks to the Changeling Kingdom yet."
"Oh, please?! You're Pinkie Pie, the master of being anywhere at any time! You always have something up your sleeve."
Pinkie stared quietly as the blue Unicorn huddled her head between her hooves and stared up and her with desperate eyes. This triggered the cogs in the pink Earth Pony's to start turning, making her start to conjure an idea.
"Hmmm…" Pinkie hummed while rubbing a hoof on her chin, and then she smiled again, "Actually, I bet I do have something!"
"Yes, thank you, anything!" Trixie laughed hysterically and danced away from the counter.
"No problem, Trixie. Just wait there while I go get Rainbow Dash."
"Rainbow Dash?"
"Yup! Hope you're not afraid of heights!"
Before Trixie knew it, she was being flown through the sky on the back of Rainbow Dash, her arms wrapped tightly around the rainbow Pegasus' neck to the point of nearly choking her. But Rainbow was too strong and stubborn to admit the strain on her breathing pipe.
"You doin' alright back there, Trix?" Rainbow called over the wind.
"Why does everypony call me that?! My name is NOT Trix!" Trixie exclaimed angrily.
Luckily, Rainbow Dash was too much of a expert and (usually) cautious flier, and Trixie was never in any danger, despite a few barrel rolls and flips to show off and have fun. And before long, the Pegasus and the Unicorn arrived at the Changeling Kingdom, and Rainbow Dash didn't have anything better to do, so she went with Trixie into the castle that was still under reconstruction.
"Starlight? Starlight?!" Trixie called out, her voice ominously echoing off of the walls and throughout the various-sized tunnels.
"What's the big deal, anyway? Why do you need ta find Starlight so bad?" Rainbow finally asked out of curiosity.
"I-I…set up an appointment for us at the Ponyville spa, but it's only available until sunset," Trixie reluctantly explained, but she knew that if she showed any signs of reluctance, Rainbow would get suspicious.
"That's it? Not much of an emergency," Rainbow muttered under her breath, but Trixie wasn't amused when she still heard her.
"Yes, it is. Do you have any idea how much I paid for that private appointment? Too much, Skittles. Too much to go to waste, at least."
"Touché."
"Trixie?" a familiar voice came, but Trixie immediately knew it wasn't Starlight's. It was King Thorax's.
"Thorax, can you tell me where Starlight is?" Trixie asked quickly.
"Sure. She should be in the throne room. I'm on my way there now; I'll take you there," Thorax replied politely, and Trixie didn't hesitate to follow him.
"Right…ok…I'll just see myself out," Rainbow sighed and turned around, trying to remember her way through the maze-like tunnels.
Meanwhile, Thorax easily memorized his way through the broken castle, and he soon lead Trixie to the throne room, where they quickly caught sight of Princess Celestia and Starlight talking with a small group of Changelings.
"Starlight! Thank Celestia!" Trixie cheered and quickly trotted up to the purple Unicorn.
"How many expressions am I?" Princess Celestia chuckled.
"You'd be surprised," Starlight told the tall princess with a smirk, and then she averted her attention to her friend, "What're you doing here, Trixie?"
"I…" Trixie began, but then paused when she remembered the importance of the spa appointment, "Actually, it's a surprise."
"A surprise? Really? You didn't have ta get me anything," Starlight sheepishly protested, blushing a little at the thought of getting a gift out of nowhere.
"Oh, but I did and I have. So, when can we leave? Your surprise is all the way in Ponyville, after."
"I can't leave right now. Princess Celestia and I still need to have our meeting with Thorax and the other Changelings."
"What?! But we only have until sunset until your surprise expires!"
"Don't worry, the meeting won't take that long. We'll have plenty of time to get back to Ponyville in time for…whatever it is you have planned."
"Promise?"
"I promise." Trixie didn't realize she had been staring into Starlight's eyes for so long, but she ignored the awkwardness and saw the truth in her best friend's eyes.
The blue Unicorn mare then smiled and nodded in agreement.
"Why don't you join us, Miss Lulamoon? You were quite a big help to saving Equestria as well, and I'm sure Starlight wouldn't mind the company," Princess Celestia kindly suggested.
"Oh, come on! Why wasn't I invited?!" a voice echoed throughout the catacombs, and Discord suddenly appeared after a bright white flash.
"Discord?! Were you following me?!" Trixie snapped at the Draconequus.
"Oh, of course not! Why would you think I would even do such a rude thing?" Discord denied dramatically, placing his lion paw on his forehead like he were really offended, "No, as soon as I caught word of the meeting—and being a wearer of an Equestria Pink of Courage as well—I thought I would need to come alone. But I was rather hurt to find that was not invited, Celestia."
"My apologies, Discord. You're right, you have just as much right to be here as us," Princess Celestia agreed with a respectful bow, making Discord grin like a dork, "Now, shall we gather the rest of the Changelings and get started?"
The majority of the meeting consisted of Princess Celestia and Thorax discussing the new relations and peace between the Changeling Kingdom and the rest of Equestria. Being their reformed king, Thorax didn't hesitate to come to terms with Princess Celestia.
But surprisingly, Starlight and Discord were not needed as much as they anticipated; only usually spouting a few polite yeses and nos. They weren't the only one there just sitting in silence as the two rulers talked on, for Trixie nearly fell asleep numerous times.
What I would give ta relax and fall asleep at the angel-like hooves of the spa right now… Trixie pondered groggily, her eyes drooping shut once more.
"You're not going to actually fall asleep during a very important peace meeting—are you?" a charming voice whispered, and Trixie recognized it instantly.
"Be quiet, Discord," Trixie hissed quietly, careful not to interrupt Princess Celestia and Thorax's conversation.
"I do not think I should, for you are on the verge of going to dreamland, yes? I mean, look at you—you look like you really need a day at the spa."
Trixie quickly glanced at the Draconequus in shock, "W-what are you talking about?"
"What? Those weren't private tickets to the Ponyville spa I saw in your top drawer?"
"What?! You were snooping in my wagon?!" Trixie was becoming more and more infuriated with Discord, but she still managed to keep her voice low, even low enough for Starlight not to notice while she was sitting right next to her. Then again, she was also paying full attention to Thorax and Celestia's conversation.
"Yes, but fret not. I only saw the tickets, nothing else. I certainly didn't infiltrate your private diary or anything." Discord may have been reformed, but the snarky tone in his voice and the cunning look in his eyes told Trixie otherwise.
"You had better listen and listen good, you noodle dragon thing. Stop putting your nose in my business because I have nothing to hide," Trixie whispered angrily, her attitude taking Discord by just the slightest surprise, but he still maintained a curious smirk.
"Fine, fine. I'll stop sticking my nose where it doesn't belong—even though it's the funnest thing I have to do these days, unable to turn clouds into cotton candy and all," Discord sighed in defeat and slouched, placing his head in his lion paw.
About another half hour later, the two rulers came to their last terms of agreements between their kingdoms, finally allowing the meeting to come to an end.
And after not longer having to sit and only talk to one specific Changeling, Princess Celestia took the time to get to talk to and know some of the other Changelings, leaving Starlight, Trixie and Discord alone as they exited the castle.
"Finally! I thought those two would never stop talking!" Trixie complained with a huff, "At least we'll have time to get back to Ponyville for your surprise." Starlight blushed, still comprehending getting a random gift.
"Wait…" Trixie began with fear, "How are we gonna get back? Rainbow left and there's no train here yet either!"
As if on cue, Discord suddenly cleared his throat in a hurt way, "Have you forgotten that the former God of Chaos is standing right here?"
"No, I haven't," Trixie replied grimly, but then she sighed and rolled her eyes, "But could you teleport us to Ponyville?"
"Could I teleport you two to Ponyville, what?" Discord repeated, leaning down and cupping an ear with his eagle claw. Trixie soon figured out what he wanted to hear, and she growled in annoyance.
"Could you teleport us to Ponyville—please?"
"That's better! And of course I will, given you asked so nicely." The Draconequus grinned once more and rubbed the top of Trixie's head, messing up her main. But he snapped his claws and teleported her and Starlight just before she could scold him.
In a white flash, the two Unicorns found themselves in the previously mentioned small town of Ponyville, and Trixie gasped when she noticed that the spa was just down the street.
"Quick, blindfold yourself!"
"What? Blindfold? Why-?"
"Just do it!" Starlight rolled her eyes and trusted her friend enough to use her magic and summon a blindfold, tying is behind her head to keep it tightly over her eyes. And just to make sure she was truly visually impaired, Trixie quickly waved a hoof in front of Starlight, smiling brightly when she got no response from her.
The blue Unicorn then grabbed one of Starlight's hooves, carefully leading her down the road with no trouble of getting to the spa. And before long, she lead her inside and pushed the door open, the familiar sound of the little bell hitting Starlight's ears, as well as the well-known scent of shampoo hitting her nose.
"Is this the spa?" Starlight asked, but Trixie removed her blindfold just as she finished her sentence.
"Surprise!" Trixie cheered.
"What's all this?" Starlight chuckled.
"Well, I've noticed how stressed you looked lately, and I couldn't just let my best friend blow her top. So, I set a special appointment just for the two of us to enjoy together. Sounds fun, right?"
Starlight stared at her best friend with wide eyes for a moment before finally smiling sheepishly, "Aww, Trix, you're too nice to me."
Trixie was very close to correcting her, as almost everyone else has called her that irritating nickname today, but she caught herself when she figured she would let it slide for her best friend.
"Are you two here for the private appointment for two?" Lotus Blossom asked politely, she and her twin sister Aloe darting out to the lobby to greet them.
"That's us," Trixie quickly informed with a smile.
"Thank you," Starlight added politely.
And soon, being the fastest serving ponies (next to Pinkie Pie), the twins quickly had Starlight and Trixie dressed in comfortable white robes, their manes wrapped up in towels, and they were both lying flat on their bellies on a message table, letting one twin slowly yet thoroughly message their backs.
But when Trixie heard a satisfied moan from Starlight, she couldn't help but look at her in curiosity. She was thankful Starlight was half asleep, as she felt her cheeks burning.
Trixie wanted so bad to ask her if she liked her surprise, as she never complained to hear a thank you, but she could tell Starlight needed this just as much as she did, even after the distressful day she went through herself.
Seems like they both really needed a day at the spa, huh? To be honest, spas aren't really my thing-_-
But at least they're enjoying it.
Until the next chapter, I'm TRikiD, bye-bye!