"Sunset? I would like to remind you that nothing good has ever happened to me when I come here."

The dismay in Flash's face was as plain as day, and he looked on rather unhappily at the building which now stood before him; the local spa of Canterlot. Placing his hands into his pockets, he let out a sigh, turning to his girlfriend, who was standing nearby.

"Whatever it is that you called me here for...I doubt I'm going to like it."

Sunset's own expression was soft, full of understanding.

"Flash, I know you're last experience here was...a little awkward. But I really need your help with this one."

The boy looked away from her.

"Okay...what's all this about?"

Sunset's face lit up, albeit only a little, and she took a step closer to him, placing her hand upon his shoulder as she gave the answer he sought.

"Well...you know Rainbow? She's been getting involved in a lot of those call-in radio contests lately. You know, the kinds where you get some big prize if you get picked over other callers?"

Flash nodded, prompting her to continue.

"The good news is, she won. The bad news is that...well...she didn't exactly get the prize she was expecting."

Her boyfriend turned to her, raising an eyebrow in a clear display of curiosity.

"So...what did she win?"

Sighing, Sunset gestured to the nearby building.

"She won...a free trip here."

In spite of his earlier hesitation, Flash couldn't help but chuckle.

"Seriously? Can't imagine Rainbow really getting into that sort of thing."

Sunset returned the laugh.

"Believe me, she was more shocked than you when she heard it. But as you'd probably guess, there's one of those clauses where she has to accept it."

Flash nodded.

"Fine print. Got it."

Clasping her hands together, Sunset looked down at the ground briefly before glancing back up at him.

"I'm afraid it's a bit more complicated than that. You see...the free spa trip has a few...conditions."

Slowly, Flash looked back to her, starting to become just the tiniest bit concerned.

"What kind of conditions?"

Sunset sighed.

"Well...it's not exactly a case of her going in there and just getting all the spa's treatments. It's actually a trip for two. And those two together perform the services on each other."

Her boyfriend seemed taken aback by this.

"What? Just have two friends doing spa stuff on each other? Just like that? That...that sounds a bit...odd."

Sunset looked away briefly, before looking right back at him.

"I should probably mention that...the two in question were expected to be...well...a couple."

Flash paused, taking in her words and mentally mulling them over.

"Unless I've been missing something...I'm pretty sure Rainbow doesn't have a boyfriend or girlfriend to do that with. Or are you about to tell me that there's one she's been keeping secret all this time?"

Sunset giggled to that.

"No. I don't think Rainbow is even capable of keeping something like that a secret."

Flash nodded, smirking at his girlfriend's words.

"Can't argue with that."

However, Sunset's expression soon became serious once more.

"But that's kind of the problem. Rainbow doesn't have a partner, and the girls and I already have plans for today, so we can't help her. And since this deal ends today, she either forfeits, facing whatever penalties that come with it, or..."

She halted, hesitating with her own words for a few moments.

"...or we get her somebody else to go in with her."

The silence that now hung over them both was all-encompassing, and through it all, Flash simply stared at her in a completely blank manner. Then, ever so slowly, his eyes began to widen, and before long, he was looking at her with realisation plastered all over his face.

"...Ah."

Sunset looked away, almost ashamed of what she was now asking of him.

"Flash...I know your last visit here wasn't pleasant for you, and I fully understand if you say no to this. But..."

She looked back to him.

"...you're pretty much the only boy Rainbow felt comfortable having in with her for this. She isn't even remotely as close with any of the others boys at our school. So..."

The former unicorn paused, perhaps unable to even think of what to add to all of that. As for Flash, while he was still clearly taken aback by all of this, he seemed just the tiniest bit more relaxed than he had been mere moments ago. He turned his head, looking upon the spa beside them both, looking deep in thought. After almost a full minute of this silence, he shut his eyes tightly, exhaling deeply.

"...What would I need to do?"

Sunset seemed surprised by this reaction on his part, and while she stumbled for a bit, she soon managed to compose herself once more, clearing her throat before addressing him yet again.

"Well...it must be said that there's a very...specific spa treatment the offer has lined up."

Flash slowly looked back to her, looking almost afraid to ask any further, even though that was exactly what he now did.

"...And that is...?"

Sunset sighed.

"A massage. A...full body massage."

Again, a silence permeated them both, and Flash did his best to stay as calm and collected as possible which, naturally, was not an easy thing to do given the circumstances. He closed his eyes again, thinking matters over, before once more opening his eyes and regarding his girlfriend.

"And this...this would help her?"

Sunset nodded, seeming just as unsure of all this as he was.

"It would get her out of a tight spot, yes. Because it's either this...or she goes in there all alone."

Flash's face softened upon hearing that, and he gave a slight nod of his head. Then, after a few further seconds of silence, he let out an unexpected chuckle.

"You know...I don't know what radio stations Rainbow listens to...but this contest of hers has got to be the most confusing and convoluted mess I've ever heard of."

Sunset laughed in response.

"Funny...that was what she said too."

The two shared this moments of laughter together, which at least helped in lifting some of the discomfort the pair of them had been feeling up until that point. However, the moments didn't last, and soon, Flash was once more looking upon the spa, his expression just as serious and unsure as it had been not so long ago. Afterwards, it became clear to Sunset that there was one concern, above all else, that was occupying his mind.

"And you? You're okay with me doing this? I mean...it is a massage, Sunset. That's gonna involve a lot of...you know...touching."

Sunset smiled, stepping forward and placing her hand upon his cheek.

"I know you're just going to help a friend in there, Flash. And I know you wouldn't try anything beyond just a massage. So relax."

And relax he did, even if it was only by the barest of degrees. He watched in slight surprise as his girlfriend leaned forward planting a tender kiss upon his cheek, before then turning around and making her way further down the street. She turned to look over her shoulder as she left, waving him goodbye as she walked, which the boy willingly returned. In the end however, she was gone from his sight, and he looked upon the nearby door with a look of discomfort upon his face.

"Alright then...here goes."

Stepping forward, he pushed the door open, entering the spa at long last. The place was just as pristine and well-kept as he remembered from his last visit, and even had the same receptionist, Aloe, at the counter. The older woman smiled to him, which the boy returned, just as he started to once more look around. Unfortunately, he didn't have time to really take in the place, as a door on the other side of the room suddenly opened up. There, and to Flash's eternal surprise, was Rainbow Dash. She really was here, in this place. But even that was nothing in comparison to the sight of how she was dressed. Gone were her usual clothes, and instead, she bore only a white pair of slippers and a simple towel, the latter of which was wrapped snuggly around her middle.

"Ahem."

The clearing of her throat led Flash to realise that he'd been staring, and as he nervously scratched the back of his head, he watched as Rainbow folded her arms in an impatient manner, with a slight blush on her cheeks.

"Let's...let's just get this over with," she declared.

Flash nodded, and saw her turn around to head back the way she came. Unfortunately, no sooner had the boy taken two steps to follow her when Aloe cleared her own throat, gaining Flash's attention.

"I'm sorry, Sir, but you'll be needing this."

Reaching down to something below the desk, the woman pulled out a similar-looking towel to the one Rainbow had been wearing, which she promptly handed to Flash. He accepted it, though seemed confused at first as to why he'd been offered the thing. Aloe must have been aware of this confusion, as she then chose that moment to explain things.

"It's your...well...uniform. For the shared treatment with your lady friend."

A blush crept onto his cheeks, which then faded as he stared at the towel in his hands. After a few more moments, he sighed, slumping his shoulders in a gesture of defeat.

"Of...of course it is."