Changing Diamonds

by ShowShine

Wrinkles

Rarity sat in the spa, sitting patiently in the waiting room. She closed her eyes, listening to the relaxing ambiance that filled the room. A soothing spa day could take her mind off this whole changeling ordeal. She looked at the clock that hung on the wall. It meticulously ticked away. Well, it would be a relaxing day if Applejack bothered to show up.

Rarity huffed, leaning into her hoof. It was rather rude to keep a mare waiting. The front door swung open, and Applejack trotted in. She smiled apologetically, plopping on the couch next to her.

“Sorry, I’m late. One of the pigs got out.” Applejack apologized. Rarity playfully scoffed, putting her hoof up to her forehead.

“You took so long that I have wrinkles!” Rarity gasped. Applejack squinted, leaning closer to Rarity’s face.

“Well, color me pink! You do have wrinkles!” Applejack pointed out in astonishment. Wrinkles? Now, that couldn’t be right. A mare of her stature should never get wrinkles! She should age flawlessly, like a delicate rose.

Rarity looked at her reflection. Sure enough, she had fine creases across her forehead. She gasped in horror, nearly falling from her seat. This couldn’t be! She was meant to be a spry mare! Not some old hag.

Applejack sympathetically pat Rarity’s back.

“Aw, it’s nothing to be ashamed about. Everyone gets older eventually.” Applejack reassured with a sweet smile.

Rarity stifled a gasp. She was smelling Applejack’s love. It smelled like freshly cut fruit, overly sweet. It reminded her of a fresh summer day. The smell made her stomach growl. It made her want to feed. She quickly stood up, waving her hoof to get an employee's attention.

“Yoohoo! We’re ready for our treatment!” Rarity called out in a sing-song voice.

“The usual, Miss Rarity?” Aloe asked.

“Yes, yes, the usual is fine. But may inquire about anything for…” Rarity leaned in close. “Wrinkles?” She said, barely above a whisper.

“Yes, of course!” Aloe nodded. “Right this way.” She gestured for the mares to follow her. Rarity trailed behind her, trying to keep her head high. But it was hard knowing that she was aging so rapidly. She supposed Applejack was right; everyone does age eventually.

“Here you are,” Aloe said, gesturing to two parallel bathtubs of mud.

“Now we’re talking!” Applejack cheered, diving into the mud. It splashed up, causing Rarity to recoil.

“Careful! I’m not ready to go in!” She scolded. Applejack gave Rarity a perplexed look, cocking her head.

“How do you get ready for a mudbath?”

Rarity laughed, throwing her head back.

“How do you get ready for a mudbath? Applejack, you are simply hilarious!” Rarity chuckled. Who wouldn’t know how to get ready for a mudbath? It was practically common knowledge!

Aloe began to wrap seaweed around Rarity. It was smooth across her skin. It was tight, nearly cutting off her circulation.

“Now I’m ready!” Rarity pointed out. Applejack rolled her eyes, leaning back in the mud. Rarity carefully stepped into the bath, feeling it slowly seep through the seaweed.

Aloe gently brushed a cream across her face. It was cold, causing a chill to run up her spine.

“Ooo, this is new.” Rarity gasped in surprise. Aloe smiled, nodding her head.

“This will de-age your skin. No more wrinkles.” Aloe explained. Rarity sighed in relief, closing her eyes. This mask felt nice like it was massaging her face.

“Woo-ee, this is exactly what I needed!” Applejack stretched, sinking deeper into the mud.

“Darling, you work in the mud; how is this any different?” Rarity asked. Applejack shrugged.

“It’s like you said, spa mud is different than ‘dirty farm mud.’” Applejack reminded, mocking her posh tone. Rarity sighed, chuckling to herself. Applejack was right; she had said that.

Rarity felt as if she were floating. After this, she would once again be spry. Who knows? Maybe she would look like a teen again!

She placed cucumbers over her eyes, sighing with relaxation. This day is just what she needed. She didn’t need to think about love or food or changelings. It was just her today.

Rarity’s mind slipped into a peaceful state, much to her relief.

“I will take off the mask now,” Aloe warned. Rarity hummed in response.

Aloe gently pushed her hooves under the face mask, peeling it. It pinched a bit but otherwise felt rather refreshing. Her skin felt smooth as if it was washed under fresh mint.

“Oh my!” Aloe gasped, stepping back. She knocked over a table, the contents clattering off. Aloe eyed Rarity woefully, glancing away.

“Is there an issue, dear?” Rarity asked. Aloe shook her head, turning around.

“I…I will be back.” She muttered, rushing off. Rarity raised an eyebrow.

“What was that about?” She thought aloud.

“What in tarnation is all this ruckus about?” Applejack asked, lifting the cucumber from her eye. “Woahnelly!” She gasped, nearly slipping under. She stared at Rarity with a strained look.

“Are you…feeling alright?” Applejack wearily asked. Rarity beamed.

“Yes, dear, I’m feeling peachy! Why do you ask?” Rarity questioned, batting her eyelashes.

“Well, your…uh…” Applejack stammered over her words. She slowly put the cucumber back over her eye, sinking into the mud once again.

Lotus gasped, catching Rarity’s attention. Aloe stood behind her sister, anxiously nibbling at her hoof. Loutus quickly bowed.

“Miss Rarity, we are so sorry. I-I don’t know how this happened!” She apologized.

“What in Equestria are you talking about?” Rarity asked. Everyone was acting so strange.

Aloe picked up a mirror, her hooves trembling. Rarity stared in horror. Her face was covered in even more wrinkles. She looked as if she had aged 50 years! Rarity shrieked, jumping from her bath.

“What did you do to me?!” She shouted, clutching her face. The twins apologetically bowed again.

“We are so sorry. You and Miss Applejack will get a free massage.” Lotus offered. Rarity sighed. There would be no harm in taking up the offer. They couldn’t make her any worse.

---

Rarity lay on the massage table, humming with relief. Lotus’s hooves were like magic on her back. It was like she was directly massaging her bones.

As relaxed as Rarity was, she couldn’t help but feel a tug at her heart. That treatment absolutely ruined her delicate skin. It could take her months to fix herself. She just felt so…old.

Through her closed eyes, she saw a brief flash of green. Lotus’s once gentle hooves began to feel like forceful jabs.

“Please be more gentle.” Rarity requested in between soft grunts.

“Oh my!” Lotus gasped, jerking her hooves back. Rarity suddenly felt weak, as if she was on the verge of passing out.

Rarity felt brittle as if her bones were severely weakened. She slid off the table, her legs trembling beneath her. Her eyes veered to a mirror. She looked elderly! Her legs were skinny, almost looking sickly.

Rarity screamed, stumbling backward. She looked like she belonged in a home!

“I’m hideous!” Rarity shrieked in pure horror. How did this happen from a massage?

Applejack stood up from her table, staring at Rarity with shock. Rarity could see the disgust written on her friend's face. She stepped back, covering her horrendous new body.

“Don’t look at me-he-heeeee!” She sobbed, bolting from the room. She felt absolutely disgusting.

“Rarity, wait!” Applejack called after her. Rarity ignored her calls, skidding down the hall.

She ran into the bathroom, slamming the door shut. She clicked the lock, pressing her back against the door. Rarity pressed her wrinkly hoof against her chest, feeling her heart pound.

A knock came from the other side.

“Rarity, you doing okay?” Applejack asked. Rarity sniffled, wiping the tears from her eyes.

“Of course, I’m not doing okay! I’m elderly!” She sobbed. Applejack clicked her tongue, presumably leaning against the door.

“It doesn’t matter what you look like. It’s what's on the inside that counts.” Applejack began. “Like your generosity! Heck, you’re the most generous pony I know. In fact-”

Rarity began to tune Applejack out, feeling her stomach churn. As much as she loved Applejack’s affirming words, the smell of her love made her sick.
She delved deeper into the bathroom, ignoring Applejack’s heartwarming speech. Maybe if she blocked it out, she wouldn’t be able to smell her love.

Rarity looked in the mirror once again. Did she get older? She had heavy eye bags that nearly reached her chin.

She leaned into her reflection. What was going on? She stared at her reflection, watching her face begin to warp. Rarity blinked in surprise.

Was she changing? Rarity stared at her saggy face. She ran her hoof across her cheeks. Maybe she could change back; it wouldn’t hurt to try.

All she needed to do was picture herself. She closed her eyes, imagining herself. A beautiful, spry mare. Rarty inspected her face, feeling the sags and wrinkles retracting with a flash of green. She blinked in surprise. It worked?

Rarity put her hoof to her chin. This did all start when she joked about having wrinkles.

“If all it takes is state of mind…” Rarity trailed off. With a flash of green, she was back to her regular self. Rarity gleefully clapped her hooves. She did it; she changed! Her face quickly dropped. She changed.

This changeling situation was getting out of hand. First love smelling, and now this? This might be too hard to hide. Rarity shook her head. No, she’ll be a pony until the end of time! All she needed to do was focus on her form until further notice.

She opened her mouth, staring at her fangs. With a flash of green, they disappeared. There, now Rarity looked like an everyday pony!

She hopped up, grateful for her healthy body. No need to mope around; she had a spa day to finish.

“While I appreciate your sentiments, I no longer need them.” Rarity thanked. Applejack’s eyes lit up.

“Rarity! You’re-”

“Beautiful again? Indeed.” Rarity nodded. “Now, let’s go back to our day. We still have lots to do.”

“You said it!”

Comments

[Starlight Glimmer1]

She should probably talk about this to someone at some point.

[Totally Not A Pony]

11709514
Probably. The question is just to whom.

Though of specifically the Mane Six, I think her initial best bet would probably be Fluttershy. She strikes me as the pony least likely to overreact once she’s gotten over the shock of the reveal itself.

[tsaukpaetra]

Thinking about how Fluttershy can understand animals, they're likely folks told quite the story. Now Applejack had to have noticed something mighty strange. Who's next, Rainbow? After all, an athlete should know something about nutrition, right?