…five feet apart cuz they’re not gay! (they are.)
 
They take weekly spa breaks, just to hang out and be girly. All six come from different backgrounds, and each have their own most dear values, but through it all they love to be pampered as they deserve, and so it quickly became the right way to lure all of them together at least once a week to hang out. Berry gets there first, slipping into the bubbling waters, her gown strewn aside as she wets her soft pink fur in the depths. She’s large, so she takes up a fair bit of space, but she curls in her haunches to keep to as small a spot as possible. Resting her fore-hooves on the sides of the tub, she leans her head back into a towel she’d curled behind her into a makeshift pillow, sighing happily. She’s been hard at work at her own business in the middle of Ponyville town centre, and now she’s ready to relax!  
She hears the soft chatter of the spa ponies, Vera and Blossom, cousins and children to the twins of her mothers’ day, and there’s a small clattering of hooves as Apple Tango joins her in the room, seemingly dwarfed by her large towel robe. Her pegasus friend shucks the cowl of white fluff from around her small frame before clambering up the steps to slip into the water herself, humming happily as the soft waves she’s created laps all the way up to her lower lip. She keeps her eyes shut a moment as she appreciates the way her muscles stop aching, before golden flashes reappear in Berry’s vision. She grins up at the large draft-horse sized pegasus pony, stretching back up so her head is above water level now it’s settling.  
“So, what time are the other girls gonna get here?” She asks, the softest southern twang laced into her rough voice, something unexpected to those who don’t know the small pony. She seems soft, until she speaks, and those who make assumptions are often left dumbstruck. Berry shrugs, her long mane twirling around her shoulders and clinging to anything that rises above surface level.  
“No clue, babygirl. Frosty pulled an all nighter, as far as I remember, and Middy probably got caught up in re-shelving books with her highness.” Berry smiles, softly, thinking of their studious friend and how much she takes after one of her mothers. Practically the double of her, were it not for the shock of curls her other mother had bestowed. “I think Gala’s getting some more fabric from Davenport before she stops by, so it shouldn’t be long and … well, Celestia knows where Sparky is.” She finishes. She knocks her glasses up off her eyes, their rose-tinted frames having become fogged in the heat to a point where she’s blinded with them on. As in on queue, the faux-Trottingham melody of Gala Dress’ voice rings through the room as she sashays into view, her own custom made robe hanging languidly off her slim shoulders. Her soft orange mane is, as per usual, immaculately styled and she uses her delicate green magic to undo the pins holding it together as she, too, slips into the water. She levitates each one, perhaps 20 in total, over to a small table and shakes her mane free.  
“Ahh!” Gala exclaims, leaning back much in the same way Berry had upon entering the water, kicking her thin legs up as she shakes any stresses out. Her display, while perhaps disruptive, manages to come across as beautiful all the same. She sits up once she’s satisfied and turns to her friends. “You know! I’m sure Davenport takes me for some silly schoolfilly. His prices had gone up by 10% and I know the economic climate has warranted no changes in such a thing! A complete rip-off, I do declare it!” She huffs, though there’s no real malice to it. He’s a small-town business owner fighting against big city manufacturers, and she knows that better than anybody. No, Gala just likes to gossip.  
Tango’s about to reply something snarky to her half-sister when Midnight Snack finally enters the scene, devoid of robe and with what appears to be more scarves than usual. Her glasses are askew, and her mane looks unbrushed - something Gala Dress will likely take care of later. Directly behind her is Frosty Beats, sauntering in like she isn’t 10 minutes late to their agreed meeting time. Figuring that Frosty’s adventure is likely to be the less confusing one, the bathing group turn to her first.  
“Late again, baby?” Berry asks, a thick eyebrow raised. Frosty shrugs, giving some offhanded excuse about how she had just woken up because of the sick party she’d played last night, flopping into the water and making a splash, water hitting the tiles all around and causing her other friends to yell in shock and disgust. Gala shrieks, shaking her now soaked head as she chastises Frosty for reckless behaviour. “Now look at the mess you’ve made!” She yells, spluttering and pulling her mane from in front of her eyes. Frosty laughs in response, sidling up in front of Gala and resting in-between her arms. Gala relents, resting her chin on Frosty’s head as she turns to Midnight, now slipping into the water herself. She’s clearly distracted, because she’s forgotten to take one her scarves off, which once again falls to Gala to fix, with a soft pull of her magic. There’s four questioning looks on the librarian as she settles into water, humming happily. She doesn’t notice for a moment, but they remain in the same position.  
“What?” She asks at last, finally adjusting her glasses to the correct position.  
“Uh… what’s with the winter-wear, boo? It’s summer.” Frosty says from between Gala’s forelegs, tucked in happily. Midnight turns a stark shade of pink when she sees one scarf on the floor and another in a green membrane courtesy of Gala, laughing nervously.  
“I guess I just got caught up in my book stuff I didn’t bother to check if I’d already put a scarf on.” She explains. It’s offhanded, a little nonsensical and ultimately not that helpful to the group, but it’s textbook Midnight. The five of them sit and make small-talk, chatting idly as they wait for Sparky to finally join them. She’s scatterbrained, so they don’t mind that she’s taking so long, because she’s probably gotten distracted by any number of butterflies, flowers or ‘really cool rocks!’ on the way. It’s maybe half an hour of talking about whatever interests them - the farm, in Tango’s case, Gala’s plans for visiting her mama’s boutique in Canterlot, and Frosty’s amazing all-nighters. Berry’s investing in some new staff in her smoothie shack, and Midnight’s … Midnight. She lives for her library. Finally, the door slams open and a small cream earth pony bursts through, her eyes lit up in what can only be described as life-altering energy as she slides along the tiles, stopping just in front of the hot tub before leaping in, not too dissimilar to how Frosty entered. She taps her hooves on the bottom excitedly, splashing Berry and Midnight in the process, whinnying as she tries to get the words out. Eventually, Berry reaches a wing over which, almost magically, calms her down and lets her breathe.  
“Chill it, baby-doll. What’s got you buzzing like a beehive?”  
Spark turns to the group, her voice filled with unadulterated, almost child-like joy.  
“Girls! I’m going to learn magic and I’m going to get my cutie mark!”
 
and we’re off! my first story piece for my next generation AU - which I’m either naming the sparkverse or the barkverse. got any preference? let me know!