//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: Love's a Rainbow // by Infinite Mewo //------------------------------// Pinkie arrived first, she bounced into Rainbow’s room happily, somehow carrying her heavy-looking blue bag with ease. “Hey girls!” She cheered, plopping her bag in the middle of the floor and seating herself on Rainbow’s new bed. “Pinkie, it is rude to turn up too early,” Rarity instructed, pulling her friend off the mattress and smoothing out the duet she had laid on it. “Hey! If I turn up late, you also tell me off… No fair,” Pinkie scoffed, crossing her arms. “Being late is worst, sweetie,” Rarity huffed, “You must be on time!” “Rarity! Fluttershy is here!” Claire shouted up the stairs, “Thank you mom! Send her up please!,” The fashionista answered, then turned to Pinkie who was attempting to braid the hair of an unwilling Rainbow. “See? Like Fluttershy, she always arrives on time,” Pinkie frowned, then giggled, “Rarity! You are always so serious! Fluttershy is here now!” “Fluttershy?” Rainbow asked, forgetting temporarily about the shy friend she knew the least about. “H-hello? R-Rarity?” “Oh! Fluttershy! Just on time!” Rarity smiled, turning away from Pinkie, “Come, put your belongings here, dear,” She said gesturing towards the foot of the bed where Rainbow’s suitcase was opened, empty. “Th-thanks..” Fluttershy muttered, still not as comfortable with Rainbow as the other five of her friends. “He-hello, Rainbow…” “Hey Fluttershy,” Rainbow greeted, giving a friendly smile and wave. “Rarity said you like animals! Wanna meet Tank?” “T-Tank?” Fluttershy questioned, curiously tucking a strand of her pink hair behind her ear. “Yes darling! Tank is Rainbow’s sweet little tortoise!” Rarity claimed, taking the smooth green dome from the half-land half-water glass aquarium they have set out for Tank. “Oh!” Fluttershy gasped, taking Tank from Rarity’s hands and cuddled the tortoise, instantly taking a liking to the tiny reptile, “You little cutiepie… Are you hungry?” “Ahh…” Rainbow stared, wide-eyed at the friendliness her pet was showing to a complete stranger. “It’s okay Rain! Flutters’ great with animals! It’s normal for that to happen!” Pinkie laughed, taking out a fluffy pink pillow from her bag and hugging it tightly. Soon, the door to Rainbow’s room creaked open again to present Twilight and Applejack, “Hey y’all,” “Hello girls” Greetings were thrown back and forth before Pinkie finally got them all to sit down in the middle of the room. “Okay guys! It’s happen to have made a Pinkie Promise to our Twilight here… To sleep at nine,” Pinkie said, then muttered under her breath, “Party-Pooper,” “So lets get down to business, dears!” Rarity smiled, pulling out a full set of nail polish out of hammerspace. “First of all, azure blue is an absolutely perfect colour for you Rainbow! Butterscotch yellow for Fluttershy, dusky lavender for sweet Twilight, cottoncandy pink for Pinkie… And a nice orange for Applejack here!” “Ahhh… No thanks sugarcube,” Applejack scoffed, “You know I don’t do makeovers,” Rainbow nodded in agreement. Rarity’s expression saddened but lit up again when Twilight curiously picked up a small bottle of the coloured liquid. “See? Twilight wants to! Come on! Please? “ Rarity begged, going big puppy-eyed. “Come on girls… For me?” The girls sighed. “Fine,” They chorused, Giving in to Rarity’s whiny voice. “Hooray!” Rarity cheered, rushing out the room and coming back seconds later with an armful of makeup supplies. “Oh right! I almost forgot,” Rarity said with a blank look on her face, dropping the makeup onto the plush white carpet. “You girls remember the friendship necklaces I made for you..?” “Of course Rarity!” Twilight smiled, pulling out a sparkling lavender gem in the shape of a six-sided star tied onto a silver chain. “Here it is, sugar,” Applejack smiled, holding out a shiny red stone shaped into an apple and tied to a rope-like chain. “H-here..” Fluttershy whispered, running her fingers along a smooth, shimmering pink butterfly-shaped jewel that was tied to her neck via a swirly pale green vine-like chain. “Oh! Oh! Oh! I have mine! Me! Me!” Pinkie cheered, showing everyone her shining blue gem shaped into a balloon, tied to a layered pink chain. “Do you have yours, Rares?” “Absolutely sweetie,” Rarity reassured, picking up a silver choker studded with small jewels, a larger gem was embedded in the middle, a beautiful shimmering blue diamond. The five put on their own necklaces and looked over to Rainbow, she tilted her head confused. “Umm... “ “We need to get you one!” Pinkie yelled, jumping onto Rainbow. “Right, Rainbow ‘ere needs one too,” Applejack agreed. “Of course, I already have it figured out!” Rarity smiled, pulling a glittery golden chain that twisted with a unique pattern, encrusted in the middle was a gleaming white gem shaped into a cloud. “Put it on sweetheart,” Rainbow eyed the accessory wearily, like Applejack, she wasn’t one for jewelry. But Applejack seemed fine with it… “I-it… Symbolises our fr-friendship,” Fluttershy smiled, bringing up her necklace, “Rarity made them by hand,” Rainbow grinned, taking the necklace from Rarity’s hands, then put it on. It didn’t feel uncomfortable, in fact, it was nice and cold against her skin. “Thank you…” The six smiled at each other, fingering and fiddling with their necklaces. “Lets get to it then ladies! Into your nightwear! Lets play some games!” Pinkie cheered, grabbing her bag and rushing out the door for the bathroom, reappearing a second later to ask where it actually was. Rarity facepalmed and pointed to the adjoined bathroom in the room. Pinkie gave a tiny giggle and bounced towards the door. “She will never change,” Sighed Twilight, pulling out her own pajamas. “So I can FINALLY get out of this!” Rainbow celebrated, jumping into the bathroom the second Pinkie came out. She came out a couple minutes later with a oversized sweater shirt that came halfway down her thighs. Rainbow was surprisingly still wearing her necklace, she obviously had no intention to take it off. She walked up to Rarity who was chatting away with Fluttershy. “Here you go Rarity,” Rainbow said, handing over the folded pile of clothes she had borrowed from her midnight-haired friend. “No, no, Rainbow, you keep that! It looks better on you anyway,” Rarity said, giving a dismissal flick of her hand. Rainbow had actually grown fond of the sleek sneaker boots, and was actually quite comfortable in the skorts. But not the top, noooo, that piece of clothing sucks! “Come on guys! Time… For… TRUTH OR DARE!” Pinkie drawled, dramatically throwing her arms up in the air. The girls sat in a circle on the floor, “Who wants to go first?” Twilight asked, “Oh! Oh! Oh! Me! Me! Choose me!” Pinkie cheered, “Alright. Rainbow. Truth. Or. Dare.” “Gimme a dare, Pinkie,” “Ahh… I dare you... “ Pinkie mused, tapping her chin thoughtfully, “I dare you to mustard with orange juice… AND DRINK IT!” Rarity gave a shake of her head, showing her disapproval. Twilight and Fluttershy shared a look of disgust while Applejack nonchalantly directed her gaze to Rainbow, who was smirking confidently. “Lets get to the kitchen then,” Rarity sighed, standing up. The friends followed the fashionista out the door and into the kitchen, which was lit by fluorescent lights. “Hi big sis!” A small squeaky voice greeted, Rarity turned to see a pink haired little girl with stunning green eyes, “Oh, hello Belle,” “What are you doing? Are you hungry?” Rarity asked, approaching her little sister, “No… Just heard some noise, but it was just you,” She smiled, waved to her sister’s friends and left. “Is that enough cream, Pinkie?” Twilight smiled sarcastically, observing Pinkie take a bottle of whipped cream and squirting it into her mouth. Pinkie guiltily put the bottle back, licking her lip. “Where’s the mustard?” She asked in a high angelic voice, blinking her eyes rapidly in an attempt to look innocent. Rarity gave a fluttery laugh and opened the cabinet above the sink, and took out a half empty bottle of honey mustard, then walked to the fridge and took out an unopened bottle of orange juice. “Here you are, Rainbow,” Rainbow looked at the glass cup and the bottles of liquid. She wasn’t the least bit fazed about mixing weird things together and drinking it, she being the curious child she used to be, did it all the time. She poured a generous amount of juice into the cup, then took the mustard and squirted it into the orange juice. Taking a deep breath and looking at Pinkie’s excited face, Rainbow threw back her head and gulped the thick liquid. Choking down the last of the tainted juice, Rainbow slammed the cup onto the counter, “Done!” Rarity raised an eyebrow and slow clapped, “That is certainly something to be proud of,” She said, sarcasm dripped from her tone. Twilight cringed at the sight of Pinkie downing the rest of the bottle of mustard, “Lets go back to Rainbow's bedroom then, and continue this game!” She sighed The girls chorused agreement and headed back up the dark staircase, they sat back down on the floor. “Okay… Rarity, truth or dare?!” Rainbow quizzed, smiling. “Truth, sweetheart,” She replied, flipping the ends of her perfect hair. “Alright… Why, do you hate Blitz?” She asked playfully, lying down onto her stomach. “Ahhh…” Rarity said, opened mouthed, “I-I…” She looked to Twilight for support. “You got to be ‘honest, sugarcube” Applejack sympathised. Rarity took a deep breath and growled “Fine.” “Simply put, Blitz is the most popular boy in school, very few girls don't like him. I used to… I used to like him too, and I had a chance to be with him. But it was then when I found out that he had… Partners, almost every week. At this time, I was naive and didn’t care. That is, until he took me to his room, I didn’t want to do… That. I’m only fifteen! After that, I left him. Yet he pretends that nothing happened,” Rarity scoffed, glaring at Rainbow, “Happy now?” Rainbow stared wide eyed, then looked at the rest of her friends, they obviously heard this story before. “I-I’m sorry Rarity… I didn’t know,” “It’s alright sweetie, I had to tell you sooner or later, “ Rarity said, her glare softened. She looked out the window and saw a dark sky, “It’s late girls, we should sleep, it’s Thursday tomorrow,” Pinkie yawned noisily, “Yeah, I’m tired too!” She quickly unrolled her sleeping bag and slipped inside,”Nighty night girls!” The six exchanged awkward good nights, then Applejack, the one closest to the light switch, turned off the lights. “Good night everyone…” Rainbow whispered.