Normally, like any other school Crystal Prep Academy was an empty and dark place at night. But under the brilliant light of the moon of this Friday, the place was full of light and life. Students marched towards the brightly illuminated gym. A small number wore their school uniforms, some came in casual clothes, but the majority was dressed in colourful dresses and tuxedos.
Among the various teenagers making their way to the gym was a group of five girls. As they arrived in front of the open doors, they stopped for a moment to take a look inside. The sports hall had always been a sparkly place, but with the decorations the place was a sight to behold. School banners and garlands in the colours of Crystal Prep were hanging from the walls and the ceiling, alongside numerous streamers. On one side a large banquet had been put up, carrying food and drinks of various kinds. Opposite to the door a large stage was set up, with a DJ playing some light dance tunes. The majority of the field was the dance floor, with the spot lights shining right on it. Additionally to the bright, glaring head lights, a few smaller lights with switching colours had been installed, giving the whole place a slight disco-flair.
A large part of the school’s student body had come. Some of them talked with each other and sometimes even laughed, a few people were dancing rather tame dances, but most of them were by themselves. Still, although a certain strictness and stiffness was still lying over everybody’s heads, for Crystal Prep the atmosphere was relatively casual.
Wearing a content and somewhat proud smile, Sunny looked around the opulently decorated hall. The classy girl was wearing a violet dress with a short multi-layered skirt and one single holder, leaving her left shoulder bare. Long yellow stockings covered her legs, while her high-heels were in the same colour as her dress, maybe a little darker, each sporting a yellow paper flower on the tip. Instead of her usual hair clip she was wearing a crystalline version of it, slightly transparent with a subtle sparkle. Her naturally smooth hair was even more well-made than usual, looking like one could slip on it. Taking in a deep breath of the fresh and cool night air, Sunny let out a dreamy sigh. “Ah, isn’t this the kind of night that makes you want to break out into a musical number, singing about all your hopes and expectations?”
With the look of a dog that was about to bite Indigo glared at her. “Chirp one note and I’m gonna throw up on your shoes” she warned her. The athlete was wearing a dress similar to the one she had shown to Sour in the store. The dark fabric was lying smoothly on her body, glittering in several shades of blue. Long black boots covered half her sheens, while she wore fingerless blue gloves on her hands. Instead of her goggles she wore a blue hairband, as well as dark blue crystal earrings in the shape of lightning. While still combed back in its usual way her hair was lying a little more loosely than usual, flowing over her head to her neck. “Gotta say though, we did a good job on this place” she remarked with a smirk.
Sour was the first to step inside the gym. The cerised-haired girl wore a dress fitting her hair-colour while also featuring some highlights in brighter hues of red and white. A large ribbon dominated the backside of her dress, several smaller ones scattered over the rest of it. Stripped in alternating colors her bell-skirt looked like a whirl of whipped cream and cherry ice. Two pink buttons shaped like hearts as well as a pair of bright puffy shoulder pads rounded out the sugary-sweet appearance. Cherry-red slippers and white gloves with frills at the elbow accompanied her outfit, alongside two-coloured socks going up to her thighs. A hat reminiscent of a pastry chef with a cherry symbol on it sat on her head, tilted a little to the left, while her hair was tied to a pair of braids. ”It’s really amazing what we’ve done to the place! And by that I mean it’s amazing Lemon didn’t mess it up.”
“I gave her little room to mess up” Sugarcoat replied as she entered. She was clad in the dress Sunny had picked for her, alongside a brooch looking the hairpin she usually wore. Matching her outfit, she wore a pair of blue high-heels, glistening like her dress, especially at the tip of the heels. Though not glittering, her glasses did shine in a bight silver, and while subtle her make-up did underline her complexion quite well. Her signature pigtails were curled slightly, with the tips being died in a lavender hue.
The green-haired punk snorted, but if anything, she was looking more tired than mad. Surprisingly, the dress she wore was rather feminine and conservative, a dark pink one with spaghetti-holders with the skirt reaching to her thighs. The straps of her green high-heel-boots went up to her knees. Though not completely smooth her hair wasn’t as messy as usual, a dark pink hair band holding it in place. Around her neck her headphones were hanging, connected to the MP3-player on the belt around her hip. Shining in a crystalline yellow the belt buckle was shaped like a lemon slice. “I just hope I never have to do something like that again” she mumbled. When her gaze wandered over the decorated hall though, she couldn’t help but smile. “Though it is kind of nice, seeing it all like that…”
“You have every reason to be proud of yourselves.”
Startled by the familiar voice the girls turned around. A woman in a simple, yet very pretty dress was standing behind them. The fabric was featuring different shades of pink and violet intervening with each other. Decent make-up and jewelry complimented her outfit, being not too striking, but emphasizing her features while hiding some slight signs of age. Her long smooth hair was falling down both sides of her pink face. She smiled with so much kindness at them, the girls were a little flustered.
“D-Dean Cadence” Sunny said, smiling back as she digested the shock. “It’s really nice to see you!”
“What are you doing here?” Lemon asked, scratching her head. “You got some work to do?”
Sunny rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Teachers and parents are here to supervise everything. Also, it’s not like they are not allowed to attend the ball…”
Lemon glared at her. “It’s a party!”
The dean giggled. Watching her, Sour noticed that alongside some laughter lines, there were hints of rings under her eyes, covered by her make-up. Nevertheless, her face radiated the same kind of compassion and friendliness as usual as she looked each of them into their eyes. “I just wanted to tell you how very proud I am – not just for making this all possible. I want to thank you for everything you have done to spread the spirit of friendship at this school. Your hard work and dedication have already made Crystal Prep a better place.” She made a slight bow in front of them. “As dean of Crystal Prep, let me say thank you, girls.”
Bright blushes crept on the cheeks of the Shadowbolts. While a little embarrassed, they were all smiling happily at the dean, clearly moved by her words of gratitude.
“N-no problem, Miss Cadence!”
“You are far too kind.”
“Yeah, it was no biggie.”
“Didn’t even break a sweat!”
“Actually, it was a lot of work… but we gladly did it.”
A chuckle slipped through the dean’s lips. “Okay girls, I’ll be with the rest of the teachers and parents. If you need something, you’ll find me with them near the banquet. Have fun!”
With these word, the teacher left the quintet of friends. Sour looked after her for a moment. Near the banquet, there were a few chairs positioned, with several teachers and a few parents sitting on them. Among them was the headmaster of the school, the infamously strict Principal Cinch. Dean Cadence sat down right next to her, greeting her with a smile. But the only response she seemed to get from the principal was a scoff.
“Okay girls, you heard the lady!” Lemon declared. “Let’s go and have some fun!”
“Yeah!” the others shouted in excitement – except for Sour, who seemed somewhat distracted.
“What’s wrong?” Sunny asked as she noticed she had not joined their cheer.
Sour was still looking at Dean Cadence. A finger on her chin, she turned to her friends. “Didn’t Dean Cadence look a little… tired?” she asked, worry ringing in her voice.
Everyone sat their gaze on the dean. “Now that you mention it, yeah” Indigo said, rubbing her chin. “She did seem a little burned out.”
After watching her a while, Lemon shrugged. “Eh, maybe she is tired because she just woke up?”
Everyone rolled their eyes.
“It’s not even 8pm yet, Lemon” Sunny told her. “Why should she have just gotten up?”
“Do you think teachers immediately go to bed after school and don’t wake up before the next day?” Indigo chuckled. “Like they are some sort of robots that do nothing but teach?”
“Though with the way some of our teachers act, it’s actually possible they are machines” Sugarcoat said.
After looking at Dean Cadence some more, Sour shook her head. “Never mind – she is probably fine. Let’s just enjoy the night.”
A wide grin formed on Lemon’s face. “Now you’re talking! Let’s get ROCKIN!”
As she raised her fist enthusiastically into the air, she accidentally bumped with her hip against a small snack table. Seeing it tilt and almost tumble, Lemon quickly grabbed it. Once it was at rest again, she sighed.
“Phew, that was close.” She wiped with her arm over her forehead. “Okay, now let’s really get rockin’!” Excited, she stormed off towards the dance floor.
“I don’t intend to rock tonight” Sugarcoat said dryly. “I’m just gonna enjoy myself and have a calm, nice evening.” With that, the white-haired girl also got on her way, to a less populated part of the hall.
Clearing her throat, Sunny pointed into the direction she had went to. “I, um… gonna do that too” she said, hushing after their friend. Sour and Indigo watched her confused, but shrugged it off.
“Alright, Sour, you ready for this?” Indigo asked, a cocky grin on her face.
Sour smiled back. “Anytime Indy! This is gonna be the best night ever - cause I’m gonna kick your butt!”
Side by side, the two girls looked over the sports hall. “Okay, here’s the deal” Indigo said, hands on her hips. “Any guy who is here on his own is game. Whoever gets the most dances until midnight has won.”
Sour looked at the various students. “And what do we do if there are barely any guys who came without a date?”
Indigo laughed. “This is Crystal Prep – it’d be a miracle already if anyone besides us came with their friends.”
Sour shrugged. “Fair point.”
Taking a step forward Indigo clenched her fist. “So, shall we do this fairy princess?”
A sweet smile on her lips, Sour nodded. “Absolutely - I’ll show you the charms of a pure, innocent girl♥” She cracked her knuckles. “Now let’s go break some hearts!”