It was the class' annual Hearts and Hooves Day party and the foals were opening their boxes of cards. At least some were, while others were admiring Raspberry's new cutie mark.
"I'm so proud of you, sis!" Blueberry said, embracing her sister.
"You're not mad that I got my cutie mark before you girls, are you?" Raspberry asked.
"Of course not!" Cherry chimed. "I mean it would've been nice for us to all get cutie marks together but we all know you're the best writer in class, maybe even Ponyville!"
"And you were always reading those romance novels and writing poems for every pony each holiday," Blueberry said.
Raspberry beamed. "Thanks, girls."
In the back of the room, Prism was finishing reading Gemstone's cards aloud.
"These colts said quite a few nice things about you, Gem," Prism said. "Just look at Dunkin's." She held up a basketball shaped card. "You've got me like a slam dunk. He must really like you to be making a basketball metaphor, Gem."
"I suppose," Gemstone said with a sigh. "But I rather like the card you made." She held up a heart-shaped rainbow-colored card with a painted picture of herself and Prism holding hooves. "You really do paint beautifully."
"And I like the bracelet you made me," Prism said, showing off the rainbow-beaded bracelet on her hoof. "Tops the one you made last year."
Gemstone grinned. "I thought I'd personalize it this year instead of using generic Hearts and Hooves Day colors."
"Hey, Prism."
The fillies looked up to see Kicks standing over him, his face a beet red. Prism gave him a polite smile while Gemstone narrowed her gaze.
"Did you," he said, circling his hoof in the floor, "like my card?"
"Oh yeah," Prism said, getting out his card.
It was a red heart-shaped card with a picture of a penguin on it. The message read: To Penguin, my awesome new friend.
"Better than the one you gave me last year," Prism said.
"Really?" Kicks said, wondering exactly which card she meant.
"Yeah, cuz this was given as a friend, not as an enemy."
"Right," he said, clearing his throat. "Friends. That's what we are now. Cool."
"Although I hardly think continuing to use that cruel nickname," Gemstone grumbled, folding her hooves, "which refers to Prism's inability to fly, about which she is highly sensitive, is something a friend would do."
"I don't really mind, Gem," Prism said. "He's called me that for so long, right now it's more like a playful nickname than a hurtful one. Besides," she looked at him with a blush, "I'm kind of used to it."
Kicks smiled as he backed away. "Well, glad you liked the card. I'm gonna go congratulate Raspberry on her cutie m—AH!"
He shrieked as he tripped over his desk. Quickly catching himself, he stood upright. He chuckled awkwardly before turning around and running.
Prism snickered. "He's so much more goofier now that he's stopped being a bully."
"That's not the word I'd use," Gemstone muttered under her breath.
Prism sighed. "I know you still don't trust him after all those times he's picked on us, Gem, but he's really not that bad."
The unicorn huffed. "A leopard cannot change his spots so easily."
"Why not? You changed. When we first met, you were real snooty, but now you're one of the coolest ponies I know."
Gemstone blushed. "Thank you."
"Hi, Gem!" Cherry piped, walking up to her desk. "Thanks for the bracelet!" She showed off the bracelet with a swan charm on her hoof. "It matches the necklace you gave me!"
"Oh, yes," Gemstone said, turning her attention abruptly to her. "And I liked your card. The little swans you drew were darling."
"Thanks," Cherry said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I mean I don't draw as good as Prism here who's the best artist in the class but I think I did a pretty good job although Blueberry thought they were turkeys because they were so fat and…"
She placed her hoof over her mouth and ran.
"That was weird," Prism said.
"Yes," Gemstone said, blinking in bewilderment. "I'm not sure why, but Cherry's been acting…odd. And I mean more than usual."
The pegasus shrugged. "Probably excited about her sister's cutie mark."
"Is she having a cute-ceañera?"
"Knowing her parents, they're probably gonna combine it with their annual Hearts and Hooves Day party the same way they combined my mom's birthday and moving to Ponyville anniversary."
"Speaking of which," Gemstone said, shifting in her seat, "are you attending tonight?"
"Oh, sure. I never miss a Pie party."
"And," the unicorn said, twirling her mane on her hoof, "are you going…with any pony in particular?"
"I thought we'd just all be hanging out together as a group. You know, you, me and the other Crusaders. Especially now that we're celebrating Raspberry's cutie mark."
"Right," Gemstone said, clearing her throat. "Of course."
"Alright, my little ponies!" Mrs. Cheerilee called. "Who wants to play Pin the Tail on the Pony?"
While the majority of the foals flocked to the game setup on the wall, Raspberry noticed Kicks sitting glumly in the far corner of the room.
"Hey, sis, you coming?" Blueberry asked, holding up a fake blue tail.
"Err, yeah," Raspberry said. "I'll catch up. I've just got a little something in my hoof."
Her sister shrugged and hopped over to the game. When she was sure she wasn't looking, Raspberry went over to the sad pegasus colt in the corner.
"You okay, dude?" Raspberry asked, kneeling down to his level.
Kicks huffed. "What's it to you?"
She shrugged. "I don't know. You just look a bit…down."
"Well, I am sitting."
"Uh-huh," Raspberry said, glancing over at Prism and Gemstone conversing with each other at their desks. "This wouldn't have to do with the fact that it's Hearts and Hooves Day and you really want Prism to be your super special some pony, would it?"
Kicks blushed fiercely and opened his mouth to protest.
"Don't try denying it!" she exclaimed, holding up her hoof. "Or did you forget you'd already spilled the beans with me when we were working on that presentation?"
Kicks sighed in defeat. "She doesn't hate me anymore, that much I know, and I like how we're friends and not picking on each other, but…"
Raspberry crossed her hooves knowingly. "You want more."
He nodded. "But she doesn't like me. Not in the way I want her to."
"How do you know that?"
"She told me! At Whinny Land!"
"But that was a whole month ago! Maybe her feelings have changed."
He shook his head. "No. I said I'd back off until she's ready."
"You keep doing that, buddy, and you're gonna be waiting for her the rest of your life." She sat down beside him. "Listen. I learned my lesson when it comes to meddling in ponies' romantic lives without their permission, but," she said, batting her eyes, "if you asked me nicely…"
He looked at her incredulously. "You really think you can set me up with Prism?"
"Why not?" she said, nudging him in the side. "It's Hearts and Hooves Day. Plus, since I got my cutie mark, I've been in a good mood."
He glanced at her cutie mark. "You do seem to know your lovey-dovey stuff. And you are one of the two fillies in this class to get a boyfriend before middle school."
"Only to be topped by Sweet Stuff," Raspberry said, looking over at the purple filly who was blindfolded as her boyfriend Fox Trot spun her around. "So what do you say?"
"I don't know," Kicks said, narrowing his eyes suspiciously. "Last time I made a deal with one of you Pies, I nearly got in trouble for beating up your boyfriend."
"Yeah, good point. But I'm not blue-mailing you into beating up my boyfriend. I'm helping you get with your one true love." She put her hoof around him. "And what better time to win her over than the day of love?"
Kicks lifted his head and gazed at Prism, who was laughing with her unicorn friend. Then he glanced over at Raspberry's wide and expectant smile. After a few moments, he sighed in surrender.
"What've I got to lose?"
Meanwhile, while waiting in line for the game, Cherry was staring wistfully at Gemstone as she talked with Prism. Hearing the sound of her laugh made Cherry smile.
"Hey, Blueberry?" she said, turning to her sister, who was waiting in line in front of her. "Could you…?"
Blueberry replied without turning around. "Help you concoct a cockamamie scheme to get Gem to like you, like you instead of just like you and possibly become your super special some pony because it's Hearts and Hooves Day and which makes it the ideal romantic setting?"
Cherry blinked. "Um, yeah."
Blueberry shrugged. "Yeah, I'm down for that."
That afternoon, Raspberry entered Carousel Boutique with a very nervous Kicks in tow.
"Raspberry, darling!" Rarity said, looking up from the dress dummy she'd been sewing on. "I just heard the news!" She raced up to the filly and looked down at her flank. "Oh, sweetie! That cutie mark matches your coat perfectly! I assume you're here looking for a cute-ceañera gown? Luckily for you, I have plenty of emergency gown designs for occasions such as this!"
"Sounds great, Aunt Rarity!" Raspberry exclaimed. "Though my friend Kicks here needs a little something for tonight too." She put her hoof around him. "See, he's got this crush on some pony in our class…"
Rarity squealed, already taking measurements. "Say no more! I have just the thing!"
The unicorn zipped off and Kicks gulped. "I'm not so sure about this…"
"Trust me," Raspberry said, patting her on the back. "This'll work. I don't know what it is with you guys in suits, but it makes us girls go crazy! Once Prism sees you in a suit, she won't see you as a colt anymore, but a full-grown stallion!"
Kicks blinked. "But…wouldn't that be weird if I'm a full-grown stallion and she's still a filly?"
She smacked herself in the forehead. "This is gonna be harder than I thought."
Rarity returned with a small tuxedo and a simple red dress. "I can make some modifications, but I want to check your sizes first. Why don't you two go try these on?"
The tuxedo and dress fell into Kicks' and Raspberry's hooves and the two foals rushed to the dressing rooms in the back. Just then, the bell above the door jingled again and Blueberry and Cherry bounced in.
"Good afternoon, you two," Rarity greeted. "What a coincidence! Your sister was just…"
"Cherry needs an emergency wooing gown, stat!" Blueberry exclaimed.
Rarity blinked at the abrupt request. "I beg your pardon?"
"Cherry, crush, needs to impress." Blueberry pointed to the unicorn. "Kapeesh?"
Rarity shook her head and grinned understandingly. "Yes, of course. Wait one moment, Cherry, I have just the gown in mind!"
As Rarity trotted away, Cherry whispered to her sister, "You sure we should be asking help from the mother of the object of my affections?"
"Not if you keep your crush anonymous," Blueberry replied. "And you know how Gemstone appreciates some pony who makes an effort to look their best. And who knows her taste better than her mother?"
On her way to the sewing room an hour later, Rarity passed by her daughter's ajar bedroom door. She paused and went back to peer inside. She found Gemstone at her vanity, her mane and tail rolled up messily into curlers as she slopped on lipstick. Her eyes were heavy with green eyeshadow and mascara, her cheeks caked in rouge.
"What in the world?" Rarity said, coming into the room. "What's all this, darling?"
Gemstone jumped and spun around. "Mummy! I was just…"
"Is that my makeup kit?" her mother asked, pointing to the clutter of lipsticks and mascara tubes on the vanity.
"I, um," Gemstone said, biting her red lip, "didn't think you would mind. I just…wanted to borrow it for the party tonight."
Rarity raised an eyebrow. "You've never wanted to borrow my makeup before."
"I know, but…" The filly hung her head. "It's Hearts and Hooves Day and…I want tonight to be special, because I…well, I want to look my best because…"
Rarity smiled knowingly. "Here, let me."
Using her magic, she levitated a face wipe to clean the makeup off her daughter's face. Then she gently took the curlers out of her pretty blue mane and tail.
"It helps to comb your mane out into at least four sections before putting the curlers in," Rarity said, lifting up a comb with her magic to run through her daughter's mane, "the same goes for the tail."
Gemstone sat still as her mother tenderly combed her mane and tail. She winced as Rarity tugged on each section so she could roll the curlers in.
"The important thing is not to brush your hair after you release the curlers," Rarity said. "It will ruin your fresh curls."
"No brushing," Gemstone said with a small nod. "Got it."
Once she was finished with the curls, Rarity placed her hooves on her daughter's shoulders and looked at their reflection in the mirror.
"You know," she said proudly, "you really don't need that much makeup, darling. You're a beautiful young filly."
Gemstone gazed at herself and sighed. "But am I beautiful enough?"
"Here's a secret, sweetie," Rarity said in a whisper. "Makeup is not intended to make you beautiful. It is meant to highlight the aspects of your beauty that are already there. For instance," she said, levitating a brush of pink blush, "your pretty face."
Gemstone giggled as the brush lightly touched her cheeks, giving them a soft pink glow.
"And your gorgeous eyes," Rarity said, getting eyeshadow. "They're as blue as sapphires, and should be accented accordingly."
The filly closed her eyes as her mother traced the brush along her eyelids. When she opened them, she saw that the blue eyeshadow was very light, but her eyes miraculously seemed brighter!
"Now for the mascara?!" she asked excitedly.
"Err," Rarity said, biting her lip, "perhaps you should wait until you're a little older for mascara."
"What about lipstick?"
Rarity shook her head. "Why fix what isn't broken?"
She playfully touched her daughter's lips, making her laugh.
"So…what's his name?" Rarity said, levitating a brush for her daughter's fur.
"What?" Gemstone said, stiffening.
"Oh, come now. I know you like dressing up, but you've never made this much of an effort before. Who are you trying to impress?"
Gemstone's face became pinker. "W-Well…there is some pony I've, um…fancied for quite some time now."
"I see," Rarity said, grinning further. "Is it that sweet little gentlecolt who plays basketball? I saw you dancing with him last Hearts and Hooves Day."
"N-No," Gemstone said, lowering her head. "This is…some pony else." She looked back at her reflection. "Do you think this will be enough?"
"Of course, darling," Rarity said, putting down the brush. "Beauty aside, you are the kindest, sweetest, most passionate little filly I know, and no matter how you look, this secret crush of yours is going to adore you!"
She tickled her tummy, making the filly giggle.
"Although," Rarity said with a wink, levitating her sketchbook into view, "it never hurts to have a stunning ensemble on hoof."
"You didn't have to fly me to the party," Prism told her sister while riding on her back through Ponyville. "You could've just dropped me on the ground and I would've walked the rest of the way."
"Maybe I just wanted an excuse to hang out with my favorite little sister," Lightning Dash said.
Prism narrowed her eyes. "Seriously, why are you doing this?"
Lightning sighed. "Okay, you've got me. I had to do something today. Thunder Dash is out with Apple Blossom, all my other friends have their sweethearts, and Aunt Scootaloo is playing with the CMC at a wedding somewhere. At least if I take you to this party, I won't be alone on Hearts and Hooves Day."
"You don't have a date?" the filly asked in surprise.
She shook her head.
"Didn't you have a date last Hearts and Hooves Day?"
"Yup, but it was a blind date," Lightning said with a groan. "The dude and I had nothing in common. I don't know what it is with stallions, but none of them seem to do it for me."
"Maybe colts aren't your thing," Prism said as they approached the Party Palace.
Lightning Dash laughed as she landed at the entrance. "Maybe colts aren't my…" She stopped, her expression becoming thoughtful. "Huh."
"Don't feel too bad," Prism said, sliding off her back. "I don't have a date either."
"Really?" Lightning said, cocking her head. "Not even that Kicks kid who's always picking on you?"
"What?" the filly said, blushing hard. "Who…who said anything about…?"
"Oh come on," the older mare said, rolling her eyes. "It's obvious he likes you. Every pony knows that when a foal picks on another foal, it's because they like 'em. They pretend to hate 'em so no pony knows they like 'em."
Blinking, Prism tapped her chin. "When you put it that way, it almost sounds…abusive."
Lightning shrugged. "Only if they never grow out of it. Besides, you always hit him back, don't you?"
"Not lately," Prism said, folding her hooves behind her back. "I mean we've kind of been on a friendly truce, so we haven't been mean to each other for a while. But I don't know if we're ready for anything like a date. We are ten, after all."
"What about your friends Raspberry and Lemon Drop?" Lightning asked. "They're you're age and they've been dating for months."
"Maybe they're ready, but I know I'm not."
The teenager smiled. "Well then, here's to us single ladies."
Prism giggled as her sister nudged her playfully.
"We better get in there," Lightning said, tilting her head towards the Party Palace. "You're gonna wanna congratulate your friend on her cutie mark."
"Right," Prism said, rushing inside.
Lightning was about to follow her when she heard a familiar voice.
"You're not nervous, are you, bro?"
She turned to see a white unicorn mare her age with red, white and blue hair and red eyes. Her cutie mark was a squirt of toothpaste that matched her striped mane. Walking at her side was Crest, a unicorn colt from Prism's class.
"Maybe a little," Crest said, looking at the ground. "She didn't say anything about the dental hygiene kit I put in her box."
"News flash, little bro," the mare said with a glinting smile. "Not every pony's into dental hygiene like us. Maybe if you were interested in what she likes, she'll be more interested in you."
"I…guess I could try that." He smiled as he rushed inside the building. "Thanks, Aqua."
"Aquafresh?" Lightning Dash said.
The mare looked up and gasped. "Lightning! Oh my gosh! How long has it been?"
Lightning shrugged. "A while. I haven't seen much of you since we graduated from elementary school."
"I've been busy," Aquafresh said, digging her hoof at the ground, "helping my mom at the dental clinic."
Lightning smirked. "You were always going on and on about dental hygiene."
The unicorn giggled. "So what are you doing here?"
"Just dropping off my little sister. It's one of her best friend's cute-ceañera."
"And I was dropping off my little brother." She chuckled. "It's his crush's sister's cute-ceañera."
"Which one? Blueberry or Cherry?"
"Blueberry."
"Oh, good," Lightning said, sighing in relief. "He probably has a better chance then." She leaned forward to whisper. "Between you and me, I don't think Cherry's into colts."
"Wow," Aquafresh said with a laugh. "That certainly would be a problem." She held up her hooves defensively. "Not that I'm against that sort of thing! It would just ruin his chances!"
"Oh no, I get it. I'm not against that sort of thing either."
"You aren't?" She blushed. "Well, I suppose…that's good, I guess."
There was a lull in their conversation and they stood at the door awkwardly.
"You going in or," Lightning said, pointing to the door, "do you have other plans?"
Aquafresh shook her head. "Mom's out with Dad. I'm pretty much alone tonight. Pretty pathetic, right?"
"Not really. I'm alone tonight too."
"Really?" the unicorn said in surprise.
"Really."
Aquafresh looked at her thoughtfully. "Err…you know, since we're both alone, we could…maybe be alone…together?" She winced. "That sounded stupid. I mean that we should…"
Smirking, Lightning Dash opened the door with a bow. "After you."
The unicorn giggled as she stepped inside.
The Party Palace was decorated in paper hearts and pony cherubs. The pink disco ball above shone pink specs of light all over, dancing across the party guests. DJ Pon-3 was at the turntable, mixing romantic violin music with dubstep.
In the center of the room, Raspberry was crowded by ponies congratulating her. She wore a velvet red dress with a puffed out skirt just short enough to expose her flank so she could show off her cutie mark.
"I'm really happy for you, Raspberry," Prism said. "Though…does this mean you won't be crusading with us anymore?"
"Oh, we can still hang out," Raspberry said, "even though I won't be aiming to get my cutie mark now that I know what it is."
"Maybe we just won't be going to meetings as much," Lemon Drop said.
"Huh?" Raspberry and Prism said, turning to him in confusion.
"I mean," the colt said, blushing as he rubbed the back of his neck, "I just thought…since both of us have our cutie marks…we could have more time to…" He looked at his girlfriend nervously. "…do stuff…together…the two of us?"
Raspberry looked away shyly, and Prism couldn't help but smile as she glanced between the two of them. "Hey, if you two wanna skip out on Crusader meetings for some alone time, that's fine with me. In fact, why don't you two start now by dancing together?"
Lemon Drop and Raspberry blushed, the latter giggling as she held out her hoof. The colt gulped as he slowly took it it. As soon as they made contact, Raspberry pulled him onto the dancefloor. Prism sighed dreamily as she watched them.
"Gee, Prism," Blueberry said, walking up to the pegasus. "I don't think I've ever seen you this starry-eyed."
"Hmm?" Prism said, turning to her. "Oh, I was just…thinking about how happy Raspberry looks having her cutie mark and everything and…" She blinked when she finally noticed Cherry standing next to her sister. "What's with the getup, Cherry?"
Cherry looked down at the dress Rarity had picked out for her. It was made of white with mid-length sleeves, accented with lace trimming and a red ribbon tied around her waist. Around her neck was the swan necklace Gemstone had given her months ago, its matching bracelet on her hoof.
"What, this old thing?" Cherry asked, waving her hoof. "I just thought I'd dress up a bit. You know, something simple and not too flashy so it doesn't outshine my sister on her special day." She put her hoof to her head and one on her hip as she pretended to pose for a camera. "But still looks dang good."
Prism narrowed her eyes. "What's his name?"
"What?" Cherry squeaked as sweat began trickling down her forehead. "Whose n-name? Who said anything about impressing a special some pony? I know I didn't!"
With an eye roll, Prism said, "I'm not totally dense when it comes to crushes, you know. So who is he?"
Before Cherry could utter a word, Blueberry plugged her hoof into her sister's mouth. "I can assure you, Prism, that Cherry did not dress up for any colt whatsoever."
Cherry nodded rapidly, making Blueberry's hoof shake up and down.
"Fine," Prism said with a groan. "Don't tell me." Her expression became thoughtful as she gazed down at her hooves. "Though I can understand why you're hesitant to tell me. After all, I haven't been completely honest with you about—"
"Cherry, look!" Blueberry shouted suddenly, pointing to the door.
Cherry turned her head to the door, as did Prism. Quite a few heads turned, in fact, to the latest party guest.
Several tiny blue curls framed the unicorn filly's face like a doll, with five larger locks separated and curled out at the top. Her white face held a fresh tinge of rosiness, and her sapphire blue eyes were highlighted with light blue eyeshadow, which became especially apparent every time she blinked. Her red dress looked like something out of a tango movie sequence, for its long transparent sleeves had a lacelike design, and the hem was ruffled, angled up so that half of one back leg was exposed. The filly smiled in the direction of Cherry, Blueberry and Prism as she flipped one of her larger curls.
"Is that…Gemstone?" Lemon Drop asked.
Raspberry looked to the doorway and stopped dancing, her eyes widening.
"Whoa," Prism said in amazement.
"Whoa is right," Blueberry said with a nod.
Cherry, meanwhile, had her mouth wide open as her eyes focused on the radiant unicorn filly. Sweet Celestia, she thought as her knees started buckling, it's like something out of my many dancing with Gemstone dreams slash fantasies!
"Hello, girls," Gemstone said as she approached the fillies.
"Look at you, Gem!" Blueberry exclaimed, gesturing to her ensemble.
"Do you like it?" Gemstone asked, doing a turn.
"It's awesome!" Prism said in admiration. "You look ten years older!"
Color rose to the unicorn's cheeks. "Thank you, Prism."
"We love it!" Blueberry said, nudging her sister. "Don't we, Cherry?"
"Uh…uh…" Cherry choked on her words.
"But why the fancy outfit and makeup?" Prism asked.
"Oh," Gemstone said, smoothing out her skirt, "I felt like dressing for the occasion."
"Hey, just like Cherry!" Blueberry said, slapping her sister on the back.
"Oh my, Cherry!" Gemstone exclaimed, looking the red filly up and down. "You look simply divine! Mother always says red and white go well together. Almost reminds me of when we dressed in those white leotards for our swan ballet." She gasped. "Oh, and you're wearing the swan necklace I made you!"
Cherry's hoof moved to her swan charm, but she made no other movement as her unblinking eyes remained locked on the unicorn.
"It's her favorite necklace!" Blueberry said. "And she loves the bracelet that goes with it! Isn't that right, Cherry?" She waited for her sister to say something, but frowned when she was met with silence. "Cherry?"
Cherry then fell backward into her sister's hooves, her eyes still wide open.
"Cherry!" Prism exclaimed.
"Oh dear!" Gemstone said, putting her hoof to her mouth. "Whatever is the matter with her?"
Blueberry chuckled nervously. "Sugar shock. Too much candy!" She started dragging her semi-conscious sister away. "She'll be fine! I'll just take her to the punch bowl and pour some punch on her! Oomph!"
She cried out as she lost her grip on her sister.
"Here, let me help you," Prism said, rushing to grab one of Cherry's forelegs.
Gemstone watched with a half-lidded gaze as Prism and Blueberry dragged Cherry over to the snack table.
"Love the outfit, Gem!" said a young, female country voice.
Gemstone turned around. "Oh, Cinnamon Roll! How have you been? I have not really seen much of you this past year."
Cinnamon Roll shrugged. "Been busy helpin' my folks on the farm. Haven't really made time for socialization."
"Yes," the unicorn said with a nod. "I suppose we wouldn't see much of you. You are three years older than us, after all."
"Yup," Cinnamon Roll said, a twinge of annoyance in her voice. She looked at Gemstone curiously. "I know you're Aunt Rarity's kid and all, but I don't reckon ever seein' ya done up like this, except for maybe at the Grand Gallopin' Gala and Aunt Twilight's weddin'. And is that blush on yerr cheeks," she said with a smirk, "or are ya that flustered about some pony?"
Gemstone's cheeks suddenly became pinker. She put her hoof to one, as if trying to hide it.
"W-Well," she said with a small smile, "there…is some pony I'd like to…I mean it would be nice if…"
She glanced upward and Cinnamon Roll followed her gaze to the snack table where Blueberry and Prism were splashing punch on Cherry's face. Cherry sat up with a shriek, shaking her head, causing punch to splatter on her friends. The three of them laughed. Glancing back at Gemstone, Cinnamon Roll saw that she was giggling at the sight as well. Cinnamon Roll returned her gaze to the three laughing fillies and then back at the unicorn. Recalling a conversation she had shared with a certain red filly not too long ago, Cinnamon Roll smiled knowingly.
"Ya know," she said, "ya can start by askin' her to dance."
Gemstone stopped laughing, her face as red as a tomato. "W-What?! I…I didn't say it was…"
She trailed off as Cinnamon Roll placed her hoof on her shoulder. "Take it from some pony who's had crushes before. If you don't take the plunge, you'll never know if they'll like you back."
Gemstone looked up at the older filly and saw her assuring smile. After a moment, Gemstone began smiling too.
"Go to her," Cinnamon Roll whispered.
With a thankful nod, Gemstone rushed over to her friends while Cinnamon Roll chuckled to herself. "Maybe that apple was right after all."
"Feeling better, Cherry?" Gemstone asked as she approached her friends. "You took a rather nasty—"
"YOU'RE PRETTY!" Cherry blurted out, quickly covering her mouth.
The unicorn blinked. "Um…thank you. Good to see that you are back to normal."
"As normal as you can get with the Tri-Pies," Prism whispered snidely, making Gemstone giggle.
"Hey!" Blueberry shouted. Then after a moment's pause she shrugged. "Eh, can't really argue with that."
Gemstone swept a stray curl behind her ear. "Um…the music here is awfully…nice, so…I was wondering…"
"Love the dress, Gem!" Raspberry hollered, coming up to the group while holding Lemon Drop's hoof. "You look like a princess!"
"A pretty princess," Lemon Drop said.
Raspberry narrowed her eyes at him, making him gulp.
"I'm just being polite," he murmured.
Just then, Raspberry spotted a certain colt across the room, wearing a lovely black tuxedo. She saw how nervously Kicks was fiddling with his bowtie, which made her smirk.
"Would you excuse me a moment, sweetie?" Raspberry asked.
As she let go of his hoof, she whispered in his ear, "Remember what we discussed earlier?"
He caught sight of Kicks too and nodded to her. Giggling, Raspberry skipped across the room to the timid, well-dressed colt.
"This thing itches!" Kicks complained, scratching his belly.
"But you look adorable!" Raspberry said, swinging her hoof around his shoulder and pointing with her other hoof across the room.
Kicks gulped when he caught sight of Prism, who was laughing with her other friends. Blueberry glanced between Gemstone and Cherry, and then slipped away to the turntable. She whispered in DJ Pon-3's ear. The unicorn gave a silent nod and got out a new record.
Raspberry and Kicks looked up as tango music started playing.
"Perfect!" Raspberry said, placing her hooves firmly on his shoulders. "The tango is the perfect music for when you want to romance some pony!"
Kicks stiffened as she began pushing him towards Prism. "Oh no!" he cried, stepping out of her grasp. "I can't! I don't even know the tango!"
Raspberry sighed. "I was afraid you might say that."
She caught her boyfriend's eye and signaled him with a nod. Lemon Drop nodded in return and held his hoof out to Prism.
"Shall we?" he asked.
Prism raised an eyebrow at him. "Won't Raspberry get mad if you're dancing with some pony else?"
"Uh…" Lemon Drop said, glancing at his girlfriend, who pointed hastily at Kicks. "Yeah, but…she said it was okay if I kept dancing while she was gone, as long as it was with one of our friends."
"I don't know," Prism said, looking at all the couples dancing the tango. "Seems a bit…intense for my taste."
He looked to Raspberry for help. Glaring, she pulled Kicks in close and started dragging him across the dancefloor.
Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, Lemon Drop said, "Sorry about this, Prism."
The pegasus filly cried out as Lemon Drop suddenly grabbed her hoof and pulled her in tight.
"Hey, what are you—?"
He cut her off by spinning her hard, sending her to the center of the dancefloor.
"What in the world has gotten into that colt?" Gemstone asked as he went off after Prism. "And what makes him think he can dance with Prism when he already has a girlfriend?"
Cherry shrugged. "Who knows?" Nervous, she took a step sideways closer to her. "The tango can, uh, make ponies do crazy things." She chuckled as she gazed out at the sea of dancing couples. "After all, it's the, uh…most intimate kind of dancing there is."
"I know," Gemstone muttered, keeping her eyes on Lemon Drop and Prism.
Meanwhile, Raspberry was spinning Kicks about, pulling him into a sudden dip.
"Get the gist?" she asked.
Kicks nodded dumbly, then cried out as she pulled him back up. She glanced over at Lemon Drop, who was just a few feet away with Prism. The pegasus filly looked positively flustered from embarrassment.
"Now for the hoof-off," Raspberry said as she danced herself and Kicks over towards the other couple.
"Hoof-off?" Kicks asked.
With a smirk on her face, Raspberry grasped Kicks' hoof tightly and swung him outward, releasing him. Lemon Drop did the same with Prism, using his magic to make sure she spun in the correct direction. Both pegasi screamed at the sudden movement until they crashed into each other. Instinctively, Kicks held out his hooves and caught Prism's forelegs before she could collapse.
The two of them froze the second their eyes met.
They stood there a long while in bewilderment as tangoing couples circled them. Finally, Kicks took his gaze off Prism to look over at Raspberry. She gave him an encouraging smile as she took Lemon Drop's hoof with her left and put her right one on his waist, leading him into a dance.
Swallowing the lump in his throat, Kicks looked back at Prism, took her left hoof and put his right hoof on her waist. Prism stared at him in confusion as he started moving them across the floor. She remained silent as he spun her outward and then pulled her back in.
"Where did—?" she said, panting heavily. "How…what…?"
Kicks chuckled. "Believe me. I have no idea what I'm doing either."
Gemstone's eyes narrowed as she watched Kicks dance with Prism. Although it was unladylike, she let out a low growl as she clenched her front hooves. As more and more couples got onto the dancefloor, she began to lose sight of the two pegasus foals.
"W-Well," Cherry said, stepping closer to the unicorn, "l-looks like every pony else is tangoing." She rubbed the back of her neck. "Y-You know…we were pretty good dance partners during that project and…"
"Come on," Gemstone said, snatching her hoof.
Cherry yelped as she was yanked onto the dancefloor. Then she grinned brightly when she realized what was happening. Gemstone pulled her in and wrapped her other hoof around Cherry's waist.
"Do me a favor," Gemstone whispered, "and follow my lead."
The red filly squealed internally. "Lead on!"
Thrusting out their joined hooves, Gemstone led them through the crowd. Then another couple stepped into their path, making the unicorn grunt in annoyance.
"You know," Cherry said with a blush, "I've been practicing my dancing ever since…"
"So have I," Gemstone said bluntly.
She suddenly spun Cherry outwards, making her yelp. When Cherry came back into her partner's embrace, her mane was frazzled.
"Gee, Gem," Cherry said as she was tugged to the side. "You're being a little," she shrieked at their abrupt turn, "rough!"
Gemstone ignored her cries as she searched the room. Then she spotted her targets and smiled mischievously.
"Fair warning," Gemstone said to her friend, "I'm about to spin you again."
"Okay!" Cherry said excitedly, shutting her eyes.
The unicorn waited until there was a clear path. Then with a mighty swing of her foreleg, she threw Cherry across the room. Only she wasn't really spinning as much as falling backward. Opening her eyes, Cherry tried to regain her hoofing, but it was difficult considering she was only on two legs. Not seeing where she was going, she collided into Kicks, toppling him over. Both of them screamed while Prism looked down at them in alarm.
"Cherry? Kicks?" she said. "You two o—?"
She was cut off as her tail was suddenly yanked, spinning her around. Next thing she knew, she was in some pony else's embrace.
"Gem?" Prism asked in confusion.
Gemstone smiled at her, her eyelids drooping daintily. "May I have this dance?"
Hearing the cries, Raspberry and Lemon Drop turned to see what the matter was. The sight of Cherry lying backward over Kicks' stomach made them gasp. Then they looked up at the new dancing pair and gasped again. Blueberry, who was still over at the turntable, also gasped. Cinnamon Roll, who was over at the punchbowl, turned around and then dropped her glass.
They all watched as Gemstone led Prism in a tango, the former's eyes locked on the latter. She spun the confused pegasus outward and then pulled her in tightly. Cinnamon Roll blinked at the bewildering sight.
"W-Well," she said, clearing her throat. "Did not see that one comin'."
Meanwhile, Prism was utterly muddled as her best friend pulled her close.
"You know," Gemstone said, leading her into another spin, "they say tango is the most…"
Prism yelped as she was suddenly thrust into a dip. Gazing up at Gemstone's face, she saw a surprisingly…sultry look.
"…intimate of dances," the unicorn whispered.
Prism blinked. "Gem, what are you doing?"
Smirking, Gemstone brought her up, tightening her hold on Prism's back so that they were full up against each other.
"Can't a girl dance with the pony she adores?" the unicorn asked innocently.
The pegasus' eyes went wide as her face turned a beet red. "The pony she WHAT?!"
Instead of providing further explanation, Gemstone merely giggled and spun her again. Meanwhile, Kicks was trying to buck Cherry off his stomach.
"What's the big idea?" Kicks demanded.
"I didn't mean to!" Cherry shouted, rubbing her head. "It wasn't my—"
Her jaw dropped when she caught sight of Gemstone…and who she was dancing with. Cherry glanced between the two of them and saw the intense, burning look in the unicorn's eyes, a look she knew all too well. As Cherry's stare turned into a scowl, steam fumed from her nostrils, giving her the appearance of a raging bull.
"That brute doesn't deserve you, Prism," Gemstone said, a touch of venom in her voice as she dipped Prism again. "No colt deserves you."
Prism's lip quivered as she tried to find the words. So many questions were swimming in her head right now!
But before she could utter anything, there came a shout.
"YOU DIRTY TRAITOR!"
Gemstone and Prism looked over at Cherry, who was stomping towards them angrily. She grabbed Prism by the chest and hoisted her up to her face so that their snouts were touching. By this time, every pony had their eyes on them, including Lightning Dash and Aquafresh who had been conversing on the sidelines.
"YOU LITTLE FILLY THIEF!"
Prism was even more confused than ever. "What?"
"DON'T PLAY INNOCENT WITH ME!" Cherry shouted, giving her a hard shake. "YOU KNEW I LIKED GEMSTONE, DIDN'T YOU?! THOUGHT YOU COULD STEAL HER FROM ME, DID YA?!"
"Huh?!" Prism uttered.
"Hey, hooves off her!" Kicks cried, grabbing Cherry by the shoulders.
"Don't you touch her!" Gemstone shouted, snatching Prism's hoof.
They pulled the two fillies apart.
"What is wrong with you?" Kicks asked Cherry.
"She was trying to steal my girl!" the red filly said, flailing her hooves towards Prism.
"What? Don't be ridiculous!" He took Prism's other hoof. "Prism's not into fillies!"
Gemstone glared at the colt. "Let go of her, you brute!"
She tugged hardly on Prism. Kicks retaliated by tugging on her other hoof.
"You let go!" he shouted.
"No!" Gemstone insisted, pulling harder.
"Gem, it's okay!" Prism shouted. "He's not going to hurt—"
"HE DOESN'T DESERVE YOU LIKE I DO!"
There was a sharp record scratch as the entire room became still. Gemstone and Kicks stopped pulling Prism apart, which gave the pegasus filly time to process the situation. She glanced down at the hoof held by Kicks, then the hoof in Gemstone's. Then Prism looked back at Cherry, who was staring at Gemstone with teary eyes. Looking at Gemstone, Prism saw that she held a similar look…directed at her.
Kicks was also looking around, making similar observations. Gemstone glanced over at Cherry, noticing that her gaze was directed towards the white hooves closed tightly over the blue one.
Then the situation became clear to everyone.
Neither of them moved for the longest time, until Cherry finally burst into tears and rushed out of the room and up the stairs. Hearing her cries, Gemstone released Prism's hoof and took a step back.
"G-Gem?" Prism asked in concern.
Gemstone's gaze lowered. Prism followed her eyes to where Kicks was holding her hoof. He wasn't letting go, and Prism was making no attempt to leave.
The pegasus filly turned to her friend. "Gem…"
But the unicorn bolted across the room and out the door before any questions could be asked. Prism's mouth was open as she stared after her fleeing friend.
"You okay?" Kicks asked.
She looked down at his hooves holding hers. Then, shaking her head, she yanked her hoof away and walked sulkily off the dancefloor.
"Kid?" Lightning said as her sister came nearer.
Without lifting her eyes, Prism muttered, "Let's go home."
Nodding, Lightning wrapped her wing around her sister and then sent Aquafresh an apologetic look. Aquafresh nodded in understanding and watched the two sisters slowly exit.
Meanwhile, Blueberry, Raspberry and Lemon Drop were standing together, glancing between the door and the stairs, unsure of who to follow.
"I'll go get her," Cinnamon Roll whispered as she passed the foals.
When the thirteen-year-old reached the stairs, the music started up again. DJ-Pon-3 probably did it to relieve every pony of the awkward tension. Taking a deep breath, Cinnamon Roll ascended to the second floor.
One door was open, and she could hear loud sobs. As she approached the room, her hooves stepped into a puddle, but she ignored it. Pushing the door open further, she found Cherry on her bed, two waterfalls spilling from her eyes.
Cinnamon Roll knocked lightly on the door to get the younger filly's attention. Cherry stopped her crying momentarily as she looked up. Cinnamon Roll sent her a sympathetic smile. With a sniff, Cherry wiped away her snot and plopped her face down into her pillow. The older filly stepped into the room and sat on the bed beside her.
"Sorry, Sugar," Cinnamon Roll murmured.
Without lifting her face, Cherry shook her head and said in a muffled voice, "It wasn't your fault."
She hung her head. "I feel like it was. See…Gem…told me she was here to impress some pony. A she. She was lookin' over at all of y'all and…I assumed she meant…"
Cherry craned her neck so that she could look at her. "You know? I've spent months hoping that…Gem might like fillies too." She sighed sadly. "Turns out she does. Just not…"
Cinnamon Roll laid a gentle hoof on her back. "I know it hurts. It hurt me when I realized Thunder Dash preferred my cousin over me. But…it gets better."
Cherry sat up. "How? How will it get better?"
The older filly shrugged. "Every pony heals in time, in their own way. Sometimes, it helps when there's some pony else there to make ya feel better."
"You mean," Cherry said, looking down thoughtfully, "a new crush?"
"Maybe," Cinnamon Roll said, facing her. "Sometimes, all ya really need is a friend."
"Huh," the younger filly said, looking up at her.
With a smile, Cinnamon Roll took her hoof. "And maybe a few dozen tons of Hearts and Hooves Day treats."
"Should one of us go check on her?" Cheese asked as he and his wife gazed up the stairs.
"I saw AJ's girl go up," Pinkie said. "And my Pinkie Sense isn't sensing any distress from one of our girls at the moment."
Cheese checked over his body. "Neither is my Cheesy Sense."
"Whatever that kid is saying to Cherry must be working."
Sure enough, Cinnamon Roll appeared with Cherry at the top of the stairs. Both were smiling and holding hooves as the older filly took the lead downstairs.
"What I tell ya?" Pinkie said as the two fillies passed by. "She may be adopted, but she's still Applejack and Spike's daughter!" She whispered to her husband. "They were always good at consoling ponies."
"Cherry!" Raspberry, Blueberry and Lemon Drop cried, running up to the two fillies.
"Are you okay?" Blueberry said. "I'm sorry, I didn't think anything like this would happen!"
"Yeah!" Raspberry said, narrowing her eyes. "Why didn't you tell me you had a crush on Gemstone?!"
Cherry retorted, "Why didn't you tell us you were trying to set Kicks up with Prism?"
Raspberry opened her mouth and then shut it. "Touché."
"How are you feeling?" Lemon Drop asked.
"Honestly," Cherry said with a frown, "still icky." Then she grinned up at Cinnamon Roll. "But not so much anymore." She began pulling the older filly onto the dancefloor. "Come on, Cinny! Let's dance!"
Her sisters and Lemon Drop watched as Cherry got into the groove with Cinnamon Roll, the two of them laughing at their newfound friendship.
"She'll be fine," Blueberry said after a while.
"I ship it already," Raspberry said.
"Isn't Cinnamon Roll like thirteen or something?" Lemon Drop asked.
"Yeah, but that won't be much of a problem once Cherry hits eighteen." Raspberry let out a dreamy sigh as she put her hoof to her heart. "Love always finds a way."
"Speaking of which, should we…go and see if Prism and Gemstone are okay?"
"And say what exactly?" Blueberry said. "That you and Razz were trying to set Prism up with Kicks and that I was trying to set Cherry up with Gemstone, neither of us realizing Gemstone was concocting some wooing scheme of her own for Prism?"
The other two were silent for a long while.
"Wow," Raspberry said. "When you put it that way, my shipping heart is kinda torn. On one hoof, Kicks' crush on Prism is really cute, despite the whole ex-bully thing. On the other, Gemstone and Prism are the best of friends, so it's really no wonder one should start developing feelings for the other. So…who are we supposed to ship?"
Silence again.
"I don't know about you," Lemon Drop said, "but I think we've done enough romantic meddling for one Hearts and Hooves Day."
"Agreed," Raspberry and Blueberry said, nodding.
"But…if Prism and Gemstone are in an…awkward situation," Blueberry said, biting her lip, "what does that mean…for the Cutie Mark Crusaders?"
Neither of them was brave enough to come up with an answer.
As Rarity passed by Gemstone's bedroom door, she was shocked to hear sobbing. Concerned, she knocked on the door.
"Gemstone?" she called. "Sweetie? Whatever is the matter?"
Her only answer was a distressed cry. "I DO NOT WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT!"
Rarity stepped back from the door. Perhaps I should check on her again a little later once she's calmed down.
Inside, Gemstone was lying face-down on her bed, her makeup running as she cried her eyes out.
"Idiot!" she cried, pounding her head into the mattress. "Idiot, idiot, idiot!"
She turned her head towards her bedside table, where a portrait of the six Cutie Mark Crusaders sat. Using her magic, she brought it over to her face. She sat up to get a proper look at it. Her eyes fixated on Prism and herself on the far left, the former's hoof draped over the latter's shoulders.
More tears came to her eyes as they narrowed into a furious scowl.
CRACK!
The picture broke and the piece holding the image of Prism fell to the floor.