'Hurryuphurryuphurryuphurryuphurryuphurryuphurryuphurryuphurryup!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'
Rainbow Dash was twitching and shifting impatiently while lined up with the rest of the soccer team. Coach Spitfire was going over final strategies and plans for their opening season game the next day. And while Rainbow had been eagerly awaiting this game for weeks, it was suddenly very far down on her priority list. If she didn't know how hard a task master the coach was, she would probably have booked it a long time ago already.
'Dang it. Since when did I start using expressions like task master.' She growled low, hoping her coach wouldn't hear it and decide the whole team needed to do another round of suicides. Rainbow knew exactly where her new vocabulary had come from, and it was the same reason she couldn't wait to get off this field. Luckily the coach hadn't noticed, and after a few more notes Rainbow didn't listen to because she'd already been drilling them into the whole team all week, Spitfire finally blew her whistle to signal the end of practice.
Rainbow took off like a shot. She crossed the field in what was probably record time and kicked the door of the locker room open. She got into her locker quickly and ran for the showers. She was already half way done by the time the rest of the team started making there way in. She finished, toweled off in what she was sure was record time, and got into her street clothes so quickly she wasn't even sure she'd gotten them all on facing the right way.
She ignored sarcastic questioning of why she was in such a hurry as she now ran past her teammates and kicked open the door that led to the gym and the rest of the school.
And she kept running.
'Why did they say that!!?? Where did they even get that idea!!?? There is no way it's even remotely true... Right?' She wasn't sure how things had quite gotten to this point, but she was sure she knew where it had started. This all went back to two weeks before... At the prom.
***
Rainbow Dash laughed as she danced. The prom was in full swing and the dance floor was full. Pinkie had dragged her out on the floor and had somehow managed to talk her into doing the most ridiculous dances they could think of to see how many people they could get to dance along.
Being among the six most popular girls in school, their influence had been much greater then Dash had thought. They had already worked their way through the macarena, the bus driver, and were now leading nearly half the assembled students in a very overenthusiastic rendition of the sprinkler.
The whole thing was completely outrageous, and so much fun. As Rainbow made a dramatic turn to the rest of the dancers to rally them all up some more she saw the huge crowd all enjoying themselves. After Pinkie and Dash had started the rest of her friends had joined in as well. All except one. Rarity was not in the group of people she now faced. Rainbow internally sighed as she danced her way over to Apple Jack who was dancing close by, way off beat.
"Is she still being a drama queen?" Rainbow shouted over the music and commotion on the dance floor.
"Sure is sugar cube," Apple Jack answered, letting the motion of her dance linger in one place longer then necessary to indicate a direction. Rainbow looked over to the closest table to the refreshments. Rarity hadn't moved much since the last time she'd seen her. She sat slumped over the table with a sour look on her face as she watched everyone else having fun. The only change was the number of empty punch cups that sat discarded in front of her. That had increased substantially.
"We all told her that guy was a jerk didn't we? What's she still doing being a killjoy over him for?"
"I think you answered that in yer' first question." Rainbow gave a questioning look. "Drama queen." The two friends shared a laugh.
"I'm sure Pinkie'll get over there and get her out of that funk at some point." Rainbow said this as she went back to dancing crazily again.
"Fraid' not RD. Pinkie already tried that before the sprinkler started. Dang near got her head bit off fer' her troubles."
Rainbow Dash stopped mid-sprinkler, arms still in the air as she turned back to her friend. "Are you serious?" Rainbow asked in disbelief.
"Unfortunately sugar cube." She kept dancing, but nodded her Stetson over to their puffy pink haired friend. And while she was still dancing and smiling, Rainbow could tell her hair was not quite as puffy as it usually was.
Rainbows hands fell to her side as she turned away from the farm girl and to the dejected fashionista. "That isn't cool. It's one thing to be in a bad mood, but why is she taking it out on Pinkie."
"Hey, if y'all wanna go ask her be my guest. Someone needs to talk some sense into her, might as well be someone with just as thick a skull as hers."
"Screw you Miss apple buck season," Rainbow shot back. She wasn't sure if her retaliation was even heard as she had already started crossing the auditorium.
Rainbow Dash was only a little angry as she started on her way across the crowded dance floor. Rarity had good reason to be in a bad mood, very good reason in fact. But she had been warned by all the girls, Pinkie included, so she had multiple reasons not to be taking this out on others.
All the girls had been planning on going to the prom despite only one of them having been asked as of a week and a half before. Flash and Sunset had decided to go together, "for old times sake", but weren't taking it too seriously. It hadn't stopped the rest of them from poking fun at them ever since she had announced it to them. The rest of the girls had planned to come in plain clothes. Pinkie had described it as an anti-prom party at the prom, or at least that's what Rainbow had been able to decipher of her plan. Rarity's plans changed last Wednesday though.
A popular boy by the name of Hoity Toity had made a flashy display of asking Rarity out during lunch. Full on declaring his intentions in front of the whole school and leaving her a rose so he could, "await her decision". After quickly apologising for not being able to take part in Pinkie's plan she had literally ran out of the lunchroom after him.
In the next week Rarity had taken the time and effort to make her perfect prom fantasy come true. She handled every detail, down to designing and making both her dress and her dates complementing tux. And though Rarity was putting in all the effort, Hoity had apparently decided to be the gentleman and pay for everything. Rarity was ready to have the best night of her young life. There were just a few little problems with it that the girls just could not seem to get Rarity to acknowledge.
Hoity-toity was arrogant. His display in the lunchroom was proof enough of that. Hoity-toity was judgemental. Rarity had had to redesign his tux, and subsequently her dress, three times before he was ok with it. And most obvious and damaging of all, Hoity-Toity was gay. See previous example for confirmation.
The rest of the girls had tried all the subtle ways they could think of to try to get Rarity to figure all this out for herself. Nothing was getting past her fairy tale dream haze. Rainbow thought it was a little funny that the one who had come the closest was the one who cared the least, herself.
During her second redesign Rarity had brought some of her new ideas into band practice with her to show off. Rainbow Dash had decided to make a comment to the effect of how great his new tux design was going to look thrown across the floor of his boyfriends bedroom. She didn't even really plan on saying it out loud. But Rainbow figured that her and Rarity were not the closest amongst their group of friends, thus she didn't feel too bad about hurting her feelings and telling her the hard truth.
The rest of the group had gone silent. Rarity had stumbled and stuttered to try to respond for a minute before a moment of apprehension made the silent group hold their breath. She then just became indignant, stormed off, and refused to talk to Dash for two whole days. To Rainbow it was a win win situation.
At this point Rainbow was nearing Rarity and her self imposed pity party, and thinking about all this had left her ready to really give her a piece of her mind. However now that she was close she saw the look on the other girls face and suddenly remembered what had gotten her to this point.
Flash Sentry was the only one the girls knew with a vehicle large enough to transport all the prom crashers. So he and Sunset had graciously decided to offer them a ride despite it interfering with their "date". This had meant that all the girls had come with them to Rarity's so Sunset could pick up the dress Rarity had insisted on making for her. Flash had apparently managed to talk her out of a custom tux thankfully.
This also meant that they were there when Hoity had come to pick up his date and tux. Rarity had gone the whole nine yards, giving him his tux first so he could be in the room for the big reveal of her dress. And it was a big reveal. His tux had been great, tailored as it was to match her dress. But her dress, even Rainbow had to admit, was like something out of some fairy tale. Rainbow did not know all the right words to describe it, but she figured elegant was a start. Form fitting on top before exploding into frills and lace at just above her knees. The majority of the dress was a pure white, and trimmed with just enough silver here and there to avoid looking gaudy. Rarity had also taken time on herself. Her makeup was flawless and her hair was tied up in an intricate style that must have taken her hours.
Overall it gave Rainbow a thought she figured was mirrored by the blushing fashionista's date. ' Hey, if I were into chicks, I'd hit that.'
Unfortunately, when the assembled girls had turned to see his reaction, they had found the spot where he had been empty. That's when they all noticed the sound of a car idling outside. When Rarity had suddenly bolted forward and nearly torn the drapes of the living room off to see into her front yard she found where her date had gone.
He was standing in front of a very expensive looking limo Rarity had just been calling about the status of thirty minutes prior. His lips were locked with someone Rainbow recognized as one of Crystal Preps star athletes, point forward of the men's basketball team if she remembered correctly.
It wasn't hard to figure out what had happened from there. Clearly Rarity had been tricked into planning someone else's perfect prom night, complete with his dream outfit. And since he had offered to pay for everything, it was all technically his to take. Rarity and the others had watched stunned as the two entered the limo and drove away, presumably to the Crystal prep prom going on this same night.
The whole group had expected a full blown, Rarity brand freak out. But the rejected dress maker betrayed no emotion whatsoever. Despite most of the group, even Sunset and Flash, offering to cancel their prom plans, Rarity insisted that the night should go on. Rainbow figured it must be her generous nature, not wanting to ruin others good time because of her own misfortune. She was quiet the whole ride to the school, having to hitch a ride with the rest of the group now that her's was gone. And upon making it there she took the first seat she could find, let out a huff, and drank her first cup of punch.
It was that image of her friend that Rainbow remembered as she finally arrived at her table. And that defeated expression she had earlier had only grown more pathetic since then.
"You know," Rarity jolted. Apparently she hadn't noticed Rainbow approach. "I'm pretty sure no one's spiked the punch yet. So trying to drink away your problems with that stuff isn't going to work." Rainbow sat down next to her, reached over and took one of the three full cups in front of Rarity, and downed it in one shot. She made a face. "Ugh. And too bad to. I think a massive amount of booze is about all that could save this swill."
Rarity gave Rainbow a glare in response to the new arrival having taken one of her drinks, but merely rolled her eyes and shot back one of her own. This was actually a little impressive to Rainbow. Thinking back she couldn't remember a time when Rarity had ever drank in any other way then taking dainty sips. "Well I'm afraid you're going to be left disappointed as well. Celestia and Luna already caught a senior trying to slip something in there." She said disinterestedly as she lifted and eyed her last cup.
"No freaking way. I was totally joking about that. That really happened?"
Rarity let out a low grunt, another gesture Rainbow noted wasn't very Rarity like. "Indeed. Then when she noticed the brand of vodka they had acquired, Luna offered to, 'properly dispose of it', and hasn't been back since."
Rainbow looked over to the main door of the room where she knew the heads of the school should be standing vigilant against all incoming bad influences. Celestia wore a sour look to rival Rarity's. The vice principal was nowhere to be found. Rainbows head went back as she laughed hysterically at this news. She then leaned forward and pounded her fist against the table as she laughed more.
"Yes well, I'm glad I could make your night that much better," Rarity said disinterestedly as she gave a contentious look down at the girl now struggling for breath while still laughing. "Now if you'll excuse me," she downed her last cup in one shot again, "it seems I'm due for more refreshments."
Rainbow reached out to grab Rarity's arm to hold her in place while her laughter finally died down. "Nah, I think you've had enough." Rarity glared down at the hand holding her in place. Rainbow rolled her eyes and let go. "You're being bitter and I think the obvious total lack of any sugar in that punch bowl is only making things worse."
Rarity's glare only changed location, now squarely focused on Dash herself. "Listen. I decided not to impede anyone elses great time. Therefore could you do me the same favor and not interrupt my miserable time?"
"Sorry, but I'm just not as generous as you are. I'm loyalty, which means I look out for my friends. Even the one who more then sometimes drives me crazy with all their drama queen-ness." Rainbow leaned back in her chair and took on her usual laid back demeanor and gave the still glaring girl her signature cocky grin. "So tell me what I can do to get you out of your latest funk. And keep in mind I'm not as easy to chase off as Pinkie," Rainbow added as she saw Rarity's glare intensify.
That actually had taken some air out of Rarity's sails as she pursed her lips in annoyance before snorting in irritation and turning away. Her voice was icy as she spoke. "This is not something you or any of the girls can help me with Rainbow Dash. There's only one thing that can possibly fix this, and I'm running out of chances."
"Chances?" Rainbow emphasized the question, knowing she was getting somewhere.
Rarity looked like she was going to try to keep up the level of frustration she'd been showing, but a full night of it was apparently getting to her. She let out a weakening sigh and turned back to her friend. Her voice was much lower as she continued, only just loud enough to be heard over the current music selection.
"We're juniors now Rainbow. I've had great times in highschool, especially with you girls. Even the not so good parts only seem to have made the great bits all the more memorable."
"I'll say," Rainbow cut in giving a slight laugh. "A semester of thinking we weren't friends anymore, then basically becoming superheros together. Awesome."
This made the first smile Rainbow had seen all night cross Rarity's face. "Yes quite. It did wonders for our relationship as well. Before that I basically only tolerated your presence because you and Apple Jack were always so close. And I say that with confidence that you were much the same."
Rainbow snickered as she replied. "If you and Shy weren't such girly frufru friends I would of never talked to you." They shared a genuine laugh.
Rarity's face went more somber as she continued. "But even after all we've done, there's still things I want to experience before highschool is over."
"Such aaaaaaas....?"
"Romance obviously. I want to have the perfect prom night. The beautiful dress. The handsome gentleman escorting me. The cheesey pictures...." Rarity had been working herself up into a minor fit as her worries were finally released. But now she paused and took a deep breath to calm herself again. "But most of all, I wanted to dance. I wanted to show off and be the center of attention as I had fun with someone special. And I really wanted to slow dance the night away leaning against the strong chest of someone who cares about me." Rarity's eyes seemed to be looking at somewhere far off as she finished.
"Rarity. That is like, super cheesey." Rarity's irritation came back at Rainbows response. But Rainbow noted, not nearly as bad.
"I know," she replied with an indignant hiss. "But that doesn't mean I don't still want it. And I only have one more chance at it. And it would seem that our current level of fame within the school makes us all seem quite unapproachable." She now looked down at her empty paper cups. "I don't think it's going to happen for me. But I guess you wouldn't understand."
Rainbow pondered this for a minute. This was all definitely out of her usual realm of expertise. And yet something nagged at her, something that told her that she knew exactly what to say next.
"You're right. I don't understand at all. But not because I don't get romance or mushy stuff. I don't get it because I'm not a fan of just hoping stuff happens to me. And something that made you cool even back when I didn't like you was that you were always the same way."
Rarity looked up and gave Rainbow a slight glare. "Rainbow dear. Fashion and athletics are far removed from matters of the heart. I can't just make someone love me and have the best night of my life."
"Yeah, but sitting around and moping about it ain't gonna make it happen either. And besides that," Rainbow stood with a sense of purpose, "we both don't like being beaten. If you just sit here that jerk wins. So let's do this thing."
Rarity was not prepared for it when Dash suddenly yanked her from her seat and started dragging her in the direction of the dance floor. "Rainbow? W, what are you doing?"
"Starting your perfect prom night obviously."
Rainbow wasn't sure how many songs or dances had passed so far. Currently Pinkie and the girls were leading over half the prom in the cabbage patch, and the sight of it was as horrifying as it should sound to Rainbow Dash. But right now she didn't care. She led Rarity right to the front of the dance party and started twisting her hips. "Come on Rares. Let's see those moves."
Rarity blushed at the attention now firmly directed at her from all her fellow students. Clearly someone as refined as her wouldn't take part in such a ridiculous display. She turned her chin up at the idea. "Please Rainbow, you can't expect me to do something so uncouth."
She made to walk back off the floor.
Rainbow made an exaggerated twist of her hips and managed to gracefully cut her off. "Let's see it Rares, it doesn't work unless you get into it." With one more exaggerated twist she gave Rarity's hips a light bump with her own to push her back where they had started.
Rarity gave her a slight glare out of frustration. "Rainbow dear. It's not the same thing. It doesn't count as a romantic moment if I'm not having fun with my date."
Rainbow made an overly dramatic gasp even as she kept dancing away. "Rarity, how could you disregard me so easily." Rarity glared harder as she clearly had recognized Rainbow using her usual mocking Rarity voice. "Now work it. You can't be the center of attention if your date is out dancing you." She gave Rarity one last, slightly more forceful hip check. This left Rarity only two options. Either keep being a spoil sport, or use the off balance moment to play it off like she was going to start dancing anyway. Rainbow somehow knew which way she was going to go.
With a huff Rarity gave her hips one small, half hearted twist. Rainbow motioned her back a much more enthusiastic one. Rarity rolled her eyes once more and matched Dash. They proceeded in that manner for the remainder of the current song.
As the song ended Rainbow noticed Rarity smiling to herself just a little. "Well, I suppose that was fun for a bit. Thank you Rainbow." She was suddenly caught as she attempted to leave the floor between songs.
"Oh no, you ain't getting off that easy." The next song started to play, a techno-ish remix of an old song Dash didn't know the name of. She looked over to Pinky. "What's it gonna be Pinks?"
Those surrounding Pinkie suddenly took note that she was standing very stiff in the middle of the dance floor. Rarity suddenly moved over to the lively girl with concern. She went to place her hand on her forehead to check if she was alright. The moment she did Pinkie suddenly leaned forward quickly, bending stiffly at the waist with her arms held out at right angles. Rainbow saw Rarity's eyes go wide.
"Oh no no no no no. I do not think so." She turned quickly, but found another arm bent at a perfect right angle blocking her path. "Rainbow no. I'm not doing it."
"Does not compute," Rainbow said in a bad mechanical voice, her eyes as blank as she could make them. Once again she kept dancing in the way as Rarity tried more frantically to leave. Rainbow knew this was not a dance she knew well, thus she focused more on preventing Raritys escape. Eventually Rainbow noticed her give up. She stood with her arms crossed giving Rainbow a glare that could whilt roses.
Rarity blew a strand of hair that had come loose at some point out of her eyes. "The dance itself is bad enough, but must you really do it so horribly as well?"
Rainbow had to suppress a devious smile. This just became a game she knew how to win. She gave a stiff turn that left her forearms dangling and gave Rarity a dismissive look. In her own voice she scoffed. "I don't see you doing any better."
Rarity only turned away indignantly. "I assure you Rainbow Dash. If I wanted to take part in such an undignified ritual I could do so much more competently."
'Check and mate.' "I'd love to see you try." She finally let the devious smile reach her face.
Rarity turned to face Dash again, her glare even harsher then previously. Rainbow could tell Rarity knew she was being played, but it didn't matter. "Oh it is on!" And with that Rarity promptly went rigid, and on the next appropriate musical cue launched into her own robotic rendition that put Dash, and most of the rest of the dance floor, to shame.
Rainbow could only gape. She watched Rarity now dance circles around her like a pro, her own meager attempts on hold while the fashionista schooled her. The song came to an end and Rarity ended her moves with style. With her own version of a smug smirk she stepped over to Rainbow Dash and edged her mouth back into a closed position.
"That really was fun Rainbow darling. Thanks so much."
Rainbow finally came to her senses to speak. "Rarity, that was so awesome. How did you learn to do that?"
Rarity made a smooth gesture of straightening the loose strand of hair. "You have no idea the things I do to keep on top of all the latest trends. Various emerging subcultures have made it appropriate for me to make more then a fleeting dalliance into many a hobby I would normally not consider."
"Rares, I may not always understand what your saying, but it's always fun to hear you say it." Rainbow said this while joining in on the clapping that had started for the previously dower girl. Rainbow noticed her blushing at the attention, probably because of the reason why she was getting it.
Another song started, and Rainbow noticed Pinkie give a momentary frown. The next song was not one for dancing like an idiot without a care in the world. Smooth harmonious notes meant to draw couples closer now started, and many of the romantically challenged people began leaving the floor.
"It was fun while it lasted at least. Let's go Rainb..."
Rainbow noticed how shocked Rarity seemed when she realized her exit from the dance floor was once again halted, this time by a hand holding hers. Rainbow smirked at the sudden confusion on her face, then at how it grew when she pulled her back and took her into a closed dancing position. On the next musical cue Rainbow led as Rarity struggled to keep pace with the dance while her mind tried to catch up with what was happening.
"Rainbow, what on earth are you doing???" She finally got out as the music picked up slightly and Rainbow began spinning them around to the new pace with perfect timing.
"You said slow dancing was part of your perfect prom night didn't you. So I'm dancing with you."
The confused face Rainbow was starting to like maintained as Rarity responded. "Rainbow, that doesn't work if I don't have a date."
"Really Rarity? Do I have to spell it out for ya'?" She made a quick move and brought Rarity in close for a brief moment. "I'm your date now. Now shut up and spin." Rainbow gave her a slight nudge and Rarity went into a flawless spin before being brought back in close. Rainbow had figured Rarity would be the type who had taken dance lessons, and it definitely showed in how well she followed even as the confused look remained.
"I don't think this counts Rainbow Dash. Neither of us are even gay. You can't be my date."
"It counts as far as not letting that jerk ruin your night. So quit thinking about it and just enjoy it."
Rainbow watched as the confused look finally gave way to a smile. Her moves started becoming less trained and more natural. Rainbow actually noticed her leaning into her chest a little. "I guess it'll have to do. Though it's not my fantasy exactly. Your a little too short for me to rest my head against your chest." Though their heights were similar, Rainbow knew Rarity was wearing, and somehow dancing in, three inch hills. This put her a fair bit taller then Rainbow stood now.
The sentiment only made Rainbow laugh. "Yeah well, if I'd known I'd of borrowed a pair of platforms or something." They were now dancing very naturally with each other. This finally prompted the question Rainbow knew was coming.
"I must say though Rainbow Dash. I would not have expected you to be able to dance so well. No offense of course. But when and, more importantly, why did you learn how to dance?"
"You have no idea the things I do to keep on top of all my athletics." She was using her Rarity voice again, drawing a half hearted glare from her dance partner. "Swing, ballroom, tap, and ballet. And if you tell anyone about the last two I will dance them on your grave." She gave a glare to match Rarity's previous one. "It improves my foot work and body control."
"That's very impressive Rainbow. I have a new level of respect for you."
The song finished soon after that, but Rainbow remembered losing track of how many more they stuck around to dance together. They took turns leading, and it became a sort of competition to see who could out dance the other. In the end Rainbows athletic endurance won out. Both were breathing hard when they finally made it back to the table were Rarity had wasted so much of her night. Rainbow Dash had had to help Rarity to get there as all the dancing in hills had taken its toll on her ankles.
The last part of the night was the cheesey prom photos. The recent abandonment of hills as well as Rainbow borrowing pinkies rather tall boots made it so they could even do the most cheesey pose of Rainbow holding Rarity from behind. Rainbow even paid before they took their places, to properly complete Rarity's prom experience as she had explained.
They were the last to get their pictures taken as the prom was ending. The other girls had to hurry them out of the school right after. As such the last thing Rainbow remembered properly about the night was standing somewhat awkwardly in the pose waiting for the camera man to take the shot.
What she remembered the most was catching a smell she figured was some mix of Rarity's perfume and shampoo. If she had had to guess Rainbow would probably say it was some kind of mixture of vanilla and lilac. It was definitely a smell that seemed like it should smell like Rarity. And Rainbow could remember definitely not disliking it as she thought she felt Rarity press into her as the camera went off.