//------------------------------//
// Ch. 3 Last Dance 
// Story: Hard To Handle 
// by Closer-To-The-Sun 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 3: Last Dance

The day of the dance came and Scootaloo had no idea how her friends got her to go along. Scootaloo wasn't happy to be wearing the dark purple dress, but she had to admit, that Sweetie Belle and Rarity did a good job on it. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle trotted along with Scootaloo from the tree fort to the barn for the dance.

"So, are ya excited, Scootaloo?" Applebloom asked happily in her white and red checkered dress.

"No," Scootaloo replied.

Sweetie Belle gave a sour look, "Oh come on, Scootaloo! You promised to come along to the dance!"

"I didn't say I'd enjoy it," the pegasus looked to her unicorn friend in a pinkish gown.

"But still, you promised. It's how we will forgive you for yelling at us!" Sweetie Belle reminded her friend.

"I know, I know. Just don't expect too much, will ya?" Scootaloo asked as they neared the barn.

"Alright," both Sweetie Belle and Applebloom said as they came closer to the barn.

As soon as the three friends entered the barn, they saw that the dance had already begun. There were many of their classmates already there as well as other colts and fillies from nearby towns. The Crusaders looked around and saw balloons, streamers, and other party favors throughout the barn, decorated to add to the enjoyment. There was a live band of six ponies playing live music for the ponies dancing on the floor. The Crusaders looked on in awe, surprised it was be so festive.

"Whoa…." they said in unison.

After a few moments to soak in the atmosphere, Sweetie Belle broke the silence between the fillies, "I'm going to try and find Pip! I hope we can dance a lot!" Sweetie Belle quickly disappeared into the crowd.

Applebloom spoke right after her unicorn friend left, "I think I'll find Spike as well! Have fun, Scootaloo!" She trotted off to find the purple dragon, leaving Scootaloo alone.

The pegasus looked around, seeing her friends left her alone. She sighed to herself and slowly made her way to the refreshment table. Looking at the food and drinks laid out, she grabbed a cupcake and slightly nibbled it as she trotted to one of the many chairs placed around the wall. Sitting down and slouching, Scootaloo watched all of the other ponies dancing and enjoying themselves. She turned her attention to the band playing songs for the audience. She had to admit, they were very good and she was enjoying their songs.

As the night went on Scootaloo didn't move much from her seat. She watched as Pip and Sweetie Belle slow danced almost every chance they got and she enjoyed witnessing Applebloom dragging Spike to the dance floor every single time against his wishes. While she was having a fun time pony-watching, she found it a bit odd that a couple colts asked her to dance. She refused each time politely, but she found it very odd.

Scootaloo heard that the band was beginning another slow song. She closed her eyes and tried not to think about how some colts might try and ask her again to dance. Sure enough, another colt trotted up to the orange pegasus.

"Um, excuse me? Would you like to dance?" the colt asked meekly.

"Look, nothing personal, but I'm not really in a dancing mood," Scootaloo replied with a hint of annoyance with her eyes closed.

"Oh, okay….thanks anyway, Scootaloo," the blue unicorn said before turning away.

Recognizing the voice, the pegasus opened here eyes to see Snips right in front of her. She became slightly panicky, "Ah….Snips, wait!" Snips turned around to see Scootaloo, blushing slightly and looking someplace else as she continued, "Uh….yes, actually….I'd like that…."

Snips smiled as he led the orange filly from the wall to the center dance floor. Scootaloo was shaking slightly as she placed her hooves on Snips and as he did the same to her. Together, they began to dance. Scootaloo kept her sight away from Snips' eyes, knowing it would cause her cheeks to turn a darker red. 

Looking around, she saw her friends dancing as well as most of the other young ponies dancing to the slow song. It helped her relax. As she relaxed more, she listened to the song that the band was playing, listening to the words. She noticed that the song was about how it was hard to change how one is. It kind of rang true for her, despite not being a fan of country-sounding music. Finally, she had the courage to look at Snips, who was still looking at her, smiling.

The pegasus spoke, "Hey Snips….sorry about yesterday…." her cheeks were flustered, but she managed to not look away.

The blue unicorn kept smiling warmly, "It's alright. No harm done."

"No, really. What I did was really just dumb, Snips. I really do like ya. You're a pretty awesome colt, ya know," Scootaloo spoke.

"Well, thank you, Scootaloo! That's really nice of you to say. You're really awesome, too," Snips smiled.

Scootaloo blushed more at his words, sheepishly smiling back.

The song was coming to a close and many of the couples had finished dancing. Scootaloo and Snips, however, were still swaying up to the band's final notes. Finally, as the band finished the last song of the evening, Scootaloo closed her eyes and kissed Snips, surprising everypony in the barn, including the orange pegasus herself. But she didn't care in the least.

END