//------------------------------// // The Dress And Big Night // Story: A Different Dance Date // by Rated Ponystar //------------------------------// So, today is the big day. I’m going to be going on a date, my very first date. I’m torn between hiding under my beds like a wimp and flying out to let the world know I’m going out with someone. I still never thought I’d ever get to experience something like this, especially with someone who isn’t a dragon. I woke up at the break of dawn and was already flying down to Professor Rarity’s place for my dress without even eating breakfast. Eh, I’ll just have a big lunch and wait for that Lucky Potluck that’s going to happen at the dance. I land in front of the door and knock on it. A few minutes later, a yawning Sweetie Belle opened the door and looked at me with a tilted head. “Oh, hey, Smolder. Aren’t you a bit early?”  “Umm, I couldn’t sleep?” I said with a nervous smile. Not entirely untrue, I kept thinking about what my dress was going to look like for the dance all night. I’m just glad that I’m the only dragon, well, save for Spike, who would be at the event. If any of the other dragons saw me this excited for a dress, I’d die of embarrassment. Right before I bury them first for making fun of me. “Well, come on in,” Sweetie Belle says, opening the door for me. “Sis spend all night on yours. I think it looks terrific.” “I just hope it's not something too fancy,” I say with a bit of pleading behind my tone. I wasn’t going to a ball at the Princess’ Castle after all.  We make our way towards the main fitting room, where I spot a dress that has me stunned. I freeze in place while my eyes go wide in both awe and excitement. It’s a dark blue silk dress with some aquamarine gems in specific areas to make it sparkle in the light. There are no sleeves, but orange flowers are stitched in the shoulder holes and look fresh. The dress's lower area is also blue but split down the middle to reveal a gold and jade mixed under colored dress that I could see through thanks to the unique light fabric. A familiar light green sash goes from the top right shoulder to around the waistline with a pretty bow at the back. Its color reminds me of the coat of a specific date I had. Finally, there was a set of light blue velvet gloves with rubies for the back of the hands' that sparkle in my eyes.  I’m in love with this dress, and I haven’t even worn it yet. “Well, by the smile on your face, I’ve either outdone myself, or you’re thinking of eating those aquamarines,” Rarity says as she walks into the room in a pink robe. A bright smile spread across her cheeks. “Do you like it, Darling?” “Like it! I love it!” I shout while dashing forward to touch it. It feels so smooth and fresh. I turn to Rarity with a giggle. “And you really are giving this to me for free?” “Of course, Darling,” Rarity says with a nod. “It’s your first date, after all! And the first date is always the most memorable one!” “Aww, I wish I had a date,” Sweetie Belle pouted. “You’re not dating until you’re twenty-nine!” Rarity hisses with a clear overprotective expression that I’ve seen in my brother a few times. “You are way too young to even start thinking of such things.” “Oh? Mom told me how a certain unicorn had a crush on Big Macintosh when she was my age,” Sweetie says with a grin as she turns around to leave. “Maybe I’ll find those drawings of you and him getting married in our attic. It could be good blackmail material for the future when I get asked out. I’ll need my own dress, after all.” I snicker upon seeing Professor Rarity’s eye twitch before she grumbles something under her breath. Reminds me of the time I poked fun at my brother for his obviously flirting with Fizzle. Seriously, can those two just kiss already?  “Well, the dance isn’t until tonight, but since you are here, let’s see about putting it on, shall we?” Rarity says as I nod with excitement. Well, that is until my stomach growls so loud it could wake up half the town. Giggling, Rarity points to my belly. “After we have breakfast and a shower.” Blushing, I nod before following her towards the kitchen. *** After a good meal, I decided to fly through Ponyville on my own. The dress fitted perfectly with my size, thankfully, so no extra measurements or changes needed to be made. Since I had hours before the dance, I decided to get some light flying down while preparing myself for my date. I seriously can’t believe this. I don’t know what I’m feeling. Nervous? Happy? Confused? Whatever it is, I find it both annoying and nice at the same time. Landing on a nearby house, I sit down and think about what this date might cause if it ends up being a success. If it's just a simple date and we decide not to go forward with anything else, then I’m okay with that. We’ll still be friends, and we’ll have a good time. If this becomes...more? Well, I don’t know. Would it be so bad? Can I see Sandbar and me having a serious relationship?  Ignoring the fact that we were different races, there was the prospect of our lifespans. It was a very...hard lesson to go through that day when Princess Celestia and Princess Luna came to talk about a very harsh lesson in friendship: losing a friend. The two had lived longer than most creatures ever did and had gone through so much loss. That day, I realized I was going to outlive my best friends in the whole world. I had a long talk with the princesses after, but they assured me that friendship, no matter how brief, was worth it in the end. The memories we have today give us the strength to face the dark future that lies ahead. One day, my friends will be gone, and I will be here still, but I’ll always remember them and have them in my heart until it's my turn to join them. Unless something happens that causes me to croak first. Hey, dragons die young all the time back home. Okay, so that’s one thing down. What about having a family? I’m not saying that one date will equal wedding bells, but I have to consider it, don’t I? If Sandbar and I do get married, can we even have children? Maybe we can adopt. It’s a popular thing for dragons to adopt little ones if they’ve lost their family. We never leave hatchlings to fend for themselves. We’re harsh, but not ruthless.  Plus, where are we going to live? Well, okay, that’s an easy one. Equestria. Yeah, I love home and all, but it's safer in Equestria. Easy choice. “Geez, not even one date, and I’m planning my future with him,” I say to myself with a chuckle. “Am I just falling for him or overthinking it?” I guess I’ll find out tonight. *** I spend the rest of the day at Professor Rarity’s getting ready. I made sure to shower my scales, eat a light lunch, and do some last-minute dance practice. I turned away from doing any makeup because I didn’t think it was something that I looked good in personally (though I do like trying it in private), and I didn’t want to waste any time.  Putting on the dress felt like putting on a second layer of skin. It was so smooth and relaxing that I thought I put on a quilt instead. When I saw myself dressed in the mirror, I couldn’t help but giggle at the sight of how I looked. I looked so...so...well, I guess whatever Sandbar will say when he sees me. Of course, if he says the wrong thing, I’m dumping him into the lake, and that’s not even counting on what Professor Rarity will do.  I walk back to the school with my dress ready while a few stallions and mares look at me with wide eyes. I don’t know if it's because they’ve never seen a dragon in a dress before, but I couldn’t help but wink to a few blushing boys as I go right past them. Finally, I make it back to the Academy with minutes to spare before opening the doors. All the other students, dressed in their gowns and suits, are all waiting outside. Some of them have their dates beside them, while a few others are just by themselves or talking to their friends. I look around for my own group of friends before seeing Silverstream waving at me with excitement while spotting Ocellus and Yona beside her.   I take a good look at the dresses all my friends are wearing, and I kinda feel more relaxed knowing that we’re all dressed up. Silverstream is easily the most expensive-looking dress out here, but I guess that’s kinda expected when you’re related to royalty. Her long silver ball-like dress sparkles in the starlight with pink pearls around her skirt. There are two cute golden bows wrapped around her waist that look to be made of pure silk, and her front has a flower placed over her heart. She has a diamond necklace and earrings while a touch of eye lighter, blush, and lipstick on her face. Yona and Ocellus are more straightforward, with the former using a bigger and greener version of her back coat that had a skirt to cover her lower body and the latter just wearing a plain dark purple dress with no sleeves.  “Wow, Smolder! You look amazing!” Silverstream cries out while zooming around me. She even lifts my arm to get a good look at my details. “You look so good in this!” “Which begs the question of why you’re wearing a dress, to begin with? I thought you’d be coming to this without clothes,” Ocellus asks with her eyebrow raised. “Well...somepony asked me out...and I said yes,” I confess, which gets all three of my friends to gasp. “Eeeek! I’m not the only one with a date! Yay!” Silverstream cheers to the point where a few others are looking at us with confusion. Silverstream dashes to my face and holds me by the horns. Her face getting ever so closer with each question. “Is it a boy or a girl?! Somepony we know?! Are you in love?! What’s their name?!” “First off, personal space!” I shout, pushing her back. Then I notice two familiar boys coming over and smirk. “And second, he’s right there.” “Hey, gang,” Gallus says, walking over. He’s wearing a typical black tux and purple bowtie for his front body while leaving his lower body wholly uncovered. “You’re all looking wonderful tonight. Especially Silver over there.” Gallus makes a gun with his fingers and winks, making Silverstream blush and me roll my eyes. “Ain’t that right, Sandy?” Sandbar just stares at me with his mouth wide open. I blush while taking a good look at his choice of clothing. Like Gallus, he’s got a tux on, only his is a darker shade of blue with a long red tie. Plus, he’s wearing pants, unlike mister show my butt to the world. Slowly walking forward, I take the skirt part of my dress and show it to Sandbar. “Um, you like it?” “You look...beautiful,” Sandbar says with an honest smile. “No, way!” Silverstream gasps again and gets between us. “You two are dating?! Since when?!” “Just now,” I answer while pointing to my blushing date. “Turtle butt here asked me out to the dance, and I said yes.” “Yona feel left out. She wants a date too!” The yak said before eyeing Ocellus. “Friend Ocellus wants to be yak’s date?” “Uh, I don’t swing that way, Yona,” Ocellus says, rubbing the back of her head. “Sorry?” “What do you mean swing what way? This some kind of swinging dance Yona not know?” Yona asks, tilting her head. Before we could tell Yona what it meant, the dance doors are open, and music starts playing from inside. The crowd, excited to get inside, rush together as we look at each other and smile. Yona grabs Ocellus and drags her inside, much to her surprise, while Gallus holds his claw out for Silverstream as the two blush and follow along in flight. I turn to Sandbar as the two of us just silently look at each other before he slowly offers his hoof to me. “Ready?” He asks, smiling. “Honestly? I’m excited,” I answer as I take his hoof with my claw and hurry up to catch up with our friends.