//------------------------------// // Uhmm... Banana..? // Story: Rainbow's magic word. // by Arial_Dreemmurr //------------------------------// I was at school during lunchtime, picking my lunch from the food choices, when I suddenly felt someone pushing me from behind. I still had my tray down on the food desk, so that was safe, but I ended up losing my balance. I was able to catch myself with my hands but not by much since it only saved me from faceplanting into the cold, hard floor. Shortly after, I got myself off the ground and looked to see who would be the genius to try to pull something like this on me. I'd totally push them 100 times harder than they did! I'd show them not to mess with- ...That was what I thought before I looked and saw who it was... It was James, the most popular guy in school and, I hate having to say this, the best athlete I've ever seen play. He would normally be somewhere around my level but since I'm a girl, I'm limited to some sports that he easily succeeds in. I'm cool with the guys in my teams except for this guy. Once he stepped into his first try-out, I knew he would be a complete dick to me for the rest of the time I spend with him. The reason? He's the most stuck up, arrogant, and sexist guy I've ever met, and probably will ever meet. He kept doubting my position as team captain and even mentioned taking the place himself just because he was a guy and thought he could do better. Even after I beat him many times he wouldn't shut up about it. So, when I saw him here, I wasn't exactly the most excited. I wouldn't be anyways, after what he did, but it was still a bummer it was him. Now I can't even kick his ass. His popularity would make the whole school hate me for days after. I stood straight and tried to ignore him and walk away. It was the safest option to take. I was doing that when I heard the laughing of the boys die down and heard the conversation between him and the lunch lady. "Apples or bananas for today, boys?" She asked but was either not heard or just straight up ignored by them. I decided to turn around and make them listen. They could be a dick to me all they want, I could take it. But no way they were going to be rude to the lunch lady for no reason while she was just trying to do her job. "So, what is it!? Apples or bananas, boys." I made sure to put a slight mock in to entertain myself. ...Then something unexpected happened... James turned around, looked at me for a few seconds with a glassy look in his eyes before showing me a smile. Then the most unexpected words came out of his mouth. "I'm so sorry for pushing you earlier! It was so rude of me to mess up a beauty like you. Can you please forgive me?" As the words left his mouth, I just stood there dumbfounded. I was so confused. But before I could even respond, he walked over to me and started dusting the dirt off me. He even had the nerves to touch my hair without even bothering to ask. "D-Don't touch me!" I slapped his hand away, resisting his "help". I didn't need it, especially not from him. "I'm out..." I said to myself before attempting to get out of the situation I got in. I said attempt because I didn't even turn around yet and he already had his hands on me, keeping me from going further. "You shouldn't, beautiful. I'm sorry if I did something wrong to upset you. Would you forgive me?" I got his touch off me again before quickly replying, already getting my tray and turning the other way. "Sure, whatever... Now let me go already!" I said before heading out for real. As I walked to our friend's table, I could spot their confused faces from a mile away. They'd probably seen the whole thing and were definitely going to ask questions about it. I got to the table and sat down, putting down the tray, and already heard the first question from Sunset Shimmer. "What just happened out there?" She asked, with me only being able to respond with a shrug. I didn't know how to respond. Their guess was as good as mine as I was just as confused as them. "I dunno. Your guess is as good as mine..." I eventually responded. It didn't answer anyone's questions but what could? If I didn't have an answer, no one could've. And I had nothing. I expected more questions to come but instead, I heard someone run towards our table in quite a hurry. "Wait up for me!" Before I knew it, I saw James coming to sit next to me. "I want to sit with you, beautiful. I simply can't take my eyes off you." "Wha..." Was all I could get out before he began to lean into me, putting his head on my shoulder. I was so confused I couldn't even get myself to say anything. I tried to move away from him but he'd hold on to my clothes to keep me close to him. I shot a desperate look at my friends who looked just as confused. I saw Apple Jack pick up on my sign and stand up to attempt to pull him off me, yelling as she tried to. "Ya ain't sittin' here. Now get off mah friend before ah make ya." "No! You beat it, cow-girl! She's mine, got it!?" He soon shot back at her. I immediately saw her face turn more confused before she got to plan B. Which was pulling him off and shoving him away. She finished by taking a seat next to me to prevent him from doing it again. "Now leave won't ya." I looked away, ignoring his obvious frustration with what happened. "I'll be back! Don't you worry, beautiful!" He yelled to our table before running off to his. It was loud enough for the whole cafeteria to hear but I didn't care. I was just happy to have him leave me alone. I let out a relieved sigh and looked over at my friend. "Thanks, AJ. You really saved my life there." "No problem, Dash. Ah'm not lettin' him do that to ya like that." She smiled before continuing. "With that said, ya got any idea why he just did all of that." I just shrugged again. "I already said, I have no idea. It just sorta happened and I don't know why." I let out an annoyed sigh. "It's probably just another one of his dumb pranks." "I guess.." Sunset shrugged. "I- I mean... It's better than him being mean to you, right?" Fluttershy quietly mentioned. "M-Maybe..?" I gave her a small stare before responding. "No way. I'm fine with him pushing me around a few times, I can take it. but I can't stand him being that close to me! Didn't you see him!? He was almost on my lap!" I saw her sink away in her seat showing a small nod. Not long after that, we heard the school bell ringing and the other students there starting to leave. "I'll be out. I'll catch up with you guys later." I said goodbye to my friends before heading out the door and into the hall. I was just walking, minding my own business, when I suddenly heard something behind me. "Woah there Beautiful~! Wait up for me!" Recognized the voice and turned only to see James catch up to me. I saw he was quite a bit away so I decided to try to make a run for it to escape the guy. As I was running to my class, I could hear his steps getting faster, letting me know that he was running after me now too. I was starting to panic a little now. I was fast but he beat me at tracks multiple times. If I was going to outdo him and get to my class safely, I'd have to think fast at every turn. While I was running, I remembered I had to take the stairs up to the next floor. I looked behind me for a quick second before noticing him getting closer and closer. I thought the steps of the stairs would maybe slow him down but as I made my way up I noticed it did nothing to help me escape. I felt a panic emerge in me again when I saw the door to the next floor. It was a pull door which meant I'd have to stop to open it up. I just managed to pull it open and was going to get away when he grabbed my arm, keeping me in place. "M-Man. You're fast. But I finally caught you, Babe~" He said as he caught his breath. I tried to turn the other way but he secured me thereby putting his arm around me. His grip was too strong for me to break. "D-Don't call me that! I told you to leave me be!" I struggled once more to no avail. He just smiled at my attempt to break free. "You're so funny, Babe. I'll never leave you somewhere all alone. That would be irresponsible of me and very neglectful of my new girlfriend." I got a look of pure confusion before responding. "What- No, I'm not your girlfriend, creep!" "Aww, Babe..." He looked over at me with huge puppy eyes. "That really hurt my feelings..." I was really starting to get annoyed by his nicknames. "Can you stop calling me that-" I got interrupted by the school bell ringing across the halls. I looked down at my watch and saw I was already several minutes late to my class. "You have to let me go! I'll miss a very important class if you don't." I thought making it sound more urgent would make him let go. "Oh, I'm so sorry for making you late, Babe. But no worries. I come with you and get you out of trouble!" He announced proudly as he got his arm from me and grabbed my hand instead, starting to walk through the halls with me. "Which room is it. If it's Miss. Flemmings class I'll have the best excuse that will save you for sure!" I could only show a dumbfounded look before responding. "It is... What are you planning to do exactly..?" I didn't want to be left with any awkward surprises so I wanted to know for sure what he would pull. "Simple," He started. "I'll just say we bumped into each other while you were on your way and you don't deserve any punishment for my stupid mistakes. And bam! No trouble for my dear Dashie~!" He sang a little too loudly for my preference. "Sure, whatever. You just do that then.." I still didn't know what was wrong with him to act like this towards me but if his new behavior was going to get me out of trouble, it was worth it to stick around for a little longer. We soon got to the classroom and I was going to knock on the door when he stopped me. "Let me do it for you, Babe." He said before knocking for me just a second later. We then waited patiently for the door to open. When it did, I saw the teacher look at me unimpressed. "Rainbow Dash, you're impressively late. Care to explain?" "Well, I-" Before I could continue, James cut in. "It's all my fault, Miss. Flemmings. I bumped into her and made her late. Rainbows did nothing wrong and doesn't deserve any punishments for my mistakes." He said before giving me a more than obvious wink. I could die right then and there. The teacher didn't look convinced and I was embarrassing myself in front of the whole class. "I shouldn't have bothered with those bananas..." I said quietly under my breath, looking the other way. In a complete turn of events, the teacher's unconvinced look suddenly turned into a smile as she stepped back to let me into the classroom. "I completely understand. Please come in Rainbow Dash. The whole class is already waiting for you!" It was very surprising but I did my best to hide my confusion to maybe avoid any further suspicion from her. I quickly got to my seat and tried to ignore most of the confused faces thrown my way. Miss. Flemmings was known as one of the strictest teachers at school. For me to be let in without further comment obviously made everyone confused. Just before the teacher closed the door I heard James yell, "Whooo! You go girl!" Before the door got shut in his face and I heard him run off, probably to his own class. The rest of the class was pretty normal. Aside from some the strange looks from others here and there, everything was like it would otherwise be. Soon, the bell rang again and as I left the classroom, I immediately saw James back in my sight. "You're back, Babe!" he said as she embraced me tightly, before letting go and showing me a wide smile. "I waited for you outside. What class do you have next? Can I walk with you? I've missed you soooo much!" He bombarded me once more with affection before I responded. "Uhm, sure, why not. It's chemistry." "Oh, class 3.5, right? Mine is really near there!" He yelled excited as we walked across the halls. He eventually settled on a calm, happy smile. "I'm so happy to spend this much time with my favorite girl." I know I shouldn't, but I felt myself smiling at his statement. I was still confused about what happened, of course, but I wasn't minding his company that much. He was pretty calm right now and seemed to have no ill intent towards me. We turned a corner when I saw his friend group blocking our way. They were blocking the stairs with their bodies, which we needed to get to the next floor. "What gives!?" I asked annoyed as I tried to get through, only to be pushed back, with James catching me before I could fall backward. "You're not getting through us, Crash." One of them said. "Not until you two tell us what you're both pulling." I just responded confused. "What? What do you-" "Don't lie to me!" He yelled back at me, pretty loudly. "You probably did something with your "Equestrian magic" or whatever that witchcraft is you're pulling. Admit it Crash!" He stepped towards me with them all looking like they would beat me up right there. I was going to say something when James stepped in front of me looking furious with the other guys. "How DARE you talk to my girlfriend like that!? You guys will clear the way and let us through right now or I'll make you all move!!" He threatened his friends who now had a dumbfounded look on their faces. "What the heck are you talking about, dude. She's your girlfriend now?? Since when??" The guy asked again. "She is!" James said proudly. "Now get out of the way so she can pass." All of the boys were silent and looked more than confused about what was being said to them. The silence was eventually interrupted by a thud sound. I turned around to see where the sound came from and saw someone had tripped in the hall. Being near, I walked towards them and helped them up. "You okay? What happened?" "I think I slipped on something.." The girl responded, rubbing her head. I looked to where she fell and saw banana peel on the ground. James also caught up with me, along with his friends. "What happened here?" He asked me before I pointed at the banana peel on the ground. "They slipped on the banana peel." Right as I said it, everyone's faces lit up and showed a big smile. It was similar to what happened at the cafeteria with James earlier today... "Omg, you're so right! You're the best Rainbow Dash!" The girl said as she hugged me tightly. James's friends also changed as they all grouped around me. "Let's get her to where she needs to be, guys!" One of them yelled before they picked me up and brought me to my next class. The rest of the people that were in the hall also followed closely behind, cheering my name with giant smiles on their faces. This was getting very weird now. But some part of me kind of liked it.. No, I don't. I shouldn't. Something weird is going on and I have to get to the bottom of it. There has to be something that makes them act this way towards me, right? I didn't have the time to think about that, tho, as I was quickly at my location. "Let go of the queen!" One of the boys yelled before they put me back on my feet. "Queen?" The word rang in my head multiple times, as I was trying to wrap my mind about it. Their faces all lit up again as they started cheering again. "Yes, you're our queen Rainbow Dash! Queen Rainbow Dash! Queen Rainbow Dash!" They began saying it over and over again. I felt my face turning red at the sight of tens of people cheering my name in this kind of way. It felt kind of good.. Wait, no it doesn't! This is weird and it needs to be fixed! I still couldn't help cracking a smile as I turned to enter my classroom. Everyone wished me, their "queen", goodbye before heading off too. Most of the people in the classroom looked confused at me but I didn't care. I could only think about what happened for everyone to start acting like this. There had to be something that started all of this? Whatever it is, I need to know! I need to put a stop to this! But until then, it couldn't hurt to enjoy some of the attention, right?