//------------------------------//
// Chapter 4 
// Story: Feeling the Rhythm 
// by DougtheLoremaster 
//------------------------------//

Twilight groggily opened her eyes as she felt the cotton sheets on her body. Startled, Twilight looked around at the room she was in. She was in a bed. A rather luxurious one at that; crisp, clean silken sheets and a woven bedspread. Next to her, in a much smaller bed of his own, lay Spike, curled up and resting peacefully beneath a woolen blanket.
Where am I?
The room was massive. Twilight could see it was divided into seven total sections, each with its own colored wallpaper, queen bed, dresser, and amenities. The sections were placed in a circular formation around a large circular hardwood floor; a dance studio. Twilight blinked. 
“What is this?”
“Good, you’re awake. Welcome to your new home. That fridge contains your favorite foods and is programmed to replicate all inventory once per day. Your shower and bathroom are all set to your ideal temperatures, do not mess with my presets. Now get your flank up and when you’re ready the others are waiting downstairs.”
Twilight stared blankly at Starlight who was rushing around, tidying up the various areas, only stopping once more as she realized Twilight hadn’t moved. Facing the confused Twilight, Starlight barked at her.
“That was not a suggestion Sparkle! You may be a Princess’s heir, back home, but while you are on my team, your flank will do as I say. Now get moving!”
Bolting from the bed in fear, Twilight ran down the stairs at a breakneck speed, though she couldn’t help but think there had been some misunderstanding. She had only just moved here, she wasn’t sure what Starlight meant by her team. What team? And then she noticed them, just sitting and talking at a round table; on which all areas of Equestria were displayed.
Five mares of various hues were swigging down ale; three watching as the one Twilight recognized as Applejack hoof-wrestled a cyan-furred Pegasus with a rainbow-colored mane. Various shouts of encouragement flew from the onlookers:
“You got this AJ, Darling!”
An alabaster-furred Unicorn sat with an amethyst mane though it had been highlighted with a dark golden hue. Her tail like her mane was perfectly coifed and it too had golden highlights. Her eyes sparkled in excitement as she watched the scene and shouted her encouragement to Applejack. She was quickly nudged playfully by a pink earthpony with a bouncy bubblegum pink mane and tail who called out loudly and energetically.
“Come on Dashie, this is a cakewalk. with frosting!...Mmmm cake, with frosting…Gooey, creamy frosting.”
Off to the side, sat a butter-furred Pegasus, whose wings and limbs were decorated with various tattoos; depicting the various wild creatures of Equestria. She was watching the fight intensely, not blinking once as she stated in a cagey manner.
“Oh yes, definitely a cakewalk. This is clearly AJ’s fight to lose, look she isn’t even trying. It’s like a cat with a mouse. Stop playing with your food and sink your fangs into her!”
Applejack laughed as her opponent strained with everything she had, to no avail.
“Hey come on Rainbow, surely that can’t be all ya got-huh?”
Her opponent gave a strangled scream as she pushed with all her might, just as Applejack noticed Twilight by the stairs, distracting her just long enough to slam her hoof down in victory.
A groan rose from the observers at the table, as the cyan Pegasus gloated.
“Ha! The best. There. Is-”
Applejack smirked as she gestured to Twilight and said as she stole a kiss from her opponent on the cheek..
“That’s why ya won, sugarcube.”
In a huff, the Pegasus glared at Applejack.
“You can’t be serious! Are you saying you were distracted?”
Winking, Applejack said simply.
“Enjoy your first victory.”
All around the table broke out into laughter, that is until the Pegasus angrily stamped her hoof.
“No.”
Applejack’s smile faded a little. She tried to gently defuse the situation.
“A win’s a win right?”
“No! Not when you claim to have been distracted. You’re acting like you’ve been going easy on me! Me, Rainbow Dash, the strongest Pegasus there is.”
Sighing, Applejack said softly.
“I have been Dash. The truth is, I haven’t used a fraction of my real strength to compete against you. Just be happy you won, and let’s drop this.”
Rainbow Dash was outraged. 
“How dare you…again. Let’s do it over.”
“Dash.”
“Now!”
Applejack sighed and glanced at her partner.
"Rar?”
After a reassuring nod from Rarity, Applejack sat down once more.
“Alright, I won’t hold back, but just remember, ya asked for this.”
“Ha, you think I’m scared?"
Twilight’s eyes went wide with shock as in less than five seconds after clasping hooves, Rainbow Dash’s hoof was brought crashing through the now-shattered stone table.
Amidst the silence, Rainbow's face turned a bright red with embarrassment, or was it anger? Twilight couldn't tell. As if in concern for Rainbow Dash, Twilight watched the pink earthpony gently tug on Rainbow's wingtip; as though signaling to go. Rainbow Dash, however, just shook her off.
"Not now, Pinkie Pie."
Fuming silently, Rainbow Dash glared daggers at Applejack before saying.
"This isn't over. I'll win next time. You'll see."
Nodding silently, Applejack gave an encouraging smile, though this only served to enrage Rainbow Dash, who without warning turned and flew out the door, racing away at speeds too high for the eye to see, leaving behind a worried Pinkie. She turned to look at Applejack.
"You still held back."
Rarity chuckled as her partner nodded.
"Of course Ah did. If Id’ve used any more of mah raw strength, Dash would be dead. That mare of yours should stick to her real strength; that crazy dancing style she uses."
Pinkie nodded sadly.
“I keep telling her that but her mom-”
“-Was the strongest pony in the entirety of the Wonderbolts.”
Rarity and Applejack finished, having heard it hundreds of times.
“Still strength comes in many forms. Anyway, while Dash blows off steam, wanna join us for a shopping trip? Gonna bake my famous Aunt Betty’s, Brown Betty Apple Crumble.”
Pinkie nodded already drooling in excitement at the mention of the decadent sugary treat. Rarity nudged AJ and indicated Twilight who had just been silently observing. Applejack grinned and nodded.
“Hey you, dancer girl, wanna join us? I’ll bet these two would love to see your dance moves as well, and I know somewhere we can enjoy the rhythm.”
Twilight’s eyes lit up in excitement as she rushed to join them.

	



Over and over, Rainbow Dash slammed her hoof into the cloud-based wall of her house. Again and again, until her hoof began to ache. Glancing at the bruised forehoof, she grimaced. I’m so pathetic. Her eyes were red and puffy as the telltale sign of saltwater streaks coursed down her face. In her mind, she could hear her Dad’s last words to her. Any daughter of my wife could easily have taken that dragon. You are no daughter of ours.
“You seem to be hurting, friend.”
A silky voice gently hissed from behind, causing Rainbow to whirl around only to see nothing. All the lights in the house had gone out, leaving just inky darkness. She shouted.
“Who’s there? Show yourself.”
The speaker seemed to ignore her as it continued.
“I can tell, you want something don’t you? Oh yes, I can see it now, the strength to protect your loved ones?”
Rainbow snarled.
“What’s it to you?”
“An admirable goal, I could give you that power you know.”
Before Rainbow could reply, a creature stepped forward, though the only thing Rainbow Dash could make out were two large, Enviously green eyes peering down into her own.
“All you have to do is give me a dance.”
The creature held its foreleg out to reveal an upturned hoof. Rainbow Dash couldn't tear her eyes away from the creature’s as she found herself asking unbidden of her own will.
“A dance?”
“That’s right. Just one dance and you will have your greatest desire, Rainbow Dash.”
Rainbow tried to refuse but to her horror she found her own forehoof reaching out and locking into the creatures’. All the while she found herself unable to look away from those green eyes.
“Let’s dance.”

	



A scream of desperation sounded through the heavens of Cloudsdales expanse, as a blast of lime-green magic filled the house of Rainbow Dash. On the horizon, the sun could be seen going down as the screamer fell silent, and a sinister cackling was heard followed by two words that seemed to hang in the evening air:
“One down.”