//------------------------------// // Chapter 11: Setting up for the dance // Story: Finally at Pegasus A MLP: FIM and Ranma ½ X-Over // by Alicornian //------------------------------// Chapter 11: Setting up for the dance Rarity sighed as she looked over the gym once again. Last time she was in here was when Pinkie had her party that went out with a literal bang. Now… now it was hers to decorate and design for the upcoming school dance and not just any school dance, Hearth’s Warming Eve dance or as the humans put it the Christmas Dance. Looking the gym over she sighed once again as she added and removed mental details and designs and decorations to the large gym. It was going to take some time to set it up and a lot of hands to pull it off. “You okay Rarity?” Twilight asked as she walked up her friend, a checklist at hand as always. “Oh, yes Twilight. I’m just trying to figure out how many helpers we’re going to need this year for the dance.” Rarity responded tiredly. “Oh well… I think we’ll need the same amount as last year. But…” Rarity already knew the current issue at hand. Applejack still had to take care of her injured brother and little sister Apple Bloom, she too had to take care of her own sister Sweetie Belle, Rainbow was still in recovery from her injuries during another race, and Vinyl Scratch couldn’t help out this year due to the wait on the new speakers she had ordered. So far she had Pinkie Pie, Twilight, and Fluttershy to help out. Shaking her head she looked to her friend Twilight who she had put on organization. “Can we go over the list again Twilight?” Twilight smiled and got the list ready. “Sure.” Taking a deep breath she began. “Ribbon,” “Check.” “Mistletoe,” “Check.” “Tinsel,” “Check.” “Alright, the Christmas tree, what about it Twilight?” Twilight looked to the list and smiled. “It’s on its way.” Rarity nodded at this. “Good. Now ornaments?” “We’ve got Ms. Cheerily’s students working on them now.” Rarity nodded at this. It was always good to have homemade ornaments on the tree than store bought ones. “What about entertainment?” Twilight turned the page and nodded. “Octavia is free this year for the Dance and is more than happy to play for us along with the rest of the choir but she insists she leads.” Rarity tapped her chin at this and nodded. “Alright but that means we’ll have to go semi-formal this year; now for the last part, food and drink?” Twilight sighed at this. “The Cakes sadly are swamped with orders and we all know how Pinkie is when it comes down to treats and drinks.” Both shivered at the memory of the high note Ranko sung after just a few glasses of Pinkie’s punch. “Too bad Applejack isn’t here. She’d be able to pitch in on that.” Rarity said tiredly. “I’ll try and get Lyra and Bonbon to help us out.” Twilight responded kindly. “Thank you, Twilight. I don’t know what I’d do without you or the others. Still… we are a bit underhanded.” Twilight nodded at this. “Why don’t we ask for some volunteers?” Rarity was about to say no to this till Fluttershy spoke up. “We could ask Ranko and Ranma to help. If that’s not too much trouble.” Rarity and Twilight blinked at this but nodded. Ranma and his sister have been helping them out a lot and it would give them all more time to get to know the two. --- “WHAT?!” Ranma asked as he and James walked out of the school. “Come on man it’s not that bad. All we’re going to do is set the Gym up for the Dance and it’ll give you a chance to make a few more friends and hang out with the ones you do. Besides, I think Summer has a thing for your sister.” James said making Ranma blanch. “No… no way. She’s just… nice is all,” Ranma responded, “and… I wouldn’t mind spending some more time with the girls.” James nodded at this. “So?” Ranma sighed at this. “Alright I’ll help. But only if I don’t have homework.” James nodded at this. “Alright, well I’ll catch you later man. I got some errands I got to do before I head home. Later.” Ranma waved his friend off and continued on his way home but… “Yeah I’ll go check up on Dash and Jackie. See how they’re doing.” Getting back on his bike he rode over to the Rain Residence and knocked on the door. “Oh, hello Ranma, how are you and your sister?” Ms. Rain asked at the door. “Just fine Ms. Rain. How’s Dash doing?” Ms. Rain smiled at this. “You’re a good kid Ranma. She’s fussy over being stuck in a cast and in bed but she’s getting better. I was just off to pick her and Scooter from school and I just finished hooking up the cart for Dash to ride in.” Ranma looked at the cart and smiled a bit. He had seen such carts in Hong Kong and was a pleasant memory to have now that Shampoo and Cologne were now his allies. “Hope she gets well soon.” Ranma said smiling. “I do too. I’d hate for her to miss the school dance even if she doesn’t like the kind I think they’ll be having this year.” Ms. Rain responded checking the connections to the cart one last time. “What kind is it going to be?” Ranma asked curiously. “Classical. I believe Octavia is running the quire this year.” Ms. Rain answered getting onto her bike. “Oh. Well… I’ll inform my sister about it.” Ranma responded wondering what he had just gotten himself into… again. “Alright then, I’ll let Dash know you came by. Take care.” It was at this Ms. Rain was off. Ranma sighed and shook his head. He then pressed onto Jackie’s farm to check up on her family. Mac his math teacher was still out so Ms. Cheerily had to take over for him. She was pretty nice but Mac just had this way of making math so much easier and well so did Ms. Cheerily. Finally pulling up to the fence that outlined the farm he called out to his good friend. “Hey Jackie, are you there?” Jackie came out from behind a group of tree with an axe. “Well if it ain’t my friend Ranma. How’s it goin’?” Jackie asked putting down her axe and walking up to him. “Not bad. How’s your brother?” Jackie sighed at this. “He’s healing. Doc said he’ll be up and about before Christmas so me and Bloom are taking his part of the chores so he can rest and recover.” Ranma smiled at this. “That’s really nice of you Jackie. What up with the axe?” Jackie looked back at the axe and tipped her hat down sighing. “Wood rot.” Ranma blinked at this. “A few tree in the back of the orchard’s got it and we got to chop them down and rid of the away from the fields or they’ll infect the rest of the crop and we can’t be having that, so sir.” Jackie explained. “Need some help?” Ranma asked getting off his bike. “Thank yah kindly Ranma. I sure could use it.” Jackie said leading the way. --- “Over a little more; you almost have it.” Rarity said as Ranko and another girl. Ranko sighed at this exhausting work. For the past four hours Rarity had been hounding them about every single detail in the decorating of the gym. “Is she always this picky?” She asked after coming down from the ladder. Sparkle shook her head no. “This is just Rarity being Rarity Ranko. Also thanks for coming. We really appreciate the help.” Ranko smiled at her friend as she grabbed a bright red sparkling ribbon. “No problem Sparkle. Um, Rarity where do you want this?” Rarity looked over to her and pointed to the basketball hoop. “On the back board Ranko. And do be careful while on those ladders.” Ranko nodded as she climbed up the ladder only to hear it start to crumble under her. “Ranko!” Ranko fell over and blinked as she was held up on the last and only piece of the now unusable ladder. She soon turned to find she was being held up by Rarity and Sparkle. “You alright dear?” Rarity asked a bit worried. “Yeah, I’m fine. Thanks.” Ranko replied. “Your quite welcome, though I regret to tell you that you’re in the need of a new pair of pants. That fall ripped your pants leg and that won’t do. Come now, we’ll head to my boutique and get you a new pair.” Rarity informed. “Oh well I’m fine. It’s just a…” Ranko started. “I won’t take no for an answer dear. Sparkle be a dear and let everyone know we’re done for tonight and can continue tomorrow.” Ranko tried to resist but Rarity was just too much for her at the moment. “Um, Rarity?” Rarity turned to look at none other than Summer. “Oh Summer, you need something dear?” Summer blushed and hid behind her hair a bit. “I um was wondering if you could make a dress for me, if that’s not too much trouble.” Rarity smiled. “Not at all Summer. Why not join us, I was just heading back home with Ranko and I can help you both at the same time.” Summer quickly nodded following them. “Help.” Ranko said as she was being dragged away. --- “No. No. Unh-unh. Too Red, too blue, too short, not short enough, too old, too new…” Ranko just sighed as she was subjected to pants after pants after pants! Rarity treated the rip like it was a complete disaster or some kind of mortal wound that had to be treated immediately. Looking down at her ripped pants she looked the rip over and after giving it a critical look found Rarity was right to get it taken care of that moment. The rip was in a place she did not want tearing more and for good reason. Last time she had clothes damaged like this the guys of her school did everything they could to get the rest off of her and she meant everything. Only one to fully do so was the Chinese warrior Mouse, a master of the Hidden Weapon Technique. The memory of how close her fellow classmates where to seeing her with nothing on sent shivers down her spine. Yet for now she was in a borrowed bath robe that kept her well covered. “Look Rarity I thank you for going out of your way to do all this but well… couldn’t you just repair the pair I already have?” Ranko asked carefully. Rarity turned with a set of pants in her arm giving her a critical eye. “Ranko dear I could but with where that rip is it would take me days just to get it right so it won’t rip again. No, what you need is a new pair of unrippable… ah here we are!” Rarity said holding up a pair of rough denim pants. Ranko took the pair and look it over. On one leg was a gold and silver threaded fire design that went from the pants bottom to the knee while on the other leg was a design similar to that of Princess Luna’s cutie mark. “Wow.” Was all Ranko could say at the moment. “It’s made from denim a very tough and rugged material. Normally I don’t work with it but a few of my customers who do a lot of outside work requested that I start making a clothes line that was a bit more worker friendly so I tried it out and even put my own twist to the designs if you were.” Rarity informed guiding Ranko to a dressing room. “Um Rarity, can you help me please.” Summer asked from a neighboring dressing room. “Of course dear, Ranko why don’t you try those on while I go help Summer.” Ranko just nodded as she began changing into the new pair of pants. --- Summer/Fluttershy sighed. She really wanted to see Ranko in a few of Rarity’s outfits, like one of her dresses or better yet one of her tuxedos like she makes for Lyra at times. But for now she had to settle for a pair of Rarity’s designer denim jeans. “Now summer what seems to be the problem dear?” Rarity asked outside the dressing room. “Could you help me get my dress on Rarity? I can’t seem to reach my back to zip it up.” Summer replied. “Oh dear, I knew I should have added that strap to help zip it. Turn around and I’ll zip it up for you.” Rarity replied kindly. “Oh, thank you.” Summer said turning. The sound of a zipper being pulled up was soon heard and Summer soon left the dressing room. “How do I look?” Rarity gently pulled Summer onto a small worker’s stand and walked around her giving her a critical look. “How does it feel on you dear, too tight anywhere?” Summer did the usual tests to find any tightness in the dress and nodded. “The chest is a bit tight and the waist is too.” Rarity blinked at this. “Really? But I used the measurements we took from the last dress and… oh dear that might have done it. That was during the Spring Dance. I do appologize Summer, I’ll get on the corrections right away. Now let’s get you out of that dress and get your new measurements.” Summer blushed heavily at this and did as told. “Now Ranko are you ready?” Rarity asked. Summer carefully opened the door to the dressing room a bit to get a good look at Ranko. “I… guess so.” Ranko said stepping out. Summer nearly gasped at the how the form fitting denim pants where on Ranko. To say Ranko wasn’t model worthy was a clear understatement. And to say she was actually a super model was very close. No, to Summer Ranko looked like a protective and extremely powerful angelic goddess. “Um… how… how to they look on me?” Ranko asked blushing. “Ranko dear you look absolutely breathe taking.” Rarity replied. “Would you ever consider modeling a few of my designs for me at some point?” Ranko turned even redder. “What? I um I mean I… I would love to but um… I um got uh… stage fright. Yeah, really bad stage frights.” Rarity just gave her a look. “Oh really, then what would you call the blow speakers at Pinkie’s last party hmm?” Ranko blanched and looked down. “Ranko you don’t need to be embarrassed about modeling or singing. And I am only asking if you would dear. I would never try to pressure someone into modeling for me, ever.” Summer and Rarity shuddered from the memory of such an ordeal when they were back in Equestria. “Oh um well… thank you. How much do I own you for the pants?” Ranko said looking herself in a mirror. “Consider it on the house dear and I won’t take no for an answer. I just hope you’ll consider me a friend and someone you can come to when you have a fashion emergency or just an ear to talk to.” Rarity said smiling. “Well… thank you Rarity, and I think we could be friends but can we give it some time? I kind of had bad experiences with free items in the past.” Ranko said honestly. “Of course dear, now if you don’t mind I have some work to do on Summer’s dress.” Rarity said earning an Eep from Summer’s dressing room. “Sure. See you two at school.” Ranko said hurrying home to change back into a guy and into some male clothing. “You can come out now Fluttershy and shame on you for trying to peep on poor Ranko.” Rarity said turning on her. Fluttershy just hid behind her hair as she rang her hands out of nervousness. “Now Fluttershy, why would you do such a thing especially when…you…oh, oh my.” Fluttershy hid further into her hair. “Fluttershy I didn’t know you were…” Rarity said before hugging her dear friend. “I’m… I’m sorry Rarity.” Fluttershy said sadly. “Don’t be dear. It’s who you are and no one and I mean no one can change that.” Rarity said giving her a tight hug before pulling her away. “And well… it does explain a lot.” Fluttershy blinked at this. “I have noticed how you looked at me while at the spa at times. Not that I would said anything mind you. So you have a crush on our dear friend Ranko?” Rarity explained and soon asked. “Y-yes, she’s just so beautiful and kind and…” Fluttershy just sighed lovingly. “That is true dear that she is quite helpful. She did help out Applejack when her brother got injured.” Rarity said getting some measuring tape out. “Yes and she’s so strong. I think she practices the same art as her brother.” Fluttershy said standing still for Rarity to gain her measurements. “Her brother dear? I did not know she had one.” Rarity commented noting the needed adjustments to the dress. “Ranma.” Fluttershy replied staying still. “Ranma has a sister? None of the papers we all saw said anything about a sister, though they did seem a bit out dated.” Rarity replied tapping her chin. “Yes but… please don’t tell her.” Fluttershy begged. “I won’t dear however I will say this.” Rarity said coyly. “Yes?” Fluttershy asked. “Remember the Fall Race?” Rarity asked gaining a nod. “You two really should have kissed.” Fluttershy turned bright red at this. “Rarity!” Rarity only giggled at the minor tease which Fluttershy soon joined into. To be continued