//------------------------------//
// Chapter One 
// Story: A Dash of Harmony 
// by Hop3l3ssRomantic 
//------------------------------//

 I really am lucky to go to Canterlot High. Even with all the magic shenanagins, I find myself filled with joy most times-at least after Rainbow and her friends stopped Sunset from taking over. Then there were the Sirens; that fiasco was entertaining. The Rainbooms stopped that too. 
That's why I wasn't surprised when I discovered that Rainbow had something in store for the friendship games. But when she asked for MY help…I was giddy. Of course I made sure to be appropriately excited, so as to not appear wierd or annoying. Which meant not hugging her awkwardly or jumping up and down. That I did later, in front of Trixie and Lavender, which was treated with multiple eyerolls. 
~~       ~~        ~~       ~~     ~~
“Can you believe that Rainbow Dash asked me to get the band to work with her on her rally. ME!!” I loudly exclaim to Trixie and Lavender. Lavender puts her hand on my shoulder, as an attempt at stopping my pacing. 
“We know it’s exciting, but we all know Rainbow, don't let the fact that she's"
I interrupt quickly with, “The captain of every sports team, lead vocalist and guitarist for the most awesome band, and a vital part in saving the world twice!” 
“Yes, well, don't place her on a pedestal. Be careful Harmony,” Lavender adds, her face full of concern. Trixie, however, smiles widely before jumping up.
“Harmony Glade you are in luck! I, the Great and Powerful Trixie shall help you in your endeavours!” She loudly declares, a fist pump and everything. 
~~             ~~               ~~            ~~
My endeavours were not as difficult as I imagined, though the choreography was more difficult. The hassle, in and of itself, was getting everyone together without scheduling problems.
Rainbow definitely tried her hardest to make time for every single one, though. She even canceled a Rainbooms practice for it. 'The school really means a lot to her' I reflected.
~~            ~~           ~~           ~~
“Harmony." I hear someone say.
"Harmony!" They repeat louder.
"Hello?" Rainbow interrogates, waving her hand in front of my face. I feel the blush bloom like wildfire across my cheeks. 
"Anyone in there?” She asks, slightly cocking her head to the side. 
I chuckle nervously and apologize. “Rainbow, y-you surprised me...I was just thinking through some ques, memorizing." I scratch my head and smile. 
She gives me a suspicious glance but shrugs it away. “Weird. Anyway I just wanted to make sure everything was set for this afternoon," She says, smiling at me. 'She's just a normal person, not a celebrity or anything. Don't place her on a pedestal Harmony,' I chide to myself in my mind. Then I go through the list of preparations. All set, I nod to her. She smiles and runs off towards her friends with a wave. I go back to eating my sandwich, trying to keep my mind on my music. It works for a bit, before she comes running back, and slams her hands on the table.          
"One more thing, I almost forgot, there's no need to be so nervous. I mean, I know I'm awesome" and "but you're pretty cool," Her eyes roam across my face and she smirks with confidence, "so you shouldn't worry so much. See you later.” 
She rushes off again after that, leaving me with my mouth hanging open. Trixie and Lavender approach, carrying their food and snickering. 'She called me cool,' I think to myself as I close my mouth.
~~            ~~               ~~               ~~
The pep rally was a rush I couldn't believe. It feels so good to help them with that school pride. I can see why Rainbow does so many of these events. Plus being so close to Rainbow when she ponied up was so awesome. I know for sure that, with her on our team, we'll be able to beat those Crystal Preps. 
I put my baton back in my locker and take a thoughtful look in my mirror. 'Nothing out of place, I might as well head to the welcoming party. I hope those other students aren't too mean, though right now I feel I could take on anything. '
I find myself immediately proven horribly wrong. How are we supposed to get along with these snobs; there isn't even anything sweet to eat. Pinkie Pie clearly hasn't visited this party yet. I move along the edge to where, hopefully, none of the Crystal Prep students will notice me. I lean against the wall and listen half-heartedly to Principal Celestia's speech.
“Hello there darling, might you be the girl who helped Rainbow so much with that rally?” Rarity asks from behind. I turn to look at her, surprised that another one of the most popular girls in school would talk to me.
“Uh, yes. That would be me. Harmony Glade, pleasure to meet you.” I hold out my hand and she shakes it with a large smile. 
“Truly the pleasure's mine. It's not often Rainbow speaks so highly of someone; you really were quite helpful. " She pauses thoughtfully, then adds, "You've been to every game too, if I'm not mistaken.” I smile nervously, feeling a blush spread across my face.
"Well, I am part of the band." I say, glad about not stuttering. 'A bad habit, betrays your nerves, need to stop doing that' I berate myself silently.
“Darling you don't give yourself enough credit. Besides if she thinks you're cool, than you probably are." She tohoughtfully looks over my outfit and adds, "Your fashion choices aren't too bad either.” She adjusts a piece of hair that was loose from its bun. Suddenly a pink blur flies through the room, followed by music and a party canon. With that, it becomes too loud for conversation and I close my eyes and dance along to the music.
I leave shortly after the Crystal Prep principle takes the stage, heading outside to enjoy the night sky. I find myself sitting on a bench in front of the statue adorning the school's entrance. My thoughts drift back to today's pep rally-and Rainbow's promise of victory. “Stars, please let what she says be true. We can't lose this year, they're too mean, even to each other. How can such mean people win so often?” I muse, searching the heavens for an answer.
“It will take everyone feeling like that if we want to win.” A gentle voice startles me from behind, and I jump a little before realizing it was Rainbow's. She's giggling softly; in the moment, I realize how surprizingly cute her giggle is. 
“Scare you, did I?” She taunts, playfully.
“You meant to.” I state rhetorically before asking, "Lame party?" 
She jumps up on the statue and starts walking the edges. “Yeah, not nearly awesome enough for me.” She gestures to herself, almost losing balance before gaining it back at the last second. I look back up at the stars, sitting silently for a few moments before her voice, still soft for some reason, catches my ear again
“Rarity talked to you,” she says with hesitation, as if hiding an implied question. I almost miss it, but save myself with a nod. 
“What did she say?” she asks, immediately, before beginning to walk once more along the edge. I didn't realize she had stopped. 
'As if the silence and beauty of the night could ever clash with her brashness,' I almost say, though not before stopping myself. 'No - I -  that would be so weird to say right now - I have no idea...' I pause, searching the stars for an answer. 
“My fashion choices aren't bad.” I answer partially, wondering why she asked, surely Rainbow would know what I was told. I try not to notice as she jumps off the statue and sits next to me on the bench. 
"What was that?" She says, looking at me quizzacally. Though, I'm confident that she heard me. I stay silent for a bit, wanting to be conscious of her every movement, yet my eyes try to look anywhere but her.
"She said that my fashion choices aren't bad," I repeat, unsure of why she's asking. I tilt my head towards her, looking for any reaction that could explain. She giggles slightly and I look at the stars again, letting silence take hold. After a few moments I glance back at her and find that she's adjusted her position into a graceful slouch against the benches backrest. 
'A graceful... slouch?' I think doubtfully. Yet oddly enough, it perfectly describes how she is - her arms are draped over the backrest; her feet, turning side to side, pivoting from where her heels dig into the ground; her back completely straight, resting on an invisible cushion. 
"Anything else?" She inquires, a curious look on her face.
“She also said that you, um... speak highly of me.” I continue, hoping the night hides my blush. I try not to notice any of her movements, but looking at the ground proves less than helpful, so I copy her, and look up at the sky. 
We stay silent for a good few seconds more- the only noise being a soft shuffle from the continued tilting of her feet.
I want to like the situation. 'Here I am, sitting under the moonlight, gazing up at the night sky, next to the Rainbow Dash...'
But I notice, with frustration, I can't find any more words to say. Leaning back from my cramped position offers little to no comfort, though I feel her hand brush away from my shoulder when I do. A few seconds pass, and she lets it settle on the back of my neck. I lean in, slightly - it's so slight what I do, though, that I doubt she notices.
"I do.” She says, with a finality that causes my heart to skip a beat. She glances my way with a smug confidentce, before turning her eyes back to the stars. 
With the air so still and quiet, it's hard for anything we do to go unnoticed by each other. We're somehow both bent on stargazing the hell out of this - admittedly gorgeous - night sky. I adjust my feet; she stops hers from moving. I edge closer; her breath hitches. She scoots up slightly on the wood; my back shoots straight up, to where I'm sitting awkwardly again. We share a glance for a fraction of a second; I look back to the stars and wonder; and I think she does, too. She sighs and closes her eyes; I take a moment to turn slightly towards her again; I notice her prismatic locks framed perfectly by pinpoints of starlight and an ocean of dark atmosphere, and the moon.
I never knew I could feel this way with someone just sitting next to me, until this moment.
One thing I know for certain, now, is that I took too long tonight. Rainbow Dash fell asleep while I sat there, thinking about what to say. I sat, looking at the stars, trying to recall the poetic sounding words I had thought of while we'd been talking before. All of the sudden, she fell over into my lap, and I was shocked at such a sudden movement from her; but instead of jolting her awake, her collapse only seemed to pull her from the edge of consciousness into the realm of dreams.
I was so enamored to see, and feel her, resting against my lap as if it were a comfortable pillow, that... I didn't mind sitting there for much, much longer.
She was awakened - and I, broken from me trance of admiration- by my phone suddenly going off. I frantically pull it out of my pocket to see that it's nearly midnight. I notice that the interruption was a text from my mom, asking where I am. Rainbow yawns, and mumbles something about being well rested,but I can tell she's still tired. 
We head home our separate ways in a silent agreement. Though what that agreement is, and what it entails, I still have to wonder.