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

       Each day held more practices than the last as the contest drew closer, until eventually I was on the bus to the contest, passed out with early morning exhaustion. 
~~            ~~            ~~           ~~
The sun pierces my eyes, causing me to attempt to roll over, before realizing that I'm on a bus, in Rainbows lap. (She had offered, since it was very early when the bus took off for the city, and she had done the same that first night back during the Friendship Games.) I cover my eyes with a groan -to the sun for existing- and a yawn.
“What time is it?” I mumble, hoping to still have some time to mentally prepare myself for the contest. 
“It's eight-thirty, we're almost there.” Rainbow replies, and I sit up quickly. 
“EIGHT THIRTY!?” I exclaim, since I have to have everything done and ready by ten. “I need more time to prepare. My mentality is not ready for this. We get there in half an hour, then registration, one more practice with each piece…” I say, but my ramble is interrupted when Rainbow shoves a donut in my mouth.
“Calm down, everything's going to go fine. Just eat, you've got to be hungry after sleeping so long” She insists, and points to a whole box of donuts on the seat next to ours. My eyes go wide at the sight and I quickly finish the one I was already given. ‘Apple Fritter, Mmmmm…’
With one finished, attempt to lean across Rainbow to grab the box, only to be blocked by her arm.
“One condition,” She says, her voice playful and her eyes full of confidence. ‘What is she planning?’ I wonder silently. “It's simple, really.” She insists, brushing some hair out of my face.  I look over to the donuts and back at her. 
“Share.” Rainbow states, still blocking the donuts. I look at them longingly, but lean back in my seat and cross my arms. 
“Is sharing so difficult for you that you'd rather go without?” She asks, while playing with a piece of my hair. I turn my head and look out the window with a huff. 
“Fine, I guess I'll just eat them instead, since you don't want them if you can't share them.” She says, and I hear the box open. The donut crunches when she takes a bite, and I fight the urge to turn back around. I can't let her win this, I told her I don't share sweets, so I can't. Even if it means not getting any, I think, forcing myself to not give in. 
I hear a different crunching, and feel something be set in my lap. When I look down I see that Rainbow put half the donut in my lap. I look over to her, and she glances over as well. She winks and eats her half. I stare at the half a donut sitting in my lap -on a napkin of course - and frown at it. 
“Just eat it, it's not like anything bad will happen if you share once.” Rainbow says, wiping her hands. “I promise I won't tell if you do, if your image of ‘never shares sweets’ is in jeopardy.” She says, running her thumb over my hand.
“Well… I guess, just this once.” I say, taking the donut. “After all, a donut is a donut, and it looks soo good.” I add, my mouth watering some at the sight of it. I take an enthusiastic bite.
Rainbow covers her mouth in an attempt to hide laughter. I give her an inquisitive look and she takes a few moments to stop laughing. “I just don't get why you're so obsessed with sweets.” She says, watching me eat. 
“Hey Rainbow Dash! There's some apple cider over here!” Lavender calls, causing Rainbow to spin around in her seat so she's sitting on her knees facing toward the back of the bus. 
“Where?” Rainbow asks, looking around frantically. Everyone bursts out laughing, including me. 
“There's no cider Rainbow” I say, leaning forward while laughing my butt off. “You're just as” I try to speak, pushing the words out between giggles, “obsessed with cider,” I say, catching my breath. “As I am with sweets.” My laughter finally dies down as I finish my sentence, and Rainbow flops back into her seat with a sigh. 
“Nooo cider,” She huffs, blowing a piece of hair out of her face. “Lame.” I resist the urge to laugh again, choosing to instead check the time on my phone. The screen takes a second to light up, and I look at my reflection with...horror. 
“Rainbow…” I say, my voice low. “Do you happen to recall me promising Rarity that I would absolutely not mess up my hair?” I ask, turning to look at her, my eyes narrowed. 
“You did say that,” She replies, feigning interest in a random magazine she picked up. Fashion illustrated? Could her fake reading be any more obvious? I wonder. 
“Do you also recall,” I start, grabbing the magazine from her hands, she looks over at me, stifling a laugh at my bedhead, and probably how long it took me to notice it. “That you insisted that you would keep it from getting messed up while I slept. You even used it as a reason why I should lay in your lap instead of against the window.” I scold, frowning at her. 
“It's no big deal Harmony, just brush it and it will be fine.” Rainbow says, setting my bag in my lap. 
“It took her over an hour.” I reply, pulling out my brush, “I sat through all of the tugging and pulling and curling for nothing. Not to mention every single accessory she tried.” I point the hairbrush at her to help make my point. “Rarity is not to hear about this.” I tell her, before sitting up and looking at every single band member. “Right everyone?” I ask, and they all nod. I turn back around and start brushing my hair with a huff. 
~~           ~~             ~~              ~~
I look around the large room we were given for practice with wide eyes. “Wow,” I say, before running my hands over the cold, polished wood of the grand piano sitting at one corner. “It's so AMAZING!!” 
I sit down at the piano and play a few notes. “Perfectly tuned already…” I mumble to myself. I close my eyes and my hands find their positions. I take a deep breath and let the first few notes of the piece float through my mind, and my fingers play along. I hit every note exactly when I hear it in my mind, and soon I'm just hearing it from the piano. Halfway through the song I feel arms wrap around me and I almost miss a note, I catch it quickly and somehow get back on track with the music. I hit the last note and it echoes throughout the room, filling it with solemn pain, love, and forgiveness. 
The arms pull me closer, and I know it's Rainbow. I lean back and let her familiarity and comfort wash over me. We stay like this for many minutes, the stream of tears flowing silently down my face slowing with every second that passes. 
Finally, I open my eyes and sit up. Rainbow let's go as I move. I wipe off my face and take a few breaths. 
“That was beautiful,” Rainbow says, walking over to me. “There's a story that goes with it.” She's state's, reaching up to caress my cheek.
“Yes, one I don't have time to tell.” I reply, looking at the ground. I give a reassuring smile and look back up, “Practice, practice, practice.” I continue nervously. She gives me a curious look but lets me gather the marching band for one last run through.