Rarity was incredibly disoriented when she finally awoke, which was unsettling to say the least. She had slept face down on her belly, and a pillow soaked with drool was her first sensation. It was most unpleasant, so she pushed away from it and sat up, still feeling somewhat groggy with hair stuck to her face. The rest had been much needed, but she sat there in the stupor of an abnormal sleep schedule. On the bright side, it was several minutes before she remembered her lack of a date for the dance.
“The dance!” Rarity practically screamed, horror sending her heart racing. “What time is it?”
She leapt from the couch and ran to the window. The failing light of day was still bright in the sky, but it must have already been less than an hour until sunset.
“I shouldn’t have slept the afternoon away! There’s not a lot of time,” she said to herself. “What to do? I certainly can’t find a date now. What if I don’t go at all?” The unicorn hummed to herself in thought for a moment. “I’m certainly going to be expected, especially after running around all day the way I have. Not only that, but if I stay away, I am certain to be asked about my absence later.” Rarity began pacing the room as she continued thinking out loud. “Oh! What should I do?”
A meow caught Rarity’s attention. Opalescence was sitting near the dress that the unicorn had created to wear for this very night. The feline looked at her nonchalantly, as cats are wont to do. There was no special significance to this from the part of the animal. However, the connection between the two of them allowed the distraught unicorn’s feelings to be reflected clearly for her to see. Rarity stopped and smiled at her companion.
“Why you are quite correct, Opalescence! It would be a crime to let such a fabulous dress not be seen. Date or no, I am going to the dance!”
After feeding the cat, Rarity performed her most expeditious preparation for a formal event that she had ever achieved. There was a great deal of washing and application of fresh makeup involved. Her hair was tricky, but she managed to get it to cooperate with her efforts. Once completed, she gazed at her reflection in a full length mirror. Her dress was a layered sheer silken light pink with silver trim and red rubies for accents. The same type of gems were also inset in a thin silver tiara that she wore.
“Chin up, darling. It may be the worst possible thing, but you’re going to get through it. Now, get out there and have a good time with your friends.” She nodded at her image and took a deep breath.
The fancy unicorn exited her home at sunset. The cold air made for a brisk walk to the town square. It was a clear evening, and the stars were beginning to come out as dusk was giving way to night. The sound of orchestral music could be heard from the town square already. The streets were mostly empty, but for a few ponies heading to whatever tasks they had found at this late hour. It was a short walk before the festivities came into view.
The center of town around city hall had been decorated quite expertly for the occasion. Banners were overhead, creating a perimeter, and no small amount of exterior illumination had been employed to make the center of Ponyville lit up with the perfect soft ambience for the event. A giant mirror ball with red heart shapes on it reflected the images all over the square. Up on the porch of the town hall, a small orchestra was playing on one side, and Vinyl Scratch was sitting on the other side, checking her equipment. Down below the front was an area that had been cordoned off with rope streamers to create a space that would serve as the dance floor. Only a dozen or so were already making use of it. Most of the others were milling near the buffet tables that had a variety of sweet and salty offerings, not to mention the punch. It would undoubtedly have been made by Pinkie Pie, using her secret family recipe.
Misgivings were already setting in as Rarity scanned the crowd. It seemed that everypony else had a date. Even if she’d been able to serve as an escort for her sister, the solitary unicorn knew it would have been an act of desperation. Still, it would have been better for appearances. In any case, she was already dressed up and had come this far. She couldn’t go back without making an appearance.
“Sorry I’m late, Doc!” a mare’s voice said from behind.
Rarity turned to see Ditzy Doo exiting the muffin shop. She was in an elegant black dress that may have been a little too formal for the occasion, but she wore it well.
“Think nothing of it, my dear!” her companion said cheerfully.
He was wearing a white shirt under a dark blue pinstripe suite with an equally dark red tie and a brown overcoat on top that. Ditzy stumbled coming down the steps in her heels, but the stallion caught her and prevented a fall.
“Careful now! We haven’t even made it onto the dance floor yet,” he smiled at her.
“Oh, thanks, Doc,” the derpy pony said sheepishly as she brushed her blonde mane out of her eyes.
“Allons-y!” he said, and they began walking toward the dance and the unicorn that had observed them. “Good evening, Miss Rarity!”
“Happy Hearts and Hooves Day!” Ditzy Doo offered.
“Good evening to you both,” Rarity replied. “I must say, Miss Doo, you look simply divine!”
“Gee, thanks,” Ditzy answered timidly. “You’re so pretty in your dress.”
“Thank you, darling.”
The pair continued on their way, and the unicorn was once again alone, all dressed up and preparing to steel her resolve to enter the Hearts and Hooves festivities by herself.