//------------------------------// // Dresses, Friends, And Family // Story: End of the Beginning: Darkness Falls // by NerdyByrd //------------------------------// "You all must be excited about the new dresses", Rarity said, clapping her hooves together. "Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah", Pinkie chanted excitedly. "Let's get this over with", Rainbow Dash mumbled, rolling her eyes. "Oh", Rarity said with a smile," In that case, Rainbow Dash, you go first." Rainbow Dash looked at Twister and Lightening. Then she looked at all her friends. They have all gathered to see what Rarity had put together for them. Rainbow Dash didn't like dresses all that much, but the reason why she was reluctant to put the dress on was because of Twister. The last time he saw her in a dress was when she was six. It was a plain yellow dress that she wore for picture day at school. Rainbow Dash sighed, and went into the backroom of the shop. She looked at the line of mannequins. Even though the style of the dress were somewhat changed, the all kept to their themes. Fluttershy's dress was decorated with flower petals and vines. A vine was wrapped around her waist and the dress was a pale green color. The shoes were pink and the dress was made of silk. Applejack's dress was green with brown accents, and had an apple pattern along the waist. The dress, of course, came with a pair of cowgirl boots. Pinkie Pie's was pink accented with a lighter pink. The dress had a variety of candies covering the bottom edge of the dress. A big, blue bow was placed on the ear of the mannequin, and blue shoes to match. Twilight's dress was a bit fancier. It was made of satin and lace, and was a purplish-blue. The stars on the dress made a swirl pattern, and shoes were indeed blue. It also came with a gold necklace that had a purple gemstone, probably to match Twilight's crown. Rarity's dress was a blue layered dress with light purple gemstones decorating it. It had white shoes and a small, white tiara with a blue gemstone. Then, Rainbow Dash's eyes came across her own dress. It had a pink top and a rainbow skirt with a black band around the waist. At the bottom of the skirt was a grey cloud border. The sleeves were made out of netting fabric. They had black shoes, and a hairband was placed on the mannequin's head. The dress was beautiful. Rainbow Dash carefully slip the dress on, and slid her hooves into the shoes. She placed the hairband on the best she could and looked at the mirror. The dress fit perfectly. Rainbow Dash took a deep breath and left the backroom. Everypony looked up at her. "Now ah be darned. You look great Rainbow", Applejack said smiling. "You're beautiful", Twister said softly. He stared into Rainbow Dash eyes, and she stared back. When they did this she felt the urge to kiss him. "You're not gonna kiss, are you", Lightening asked with a look of disgust. "Really Lightening", Rainbow Dash hissed. He busted out in laughter. Twister blushed. Yup, he was thinking about it too. Rainbow Dash began to walk back to the backroom when Rarity stopped her. "Where are you going? We were going to try different mane styles", she pouted. Rainbow Dash tried her best not to laugh at Rarity," I'm going to meet my friends and family from the train station." "Oh, oh", Pinkie said excitedly," Can we go with you and meet them?" Rainbow Dash shrugged," I don't see why not..." "YAY", Pinkie Pie yelled, jumping up and down. Rainbow Dash shook her head and looked over at Twister and Lightening," You should head back to the house. I will meet up with you later." Twister nodded and left with Lightening. Rainbow Dash nodded towards the door. "What are you waiting for", she asked smiling. *** The train pulled it to the station. The wind was blowing hard, and thunder rumbled in the distant. As soon as the train door open, a grey and brown mass shot out and began to smother Rainbow Dash. With hugs. Rainbow Dash manage to pull away from the creature to get a better look of it. It was Crash. He was a grey Pegasus with a solid, brown mane. He had a crash symbol for a cutie mark, kind of like the ones you see in comic books. He was small for a stallion, but then again most of the stallions back home were a bit smaller than average. His brown eyes shimmered, just like they always do. "Dashie! I missed you so much", Crash said burrowing his head into her chest. Rainbow Dash chuckled, remembering Crash's playful personality. "We all missed you", a voice came from the train. Rainbow Dash looked up to see her best friend in the whole world, Fireball. Fireball was a yellow Pegasus with a red and orange mane that was spiked up in the front, tied with a ribbon at the end, kind of like Applejack's. She had blazing red eyes that stood out, like her red-and-orange, curving, fireball cutie mark. Behind her followed Parker, Eon, Nutmeg, and Tails. Parker was a reddish-brownish Pegasus with dark blue mane and eyes. He was Fireball's brother, and had a DNA model of some sort for a cuie mark. Eon was a grey Pegasus with a sky blue mane and sky blue eyes. He had a trail of flames for a cutie mark. Nutmeg was a white Unicorn with a brown mane and a light brown splotch on the top of her mane. The splotch sort of looked like it was sprinkled on her head. She had light pink eyes and a tablespoon of nutmeg for a cutie mark. Tails was Nutmeg's thirteen-year-old brother. He was light brown Earth Pony with light green eyes, freckles, and a dark red and light red striped mane. He had a measuring cup for a cutie mark. The reason for his odd name was the fact that one part of his tail curves upwards, while the other curves downwards. After the jumped off her mom, her dad, Hope, Wisp, Shadow, and Colby came out. Quickly, Rainbow Dash began to introduce everypony. "Mom, Dad, Hope, Wisp, Shadow, Colby, Tails, Nutmeg, Eon, Parker, Fireball, and Crash. Meet Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Princess Twilight Sparkle. And vice versa." "YOU'RE FRIENDS WITH A PRINCESS", Nutmeg shrieked. "Um... yeah", Rainbow Dash said, rubbing her ears. "Awww... no fair", Nutmeg whimpered. Rainbow Dash snickered. She turned around to head back to her house," All right, that's everypony." "Wait!" Rainbow Dash turned around to see a grey Pegasus with a purple, black, and pink mane. She had purple eyes, and three earrings going down each ear. She was the owner of a feather pen cutie mark. Rainbow Dash recognized her instantly. "Marcy", Rainbow Dash whisper. "Well don't just stand there", Marcy said grinning," Give me a hug!" Rainbow Dash accepted Marcy's warm embrace," I didn't think you would come!" "Wouldn't miss it for the world!" "Who's this... um if you don't mind telling", Fluttershy asked softly. "This is Marcy", Rainbow Dash said smiling," Her and Fireball are my first friends ever. Also my bestest friends, beside you guys." "Great", Pinkie shouted," Now we need a 'Meeting Rainbow Dash's First Friends Ever' party! Would that be great! Oh course we would have to have it after the Grand Galloping Gala, but still!" "Well, where's Hurricane", Rainbow Dash asked Marcy. "He was right behind me, I swear", Marcy said starting to panic. She quickly turn around looking around for him. Just as the train doors began to close, a young colt about Lightening age squeezed through just in time. He was almost an exact replica of Twister except for a few difference. The colt's mane had a reddish tint to it, and he was about nine. His mane was a little spikey, but wasn't wild looking like Twister's. His cutie mark was a record, and Twister was his older brother. "Hi Hurricane", Rainbow Dash said. "Uh-huh, whatever", Hurricane muttered, ignoring Rainbow Dash. Typical Hurricane. "So", Rarity began," Do you have any formal wear for the Gala." Nutmeg's ears perked up," I have this one dress that made out of silk, and its pink, and it has flowers! It is absolutely amazing! You just have to see it for yourself because it-" Rainbow Dash began to head back to her cloud house, so everypony could get their dress and suits on. Then she was going to head back to Rarity's to put on her dress. Rainbow Dash still had bad idea about the Gala. Geez, I really hope I'm wrong, Rainbow Dash thought to herself, but a little voice seem to think she was right. And that was the scariest thing of all. *** "Come on Eon! We need to look nice", Nutmeg scolded Eon for the 100th time. "Can't just wear the jacket with out the tie", Eon whined. "No", Fireball snapped," If I have to wear a dress with my jacket, you have to wear a tie with your jacket, and that's final!" Eon groaned. Everypony was putting on their best clothes, which was decent by Rainbow Dash's standards, but was plain by Canterlot's standards. All the stallions and colts wore a nice jacket and a tie, and the mare and fillies wore a dress. Fireball wanted to wear a jacket with her dress. Nutmeg tried to convince her other wise, but Fireball, as usual, was stubborn. Lightening wore a fedora that he usually wore on special occasions. Her Dad and her Mom also dressed up. "Here", her Mom said, adjusting her Dad's tie," Let me fix that." "Thank you", her Dad said, allowing her Mom to fix it. "I got go put my dress on", Rainbow Dash told them," I'll meet you at the castle gates." "Are you sure Dashie", Crash asked," We can stay with you if you like." "No its fine Crash, but thank you anyways", Rainbow Dash replied. Rainbow Dash stepped outside her house and flew to Rarity's Boutique. She meet up her friends and quick slipped into her dress and shoes. Now she had to sit down as Rarity began to play mane salon with her mane. "Hold still Rainbow Dash", Rarity hissed," You're making this more difficult than it has to be!" "Well you're pulling my- OW", Rainbow Dash yelped in pain. "There! Done!" Rainbow Dash stood up and headed to the mirror to see what Rarity had down to her mane. She gasped to see that her rough looking mane was transformed. Her mane was braided into three braids, all flipped on one side. A headband weighed her bangs down. She... actually like this mane style. "How do you like it", Rarity asked worriedly," Too many braids! I knew I should just stuck with one!" "I love it", Rainbow Dash said admiring her new look. "Really?" "Yes!" Rarity sighed with relief," Oh good! I was really worried there for a second." Rainbow Dash turned around. Twilight's mane was curled and Rarity's mane was put up in a bun. Applejack's mane was braided and tied at the ends with green ribbon. Fluttershy's mane was all flipped to the side with flowers in her mane. Pinkie Pie's was flipped over on one side too, and a blue bow was placed next to her ear. Everypony talked about the outfits and mane styles and how beautiful they were. Twilight got up and began to head towards the door. "All right girls, let's get going", Twilight said smiling," I have a feeling that this year is going to be the best Grand Galloping Gala yet!" "I feel the exact opposite", Rainbow Dash muttered darkly, but nopony heard her. So Rainbow Dash was left all alone, worrying by herself.