Finding a Place

by Battlecat

Chapter 42 - To Dance

Thursday, December 22, 2016, Continued:

“Of all the idiotic traditions!” I snarled. “Who came up with this one?”

Wish I knew but I’m finding this quite amusing.
Oh thanks so much for your support Spark.
Days like this I’m almost glad I’m just a mental construct.
Someday I’ll figure out how to make you eat those words.
Bring it on monkey. I could use a day in the sun.
Fair enough. That doesn't help me figure out how this thing works though.
At least Rarity knows what’s she’s doing. Just look at us.

I pulled the offending piece of fabric over my head and carefully untied my latest failed attempt. The mysteries of the Windsor knots continued to elude me and no amount of glaring was going to impart the knowledge on me. There wasn’t even anyone nearby to ask since the girls were all upstairs getting prepared for the dance. I gave up, threw the tie over my shoulder and turned to the mirror to check myself over one last time.

If Rarity hadn’t told me, I never would have guessed this was her first foray into men’s formal wear. The fit was perfect and she had outdone herself as far as I was concerned. The jacket and pants were charcoal grey wool, with two buttons, and a simple notched lapel. Underneath was just a simple white dress shirt and it was rounded out with a pair of black dress shoes.

As much as I hated to admit it, the tie fit the ensemble. It was just a splash of color but it brought the whole thing together. On top of that, I couldn’t help but notice the colors of the diagonal stripes were suspiciously familiar. The alternating stripes of red and navy blue were close to matching the hair of my two girlfriends.

I heard the click of high heels on the stairs outside but I kept the curtain closed. Rarity had been up and down the stairs several times looking for items from the shop and had politely asked me not to look because she wasn't ready.

“Are you ready yet darling?” Rarity asked. “The others will be down shortly.”

“Everything is perfect except the tie,” I grumbled.

“But darling, your ensemble simply won’t work without it!” Rarity gasped.

I chuckled at her reaction. “Rarity, I just don’t know how to tie it. Do you?”

“Oh dear, of course! Come on out and let me get you fixed up.”

I draped the tie around my neck and pushed the curtain aside. I stepped out and stopped in my tracks when I got my first look at what Rarity was wearing. The royal blue fabric matched her eyes and cascaded nearly to the floor. Each pleat of the dress was decorated near the floor with a small pale blue diamond that normally made up her cutie mark. A silver belt was strapped around her waist and the straps of the dress were wide, made with a sheer pale blue lace trimmed with royal blue. There was only one appropriate response to her appearance.

“Milady, thine beauty is only increased by such finery,” I marveled.

Rarity blushed and slowly spun around. The dress flowed like water around her legs. Every detail of the dress accentuated just how gorgeous she was. She had a smile on her face when she caught my eyes again.

“Thou art kind to say so Sir Spark,” she replied. “Thine expression speaks volumes. Step forward and allow me to finish thine ensemble.”

“By thy command Lady Belle,” I said playfully.

Rarity smiled and gestured at a spot on the floor in front of her. For a moment I thought I saw just the tiniest bit of regret in her expression. It reminded me of our conversation about her feelings and the loneliness she sometimes felt. Rarity grabbed the tie from my shoulder and reached up to wrap it around my neck. The sound of footsteps from upstairs made me realize she had positioned me facing the stairway to the upstairs apartment.

Pinkie was the first to come down to the shop. She was practically bouncing in a simple pink skirt that reached halfway down her calves. The pleat of the skirt was decorated with blue and yellow balloons. Her top was a simple blue vest over a white shirt. It was a perfect outfit for Pinkie.

“That’s a cute outfit Pinkie,” I said.

Pinkie spun around like a top, the dress flaring out revealing several layers of fabric underneath making the dress extra springy. She had a huge smile on her face as she began bouncing around the room.

“Thanks Silvy! You’re looking pretty snazzy,” she exclaimed. “It’s perfect for jumping around Rarity! You always make such nice dresses.”

I glanced over at Rarity. “Pinkie’s outfit is more casual than I expected after seeing your dress. You sure I’m not overdressed?”

Rarity coughed once and nodded as she cinched up the knot on my tie. “With the exception of the senior prom, none of the school dances technically have a dress code. I still prefer to go all out myself since it is a chance to show off my skills. As for you, a suit is exactly what you need to be wearing.”

“Surprisingly, ah actually agree with Rarity this time,” Applejack added as she walked down the stairs the showroom. “Lookin’ sharp there Silver.”

I stared at Applejack who was almost unrecognizable with her hair up in a complex braid and bereft of her trademark Stetson. She was wearing an emerald green dress fastened around her neck in a halter. The dark green skirt was covered by a layer of nearly transparent green lace skirt decorated with leaves and red apples.

“Wow Applejack, you look amazing,” I replied.

“Awww, ah' appreciate that Silver,” Applejack smiled bashfully. “It’s a bit fancy but ah’ do like to get all gussied once in a while. Well, as long as I can keep Rarity from going crazy with the makeup that is.”

“Thanks so much for reminding me of that,” Rarity sighed. “After the long drought in our friendship, I just wanted to do something nice for you Applejack. I suppose I went a touch overboard.”

Rarity was looking me over and stepped back in to adjust my tie again. I honestly had no idea what she was doing but she seemed quite intent as she fussed with the knot and my collar.

“Ah know, and ah’ appreciate you tryin’ ta help me Rares,” Applejack reassured her with a wink. “Ah’ was just teasing.”

“If you like these dresses, just wait until you see your girlfriends!” Pinkie exclaimed, still bouncing around the room.

“Girlfriends,” Rarity echoed, shaking her head. “I must admit I find the plural there a bit hard to get used to.”

“Same here,” I said, glancing up at the stairs when I heard footsteps.

I took one moment to note that Rainbow Dash was wearing a suit instead of a dress. I wondered how she had convinced Rarity that this was the better choice. Then Fluttershy came into view and my eyes were completely captured by her appearance.

She was half hidden behind her pink hair, blushing fiercely while I stared at her. The bodice was a rich yellow and the top was hemmed with fabric that almost looked like leaves. A small blue butterfly was nestled in the center, drawing my eyes towards her cleavage in spite of myself. There was a matching butterfly clipped in her hair along with several small flowers. She wore were elbow length gloves that almost looked like vines wrapped around her arms. The green skirt was loose and had a slit halfway up one side. As she walked, I could see green sandals with vine-like lace stockings that matched her gloves.

She drifted gracefully down the stairs and looked shyly at the floor. Her foot was drifting around nervously while she avoided my gaze.

“You look incredible Fluttershy,” I said quietly. “You're going to turn more than a few heads tonight.”

“Thank you,” She whispered, blushing even redder as a small smile appeared on her face. “It's a beautiful dress but I feel a bit exposed.”

In a sudden flurry of movement, Rarity dashed across the room and came back holding a piece of fabric. It was a lacy shawl made from the same vine patterned lace fabric as her sleeves. Rarity quickly wrapped it around Fluttershy’s shoulders. It covered the bare skin of her shoulders and chest and Fluttershy visibly relaxed and straightened up just a bit.

“I made this with the leftover fabric,” Rarity said. “I still don't think your ensemble needs it but it’s more important that you feel confident. You look stunning darling.”

“You almost looked like a dryad or something from a storybook,” I added. “Or maybe like a magical creature from Equestria. It suits you perfectly.”

“They’re right Fluttershy,” Sunset added from upstairs.

I turned to face the first of my two girlfriends, suspecting that I had been set up a bit. I froze when I saw both Sunset and Twilight were walking slowly down the stairs, arm in arm. Sunset seemed to be supporting Twilight a bit, and I could see they were both wearing flat sandals. Their dresses were mirrors of one another, with a single wide shoulder strap wrapped over Twilight's right shoulder and Sunset's left shoulder. The opposite shoulder was bare and the fabric hugged every inch of their torsos, complimenting their shapely figures.

Sunset's dress was a rich red while Twilight's was navy blue, each one reaching almost but not quite to the floor. The fabric of each dress was stretched tight around their bodies and clasped tight at their waists on the opposite side from the shoulder strap. The clasp at Twilight's waist was a star made of silver while Sunsets was a stylized gold sun. Both were obviously representations of their cutie marks. The two of them were stunning and I was utterly speechless as they descended.

Sweet Luna, they're gorgeous.
Utterly stunning, completely out of our league.
Yet here we are.

“Better close your mouth there Silver or the bugs are gonna fly right in,” Applejack laughed.

Her voice pulled me out of my stunned silence. I blinked several times, realizing my jaw had dropped at some point. I quickly glanced around the room and felt my cheeks flush when I realized that everyone was watching me intently with amused smiles on their faces. Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash were leaning on each other laughing hysterically. Even Fluttershy was giggling quietly beside me.

“Hah, you should see your face!” Dash cackled. "You look like you were hit with a club Silver!"

I closed my mouth and slowly walked over to my nervously smiling girlfriends trying to figure out what to say. I was still at a loss for words when I reached them. Amused aquamarine and purple eyes were watching me silently. I silently reached out and took one of their hands with one of mine and planted a gentle kiss on the back of each.

“I take it you approve?” Sunset inquired.

“Stunning and beautiful come to mind,” I replied after a brief hesitation. “Yet those words seem inadequate to describe the sight before my eyes.”

Sunset and Twilight exchanged a pleased glance before giving me a once over. The other girls had made me feel a bit self-conscious but being examined by my girlfriends was unnerving.

“You dress up even better than I had expected,” Sunset observed. “What do you think Twilight?”

“This was worth the wait,” Twilight murmured, blushing a bit as she looked me in the eyes. “I’ve been looking forward to seeing him dressed like this for ages.”

I blushed but didn’t break eye contact with Twilight. “I must admit, I’m surprised to see you two wearing dresses that practically confirm our relationship.”

“You’re right,” Twilight said nervously. “Rarity did say your tie and the clothing design were both chosen to remove any doubt about who our stalli– er boyfriend is.”

“I couldn’t help myself!” Rarity exclaimed from behind me. “Your admission was inspiring! I can’t ignore my muse!”

Twilight let go of my hand and clasped her hands nervously in front of her. “There is a different dress upstairs I could wear instead if you want this secret.”

“I would hate to see that happen when you two look so gorgeous,” I said, looking Twilight in the eyes. “If you are both comfortable with everyone in CHS knowing the three of us are in a relationship by the end of the dance then so am I.”

“Good, because I doubt Sonata will be able to keep it secret much longer,” Sunset laughed. “I swear that girl has no filters.”

“Ah' don't think any of those three do,” Applejack snorted. “Or they plain jus’ don’t care. They're a handful that's fer sure.”

“So is everyone ready?” I asked. “Who else is here anyhow? I've been a bit busy working the last few nights. The Dazzlings aren't hiding upstairs, are they?”

Pinkie started jumping up and down waving her hand. “Nope, nope, noperoonie! The Dazzlings said they had what they needed for the dance so they're coming separately. The Crusaders are at AJ’s place and will come with Big Mac and Granny.”

“Exactly, so let’s stop gabbing and get rolling!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. “We’ve got a party to get to!”

---

My van was crowded but there was just enough space to deliver everyone to CHS for the dance. In the hallway outside the gym, Photo Finish had set up a professional photo studio, complete with lights and everything. Twilight mentioned she had this set up for the fall formal as well. She took quite a few pictures of our group, as well as me, Sunset and Twilight.

It was hard to get the feel for dancing since I’d actually never been to one before so I just followed my friend’s lead. It involved lots of bouncing to the beat of the music so far. Flash Sentry and his band were the first performance of the evening. When Flash wrapped his set up, Vinyl took over with some recorded music while the Rainbooms went to prepare for their performance. Twilight was even going to sing as well.

Left to my own devices, I wandered over to the drinks table to refresh myself. It was going to be fun to watch them perform but I was feeling just a tiny bit isolated. I had caught a couple glimpses of the Dazzlings through the crowd but we hadn’t crossed paths yet. I settled back against the wall to watch the crowd of students dancing to Vinyl's beat's and shook my head. I was alone right now but at least I was going to enjoy their performance.

“So, how did you pull this off?” a familiar voice asked from beside me.

I turned around to find Flash flanked by the two members of his band. I had no idea what their names were off the top of my head but their expressions were pretty flat as the stared at me. Flash’s expression was equally unreadable and I felt myself instinctively tensing already, preparing to fight or flee if necessary.

“Pardon?” I asked cautiously.

Flash crossed his arms and stared at me flatly. “You arrived with the seven most popular girls in school and now I'm hearing talk that you're dating both Sunset and Twilight. How did you convince them to trust you? And is it true about Sunset and Twilight?”

I sighed. This was a conversation I hadn't been looking forward to. We hadn't really spoken much since the Battle of the Bands but we'd been polite with one another. This had the potential to throw that progress into a tailspin. Honestly, there wasn’t really a good way to avoid this question since we weren’t keeping it secret.

“I’m honestly not sure,” I replied glancing over at the empty stage where they would soon be performing. “I’ll do everything in my power to repay those girls for the trust they've shown me. As for dating Twilight, I suppose it is. The whole thing was Sunset's idea. Why? Is this going to be a problem?”

“No, I know where I stand with Sunset and Twilight,” Flash said, shaking his head. “Twilight made it clear we were just friends after the Battle of the Bands.”

Suddenly a sly smile appeared on his face and he actually chuckled. “You’re a braver man than me, trying to juggle two strong-willed girls like them. Plus, they're all tangled up with magic which has got to be a mind twist on the best of days. Just treat the two of them right and we won't have any problems.”

Flash Sentry being reasonable. The end of the world is nigh!
Very funny Spark. A school event without any drama would be nice.
Optimist. Pretty sure drama and high school go hoof in hoof.
I’ll settle for not needing the sword and armor I left in the van.

Flash was smiling properly now as were his two band members. I realized I’d been trolled so I chuckled and held my hand out to him. “As far as ultimatums go, that’s one I can agree to. You had me a worried there for a moment. How’s life been treating you anyhow?”

“Got to keep you on your toes,” Flash said, taking my hand and shaking it firmly. “If you can’t handle my jokes how are you going to handle dating those two girls! I'm feeling pretty good about our performance tonight. Speaking of which, have you met my bandmates? Brawly Beats is the one you’re looking in the eye and my short, silent bassist there is Ringo.”

I gave each of them a polite nod. “I’ve seen you both around but I don’t believe we’ve ever spoken. I certainly enjoyed your music.”

“Thanks dude,” Brawly replied while Ringo just nodded quietly.

I glanced at Flash. “So you meeting up with anyone now that you’re done performing?”

Flash frowned and scratched the back of his head. “Nah, after how badly I messed with Twilight, I figure it would be better to step back, you know? Going stag seemed like a safer bet.”

Suddenly a pale blue arm wrapped around Flash’s shoulder. “You’re here without a date too?!” Sonata chirped. “Perfect, let’s dance!”

Before any of us could react or even speak a word of protest, Sonata hauled Flash to the dance floor. The three of us watched them go. Brawly turned to me with a confused expression on his face.

“Dude, are all magical girls crazy or what?”

“That’s an excellent question,” Adagio purred. “I’d love to hear how you answer that Silver.”

Brawly and Ringo spun around, discovering that Adagio and Aria had walked up behind them. They were wearing similar dresses to the ones they wore for the Battle of the Bands and were looking at me expectantly.

I looked Adagio in the eye and grinned. “I fear that these magical girls are totally unpredictable and sometimes seem completely nuts. I mean they made me their friend. ”

Aria’s eyes had narrowed at my words. “You’re one to talk anyhow. You’d have to be insane to chase down three injured predators after they failed to take over the world.”

I stared at Aria who was staring at me with a flat expression. I wondered for a moment if I had crossed a line by accident. Before panic could set in, Aria winked at me.

“I suppose I was,” I finally laughed. “Glad it worked out and I think Steel Rain is pleased as well. Are you ready to start in January?”

Aria nodded, causing Brawly looked between the two of us. “Dude, what’s goin’ on in January?”

“We’re working at the new martial arts academy,” Aria replied. “Silver’s godfather recognizes talent when he sees it, so we’ll be teaching.”

“Woah!” Brawly exclaimed. “That guy you fought that one time is opening a school? That was like something out of a movie. Dude, I might have to check it out.”

Ringo nodded silently indicating his agreement. I smiled, relieved there was some interest in Steel Rain’s dojo. It was startling to realize that I was actually looking forward to teaching again. The rest of the conversation with the four was oddly unremarkable. After a few minutes of fairly mundane conversation, we went our separate ways.

I wound up settling down by myself on a bench so I could enjoy watching my friends perform. It was a rare chance to see them perform when the world wasn’t at stake. I was just making a mental note to ask Twilight why her wings were so different from Dash and Fluttershy when an unpleasant voice drew my attention.

“The Great and Powerful Trixie wishes to have a word with the one who calls himself Silver Spark.”

I sighed and looked at the silver-haired girl who had been a thorn in my side for months. Not so much since the Battle of the Bands but her last vicious comments still had me angry. She was wearing a knee-length silver and blue dress.

“Come on Trixie, can’t this wait?” I asked wearily. “I’m having a good day and I’d like to get through one school event without-”

“No, it cannot wait!” she exclaimed in an angry voice. Suddenly she seemed to wilt; the confidence that was a core personality trait of Trixie just vanished. With an irritated sigh, she turned and slumped down on the bench next to me.

“Please, can you just listen? Trixie is afraid she won’t be brave enough if she leaves this any longer.”

She turned and suddenly looked me in the eyes. Her pale lavender eyes actually looked a bit frightened. I nodded without speaking and gestured at her to go ahead.

“Trixie is- . . . no, no wait,” she said nervously. “Forgive Trixie, she is unaccustomed to . . . I am sorry. For everything.”

Trixie broke eye contact and stared at the floor in front of her. I was at a loss for words as I watched her. When the Rainbooms finished up their song I looked up at the stage to find Twilight and Sunset watching me. Their expressions were concerned so I smiled at them, trying to indicate that things were ok. Twilight smiled back and covered up the microphone. I could see her lips moving as she said something I couldn't hear. Fortunately, someone, or more precisely, somepony was way better at hearing stuff than me.

Did you catch that Spark?
Yeah. She said to trust your instincts.

I had a question that needed answering before anything continuing. “Why do you hate me so much, Trixie?”

Trixie didn't answer immediately as she stared at the floor. She was fidgeting with a small rubber ball making it disappeared several times with a casual movement. It was so distracting I was caught off guard when she finally spoke.

“At first it was just the thing Trixie had to do,” she mumbled. “Before Sparkle showed up there was a pecking order in this school. Sunset ruled the roost and the rest of us fought for scraps of power. Then she arrived and everything changed . . .”

“So afterward?” I prompted.

“It was so easy to hate you,” she snorted. “The other five were obviously Sunset's jailors but you; you were the boy who supposedly helped Sunset destroy the formal. You got away with no punishment even though it was obvious you were colluding with Sunset. Why else would you stand up for the ‘demon’ and actually fight?”

The only thing stopping me from yelling at her over calling Sunset a demon was the utter disgust in her voice. That and the fact that she was dropping the third person act made me hold my tongue while she kept talking.

“The world is so simple when you focus on hating someone,” Trixie continued. “It's much harder to admit one is simply wrong. Or jealous.”

“Jealous?” I snapped, my irritation getting the better of me. “Why would the Great and Powerful Trixie be jealous of a lowly guttersnipe?”

“I deserved that,” Trixie winced. “Don't you realize what you have? You're the only person in this school to get magic without help from Sparkle's crown. I didn't believe Gilda's ravings about Halloween until the Battle of the Bands. You have real magic; I'm just a simple conjurer of cheap tricks.”

I felt like a bit of a heel after my outburst but her comment struck a chord with me. “Like what you're doing with that ball? I can barely follow what you're doing and you're not even really trying to hide it right now are you?”

Trixie looked down at her hands in surprise. “What this? It's just agility practice. This is what it looks like when I’m trying.”

With those words, the ball simply vanished out of her left hand. With her right hand, she reached up and I could swear she pulled it out of my ear. It was a classic trick but I was still impressed by how smoothly it went.

“Your normal ears aren't quite as big as those magic ones you get but apparently they're still sufficient to hide this,” she said almost playfully, but she quickly wilted as if she remembered who her audience was. “See? Just a simple trick.”

I finally let a smile slip through. “Don’t sell yourself short; that was pretty impressive. Plus, I’ll admit I’ve heard that’s not the limit of your skills by any stretch.”

I wonder if she could fool us when we’re ponied up.
A question for another time Spark. She’s already upset enough about the magic.

“Trixie knows that,” she murmured. “She is grateful for what you have done to protect this school but Trixie cannot help being jealous. Trixie still wishes she could have a chance to shine the way you and your friends do.”

I looked up at the stage. Ironically, the Rainbooms were playing ‘Shine like Rainbows, making me snort with amusement. Trixie frowned at my reaction, forcing me to explain.

“Sorry Trixie, it’s just funny that in an odd way I'm in the same place as you,” I said. “I don’t stand out next to those strong personalities up there on stage. It doesn’t bother me much since I’m not a musician or performer but I can understand why you’d find it frustrating.”

“Trixie admits that music is not her first choice either, though it is one of her many skills,” she said, a small smile appearing on her face. “Trixie simply did what was necessary to get her moment in the spotlight during the Battle of the Bands. Ugh! Trixie is easily distracted and must sadly return the conversation to less pleasant topics. So . . . where does that leave us? Is there anything Silver Spark desires of Trixie to help accept her apology? Anything at all?”

I looked into her pale lavender eyes. There was still fear there but the anger that had marred her face during every previous encounter was completely absent. When I smiled, she almost looked frightened as if she was expecting me to suddenly grow fangs. Granted, that was something I could actually do but she looked like she was expecting me to demand something awful from her.

“If you’re ready for this misery between us to end, so am I,” I said quietly. “As long as you make peace with Sunset as well, we’re good.”

Trixie looked surprised. “That’s all?”

“Yeah, that’s all,” I said. “Peace and quiet are all I ever really wanted when I moved here.”

“Trixie is quite willing and able to deliver peace,” she replied, her exaggerated confidence returning as suddenly as it vanished. “However, Trixie feels she should warn you that quiet will be an impossible dream for those who associate with Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie.”

“Well, I’ll take the peace then,” I replied cheerfully. “Honestly, I’d be tempted to tell Silver from four months ago that quiet is overrated anyhow. One's perspective tends to change after a few real near-death experiences.”

“Trixie wouldn't know how that feels,” she mumbled. “Losing control of one's mind and emotions is frightening enough. Trixie is still having nightmares about the experiences.”

I glanced over at her and did a double take. She had done a masterful job with her makeup, I almost missed the dark circles under her eyes. Suddenly the weariness in her posture became a bit more of a worry. I felt a nervous prickle on the back of my neck.

“How long?”

“A few times a week since the Fall Formal,” Trixie grumbled. “It got worse after the Battle of the Bands but Trixie is strong and she will overcome this as well!”

That's not good, is it?
Buck me, I really hope it's just trauma.
If nightmares are growing in the minds of normal students we have a serious problem on our hooves.
Gah but I'm not sure if I can trust her yet.

“I'm sure you will,” I said carefully. “Still, if they get worse let me know. I might be able to help.”

She stood up and gave me a flourishing bow. “The Skeptical and Grateful Trixie will keep that in mind. Now, she must depart for it is difficult to converse with such music as a distraction. But mark my words, we shall speak again Silver Spark!”

“I look forward to it,” I replied, chuckling at what would have been a threat earlier in this day. “Safe travels to you, Trixie Lulamoon.”

She shot me a friendly smile before walking proudly back out to the dance floor. I nodded at her and leaned against the wall, feeling a bit more weight lift off my shoulders. One more former enemy had reached out to make peace with me and not just a 'you leave me alone and I'll leave you alone' accord either. I turned my attention back to the stage and watching Twilight and Sunset singing with a smile on my face.

---

Vinyl had taken over as DJ once the Rainbooms finished playing. There was some light rock song playing that I didn't recognize. Bit of a random choice but Vinyl did have good taste in music. I was actually going to have to go make our request soon for our bit of extra fun once they finished putting their instruments away. Then I was drawn out of my introspection by the approach of a surprising couple. I scrambled to my feet to greet them.

Steel Rain was here, dressed in a classic tuxedo, with his arm hooked around Vice Principal Luna's. She looked a bit self-conscious in an ankle length blue gown that was reminiscent of the one gifted to Princess Luna by the portal. I had never seen her dressed in anything but her work clothes, so this was quite unexpected. Spark quietly informed me he could hear similar comments from the other students along with surprise that she was attending with a date.

“Good evening Sir!” I exclaimed. “I wasn't expecting to see you here!”

“Hello Silver,” he chuckled. “Surprised to see me or just surprised this lovely goddess is still tolerating my presence?”

Luna nudged him with her shoulder. “Steel! Not in front of my students!”

“With such lovely raiment, thou art a vision my dear,” he said in a classic style. “T'would be a crime not to speak of thine beauty.”

She had a smile on her face even as she protested. It was the most relaxed I'd seen our vice principal since the Fall Formal.

“At the risk of overstepping my bounds as a student, you do look great,” I said.

To my surprise, Luna simply smiled. “I believe I will simply accept your compliment in the spirit you intended. As you may have noticed Miss Belle does fine work.”

“She does indeed,” I said.

At that mention, I glanced over towards the stage. Principal Celestia was up at the front, speaking with a few students. I saw all seven of the Rainbooms were making their way through the crowd towards us. Steel Rain raised an eyebrow at me when he saw the dresses Sunset and Twilight were wearing. His eyes shot to my tie and then he seemed to deflate as he glanced over at Luna.

“You were right again my dearest moon,” he grumbled. “I should know better than to bet against the intuition of the women in my life.”

“I will collect our little bet later,” Luna said, patting his cheek gently before turning to the Rainbooms. “Good evening ladies, that was a fine performance.”

Rainbow Dash brushed her suit jack with false modesty. “Yeah, we are pretty awesome that way.”

Luna chuckled and looked over at Sunset. “Miss Shimmer, I have a couple questions for you and your partners. First, have you made any plans for Christmas dinner?”

Sunset blinked as she realized the meaning of the plural. “We'll be visiting with Applejack's family the day after but I don't think we actually had plans for Christmas, did we Silver?”

I shook my head. “Honestly I didn't really have any plans for Christmas Day.”

“Well, we can't have that my boy,” Steel Rain scolded. “Would you three care to join us for dinner? We're having a little gathering at Celestia and Luna's.”

I looked over at Sunset and Twilight. “I'm up for it if you are.”

“I wish I could but I'm already taking a risk being away from Equestria as much as I have,” Twilight sighed. “I can only afford one more day if I'm going to get the Gala organized. You and Sunset should absolutely go through. I'll be happy knowing you're with friends.”

Sunset looked slightly stunned. “Are you sure you want me at your home ma’am?”

“You're dating my boyfriend's godson,” Luna said, a smirk appearing on her face. “I believe this will be an excellent chance to evaluate the progress of your reformation.”

Sunset gulped audibly. “Ok. We'll be there.”

“Excellent!” Luna exclaimed, waving at Vinyl. “And perfect timing. That brings us to our second question.”

Suddenly, the dance floor began to clear, and the first notes of a waltz came out of the speakers. I dimly heard Principal Celestia announcing there would be two classical songs played at Luna’s request. Steel Rain had a pretty huge grin on his face.

“Silver Spark, do you still remember how to dance? Or did they stitch you back together with two left feet.”

I looked over at my friends and grinned. Most of my friends looked completely confused but Sunset and Twilight were grinning. Fluttershy was looking nervous and Sunset had noticed. She took Twilight's hand and gave me a quick nod.

“Sir, I believe you'll find yourself eating those words shortly,” I said, bowing slightly and holding my hand out to Fluttershy. “Would you do me this honor?”

Rarity and Dash looked utterly floored when Fluttershy took my hand and let me lead her out to the now empty gym floor. Twilight, Sunset, Steel Rain, and Luna were close behind. I heard some surprised whispers behind me.

“Wait, she doesn't know how to dance, does she!?” Rarity asked Dash in a quiet voice.

“No, I don't think so!” she hissed back. “Neither can Twilight! We all saw her at the Fall Formal. What are they playing at?!”

Fluttershy looked at me, her eyes filled with fear. “I don't know if I can do this Silver. It was all just a dream before but this is real! I’m such a klutz, what if I trip or make a mistake!?”

I looked back at her and smiled. “You are incredibly graceful. Even if you do trip; I promise I won't ever let you fall. Just focus on me and ignore the crowd, just like in the dream.”

Fluttershy took a deep breath and put her arm on my shoulder. I put my arm around her waist and we began wheeling around the floor, moving in time to the music. Fluttershy’s fear was completely unfounded. Her movements quickly became confident as the hours of practice took hold. I saw Sunset leading the dance with Twilight out of the corner of my eye. They were moving around with equal confidence. As far as I was concerned, this confirmed our hypothesis. Learning a physical skill in a lucid dream did transfer to the real world.

As the first song continued and we wheeled around the floor I noticed a fourth dancing pair had joined in. I just about tripped when I realized who they were. Aria and Macintosh were waltzing around the floor with surprising skill. I returned my focus to Fluttershy as the first song wound down. I was pleased to see the fear was gone from her face, replaced with a brilliant smile. Sunset and Twilight stopped beside us.

“Would you like to join me for the second dance?” Sunset asked Fluttershy nervously.

Fluttershy responded by taking Sunset’s hand which left me taking Twilight’s. A second waltz began to play and so Twilight and I began to dance. Her movements were a far cry from the clumsiness she had exhibited when we first met. She was obviously more confident in the human body and the dance practice had paid off. She looked up at my face and smiled as we danced.

“Thank you Silver,” Twilight murmured.

“What for?” I asked curiously after guiding her through a spin.

“For reminding me why I was attracted to you,” she replied. “I saw you with Trixie and with Flash. I know ponies that hold grudges after experiencing far less abuse than you have experienced. Seeing you talking to them with genuine warmth was heartwarming.”

“I wasn’t nearly as forgiving before I met you,” I chuckled. “You gave me a lot to think about when you asked me to help Sunset after the Formal. Look at the three of us now!”

Twilight smiled and we returned all our focus to the dance. We swung around the floor, with eyes only for each other. All too quickly, the song ended. There was a smattering of applause before Vinyl got the modern music going again. We walked off the dance floor as it filled up with our classmates again. I gave Steel Rain a salute as he continued dancing with Luna. Fluttershy looked like she was torn between being self-conscious and proud of herself. I hooked my arm around Sunset’s when she got close and kissed her on the cheek.

“Next time we dance as well,” I said to Sunset.

“In your dreams,” she teased.

I put the back of my hand on my forehead and sighed dramatically. “You wound me deeply Sunset Shimmer. However, I accept your challenge.”

The four of us laughed as we joined the other. Rarity and Rainbow Dash had pushed to the front.

“That was awesome Fluttershy!” Dash said exuberantly.

“When did you all find time to learn to dance?!” Rarity asked. “And where!? I’ve always wanted to learn to ballroom dance!”

Fluttershy let out a nervous squeak and hid behind her hair. I was about to answer for her when Applejack barged past with a furious expression on her face and clenched fists. Aria and Macintosh had walked up beside us and Applejack looked pissed.

“Ah’ want to know what yer’ doin’ with mah brother!” Applejack demanded of Aria.

Aria just crossed her arms and stared at Applejack. “Pretty sure it’s called dancing.”

“That’s not what I meant and you know it!” she snapped. “Since when are you dating mah’ brother?!”

“Hey, that’s a good idea!” Aria said as a smile slowly spread across her face. She looked over at Macintosh. “What do you think big guy? Want to go out on a date sometime?”

“Eeyup!” he replied without hesitation.

Aria turned back to her. “There you are, I’ve been dating your brother since two seconds ago.”

Applejack looked like she was about to throttle Aria. Her glare alone looked like it was almost enough to finish her off. Before Applejack could act on her growing fury, Mac put his hand up to stop her.

“Calm down AJ,” he said firmly.

Applejack looked at her brother with a hurt expression. Mac’s eyes softened but he didn’t step away from

“We’ll talk ‘bout this AJ,” he said, his tone gentler. “Ah’ promise but now’s not the time. Ya’ll go have some fun now.”

Rarity wrapped her farm around Applejack’s shoulder and hustled her away, followed closely by Dash and Pinkie. Aria took Mac's arm and headed back out to the dance floor. That left me standing at the side of the gym with Fluttershy, Twilight, and Sunset.

“What just happened?!” Twilight exclaimed after a moment of silence.

I sighed. “I’m beginning wonder if drama is going to crop of at all our school events. I’m just surprised it wasn’t caused by our trio.”

“At least this dance didn’t involve a massive magical battle,” Sunset said, frowning at the memory. “I hope AJ will be ok.”

“She will be,” Fluttershy whispered. “She’s always been very protective of family and I think this caught her off guard. He’s always been so busy taking care of his family and the farm so the idea that he might have a separate life is probably stressing Applejack out.”

“Fair enough,” I replied. “I guess it doesn’t help that she doesn't get along well with Aria. So, did you enjoy yourself Fluttershy?”

Fluttershy smiled, even as she tried to hide behind her hair. “It was lovely once I stopped worrying about what everyone else thought. Thank you, Silver.”

I bowed to her. “T’was my pleasure.”

“I really appreciate you letting me dance with your boyfriend,” She whispered to my girlfriends. “Sorry you gave up your dance with Silver for me, Sunset.”

Sunset wrapped her arm around my waist. “Don’t worry about it Fluttershy. You’re always so tense; seeing you relax while dancing more than made up for it. Now let’s go dance!”

With those words, she pulled me back out to the dance floor. There was still quite a bit of the dance left to enjoy.

---

When the dance wrapped up, I delivered everyone home in my van before returning home with Sunset and Twilight. We were completely worn out so we headed off to our beds pretty much right away. As soon as I awoke on the astral plane, Spark and I went to get Twilight and Sunset. It only took a few moments for the four of us to gather around the Lunar Iron box that was now completely revealed to us. Tonight I was the only human, with Twilight, Sunset and Spark all trotting in as ponies.

“So, what now?” Spark asked. “You looked over the real one before bed and it was completely flawless.”

“I’m hoping the difference persists between the sleeping and waking world,” Twilight responded, fluttering her wings. “We noticed the chest while dreaming ages ago even though it was hiding in the real world. Maybe that’s not the only difference.”

“Well let’s see what we have here then,” Sunset said cheerfully.

She reached out with her hoof. The instant her hoof touched the metal there was a crackle of electricity. With a loud BANG, Sunset was sent tumbling head over hooves away from the crate. I hurried over and found her half insubstantial as she hovered on the edge of waking up from the shock.

“Sunset! Stay with me!” I exclaimed.

Twilight galloped up to Sunset, her horn glowing with pink energy that flowed over Sunset’s body. She didn’t move for a moment, but then a low growl escaped from her throat. Sunset’s body solidified and she scrambled back up to her hooves.

“BUCKING HELL!” She snarled. “THAT HURT YOU STUPID TIN CAN!”

Her horn began glowing teal and her face twisted with anger. She scrambled up to her hooves and turned to face the box, possibly ready to attack it. The light faltered and she gasped with horror. We all turned and saw Spark standing next to the box and staring intently at it. His front hoof was raised and he reached out to it.

“Wait, don’t touch it!” Twilight exclaimed.

Spark ignored her and put his hoof firmly down on the surface. We all braced for another electrical discharge but instead the box seemed to ripple like it was made of liquid. It didn’t change shape but the texture of the surface seemed to shift. The random iridescent highlights began to coalesce into geometric patterns of light and dark decorating the entire box. My brother didn’t move a muscle as his hoof pressed against the box.

“SPARK!” Sunset shouted in a panic, galloping over to him and tackling him away from the chest.

He responded by wrapping his hooves around Sunset and kissing her. “I’m fine Sunset! I had a hunch.”

Twilight had galloped over to him as well. “What?! What were you thinking Spark?”

I walked over to the box and stared at it, trying to replicate Spark’s line of thinking. How did he know he could touch it safely? Then it came to me.

“Spark is unique among the four of us,” I said thoughtfully. “It’s easy to forget that he’s not just my brother, or even a pony. He’s my Spirit Guide. This is actually his world more than ours.”

Sunset gasped as she understood what I was getting at. “So you think this box was actually built to be used by dreamwalkers?”

“It’s a reasonable hypothesis,” Twilight replied. “It behaves differently here than in the waking world and it’s made of a metal associated with Luna. Spark safely interacting with it is another point in favor of the theory.”

Sunset suddenly giggled. “Twilight . . . there’s a lost school of magic! This box is perfect evidence that a codified magical system involving the astral plane exists!”

“You could be right,” Twilight replied cautiously, though her wings were twitching with what looked like excitement. “On the other hoof, we don't actually know what Lunar Iron is or how it’s made. This could be a natural phenomenon.”

Twilight and Sunset began to vigorously debate the potential origins of the Lunar Iron and the potential of a magic school that used the Astral Plane. They lost me after just a couple sentences as their conversation became more technical. I walked over and crouched down beside Spark to examine the box.

“So what is it?” Spark asked. “There's a pattern here now but no words.”

I poked the box cautiously with my finger and when no electrocution was forthcoming I began tracing the patterns. We had examined the smooth surface very carefully while we were awake but now it was different. In the waking world, it was immaculate and perfectly smooth. Here on the Astral Plane, it was different. It was subtle, but there were irregular grooves and bumps that matched up with the pattern. I couldn’t help myself, I kept tracing the lines. There had to be something, an answer, a latch, anything!

One circular mark about the size of my palm was subtly depressed as I ran my hand over it. I gave it a firm push without thinking. With a loud click, the circle of metal settled in four inches. I dove away from the box when a metal handle popped up off the top of the chest like it was on a spring. Oddly, the movement was accompanied by a crashing noise like a shattering vase that seemed to come from every direction. Sunset and Twilight’s conversation stopped suddenly and they turned to stare at me.

“Ummm, oops?” I said sheepishly.

Twilight’s wings flared wide and her horn was crackling with energy. She looked angrier than I'd ever seen her as she stomped over to me and Spark.

“What were you thinking?!” Twilight snapped. “What is with the two of you tonight?! How could you be so careless?”

I felt awful and I looked down into the starry void. “I- I- I’m sorry Twilight. We're just so close to having real answers.”

Twilight was silent for a moment but then her body shimmered. In a single moment, she went from being a pony to a winged human in her pink and yellow pajamas. She wrapped her arms around me in a hug with both her arms and wings. She leaned her head against my chest and a frustrated sigh slipped out of her lips.

“I know,” she whispered. “I just hate seeing you hurt. Every time I turn around, something bad happens to you.”

I kissed her forehead. “I swear I don't mean to get hurt so much. I’ll be more careful.”

Spark looked around at the dreamscape. “I hate to interrupt such a tender moment but what was that crashing noise? There’s nothing here that fits. Was that in the real world?”

We all looked over at Spark and I felt a thrill of fear run through me. Was there a thief in the house?

“Wake us up!” Sunset commanded. “Quickly!”

Friday, December 23, 2016

It was still pitch dark when my eyes shot open. The clock said it was three in the morning as I scrambled out of bed and threw a robe on. Sunset and Twilight came out of their bedrooms at the same time, looking quite disheveled. We hurried downstairs to the living room and gaped at the sight. I had covered the Lunar Iron box with a tablecloth and a lamp so it wouldn't attract unwanted attention.

Now, the tablecloth was crumpled on the floor with a broken lamp on top of it. The perfectly smooth metal surface of the box now had the same complex patterns that appeared in the dream. The shape of the box had also changed to match the dream. A large lever had sprung up from the top of the table. I stared at it and then just slumped down on the couch. I felt my head spinning so I put my head in my hands.

“Silver?” Sunset asked putting her hand on my shoulder. “Are you ok?”

“This is just a bit overwhelming,” I groaned. “The more we find out about this box, the less sense it makes. What the heck is it?”

“I don’t know, but we’re going to find out,” Twilight said. “With your permission of course.”

I gestured for her to go ahead. Twilight reached out and cautiously touched the lever that had appeared. When no shock was forthcoming, she pushed it. It swung freely, and there was an odd clicking noise from inside as it moved. She glared at it, her eyelid twitching as her mind raced through the possibilities. She reached down to one side of the box and pushed as she swung the lever. When it was lying flat and completely inverted from where it started, Twilight’s efforts yielded another clicking noise.

Three pegs popped out the side of the box opposite where Twilight was crouched down. The lever was locked back in place, inverted from its original position. Twilight walked around and pulled the six inch long cylinders of metal out and laid them on top of the box above where they had been removed. Twilight slowly got to her feet, staring at the box with her fists clenched tight. Suddenly a gasp escaped her mouth and she spun to face us, knocking her clenched fists together with glee.

“It's a puzzle box!” she marveled. “One designed to be opened specifically with the help of a dreamwalker!”

Spark was uncharacteristically quiet in my head as we tried and failed to process exactly what she meant.

“Oh my gosh, you’re right!” Sunset gasped. “We needed the key before we were aware enough to remove the camouflage in the real world but we couldn’t actually work the mechanisms until we opened the first lock in the dream realm.”

“Exactly!” Twilight said cheerfully. “It even defended itself from you Sunset!”

“Which means it was set up to protect itself from someone who doesn’t have the right ability!” Sunset concluded. “Only true dreamwalkers have spirit guides and Spark is rather unique.”

You know it!
Yeah, you’re a character all right.

“How the hell did my family get something like this?” I asked out loud.

“Great-Grandma Rose!” Sunset exclaimed. “If she had this bracelet she would have known the box was special even if she didn’t understand why. I’ll bet this and the bracelet are the birthrights she sent with Onyx and Ivory.”

Twilight smiled. “That must be. I wonder where they came from. I’ve never heard even a hint about any magic that can create something like this.”

“I suppose I can see if anything is in the family history book about it,” I said skeptically. “There can’t be much inside with mechanisms this complex.”

Sunset glanced over at Twilight and an expression of guilt briefly appeared her face.

“When it comes to magic, powerful things come in small packages. Twilight’s crown is a perfect example.”

“Point,” I said, suddenly yawning. “Oh, gods I’m tired. We should probably tackle this after a good night's sleep.”

Twilight looked at me and then the box with a look of undisguised longing. She yawned and stretched before shaking her head.

“Actually, I think I’ll stay up and-”

“Oh no you don’t Princess,” Sunset said, hooking her arm and escorting her to the stairs. “Spike will kill us if we let you skip out on more sleep after the week you just had.”

“But, but I-!” she stuttered, her resistance crumbling as we walked up the stairs. “Fine . . . wait! I don’t want to wake Spike up! He's in my room!”

"You're not going to sneak back out on my watch,” Sunset concluded, escorting Twilight through my bedroom door. "We'll sleep in Silver's room instead."

I stopped and stared at the two of them as they vanished through the door into my bedroom.

Wait, what was that?!
For crying out loud, go after them, Silver!
But-
Come on!

My heart was pounding as I walked through the door to see what was going on. Sunset was pulling back the blankets while Twilight watched with a somewhat bemused expression on her face.

"Seriously, what's going on?" I asked. "Not that I'm complaining but isn't this a bit intimate?"

Sunset stopped and looked at me. "We've slept together crumpled in your easy chair and piled up on the couch. If that's not intimate enough already, half the time we're sharing our very dreams! What's the big deal about sharing a bed?"

I exchanged a glance with Twilight while I tried to process her idea. I wasn't against the idea, it was just surprising. Her interpretation about how intimate we were on a daily basis through our dreams was something I had never considered. Sunset's expression fell when neither of us responded right away.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'm pushing again."

"No, I think you're right," Twilight said, a small smile finally appearing on her face. "We're just sleeping."

"Well ok, I guess," I relented. "I'm too tired to argue and I'll admit it sounds nice."

Sunset seemed to let out a sigh of relief and she pulled back the blanket and crawled in. I laid down on the side nearest my alarm clock and Twilight settled in on the other side of the bed. I turned the light off and silence fell over

"I did have one ulterior motive," Sunset murmured in the darkness.

"Oh really?" I whispered.

She snuggled in closer and draped her arm across my chest. I could feel her chest pushing against my back with each breath. It was incredibly cozy and I felt my anxiety about the box and our sleeping arrangement just drift away.

"I always have trouble staying warm at night," she said sheepishly.

Twilight giggled from the other side. "If you're cold after tonight I'll have to test you for Windigo blood when you visit."

"Cute Twilight," Sunset muttered. "Mmmm, you are warm. Sweet dreams."

"I'll see you there," I whispered, as my eyes drifted shut.

Author's Note:

The dress descriptions are inspired by the multitude of fanart out there but I also took quite a bit of inspiration from real dresses. Especially for the ones worn by Twilight and Sunset. The inspiration for the look evolved from this design. Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Comments

[Salty Milk]

nice.

[MorningRose]

awesome chapter looking forward to more

[Battlecat]

8618385 - Heh, yeah that was a bit of a mind twist. On the bright side, it's easier to look for answers now.

8618841 - Thank you!

8618568 - Thanks! Next one is coming along nicely.