The Truth About Girls (Vol. 3)

by TheMareWhoSaysNi

This Is Our Big Night (part 3)

From where he sat, Soarin was in the perfect angle to gaze upon what was happening near the buffet. The CHS’ principals were in the middle of a conversation with a teacher, waiting to give the verdict. They couldn’t see what was going on around there, with that tall man in front of them.

Rainbow Dash was in charge of standing guard, while Pinkie Pie opened the hip flask and poured drops of it into the punch bowl.

Though he already knew, he couldn’t help rolling his eyes. These two together always led to chaos!

Dressed in a tuxedo straight out of the 70s, with a frilly shirt but thankfully no flared pants, Cheese Sandwich came closer to the table and sat beside Soarin, who he nudged with his elbow a little too abruptly when trying to be friendly.

“I think our girls are doing something fishy…”

Again, Soarin glanced at the table of the buffet, where he glimpsed at Rainbow Dash clapping Pinkie Pie’s hand discreetly. In all likelihood, they were pleased of their little trick. They had no High School classes after this, anyway, so what were the risks?

They both came to sit beside their dance partner, very proud of themselves.

“I think the rest of this ball’s going to be a way lot funnier!”

“As if it wasn’t enough that it started surprisingly already…”

The two boys knew what Rainbow Dash was alluding to. Surprising it had been for some of them, but for others, it explained a lot.

When the limo had arrived in front of the school and each of the girls had got down, their dance partners were waiting for them nearby. Cheese Sandwich’s presence was no surprise, since the bunch had already knew him and Pinkie Pie were joking about partying always together at Rainbow Dash's party. The fact Fluttershy had chosen to come with her brother had got the same type of reaction. Except Thunderlane, whom she could never forgive for what he had said about her friends, she had known only Big Macintosh and their story was over… However, he was also there to accompany his sister Applejack. Once again, this hadn’t been a big upheaval. And yet…

“Ah had a partner, Caramel, but this moron found a way to come down with sumethin’ two days before the ball!”

“So, she made do with me”, the tall freckled blond boy went on, between pride and exasperation.

So, Applejack had finally accepted a boy to step into her comfort zone? It was a rather good news, which meant she was now able to overcome the trauma of her assault. What a shame the young man wasn’t here, her friends would have loved to meet him – and tease him.

But the true revelation hadn’t been this one. Indeed, two partners were missing to complete the gang. Sunset Shimmer’s and Twilight’s… When Pinkie Pie had asked whether they were late, and had noticed Flash Sentry from afar, here with Muffin, the two young women had finally confessed.

They were each other’s partners. Zephyr almost had his jaw getting off his mouth, already fantasizing about the two girls naked in the same bed, until they explained it “wasn’t exactly what they thought.”

Indeed, they were closer since almost a year, and if they regarded themselves as a bit more than just friends (but not like soul sisters, neither), they weren’t a couple strictly speaking. In fact, they had a relationship which was at the cross-road of these two things.

No one had understand anything, until Rainbow Dash’s eyes lit up like Christmas decorations in the dark.

“You’re queer platonic!”

“Queer-what now?” Applejack asked.

“Queer platonic. Here, the word “queer” doesn’t mean “gay”, but “strange” because most of the people can’t get to understand the notion. Although it’s more or less part of the Asexual Spectrum, anybody can be queer platonic, which means also true blue heterosexuals. Apart from that, it’s exactly what they said it was: stronger than friendship but not exactly love. And it’s non-exclusive.”

“It’s… exactly what it is”, Twilight had said, blushing.

The young woman had hardly been able to hide her feeling of awkwardness. Not that she wasn’t comfortable with her particular relationship with Sunset Shimmer, but she was scared her friend would see her in a different light after they learned about that.

Everything Rainbow Dash had said was true, and explained why she had chosen to come with Sunset Shimmer instead of Flash Sentry – who had invited her first before asking Muffin. They both had agreed this would be the perfect moment to let their friends know about this new context.

Which never stopped her relationship with the young guitar player to stay “on-again, off-again”.

As if trying to inform the news had been digested and hadn’t disturbed anyone, Pinkie Pie had asked whether they were ready to party or they preferred playing wax statues on the parking lot and everybody had gone for the Ball.

Yet, there was someone this “new context” disturbed a bit… Zephyr. The latter, healed from his unconditional love for Rainbow Dash, had now his heart set on Sunset Shimmer, who couldn’t care less about him. Since he hadn’t understood completely the principles of a queer platonic relationship, he was still dwelling on, staring at the young woman laughing with Twilight, like a child which toy had just been taken away.

Because of this, he couldn’t stop crushing his little sister’s feet, and she was slightly upset.

“Stop it, Zephyr! If you keep doing this, I’ll leave you to your own devices… You promised you’d behave well!”

“Yeah, yeah, I know”, he complained, trying to focus back on the dance.

Around them, except the two young women, all the couples were moving at the rhythm of a romantic ballad, and he couldn’t help being envious of Soarin, who had the chance to be with his girlfriend, and not with a little sister ruling him with an iron fist!

Even when seeing Big Macintosh, he couldn’t be comforted, since he and his sister Applejack were dancing and chatting in a way which seemed to be pleasant… Although in reality, he didn’t have the slightest idea of what they could be talking about.

“Ah hope Caramel’s goin’ to recover soon.”

“Yar kiddin’, bro? Ah hope he’ll still be ill for days or Ah’ll kill him!”

“Ah, lil’ sis, yar still so delicate with boys… It’s not a surprise they’re all runnin’ away from ya!”

“They’re not the ones runnin’ away, Ah am! Am not ready to date any moron.”

“Yar not even datin’ with Cara, yar just buddies.”

“So what? Things can change. Like ya, Casanova, at the Prom Ball with yar lil’ sis when ya could have been with Pinkie if ya’d move yarself.”

It was “nice” of her to try to chewing him out, yet Big Macintosh wasn’t a fool. He knew his heart’s desire wasn’t looking at him the way a girl looks at a boy she likes. And he was scared she had found what she was looking for with that curly frilly-shirt thingy.

“Pinkie Pie doesn’t care for me.”

“Why? Because she's dancin' with Cheese Sandwich? They're just friends, ya know... And, maybe she doesn’t but ya didn’t even try! Even Fluttershy who’s the shiest and easiest to scare person Ah know had the guts to ask ya out. Pinkie will perhaps send ya packing but at least she’ll know.”

Big Macintosh wavered for a moment. His eyes put on Pinkie Pie dancing with Cheese Sandwich – what a ridiculous name – laughing out loud at his jokes, obviously more than happy she had found someone who understood her love for parties and crazy stuff.

It would be easy to take an advantage from the dimmed and romantic atmosphere to walk to her and tell her how cute he thought she was, how he couldn’t help but smile at each of her eccentricities, and how he was touched by the deep benevolent nature of her heart.

“Yar right. But Ah’ll do it another day.”

The music stopped, and the couples parted to look at the stage where the sisters Celestia and Luna, wearing evening dresses as well, were standing in front of a mic, each with an envelop in their hands.

They claimed the moment everyone was impatiently waiting for had finally arrived, the one moment which launched the party for good: the announcement of the King and Queen of the Prom Ball.

The students clapped their hands while, unceremoniously, Vice-Principal Luna was tearing off the first envelop. Like in every ball of the name, the announcement of the King only was the introduction of everyone’s favorite part, when the Queen was announced – this girl chosen among all the others to represent CHS and the Wondercolts for the four last years.

It wasn’t a big surprise that Flash Sentry was chosen among all the other students. Although he was part of no sport teams and no sport clubs, he was a very popular boy thanks to his semblance of bad boy image – though he was as gentle as a lamb.

He climbed on the stage to get his title under the applauds, and didn’t embarrass himself with a speech longer than a general thank you.

Immediately, it was Principal Celestia’s turn to stand in front of the mic, with the envelop containing the name of the winner who would get, along with her crown, a token for the boutique of her like.

Sweetie Drops and Octavia both were big favorites. The first one, used to beauty pageants, had some kind of fame, as much for this reason as for her strong bond with Lyra, one of the school’s best students. As for the second girl… She came back from the dead and was slowly starting to be comfortable again with life in society, which had touched many students’ heart…

“And our Queen of this year’s Prom Ball is…”

Fake drum roll in the background.

“Twilight Sparkle!”

Everyone turned to the young woman who was among the crowd and had clapped her hands too without thinking. She suspended her action once she realized it was her name that had just been called.

What? How could that be? The other girls in competition were prettier, more popular… All her best friends were on that list, and she regarded a girl such as Fluttershy as having more chances than she, the gang’s egghead.

Twilight heard Sunset Shimmer tell her she had to get on the stage, and shaking, came forward than climbed beside Flash Sentry and the sisters, all shaken up by this announcement.

For a change, she hadn’t prepared anything, and didn’t know what to say…

But from where she was standing, she saw Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash knowingly winking at her, as if they knew she would be chosen, right from the start…

Maybe she wasn’t as pretty as other girls and even this remained to be proved, but what was sure was that she had everything expected from a Prom Queen. All the required qualities of the perfect representative. Not only because of her huge intelligence and great sense of friendship… She also had an intelligence which came from the heart, empathy, a little something more…

-----------------------------------------------

The limo had been sent back to the garage for a while now. To go to the Ball’s after-party, Soarin had taken his car while Big Macintosh had driven the rest of the group with his pickup.

On the way back, he had dropped off Sunset Shimmer and Twilight, sleeping at the young woman’s place, and who had been welcomed by their parents and a teary Shining Armor.

Both hadn’t spoken much but the atmosphere wasn’t heavy. While Soarin was peacefully driving, Rainbow Dash, who had turned the radio on at a reasonable volume, had stared at the nightly landscapes of Canterlot with a sweet smile on her face. She seemed to be serene like she never been before, her hair floating in the wind, although shivering in her ballgown.

The night had been going on perfectly. Each of the girls had partied until they couldn’t move anymore, laughing, dancing together, more united than ever. Just like planned, the subtle addition of rum in the banquet punch had spiced up the Ball.

It was especially during the second party that the hormones had started to race up. A bit everywhere in the rented house couples had been flirting, dancing in a close embrace, relaxed from the strict frame of school where they shouldn’t behave in a way that was considered as “indecent”. The girls even had sung a few songs from the Rainbooms’ repertoire, although Rarity’s absence deprived them from the sound of a piano.

Soarin parked his car in front of Rainbow Dash’s house. It looked plunged in darkness and silence.

Yet, the young woman didn’t get off right away. She kept an arm leaning against the car’s door, staring at the main door with a funny face, like some kind of newfound nostalgia. Then she sighed, and her eyes still in the same direction, softly said, almost as if whispering:

“I’m going to leave, Soarin…”

“What do you mean?”

This statement surprised the young man, who knew she had been accepted at Canterlot University and thus had no intention of leaving town anytime soon now. A lump appeared in the back of this throat… If only she didn’t mean disappearing from Earth, although it was hard to imagine, because of that great calmness she displayed since they had left the party.

“From this house. Next year, my mother’s life insurance money would be available for me and I’ll be completely free from my father’s grip.”

Soarin couldn’t help a sigh of relief. Her face was so enigmatic he was scared he would have missed signs of despair. It wasn’t about that, in reality. She seemed to have realized her life was going to change dramatically, but in a different way. In a way which offered a thousand and more possibilities, instead of just one narrow hallway.

He unfastened her seatbelt and got closer, then put his hand on hers, between them on the passenger side.

“Is that why you haven’t chosen another campus? I know you’ve received a positive answer and maybe even a scholarship offer from Cloudsdale, shortly after the one from Canterlot.”

Rainbow Dash didn’t turn around, not very surprised he had discovered her little secret and instead displayed a quick smirk.

“How did you guess?”

“I’ve seen the envelop poking out of your bag, the other day, when you asked me to drive you home… I must admit I don’t understand why you refused the offer. You could have been free immediately.”

“Yes. Free but on my own. I couldn’t have made it without my friends. It was out of question for me to leave them. They’re the closest I have from a family. And there’s you…” she said, finally turning to him.

He shifted his hand from her fingers to her face, and gently stroke her cheek.

“We would have found a way. It wouldn’t have separated us and I know you know it. All I want is your happiness.”

“And I’m happy when I’m with you and my friends. I only have one year left here. It’s going to be just fine.”

“Yes”, he answered, yet still worried.

He leaned over and they both tenderly kissed, slowly and meticulously. It probably was irrational, but all along Soarin wasn’t able to get rid of a strange sensation, that if he let her go tonight, something terrible would be happening.

Rainbow Dash should have noticed it, since when their lips parted, she slightly frowned.

“Is there something wrong?”

“No… Just, are you sure you want to sleep here tonight? We could… I don’t know, pick up some clothes and go to my apartment. I’ll cook you a breakfast tomorrow morning.”

“It’s nice to offer but my father’s going to be home in the morning and if he sees my bedroom in such a huge mess, I’m going to get it! Plus, we have a brunch tomorrow morning at Sugarcube Corner with the gang, did you forget?”

Indeed, he had forgotten. Probably because on the day after his own Ball, he had avoided the traditional brunch between friends, wanting to have nothing to do with Spitfire and Fleetfoot, who certainly had one.

He didn’t have the choice. He had to let her go home. Without him. It was out of question for him to sleep there if her father was back in the morning, the latter not pleased of his relationship with his daughter, under the excuse that he was two year older than she.

Since always, he had that feeling that, anyway, Mr. Rainbow Blaze didn’t really like him. If he relied on what he knew about the character, it was, in all likelihood, because he “only” was the son of a luxury vintage cars’ dealer, and not one of these big wheels’ son he wished his daughter would meddle with.

Even with all the efforts of the world, that would be impossible to turn Rainbow Dash into a perfect well-born young girl. This wasn’t her world. And it would never be her world. The best way to love her remained to accept her the way she was, with her many flaws and well-hidden insecurities which, once put at the background, were concealing someone of high morals, big-hearted, and very brave.

“I’ll walk you to the door.”

Soarin went around the car, while Rainbow Dash was unfastening her seatbelt and opening her door. As soon as he was near her, she took off her high-heeled shoes and jumped on his back. They both almost tipped over on the side, and the short path from the car to the door was interspersed with laughs from the young woman and small high-pitched shrieks from him which doubled her hilarity.

On her own, she jumped off her perch, her shoes still in her hands. Thanks to their walk, her serene face was now lit up with lovely colors of a bright red.

She shook the heels in front of the young man’s face, who had to take a step back, in order not to get hit inadvertently.

“Tell me how can they walk all day long with these thingamajig? My feet are killing me! I say this: long live sneakers!”

“I could hardly contradict you.”

“C’mon, I go inside now or I’ll never get the courage to clean anything up.”

“Yeah…”

Soarin’s voice had ended up in a discreet whisper. He should not let her see the anguish still afflicting the pit of his stomach, or she would worry about it. She needed to have a good night of rest, without the risk of going through one of those horrible nightmares which kept on tormenting her, sometimes.

In order to hide his state of mind, he planted his lips on hers in a bit possessive way, and instead of getting off him like he expected, Rainbow Dash wrapped her arms around his neck and answered his kiss, on her tiptoes, leaning against the door.

He made their exchange last as much as he could, holding her tight as if she could melt down at any moment.

When she finally parted from him, her lips were swollen, and her cheeks seemed to be even redder.

“Goodnight”, she whispered slowly. “And don’t forget the brunch.”

“I promise.”

Despite his deep will, Soarin undid his embrace and turned around to get to his car. If he didn’t look at her, everything would be just fine. Here she was, staring at his back, and he knew she wouldn’t move from here until he was inside his car and away. As if he were the person who needed to be protected.

Only once he had started his engine, did he take a glimpse at her direction. A smile upon her face, she was waving her hand goodbye, and his stomach clenched again. Back when she had left Cloudsdale from Canterlot, he had looked at her getting away in her parents’ car, and she had waved her hand the same way, but there were tears on her cheeks instead of that smile.

Ill omen.

Especially as, when he got away, he noticed that a feeble light, which they hadn’t noticed before, was shining through one of the windows downstairs, probably where was the opened kitchen – the house had two kitchens, strangely really close from one another.

Rainbow Dash, on the other hand, hadn’t noticed anything and she was surprised when she wanted to unlock the door and realized it actually wasn’t locked at all! Yet she was sure she had closed it with her key once Soarin and the girls all were in the limo.

Was it possible that, despite the sophisticated security system, a thief was now inside her house? There were many very expensive things here, after all – their home cinema supplies and the huge television screen, although no one used them, the sports devices, the money in her secret box, champagne and rare wine bottles, her mother’s collection of China plates, her grandmother’s jewels…

She discreetly pushed the door open, hoping not to be spotted if there really were an intruder, but determined not to hide, shaking and scared, as long as the thieves didn’t own knives…

Instead of a thief, she met face to face with her father, towering her with his 6’’23 feet. And the first thing she felt was the shock of his palm crushing the top of her cheek. It felt as if her right eye would get off their sockets…

Author's Note:

Yes, it's the end of this arc.

So, next arc... You'll see.

Comments

[Midday Giggle]

6:17 p.m.

My. God. Oh God, I'm trembling...

Oh, Twilight's the Prom Ball Queen! I wasn't expecting that, I was expecting Pinkie or even Dash

I so hate Rainbow Blaze right now...

[Bellwing]

WoW!!!

[marypony]

OMG! Rarity still in the house?

Blaze, I hate you even more.... 😡

[Dusk_Writer]

Well fuck.