There's a dance contest in Equestria, the prize is a wish by Celestia, how far will Rarity go to win
Equestria is holding its very first Summer Dance Marathon. Ponies from all across Equestria show up to compete for the most lucrative prize ever. One wish from Princess Celestia. As the night continues the competition gets fierce. A calamity of colossal catastrophes commits countless contestants to Ponyville Emergency Care.
Ponyville Emergency hadn't seen this many injured mares and stallions in all its days. Nurse Redheart was overwhelmed by the number of patients she had received in the past hour alone. What could've possibly caused this?
She stopped a pony being wheeled in.
"Where are you coming from?"
The pony looked nervously up at the nurse. "Ponyville Town Hall. I was dancing in the big dance contest when I slipped and sprained my leg."
Everypony who was anypony was at the Ponyville town hall. Mares and colts from all across Equestria had gathered for what was promising to be the premier event of the summer: The Summer Dance Marathon.
All the couples, friends, and dance partners were limbering up. The lights in the town hall were lowered except on the dance floor. The floor remained empty for the moment, but the dance marathon was moments away from beginning.
Spike pushed his way inside the town hall. "Hurry up, Rarity! We still have to register for the dance marathon!"
Rarity trotted up nervously. Spike had asked her to be his dance partner. She agreed solely because nopony else had asked her. She didn't see the appeal of dancing all night for nothing. At least her friends had come to dance with them.
Applejack and Big MacIntosh were signed up already. According to Applejack, Big MacIntosh was the best dancer in all of Ponyville... when the mood struck him of course.
Twilight and Pinkie were signed up to dance together. Twilight loved to dance and so did Pinkie. For them it was just a reason to dance the night away.
Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy had also signed up together after Rainbow convinced Fluttershy it was both fun and a healthy way to build up endurance. Even so, Fluttershy was less than enthusiastic about the whole thing.
Rarity sighed as she and Spike pushed their way toward the sign up table. If nothing else, she thought, this night would be a fun distraction from her busy work week. She trotted over to the sign up table, where Spike was already waiting, rocking back and forth on his heels in anticipation.
"Rarity and Spike. We're here for the contest. Sign us up, please."
Rarity smiled cheerfully at the unicorn pony behind the table. The pony glared and levitated a quill with her magic and signed them up.
"You're team number 76. You are only to dance when music is playing. Breaks are scheduled between each song for bathroom, food and drink as needed. If you or your partner is disqualified for any reason you will both be out of the competition. Remember to hydrate and have fun." The unicorn pony rattled off the marathon disclaimer like a well rehearsed act.
"Um, how would one be disqualified, exactly?" Rarity inquired.
The unicorn rolled her eyes as she read off the list of dance offenses. "If our judges think you're dancing isn't up to snuff-you're out. If you stop dancing while the music is playing-you're out. If you are late back to the dance floor after a break-you're out. If you're unable to compete for whatever reason-you're out."
"Don't worry about that, Rarity. We're sure to win!" Spike smiled proudly at his dance partner. Rarity feigned relief and smiled back.
"Everypony to the dance floor!" Mayor Mare called from behind her podium perched on the stage in front of the dance floor. "The dance contest is about to begin."
Spike took off like a shot into the crowd of gathering ponies. Rarity sighed and walked onto the floor looking for her dance partner. Amongst the sea of strangers she noticed a few familiar faces. She spotted not just ponies she had seen around Ponyville, like Lyra and Bonbon, but more universally recognized faces.
There was Trixie with some colt she'd never seen before. Prince Blueblood was there with a young unicorn mare with light pink mane. Flim and Flam were off in the corner looking smug as could be. Fancy Pants and Fleur had taken a spot near the front of the crowd. Iron Will, Gilda, Mule-ia Mild and Pony Joe were all getting ready to dance.
"Spike," Rarity asked as she found her partner. "Why are so many ponies here? What exactly is this dance marathon, anyway?"
"Oh, didn't you hear?" Spike looked up at Rarity with a lost look on his face.
"Everypony," Mayor Mare addressed the contestants. "Before we begin it is my honor to present our beloved Princess Celestia!"
Celestia stepped out from behind some curtains and waved a hoof at everypony as they all cheered. Mayor Mare stepped back up to the podium.
"Princess Celestia will be joining our judges panel, along with myself, Mr. and Mrs. Cake, and our other Princess, Luna!" The residents of Ponyville stomped their hooves in cheer. "Remember, everypony, to have fun and stay hydrated. And don't feel the need to keep dancing just for the grand prize."
"Prize!?" Rarity's ears perked up. She looked at Spike. "What prize?"
"There's a prize for the best dancing team." Spike said.
"But what's the prize, Spike?" Rarity asked anxiously.
"The prize," Mayor Mare continued, "will be one wish granted by our very own Princess Celestia."
Rarities jaw dropped. Many of the ponies started to murmur in excitement.
"Within reason." Celestia added sheepishly.
"The first dance will be a warm up. The real fun begins after the first break." The mayor smiled. "Everypony ready?"
The crowd cheered.
"Hit it, DJ!" Mayor Mare cried.
Vinyl Scratch nodded and starting spinning the first hit.
Rarity's eyes darted back and forth, from contestant to contestant, as she assessed the competition. She eyed each and assessed their dance style to see if they were a potential threat to her eventual victory. Spike was passably stylish with his dance moves; Rarity was, of course, the most graceful. But that didn't mean the others weren't still a threat.
Fluttershy seemed too petrified to dance. Big MacIntosh was clearly not into the music. That meant Applejack and Rainbow Dash would be out. Rarity had seen Twilight Sparkle dance and knew she wasn't a threat, which meant Pinkie Pie would be eliminated quickly. That took care of her friends.
Flim and Flam would be a problem. They were quite rehearsed in dance. As was Fancy Pants and Fleur. Trixie seemed to be doing well too. Gilda and her stuck up griffon partner seemed to be doing well. They were still no threat to Rarity and Spike, though.
"Uh, Rarity?" Spike gently tapped Rarity on the back.
"Yes, Spike?" Rarity said sweetly, as she continued to scan the dance floor.
"You're standing on my tail." Spike pointed down at his tail as he winced in pain. Rarity stopped and took a step back. She was so focused on the other contestants she hadn't even notice she was barely dancing herself. And on poor Spike's tail no less!
"I'm so sorry, Spike! I was just... watching the others."
"Everypony is having so much fun, aren't they? I told you tonight would be great!" Spike did a quick spin and disco finger point as he continued to dance up a storm. It was so corny, Rarity couldn't help but roll her eyes and smile.
The first song came to an end and the mayor dismissed everyone for a quick break, reminding them that the judging began with the next song. Rarity found her friends sitting together at a table and joined them for the break.
Applejack was too busy berating Big MacIntosh to notice Rarity sit down beside them.
"Hey, Rarity!" Pinkie Pie greeted her friend. "Is Spike your dance partner?"
"Yes, indeed he is. And me and my little Spikey-wikey are going to clean up in this competition!" Rarity beamed at her friends.
"Well, if Big MacIntosh weren't so stubborn I bet we'd give you a run fer yer bits." Applejack added more than a little dejected.
"At least he's trying. I can't convince Flutterhshy to dance at all!" Rainbow lamented.
"I'm sorry." Fluttershy squeaked from behind her punch glass.
"Well you'll all take second place to me and Pinkie," Twilight boasted. "We've been dancing since we were little foals! We've got this contest in the bag!" Twilight smiled proudly. An awkward silence descended upon the table.
"Yeah right, Twi!" Rainbow burst into laughter. "We've all seen how you dance!"
Twilight glared at Rainbow Dash.
"It sure would be somethin' to win that wish," Applejack mused. "I bet I could wish for a real successful year for the farm with that."
"You're thinking small time, A.J." Rainbow Dash jumped in. "If I won, I'd not only wish to be apart of The Wonderbolts, but to be captain, too!"
"I'd just be happy if somepony who really deserved it won," Fluttershy added.
"I'd wish for a never ending party!" Pinkie shouted.
"I'd just be happy with a new book! What about you, Rarity?" Twilight and the others looked at Rarity, waiting for her answer.
"Oh, um. A diamond." Rarity smile nervously. She hadn't thought of what she'd wish for just yet.
"Just ONE diamond?" Rainbow Dash asked incredulous.
"A really, BIG diamond?" Rarity tried to save her answer.
"You mean, you could ask for ANYTHING in all Equestria, from super powers to a free cupcake at Sugar Cube Corner and ALL you can think of is a diamond!?" Pinkie raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"I guess I never thought about it." Rarity admitted.
"Well, that is a good point. We could ask for ANYTHING if we won," Twilight postulated. "Whose to say what would be the best thing to wish for?"
"Well, DUH! A never ending party IS the best wish!" Pinkie rolled her eyes at her dance partner. "What about you Spike! What would you ask for?"
"A BIG gem!" Spike stretched his arms out as wide as he could to demonstrate. The others rolled their eyes. "It would be so tasty, too." Spike began licking his lips.
"Everypony, back to the dance floor!" The mayor announced. "The next round is about to begin!"
As everypony crowded the floor, Rarity was lost in thought. What would she wish for? The first thing that came to her mind was all the gems to adorn her latest fashion line. But why ask for just gems when she could ask for smashing success wherever she went? But would that be honest? She really should earn her success, she thought.
As the music thumped out the last beats, Rarity took the opportunity to size up her competition once again. As she suspected, Fluttershy and Big MacIntosh were disqualified for not dancing. The two left and sat together at a table. Rarity looked around but couldn't find Applejack or Rainbow Dash anywhere; they must have been upset about losing so quickly that they left.
Pinkie's overly hyper dancing was apparently enough to save Twilight from elimination. A few couples were asked to leave, though, including a couple of pegasi who swayed lazily to the beat above the dance floor. The first round of judging was complete but there was still plenty of ponies left.
"Want some more punch, Rarity?" Spike offered, eagerly.
"Spike, we need water if we are to be properly hydrated for this competition. Who knows how long this will go on for." Rarity eyed Trixie suspiciously as Trixie whispered to her colt companion and pointed at her.
"So, no punch then?" Spike asked.
"No." Rarity affirmed.
Spike shrugged and headed off to the punch bowl anyway. Rarity rolled her eyes and joined Twilight and Pinkie in the queue for the water fountain.
"Wow! I haven't danced that hard since Pinkie's last party!" Twilight's cheerful demeanor was just slightly irksome to Rarity. If only Twilight knew how poor her dancing was! Rarity wanted to tell her she should've been told to leave, but couldn't bring herself to hurt her friends feelings.
"Yes, the music is quite good," Rarity smiled and agreed, as she strained to be as amiable as possible.
The queue moved quickly enough, and soon it was Rarity's turn at the fountain. But just as she was about to take a sip, an all too familiar voice stopped her.
"Well well well. If it isn't one of Twilight Sparkle's entourage," the voice jibed. Rarity spun around and found herself face to face with Trixie's familiar, smug, smiling face. "Hello green haired wonder!"
"Trixie!" Rarity's voice dripped with venom. "What do you want?"
"Can't I just stop by and say hello to an old friend?"
"We are not friends!" Rarity spat.
"You wound me, friend of Twilight. But no matter. All I really wanted to say was, "good luck". I hope nothing... unfortunate happens to you." Trixie swished her tail and snapped it inches from Rarity's face causing her to flinch. Trixie laughed as she walked away.
"That showboating pompous..." Rarity stopped and quickly composed herself. "No matter, Rarity. She's beneath you. You're graceful style on the dance floor will more than put her to shame. You've nothing to worry about," Rarity smiled to herself, took a sip from the water fountain and found her way back to the dance floor.
"Spike, are you ready to win this?" Rarity said, just loud enough for every nearby pony to hear. She felt confident and she wanted everypony to know it.
"You bet!" Spike bounced excitedly next to her.
Trixie and her mysterious colt friend walked over and took a spot next to Rarity and Spike.
"What are YOU doing here? Didn't Twilight teach you a lesson last time you were here?" Spike narrowed his eyes as he spoke.
"Isn't it past your bed time, dragon?" Trixie jeered.
"Everypony ready for the next round?" The mayor called. The ponies all stomped their feet in approval as Vinyl Scratch started spinning the next hit.
Trixie nodded to her colt companion who stomped hard down on Spike's tail. Spike cried out in pain and grabbed his throbbing tail.
"Just WHAT do you think you're doing!?" Rarity beseeched. Trixie just grinned cruelly as her horn glowed. A flash of light later and Rarity knew what had happened. She could feel her perfectly styled mane had been rearranged into some horrid mess.
"Rarity! Your mane!" Spike covered his mouth, scared to speak of what horror had befallen it. Rarity looked around in panic. She saw Mr. and Mrs. Cake making their way towards them.
Rarity grunted in frustration as she frantically combed her mane and washed away the green dye. Good thing she brought her emergency make over kit from home. She had already spent most of the break in the washroom fixing this horrid mess.
Mr. and Mrs. Cake were almost not convinced that Rarity and Spike could continue dancing. Spike was rather stiff after his tail had been stomped so viciously by that conniving colt! She left him with Fluttershy and Big MacIntosh, who were tending to his wounded tail. Her poor Spiky-wikey.
Rarity looked at herself in the mirror. She looked radiant! But more importantly, she looked ready... for revenge! There was a fire in her eyes and she knew Trixie was her target.
Rarity looked around at the mess of garbage and twigs and green stains. She tucked a few twigs under her main and wrapped her tail around a particularly wet and dirty piece of trash. She kept it as hidden as she could as she walked back out onto the dance floor.
Twilight was nervously trotting in circles around Spike, fretting over his tail injury.
"Why didn't you get me right away? Are you sure you're fine? We can leave if you like!"
Spike rolled his eyes, "I'm fine, Twilight. Fluttershy patched me up better than new." He wagged his tail showing off the little white bandage.
"It was nothing, really," Fluttershy deflected.
Twilight suddenly reared on Rarity. "How could you make him keep dancing!? Don't you have any care for his well being?"
Rarity frowned. "He's fine, Twilight! If I had thought Spike couldn't handle it, I would left the dance floor with him immediately."
"It's really no big deal, guys," Spike stepped between Twilight and Rarity.
"If you hurt yourself again you come straight to me, got it?" Twilight commanded. Spike nodded. Twilight turned to Rarirty with a glare, "I'll talk to YOU, tomorrow." Twilight turned and went back to the dance floor with Pinkie Pie.
"Are you sure you're ok to go on?" Rarity asked Spike. As much as she yearned for revenged, she didn't want Spike to push himself.
"Yep! I'm fit as a fiddle, thanks to Fluttershy!"
"Thanks again, Fluttershy." Rarity said.
"Any time," mused Fluttershy.
Rarity turned and quickly guided Spike to a dark corner of the dance floor with the perfect view of Trixie's smug head. Well, the back of it anyway.
"Everypony ready?" The Mayor called out. The crowd cheered and stamped their hooves.
"Hit it, DJ!" And with that the next dance was underway.
Rarity did her best to hold onto the piece of trash in her tail. She nervously eyed the crowd, the other dancers, and most importantly, the judges. For what she was planning, no one could be watching her.
For a moment, no one was looking. Rarity took aim and was about to launch the garbage when Trixie's partner dipped her low. Rarity lost sight of her target for the moment. She froze and went back to her awkward dancing.
"Are you ok, Rarity? It looks like you're in pain." Spike asked as he danced energetically next to her.
"I'm fine, Spike. I just need to focus," Rarity strained her neck to see where Trixie had disappeared to. "Where is she?" She murmured under hear breath.
Mayor Mare was walking towards the back corner where Rarity had decided to hide. They made eye contact. The mayor smiled and bee-lined for Rarity. Rarity looked around nervously. She needed a distraction!
Mayor Mare walked briskly along the edge of the dance floor, casually observing other dancers. Rarity was starting to sweat. If the mayor saw her sabotage Trixie she'd surely be disqualified from the contest. She needed something, ANYTHING to keep her from getting too close.
That's when Trixie appeared next to Rarity. It was almost as if she had appeared from no where. Trixie's smug face betrayed her thoughts. Rarity looked around for the mayor and found her several feet from the water fountain. A pony from the crowd had intercepted her and engaged her in conversation.
This was it; time for payback!
Rarity did a quick spin on her front hooves making sure to swipe Trixie in the face with her tail. The garbage ball smeared across her eyes, blinding Trixie momentarily. The blue unicorn screamed in panic and stumbled backwards. The ponies nearby all turned to see what the commotion was.
Trixie flailed blindly and tripped over Rose, sending both ponies sprawling to the floor. The mayor and the other judges quickly rushed over to see what was going on. Rarity stepped off the dance floor to let the mayor through. She dropped the garbage ball and hoofed it under a nearby empty table.
"Trixie, Rose. I'm sorry but you and your partners are disqualified," The mayor informed them.
"What!?" Trixie cried.
"You stopped dancing," Mr. Cake said.
"And Rose clearly can't continue," Mrs. Cake said, pointing a hoof at Rose as she nursed a sprained rear leg. "Oh my, you might want to get that looked at."
"Yeah, I'll get right on that," Rose rolled her eyes and glared at Trixie. Daisy helped Rose to her hooves and the two left the dance floor. Trixie sat there looking dumbfounded as the realization sunk in. She would not be getting her wish.