Author's Note
If you watch the Rainbow Rocks short A Perfect Day for Fun you'll see Tennis Match in the background several times over the course of the video, doing different things, talking to different people. This chapter tries to build those into a cohesive narrative that explains just what Tennis Match was doing at the funfair that day.
A Perfect Day for Fun
"Bye, dad!" Tennis Match called, climbing out of her dad's blatant mid-life crisis and slamming the door. She waved as he drove off, the sleek red form of his new sports car taking him away.
She walked the last few steps to the ticket booth. "One child's ticket," she announced to the ticket seller. He looked at her skeptically. Just as he was about to open his mouth to object, she chirped, "seventeen."
"That'll be five dollars," he stated reluctantly.
Tennis Match unfolded a five dollar bill from her wallet and handed it over with a smile. The ticket seller slid a child's ticket across the counter towards her, which she pocketted. "Have a nice day," she wished him warmly and strolled into the funfair.
She checked the time on her phone and panicked. "Crap! She's gonna kill me," she muttered under her breath, looking for the hall of mirrors where she'd arranged to meet her friend five minutes ago.
Just then, her phone rang. Cloudy. She answered the phone, anticipating her friend's question. "I'm looking for it now. I've been here ten minutes," she lied, "but can't find the mirror place."
"It's kind of on the right hand side of the main stage," Cloudy Kicks answered.
Tennis Match started heading in that direction. "Oh… okay… I was looking in… ummm… near the rollercoaster."
"You should be able to see them from there, it's not far."
"Right hand side from the audience's perspective, or the band's?" Tennis Match asked.
"Audience of course," Cloudy answered.
"What do you mean 'of course'? It's a perfectly legit— wait, I see you!" Tennis Match hung up the phone and ran over to where Cloudy Kicks was waiting. She threw her arms around her best friend. "Cloudy!" she squealed.
"Alright, TM," Cloudy responded, trying to extricate herself from Tennis Match's clutches. "You found me then?"
Tennis Match looked into Cloudy's eyes and adopted a serious expression. "I will always find you." She'd been watching Once Upon A Time too much.
"Let's get going then," Cloudy suggested.
"Kaaay…" They walked off in the direction of the peep through boards.
Cloudy grinned at her friend. "I can't believe you're letting me set you up!"
"Yeah, I can't believe it either," Tennis Match said apprehensively. "I don't have to hang out with this guy all night, do I?"
"Ha! That's what he asked too!"
"Great." Tennis Match rolled her eyes. "He sounds as keen as I do."
Cloudy gave Tennis Match as playful push on the shoulder. "Relax… don't take it personally. He doesn't know who he's meeting either."
Tennis Match gulped. "Kay."
The pair soon arrived by the apple bobbing stall. Cloudy led Tennis Match up to a guy in a red jacket. "Tennis Match, meet Norman. Norman, meet Tennis Match."
"Errr… what time do you call this, Cloudy?" Norman asked, raising his eyebrows.
"I'm… I'm sorry, Norman," Cloudy said. "It's my fault we're late," she lied, covering for her friend.
"It's okay, I guess… I would have appreciated some kind of message… next time send a text maybe?"
"Okay, okay," Cloudy said, pushing Tennis Match towards her blind date.
* * *
"Get me outta here," Tennis Match frantically texted Cloudy Kicks.
The blind date was a disaster. Norman had been horrified when Tennis Match suggested they split the bill in half. He'd summoned the waiter and got him to confirm that Norman's salad did indeed cost less that Tennis Match's hamburger and fries.
Cloudy seemed to be ignoring her texts, so in a panic she texted the one other friend she'd seen around the funfair. "Curly, come find me. I need your help. Come find me. I'm near that hammer and bell thing."
Norman had finished his third go on the coconut shy and was complaining about how it was all a fix, when Tennis Match pointed to the strength test. Hit a target with a huge hammer, and if you could ring the bell, there would be a big prize. "Hmmm… not sure," Norman said uncertainly.
"Go on… look… here's my friend Curly! You can see which of you is stronger!"
Norman looked at Curly and gulped. That guy was built. "Ummm… sure," he replied with mock confidence.
"Me first?" Curly asked, striding towards the large mallet and hefting it over his head. He swung and the metal weight flew up the pole. Ding! went the little bell at the top.
A bunch of onlookers started clapping, attracting the attention of some girls that Tennis Match recognized from school — Rainbow Dash, captain of the soccer team, and her friend Applejack. "Fancy a go?" Tennis Match overhead Applejack ask.
"Your turn now, Norman," Tennis Match pointed out.
"I… errr… I have somewhere I need to be. It was nice meeting you, Tennis Match," Norman said, scurrying away.
"Thanks, Curly," Tennis Match said, standing beside the strength test, and feeling his biceps. Hmmm… maybe… just maybe, she thought. The two watched Applejack and Rainbow Dash being outstrengthed by a dog.
Just then, Tennis Match's phone beeped. She read the screen and turned to Curly. "I gotta go," she said. "Thanks again." Cloudy wanted to meet her by the carousel.
* * *
"I can't believe you," Cloudy said to Tennis Match. "Norman was in floods of tears on when I spoke to him."
"And I was in tears of boredom! Whatever made you set me up with him?!"
"I… he's… well… he's a nice guy… he just needs somebody to bring him out of his shell."
Tennis Match put her hands on her hips. "Well, that somebody isn't going to be me!"
"Fiiine," Cloudy said, shaking her head.
Just then a band started playing on the main stage. Tennis Match turned her head to face the stage. "Oooh! It looks like the Rainbooms! Come and have a dance?"
Cloudy smiled, the failed blind date forgotten. "Sure."
"Yes, that's right. Fill it up with your meat," squealed Tennis Match.
"Like this?" asked Teddy.
"Yeah. I want some of that creamy white sauce inside."
"Don't worry. I'll fill it up with lots of sauce."
"Oooh, yeah. Like that," purred Tennis Match happily. "Yes, more… more! That's right."
Curly came up from behind. "Should I put this in there?" he asked, pointing at Tennis Match's can.
Tennis Match's face took on a mixture of horror and curiosity. "Both at once?"
"Sure," said Teddy, "Sunset likes it."
"I don't know." Tennis Match was still hesitant. "Sunset Shimmer is a little more 'experimental' than me."
Curly patted Tennis Match's can. "Trust me, you're going to love it."
Tennis Match looked at him nervously. Having both of them in at the same time didn't sound like something she'd enjoy. "OK, but promise you'll take it out if I don't like it."
Curly smiled, glad she'd decided to try something new. "Of course, but I'm telling you: once you've tried it, you'll love it."
Moments later, Tennis Match was moaning as she bit into the chicken and canned sweetcorn sandwich (with extra mayo). It seemed Sunset Shimmer was right — putting them both in the same sandwich was delicious.
Maybe next time Tennis Match wouldn't be so dismissive of Sunset's other suggestions. Hint, hint, nudge, nudge, wink, wink.
Author's Note
This is the little story I've been teasing Tennis Match Fan with for ten whole months.
