Classical music played in the background. The music came from a small portable radio located in the corner, the piece in question was what the students were all practicing steps to. Off to the side was a little yellow filly, with a pink-red mane and a large pink bow. She wore a skin-tight dance leotard with a small skirt. Next to her was an orange colt with a slicked back purple mane. He also wore a tight Leotard, but without the feminine skirt. They were in a large room with mirrors along the walls; the floor was made from the smoothest hardwood, and a rail ran along three sides. It was the perfect room for students to practice partnered or solo routines.

Apple Bloom, the yellow filly in question, was struggling with the steps. Her timing was undoubtedly off. She was either going half a beat too fast, half a beat too slow, or she was tripping over herself and missing the step altogether. This time, she got the through the steps all the way up until the last part of the move, before tripping over herself and stumbling. The orange colt, Tender Taps, quickly grabbed her foreleg and caught her before she could fall over again. He covered his mouth with his other foreleg and chuckled before he caught sight of Apple Bloom’s glare. “Don’t worry; you’ll get it Apple Bloom.”

The filly sighed before she chuckled as well. She regained her balance and looked at him. “Ah know, ah know, but ah’ve been workin’ on this step all last class, and now most of this class - and ah haven’t even gotten it right once!” she cried as she diverted her gaze and stared at the ground. “Ah must have two left hooves.”

“You’ll get it Apple Bloom.” the colt reassured with a slight smile. “It’s just a little harder for you, that’s all.”

She gave him a small smile and sighed again. “Easy fer you ta say, yer already good at dancin’.”

"I’ll let you in on a little secret.” He leaned in and whispered quietly to her. “I spent a whole week on that move.”

Apple Bloom gaped. “Ya didn’t!”

Tender nodded. “I did. I was really clumsy when I was younger, thought I’d never get it down, but I kept at it, and look at me now.” He smiled at her. “How about I walk you through the moves?”

She nodded. “Ah guess it’s worth a try.” Apple Bloom smiled and stood so she was facing him. Tender Taps raised a hoof and did the first few taps, slowly to leading into the routine. She trained her eyes on her hooves to copy the motions and then looked at him; her hoof outstretched near his in a similar fashion. Tender smiled and stepped back, Apple Bloom copying him again. He got up on his hind legs and that’s where the filly got shaky.

“There’s the problem, you aren't balanced enough.” He watched her drop back down on all fours and looked at her. “Spread your hooves farther apart, you have more balance that way.” The filly got up on her hind legs again, shifting so they were much further apart. Tender chuckled with mirth. “Now they're too far.” He pushed her left hoof closer to her right hoof so they were shoulder width apart. Smiling, he faced her again. “There.”

Apple Bloom could feel the difference, and smiled back, before she dropped down again and followed him through the rest of the moves, from the beginning. She ended with a twirl, and while it was a bit shaky, she landed with a beaming smile. “Ah did it!”

Tender Taps smiled and nodded. “I knew you could.”

The music cut off suddenly, and the teacher clapped her hooves together. “Gather around my students! There is news. Big news.” Apple Bloom and Tender smiled, trotting over to join with the assembling students. The teacher was a tall, light purple mare with a blond mane, and she too wore a leotard, one of pink and purple. Apple Bloom liked her; she was almost as patient as Tender Taps when it came to her learning new steps.

Once the class was all standing around her, the teacher smiled. “Try-outs for the Equestria wide Ballet and Freeform Doubles Dance Competition are just around the corner, and I have just learned that they are going to be held in Ponyville this year. That means that each and every one of you will all get the opportunity to partner up and compete!”

Cheers rang out through the class as everypony was quick to partner up with the best or next best dancers. Apple Bloom turned to see if her new friend wanted to partner with her, but found three of the fillies were already trying to convince him. She frowned and sighed. “Ah guess I'll need to be somepony else’s partner… He has a better shot at winnin’ with one of them anyway; they’re way better than ah am.” She looked around and spotted another colt without a partner. Putting on a smile, she approached him. “Hey, ya’ll wanna be mah partner?”

He looked really uncomfortable, and he let out a sigh. “Sorry Apple Bloom, but you just aren't good enough for it yet; maybe Taps will be your partner.” With that, the colt trotted off to go find another filly to partner with him. She sighed and lowered her head, flattening her ears. “Alright, ah kinda thought so…” Resigned to her fate, she didn’t bother trying asking anypony else, and spent the remainder of class in a funk.

Not long after, the teacher dismissed the class, and Apple Bloom was quick to leave the building. She didn't want to hang around for much longer, not since being told she wasn't good enough. Apple Bloom admitted, she probably wasn't but it still hurt that nobody wanted to dance with her. She dropped her head low, let her hooves drag, and slowly made her way home.

Author's Note

Poor Apple Bloom

Anyway, enjoy the story!