A Skip and a Dash

For the rest of the day, Rainbow Dash kept her encounter with Blazedart out of her mind. She wasn’t going to let some arrogant colt distract her from everything else. So she decided that she would visit Twilight, just for a little while. It was regrettably boring having to help the unicorn with her tidying up, but it was better than nothing.

Rainbow Dash said nothing about Blazedart to Twilight. In fact, she hardly said anything at all. Twilight was the pony doing all the talking.

“Rarity’s being ever so sweet and everything but all her chatter about dress designs does my head in. I can’t seem to think straight or concentrate on my studies. Not to mention I’m panicky about my letter to Princess Celestia. I’m having trouble thinking of lessons I’ve learned.”

“Well, I wouldn’t know, Twilight.” Rainbow said, “I’ve been too caught up in my flying to learn any friendship lessons.”

“Let’s not worry, we’ll figure something out. We always do.”

Twilight lifted up one last book with the magic of her horn and it settled itself onto the top shelf. “Phew. That’s all of the books away.” she said with a relieved smile.

She turned to Rainbow Dash.

“I appreciate you keeping me company, Rainbow. What made you decide to come here anyway? I thought you were busy in the sky?”

“Uh, well…” Rainbow hesitated for a second, “I was. But it turns out the weather doesn’t need much help today. And I’m happy to help a friend if it gives me something to do.”

“That’s nice of you. And thanks. I suppose it gives me something to do too.”

Before the two could continue their conversation, the front door suddenly burst open. A pink pony stood in the doorway, a big beam on her face.

“Twilight, Twilight!” Pinkie Pie said excitedly, bouncing up to Twilight.

Pinkie’s little hooves were jiggling with overexcitement and the unicorn stared at her with stunned eyes.

“Calm it, Pinkie.” she said sternly, “What is it? And couldn’t you have knocked before barging in?”

“I couldn’t knock!” Pinkie Pie squeaked, “I was way too excited! You and Rainbow Dash have to come round to mine later cos there are like so many new ponies in Ponyville! I just have to throw them a welcoming party cos they all seem so nice and they could be our friends and I love making friends and-”

“All right.” Twilight said, stopping Pinkie Pie in her words, “I think we get the idea. You want us to come to your welcoming party where there will be new fillies and colts. Right?”

“Right!” Pinkie Pie squealed, “You’re going to come, aren‘t you? Please come, Twilight! You’ve got to come too, Dashie! It’ll be totally fun! It’s at mine at 5 o’clock!”

“Well, we do love a good party I guess.” Rainbow Dash said with a grin.

“Great! You’ll be there! I know you guys will! Cos you’re my best friends! Can’t wait! See you there!”

As quickly as she had come in, Pinkie Pie was out of the door again. Twilight blinked and was silent for several moments. Rainbow just smiled and rolled her eyes.

“Well, a welcoming party. That should be interesting.” Rainbow said with a smirk.

“Trust Pinkie Pie to let us know about a party in THAT way.” Twilight said, still drowned in Pinkie Pie’s mass of words.

“She’s just being Pinkie Pie.” Rainbow Dash said with a chuckle, walking up to Twilight’s side, “And anyway, a party like this will help take your mind off things. You don’t have to worry about the letter. You can just have a nice time with your friends.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” Twilight agreed, a smile back on her face, “And it’ll give us all a chance to make new friends! That’s definitely something I could write about.”

With no other chores to take care of, Rainbow and Twilight left the house to wander around Ponyville. Along the way, they talked about the upcoming party. Would it be fun? Who would they meet? And WOULD they make some new friends?

It was obvious that Pinkie Pie had told all their other friends too, since Twilight and Rainbow stumbled upon their cowgirl friend Applejack who burst into conversation at once.

“Howdy, partners!” she said to them cheerfully, “Heard about Pinkie’s new welcomin’ party?”

“Sure have.” said Twilight, “You know how Pinkie gets news around quickly.” she added, rolling her eyes.

“I think it’s a mighty nice idea!” said Applejack merrily, “Before y’all know it, we’ll have made some more friends!”

At that precise moment, a teal coloured mare trotted up to Applejack’s side.

“Oh uh, this is Rosy Dilly.” Applejack said, pointing to the mare.

Rosy Dilly shot a happy grin at Twilight and Rainbow who each returned an awkward smile.

“Ah promised ‘er I’d show ‘er round for the day.” Applejack explained, “I’ll catch the rest of ya later. Hope you meet some nice folk!”

Applejack cantered off with Rosy Dilly by her side.

“Wow.” said Twilight, “There does seem to be a lot of new faces in town.”

“And they’re getting around pretty quickly.” Rainbow added.

“I’m sure we’ll find some pony friends of our own if we look around. Besides, I need to go into the store to look for new writing equipment.”

So Rainbow Dash followed Twilight into the small corner shop. The Pegasus never roamed around the shops much, but she thought she might find the odd thing that would interest her in here.

When inside the shop, the two ponies split up and looked at different shelves. Rainbow went straight to the posters section, searching for Wonderbolts pictures.

Twilight browsed the shelves that held all the essentials for writing. She examined quills, parchment, ink and much more. Her eyes latched onto a block of papers, which were perfect for writing new letters on. She used her horn to pick the papers up, but underestimated the weight. The pile was, in fact, very heavy. Just as she lost her grip, the head of another pony lifted the papers up before they reached the ground.

“That could have been a nasty shocker.”

It was a stallion that Twilight had never seen before. She noticed his Pegasus wings and his spiral Cutie Mark.

“Thank you, sir.” Twilight said in relief, “That really would have been an embarrassment.”

Her voice was rather shaky around this stranger.

“Oh please, don’t call me sir.” the stallion said, “My name’s Blazedart.”

“Twilight Sparkle.” the unicorn said in return, “You’re new around here?”

“Yes, along with many other newcomers, I believe?”

“Oh, I’ve been seeing an AWFUL lot of new ponies here. And it’s so nice to meet new citizens of Ponyville.”

“Hey, how are you doing Twilight?”

Rainbow Dash’s voice came to Twilight’s ears. The cyan Pegasus was trotting out from behind a nearby shelf and it was then she noticed Blazedart. Her eyes grew wide in surprise.

“Rainbow Dash, wasn’t it?” Blazedart said in his usual calm voice.

“You? Again?” Rainbow exclaimed.

“You two know each other?” Twilight said, switching her gaze between Blazedart and Rainbow Dash.

“We’ve only just met.” Rainbow muttered, “And it WASN’T intentional.”

She had a look of annoyance on her face. Twilight, on the other hand, looked pleased.

“Well, I’m sure we’d both love you to join us at our friend’s welcoming party later on today.” she said to Blazedart, “Pinkie Pie is inviting every new pony in town to her house at 5 o’clock.” she lowered her voice, “Pinkie Pie has to be friends with everypony there is to know.”

“I understand that.” Blazedart said with a chuckle, “I’d be happy to tag along if that’s all right with you.”

“Of course it is! Right, Rainbow Dash?”

“Ugh…yeah. Sure it is.” Rainbow said, glaring at Blazedart.

He smirked at the lack of enthusiasm in her voice.

“Pinkie Pie lives at Sugarcube Corner right?” he said, “I know.” he added with a grin, “That pony’s talked about a lot around here. I’ll be seeing you at five o’clock then. Lovely to meet you, Twilight Sparkle.” Twilight replied with a shy smile. The Pegasus colt stepped up to Rainbow Dash’s side before saying, “See you around, Rainbow Dash.”

And he exited the shop with a flap of his wings.

“Wow, Rainbow!” Twilight gasped, trotting up to Rainbow’s side, “He seems so nice! And charming! I’m looking forward to having the others meet him!”

“Yeah, sure…whatever…”

Rainbow was staring out of the door and into the sky where Blazedart had flown off to. Her face was still rather annoyed.

“What is it?” Twilight questioned, “Don’t you like him or something? And you’ve already met him! When? And why didn’t you say?”

“It was only this morning, Twilight.” Rainbow said, rolling her eyes, “And I didn’t think it mattered.”

“Of course it matters if you’re making new friends!” Twilight said happily.

To this, the Pegasus scoffed.

“Err, FRIENDS?” Rainbow exclaimed, “When did I say he was my frie-”

“We’d better go home and prepare ourselves now.” Twilight said, ignoring Rainbow and heading to the door, “Pinkie’s party is in an hour.”

Rainbow hung her head sulkily and followed Twilight out of the shop. As they walked together, Rainbow Dash had thoughts spinning around in her head. How would Blazedart act at the party? Would he talk to her even more? Would he talk to her friends? Would he embarrass her in front of her friends?

He’d better NOT show me up in front of my friends, she thought, he thinks he’s so much better than me.

“Don’t worry.” Twilight said to her, snapping her out of her thoughts.

Twilight lay a hoof on Rainbow’s shoulder. “I’m sure everything will be great at the party. I’ll see you there, Rainbow!”

As Twilight trotted off towards her house, Rainbow heaved a small sigh and fluttered up into the clouds. Hopefully Twilight was right.