Chapter Four – This Time with More Feeling

It was three o’clock in the afternoon when the train finally came to a stop. Pinkie Pie was about to speak when a knock on the car door was heard. The door opened, and the same train attendant from before, Trusty, walked in, bowing to Princess Twilight.

“Princess and company, I’ve come to let you all know that we’ve just arrived at Vanhoover and will be leaving shortly.”

“Well I’ll be, Princess,” Applejack said, wishing to stay formal in front of the attendant. “You wasn’t kidding about that Operation Lightspeed now, were you?”

Twilight nodded a rising head at Applejack, as though to say ‘Told you so’. The fact that Applejack made that observation told her that at least somepony was listening to her. And Applejack of all ponies, she thought. Was it bad to think that way? She didn’t dwell on the idea too long. Trusty resumed his duties to see if there was anything anypony needed. After the six declined, he reminded them of the service bell above and made his departure.

Immediately after the door closed, Pinkie Pie burst out:

“Next up we have Fluttershy!”

All eyes locked on her, which was a bit of pressure, but she was still excited to pose her question. She had enjoyed seeing how Rainbow was when she talked about her special secret somepony. They were all on their way to the Grand Galloping Gala, so the question she had in mind might have been silly to ask.

Rainbow. Would she even do such a thing? Yet this train ride had been filled with plenty of surprises already, so what’s the harm in asking? Fluttershy began.

“Well, Rainbow, my question is— and you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to— but I was just wondering…”

In seeing how she struggled, Rarity interrupted. “Well, come out with it, darling!”

That might have been a little forceful, but Fluttershy smiled through it.

“I was just wondering…” Her friends leaned in slightly. “Are you going to dance with her?”

The rest of Rainbow’s friends took in the idea for a moment. Rainbow Dash dancing with Summer Breeze. This led them to cast teasing smirks at Rainbow. Like her friends, Rainbow took a moment absorbing the question.

She didn’t really know.

“Well— sure— maybe— … I don’t know. I guess if it happens, it happens,” Rainbow answered, mirroring Fluttershy’s ways.

Her answer rang hollow to the others, but she didn’t say no. Applejack elbowed her side.

“You seem to have a mighty fancy for her, RD. You should go dancing.”

“She’s right, Rainbow,” Twilight agreed. “I mean, this the Grand Galloping Gala. If there’s any place to have a first dance with her, it’s there.”

Rainbow chewed on that and nodded. “I guess you’ve got a point.”

“Woo hoo!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed. “Time to get your get groove on, Dashie! Cut the rug, jump the jive!”

Pinkie began dancing ecstatically in her seat. The only thing more unsettling than her moves was the lack of music to accompany her seemingly possessed self. Rainbow was beginning to feel the vibe and joined into Pinkie’s world, dancing intensely to whatever jam was playing in her head.

While the others were quite enthused by the scene, Rarity looked on in horror. Being unable to withstand a moment longer, she shouted:

“UNACCEPTABLE!”

The dancing duo froze, and surprised eyes shot up to Rarity, who calmed herself with a sigh. “I’d like to take my turn now!”

Pinkie was put off by having her dance brought to a screeching halt, but she and Rainbow went back to their seats, allowing Rarity to go on.

“Let me start out by saying that I fully agree with Twilight and Applejack. If you like this Summer so much, you absolutely should be dancing with her. There’s just one important matter to establish.”

Rainbow couldn’t figure out whatever issue Rarity had, but a sense of dread was slowly overtaking her. Cocking an eyebrow Rarity asked:

“Do you actually know how to dance?”

This earned a moment of silence. Rainbow Dash scratched her head at the question, unsure what to make of it.

“Uh, yeah, Rare. I dance, like, all the time. You’ve seen me cut sick moves at Pinkie Pie’s parties all the time, and Pinkie and I just now were—”

“Oh no! No-No-No!” Rarity halted Rainbow, then raised a hoof and called out, “Permission to rephrase the question?”

“Granted!” Pinkie said, being curious herself as to what Rarity meant.

“Thank you, dear,” Rarity said rather flatly, then turned back to a confused Rainbow and stared her down with half shut glare. “Now then: Do you know how to dance?” She put emphasis on the last word.

It wasn’t much of rephrasing, Dash thought. She merely dropped a word and spoke with a different, more careful inflection and…ohhhh.

Rainbows pupils shrunk, all of a sudden comprehending what Rarity meant by dance. Covering her eyes in a slap, she moaned, “Oh no! I didn’t even think of that!” She began to rock nervously in her seat, still covering her ashamed eyes, making Fluttershy feel both worried and guilty for being the one who first brought up dancing.

Now it had come to this. Longing to help, but not knowing how, Fluttershy asked:

“Um, Rarity, shouldn’t we do something?”

Rarity pondered for a moment, taking a hoof to her chin. Maybe Twilight could use her magic to give magical steps to Rainbow. No, Twilight would need direct control, and even if such a spell could run on auto-pilot, Dash would have no control, no intuition. There had to be some other way.

A smile slowly spread across Rarity’s face. She had an idea! She walked over to the distressed Rainbow, taking a forehoof on the seat to raise herself to eye-level, and with the other she unshielded Rainbow’s eyes. She still looked panicked, but saw on Rarity some very caring eyes.

“Never you fret, love. I – am going – to help you – through this,” Rarity said.

“How, Rare, how? The Gala’s got to be like two hours away, and I don’t know how to dance!”

Before Dash could blink, Rarity thrust her face so close that their noses were practically touching. Their eyes were locked onto each other’s.

“Because I am going to teach you, Dashie!”

Taking only a second to realize what she just said, Rainbow lightly pushed the excited unicorn down.

“You’ll— teach me— how to dance— in two hours— on a moving train?”

Rarity, unmoved by Rainbow’s doubt, nodded.

“I am your good friend, and you are my good friend, and with my help, you WILL dance sublimely tonight!”

Rainbow was unconvinced. “…in two hours, on a moving train?”

“I bet you a hundred bits I can teach you within the hour.” She said, with intense eyes. Then, her expression brightened. “And as for the moving train... Twi-light! What was that you said about gyroscopes?”

Twilight perked up hearing that.

“Ah! Well, as I was explaining, it all starts with the magically propelled disc or rotor, which, when spinning at high speeds on an axis, allows the axis to remain a constant 90° exact to the top of each train car. Any sort of tilt occurring will shift the inner and outer gimbal frames, but the axis’ position will remain constant at all times. When either of the gimbals are disturbed, messages will be relayed to both the conductor as well as a number of other nifty devices stationed beneath the—”

“Skip to good bit,” Rarity tried to hasten Twilight.

Twilight’s head fell forward to shoulder level, as she grunted in annoyance.

“They keep the train stable.”

Rainbow Dash looked down and considered all the factors. Rarity seemed more than willing to teach her. She was experienced in various arts in high society, dancing being amongst them. She was her friend, and friends would always lend a hoof like this when the stakes were high as they were. If Rarity failed, Rainbow’s chance with Summer could be ruined, yet there she was being the last hope available. She looked back up into Rarity’s eyes which seemed to glimmer out the words ‘Everything will be fine, I promise.’

“Okay,” she said, at last. “Teach me.”

Rarity frolicked in place on her tip hooves with a voice most gleeful.

“Splendid!”

“Aww! What about the Q&A?!” Pinkie voiced the complaint.. Rarity rebuked fiercely.

“This is much more important, Pinkie! This is dancing we’re talking about. She must learn to woo this mare!”

Rainbow’s first instinct was to get up from her seat, move to the emptier side of the train car, and stand firm, like a soldier. She mentally prepared herself for Rarity’s instructions, which began eventually.

“Now, the first lesson here, love, is this: RELAX!”

Rainbow flinched and jumped back at the sudden bark, but without a second thought, she took a looser stand, closed her eyes, and sighed, shaking off whatever nerves she found inhibiting herself.

“Are you ready?” a soft voice asked. Rainbow opened her eyes and saw Rarity face again, only this time so calm, so relaxed, and maybe even a little suggestive. “Next lesson is in ‘confidence’. Strut proud, as you are indeed an exceptional mare.”

Rainbow’s classically boastful nature had not yet reemerged from her softened crushy self, so her eyes wandered away, shyly.

“Look at me, Rainbow!” Rarity called back, as Rainbow looked back and listened on. “You are a Wonderbolt, but not only that. You are the most loyal, heroic, and inspirational pegasus ever to come out of Cloudsdale, if not in all of Equestria!”

Rainbow brought forth a smile to this, but Rarity was not convinced.

“You showed up Lightning Dust at the Academy for the recklessness brute she was, and became lead pony, because you deserved it. Wind Rider feared you enough to frame you with getting rid of Spitfire from Princess Celestia's royal garden opening. You brought to life the legendary Sonic Rainboom!”

Rainbow Dash started to remember who she was again, but Rarity had two more points to make. “The same Rainboom which brought us all together in the first place. Think about it! Nightmare Moon, Discord, Tirek! No matter how hard you try to think your way out of the spotlight, we are useless without you!”

This did it for her. Rainbow wasn’t this shy little pegasus who hadn’t a chance in the world to capture somepony’s interest, but was in fact the Awesome Rainbow Danger Dash!

“You’re right! I can do this! I’m—” She was suddenly interrupted by a headbutt to her noggin.

“Let’s not get too brash now,” Rarity said. Rainbow snickered back.

“Right.”

With Rainbow both relaxed and confident, Rarity proceeded with the lessons.

“Now, let’s begin! Listen very carefully, as I am telling you how to lead, and you lead me as I say. Understood?”

With a confirming nod from Rainbow, Rarity continued. “Good. So, with that, heads together…”

They both approached each other slowly, joining their foreheads, as Rarity’s horn slid over the top of Rainbow’s head.

“Now you slowly rock back and forth.” Rainbow did.

“That’s right,” Rarity encouraged, “back and forth, back and forth— bend that forehoof,” Rarity demanded, which Rainbow also did, rising her left hoof to chest-level.

A sudden snickering was heard in the background, causing her to pause. It was her friends: they were laughing. Was it at her or for her? She tried to focus, but failed. Rarity said nothing against the rude teasing, but focused on Rainbow Dash.

“Ignore them, love,” she whispered softly, “it’s just us now. Everything will be fine, I promise. Back and forth,” Rarity’s tone lowered, as though rocking a foal to sleep. “You are leading me, back and forth.”

Rainbow felt in control, enjoying the ease with which this came.

“You push me forward and draw me back in, back and forth…”

This went on for a few minutes more.

Rarity began humming in a soft tone. “Hm hmm hm hm hmmm, hmhm hm hm hm hmm hmmmm…” (From the Daughter of Discord). Rainbow Dash couldn’t help but notice.

“Uh, Rarity, you’re humming.”

“Yes, I am,” she whispered. “Just roll with it.”

Dash rolled her eyes and continued swaying back and forth.

“Now, in keeping the motion, slide your left cheek against mine,” Rarity instructed. That brought out a murmur of confusion from Rainbow, but Rarity was silent. With no response, she did as she was told, sliding the side of her face against Rarity’s, and so the space between them lessened. Their faces kept sliding until both their left ears touched, causing them to flutter a bit.

Rarity’s closed eyes tightened at this. “You’ll have to be careful not to let that happen!” She explained, in a harsh tone. Rainbow didn’t respond, and only listened on. They kept up the same swaying as warm cheeks made contact.

“Now, with the same hoof you raised, you will wrap it around my neck, beckoning me to do the same.”

Dash blushed at the thought of that, for some reason, which Rarity felt through her cheek.

“Think of it as hugging a friend,” she said, attempting to make it seem less intimate. Dash pushed through the embarrassment and complied, taking her left hoof and drawing Rarity in.

“Now you’ve done it,” Rarity continued, softly. “You’re holding me and I have nowhere to go.” There was a hint of sarcasm in her voice. “Now I guess I have no choice, do I?”

Rainbow’s face burnt up as she felt her friend’s hoof returning the… ‘hug’. She tried to convince herself of that notion. They rocked together constantly. Rainbow kept herself balanced on Rarity, until she reprimanded her.

“No, don’t you lean on me now, you hear? I’m depending on you for leading this dance.”

Rainbow readjusted herself, taking Rarity’s weight with her more. She’s the one leading, that’s what she should be doing. The rocking continued a few minutes more, and the continuous giggles she felt directed towards her by her friends were getting to her.

“Rarity, how long do we keep this up?” she asked.

“Until you feel ready to move on. It all depends on the music, dear. You will know.”

“But there is no music.”

“I’ve been humming it the whole time, haven’t I?” Rarity whispered back.

“Oh. Then... I’m ready now, I guess.”

Rarity felt unconvinced, but disregarded her suspicions. “Then tighten your hold on me, and wrap your other hoof around me, beneath my left foreleg, and begin stepping forward.”

With no words to express how embarrassing this was getting, Rainbow did her best, suddenly finding herself and Rarity standing on their hind legs.

“Necks uncrossed,” Rarity instructed.“And bring that left hoof from the back of my neck to my side like this.”

Rainbow gulped at the second part, but did just so, blushing harder as Rarity’s right forehoof joined her left behind Rainbow’s neck.

“Next time,” Rarity pointed out, “we will uncross and take the hind stand in one swift motion.”

This was going to be long ride.

Rainbow continued receiving instructions, despite Rarity resigning control of the dance. Rarity spoke, Rainbow listened, and with each step, they swayed and circled. Rarity followed the steps thereof. The soft humming carried on when no words were said, “hmhmhm hmhm hm hmm, hm hmhm hmhm hm hmm, hm hm hmhm hm hmhmm, hm hmhm hm hm hm hmhm hmmm…”

Rainbow was beginning to realize just how well the music Rarity made was helping. Whatever it was, it was nice, and the music led her to lead Rarity, as though each note hinted at much more than mere words could. Occasional stumbles were made, wings flapped slightly as Rainbow tried to regain balance. On-looking friends shared giggles amongst them, and teasing gestures too. Every time Rainbow seem to falter, then freak out as result, Rarity either hushed to calm her down, or more aggressively puffed air on her face to bring her focus back.

Eventually, no more words were said, and they danced for what might have been five minutes. Rainbow was getting better with each step, keeping the directions in mind, and harmonizing them to the Rarity’s hums, which began to sound more like violins. When was the last time she heard a violin? Maybe at Cranky and Matilda’s wedding? Cadence and Shining Armor?

She was losing her concentration, and began tripping on her own hooves, flying up before she could fall. Rarity, however, tilted back and panicked.

“Twilight! My dress!”

She found herself glowing in a light raspberry aura, as Twilight magically repositioned her back on all fours, thus saving her dress from…whatever.

Rarity inspected herself, more particularly her dress, and after seeing how no damage was done, she smiled and turned to Rainbow. When she did, however, concern took her over as she heard a scared little mare whispering:

“That…was terrible!”

Rarity, on the other hoof, rolled her eyes in amusement, sighing through her nose as she shook her head downward. She then approached the stunned pegasus and raised Rainbow’s chin with her hoof to see her face to face.

“We’re just warming up, now.” Warming up was right, as Rainbow’s eyes fell away with a blush. “You’re doing very well. Just fight against that natural urge to flap, okay?”

“Seriously?” Rainbow asked, feeling hopeless.

“This is only the warm up, trust me,” Rarity reassured her.

Rainbow looked towards her friends to see what they thought. Before, they had been laughing, snickering at her, either by her merely attempting slow dancing, or something to do with Rarity, or maybe even at her own failings. That was before, though, and her friends now expressed sympathy, apology, even encouragement.

Turning back to Rarity, whose optimistic face had not yet faded, Rainbow spoke up.

“Alright, give me all you’ve got.”

“You give me all you’ve got!” Rarity answered, drawing forward again. “Now, from the top!”

The two joined heads once more, rocking back and forth. Rainbow Dash didn’t need to be cued as she smoothly slid the left side of her face against Rarity’s. Her hoof on the same side raised a bit, as she remembered the instructions. She knew the next step, but kept with the sway a bit too long.

“Take her…” Rarity urged. Rainbow then implemented the one hoofed hug (as she thought of it), drawing Rarity in closer, crossing their necks again. They both rested their heads on each other, and continued rocking back and forth on each of their three remaining hooves.

‘We will uncross and take the hind stand in one swift motion.’ Rainbow remembered it, now aware that Rarity was waiting for just that. Using Rarity for balance, she inched forward, taking her right hoof under Rarity’s left foreleg, and rushed both of their bodies upward. Rainbow brought her head back during the upward trajectory, looking at Rarity with a waiting expression as she replaced her left hoof down, joining her right around Rarity’s side.

Rarity gave a rather shocked expression, quickly turned happy.

“Splendid! Now, let’s continue.”

Dash let out a heavy sigh and followed; or rather, lead on.

Rarity’s musical tone vibrated through her sealed lips as she was lead gently by Rainbow in a clockwise motion. They looked into each other’s eyes, communicating the trust they had for each other. “Now,” Rarity proceeded, “extend your left hoof halfway out the side. That will tell Summer to do likewise with her right.”

As she said so, Rainbow was the first to extend out her hoof.

“You will be in a larger space tonight, but given what we are here, just lead me in circles.”

“You mean, like we’re doing now?” Rainbow asked, confused.

Rarity rolled her eyes. “No! Use our current spin and roll us in a larger circle.”

Rainbow thought about that for a moment. “Like a circle rolling in a larger circle... got it!”

She began to take such steps, feeling little resistance from Rarity, which eased in submission to Rainbow’s motions. Rarity leaned closer and rested her head against Rainbow’s neck, but this time, Rainbow didn’t blush to it. She was actually enjoying it. A certain, familiar sense of control filled her mind. She hadn’t felt like that in quite a while.

Still well over an hour and a half until they got to Canterlot. The dance student and teacher continued with their graceful circles in the car, which, as Twilight had reassured earlier, remained perfectly balanced out. This did not keep Rainbow Dash from stumbling a bit as she familiarized herself with gravity more than she had ever done in the past.

Ground life was not an alien thing to the pegasus: far from it. She might have taken to it as well as any unicorn and earth pony. But this dancing was certainly a different experience. She was improving quickly, however, as Rarity hoped. Rainbow harmonized herself to the musical hums Rarity produced.

Finally, Rarity felt it was time. Raising her head slightly from the neck she had rested on, she spoke up.

“Come now, twirl me!”

“Twirl you?” Rainbow asked. “How many more of these are there?”

Rarity ignored the latter question. “Raise my right hoof over my head. Then, with your right hoof, motion me to spin.”

“Am I still gonna have to go in circles?”

“Yes, you will,” Rarity confirmed. “You will slowly circle around your mare as she twirls.” She then let out a sweet sigh. “... For she’s the center of your revolving world.”

That idea made Rainbow inhale and exhale deeply, then stopped her breathing. She hesitated to do this next motion.

“Well?” Rarity insisted.

Rainbow’s winced, and she quickly raised her hoof. Then, as her other hoof turned her friend around, Rarity tapped the floor with her left hind hoof, and spun on her own. In an instant, praying she didn’t mess this up, Rainbow began to walk on her hind legs around Rarity. It was very awkward to be walking like this. So, against every wish to the contrary, Rainbow unfolded her wings behind her to keep her balance up.

Having thus completed the circuit, as if by instinct, Rainbow drew Rarity back to her, and held her close as before, with joint hooves reaching out. Rainbow stared directly at Rarity’s face, scanning for whatever judgment could be found. Her face bore a sly smile lit by two half shut eyes, almost seductively. Maybe this was good; or too good? Either way, Rainbow seemed to have pulled it off.

“You dance wonderfully.”

As short of a sentence as it was, Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and especially Fluttershy were quick to agree. Fluttershy could not withhold her opinion.

“Oh, Rainbow, that was so beautiful! And the way you displayed your wings—”

“You used your wings?” Rarity asked, seemingly concerned. Rainbow gulped.

“Um…kinda?”

Rarity let out a rough sigh.

“I thought I felt something in your shoulder blades. But, if it had Fluttershy’s approval, and it helps you, then I suppose there is no harm.” Her smile reformed, and she hugged Rainbow, noses again almost touching. “Let’s move on, darling.”

Rainbow’s head inched away, and she nodded with a nervous smile. Rarity jilted her gaze to the right, motioning Rainbow to resume their circles within circles, holding her close. They kept going for about a minute.

“Now, we’re going to do the same move as before, with one small difference,” Rarity explained.

“Oh?”

“You will be sending me on another twirl. On my fourth rotation, take me down from behind.”

Rainbow somehow did not feel comfortable with the way she phrased that, but let out a half-hearted “If you say so.”

“No!” Rarity hissed in her ear. “What I say doesn’t matter, you’re the one leading!”

Rainbow tried to make sense of this glaring contradiction, but failed, so she passed it off. About halfway through the major circuit, in which they both rotated together, she initiated the twirl as before, counting down Rarity’s cycles. 4, 3, 2, GO! Rainbow caught the spinning unicorn with precision, as Rarity’s back landed on Rainbow’s chest. She then proceeded to lower their joined hooves down to shoulder level, winning Rarity’s praise.

“I didn’t even have to tell you, now did I love?” Dash let out a proud humph through her nostrils, feeling plenty surer of herself now.

Rarity proceeded to the next step saying, “You’ve got the position down marvelously, so with that,” closing her eyes softly, “begin to slowly rock your hips…” Rainbow Dash did so, only as exact as Rarity said.

She began to move her hips a certain direction, causing Rarity’s restfully shut eyes to burst open as she exclaimed, “Sideways, Dashie! SIDEWAYS!!!” Rainbow halted instantaneously at the first word she let out, paused at back, not forth, for anypony curious. As subtle as the motion was, most of their friends could not help but gawk at what just happened. Twilight was frozen. Applejack covered her eyes, shaking her head. Fluttershy blushed feverishly, as she covered her mouth with both hooves. Her eyes may have been the widest in the car, if not Rainbow’s.

Pinkie Pie, however, seemed to be the only one clueless, made clear by her saying, “What is everypony staring at? I thought it looked fun!” That managed to grab the same reaction from the three as towards Rainbow. “What?!”

Rarity’s face grew hot at what just happened and in losing her temper she shrieked, “Ugh! That was just the most ap-…!” shutting her mouth before she finished that last word. The rest of that word inflated her red cheeks which, out of the rest of the five, contrasted most against her coat. She couldn’t let herself finish that sentence! It was just an accident after all, though Rainbow is into mares. The thought was immediately cast out with a shake of her head. Rarity then swallowed the rest of that word (-palling) down as though it were vomit.

Breathing heavily now through her nostrils, she thought, ‘Just an accident, just an accident, just an accident…’ She then felt a curious chill from behind. It was Rainbow Dash. She took a right hoof to the face of the frozen in place pegasus behind her. Frozen in place was right, as Rainbow was ice cold. Even the one drop of sweat trickling down felt icy. She knew she had to alleviate her stunned friend quickly or she might be scarred forever by this incident.

With a hoof still on Dash’s frigid cheek, she began stroking her saying, “It’s okay…quite alright……Now we know what not to do, hmm?”

The first signs of life were coming back, as Rainbow nodded her head frantically with tightly shut eyes. This teaching might have been more difficult for Rarity than she had assumed.

“Why don’t we take a break,” Rarity suggested, answered by Rainbow with the same frantic nod.

Rainbow was seated at the table with her friends, most of whom switched from a state of shock to concern for the mortified pegasus. Pinkie Pie again, however, remained lost.

“I still don’t see what the fuss was about. I thought you were GREAT Dashie!” Rainbow’s face reddened at the use of that name ‘Dashie’, as those haunting words of Rarity returned to her mind, “Sideways, Dashie! SIDEWAYS!!!”

Twilight had to step in, “I think what Pinkie means is…you were doing amazing, up until…that point.” She couldn’t help but look away.

Applejack was the next to speak, “Hey now, I can speak from personal experience, sugar cube. Lightning don’t ever strike in the same place twice. I’m sure you out of all of us would know that.”

Fluttershy was still near speechless, simply agreed, “She’s right Rainbow, I’m sure it won’t happen again.” Rarity said nothing, but only rang the service bell from above using her magic.

A minute later, as Rainbow Dash’s friends continued consoling her, Trusty reappeared and said, “I see you all remembered the service bell! Now how can I…” pausing to see a rather melancholy scene.

Rarity then alerted the train attendant, “Chamomile tea, 155°, with a lemon, STAT!”

He didn’t know what was going on, but rushed away fetching the tea to Rarity’s specifications. After the door was shut, Rarity stewed in thought, thinking of what to do next. An idea came to her then, but there was only a very slim chance it would work. One in a million, she thought. She cast about further for back up ideas. Three minutes passed as Rainbow shivered in her now arctic blood when Trusty reentered the car. Before he himself could enter, Rarity’s blue aura carried the cup of tea from the cart to Rainbow.

She whispered softly to Rainbow, “Drink dear, it will warm your bones,” as she squeezed the lemon juice in with her magic.

Trusty was finally in the car when he asked, “Anything more I can provide?”

“Yes actually,” Rarity answered with a more positive vibe than earlier, “would you, by any stretch of the imagination, know the Northern Waltz [Change name later]?”

Trusty was mildly shocked by the question, but not wishing to be impolite, said, “The Northern Waltz? Well, it’s been a while since I danced it with my other half, but I’m pretty sure…”

“PERFECT!” Rarity exclaimed, ‘pretty sure’ being all she needed to hear.

She could use Trusty for what she had in mind, thank Celestia, but now she needed somepony else. Not her this time, oh no! Rarity had in mind a much better subject. She then came to Twilight and whispered the plan in her ear.

“Really? You’re sure about this Rare?” Twilight asked, and then Rarity nodded desperately. Trusty became curious as Rarity whispered to the Princess something, and readied himself for anything Twilight was going to say.

Twilight was skeptical of Rarity’s plan, but she finally asked, “Trusty, would you be as kind as to stick around for a dance?”

A dance? With the Princess? He didn’t quite know how to respond. This was a request, if not a decree, from royalty. Still though, how can he be worthy of taking the hoof of such regality? And what about his other half? Well it’s just dancing. Plus she doesn’t have to know.

Twilight then clarified, “It’s not me,” waving the off the thought, “if that’s what you were thinking. You see, one of my friends here really needs to learn how to dance.” Rainbow listened in, sipping her tea, ready to decline whatever scheme was being cooked up.

Twilight continued, “So as a Princess of Equestria,” Twilight bowed her head, “I humbly implore you to lend us your hoof in our time need.”

This had struck Trusty to the core. This wasn’t a decree, demand, or even request, rather Twilight posed it as a humble plea. What nerve it would be for anypony to deny such from royalty!

“Your wish is my command, your Highness,” he submitted with a bow, “and whom is the mare of your concern?”

Rarity suddenly yelped out as she pointed, “FLUTTERSHY!” An abrupt soft gasp came from Rarity’s pony of choice. It was all a matter of a coin flip now. Fluttershy looked to Applejack and Pinkie Pie who seemed confused, to Twilight and Rarity giving a pleading grin, then to a depressed Rainbow Dash staring down, sipping her tea.

It was only at the sight of her best friend that she made her decision, “um, Yes, I would love to dance,” looking back to her friend thinking “for Rainbow’s sake.” SUCCESS! Oh, if only she had this sort of luck in Las Pegasus, Rarity thought!

It had been about five minutes, or maybe ten, nopony could tell for sure, as they enraptured to the show being put on for them. Fluttershy didn’t know much about dancing, at least not this sort of dancing. She could dance by herself all the time, even at parties on occasion, going on solo, but she’s never actually danced with another pony before to anypony’s knowledge. She had been too shy in the past to accept the hoof with a colt, but there she was now having the time of her life!

Trusty was surprisingly an even better dancer than Rarity had hoped, or imagined anyway. Is that a rude thought she wondered to herself? Well whatever the case may be, her plan was working, as even Rainbow seemed to forget her worries, impressed herself by Trusty’s moves. It may have been even just as amazing to see how happy Fluttershy was, especially the few times she laughed and wooed. She didn’t know these steps. Maybe she picked some of it up from Rainbow’s opening lessons, but still! Fluttershy was seen putting her trust into Trusty’s hooves, as it were, allowing herself to be led on, moving in accord to his motions. Rainbow couldn’t help but eye carefully this, by some appearance, unassuming train attendant, comparing her missteps, and as Rarity intended, and even learning new steps in the process, as she got to see the whole dance in one scene.

When the dance was complete, both Trusty and Fluttershy bowed together to their applauding audience and Rainbow Dash, the latter of whom merely expressed fascination. Fluttershy found herself in an endorphin-fueled state of laughter, as she turned to train attendant.

“That was so much fun Trusty! I never thought you could…” she stopped herself, realizing the possibly offensive assumption to which she was about to lend voice. Rarity and Rainbow were both thinking it, but Fluttershy of all ponies was just about to say it!

Trusty knew where she going, and being not the least bit insulted, laughed and said, “Well when life is as busy and hectic as mine, one does need to learn how to have fun!”

Ah, so it wasn’t just part of the uniform. Trusty simply was genuinely content with his life. After making that observation in her head, Twilight looked over to Rainbow, relieved to see that something in her had changed.

She then turned back to Trusty and said, “Thank you good sir for your service. I’m sure my friend,” staying ambiguous as to the true beneficiary, “has gained a lot from this experience. You are free to go.”

He bowed to his princess in response, “Happy to have been found suitable to serve, your Highness,” and made his departure after kicking back at the door, careful so as to not to turn his flank on Twilight.

Rainbow Dash was pulled from her thoughts by Rarity, who seemed quite content with herself. “Ready to go again love?” Rarity asked gently, fluttering her eyes in beckoning.

Finally catching on to what that was all about with Trusty and Fluttershy, Rainbow thought a moment, then consented to the Rarity’s incitement, “Um, sure, I guess.”

“Magnifique!” Rarity said, “come out with me now,” as she got up from her seat.

Rainbow sensed in herself a little enthusiasm. It wasn’t much, but it would have to do, so she followed Rarity out to the free space in the car. There was still plenty of time before reaching the station in Canterlot, Rarity thought to herself. She might just pull this off! Getting a better idea of what the dance looked like, Rainbow started from the beginning. Joint heads, rocking, moving from head-to-head to cheek-to-cheek, the one hoofed hug, more swaying, Rainbow knew it all.

They got up on their hind legs and made circles, guided this time only be Rarity’s melodious hums. Circles in time became circles within circles, with no reminder needed. First twirl of Rarity was a success, Rainbow was certain, and she even pushed her nerves through the second twirl, absolutely sure to rock sideways. This being where the lessons previously came to a dramatic halt, Rarity bid her to walk forward, leading Rarity to do the same. Straight through the major circuit they did this, just as Trusty had done with Fluttershy. The third twirl came as Rarity had Rainbow bend her backward, sliding one hind hoof forward so as to keep balance. Rainbow couldn’t help but stretch her wings down, however, Rarity made no fuss over it, almost finding it to the contrary as…kind of sexy! Rainbow was paused by Rarity,

“This could be Summer where I am, love. Now, look deep into my eyes, into her eyes,” Rarity said, still bent over backwards in Rainbow’s hoof. Rainbow gazed into Rarity’s alluring, azure eyes, which unexpectedly, as if by some magical illusion, turned to a much lighter, softer color. It was her eyes, Rainbow saw; those Summer Sky Blue eyes, in which she could soar in and never touch ground again. She could even have sworn the coat color of Rarity’s dimpled face around the eyes changed to that yellow/orange Rainbow admired so much. Rainbow stared deeper into those imagined eyes, caught in the moment of her fantasy. They did not dazzle, nor did they sparkle, rather they were soft, gentle, and absorbing like to a plush pillow giving rest to the weary. So not like Rarity’s! Rainbow was gone, lost in those other eyes she imagined, hearing then a faint,

“Rainbow…Rainbow,” then coming suddenly louder, “Rainbow, come back to us darling!”

“Huh?!” Rainbow said, seeing Rarity’s face, then looking around to see they were still on the train. Her other four friends bore a speculative look wondering why Rainbow was so still for…what, a whole sixty seconds? Hearing then a giggle, she looked back to Rarity who said,

“To the count of three next time, darling. Rise and twirl again…” Without a word Dash got right back to it, raising herself and Rarity straight up and sending Rarity in another spin. They resumed circling more in each other’s hooves, except Rarity held herself closer than before.

Rainbow Dash was doing much better and was even having more fun, as Fluttershy was prior with Trusty. Indeed, Rarity was clever to have used the attendant the way she had, as it made her further instructions much clearer, and simply remembering the steps Trusty pulled had made it all the easier. Even moving sideways seemed less awkward for Dash. Rarity had even, during the process of teaching, found ways for Rainbow to incorporate the use of her wings in the dance, a thing she would have prohibited before. Rainbow’s confidence was rising much faster as her observing friends cheer her on, but she had to bear in mind that she would not have this same sort of sustenance when she got to the Grand Galloping Gala. The two dancers finally came to a stop, each landing hard on three hooves, creating an almost rhythmic clanking. Releasing then each other’s necks, they proceeded circling one another as two coy fish would, each gazing into the other’s comforting eyes. It was nearly over, no more of their rotating circumambulations in the major circuit, as the dance was coming to a close in the center of it all.

Rarity signaled Rainbow to swing into a new direction, moving away from her. Rainbow broke away from Rarity in a clockwise motion and Rarity did the same, as they together formed an infinity sign. That was no doubt an important symbol in the dance.

After meeting back in the center, while Rainbow could have pulled the finale herself, Rarity finished off the lesson, “And…Bow.” This Dash did, as Rarity tried an experiment, “Again, but let’s see how it is when you show off those wings.” They repeated the bowing close, but as Rainbow splayed her wings, Rarity second guessed.

“Hmm, too much I think, never mind.” Rainbow smiled looking away, scratching the back of her neck, and then was swept up by the sudden applause of Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy, the last of whom almost ready to whimper. She simply had to turn away then, hiding the side of her face facing them with a wing.

Applejack walked over to bashful pegasus, moving the wing covering Rainbow’s face, and acclaimed, “We’re a might proud of you RD. You’ll get her for sure with moves like that!” Rainbow enthusiastically rose her head asking, “You really think so?!” A soft voice opposed, “N-no…” as Dash turned from Applejack to none other than Fluttershy.

“We know you will Rainbow,” Fluttershy clarified, affirming what Applejack said. Rainbow blushed again, only to have her red face pulled by Rarity’s hoof close to her face, as she whispered, “This time with more feeling!”

Author's Note

[RECONSIDER REDESIGNING DANCE LESSON]

[One of the difficulties to deal with is Summer’s height]

PS
If there are any issues, such as accidental plagiarism, or anything of the like, let me know and I will try to correct it.