Ariel held Silverstream's hand as they made their way through the gathered crowds. A towering stage was at the center of all this. "Have you been to a concert like this before?"

Silverstream burst into giggles. "I was just going to ask you the same thing!" She swung Ariel's arm back and forth playfully. "I don't think so, but I don't think this will be the last."

"Well, uh, me too." Ariel thought back over a lifetime, and all the reasons that got in the way, ending with sickness. "I'm looking forward to it! What do you think it'll be like?"

Silverstream held up a finger as she giggled again. "Let's find out!" She pulled Ariel along through the crowd towards a table that seemed to be covered in various snacks. Silverstream paused, face clouding with uncertainty. "Uh, wait. Are you supposed to eat at concerts?"

Ariel bumped gently against her. "If you're hungry, yes. If not, no." She watched Silverstream fidget a moment. "Hey, if you're not sure about this, I understand." That didn't stop Ariel from grabbing a sweet little roll and snapping it down. "Oh, that's yummy." She scooped up another to offer to Silverstream. "These are good."

Silverstream tried one of the little rolls. Her eyes widened in surprise. "Mmmm! They are!" The two laughed, that moment of uncertainty dashed to bits.

Ocellus flitted nearby, lured by the scent of food. "Hey! You should try some of this! This stuff here is really good!"

The two hippogriffs smiled warmly at her as they piled their plates. Ocellus pointed out. "Wanna dance after you get your full?"

Silverstream smiled even more broadly. "I want to dance before I get my full!" She scooped up a puffy bit of bread and dipped it into a dark sauce.

Ariel laughed at that. "Not sure you're doing that, but I love the attitude." She chewed at a flaky thing that sent bits flying but tastiness dancing across her tongue. "Did Sugarcube make these?"

Ocellus bobbed her head up and down. "They did! I'm pretty sure this was their idea. The Cakes and Pinkie, working together to get us all kinds of baked snacks. They're good at it!"

Ariel hopped excitedly to the beat as she chewed through her snack. "This is amazing! Everything's so much fun!"

Ocellus grabbed the two hippogriffs by the hands and dragged them towards the crowd dancing. Time melted away as they all got into the motions, food rapidly abandoned about as quickly as it had been taken up.

Ariel spotted Yona dancing with Sandbar, the two rather close as they stepped a bit slower than some of the others, but with a purposefulness. "Aw." She turned back to Silverstream. "They look really happy!"

Silverstream smiled warmly at them both. "They are so cute together. I'm glad they have each other. Sandbar's been so worried about what comes next. It's good to see him having fun and relaxing."

Ariel inclined her head. "Next? Wow, they're that close?" She gasped in pleasant surprise. "Should we be trying to set them up for marriage?!"

Silverstream shook her head with a soft chuckle. "Not that close. Maybe later? I dunno." She guided Ariel along into the next dance. "I don't know how you even get into that level of things. It looks so dreamy, but how do you even start?!"

Ariel rolled her eyes back. "It just kinda happens, doesn't it? I don't know." She sure hadn't gotten married before. "If two, um, keep on liking each other?" She shrugged helplessly. "Let's hope it works out for them, and keep being there for them. They have to figure the rest out themselves."

"Oh, totally!" Silverstream poked Ariel on the end of her beak. "That goes without saying, silly."

The concert went well into the evening. All around them were smiles and laughter as creatures did their best to express their joy with movement. The night was warm, the company excellent. Alas, fatigue, and the end of the shows meant it had to end eventually.

Ariel yawned softly as she leaned against Silverstream. "I could stay here all night."

Silverstream hugged her with a sigh. "We should get to bed. We do have class tomorrow." She took a deep breath of the air, perfumed with fresh flowers. "This was nice though. A great night."

"Very nice." Ariel headed out with Silverstream, just to bump into Gallus.

Gallus was watching the two with a smirk. "You two have been super chums this whole evening, like a certain pony and a certain yak I know. Are you two, you know, an item, or what? The flirting is pretty cute, but no pressure. It's all good."

Ariel's feathers bristled as she sputtered in shock. "She's a friend!"

Gallus held up his hands. "We're all friends. You think Sandbar and Yona aren't friends? They're that, and a little more."

Silverstream smiled as she tucked a wing around Ariel. "Aw, but we're just good friends." She suddenly gasped with a realization. "I'm so sorry!" She grabbed Gallus' surprised hand. "I didn't give you any dances at all! I feel so bad right now! Come on! Let's go!" She pulled him along, back towards the crowd.

Ariel watched them go with a muted giggle. "Silver, you are so silly." She rolled her eyes, but continued her way back towards the dorms. It was all in good fun, after all. A little flirting never hurt anycreature.

Gallus returned to the dorms as well, with Silverstream attached at his side. She looked jubilant, as usual. He was less so, but also blushing a bit with her hand holding his firmly. "So, uh, yeah. That was fun." He smiled to himself, shyly. "Like I said, just friends."

Smolder laughed from her bunk. "Did I miss something?" She rolled over onto her belly. "You two are looking closer than usual."

Silverstream stopped dead in her tracks. "Oh, you're right!" She folded her arms over Gallus' back as she cuddled him happily. "Thanks for the dance!" She danced away from him, not taking note of the reaction.

Gallus was frozen in place, red all over his face and neck. He squawked wordlessly before slinking over to his bunk. "I need a moment."

Smolder howled with laughter. "I am so happy I wasn't asleep for that! Wow!" She hopped off her bunk to give Silverstream a hard pat on the shoulder. "Gallus was going easy on you there, but he got more than he bargained for." Silver looked clueless on what Smolder meant, which just amused her into snickers. "Where are the two real lovebirds? I don't see Yona or Sandbar."

Silverstream frowned in thought. "Hmm. Yona and Sandbar? They must be outside somewhere, right? We should go looking for them, get them back inside." She looked at Smolder expectantly.

Smolder rolled her eyes. "Fine. Guess us flyers should do out part or whatever." She kicked Gallus' bunk. "That includes you, hotshot. We're all going out, so get off your butt."

Gallus snorted in amusement. "I bet they're around the back of the school." He hopped back to his feet, wings at the ready. "Let's go find them real quick so we can get to sleep. This was fun, but yeah, I'm tired."

Silverstream rubbed her arms. "They better not be at the lake."

"Good idea." Ariel took off at a dash. "I'll check the lake! You guys go look around the school!"

She ran to the door, taking flight with the wind. The stars were brilliant overhead as she headed towards the lake. The cool wind was refreshing after an evening of almost stifling heat with a room full of dancers and moving bodies.

Her eyes quickly found a pair of shapes on the beach by the lake. They were kissing, almost hidden from sight by a crop of rocks. Ariel came in for a smooth landing on the other side of the rocks, barely hiding her giggles. She went for a peek to be sure they were who she hoped they were, and were actually okay.

They broke their kiss and nuzzled one another. Sandbar hugged Yona close. "This has been the best evening ever."

Ariel wrenched her face back behind the rock, blushing furiously. Yep! That was them. With their safety assured, she took flight back towards the school. She got back just as Gallus, Smolder, and Silverstream emerged from inside. "Found them!" She waved eagerly as she came in for a landing. "They were just enjoying a little together time after the dance. They're okay."

Smolder shook her head. "Good. That means we can all get to bed." She headed for the door, stretching her arms. "Night all."

With soft murmurs of agreement, they all headed back to the dorms and their warm waiting bunks. It was a fine time for sleep, and none of them had any arguments about it.

The next morning, Ariel awoke to being smothered under weight and thick fur. Her mind wasn't completely awake yet, and she tried to remember why there was something fuzzy on top of her. And why was it so heavy? She blinked, coming more fully awake. "Yona?"

"Morning." Yona's voice was sleepy, yawning as she stretched, sprawled out on top of Ariel.

Ariel inclined her head. "Why are you on top of me, silly yak? That can't be comfortable for you either."

"Better than sleeping alone." She smiled, hugging Ariel tight. "Also, Yona saw." She poked Ariel on the beak. "Bad. No watching Yona kiss. Yona like privacy."

Ariel blushed furiously as she shoved at Yona to try and get some space. Alas, the yak was far too heavy to force away. "I'm sorry! I was just making sure you and Sandbar were safe. We got worried when we lost track of you two. Sorry for being a creepy stalker. I just want us all to be happy and okay."

Yona huffed. Still, she rose slowly and slid free of Ariel. "Okay. If that why peeking, not so bad." She patted Ariel gently. "Good friend. Always caring about Yona."

Ariel curled up under her blankets. "You're welcome. Thanks for the morning hug, but maybe a warning first?"

"No." Yona trotted away with a sly smile. "Keep secrets from good friend is fine, if they private. Hugs are not secret. Now no more hugs, stalker Ariel."

Ariel's face grew heated. "I wasn't stalking! I was watching out for you."

"Uh huh." Yona didn't sound convinced. "Whatever you say, good friend."

Sandbar yawned, just waking up. "Hey, Yona? You're up early. And I'm wondering why I keep hearing 'stalker Ariel'." He looked at Yona with a confused head tilt.

Yona snickered gently. "Is nothing." She went over to touch her snout to Sandbar's in a little nuzzle. "Morning. Sleep good?"

Sandbar closed his eyes to accept the touch. "It was good, but you aren't distracting me from the question. Stalker Ariel?" He looked past Yona to Ariel, who was trying to hide under her blanket. "What's going on?"

Ariel sat up and launched herself out of bed. "I'm not a stalker! I just, uh, wanted to make sure you two were okay."

Sandbar blinked, but it came to him in a moment. Heat spread across his face. "Oh! Oh. You saw, um." He rubbed behind his head. "We were fine. It was, um, nice. Very nice. We were just enjoying the moment."

Yona shoved him lightly. "We have fun. Together." She grabbed him up out of bed, into a great hug. "Not your fault she snooping."

Sandbar laughed and accepted the crushing hug. "Still, we'll need to be more careful." He snuggled against his big girlfriend. "We should get ready for classes, okay? Don't want to be late."

Yona nuzzled at him before letting go. "Yeah. Yona ready."

Author's Note

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