Next lunch period found Rarity in the same room as before, having eaten her salad as quickly as her whole deal allowed, and staring in frustration at the sheet music in front of her. She’d spent 15 minutes so far stumbling through the melodies, and 10 interspersed within figuring out how to get her instrument to shift midi sounds with the speed she would need. For the first time since she’d be invited onto the project she was glad that Pinkie was also in the band, because there was no way she would be able to use any of her drum settings to provide percussion on top of the rest of this.

It wasn’t even that any individual melody was difficult, as much as it was the layering of quite a few throughout. She’d looked up an instrumental of the song the night before and almost panicked at the inclusion of a guitar at a few key parts, but thankfully some texts between her, Rainbow Dash, and Sunset Shimmer had found her with a decent sample on her keytaur she could use to replicate it. Another fortunate stroke of luck was the band having bought duplicates of most of their instruments, since so often shows were interrupted by attacks of various magicks and monsters. This allowed Rarity to use two of her keytaurs on stands, to hopefully reduce the amount she would need to switch, though playing two keyboards one handed was still plenty challenge on her coordination.

She hoped deeply that the raw determination she was displaying would key in Twilight to her feelings. She’d actually had a nightmare the previous night with her living through a situation in which somehow it was interpreted as devotion to Pinkie, and as much as she loved the dear, that wasn’t what she was hoping for at all.

It was at about 25 minutes into her personal practice session that she heard the door open to the room. Given the lack of Pinkie’s distinct flair, she wasn’t remotely surprised to see Twilight standing there, giving a light wave and a gentle if nervous smile. Rarity was almost tempted to start playing again, but given she’d lost her place, decided against it.

If I play it for her before it’s perfect, she might think I’m not trying. Of course if I play it for her perfect the first time she may think it so easy that I had no need to put any effort in at all...

Unknowingly breaking into her friend’s thoughts, Twilight spoke, “Hiya Rarity,” the small smile she gave almost seemed accompanied by a noise of latex inflating. Which was odd as Twilight was more plastic than rubber, but that’s because of the microplastics she had warned me about when we debated the issue of leather, so even then only a small amount, but that’s another issue, “I was wondering if you’d had a chance to look at the lyrics for the song yet?”

Rarity was startled out of her second Twilight-based thought of the minute by that, stuttering almost like she did when a client’s commission had been given a last minute note on the type of fabric they wanted.

“I-I’m sorry darling, I didn’t realize I was supposed to do any harmonies, o-or I would have, I just was so focused on the music I-” she stopped when she noticed Twilight’s head tilted quizzically at her.

“Harmonies?” A look of understanding crossed her face, as well as a slight blush that Rarity took as embarrassment for causing her to panic. “Oh! I didn’t mean for anything like that Rarity, I just. Thought you might have read the lyrics. You texted me saying you listened to the song right?”

“Well yes darling, but an instrumental, I simply must get these melodies down or-”

“YOU HAVEN’T HEARD THE LYRICS??” Twilight clapped her hands to her mouth with such speed Rarity thought it sounded like a balloon popping, “I’m so sorry I didn’t mean to yell, I-”

Rarity put a finger up and smiled, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “It’s quite alright darling, though I can’t see why you’re quite so upset. Any lyrics would sound good with your beautiful voice.” She sent a wink Twilight’s way, but it fell on deaf eyeballs.

Mouth agape and hand to her forehead, Twilight half mumbled, “I just don’t get how you weren’t even a little curious about the song you’ll be attached to...”

Rarity giggled heartily, “Well it’s not like you or Ms Pie would choose something vulgar or inappropriate, I trust the both of you for this. I figured rather than waste time with the magnetism or whatever it is the song is about, I could use that effort to perfect the music itself. Speaking of, I really must get back to my practice darling, we have but a few days. Perha-” Rarity gestured beside her, but Twilight failed to see it through her arm holding the hand to her head. Rarity didn’t fail to see her expression darken though, another popping noise accompanying it.

“No, it’s fine. I need to study for a test now. Have a good practice.” She said in monotone, the walked out, no wave or gesture to indicate emotion at all.

On the outside of the room, Twilight prepared to fight back tears both frustrated and sad, but quickly found herself distracted by the sight of the corpses of about 100 balloons and an oddly deadpan Pinkie Pie.
“What happened here, Pinkie?”

“Premature celebration, but that’s not the point. Plan A.1 failed, so now we work harder on A.2. This is gonna work because you two deserve each other!! Also because if I break a Pinkie Promise I guess I have to go after myself, and unless we get the pony version of me involved I don’t even know how that would work. Now come here, Twi.” Pinkie scooped her friend up into a big hug and squeezed gently, “After school, we DANCE!!”

Back inside the room, Rarity stood still with her arm gesturing beside her, mouth open from her almost executed offer to stay. Her brow furrowed, and despite her intent to practice she whipped out her phone, pulling up the text chain labeled “Spa Sister 🦋” I really ought to change that. What if I accidentally texted Aloe and Lotus?

Shaking that thought from her head, she sent the message:

(R) i cannot BELIEVE Twilight

(F) Oh no.

What happened Rarity?

(R) I make it as cleaer as crystal the weork i am doing for her and she talks to me about knoiwing the lyrics AFTER mind you AFTERi have more than once expressed the shear EFFORT I am taking in the miusic and then gets huffy and storms out whn i clearly am intnding her to stay and listen to me practice

*when

(F) so you asked her to stay and she didnt?

(R) well i did not quite say, but i gestiured quite obviously

she did have her hnd on hr head but there was tone and everything! It should have been obvoious

(F) Rarity....

(R) yes i Know darling i just. I thoght this would be such a good chance when she walked in the door.

(F) i wish it had gone to your plan rarity. maybe she was just thinking about something else? or misremembered what she had asked you to do?

(R) No., she seemd qwuite intednd on me knownfing the words. but nontheless I cannot blame her. maybe the elody on the voacls is jsut as hard. ill apologize for being uncouth at the rehearsfl. i really shoufld get bak to ut

(F) good luck rarity! it’s all gonna work out in the end 🦋🌷

Rarity picked herself off the case she had sat down on in her anger, and dusted herself off. Not that she would ever let dust get on her, it was a purely symbolic gesture. She then cracked her knuckles and started back on her practice of the melodies, determined to make Twilight notice her effort.

It was finally the day before the performance, which meant it was the first time the three members of the makeshift band were all able to play together. Rarity came in a little after the other two, Pinkie already working on setting her drums up.

Rarity rushed to Twilight and grabbed ahold of her hands.

“Darling dearest Twilight, I must say I’m dreadfully sorry for getting upset at you the last we talked. I had no intention of making you think I didn’t care about the song, I was just so focused on my part, I didn’t meant to imply I wasn’t interested in yours.”

“You were mad at me?” Twilight looked surprised, then shook her head quickly, “No of course you were, I walked out of there in a huff. I shouldn’t have expected you to look at the lyrics, especially after I saw you having to duel wield keytaurs just to handle what I gave you. I’m sorry.”

Rarity tilted her head and smiled, a tear in her eye. She seemed about ready to say something more when Pinkie Pie joined in.

“Okay cuties, this is all well and good, but we have barely an hour to get this show road ready for tomorrow!! Let’s get it going!!”

Twilight turned and glared slightly at Pinkie, but Rarity nodded at her, not noticing the look.

“You’re quite right darling, let me just set u-” She turned around, breaking her and Twilight’s hand hold, only to find her instruments ready to go. Pinkie sent a wink and a tounge out toothy smile her way.

“Now how did you?” Rarity started but Pinkie simply giggled, saying “It’s just the way I do my friend!!”

Rarity settled in and started setting her midis before popping up one more time.

“Now wait darlings, is there any sort of choreography? I know with 7 of us there’s limited movement, but surely with just 3 they’ll expect some dancing.”

“Doncha worry one bit Rarerare,” Pinkie chimed in, “Twilight and I planned for that, she’s gonna dance and use you as a sort of anchor. You just focus on the music and her timing, and we’ll be as fine as 0.1 point font and as dandy as a lion.” She gave a big goofy thumbs up to emphasize her statement.

Rarity and Twilight both giggled then settled in, ready for the countdown.

Twilight danced around the room, stomping at the beats, twirling when appropriate, and save for a few false starts where they had to adjust tempos to match, all was going well until after the long synth solo. As Twilight came back into the song, she had to circle Rarity, and as the lyrics became more spoken word she laid her hand on Rarity’s shoulder, causing her to jump, knocking her head into Twilight’s glasses, sending them tumbling off her face.

The song having ground to a halt, Rarity sheepishly picked her friend’s glasses up off the ground and placed them on her face. Thankfully no damage had been done, but she still began to apologize profusely.

“I’m so sorry Twilight dear, I was just so focused on the beat and my part that when I felt your hand it startled me quite fiercely. Are you alright?”

“I’m fine Rarity, you didn’t make contact with anything but them, and I built these to be super tough for lab safety. Are you okay?”

“Yes dear, just a tad embarrassed is all.” She shrugged lightly and smiled as dazzlingly as she could with her blush as intense as it was.

“Well since we’re about to have to reset, might as well ask. What did you think of the lyrics?” Twilight grinned widely, hoping her and Pinkie’s plan had finally started working.

“I’m sorry darling,” Rarity said, working to reset her instruments, “I must admit I was so focused on the beat Pinkie provided and matching the tempo of your singing that I didn’t quite catch the actual words. Once we have it set in stone I’ll be sure to give you a review.”

“Oh. Okay.”

“What did you think of my section dear, was it quite alright?”

“Uh, yeah. It sounded like the song at least. I was a little too focused on the words and the dancing. I guess.”

“Oh. Well.” They both stood awkwardly, not quite able to meet the other’s eyes until a loud drumming bang caused them both to jump. They looked over to find Pinkie facedown on the middle drum, gripping her sticks rather intensely.

“Are you okay Pinkie?” they both asked simultaneously

“Fine girls,” she said, though it strangely sounded like her teeth were gritted, “just. Passed out for a second. Or something. Happens sometimes.”

Rarity and Twilight both looked at each other, then back at Pinkie, Rarity speaking up first. “Are you quite su-”

Pinkie shot her head up with an intense look in her eye, though it was more at the sky than the other girls, and grinned determinedly.

“Absolutely!! Now let’s get this part-ay started!!”

“Right!” the other two said, once again simultaneous, fists pumping. They reset to the beginning and managed to get a few good run-throughs of the song, though neither talked much between other than to discuss timing and outfits (luckily when Pinkie had asked for her 80’s pop outfit a while back, Rarity had gone ahead and made some for them all.) As they packed up to get to their next classes, they all seemed confident in the song itself, but each one of them were feeling their plans starting to flounder.

Author's Note

Ah miscommunication induced frustration, the key to any good romance. I think. Anyways, I really hope y'all enjoyed this chapter!! The next one is gonna be the Big Show, so let's hope the broadcast signals stop cancelling each other out with these two soon.

Wanted to give a shout out real quick, I basically yoinked the typing style of Rarity from Evelili's The Twilight Effect because I found it so endearing. She's a confident woman, why should she let her brilliance be filtered by any auto-correcting software, those who know her will know what she means, she shouldn't need to clarify!! I wonder if there's any way this is affecting her in the story

Anyways barring any sort of epilogue, the next chapter should be the last!! It's planned out as best as I can, but I probably won't be able to devote the time needed for it til closer to the weekend. Job and all that. But I'm gonna do my best to make it worthwhile for y'all!! And thanks for the nice comments so far, you're all so lovely!! Really!!

Anyways, I've had to use anyways twice now so its time to end these notes!! Byeeee!!