Pinkie didn’t hum as she checked and wiped the milkshake glasses in Sugarcube Corner. The jukebox in the corner sat silent even as the washing machine whirred with the last of the evening rush’s dishes.

A knock at the door. Looking up, Pinkie ducked down, dexterous fingers manically poofing her hair up again and pushing up her cheeks into her practiced smile. With a step and a bounce, she hopped over to the door.

“Rarity! Come in—Oh.”

In spite of, or perhaps due to her attempts to staunch her tears with pocket tissues, mascara ran in streaks down Rarity’s cheeks.

“Oh dear, I look positively dreadful don’t I?”

Opening the door, Pinkie guided her friend in before locking it.

“Oh don’t say that, Rarity. Think of it like a bad hair day. Everybody gets bad hair days, even me,” said Pinkie.

“Pinkie dear, pardon me, but I’ve never seen your hair be anything but its usual puffy self, ” Rarity said, arching an eyebrow.

Stepping behind the counter, Pinkie’s fingers flew all over as she fetched a cup, hot water, cocoa and a shaker of a red powder that made Rarity frown slightly at the sight of. “Well sometimes my hair gets super frizzy and zappy and becomes really difficult to comb. Other times it’s sticky, kind of like toffee no matter what shampoo I use.” Grabbing a bundle of napkins, Pinkie raised her arm. “Here, catch!

Rarity caught the towelettes perfectly before using them to dab her eyes. “Hmm, it sounds like your hair might be affected by the climate. I have a few shampoo samples I can give you to try out. If you’re interested of course?”

“Oh, that’ll be awesome. Thanks Rarity.” Giving the spoon one last stir, Pinkie zipped over to the table and slid the cup in front of her friend. “One late night Rarity pick me up special, with a little surprise for extra fun!”

Rarity took a breath and sipped the cup. Her lips twitched slightly, before a smile spread across her face and tired features relaxed. “You added chili powder didn’t you?”

Pinkie Pie winked. “It’s a secret!”

Stifling a giggle with the back of her hand, Rarity took another sip. “Thank you, Pinkie dear. Do you want to know by the way?”

“Know what?” Pinkie asked.

“Well, what I was making a scene about.”

Pinkie pursed her lips, whilst her nose scrunched up so comically that Rarity was for a moment, tempted to boop it with her finger. Banishing that errant thought, the lavender-haired teen watched her friend’s exaggerated deliberation with growing amusement as she swiveled from side to side, almost like she was on a bar stool.

“I mean I kind of want to know because I’m your friend, but asking you might make you sad.”

Rarity bit her lip. “You’re right, it probably will and then we’ll both be miserable.”

Pinkie Pie tilted her head sideways. “Eh?”

Rarity covered her mouth. “Oh. Sorry Pinkie. I didn’t mean to, well, say that out loud.” She rose to her feet. “Sorry to bother you. Thank you so much for the cocoa—”

Pinkie waved her off with one hand, the other taking Rarity’s hand and guiding her back to the seat. “Rarity, it’s alright. I just didn’t know you had the Pinkie sense.”

“I don’t? I just, well, you don’t normally wash glasses this late unless something’s bothering you. If you were happy, you’d be in your Party Basement testing things,” said Rarity.

Pinkie blinked. “Oh. Huh. I didn’t realize that.” She met Rarity’s gaze, took a breath and reached down into her pocket. “Well, if it’ll help you Rarity, I’m ready to lend an ear.” Out came a large ear trumpet that someone could have worn for a hat.

“Where did you even get that, Pinkie?” Rarity asked, holding back giggles.

“Secret!” Pinkie said, promptly vanishing the trumpet.

“Of course. Well then, I was on a date with Octavia. She was a darling during our date. It was our third. We walked by the pier, had a lovely dinner at that seafood restaurant by the boardwalk,” said Rarity.

Pinkie wasn’t sure why but her heart lightened at that. Nodding to distract herself, she asked, “Oh, well that’s good. But what happened then?”

Rarity’s shoulder sagged as she rested her head on her fingers. “She said he couldn’t explain it but she said she didn’t feel the same way that I felt for her.”

“I’m so sorry that happened,” said Pinkie. Reaching forward, she gently squeezed Rarity’s hand. “But hey, there are many different people out there who would love to be your special someone.”

Rarity gently touched Pinkie’s hand, before letting out a deep sigh. “Oh I know. I suppose I should have been lucky to not have an experience as bad as the one I had with Blueblood.”

Pinkie recalled a file in her cabinet. “You mean Blueblood Prince? From the Crystal Prep Academy? What did he do?”

Dainty fingers pinched the bird of Rarity’s nose. “He was just such a snobby bore. To his credit, he paid his share at the restaurant we booked and escorted me home. However, for the entire date all he could talk about was the Prince family history, complain about the service, which was adequate and pick at his food. Honestly, I don’t know why he wanted to go on a date in the first place.”

“Geez, sounds like a realll party pooper,” said Pinkie.

Rarity nodded, looking over her cup to meet Pinkie Pie’s eye. “So?”

“So?” Pinkie Pie arched an eyebrow.

Rarity drummed her fingers on her mug, her long not-entirely fake eyelashes half-lidding her eyes. Pinkie Pie’s heart skipped a beat before her mind clued in.

“Oh, Rarity, are you trying to get me to talk about my feelings now?” Pinkie Pie sing-songed.

“What do you think?”

Pinkie Pie sighed dramatically. “Well, it’s working. You see, I’ve been going out on some dates too and well…”

Pinkie threw her hands up but instead of the sparkly explosion that erupted when she used her geode, a ripping fart sound squeaked out.

Oh, and some green sparkles for good measure.

“That bad?” Rarity asked.

“The worst. They did smile, but not because they like-liked me. I think they wanted to try, but they just didn’t.” Pinkie slumped down against the table, her hair wheezing inexplicably as it deflated.

A gentle hand reached out to pat Pinkie’s hair, as if trying to restore some of its bounce. “Oh Pinkie, you’ll find your special someone and when you do they’ll love you for all of you, sprinkles, whoopie-cushions and all.”

“Maybe, but sometimes I wish I could be more well, ladylike. More like you, Rarity,” Pinkie said, looking up at her friend.

Rarity shook her head. “My dear Pinkie, it’s not exactly helped me to find a date. You trying to take inspiration from me might just mean you will copy the mistakes that I don’t know that I’ve been making.”

“Wait, that’s it!”

Pinkie leapt up, hair suddenly poofing up again to its normal volume. Bright blue eyes wide, Rarity felt her heart skip a beat as she was slammed by the biggest grin her friend had made the whole evening.

“Why don’t we go out on a practice date?”

Rarity blinked. “Come again?”

“You, me, go on a date! It’s nearly Christmas, everybody else is busy with family or their significant others. That way we can figure out what we’re doing wrong!”

Rarity almost shot down the suggestion with a wave of her hand, but found herself closing her mouth just after she opened it.

“You might be onto something my darling.”

“On something? Just on the edge of my seat with excitement!” Pinkie popped up beside Rarity, a poof of glitter landing on her hair. After briefly admiring the effect, Rarity brushed it off, her hand briefly gliding against Pinkie’s arm.

“Well then it’s a date. How’s one week from now? The twenty-third?” Rarity asked, clasping Pinkie’s hand in hers

As a shiver ran up her arm, Pinkie almost froze.

Almost. “You bet! It’s going to be great!” she exclaimed, a very almost too-wide smile on her face.

***

Twenty-third of December…

Pinkie stared at herself in the mirror. Her dress was picked out, her hair of perfect poofiness, and she even had made sure Gummy had enough food in his dish.

The only thing wrong was that her smile was firmly upside down.

“Gummy, what was I thinking? Asking Rarity on a date?”

The alligator blinked twice.

Pinkie sighed. “And I thought it was such a good idea and it is, but…” She touched the back of her hand, where Rarity had held her.

The Pinkie sense did not lie. Or in this case, were they the butterflies? In any case, she might just have a tiny bit of a crush on Rarity and now she was set up for a practice date. It was like she was in the middle of a romantic comedy, one written by a narrator who was totally not somewhat perturbed by her noticing his presence.

There was nothing for it. She may have gotten into a tangle but she was Pinkie Pie, Canterlot’s premier party person! She was going to nail this date and then maybe she could find a way to unwind the kerfuffle she’d found herself in.

Thankfully, she was on home turf. The Canterlot Amusement Park was a little old, not as large as Equestrialand, but this helped it keep its charm as the local funfair that was far more affordable to students with a budget.

Rarity met her at the entrance and Pinkie swallowed as she took her date in. She had wondered how Rarity would look fabulous with the weather so cold and she didn’t disappoint. On this occasion, she’d donned a fuschia blouse with puffed sleeves and a dark-purple skirt that clung to knee-high boots. A finely-cut white jacket with furred collar and hood was bound tight to her body with a gold-buckle outer belt.

Rarity practically skipped over to the frozen girl. “Pinkie! You look fantastic!”

“Oh uh. I do?” Pinkie stammered.

“Oh yes! Your hair is beautiful, and I love the dress” said Rarity.

It had taken about two hours to tame her hair into a far less tangled poof and Pinkie couldn’t help but beam. She’d spent another hour trying to choose and adjust her golden-yellow dress and the matching pink-blue denim top.

“Thank you, Rarity. You look amazing, very classy.”

“Oh, thank you dear. So, what is the plan tonight?”

“Well, they have fireworks at 9pm so we have some time to get to the best spot before that. Have you been here before?” Pinkie asked.

A wistful smile traced its away across Rarity’s lips. “A long time ago. I was ten I think. I’ve always wanted to revisit, but I never got the chance.”

Yes!

“Well then, shall we, milady?” Pinkie asked, producing the tickets from behind her back.

“We shall, my darling,” said Rarity, plucking a ticket from Pinkie’s fingers and in the same motion, snaking her arm around Pinkie’s and pulling her close.

The goshdarned butterflies (to borrow an Applejack parlance) returned with a vengeance, so much so it was all Pinkie could do to lead her date to the turnstiles.

She failed to notice that there was a light dusting of red on Rarity’s cheeks as well.

***

There was an order to attack an Amusement Park dictated by the events, the lineups and the geography of the fair.

This was why Pinkie had led Rarity to the roller coasters first and to the park’s star attraction, the Cyber-Timberwolf Terror.

“Shouldn’t we want to work up to the larger rides, Pinkie?” Rarity asked.

“Normally yes, but the thing is everybody thinks that. So if you want to avoid the lines, you want to start with the Cyber-Timberwolf Terror!” Pinkie pulled her outstretched arms back. “That is, um, if you are up for a roller coaster?”

“Oh, of course. Though, I seem to recall that this used to be completely wood,” said Rarity as they walked into the station area, where the line up was very short.

“Wow, you have a good memory! It used to be the Timberwolf Terror and a few years ago, it got torn down and rebuilt with a metal track. I quite like the rebuild, though I miss the old one.”

“It is nice they kept the old wood for the new structure, though,” Rarity said as they stepped into a car.

Following the attendant’s instructions, they buckled down and pulled the safety bar down.

As the car started to roll up the ramp, Pinkie glanced at Rarity. Her gloved hands seemed to be gripping the bar rather tightly, and her lips were pressed together.

“Rarity? Are you alright?”

“Oh I’m fine.”

“You know it’s alright to be scared, right?”

“Oh I’m not scared, not with you beside me,” said Rarity.

Pinkie wasn’t sure what made her do it, but she reached over to put her hand over her friend’s. “Hey, we’re going to be fine.”

Rarity briefly looked away, but returned to meet Pinkie’s gaze with a smile. “Why of course.”

This time, Pinkie did not miss the light blush coloring Rarity’s cheeks, but before she could comment or even respond to it, they were over the edge of the hill, screaming as the drop lifted them up.

They did not however, let go of each other’s hands throughout the ride

***

“Huh, you really did nail it, Pinkie,” said Rarity, warming her hands with her cup of hot chocolate.

Pinkie cocked her head sideways. “Nail what? There isn’t any construction going on.”

“Oh Pinkie, I mean the lineup for the Cyber-Timberwolf,” said Rarity, gesturing to the now fifty-person lineup for the ride. “We could have been caught in that instead of going twice, and now having hot chocolate.”

“I know right! This is good hot chocolate too,” said Pinkie, slurping up the last drops of her cup. Sighting down her arm, she tossed hers into the bin, bouncing it off the edge.

Rarity winking at Pinkie, did an underarm throw that landed her cup square in the middle. “Alright, where next?”

“Well, if you’re up for it, you could try your luck at the fairground games. We just really need to be at the ferris wheel before 9pm.”

“Oh? Do you not like carnival games?” Rarity asked.

“I do! I’m just not that good at them. They’re fun, but I’ve never managed to win anything,” said Pinkie. Shaking her head, she just managed to arrest her whine. “I know there’s a trick to them, but I can’t seem to quite figure it out.”

Rarity “Oh, oh that will not do. Well, Pinkie darling, I’m going to show you why I got a year-long ban from those carnival games all those years ago.”

“You what?”

***

“Huh.”

Pinkie’s emergency bag now carried a stuffed giraffe with a pink bow accompanied by a polar bear plushie in a pink tutu.

They were now sitting down for dinner at the park’s restaurant, modelled after an old west salon. If anything, they’d escaped from it after Rarity had somehow knocked down all the milk bottles, scored 5 in a row at the basketball toss, and sniped down the targets at the BB-gun shoot.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t get you that dragon, Pinkie. I figured it would be a bit impolite to win it along with the other two plushies, but I hope you’re happy with these,” said Rarity, smiling sheepishly.

“Oh no, Rarity. These are lovely! I’m just very surprised. Although, I suppose there must have been a reason why your more dramatic clothing designs often have some kind of carnival theming,” said Pinkie.

Rarity blinked. “Wait, you’ve noticed? I thought you weren’t interested in fashion?”

Pinkie shrugged. “I’m not like super duper interested, but well, as Canterlot’s premier party person, dress, decorations, and food all contribute to the atmosphere and theming. Every party needs to be perfectly tailored because every person—”

“—has different needs and requirements,” said Rarity.

“Kind of like a custom-made dress actually,” said Pinkie. She was unable to look away from Rarity, who was also looking right at her.

The pair had locked eyes, as if for the first time, they were seeing, really seeing each other.

“But sometimes, people don’t know what they want, do they?” Rarity asked.

Pinkie nodded. “And when that happens, you gotta tease out who they are, what makes them happy—”

“—what makes them excited and how can you translate that to your dress, or in your case, your party,” Rarity finished. She was smiling now, but there was something in her eye Pinkie couldn’t quite identify. As she swallowed, Pinkie remembered all the times she’d marvelled at Rarity’s choice of dress, how pretty she was, and how she always seemed to be able to tailor outfits that matched her style to a tee.

“Rarity—”

“Ladies, your dinner!”

DAGNABBIT! Pinkie Pie bit down her internal scream and planted the largest smile on her face as she turned to the waiter. No matter that it twitched just a bit.

“Thank you!” Pinkie said.

“Thank you,” echoed Rarity, her smile equally as strained. After all, unbeknownst to Pinkie, she very much wanted to slap both of her hands into her face, but that would ruin her makeup and that would just not do.

The waiter bowed and left, leaving plates of food in front of the two.

Pinkie Pie looked at Rarity’s plate. “Oh, so that’s what a tagli— tagatelle funghi? Oh shoot, I got that wrong didn’t I?”

Rarity took a breath, keeping her smile serene. “You weren’t far off. It’s tagliatelle ai funghi. A kind of thick Italian pasta made with cream sauce and mushrooms.”

“Ahh, so that’s what it is, sorry about that,” said Pinkie, scratching the back of her head.

She was smiling, but that was not fooling Rarity. Without hesitation, she reached out to touch her friend’s wrist.

“Pinkie, you know you don’t have to worry about not knowing that, right?”

“I know, it’s just a bit embarrassing.”

Rarity blinked. It had never crossed her mind that her friend could get embarrassed. Putting that thought aside for later, she narrowed her eyes at her friend.

“Pinkie darling, what happened? You know you could tell me anything, right?”

Pinkie’s mouth screwed shut, and she almost pulled back, but Rarity just ever-so-slightly shifted her grip so her fingers now held her friend’s palm.

“Oh, nothing specific. Just…you know how it is, Rarity. People sometimes say things when they think I can’t hear them. About how I’m a bit dumb and too silly.”

“They’re wrong,” said Rarity, hand unconsciously clenching into a fist.

Pinkie’s deflated, her hair losing its volume as her shoulder sagged. “Not entirely. I kind of ordered the poutine because I couldn’t figure out what the other items were.”

“Well I haven’t tried poutine before and would love a bite, if you don’t mind,” said Rarity, gesturing to Pinkie’s hand. Blinking, the party person got the cue and levered a mouthful of the poutine from the mountain of fries, gravy and melted cheese curds. Now that Rarity was examining the proffered portion, she realized it looked a bit different from the poutines she’d seen on television. There were red slices of meat cut into it.

Opening her mouth, Rarity took a bite and gave more than a few experimental chews. “Oh, smoked beef? It’s really good!”

“Oh I know right. It’s even better in Montreal. Have you been?” Pinkie asked.

“No actually. I’d love to visit there. It’s such a romantic city.” She rolled up some pasta and thrust it to Pinkie. “Here, have a bite.”

Pinkie did and chewed quite enthusiastically as Rarity had a bite of her own. “Ooh, it’s got some herby taste. Maybe it could have used a bit more salt, though.”

“You’re right,” said Rarity, flashing Pinkie Pie a wink. “Not so complicated isn’t it?”

“No, it isn’t,” said Pinkie, hand covering her mouth as she chewed. Swallowing, she wiped her lips. “Thank you, Rarity.”

Not for the first time this night, Rarity’s heart skipped and she had to hide her true feelings with a smile.

“You’re welcome, Pinkie,” said Rarity.

***

They split the meal, although there was some good-natured banter about wanting to pay for the other. Pinkie then led Rarity out of the restaurant into the park.

It was 8:45 and people were already jockeying for the best spots to see the fireworks. Many were making their way to the ferris wheel.

Pinkie, while gently clutching Rarity’s hand, guided her away from the ferris wheel towards the…Haunted House building? Garnished with the visage of witch and other characters, it looked like the typical fun houses in many country fairs. Why was Pinkie taking her there? Was this a joke?

Then again, Pinkie hadn’t made a wrong step this night. In fact, their practice date had been positively divine. Holding hands on the roller coaster, fairground games, and a lovely dinner, it couldn’t get more romantic than this.

No, that wasn’t quite true. It could get more romantic than this. The question was if she wanted it to get more romantic.

Pinkie opened a side door for her, allowing Rarity to waltz through and wait for her date to close the door behind her. Before Pinkie could set off, though, Rarity took her hand, interlacing her fingers between her own.

Pinkie looked up, blinking, blushing slightly before she could say anything, Rarity winked. “Lead on.”

“Well then, this way, miss,” said Pinkie, bowing gallantly. She didn’t let go of Rarity’s hand as they went up stairs, down a hallway of closed doors for the staff, and up another flight to a metal fire escape door.

Opening it, the pair walked across the freshly fallen snow to the edge of the roof. The characters that emblazoned the Haunted House were but painted wooden plywood supported by cross-bracing. It was this screen that Pinkie and Rarity stood by as they took in the Canterlot Amusement Park spread in front of them, with the ferris-wheel silhouetted against the city’s lights in the distance.

“Oh, so this is why you led us here, Pinkie. How did you get the keys to the building?” said Rarity.

Pinkie giggled. “The park consults me for the Haunted House and how to make it more scary and fun! I asked if I could use it as a favor, and they said totally!”

“I see. Well I’m very glad you cashed that favor in.” Pulling Pinkie’s arm, Rarity leaned in against her friend, close enough she could feel the girl’s pounding heart. The flush on Pinkie’s face was unmistakable.

The question on Rarity’s mind was if she wanted to call her friend out on it. Pinkie had been a perfect date and showed real chivalry throughout the night. Yet, she’d also been playing the part so tightly that she was hiding her own desires and feelings.

That meant Rarity could let this night pass without question and it would still have been the best date she’d ever been on. Her friendship with Pinkie would be safe and more importantly she’d be able to keep her own heart safe. After all, there was no guarantee that any relationship that blossomed between her and Pinkie would last.

And yet, she couldn’t help but wonder. She couldn’t help but want the girl beside her, but most of all, she realized that as heartbroken as she was before she very much liked to give her heart to the person beside her.

So taking a deep breath, Rarity fixed Pinkie Pie with a glance. “Pinkie dear, this wasn’t a practice date, was it?”

Pinkie Pie swallowed and looked away, her eyes tearing up. “I…I’m sorry Rarity. It was meant to be one, but I don’t think it is one anymore.”

Reaching out to cup Pinkie’s cheek, Rarity turned her friend’s gaze back to her. “Oh Pinkie, don’t be sorry. I had a wonderful time.” She brushed a strand of that gorgeous cotton-candy hair from her bright blue eyes. “And I would love to go on another date with you, and not just a practice one.”

Pinkie’s brain seemed to do a sudden reboot as she stared at Rarity for a moment, her eyes wide as plates. “Wait, you mean like girlfriends, but not girls that are friends, but girlfriends?”

Rarity nodded. “Yes, darling. Yes.”

Pinkie leaned forward and without thinking, Rarity did so too. Warm lips met in the middle, as the Canterlot Park’s Firework show started. Comets and chrysanthemums, brocades and crackles of light filled the night sky, completely forgotten by the pair wrapped in each other’s arms.

Their lips parting, Pinkie sighed with joy, before suddenly clamping her hands to her mouth. “Oh! Rarity, I’m sorry, was that too much?”

“What do you think, Pinkie?” Rarity asked, not sure how she could smile wider than she already was.

Pinkie blinked and her smile returned. “I think I would love to keep making you smile.”

The pair giggled, their arms wrapping around each other as they looked up to watch the firework show.

The End

Author's Note

For longtime followers and readers, glad to see you all again. I hope I still have my touch :D

So I wrote this after deciding to participate in Jinglemas 2024! There are a lot of great authors writing in this so check their stories out in the group!