Friday, October 30, 2015

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Today's Horoscope (Virgo): Be wary of the moon.

Early Morning

Rainbow Dash is grinning maniacally when she comes down for breakfast. "Today's finally the day," she says.

"You mean...?" Twilight asks.

"Yep!"

Cadance smiles. "I'm driving Rainbow Dash to the doctor in about an hour. He's still got a few little tests to do, but she should be off the crutches and out of that brace today."

We all cheer.

"That's great!"

"Way to go, Rainbow Dash!"

"It'll be good t' see you on yer feet again, sugarcube!"

"Yeah, I'm ready to be awesome again."

"And how's Fluttershy doing?" Luna asks.

Cadance sighs. "She's still sick. She isn't throwing up, and it looks like her fever could break any time, but..."

Fluttershy shambles down the steps. She's pouring sweat and looks clammy. Her eyes are bloodshot, with heavy bags underneath them. She looks into the dining room at us, then shuffles past into the kitchen.

"Ouch," Twilight says, grimacing.

"Poor Fluttershy," Pinkie says sadly.

Fluttershy shuffles past again holding a glass of orange juice. Twilight calls out to her. "Fluttershy? Is there anything we can do for you?"

Fluttershy stops to look at her and frowns slightly. "No," she says hoarsely. "I can take care of myself." She then retreats upstairs.

"Poor dear," Luna says.

After a moment, Rarity shakes her head. "Flash, Twilight, I'll need to do a fitting for your Halloween costumes this evening. Don't forget!"

"Oh, cool, what are you two going as?" Rainbow asks.

"Actually...we don't know," I say. "At least, I don't."

"Me neither," Twilight says. "Rarity hasn't told us yet."

"Oh, you're going to love them," Rarity says with a smile. "They're simply perfect for you!"

After School

Tennis practice is routine. Even though we don't have a match tomorrow, the coach is yelling at us not to slack off.

On the way back to the dorm, I stop and pick up a quart of hazelnut mocha fudge ice cream for Rarity, both to thank her for her work on our costumes and as an apology.

Evening

When I return to the dorm, I see Rainbow Dash walking around the lounge. She's limping a little, and frowning each time she takes a step on that leg, but she doesn't seem to be in any danger of falling over.

"Now, don't push yourself, Rainbow," Cadance says. "Take it slow."

"I know, I know," Rainbow says. "Gotta build the strength back up." She sees me watching her. "Hey."

"Hey. Good to see you on your own two feet again."

Rainbow chuckles. "Heh, yeah. More or less."

"How's Fluttershy doing?" I ask.

"Better," Cadance says. "Her fever broke, and she's still pretty hoarse, but..." She frowns. "Whatever she had, it wasn't the flu. I don't think." She shakes her head. "Strange."

"Such a shame, too," Rarity says from the stairs. "She worked so hard on her costume for Halloween, too. She was going to go as a vampire queen. It was really quite magnificent."

Cadance looks thoughtful. "She might not have to miss the party," she says. "If she makes as much of a recovery by this time tomorrow as she did from yesterday, I think she can go. If she wants to." She grimaces. "I didn't peg Fluttershy for one of those kids who gets moody when she's sick."

"Yeah, she has been actin' a little bitchy since yesterday," Rainbow says. "Then again, I guess if I was throwin' up like that, I would too."

Twilight comes downstairs. "Rarity, I don't know about that costume," she says. "It's..."

"Oh, but you look so wonderful in it, darling!" Rarity says.

"But I—"

"It's Halloween, Twilight," Rarity says patiently. "Don't worry so much! You'll be with Flash, and...I dare say he'll appreciate your costume." She winks. Twilight flushes.

"What's she got you dressing up as?" I ask.

Twilight opens her mouth, but Rarity rushes over and puts her hand over it. "Hush now," she says. "I want it to be a surprise."

"Umm..." Twilight pulls Rarity's hand away. "You said Flash's costume complements mine, though, right? Won't he...well...know?"

"Oh. Yes. Good point." Rarity coughs. "Ahem. But the others don't know yet, and don't you want to surprise them?"

Twilight sighs. "I guess..."

"Good!" Rarity claps her hands. "It's settled. Come along, Flash. It's time for your fitting..."

With a sudden feeling of dread, I follow Rarity upstairs, stopping only long enough to grab her ice cream out of the freezer.

Once we're in the upstairs hall, Rarity says, "Please, do try to keep your bodily fluids to yourself today, hmm?"

"Rarity...about that...I'm really sorry..."

We walk into her room and she turns to face me, arms folded, expression unreadable.

"I've felt like a jerk all week...I've been trying to figure out how to apologize to you, but...I just haven't had the chance...or the nerve..."

Rarity sighs. "Flash," she says, shaking her head, "I forgave you days ago." She smiles. "Yes, I was angry and...frankly disgusted, but..." She shrugs. "After I calmed down, I realized that, well...it was more my fault than yours. You didn't have anything to do with me—" She blushes and ducks her head. "—measuring your manhood. If I'd kept my hands off, I wouldn't have ended up, ahem, wearing it." She smiles. "So...you're forgiven. And...I must also apologize to you for teasing you the way I did. I don't know what came over me." She blinks, grimaces, and adds, "Don't say it."

"I wasn't going to," I say. I hold out the ice cream. "Anyway...I got you a little something. Both as an apology and to thank you for your hard work on our costumes."

Rarity's eyes light up. "Why, thank you, darling!" She walks over to her refrigerator and puts it in. "I'll enjoy it after we get you fitted..."

As soon as I see the outfit spread out on her bed, I know exactly what Twilight's going to be wearing tomorrow.

...I kinda can't wait to see it.

"Now the pants have some hidden give to the crotch," Rarity says. "Your manhood is five and five-eights inches when erect," she says with a blush, "so I made sure there's adequate room in the very likely event of an erection."

"You make it sound like I go around popping boners all the time."

Rarity gives me a level stare. "You do, darling."

After Rarity finishes up my fitting, I head to my room to practice my guitar. After dinner, Luna volunteers the two of us to do dishes.

Remembering what I heard yesterday, I ask, "Is Sunset Shimmer's Canterbook access really as restricted as Principal Celestia thinks it is?"

Luna frowns. "I honestly don't know," she says. "But it would make sense to me if she were able to exploit the system's security holes." She sighs. "Eschewing traditional scholastics for this completely digital education system was a mistake. My sister believes herself to be progressive, but she does not always see the flaws in her plans..." She scrubs at a spot on a plate. "When we were young, schools taught cursive writing, and even into high school, you were graded on penmanship."

It suddenly occurs to me that I don't even know how to write in cursive...

"Does the janitor really have tier three Canterbook access?" I ask.

Luna nods. "Yes," she says. "And don't ask why. I don't know. My sister met him while I was..." She sighs, bowing her head.

"While you were...?"

She looks down at the dishrag in her hand. "While I was in prison."

...what?!

She looks up at me ruefully. "That's why I know Sunset Shimmer is a troubled teenager. Because she reminds me of myself when I was younger." She dries her hands and looks around. "Well...I'd best be turning in now. I'll be leaving early in the morning."

I finish up the dishes and head out to the lounge, trying to wrap my head around the thought of Vice-Principal Luna having a prison record...