Saturday, February 13, 2016

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Today's Horoscope (Virgo): The horoscope app is trying to tell you something important. Ignoring it is a really, really bad idea.

Evening

Despite some of the protests throughout the week from some of the girls, all of us are going to the dance tonight—even the ones who don't have dates. Which, surprisingly, is everybody except Twilight and Pinkie Pie.

I mean, I can see Rainbow, Fluttershy, and Applejack not having dates, and Sonata's handicap probably isn't helping, but Rarity? That doesn't even make sense...

The girls spent the day at the spa. I spent the day loafing around. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle invited their friend—what was her name, the chicken girl—over to hang out. With everyone else gone, it was left to me to keep the girls in line.

At around five, the chicken girl goes home, and I start getting ready for the dance. The Valentine's Dance is semi-casual, so I opt to wear the dress shirt Rarity gave me for my birthday, some nice slacks, and the new shoes I bought yesterday. I also do what I can to tame my hair and splash on some fairly expensive aftershave I rarely use.

It's a quarter to six—forty-five minutes until the dance is set to begin—when the girls return from the spa.

And by "return", I mean "strut in like supermodels". I half-expected there to be pounding music and spotlights.

Twilight is the first to enter, and WOW. She's had a serious makeover. Her normally straight, simple hair has been feathered, swept, teased, and gelled into a sporty, punky pile of spikes; it's still long in the back, but everything past the nape of her neck has been swept to the side and pulled into a tight ponytail. She's wearing more makeup than usual, which while still tasteful, makes her look more...mature. She's wearing a short dark purple skirt with a matching short-sleeved jacket over a low-cut black blouse, with a silver chain belt around her waist, as well as two-color tights: black on her right leg, hot pink on her left leg. She's also wearing translucent platform sandals, which she seems to have a little bit of trouble with, judging by the way she wobbles every third step. Her locket, transferred from its usual chain to a black velvet choker, and a tiny pair of silver earrings complete the ensemble.

Next is Pinkie Pie. She's wearing a scandalously short sleeveless scarlet qipao and matching slippers; her hair has been pulled up into two tight buns on the side of her head and tied off with gold ribbons. She isn't wearing any jewelry, and her makeup is much lighter than Twilight's. She's also very obviously not wearing a bra.

I really hope she's at least wearing panties...

Rainbow walks in next. I was NOT expecting to see her in the little black dress again, but there it is, this time without the tights—just black high-heeled sandals. She's also wearing gold bracelets and gold hoop earrings. Her rainbow hair has been slicked back and shined up so that it glows in the light.

Applejack is wearing new, dark, tight-fitting jeans, new boots, and a checkered Western shirt with a bolo tie with a shiny apple clasp, as well as a brand new black Stetson. Her hair has been braided and shines like spun gold. She isn't wearing any makeup.

Rarity is wearing a dark red sleeveless satin dress with a long skirt and matching pumps, sparkly garnet earrings, a matching garnet pendant on a slender gold chain, and thin gold chain bracelets intricately interwoven around her wrists. Her hair is in its usual elegant curls. She's wearing slightly more makeup than usual. I still think she wears too much makeup...

Sonata is wearing a wine-colored blouse with a flared collar and three silver braided ties fastened to shiny silver buttons, a carnation pink skirt, and knee-high hot pink boots. She has spiked purple bangles on her wrists and a dark blue scrunchie holding up her glossy high ponytail. A black choker with a large red ruby pendant hangs around her throat; her scars are invisible, likely hidden beneath layers of makeup.

Fluttershy is wearing a black cutoff tie-top and a dark green calf-length skirt, underneath which she's wearing full body nylon tights that end in fingerless gloves. She's wearing lace-up black boots and no jewelry. Most strikingly, she's dyed two black streaks in her long pink hair, one broad and one slender, and is wearing heavier, darker makeup than usual, with dark, almost black eyeshadow, heavy mascara, and blood red lipstick.

"Wow," I say. "You all look...wow."

Twilight walks up to me, touching her hair with a coy smile. "Do...do you like it?" she asks.

"I love it," I say. "It's a good look for you."

Twilight blushes and giggles. "If you say so," she says.

Pinkie bounces up to me. "Ready to go?" she asks.

"Yeah, if you girls are."

"We're just waiting for my brother to empty the back seat of his car," Twilight says. "We can't all go in the SUV this time." She wraps her arms around me. "You, me, and Pinkie are riding with Shining Armor."

"If you say so."

We head outside; the rest of the girls board Cadance's SUV, while Pinkie, Twilight, and I head for Shining Armor's car. He does a double-take at Twilight's hair. "Whoa. Twiley. That's...that's certainly some hair."

Twilight slaps him on the shoulder. "Don't tease," she says. "I wanted to try a new look. Just...just for a few days."

"You should totally leave it like that, Twi-Twi!" Pinkie says as we get into the car.

When we arrive at the school, the three of us walk arm-in-arm into the gym behind the rest of the girls. The gym is draped in sheets of red and pink foil paper, with heart-shaped balloons in pink, red, and white floating everywhere. Small tables with Valentine-themed tablecloths surround the edges of the gym, most of them set for two, but some set for four or more. A long buffet table laden with snacks and drinks stands at one end of the gym, while the other has a makeshift stage with Vinyl Scratch's equipment set up. Vinyl herself is present, with Lyra and Sweetie Drops at her side; Vinyl is dressed more or less the same as usual, while Lyra is wearing a gold dress and Sweetie Drops is wearing a tasteful blue blazer and skirt with a pink blouse. Octavia doesn't seem to be here...

I look around the gym. I see Coco, wearing a plain but nice dress, dancing with a pimply, bespectacled freshman; Trixie, wearing a shimmery blue satin gown that flows to the floor, is standing in one corner, nibbling on peanut butter crackers and chatting with her bandmates. Sunset Shimmer is lurking in a corner, wearing her usual outfit and watching everyone with a cold scowl. I look away before our eyes can meet.

The fact that I entered with two girls on my arms hasn't gone unnoticed; belatedly, I remember that the...interesting relationship I share with Twilight and Pinkie isn't really public knowledge. The girls in the dorm, Cadance, Shining Armor, Celestia, and Luna certainly know, but I don't think anyone else does...until now. We're getting a lot of looks, and a varying degree of reactions: surprise, disgust, amusement...shit-eating grins from several guys...

I take turns dancing with Twilight and Pinkie for about forty minutes, after which we find a table and sit down. Rarity is dancing with random guys, as is Applejack; Fluttershy is sitting at a table near the gym doors, occasionally politely turning down offers of a dance, and Rainbow is up front near the stage having the time of her life.

Pinkie brings snacks and drinks to our table as Twilight and I sit down. "This is a pretty fun dance!" she says.

"Yeah, it is," Twilight agrees, smiling. "I'm glad we came together."

"Well we couldn't come not together!" Pinkie says cheerfully, tossing a handful of red hots in her mouth. "Ooh, ow, hot, ow...mmm, cinnamony!"

Twilight frowns as her gaze settles on Fluttershy. "So, uhh...did either of you notice...?"

Pinkie looks over at Fluttershy. "That's kind of a bold look for Fluttershy, huh?"

"Well...yes, but that's not what I meant," Twilight says.

I frown. "You mean how that outfit looks a lot like what Eris wears?"

"Yeah, that," Twilight says.

Pinkie blinks. "Oooooh...yeah, now that you mention it..." She tilts her head. "But why would she...I mean, if Fluttershy's Eris, why would she...?"

"It...could be a coincidence," Twilight says slowly. "I mean, it...it could be..."

I sigh. "I don't think it is." I shake my head. "But why?"

"That's what I asked!" Pinkie exclaims.

"It...it does seem strange that she'd..." Twilight sighs. "Can we...can we not do this tonight? I just...I just want to have a good time with my boyfriend..." She looks at Pinkie and blushes. "And my girlfriend...kind of...thing...what are we?"

Pinkie shrugs. "Heck if I know. I'm kinda fuzzy on this whole threelationship thing myself." She blinks, then gasps. "Hey! Hey! That's what it is! We're in a threelationship!"

I laugh. "Only Pinkie," I say, grabbing some of her cinnamon red hots.

Twilight giggles.

After a few more minutes of rest and people-watching, we get back up and start dancing again. I look around and see Rainbow dancing with a soccer player—Cloudy Kicks, I think her name is—and Rarity looking rather cross at the boy she's dancing with stepping on her toes.

When we've had our fill of dancing, we make the rounds, talking to friends and classmates, eating food and generally having a good time. Every time my gaze drifts across Sunset Shimmer, I force myself to focus on the good time I'm having; every time I glance at Fluttershy, I force myself not to think about the fact that she probably let Sunset Shimmer into the dorm.

That she helped Sunset Shimmer rape me.

Toward the end of the dance, Pinkie insists on attempting a three-person tango with me and Twilight. We get a lot of good-natured teasing, some not-so-good-natured jeering, and more chuckles and applause for our troubles.

After the last dance of the evening, Vice-Principal Luna turns down the lights in the gym, and Celestia takes the stage next to Vinyl. A spotlight illuminates her and she taps on the microphone she's holding.

"Thank you all for coming out tonight," she says. "I wish more of you had come as couples," she says with a wry, reproachful smirk, "but I won't put anybody in detention for showing up stag." Everyone laughs. "Before you all leave, there are two things I'd like to say.

"First, a quick reminder that Monday is a school holiday." A wild cheer goes up at that; Celestia rolls her eyes. After a moment, she raises a hand for silence. "Second..." She frowns. "I hate to end tonight on a down note, but..." She sighs. "You all deserve to know...one of our students, a freshman named Snips, has been missing for six days. As of today, he has been presumed dead."

There are a lot of quiet murmurs and gasps.

"Checking Canterbook records, I'm aware Snips had few friends, one of whom was expelled some months back," Celestia says. "Nevertheless, he deserves to be remembered with respect. On Tuesday morning, we will have an assembly.

"Goodnight, everyone. Go home safely. I hope you have a happy Valentine's Day and enjoy your Monday off."

Late Night

Everyone is pretty well partied out by the time we return to the dorm. Pinkie wants to have a different kind of 'party' with me and Twilight, but Twilight reminds her that we all have to get up early in the morning so Pinkie can get things ready for Cadance's birthday party.

"Aww," Pinkie pouts. "I even wore special undies with this dress..."

Twilight rolls her eyes. "Goodnight, Pinkie," she says.

Pinkie whimpers, but gives each of us a kiss before heading back to her room.

Twilight shakes her head, then steps into my embrace, laying her head on my chest. "The next time we go into Zodiac will be...interesting," she says. "There's no way there aren't dozens of texts flying around about tonight..."

"So what?" I ask. "All that really matters is that we're happy..." I tilt her chin up and look her in the eyes. "We are happy, aren't we?"

"Of course we are," she says. "Other than the people trying to kill us or mess with our heads or blackmail us or...whatever else." She sighs. "Snips...really was killed, wasn't he?"

"It looks that way." I hold Twilight close. "Get some sleep. We've got a busy day tomorrow. Cadance's party, our date..."

Twilight smiles. "Yeah." She kisses me. "See you tomorrow, Flash."

Twilight goes to her room and I go to mine. I'm undressing when my phone starts beeping at me.

The horoscope app...

I haven't actually looked at it in...I don't even know how long. At least since January...

Knowing that Sunset Shimmer runs the horoscope app has kind of soured me on even looking at it.

Still...this isn't normal.

Against my better judgment, I open the app...

Today's Horoscope (Virgo): Sunset Shimmer no longer has control of your horoscope. I do. I'm the best friend you've got right now if you want to keep everyone you love alive. You'd better stop ignoring this app. I'm trying to save your life.

...what?!