She was already magical darling. (Patreon)

Stone Mane thought he had a pretty firm grasp of barn dancing in my Equestria dreamscape. However he soon learned there was a lot he didn't understand. To his relief there were some other foals there that this was their first barn dance as well. There were some missteps and occasionally a pony would get out of step, but ponies just laughed and went with the flow. A band consisting of a couple of fiddlers, a drummer, and a pony playing a steel guitar provided the music.

     Many ponies had come with their partners for the event, and you'd usually start and end the dances with them. But during the cross of the dance you'd often moving amongst the various ponies on the dance floor. Their was no age separation for dancers, so a foal could temporarily find themselves with a mare or stallion as their partner.

     Now Stone Mane truly did appreciated all the effort that Rarity had put into both his outfit and the dress she'd made for Applebloom. However in the colt's mind it had felt like the mare had overly obsessed over the outfits she'd assembled for them. Then he saw Applebloom out on the dance floor and he understood.

     The Applebloom's dress moved as if it understood the dance moves. It accented her movements as it swirled, flared, and twirled in harmony with her. Every time the filly reared up and twirled the colt was suddenly reminded of cinnamon-red blossoms of the Rockintail Tree which dropped in the late spring. Many an afternoon the Stone Mane had walked home from school amongst swirling clouds of them. Filling the air with their twirling, weaving color and their sweet clove-like smell. He didn't understand why but this thought sent the colt's heart pounding.

     Usually the music was too loud to allow one to talk much with their current partner. Besides everypony had to focus on their next position or move. Still there were moments during some dances where would could get in a word or two. During one of the dances Stone Mane found himself dancing with Rarity. For the evening the mare was wearing a stunning dress of subtle violets and blues. As Stone Mane slowly circled clockwise around the unicorn she spoke.

     "So darling. Enjoying yourself?"

     They reversed and started circling each other counter-clockwise. The colt replied. "Yes ma'am. This is fun, and uh, thanks once again for putting together my clothes for tonight."

     As they completed this rotation their eyes met. With a twinkle her eyes Rarity smiled. "And what of Applebloom's dress dear. Do like it more or less now?"

     Stone Mane felt his face grow warm but he continued to look into the sapphire blue eyes of the mare. "Yes. Yes I do. She looks magical in it. Thank you."

     Then they broke and moved off to their next partner. As Rarity moved away she looked back at the colt. Tossing her mane she gave Stone Mane a mischievous grin. " You're welcome darling, but she was already magical. I just helped you see it more clearly." Then she started dancing with her new partner.

     For the rest of the evening Rarity's final words played over and over in the colt's mind.

     At the end of a dance one could line up immediately for another with a partner, or step off the dance floor to take a break or grab a drink and a bite to eat. It was during one these breaks that Stone Mane found himself sitting on a hay bale with Applebloom as they both ate freshly made moon pies. The filly finished hers and looked over at the colt.

     "So Stone! How r ya enjoying barn dancing? Having fun?"

     The colt finished chewing his current mouthful of moon pie before replying. "Oh yeah! It's lot of fun and....." He looked over at the filly. The warm light of the lanterns in the barn made the filly's buttercream yellow coat appeared to glow with its own radiance, and her deep rose red mane shimmered like satin. The colt suddenly felt his mind go blank for him. Applebloom stared quizzically at the colt.

     "It's lots of fun and...." The filly repeated the colt's last words.

     Stone Mane blinked and the clutch in his brain reengaged his train of the thoughts. "Oh! Um! And, and you um look, uh really pretty in that dress!" The colt looked at his moon pie. "At least I think so." He quickly added and then took a huge bite of his pie.

     A smile slowly spread across Applebloom's face and her tail started thumping on the hay bale. "Ah shucks. Thanks. That's mighty...."

     The filly's voice tapered off as she noticed that Stone Mane had succeeded in getting a glob of marshmallow cream from his moon pie stuck on the end of his muzzle without noticing it. She giggled.

     "Stone ya got marshmallow on yer snout!"

     "What?" The confused colt cocked his head to one side.

     Applebloom smirked and pointed with a front hoof. "Right there. Can't ya see it?"

     Stone's face scrunched up as he stared at his muzzle. Finally he saw it. "Ah nuts!" The colt grumbled.

     With her tail still thumping away Applebloom suddenly leaned over forward and licked the offending marshmallow creme off the colt's muzzle with her tongue.

     "There! got it fer ya!" Giggled the filly.

     Once again the clutch in the colt's brain slipped and he just stared at Applebloom.

To be continued.