A Fan Club with Only Two Fans

They had exchanged one wall of sound for another, trading the howl of wind between buildings for the pulse of speakers.  Even now the rhythm still echoed in the back of Rainbow Dash’s mind, each thump illuminating a flash of the previous evening.  She could hear the music.  The bass hit a crescendo, and she could see the fuzzy plush couches and booths lit by the flashing pastel lights.  Along with the keyboard solo came the scent of sweet cocktails with curly straws and umbrellas.   She heard a drum break, and felt Fluttershy dancing close to her.

Fluttershy’s warmth had turned to heat.  The girl couldn’t hold her liquor.  It had only taken a dozen samples wash away her inhibitions.  They could’ve stopped after the first few; Cake-in-a-Glass, Frosting Bomb, Sprinklerita.  They had found the place, obviously.  The air was sugary, and the dessert menu was three times the size of the other.  The music sounded like Pinkie’s soul inscribed on a record.  Balloons clustered above their heads and hid the ceiling.  As soon as they stepped through the door they knew that this was it.  

A line of empty sample glasses lined the counter between them.  The sticky sweet residue still stuck to her lips.  Fluttershy had matched her, sip for sip.  “They’re small, Fluttershy,” Rainbow Dash had told her.  They had gone down the menu like a checklist.  A dozen fruity drinks with curley straws and umbrellas, served by a bartender who juggled the liquor bottles like a clown.  The first few stung as they went down, but the alcohol in each got smoother.  Three drinks in and Rainbow Dash stopped coaxing.

Now she saw herself on her feet, stomping the dance floor in a parody of rhythm.  She saw Fluttershy laugh at her efforts, but couldn’t hear her over the crushing beat that shook the air.  Half a moment later she had yanked Fluttershy off of her stool, and had her dancing like a willing puppet.  She released her grip, and even with the strings cut Fluttershy had continued to dance, every movement flowing with the melody.

Rainbow Dash couldn’t help herself.  She was drawn in like a moth to flame, savoring the heat that radiated from Fluttershy’s every movement.  The odd step brought their bodies together, if only for an instant.  The touch burned like cold fingers held over a fire.  The heat rose in her head, and she felt herself floating.  She let herself become the marionette, following Fluttershy’s body as she swayed.

They spun, in front of and behind each other, the lights and sounds of the club blurring into a kaleidoscope.  The world vanished into bright streaks, and they were the only two people in the world.  For a split second they found themselves truly dancing together. The circles slowed, and their dizzy eyes met.  Rainbow Dash smiled, not know whether the blush in Fluttershy’s cheeks was from the alcohol, or from their shared moment alone in the midst of the chaos.

“Are you ready to go?” Rainbow Dash had asked.

Fluttershy needed only to nod.