The premiere banner hangs crooked above the cinema entrance, glittering letters screaming DARING DO: TEMPLE OF THE STORM SERPENT – ONE NIGHT ONLY.

The lobby is chaos. Popcorn popping like tiny explosions. Neon lights buzzing. Cardboard cutouts of Daring Do mid-leap, frozen forever in heroic confidence.

And right in the middle of it—

Rainbow Dash.

Pacing.

Back and forth across the glossy tiles like she’s about to challenge the ticket booth to a duel.

“This is so dumb,” she mutters, running a hand through her hair. “I literally had this day marked for months. Months. And the one time I get stuck helping with practice, boom. Sold out.”

She marches up to the counter again, even though she already asked.

“You’re sure there aren’t any left? Like, none? Not even one? I can sit in the aisle. I don’t care. I’ll crouch.”

The employee just gives her the same apologetic look.

Sold out.

Completely.

She steps back slowly, staring at the glowing poster of Daring Do like it personally betrayed her.

“I can’t believe this,” she says under her breath. “I never miss Daring Do stuff. Ever.”

Around her, people laugh. Someone rushes past holding a giant soda. The theater doors open briefly and a wave of trailer audio spills out—dramatic music, distant explosions—then shuts again.

Rainbow Dash freezes when she hears it.

Her jaw tightens.

“That’s probably the opening previews,” she mutters. “They’re already in there.”

She folds her arms, trying to look unbothered.

It does not work.

Her foot taps. Fast. Restless. She glances at the cardboard standee again, eyes softening just for a second.

“I was supposed to be in there,” she says quietly, almost to herself. “Front row. First showing. No spoilers. Just… pure awesomeness.”

She exhales sharply and straightens up, pride snapping back into place.

“Whatever. It’s just a movie,” she says, too quickly. “I’ll catch it later. Probably.”

Another group walks past her, holding freshly printed tickets, excitedly talking about the premiere.

Rainbow Dash looks away.

Her shoulders drop just a little.

And she stands there in the glow of the lobby lights, trying very hard not to look like someone who just missed the one thing she’d been looking forward to all month.