//------------------------------// // A Generous Thing to Do // Story: Appledashery // by Just Essay //------------------------------// “Why, Rainbow, darling!” Rarity's eyelashes fluttered from across Carousel Boutique. “Whatever do you mean?” “Look, Rarity, I know this city inside and out!” Rainbow's voice cracked. “I fly over it everyday!” She hovered closer, drawn in by a frown. “I happen to know for a fact that Ponyville has more holes in it than a cheese grater! And you're the wettest sponge out of us all!” “Oh, please...” Rarity rolled her eyes with a smile as she continued to sew a pair of trousers together. “So I give into the gab every now and then. Surely you can forgive a lady for a little bit of prattle—especially among like-friends.” “Rarity!” Rainbow gawked. “I just got done talking to Twilight, Pinkie Pie, and Spike!” “Oh...?” “They no so much—I'm surprised they didn't send the pegarozzi in to personally take photos of my date in Manehattan!” “Really, now?” Rarity squinted. “Even Spikey Wikey?” “Rarity, this is serious!” Rainbow snarled. “You're no idiot! You know how much I like to hold certain things beneath the s-saddle! I told you and only you about that... erm... date night.” “I know that, Rainbow Dash—” “Then why'd you go all megaphone on me over it?!” Rainbow tossed her forelimbs. “Didn't I make it clear that I wanted to have the whole thing kept a secret?! If I didn't, then I apologize... but seriously!” “I assure you that I did not tell any pony out of our immediate, harmonic circle.” “H-how's that supposed to make me feel better?!” “Rainbow Dash, we're your friends,” Rarity said in a calm-yet-airy tone. “I assure you that there is nothing the whole lot of us would do to harm you with whatever we knew about you.” Rainbow Dash stared out the window, biting her lip. “Are you so sure about that...?” “Am I sure about it?!” Rarity gasped, turning completely from her sewing. “Why, Rainbow Dash! What are we if not the perfect complements to one another! Like colors on a color wheel! We are all incomplete without a single one of us in the picture!” “Nnngh... Rarity...” “No! You must hear me out!” Rarity galloped over. “I love you, Rainbow Dash. Truly, I do. From one friend to another, I desire your absolute happiness and contentment in life.” “But—” “Eh-eh-eh!” Rarity raised a hoof, continuing. “And when you come to me—personally—with something you perceive as a dilemma that needs fixing, but of course I am going to tackle the problem with all of the skills at my disposal! But I am only one pony! A gifted one, granted, but a single mare nevertheless! What kind of a decent friend would I be if I did not contribute to your well-being with all of the devices at my disposal!” Rainbow sighed into her forelimb. “So you told the girls...” “You can bet your sonic rainboom, I did!” Rarity smiled. “I meant it as no slight against our trust, Rainbow, and if I have damaged that then I apologize. Truly, I do. But it doesn't take a genius to realize that having a coltfriend is a very new and tender arena for the likes of you! Even the toughest of characters can crumble under the slightest emotional duress! I've seen it happen before, and I'll be banished to the moon before I'll ever let the likes of that happen to you!” “Mrrrrrffnngh...” Rainbow Dash folded her forelegs, frowning towards the walls. “I still wish you hadn't told them anything...” “Honestly, Rainbow, if you cannot trust your closest friends by now...” Rarity giggled and smiled. “...then who can you trust?” Rainbow clammed up. “Oh, Rainbow, darling...” Rarity trotted over. She gave the pegasus a telekinetic tug, yanking her towards the floor with surprising force—only to lean in and give her the softest of nuzzles. “You truly are too tough for your own good. It's what makes you simultaneously precious and frustrating.” “Hrmmmff... I don't see how or why you get to make that judgment call for me...” “Would you rather I ignore your situation altogether?” Rarity smiled. “Rainbow, as annoying as it seems, part of being a friend means sacrifice. Personally, I like to be generous in sharing my time with each and every one of you.” “Oh yeah?” Rainbow gave her a thin-eyed stare. “And what about me?” Rarity took a deep breath. “I do believe you can stand to share more of your heart,” she said. “As dire and challenging as that might sound.” Rainbow was silent. “But, alas...” Rarity giggled. “How wondrous that you now have a coltfriend in your life to help break that shell that exists around you! I find it most delightful, Rainbow, and I'm sure you'll find that your friends agree!” “Yeah...” Rainbow gulped, fidgeting in midair. “Lucky for me...”