Appledashery

by Just Essay

Dash for Success

“How long have you known Photo Finish?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Well, it's not so much that I've known her, Rainbow,” Vinyl said. “We're business acquaintances. I perform for many of her celebrity parties and she promotes my work with photographs, posters, and films.”

The two stood outside the bar as it was closing. The neon lights flickered off and lonely ponies wandered across the night-drenched village in slumbering serpentine directions.

“But, even still, you bump into her a lot?” Rainbow remarked.

“Well, yeah. I brush elbows with a lot of famous ponies, Rainbow. You've always known that. You've just never bothered to care before.”

“Well, it's not that I care, really, but...”

“But what?”

“I... I-I'm in a bit of a bind right now,” Rainbow said. “And for some very important reason, I gotta meet Photo Finish face to face.”

“Why not just write her?” Vinyl asked. “Or fly off to her apartment in Manehattan? She's a lot friendlier than you might think.”

“I... I-I can't do it like that.”

“Why not?”

“Because I just can't, okay?” Rainbow winced. “Look, this is... like... a secret mission of some sort.”

Vinyl raised her shades and squinted a pair of magenta eyes. “Secret... mission...”

“Yeah... uhm... Elements of Harmony, stuff.” She smiled awkwardly. “Didn't the other guys tell you about it?”

Vinyl stared at her. Slowly, her lips curved. “Hmmm...” She lowered her shades and folded her forelimbs. “Rainbow, you know me. I am many things... the least of which is stupid.”

Rainbow winced.

“If you don't want to tell me why you gotta meet up with Ms. Finish so badly, that's cool. I can live with it. You're something of a private mare, despite all your showboating. I totally appreciate that—I hope you know. It means you know how to work a crowd while—at the same time—being true to just yourself and yourself alone. Flakey ponies really bother the heck out of me, so don't be like one of them. Don't lie to me.”

“I... uh... I-I'm sorry,” Rainbow said. She bit her lip and looked up. “Do you really want to know what all of this is about?”

“Honestly?” Vinyl shrugged and began walking across town. “No.”

Rainbow blinked. She eagerly fluttered after her. “No...?”

“You're my friend, Rainbow. Whatever it is that you've got to do in the Big City, I trust you. After all, you've become a pretty incredible pegasus these last few years. You've got a whole bunch of new and slightly less-messed-up friends...”

“Heh... yeah, okay...”

“...all in all, you're far from the pegasus who dangled from Listing Breeze's noose.”

“Mmmmm...” Rainbow bit her lip, glancing aside. “All of that is behind me.”

“Right. And since we both know it, that's what makes it all the better.” Vinyl smirked at her. “Whatever you have your heart set on these days, I have full faith in it.”

“Thanks, Vinyl. You're truly, truly awesome.”

“Yeah, well, don't let it get around too much. I've still got this 'rebel bard' persona to maintain.”

“How's that remix of Red Bucker Black going?”

“Don't change the subject.”

“Sorry.”

“S'all good.” Vinyl cleared her throat. “This party I'm gonna be deejaying at is a week from now—at the Paint Bucket Flat in downtown Manehattan.”

Rainbow's brow furrowed. “It's not inside Photo Finish's apartment?”

“Oh, she has those all the time, but they're usually a lot less contemporary and a lot more posh. Totally not my kind of scene, ya dig?”

“Sure, I dig.”

“Anyways, it's a gathering of wealthy ponies and local celebrities. Lots of standing around, sipping cider, looking at weird-ass works of art. That sort of stuff. I can definitely get you in, but it won't be easy...”

“Well, for the love of Celestia, Vinyl, don't do anything that you'll lose your head over!”

“Oh, I didn't mean it won't be easy for me,” Vinyl said. “It's you who I'm worried about.”

“Me?” Rainbow blinked. “Why?”

“This isn't some party at Sugarcube Corner or a hoe-down at Sweet Apple Acres. Casual as it may be, this is still a high-end cocktail party. And—well—no offense, Rainbow, but you're not exactly elegant. At least not outside.”

“Hah! Nuts to you!” Rainbow grinned. “It so happens that I've actually stumbled upon a dress just recently! So, if you ask me, I'm totally prepared!”

“Oh... really?”

“Pffft! Chtyeaaaaaah!” Rainbow began flying towards her house. “Sweet! We've got this in the bag! I'll meet you again next night over cider to talk about arrangements—”

“If you're talking about something made by the same pony who gave you that flouncing Gala number, then you're doomed.”

Rainbow stopped in midair and glanced down. “Huh?”

“That's what I'm talking about, Rainbow,” Vinyl said, shaking her head with a sigh. “If you wanna blend in at this party—much less shake hooves with Photo Finish without her instantly throwing up on you—then you have to dress right!”

Rainbow touched back down in front of Vinyl. “Err... which way is right in this case?”

“That's the hard part. There's no accurate way to simply guess. These events of Ms. Finish's? Many crash and burn and some ponies never get noticed at all. You gotta be modern, but not too plain. Creative, but not too avante-garde. Striking, but not too flamboyant.”

“Uhhhhh...” Rainbow winced. “Does not compute.”

“My point exactly.” Vinyl waved and trotted off. “I'm still up for getting you in to the Paint Bucket Flat, Rainbow. But all I'm good at is spinning disks. I love ya like a sister, but all that fashion nonsense? Pffft... you're on your own, unless you happen to know a pony who can give you way better advice than I can.”

Rainbow stood alone. She blinked a few times, then recoiled with a grimace. “Ah, jeez...”

---

Ding-a-ling...!

“Comiiiiiing! Welcome to Carousel Boutique!” Rarity trotted gaily across the morning sunlight glittering through the window. “Where every garment is chic, unique, and magnefique!” She gazed up, then stopped in place with a dainty hoof raised. “Why... Rainbow! What brings you here?”

“Uhhhhhh...” The pegasus gulped. “I, uhhhhhhhh...”

“Are you enjoying that exquisite gown that I made for you?” Rarity asked. She trotted over and smiled in the pegasus' face. “Oh, what delicious bonding time we enjoyed!” A melodramatic sigh. “If only you desired a dress every week.” She trotted off to her sewing machines. “I would make a dozen gowns for every hue of your mane.”

“You... w-would...” Rainbow gulped again. “Wouldn't you?”

“Mmmmhmmmm. But, alas, I fantasize too often.” Rarity stood before the machine and began fastening seams together. “What brings you into my shop today?”

“I... uh... well...”

“Do spit it out, darling. You'll choke on your own words at this rate.”

“Funny you should... say the things that you've said...” Rainbow put on a plastic smile. “Because I kind of need another dress.”

Rarity froze. The machine shut off as she slowly swiveled her head to face Rainbow.

Rainbow's lips twitched. “A different dress...”

Rarity's pupils enlarged to the point of sparkling. “Can it be true...?” She zipped over to Rainbow, gripping the mare's shoulders while grinning wildly. “He approved of the dress?” An inward squeal. “The stallion of your dream wants another?”

“Rarity, how many times do I have to say—” Rainbow's words cut off.

Rarity was beaming, electrified, her horn practically sparkling.

Rainbow winced heavily. Her lungs nearly collapsed in saying it. “Yes... er... yes.” A heavy gulp. “But my... uh... sp-special somepony needs another.” Gritting teeth. “Cocktail... party... st-style?”

“Eeee-hee-hee-hee-hee!” Rarity hopped up and down in place. “Oh, this is just fabulous! You're in love and becoming cultured! Oh, what an exquisite week! I simply must get started on this! The other projects will have to wait!” She galloped off, magically tugging Rainbow behind her. “You'll never stop thanking me for this!”

“Eheh...” Rainbow wheezed, sliding limply after her. “Here's hoping you'll never stop forgiving me...”

Comments

[Autumn Rush]

Oh, god. I'm loving this.

[Aatxe360]

This is the type of behavior that Rarity gets called a vampire for...

[Lightning Bearer]

Oh lawdy. Rainbow trying to fit in at a suave, artsy, trend-setter party. This is going to be delightful.

[HyperMonica]

ohhh..... Dashie, you little turdnugget.

JUST TELL THE DANG MARE THAT THERE IS NO FRIGGIN STAILLION.

Wait wait wait... lets just take a moment to think about how crazy this is. Dashie needs Rarity ro make a dress that will let her fit in at a cocktail party that Vinyl is getting her into so she can get to Photo Finish so Photo can give her the code to a safe that has a shard of Discord in it that Discord needs to get more magic so he can help Dashie's crush, Applejack, keep her farm afloat so Applejack will realize what Dashie did for her and eventually fall in love with that rainbow pegasus to nearly killed herself for AJ.

[Jay_Baker]

Dude just tell her you don't have a colt friend she'll still make the dress. Hmmmm, I wonder if the other four will find out about this. Hmmm

[BabySkittleMonster]

Yes, Rarity. Rainbow Dash does have a coltfriend and is going to a cocktail party. That is so like RD, isn't it? There is absolutely nothing that might make you suspicious, is there?

[TwilightUCrazy]

RAINBOW!

YOU ARE THE ALPHA-BITCH! Nut the hell up and stop letting ponies interrupt you!

[zaponator]

You know, I absolutely adore Rarity in this. Not sure if I've mentioned that before.
It's not nearly often enough that I see someone have so much fun characterizing her.

[Future Regret]

Why lie? C'mon Rarity, let her speak.

[DrEggnog]

“Comiiiiiing! Welcome to Carousel Boutique!” Rarity trotted gaily across the morning sunlight glittering through the window. “Where every garment is chic, unique, and magnefique!”

That catch phrase feels so perfect that I can't even remember if it's from the show or not.

[Phoenix Kitten]

6146446 It is.
She touts it twice in Green isn't your colour.
...the very episode that introduced us to da magicks!

[arancaytar]

Rainbow winced heavily. Her lungs nearly collapsed in saying it. “Yes... er... yes.” A heavy gulp. “But my... uh... sp-special somepony needs another.” Gritting teeth. “Cocktail... party... st-style?”

Technically she said her special somepony needs the dress.

[arancaytar]

4732435

I'm optimistic; I suspect that that is the kind of scene where Rainbow can get away with being brash as long as she is also confident and expensively dressed.