Once more the weather team had blessed Ponyville with a gorgeous day. Well that was the common consensus, but for one mare it was not. Rarity was struggling to keep her mane perfect as she walked through town back to Carousel Boutique. The wind was, in her opinion, unnecessarily strong. Earlier that day on her way to the spa to meet up with Fluttershy she had thought the light breeze was just divine but now it was just the worst possible thing.
Approaching her abode, grateful to soon be free of the wind that was wrecking her mane, Rarity started at the door. Finding it unlocked at first cause slight alarm in the mare but her fears where instantly squelched upon remembering Sweetie Belle. Rarity had given Sweetie Belle a key to her home and while she wasn’t fond of surprise visits couldn’t complain too much this time. For her little sister had informed her that she planned on dropping by soon, and while Rarity would have preferred a specific date and time she was just glad to have gotten any form of warning at all.
Expecting a large mess, and possibly some destruction upon entering, Rarity was knocked off guard by not only the tidiness of her living room but also by the presence of Rainbow Dash. The cyan mare was lying on Rarity’s couch reading a Daring Do novel.
“Oh, Rainbow Dash I wasn’t expecting to see you here. Especially since this is my house.” Rarity wasn’t upset but wanted to get the point across that you shouldn’t be lounging in ponies’ houses without permission or an invitation.
“Sweetie Belle let me in. Give me a second to finish this page would ya?” Replied Rainbow without looking away from the book.
“I had assumed," Rarity looked around her house. "Did you clean my house? I don’t remember it being so spotless.”
“Na, once Sweetie Belle let me in she made me some tea and started to clean up some stuff.” Said Rainbow still not looking away from her book. “Ya know she really does take after you. Being a good hostess and what not.”
“Yes and where is the little angel now? Not in my inspiration room I hope.” Asked Rarity with a hint of sarcasm and immediately followed by the fear of a potential disaster. Rarity loved her sister and she knew how much Sweetie just wants to help, but Rarity also knows of her sister uncanny ability to cause destruction.
“She’s with Scootaloo.” Stated Rainbow Dash as if it were obvious. “The squirt follows me everywhere and I’m here so it wasn’t long before they ended up together.”
With her guest having already been taken care of by her sister Rarity took a seat across from Rainbow Dash and waited for her to put the book down. Fixing her mane Rarity considered asking Dash about the need for such strong gusts of wind but decided it wasn’t really that important. Plus she didn’t want to deviate the conversation she was hoping they’d be having off course. It had been four days since the two mares had had their little talk and with the weekend coming to a close Rarity was hoping to hear about any possible dating activities.
Rainbow Dash finally closed the book, sat up, and turned to Rarity. “Why are you smiling at me like that?” Asked the rainbow maned mare with a creeped out expression on her face.
Rarity was unaware of the look on her face because she was teeming with excitement. “So Rainbow Dash how was it? Did you enjoy yourself? Who was the lucky colt? Were there sparks? Oh please, give me the details darling,” begged the unicorn.
“Whoa whoa whoa. Calm down Rarity.” Started Rainbow Dash followed excitingly by, “Good, yes, Thunderlane, I don’t know what that means, and it was totally awesome!”
“Oh darling, Thunderlane?” Rarity was trying to be supportive and didn’t want to upset her friend but she wasn’t fond of Rainbow Dash’s first choice in a colt. “He’s a nice colt and all but he is kind of known for… getting around.”
“Yeah, duh, that’s the point.” Responded Rainbow Dash with no falter in her demeanor. “I still don’t want anypony to know that I’m dating yet. You know? My image. So I figured if I went out with Thunderlane everypony would think it was as friends. Nopony would believe that I'd go on a date, especially with Thunderlane.”
“But that defeats the point,” protested Rarity. “There is a difference between being with a friend and being on a date.”
“I know that. I told Thunderlane that it was a real date. For us it was real but to everypony else we were just friends. It was perfect.” Reasoned Rainbow Dash looking like she had just one an intellectual debate.
“Aren’t you afraid he’ll tell other ponies? It would be quite the story to be the first colt to date Rainbow Dash.”
“Nah, I’m not worried. I asked him to keep it on the down low. Plus even if he did who would believe him, right?” Rarity couldn’t argue with her friend’s logic.
The situation did leave Rarity feeling as though Rainbow Dash had some how cheated and she wasn’t about to let her friend get away with it. “So, if everything was so perfect, are you planning on going on a second date with him. Is my sweet little Dashie in love?” Teased Rarity.
“Okay so first, only pinkie can call me Dashie. When other ponies do it its weird. And second, I’m not sure if I want to go on another date with him or any other pony for that matter.”
Rainbow’s comment had surprised Rarity. “I thought you said you enjoyed yourself. Why do you want to stop?”
“I did. It was a lot of fun but it seemed like a lot of work you know?” Rainbow looked dejected now. “The feeling I got while on the date was great. I can’t really explain it though. I felt girly but in a good way.”
“You still haven’t answered my question darling? If you enjoyed the feeling, why stop?” Prodded Rarity.
“I don’t know. The feelings I got were from the date itself not from the pony. I don’t think it would have mattered who I would have been on the date with.”
“That’s been my point exactly Rainbow Dash. You don’t have any chemistry with Thunderlane. I really wanted you to discover this on your own but it seems like left to your own intuitions you won’t find what you’re looking for. If I could make a suggestion then, how about Soarin? I remember seeing you two at the Gala a few years back.”
At the mention of the Gala and the memory of that entire night made Rainbow’s cheeks redden. “I… I don’t know Rarity. I mean Soarin is great and all but we’re both Wonderbolts and it’d be hard to keep secret…”
“Then don’t,” interrupted Rarity. “There’s no rule about dating other members of the Wonderbolts, is there?”
“Well not but…”
“No buts Rainbow Dash,” interrupted Rarity once again. “I think in order to find what you’re looking for you can’t be focusing so hard on keeping it secret. It doesn’t matter if ponies know because those same ponies also know that you’re the best flier in all of Equestria, right? You’ve saved the kingdom and multiple lives, including my own, on many occasions. Nopony will think any less of you. I promise.”
Rarity waited patiently for Rainbow to process all that was said. The contemplation on Rainbows face was starting to change to acceptance and understanding. “Okay, you’re right. I’ll give it a try,” was Rainbows final response, which was one of both determination and hesitation.
Shortly after Rainbow Dash had departed. Rarity was feeling quite satisfied with how the conversation had turned out. Once more Rarity was left hoping for the best in Rainbow Dash’s future.