//------------------------------//
// Chapter 39; It Suits You 
// Story: Working Towards The Future 
// by Dasponi 
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Because they had left the school later than they intended to, Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle arrived at Carousel Boutique a little later than expected. Star Shine wasn’t waiting for them outside like Rainbow Dash had been expecting him too and his absence made Rainbow Dash a little worried that Rarity might have done something to him. 

“I bet Rarity’s done something to him. Five bits says he’s in a dress.” Rainbow Dash said, laughing at the mental image of Star Shine in a dress. Rarity was known to stick ponies in dresses but how she treated colts wasn’t quite so well known. Sweetie Belle sighed as she remembered the times Rarity had stuck her in a dress against her will, including the time it ended up in the Foal Free Press. 

“He is a...little weird. Would he do it anyway?” Scootaloo mused. She knew Star Shine was more than a little weird at times really. “We’re still not sure if he’s...you know...” she added, trying to think of a way to phrase her thoughts that Star Shine might be the kind of colt who wears dresses anyway.

“Nah not every boy who likes colts wears dresses.” Rainbow Dash said, brushing the idea he might do it willingly off. He’d never had a marefriend but he didn’t seem to her to be the type to wear a dress. She also didn’t want Scootaloo to grow up believing an absurd stereotype. 

“He likes colts?” Sweetie Belle asked a little nervously. She was curious but it was still a sensitive subject. To her relief Rainbow Dash burst out laughing. 

“Nah. We don’t know really. He’s just never had a marefriend.” Rainbow Dash explained. She herself wasn’t one hundred percent sure on Star Shine’s orientation and had learned a thing or two about ponies assumptions causing pain in the past few weeks. 

“Not even you?” Sweetie asked. Rainbow Dash ran a hoof down her face in exasperation while Scootaloo giggled. 

“Why does everypony keep saying that? We’re not together and never have been. I don’t even know if I can trust him.” Rainbow Dash said. The truth was she was starting to open up to Star Shine and had begun liking him. His mistake at Scootaloo’s school had ruined the chance of anything developing until Rainbow felt she could trust him and trust isn’t won easy. Everypony made mistakes but he seemed to be making a fair few more than most. She would laugh and play with him, and accepted he could make Scootaloo happy, but she would never forget what had happened at the school any more than he himself would. 

“Oh. Sorry...” Sweetie Belle said running a hoof across the ground solemnly. 

“Don’t worry ‘bout it.” Rainbow Dash reassured her. She patted Sweetie Belle on the head and then pushed her gently towards the door of the boutique. “Let’s just go see what your big sister went and did to my idiot of a big brother.” 

“He’s your big brother? Good job you’re not together then.” Sweetie Belle commented as they walked through the door of the boutique. Rainbow Dash sighed and facehoofed. 

“He’s not her brother, but he is an idiot.” Scootaloo clarified for Sweetie Belle. 

“Oh, so is he your brother?” Sweetie Belle asked. 

“Sorta, but we’re not really related.” Scootaloo replied.

“He really is just an old friend and I don’t see why nopony understands that.” Rainbow Dash added with a sigh of exasperation. She knew Sweetie Belle was just curious and didn’t want to upset her but she was getting pretty tired of all the assumptions. She was beginning to understand a whole lot how Scootaloo felt about everypony assuming things about her. Plus it was her own fault Sweetie Belle asked if they were related. She had called him her brother. “Never mind all that, where is everypony?” Rainbow Dash asked. The storefront was empty and Rarity hadn’t appeared from anywhere to greet them. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle couldn’t see them either. 

“Oh darling I love it!” they heard Rarity squeal with delight from one of the changing rooms. 

“First Twilight...now Rarity...For a pony who’s never had a marefriend he sure gets around.” Rainbow Dash said with a sigh. She had come to an assumption that neither filly in front of her would have come to. Sweetie Belle had lived with Rarity long enough to assume it was something to do with fashion and Scootaloo was totally lost. “I swear Star Shine if you’ve touched one hair on her-” Rainbow Dash said as she walked towards the changing room Rarity’s voice had come from. She was interrupted by Rarity poking her head over the top of the door to the changing room. 

“Whatever is the matter darling?” Rarity asked. Her hair was still perfectly styled and from what Rainbow Dash could see, not a hair on her coat was out of place either. 

“You sounded like you were...never mind...” Rainbow Dash said quietly, aware of the young ears around her. “Is Star Shine here?” 

“Why yes he is. He’s in here with me of course.” Rarity replied, smiling. 

“I KNEW he was in there. Star Shine get your flank out here right now so I can beat it!” Rainbow Dash declared. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle looked a little shocked at her outburst but Rarity didn’t move from the door. 

“Beat him? Whatever for?” Rarity asked, confused. She wasn’t about to step aside and let somepony be beaten for no good reason. She couldn’t even think of a good reason.

“He’s in there doing Celestia knows what with you! I come in here and hear you squeal about how much you love something...” Rainbow Dash began before trailing off as she noticed Rarity’s smile getting bigger and realised she had come to a very incorrect assumption. 

“Oh please, I’m not that kind of lady. He’s trying on suits for me. It’s not often I have a colt come by and model for me. I simply love how he looks in them.” Rarity explained. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were unsure what Rainbow Dash meant and kept their silence. “Were you jealous?” Rarity asked, raising an eyebrow and suppressing a giggle. 

“What?! No!” Rainbow Dash denied vehemently. She was blushing slightly but it had more to do with embarrassment at her mistake and being teased than actual hidden feelings. “He’s a jerk and I don’t want him messing around with my friends.” 

“Well it’s nice you want to protect me dear but I do think he’s quite harmless. I also wouldn’t want to intrude on your relationship.” Rarity said. She stepped down from the door at last and walked through it, standing beside the changing room. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle tried to sneak a glance at Star Shine’s new outfit but couldn’t see him properly.

“Relationship? What relationship?” Rainbow Dash asked. 

“Never mind that now dear. For now, feast your eyes upon the new and improved Star Shine!” Rarity declared. Her horn lit up with magic as she used it to open the door to the dressing room. Star Shine certainly didn’t feel very new or improved and nervously made his way out of the dressing room. His hair had been washed and brushed back except for a few stray streaks that dangled in front of his face. He was wearing a fairly ordinary black tuxedo jacket and a light blue bowtie. Under the jacket was a waistcoat that was the same light blue with seven buttons. The buttons were just for show as the waistcoat slipped on like a shirt and the jacket was undone, showing the waistcoat off. The buttons on the waistcoat were an individual colour and there was a button for every colour of the rainbow. For an added bonus touch there was a magenta rose in the lapel. Sweeite Belle looked at the ensemble in awe, impressed by the care and craftsmanship that had clearly gone into it. Scootaloo was impressed by how Star Shine looked. Even Rainbow Dash was smiling and looked shocked at how he looked when he was all cleaned up properly. 

“Well, what do you think?” Star Shine asked tentatively. He was nervous because of how Rainbow Dash was looking at him.

“I really like it. You look awesome!” Scootaloo exclaimed. Sweetie Belle nodded her agreement. 

“Yeah you do look pretty awesome like that.” Rainbow Dash admitted, looking Star Shine up and down. 

“Would you go as far as to say I look handsome?” Star Shine teased, playing with the bow tie with a foreleg. 

“Not now, no.” Rainbow Dash said, giggling as Star Shine sighed, his ego deflated. Rainbow Dash walked up to Star Shine and looked closely at the suit. Something looked incredibly familiar but she couldn’t quite place her hoof on it. “I’ll admit it looks pretty cool and you look great in it but there’s something about it...” she said. Before Rainbow could say anything else Star Shine was shoved away by Rarity. Rarity then pushed Rainbow Dash into the changing room and disappeared into it herself, pulling a dress into the changing room with her magic. A few sounds of fidgeting later and Rarity stepped outside and once more stood to the side. 

“And now, the new and improved Rainbow Dash!” she declared, giggling with glee as she opened the changing room door with her magic. Rainbow Dash stepped out of the changing room even more nervously than Star Shine had. Despite asking for something special Rarity had designed what looked like a fairly simple dress. The specialness of it was hidden within the design. The dress itself was made of two dark blue pieces of fabric separated by a lighter blue as well a trim of the same light blue running around the edges. Much like her gala dress this dress was held together by straps that ran around Rainbow Dash’s neck. The straps of this dress were a dark blue and the clasp that held them together on her chest was in the shape of a white star. To go with the dress she also had silver shoes. The shoes had ribbons going up her legs in a crisscross pattern. 

“Wow Dashie, you look beautiful.” Star Shine said, looking at Rainbow Dash in amazement. Rainbow Dash shifted nervously as Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle nodded their approval and smiled as brightly as Star Shine. 

“Thanks...are you sure it’s not too much?” Rainbow Dash asked, standing up on her back hooves and letting everypony get a good look at her. She looked down at the dress herself and was hit by a realisation. 

“Rarity...these colours...Star Shine’s outfit...” Rainbow Dash said as her brain joined all the dots.

“It’s about time you noticed. They match! Isn’t it wonderful? Your outfits incorporate the coat colour of eachother.” Rarity said, beaming as she looked between Star Shine and Rainbow Dash. Star Shine did the same and wash surprised he didn’t notice. The waistcoat was the same colour as Rainbow Dash’s coat and the buttons were the same as her mane and tail. The straps of Rainbow Dash’s dress were the same colour as Star Shine’s coat, as was the dark blue part of the dress. He had to admit it was a simple but brilliant touch. 

“I think it’s a marvelous touch.” Star Shine said, voicing his thoughts. 

“Me too, you both look awesome.” Scootaloo commented, looking between the pair. After all this she could hardly wait to see what her dress would look like. She didn’t like dresses much but she was pretty interested now. 

“I’ll admit it looks nice.” Rainbow Dash conceded. “But why’d you do it?” she asked Rarity. 

“I wanted you and Star Shine to match for your date of course.” Rarity replied with a smile. Rainbow Dash sighed. She was about to speak when Sweetie Belle spoke up.

“Date? I thought they weren’t together and that he didn’t like mares?” Sweetie Belle said. Being so young she didn’t know anything about tact. Star Shine, well versed in the ways of children and how they just said whatever was on their minds, laughed and lowered himself to Sweetie Belle’s level. 

“I don’t think we’re actually going on a date, but I do like mares. I’m weird and I’ve never found a marefriend, but that doesn’t mean I’ve had a coltfriend either. I’m just...fun.” Star Shine explained. He would have used the word “camp” but he wasn’t sure how he would have explained what he meant if she didn’t know. 

“No it’s not a date.” Rainbow Dash clarified. Rarity looked a little upset but she wasn’t serious. She was wondering why these two ponies who she had decided were perfect for eachother hadn’t seen it for themselves. Just because she had decided that didn’t mean the universe, or at least Princess Cadance, the princess capable of creating love, agreed.  

“So what did you need the clothes for?” Rarity asked. Star Shine stood to attention and prepared to learn the fate he had been worrying about for the past day. Rainbow Dash wanted to make him sweat for longer but decided it would be as good a time as any. 

“This Friday I’m taking Star Shine and Scootaloo out to a fancy dinner in Canterlot. He’s paying for the clothes and I’ll be buying dinner.” Rainbow Dash said. Star Shine breathed a sigh of relief as it wasn’t as bad as he had been expecting. He could handle a dinner in Canterlot. He was expecting something way worse. 

“So it’s a date then?” Rarity asked, giggling. She saw it as a date even if Rainbow Dash didn’t. 

“A date would be just the two of us. If it was a date he’d be taking me to the Wonderbolts Derby. Scoots was so happy the last time we all ate together I thought she’d want to do it again and she said yes. She went through a lot and I wanted to do something just for her so it had to be something she’d like. I wanted to go the Wonderbolts Derby but it’s too expensive.” Rainbow Dash explained her reasons for why it wasn’t a date. The Wonderbolts Derby was closer to what Star Shine was expecting and he breathed a huge sigh of relief that wasn’t what he had to do. He didn’t like crowds much.

“And I don’t like crowds.” Scootaloo added, looking down at the ground and shifting her hooves nervously. Crowds made her very nervous and uneasy and the Wonderbolts Derby would come with one large crowd attached. Rainbow Dash walked over to Scootaloo and patted the top of her head. 

“And that’s why we’re going to Canterlot instead.” Rainbow Dash said, smiling down at Scootaloo. 

“I’ll go sort out the reservations and everything tomorrow then I guess. I don’t have anything else to do during the day.” Star Shine said. 

“You’ll take care of that? Thanks. You can always come to work with me if you want?” Rainbow Dash offered. She hadn’t realised how bored Star Shine must get sat at home on his own all day. If he was willing to go to Canterlot for her just to have something to do then he must need something to do.  

“Maybe the day after tomorrow. It’ll take me a while to get to Canterlot and back anyway.” Star Shine replied. He was tempted by the offer and happy that Rainbow Dash would even make it. He was still under the impression she secretly hated him. 

“Say what you like dear but I can tell you like him.” Rarity piped up. Rainbow Dash sighed again and Scootaloo giggled. 

“Of course I like him really, just not in that way.” Rainbow Dash replied. Rarity pouted and was still unconvinced. 

“I’ll be happy with you just liking me. I thought you still hated me.” Star Shine replied, smiling. Rainbow Dash was about to reply when she heard Rarity awww at the situation. 

“I’ll talk to you back the house.” Rainbow Dash said to Star Shine, keen to have the rest of that conversation away from prying ears. Star Shine nodded and Rainbow Dash turned to face Rarity. “Well we’ll be going now then. Thanks for the outfits. How much does he owe you?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Hey I’ve not seen my dress yet!” Scootaloo exclaimed, jumping in front of Rainbow Dash’s face to get her attention. 

“Oh that’s right..” Rainbow Dash said, facehoofing. She had been so distracted by the recent topics of conversation she had forgotten that Scootaloo had a dress too. 

“Don’t worry about payment, he’s already paid. I have Scootaloo’s dress in the back. I’ll be back in just a second.” Rarity said quietly. She looked upset even. With that she disappeared into the back room, leaving behind Star Shine, Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle