“Gee, I wonder what her problem was?” Rainbow Dash said, looking at Star Shine with a confused expression. Star Shine sighed and shook his head. Rainbow Dash could tell Rarity seemed upset. She couldn’t think of a reason why Rarity would be however.
“You mean other than you brushing off all her hard work and everything?” he replied, sounding a little meaner than he had intended.
“What?! I didn't do any of that!” Rainbow Dash replied harshly. She didn't see how she could have done any of that.
“I don't think she sees it that way. You should go talk to her. I can't tell you how she feels.” Star Shine said, shooing Rainbow Dash away with his hooves.
“...I'm going but not because you told me to.” Rainbow Dash said defiantly before doing as she was told. Not because she had been told to do it but because she didn't like the idea Rarity was upset. Especially at something she hadn't intended to do. Rainbow Dash really wanted to patch things up with Rarity. She turned around and left the room, following the steps Rarity had taken.
“Do you really think Rainbow did something wrong?” Scootaloo asked. She had seen that Rarity looked a little upset but couldn't work out herself if it was something Rainbow Dash had done.
“I hope she's okay.” Sweetie Belle added, concerned for her older sister. The two had their fallings out but they still cared deeply for eachother.
“Even if Rainbow Dash didn't do anything wrong, she's probably the best pony to go see to Rarity. That's what friends are for. I'll be there for Rainbow, she'll be there for Rarity, and you two will be there for eachother won't you?” Star Shine explained, smiling down at the two friends. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle looked at eachother before nodding at Star Shine with smiles on their faces. Despite their recent differences the Cutie Mark Crusaders had always felt they would be there for one another for as long as it took to earn their Marks, and then even after that.
***
Rainbow Dash entered the back room and found Rarity slumped on the ground in front of one of her mannequins. It was a filly sized mannequin and on it was a spectacular dress. It was a smaller version of the dress Rarity had made for Rainbow Dash for the Gala and there were small gems set into the rainbow trail. They shone brightly in the daylight shining through the window.The dress was also missing the fluffy cloud trim at the bottom. Atop the head of the mannequin was a midnight blue tiara. The design was a little erratic and the metal moved up and down in so many ways Rainbow Dash couldn't trace it all, and got a bit of a headache looking at it for so long. Above the erratic design were three points that stuck up, each topped with a small star. The design of the dress was obvious, but Rainbow was a little confused about the tiara. Nevertheless, she found the entire thing to be incredibly beautiful.
“Please tell me that's Scootaloo's dress. It's incredible.” Rainbow Dash said as she walked up to Rarity. Rarity was so caught up in her musings she hadn't heard Rainbow Dash enter the room. She had slumped onto the ground as soon as she had reached the dress. Rainbow Dash settled herself down on the floor next to Rarity. Rarity pulled herself together and looked across at Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash smiled at her and Rarity turned back towards the dress.
“I thought you had forgotten about that dress.” Rarity said. “But yes, this is for Scootaloo. I'm glad you like it.”
“Like it? I love it! I know she will too.” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. She saw how excited Scootaloo had looked and knew for a fact she wouldn't be disappointed with this. “I'm sorry I forgot about it. I was just so distracted and it slipped my mind. I was so caught up in mine and Shine's clothes too...I'm really sorry Rarity. I didn't mean to hurt you or anything.” Rainbow Dash said, wrapping a reassuring wing around her friend. Rarity smiled and leaned into Rainbow Dash.
“I'm glad you like them. I wasn't sure how you felt. I can deal with you not liking them though.” Rarity replied.
“So what's eating at you?” Rainbow Dash asked. If it wasn't how she had responded to the outfits then she was keen to know what it was.
“It's silly really...” Rarity said, fidgeting uneasily and looking at the floor. She knew her friends tended to see her as being a little melodramatic and felt that it would happen again if she said what was on her mind.
“I don't think it'll be silly.” Rainbow Dash reassured her. Rarity let out a sigh after a few more seconds silence.
“...It's the thought you don't trust me.” Rarity said at last. Rainbow Dash looked at her in stunned surprise. She hadn't been expecting that.
“I don't trust you? Why'd you think that?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“You wouldn't talk to Star Shine in front of me...you're afraid if you say something to him I'll talk about it and it'll end up in that gossip column for all of Ponyville to see.” Rarity explained dejectedly. It might have sounded crazy but it was how she felt.
“That stupid gossip column again! Star Shine says not to worry about it but it's coming between me and my friends now.” Rainbow Dash replied angrily, stomping a hoof into the floor and making Rarity jump. “I trust you Rarity, I really do. I know you didn't mean for anything to happen. If Scootaloo can forgive her friends, I can forgive mine. It's not that I didn't trust you, it's just I felt it was kinda a personal and private thing.” Rainbow Dash explained softly. Rarity nodded her understanding and stood up. Rainbow Dash stood up as well after Rarity. Rarity gave Rainbow Dash a quick hug and wrapped the ensemble on the mannequin in a magic field. She walked towards the door, dragging the ensemble with her.
“Come along darling, you don't want to miss the grand reveal do you?” Rarity said to Rainbow Dash excitedly. “Oh and please, don't sit on the floor in that dress again. You'll stain it.” she chastised, appearing at the door a few seconds later before disappearing again. Rainbow Dash smiled as her friend was her old self again and walked after her. She was excited herself about how Scootaloo would react and she was curious about the design of the tiara and the gems set into the dress. She expected that, as with most things in life, the answer would be revealed soon.
***
Rarity walked back into the main room and the three occupants looked up and smiled when they saw how happy she looked. Whatever Rainbow Dash had said to her had worked. They couldn't see the dress because Rarity was hiding it behind herself. Rainbow Dash appeared shortly after and continued walking past Rarity to Scootaloo and Star Shine. She patted Scootaloo on the head and directed her attention to Rarity. Rarity cleared her throat, directing the attention of everypony else to her as well.
“Ladies and gentlecolt, and especially little Scootaloo,” Rarity began, making Scootaloo's smile grow wider in anticipation, “I present to you the pièce de résistance of this small collection.” Rarity walked over to Scootaloo, skill keeping the dress hidden, and closed her eyes. There was a flash of light from Rarity's horn and then nothing. Rarity stepped back to admire her handiwork and Scootaloo felt the eyes of everypony in the room on her. Everypony except for Rainbow Dash was also looking shocked and amazed. Scootaloo noticed something felt a little odd and looked down. She let out a gasp of shock and surprise when she saw the dress. She also hefted herself up onto her hind legs so that she could get a good look at it properly. There was another flash of light from Rarity's horn and the gems on the dress sparkled in the light. Everypony gave another gasp, including Rainbow Dash who felt the display was still just as stunning the second time around. Scootaloo felt that there was also something on her head. She lifted her forelegs up and removed the tiara, bringing it down to take a good look at it. Her smile grew when she saw the tiara and recognised the star motif. She put it back on top of her head where it belonged.
“Well, what do you think?” Rarity asked, although she thought she knew what the answer to that question would be.
“I...I...I...I...I LOVE IT!” Scootaloo exclaimed happily, jumping up and down. She even did a little backflip that caused the tiara to fall from her head. Rarity caught it in her magical grip and when Scootaloo stopped jumping about put it back on her head. “Thanks.” Scootaloo said, playing with her mane sheepishly. She didn't want to break anything as soon as she had just gotten it and was happy to see the tiara wasn't damaged.
“Think nothing of it, but tell me; your face lit up when you saw that tiara. Did you recognise it?” Rarity asked her. She was sure Rainbow Dash didn't recognise it and wanted to know if anypony had.
“I did yeah.” Scootaloo said, grinning. “Well, I recognised part of it anyway.”
“Wait you know what that's about?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Yeah. The stars anyway.” Scootaloo said, taking the tiara off again and looking at the stars on it.
“So what are they?” Rarity asked her. Scootaloo jumped onto Star Shine's back and pointed a hoof at his flank. Specifically his Cutie Mark.
“These, right?” Scootaloo said. Star Shine turned his head around to look. Rainbow Dash looked at the stars of Star Shine’s cutie mark, and then at the tiara and she had to admit that they did look pretty similar. She was also a little surprised she didn’t see it herself.
“Is that right?” Rainbow Dash asked. Rarity laughed and nodded, glad that somepony had seen her genius at work.
“I didn’t know what to expect but all of this is...well I don’t think wonderful covers it really. Every little detail is so well thought out and put together perfectly.” Star Shine said happily, looking between Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo and admiring the sight. “Although there are a few things, if you don’t mind me asking?” he added as a few things occurred to him.
“Yes, what is it?” Rarity replied, smiling at the praise.
“The gems on Scootaloo’s dress. Why are they on Scootaloo’s, when Rainbow doesn’t have any? I was also wondering about the design of the tiara; I get that the stars are my Cutie Mark, but I don’t know about the rest of it.” Star Shine asked. “Although there could be nothing else to the tiara.” he added with a chuckle. Rarity cleared her throat again and adopted a dramatic pose with one foreleg raised and crossing her chest, the hoof placed roughly over her heart.
“I’m glad you asked. The gems are there to help Scootaloo sparkle and shine brightly. She’s spent so long in the background I think she should show the world just how bright and beautiful she is. One day she shall fly among the rainbows and I want her to have a taste of what that’s like.” Rarity explained. Scootaloo blushed a little but understood and appreciated the sentiment. “As for why Rainbow Dash doesn’t have any...well, I don’t think she needs any kind of help to do that, do you?” Rarity asked, winking at Star Shine. He smiled and shook his head. Rainbow Dash looked away nervously. “Lastly, as to the design of the tiara, you’re right that it too is perfectly designed. The stars are, as Scootaloo herself said, a representation of you, but so is the entire design. The design is erratic at best. There’s no telling when it ends and when it begins. From the little I know of you I imagine you are the same. Your mind is all over the place and you come across yourself as somepony quite erratic and all over the place.” Rarity explained. Star Shine let out a whistle.
“Then I’m thoroughly impressed and apologise for ever doubting you.” Star Shine said.
“Consider it in the past darling. You certainly are charming though.” Rarity said, suppressing a giggle and deliberately failing to hide the blush that formed on her cheeks.
“If you love him so much why don’t you marry him?” Sweetie Belle asked. She had kept quiet long enough and saw the perfect chance to tease her sister. A chance she delighted in taking.
“Oh hush you.” Rarity chastised, but she was still giggling.
“Well as delightful as that would be, I have to test Scootaloo’s wingpower. I imagine with all of this everypony forgot about that too.” Star Shine said.
“Oh yeah...guess I did forget...” Scootaloo said slowly. She hopped down from Star Shine’s back and began fidgeting her way out of her dress. “I can’t really do that in this.” she added to explain her behaviour. Rainbow Dash began to take her dress off but Rarity shoved her into the dressing room.
“Darling please! There are colts present!” Rarity exclaimed. She shoved Rainbow Dash into the changing room then sat in front of the door. She pointed a hoof towards the back room. “You can get changed in the back room.” she said to Star Shine. He nodded and walked off towards the back room.
“Hey Rarity, do me a favour?” Rainbow Dash called from the back room.
“Yes dear?” Rarity replied.
“Can you keep the clothes for us? We’ll come before we go also...this is sorta embarrassing...” Rainbow Dash asked before pausing, unsure of how to phrase it in the least embarrassing manner possible.
“I can keep the clothes yes, what else is there? Come on, you can tell me.” Rarity replied, poking her head into the changing room. “He’s in the back room, so I doubt he’ll hear it dear.” she added, guessing it had something to do with Star Shine. Rainbow Dash leaned up to whisper in Rarity’s ear.
“When we come back, can you fix his mane again? And...is there anything you can do with mine?” Rainbow Dash managed to ask.
“Yes I can do that. You like his hair like that?” Rarity replied, giggling. Rainbow Dash turned around to hide her blush and Rarity took her silence as a yes.
“He looks nice like that, and we’re going to Canterlot. So he has to look nice. So do I.” Rainbow Dash said when she had managed to think of a suitable defense.