Chapter Three: A Change in the Weather
Rainbow Dash was currently in Carousel Boutique, being attended to by Rarity. Much to her chagrin, she had been forced into a very feminine dress. Though not exceptionally frilly (by Rarity's standards, at least), Rainbow's inner tomboy still chafed at the thought of wearing it. At the moment, Rarity was styling Rainbow's mane into delicate curls, in both front and back. It was only Rainbow's desperation for getting Thunder Clap to notice her that allowed her to withstand this affront to her very being.
"There we are." Rarity declared, finishing the last curl. "Now, all you need is a little makeup."
"Makeup?" Rainbow repeated. "No, no-"
Her protests were cut short as Rarity applied a powderpuff to her face. While she coughed, Rarity applied eye shadow and mascara with inequestrian speed.
"All done!" She beamed, pulling over a full-length mirror with her magic. "What do you think?"
"I think... I look stupid." Rainbow groaned, not liking her reflection at all.
"Nonsense." Rarity chuckled. "You look marvelous, darling. In fact, you look more ladylike then I've ever seen you!"
"And that's a good thing?" Rainbow muttered under her breath.
"It is if you want to land that stallion of yours." Rarity smiled. "Now that you look like a lady, you should learn to act like a lady. Repeat after me: My, don't you look handsome today? Would a charming stallion such as yourself care to keep a lady company?"
Rainbow repeated the sentence, feeling as if each syllable was a drop of acid on her tongue.
"I can't do this!" She protested. "It's just not me!"
"True." Rarity agreed. "However, if you truly like this stallion, this 'Thunder Clap'..."
"I do!" Rainbow practically screamed to the heavens.
"Then you must be willing to make sacrifices to win his heart." Rarity continued. "Nobody ever said amor was easy. But Thunder is worth it, is he not?"
"Yeah." Rainbow smiled bashfully. "He is."
"You wouldn't want him to end up with one of those frankly vapid pegasi who were fawning over him mere moments ago, would you?" Rarity asked.
"No." Rainbow said steadfastly.
"Think of it as a race, darling." Rarity told her. "Imagine those two are your competition, and Thunder is the finish line. You must outpace your opponants, and take first place!"
"Okay, fine." Rainbow relented, appeased by the metephor. "Let's do this!"
After her "lesson" was finished, Rainbow flew over to the skyball field, found a nice, spacious cloud to sit on, and waited for Thunder to arrive for their "hang out" time.
Before long, the stallion arrived. As Rarity had predicted, he stopped in his tracks at seeing Rainbow.
"Well, good afternoon, my fine stallion." Crooned Rainbow, using one of Rarity's lines.
"Uh, hey, Dash..." Thunder said awkwardly. "What's with the getup?"
"Oh, this old thing?" Rainbow said nonchalantly. "I always wear it on fine days like this."
"Oh, okay." Thunder shrugged. "So, what do you want to do?"
"Nothing much." Rainbow sidled up to him, just as Rarity instructed her to do. "I'm happy to share this wonderful day with such a charming gentlepony."
"You feeling okay, Dash?" Thunder asked nervously. "You're acting really weird."
"Why, fiddle-ti-dee." Rainbow fluttered her eyelashes. "I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about."
As Rainbow moved even closer, Thunder suddenly leapt into the air.
"What's wrong?" Rainbow asked.
"Sorry, Dash, but I... gotta go!" Thunder said, hastily leaving.
It took a moment for the full impact of this to sink in.
"I don't believe it." Rainbow hung her in sorrow. "He snubbed me!"
Despondant, Rainbow flapped down to ground level. Searching for a place to be alone, she finally came to a rest on an old tree stump by a river, and buried her face in her hooves.
"Can't believe I went through all that for nothing." She groaned. "If he didn't not like me before, he sure does now."
Opening her hooves, Rainbow caught her reflection in the river's waters. Her dress had gotten ruffled from her low-ground search, and the curls in her mane were starting to come unfurled.
"Stupid Rarity." She grumbled petulanty. "Makin' me look stupid, talking me into actin' stupid... No wonder Thunder headed for the hills..."
Rainbow's self-pity party was interrupted by the sound of voices, coming from above her.
"I just don't understand it, sis." Came Thunder's voice. "I made plans to hang out with this really awesome sportspony, and the next thing I know, she's acting all girly, and frilly, and weird!"
"I'm sure it wasn't that bad, bro." Lightning Bold consoled.
"Oh, it was." Thunder declared. "It sure wasn't the Rainbow Dash I wanted to hang out with. I don't get why she changed like that. I liked her just the way she was!"
"Wait a second!"
Rainbow, overwhelmed by annoyance, shock, and the general indignities she had been forced to suffer throughout the day, rocketed up into the sky, coming to a stop between the surprised pegasus siblings.
"Are you telling me you already liked me?" Rainbow asked.
"Well, yeah." Thunder admitted. "What's not to like?"
Spurred on by his words, Rainbow decided to just come out and ask the question.
"So, is that 'like' as in 'like', or 'like-like'?" She asked.
"'Like-like', for sure." Thunder smiled.
"Really?" Rainbow gasped, elated.
"Really." Thunder winked. "Truth be told, I've always kinda had a thing for sporty, rough-and-tumble mares. And you, Rainbow Dash, are the sportiest, most rough-and-tumble mare I've ever met."
"You really think so?" Rainbow asked.
"I know so." Thunder told her.
"Meaning I went through all this for nothing." Rainbow indicated her appearance.
"So that's why you were all dressed up like that?" Thunder asked.
"Yep." Rainbow sighed. "On the advice of a friend. Bad advice, it turns out..."
"I'll just leave the two of you alone." Lightning smiled slyly as she flew off.
"So, you don't mind me bein' a tomboy?" Rainbow asked nervously.
"Depends." Thunder smiled. "Are you too much of a tomboy to not enjoy this?"
Leaning forward, Thunder kissed Rainbow on the cheek, causing her to giggle in a most girlish manner.
"Oh, wow..." Rainbow blushed.
"That's a 'no' then, is it?" Thunder teased.
"Very funny." Rainbow smirked. "See how funny you think this is."
Grabbing Thunder's face with her hooves, Rainbow kissed him right on the lips.
"Awesome..." Thunder said dreamily.
"Got that right." Rainbow grinned triumphantly.
"So, wanna go into town, get some food?" Thunder asked.
Rainbow's stomach growled; She had not eaten since breakfast.
"Definitely." She sniggered.
"How about we race there?" Thunder smiled. "Loser buys."
"You're on!" Declared Rainbow. "But don't expect me to go easy on you, just 'cuz you're cute."
"I'd be insulted if you did." Thunder retorted.
The two pegasi took their marks.
"Ready, set, go!" Rainbow called.
The two took off toward Ponyville.
"Better get used to the sight of my tail, cuz that's all you're gonna be seeing." Rainbow light-heartedly taunted Thunder.
"Considering how cute it is, I'm won't be complaining." Thunder smiled.
"Easy on the sweet talk, Casaneighva." Rainbow chided. "Save some for later!"
"You can count on that." Thunder promised.
The two continued their race towards Ponyville, perfectly matched, in every sense of the word...
The End.