Rainbow cursed under her breath as her hoof caught in the fabric. She swayed unsteadily and tried to spread her wings for balance. The constricting kimono she had wormed into, however, had other ideas for her and Rainbow fell to her hotel room floor with a crash and a much louder curse. She fumbled with her hooves, looking for something to grab on to. The door to the bedroom opened and she barely suppressed a groan.
“Havin’ some trouble?” Rainbow heard Applejack chuckle as she stepped into the room. “You know, I don’t think you’re supposed to try ‘n stick yer head through the leg hole.”
“Oh, shut up.” Rainbow growled and tried to stand up, only to flump back down in a mess of kimono and feathers. “How the hay are you supposed to put this thing on, anyways?!”
Applejack shrugged. Or at least, Rainbow thought she shrugged. Her eyes were too busy boring holes into the floor to check. “Search me. But I think the sash is supposed to go on the back.”
“Like you’re some kind of kimono expert,” Rainbow huffed. With a snarl, she shook off what little of the garment was still on her and flapped onto the bed. She scowled and fixed her gaze on the crumpled kimono on the floor, daring it to try something. “Stupid Rarity. Why do we even have to wear these things?”
“Somethin’ ‘bout bein’ invite to some fancy dinner at some palace,” Applejack said noncommittally. “She ‘n Twi are pretty excited about it. They’re yammerin’ like a couple of schoolfillies downstairs.”
“Yeah, but why?”
“I dunno. Rarity said it was only appropriate to wear them while we’re here.” Applejack coughed. “Besides, they’re not all bad, are they?”
Rainbow scoffed. “Why would you even think that—” She turned her head and looked at Applejack. “—Whoa.”
Applejack stood before Rainbow, one hoof behind the other and with a bashful smile on her face, dressed in a light pink kimono. “Rarity and Twi helped me get into it,” she explained. Rainbow watched with a slack-jawed expression as pink dots coloured Applejack’s cheeks. She cleared her throat and looked away. “I thought I looked nice. It’s not my thing really, I just thought that, y’know, while in Roam—”
“AJ,” Rainbow interrupted. Applejack’s mouth snapped shut with an audible click and she swallowed thickly.
“Yeah?”
“You look great,” Rainbow said as she hopped to Applejack’s side. Her eyes wandered up and down Applejack’s frame and she smirked as Applejack’s cheeks continued to redden under Rainbow’s ogling eyes. “Oh yeah, definitely a ten.”
“Oh, shuddup.”
“Lots a ponies are gonna be staring at you tonight.” Rainbow’s smirk grew and she draped a wing over Applejack’s withers. “And they’re all gonna haveta go home disappointed ‘cause you’re my marefriend.”
“Yeah, well, you’re gonna have to get dressed first.” It was Applejack’s turn to smirk as Rainbow’s vanished. She looked down in horror at her kimono.
“Oh, horseapples.”
Applejack chuckled. “Want some help?”