Two days later, Rainbow Dash found herself knocking on Rarity’s door again. Her nerves were considerably eased from the last visit, though she was still apprehensive of ponies discovering her guilty pleasure. As she waited for Rarity to answer the door, Rainbow checked once more that she hadn’t been followed. Still got a reputation, after all.
After a few tense seconds, the door opened to reveal an alabaster face gazing curiously at Rainbow. “Whatever are you looking around like that for?” Rarity asked. “One would think you were on a... secret mission, or something of the sort.” Without waiting for a response, she ushered Dash inside the boutique. Rainbow found herself feeling grateful as she moved out of the open.
“Well, I’m still kinda nervous about this,” Rainbow started. “Most ponies don’t know about, er… this. Daredevil and all—you know how it is.” Rainbow flushed with embarrassment, thinking of the image she portrayed—the reckless, brash speedster everypony saw. She was so immersed in her thoughts that it took her a second to register Rarity’s voice again.
“All I’m saying, darling, is that most ponies simply wouldn’t think any less of you if they knew of these interests of yours.” Rarity tutted, a tea set dancing in her wake. "It's not shameful to have hobbies that fall outside of your usual image."
Rainbow huffed. "You don't get it, Rarity. You're famous for this stuff! Me? I'm Rainbow Danger Dash! Ponies think I'm cool!"
Rarity turned to face her, deadpan.
"N-not to say you aren't cool, Rares!” Rainbow Dash backtracked quickly. “Just not in the same way I am. I mean, lots of ponies think you're awesome too!” She quickly grabbed her teacup and took a long swig. Making an exaggerated sound of satisfaction, she set it back down. "Seriously, though, thanks for being so understanding. I thought I'd get laughed straight out of town for this."
"It's no problem. Who am I to deny anypony the chance to explore the world of fashion? I think it's lovely to have another friend here to talk to.” Rarity stirred her tea. “Although, I do wonder... why haven't you told Fluttershy? I'm sure she'd be perfectly understanding."
"Oh!" Rainbow started. "I mean… I've spent so long avoiding those topics with her... I guess I don’t want her to think I’ve been lying to her, ‘cause I haven't been nice about it before either. Besides, after her mess with Photo Finish, I'd rather not bring up a sore subject, ya know?"
As Rarity nodded lightly, Rainbow remembered the reason for her visit.
"Anyway, what was the thing you said you wanted to tell me?” she asked, breaking the silence. “You sounded excited earlier."
Rarity's eyes lit up. "Oh, darling! I have the most interesting proposition for you. You see, I was talking with a photographer I know and she mentioned that she'd love to have a subject with a coat color like yours. Of course, I said I might know somepony, and that I'd ask around."
Rainbow blinked. Do I even want to do that? What if I get found out? She sat quietly for a moment, considering her options. Before long, she came to a conclusion. Nah, those fashion ponies would never even think it's me, or know who I am! Still, it didn’t hurt to be sure. She leaned forward. “But what about—”
"If it's your reputation you're concerned about, we could always dye your mane—or give you a wig,” Rarity replied. “No need to tell anypony who you are. Anonymous models are nothing unusual, especially after the... event... with Fluttershy. So, what do you say?"
Rainbow shifted nervously in her seat. "I don't know, Rares... am I ready for something like that?"
The fashionista scoffed. "Oh, please. You'd take the fashion world by storm! Your natural beauty! Your sheer confidence! Nopony can truly compare!"
Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Still... do you even have a dress? When is this shoot, anyways?"
Rarity looked offended. "Oh, of course I have a dress for you. Who do you think I am?”. She finished her cup and poured herself another, watching her two sugar cubes spin idly in her magic before slowly descending into her cup.
“Heh, I should’ve seen that coming.” Rainbow chuckled and shook her head. “Say, when is this thing anyways?” She asked.
“Oh, don’t worry about that, darling. The shoot is almost six moons away. We have plenty of time!” The fashionista hid her smug smirk with her teacup.
Rainbow's eyes betrayed her excitement. Of course she wanted a chance to explore her hidden passion without her reputation taking a hit; Rarity was indeed a wily strategist. Taking a breath, Dash nodded. "I'm in."
Rarity gave a bright, cunning smile. “Splendid.”
Rainbow Dash stood stock still as the measuring tape coiled around her torso. The tea long since finished, Rarity had steered the conversation towards practical matters. Namely, the ensemble. After running the design by Rainbow quickly, the fashionista got to work. While Rainbow's wings still twitched, she was far less skittish than she had been during her previous fittings. She even found herself going as far as to make small talk with Rarity as she waited.
"So, uh... where did you meet that photographer?” Rainbow asked. She stood on the measuring dais, shifting uncomfortably. “I'd like to know who else would be in on my secret."
“I’m sorry, Rainbow, but I was explicitly asked to keep quiet on the subject. All I can say is that it's somepony very trustworthy,” Rarity assured her. “You won't be disappointed.” The fashionista waggled her eyebrows playfully as she moved on. “Now, let's talk about something less dramatic, shall we?"
"Sure." Rainbow shrugged. "I bet you still have questions for me. Fire away.”
"Thank you, darling,” Rarity said. “I was mostly wondering how Wonderbolt uniforms could ever get you into high fashion. They're hardly the... classiest form of dress. So spartan, so base and functional! I simply don't see the connection." She trotted over to her design bench and draped a large bundle of fabric over a ponyquin as she summoned pencils from another workstation.
Rainbow scuffed her hoof on the platform and blushed. "Well, after you helped me study for the entrance exam, you left a couple of the uniforms lying around. So, y’know, I kinda... took them. Because, you know, Wonderbolts.” She laughed nervously. “Then I looked at them a bit more, and I got curious. Snuck into the library, bribed Spike, and got a book on Wonderbolt uniform history. Then I started reading, found some pages on Wonderbolt dresses and stuff for fancy events, and I realized it wasn't totally lame. Then… well, you know the rest."
Rarity nodded. "I suppose that makes sense. My apologies for leaving those lying around, but Twilight kind of got us all swept up in the big fly-by.” She paused and cleared her throat. “Now, we need to address another issue. You don't have any idea how to act like a model, do you?" She turned to look at Rainbow.
The pegasus merely gulped.