The fart came out as a trumpeting blast, and as Rainbow Dash struggled to hold it back, it rose in pitch until it became a shrill whistle, finally reaching a squealing crescendo of crepitation. Normally, Rainbow Dash enjoyed such moments, but piercing blue eyed glare of the pearlescent unicorn made her feel very uncomfortable.
“Oh my gosh, I am sorry Rarity,” Rainbow Dash apologised. “You were squeezing me with that corset thingy… you can’t squeeze a pegasus like that and expect nothing to happen,” she added in a low raspy whine.
Rarity stepped back, her nostrils crinkling and her muzzle contorting in discomfort. “Think nothing of it, it happens to all of us at some point or another,” she said dismissively.
“Rarity, I can see that you’re kinda mad, I mean, you’re practically fuming… I really am sorry,” Rainbow Dash said insistently.
“Darling… I am not the one who is… fuming,” Rarity replied with a sniffle.
Rainbow Dash choked, covered her mouth with her hoof, and struggled to hold in her laughter. She sniggered a bit, and then finally her laughter escaped. She chortled and guffawed for a while, all too aware of Rarity’s furious stare.
“I fail to see what is so funny,” Rarity said in clipped tones.
“Makes me think of the other day,” Rainbow Dash said.
“What does whatever happened the other day have to do with this?” Rarity asked as she pulled a perfume bottle from a nearby drawer. She began to spritz the air and her nostrils remained crinkled.
“The other day, Derpy chased this unicorn, I can’t think of his name, and he had no clue what was going on. I mean, he was completely clueless. There was a big misunderstanding between the two of them. Now they’re a couple. I think. Or working on it. He’s sort of a dweeb and a great big snob, but he makes Derpy happy for some strange reason,” Rainbow Dash said thoughtfully. “Rarity, I wonder sometimes… how are we even friends? We’re so different. I mean, I am a pegasus, you are a unicorn, I think farts are hilarious, and practically everything I do as a pegasus offends your unicorn sensibilities in some way or another,” Rainbow Dash said.
Rarity stared at the blue pegasus, completely dumbfounded and unable to reply.
Unable to think of anything witty to say, Rainbow Dash fell silent and kicked her own hooves. She felt terrible for what she just said, and once again, she had opened her mouth and said something without thinking about what she had said.
“We came together for Twilight’s benefit,” Rarity said in a low trembling voice. “And then, I don’t know what happened,” she finished.
“Rarity… we are friends,” Rainbow Dash said in a low raspy whisper. “That came out sounding really bad. I mean, I am here helping you make dresses and I hate anything to do with dresses and you are using me to get the fitting right… oh horseapples I screw up everything I say,” she muttered.
“We are very different ponies,” Rarity stated.
“But we’re still friends… we can be friends. I just watched a pegasus fall in love with a unicorn and if they can be a couple, we can be friends. I am just very confused about our friendship,” Rainbow Dash explained.
Rarity moved around her shop, cleaning up random bits of mess, tucking away ribbons, putting away swatches of cloth, and arranging several spools of thread. She looked thoughtful as she moved about and restored order to the chaos.
“You like the spa, I hate the spa…” Rainbow Dash said weakly.
“I suppose you are wondering what do we share in common?” Rarity said thoughtfully, her back still turned to Rainbow Dash. She took a deep shuddering breath and struggled to keep her composure.
“I know I just hurt you and I don’t know how to fix it,” Rainbow Dash said in a panicky voice. “And if I keep talking, I am just going to make this worse,” she added as she sat down on the tiled floor with a loud plop.
“I find myself pondering that myself right now at this moment,” Rarity stated. “What we share in common I mean,” she clarified.
“Are we only friends because of Twilight?” Rainbow Dash asked in a pained whisper.
“We are friends,” Rarity started. She paused after speaking and wiped her eye, still standing with her back towards Rainbow Dash. “We are friends because you saved my life when I was plummeting to my death. You broke through your own fear and insecurities to save me, and I think about it every day when I must face my own fear and insecurities. It is an inspiration to me,” she explained. “And that is only the beginning.”
“I… I didn’t know,” Rainbow Dash said in a husky whisper.
“And there was the time when Spike and I were plunging to our deaths together. You… you inspired Fluttershy. You gave her courage. She believed in herself and somehow, she kept up with you. And both of you saved me and little Spikey-Wikey. You are always there for ponies Dash, just like you were here for me today,” Rarity said in a strained voice.
Rainbow Dash made a soft cry but no words came out.
“You inspire everypony to be better. To be their best. You are so giving of yourself. Watching you with Scootaloo… it makes me want to be a better sister for Sweetie Belle. I just do not know how to act sometimes and the pressure builds and I can feel myself falling apart,” Rarity confessed.
“Oh this is getting mushy,” Rainbow Dash whined.
“And your confidence, which I wish I had. Your fearlessness,” Rarity continued.
“You know, normally I like it when somepony strokes my ego, but this is really uncomfortable,” Rainbow Dash said as she squirmed.
“I treasure you as my friend because I try to live by your example. We might have very different lives, we might do very different things, but we face the same struggles and we want the same things really… I am not talking about my fashion career or your future as a Wonderbolt… but what we fight for. I enjoy spending time with you, even during the things I am really not comfortable with doing, because it gives me a chance to spend time with you and learn to emulate your ways. And then I try to add your confidence to my poise,” Rarity explained.
“Oh geeze Rarity, I feel really awkward right now,” Rainbow Dash grumbled as she covered her face with her wings.
“All of my friends are like threads woven together to form a tapestry. They form something beautiful when woven together, but with my eye for detail, I like to study the threads individually and appreciate them for their beauty. To see how they affect the weave. You are one such thread,” Rarity said to Rainbow Dash, finally turning around.
Rainbow Dash looked up and saw that Rarity’s mascara was running. She felt an odd sensation deep within her barrel. She slumped in defeat. “Come here Rarity, give me a hug, you’ll feel better,” Rainbow Dash offered.
The two friends came together, embracing warmly, Rarity doing nothing to hide her sniffles. Rarity held her friend close, and the pair exchanged little squeezes.
It was a perfect moment until Rainbow Dash’s pegasus nature took over, and she gave poor Rarity too much of a good thing, squeezing her with the sort of bruising intensity that pegasi are known for.
The squealing blast pealed through the room and both friends froze, holding one another in the aftermath. The first giggle escaped Rainbow Dash, she had tried to hold it back, but giggles were far more slippery than any bar of soap.
Finally, Rarity gave a soft nervous giggle at her own embarrassing social faux pas, inspired by Rainbow Dash’s example.
It was good, it still works as a standalone story. The ending in particular was cute and heartwarming.
Another fun story in the Chase-verse. I could totally see Rainbow Dash finding farts comedic.
Either 'a pegasus' or just 'pegasi'.
To write Rainbow Dash is hard ´cause, based in the show, she is not exactly the more educated pony there is. Making Rarity do the most of the talk is a good way...in the other hand, since she is a little egghead now, due to the Daring Doo series, may justify she being better at talking, although she should have some trouble expressing feelings still.
I liked, let´s see where this goes.
At first, it seemed too introspective for Dash, but you made it work. A well thought out study of both the characters and their relationship. Thank you for it.
You really hit the nail on this story, I love it.
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We'll see a lot more of Rainbow Dash later in The Chase. Especially in the griffon diplomacy arc.
This sort of shows what kind of character she can be.
you know, I'd almost thought that you were having trouble with the personality or the placement of the last four of the mane six. Since we never see more than a cameo or two of them, but I think you did Rarity really well.
Personally, I think you even managed to channel just how much Applejack and Fluttershy's friendship have changed Rarity as a pony. Fluttershy through her kind words and Applejack through the completely honest way she bares her soul to Rainbow Dash. Maybe even a little bit of Pinkie Pie through her willingness to laugh at her own faux pas.
Well done kudz, well done indeed.
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That was sort of the intention with out saying so directly.
Rarity is the sum of the inspiration that she draws from her friends.
Wait till she meets Bucky and they begin to get to know one another.
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Griffon diplomacy? Ooo....
4864592
how many arcs are you currently planning? And will any of them be as long or longer than the isles?
i am really enjoying this story as well as the constant and consistant updates. Keep up the good work.
Even outside the Chase verse, there are several examples of RD being girly and having touches where Rarity may not show it but she is happy with her.
Like you have her here doing the Dresses. We saw in Swarm of the Century that RD may not like Mushy stuff, but Rarity knows her stuff about making others look good. RD is very much into this, so there IS that.
There was..I forget the episode! However with RD talking about the risks as they chased after Applejack to find out about the Rodeo competition and the ribbons and such.
Dash does say that Rarity knew the risks of coming along.
Dash probably hides it but she knows that Rarity is someone that helps her find completion as a mare.
Even in At the Gala, she sings about Diamonds and without Rarity, she wouldn't know their worth to a finer detail.
During the Pranks with Pinkie Pie in Gryphon the Brushoff as well. Rarity didn't act upset. She merely made that little smile as she watched the two rush off.
Rarity and Rainbow have a hard time from the outside to seem like friends, but as you put it well in this- Rarity sees the thread and tapestry made from it.
Dash as we all know rushes in a lot. Yet, who is to say that Rarity and Dash aren't such things as sparing partners in combat? We've seen Rarity kick a manticore in the face, Dash did the same to a dragon. We saw Rarity go after AJ during the Discord episodes for Tom.
What do we not see there? Dash doesn't go after Rarity. They seem to have some of the same skills, and even during when Dash was trying to box, we saw the pose copied by Rarity during the Dragon Migration just with a lot more poise and less hopping.
I really do think they need to expand on the relationship the two have in future episodes, but there is plenty of subtle subtext there none the less.
you should make another story just comprised of shorts like this, that would be something o would like to see
It's interesting, it's a bond of coincidences and circumstance, one that is so seemingly fragile that its defense it's stalwart and unbreakable. It's funny how that works, but biology probably helps nudge the process along through the most devious of tactics :3
As far as feedback, the character voice is a bit off, I think. A line like
doesn't seem much like RD would say. It's the same sort of contractionless matter-of-fact voice you get with a lot of your characters, especially when they are trying to have a heart-to-heart.
Otherwise though, I liked this, and the logic behind the friendship is solid.
Always enjoy a good bit of friendshipping.
This is no exception.
Good heavens, what are these ponies eating? I don't know if it's just another facet of equine biology or something, but they almost always seem to fart several times a chapter. I don't know about other people, but I fart maybe once or twice a day, if in fact I do pass gas at all. Don't misunderstand, I'm far from squeamish, but the sheer number of times I've seen it written has left me curious as to the implications.
Getting away from that, this was a genuinely heartwarming look into a rather unique friendship. Though I do admit that it bothered me a bit that Dash didn't quite reciprocate Rarity's heartfelt confession. I thought about giving her a break after what I learned about Pegasus sociology from The Chase, but that feels uncomfortably like racism. Derpy has even more reason to hate words then Dash does, but that doesn't mean she refuses to acknowledge their importance to those closest to her.
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Oats. Hay. Grains.
Literally a metric ton of fibre every day.
As someone who has been around horses, I can honestly say that if five minutes pass and a horse doesn't fart, you should think about calling the vet. Something is probably horribly wrong.
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These ponies obviously have pretty big brains though and need a higher amount of fat and caloric intake in their diet. Probably why apples and apple pies and such are a staple part of their collective diets.
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So fat and sugar, added to a metric ton of fibre.
Well, that never causes gas!
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I believe that you have hit on the real reason you should not smoke in the stable. Those farts are flammable. You could blow up the whole place.
Also have you ever stood by a fence when a horse goes running and bucking by? It sounds like a motorboat, and smells like an outhouse. Harnessed properly that could be a weapon of ass destruction. Sorry couldn't help myself.
A good short story with great character exploration. Cushioned between a squeaky introduction and end that lightened the mood.
I enjoyed this a lot.
Fluffy comments aside:
Every fanfic should start with these words.
While this is incredibly touching and I love the story for what it is, I havery to remain amazed at Kudzuhaiku's ability to make faring a central element of comedy to almost all, if not all, of his works.
God damn, started off with a smile on my face, and then bam!
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This seems......actually fairly plausible. It could've made a good canon episode of the show. Touching and feel-inducing; i liked it.
Most Excellent.
Oh my god. As I was reading about the farts, I farted.
Normally, Rainbow Dash enjoyed such moments, but but piercing blue eyed glare of the pearlescent unicorn made her feel very uncomfortable.
moments, but the piercing
she explained. “And that is is only the beginning.”
that is only
You know this is only one scene and it's still 1339 words long, that's really nice, I like that kind of quality
Short, cute and entertaining.
The second this came up I lost my shite xD haha.
Awesome job, you made me laugh, once again.
4912115 Yes... yes they should!
Hehehe.
4869121 A truer statement on horses was never said. Good story about friendship reinforcing with the help of bodily functions, nothing like mutual embarrassment to bring friends together.
What do you know, fart jokes that are actually worth including! I thought this day would never come….
You know I really like this "Lost Chapter"! It really makes me feel warm and fuzzy, not to mention give a ver In Character look at why Rarity would choose to be so close with Rainbow Dash, despite being so different.
Nearly four years after this was posted we got an episode "End in Friends" ....
I came here for the farts, but I like the rest of the story as well. (I'm really not all about fetish fuel, I just write it a lot under this name) And I like how Rarity isn't too offended, and the ending of course, and the rest of it in the middle was pretty heartwarming.
2 years later, it's canon that Rainbow Dash thinks farts are funny, as does Pinkie Pie.