How One Visits in Style
Rainbow Dash grinned widely as she flew through the skies of Ponyville. Her wings were beating faster than what her heart rate pulsed. She looked down towards all the Ponyville citizens, who smiled and waved towards her. She waved back with a large grin, inattentive of a certain gray pegasus mare with a blond mane and out of place pupils that happened to be flying her way. She collided with the mailmare headfirst. The collision staggered the two pegasi. Rainbow Dash shook her head before her eyes met the dazed pegasus before her.
“Oops, sorry Derpy. I didn’t see you there.” Rainbow Dash sheepishly said.
“Ah Rainbow Dash! I was looking for you!” Derpy exclaimed. She turned her head towards her bag and dove into it. She was pulling out random letters until an ornate, cream-colored and gold letter came out. “Here’s your mail! Da-da-da-dah!” Derpy handed Rainbow Dash her letter. “Well, I got to finish delivering the rest of these letters. Otherwise, my boss will send me into the boss room again. TTFN!” With those words, Derpy took towards the air with a dash with amazing speed. Rainbow Dash looked into the sky with a loss of words. She then looked at the letter in her hooves. She opened it. As she looked through it, her eyes slowly rose in horror and her mouth opened in shock.
Dear Rainbow Dash,
I’ve been try to come into contact with you for the past few years now. It is as if my favorite niece didn’t want me to find her. I recently saw that you have qualified for the Equestrian Games as a representative for Ponyville’s team. I’m so excited to hear about this revelation, especially since I now know where you live. Anyways, by the time you receive this letter, I would already be in Ponyville looking for you.
Toodaloo
Rainbow Dash the Fabulous
Rainbow Dash dashed towards the ground as quickly as possible. However, a lavender alicorn with a violet mane with a pink stripe and a butter-yellow pegasus with a pink mane was on her path.
“Rainbow Dash, stop!” The alicorn stated as her horn flashed with a pink aura. Rainbow Dash was wrapped in the same aura before she was frozen.
“Twilight! Fluttershy! What are you doing here?!” Rainbow Dash screamed suspiciously.
“Ummm, nothing Rainbow Dash.” Fluttershy whimpered.
“Gee Rainbow Dash, I don’t know. Maybe we were just shopping for some extra feed so that Fluttershy’s animals can eat during the upcoming winter." Twilight Sparkle sarcastically stated. "The bigger question is why you are dashing around like a madmare?!”
“Ummm, nothing!” Rainbow Dash said as she smiled sheepishly. However, she lost a grip of the letter in her hoof. The letter floated down towards the ground, which caught the gazes of Fluttershy and Twilight Sparkle. Twilight picked up the letter with her hoof. “Noooooo!” Rainbow Dash dramatically screamed as Twilight’s eyes skimmed through the letter. “Don’t you know that it is illegal to read anypony’s mail?!” She shouted.
“Actually, Equestrian Law states that it is illegal to open the mail of anypony that isn’t yourself. This letter was already opened, and I was wondering if this letter had anything to do with your strange action.” Twilight reasoned. Rainbow Dash scowled as Twilight’s eyes skimmed through the letter. Fluttershy moved her head so that her eyes can look over the letter in unison with Twilight’s eyes. Twilight smiled as she finished reading. “Why Rainbow Dash, I never knew you had an aunt named Rainbow Dash! Why didn’t you tell us sooner?” She inquired. Rainbow Dash dramatically moved her hoof over her eyes as the aura around her disappeared.
“She’s so lame! She’s an earth pony that happens to be a fashion designer who just happens to use the same fancy words that Rarity uses. I can’t let that information out! Do you know how badly this will affect my reputation?!” Rainbow Dash drastically screamed.
“I don’t think it would affect it that much. I find it amazing that your family is more varied in their traits and talents.” Twilight Sparkle happily stated. “And, according to the letter, she should be somewhere in Ponyville. I wonder where she would be.” Rainbow Dash looked towards the sky and placed her hoof on her chin in rumination until her eyes opened widely in shock.
“Oh no! She couldn’t be there, can she?!” She said in panic. She dashed out of the area as quickly as possible. Fluttershy turned towards Twilight in confusion.
“Where do you think she headed Twilight?” She asked.
“Well, by the information I was given, the most logical place would be…” Twilight paused before her eyes opened in an epiphany. “Rarity’s place! Don’t know why Rainbow Dash was so eager to head towards there.” Twilight stated.
A smile was plastered over Rarity’s face as she began to measure a bolt of magenta cloth with a yellow ruler tape. A pair of silver scissors was levitated by the soft blue aura enshrouding her horn. Just as the scissors were about to slice into the material, an incessant knock was heard on the door. Rarity tuned towards the rapping of the noise before she took off her red-framed glasses and headed towards the door. As she turned the knob and pulled the door, a cerulean-coated earth pony mare with purple eyes and a lacy, rainbow-transitioning mane and tail was before her eyes. As her eyes looked down towards her visitor’s flank, she noticed that her Cutie Mark was an image of a rainbow with the same pattern of her mane arched ninety degrees before they were inside pink clouds. The mare had a set of deep blue boots with large, light blue gems adorned onto them. She carried a sky blue tote with a rainbow stripe that diagonally arched across it. She cleared her throat before she spoke in a sophisticated tone, not unlike Rarity’s tone.
“Excuse me miss, but do you know where Rainbow Dash happens to be?” She said. Rarity looked in both before she faced the mare before her.
“Well, that depends on who is asking. My name is Rarity.” She responded.
“Oh, where are my manners? My name happens to be Rainbow Dash.” Rainbow Dash replied. Rarity’s face contorted into an expression of absolute confusion.
“I’m sorry, but did you just say that your name is ‘Rainbow Dash,’ as in, the name of one of my best friends Rainbow Dash?” Rarity stated. Rainbow Dash grinned.
“So you do know where Rainbow Dash lives!” She stated in excitement. She then noticed that Rarity looked at her in a cross-eyed fashion. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before she exhaled with a smile. “I must apologize for my exuberance darling. It’s just that I haven’t seen my precious niece since she was just a filly.” She explained. Rarity’s left eye twitched in disbelief.
“I apologize if I’m not exactly following along with you, but isn’t Rainbow Dash’s family comprised of nothing but pegasi?” She asked. Rainbow Dash smiled.
“You would be surprised to know that Rainbow Dash’s grandfather on her father’s side was actually an earth pony. That’s where my aspects come from.” She said. As she looked inside Rarity’s home, she noticed that there were several different bolts of cloths on rolls and sets of clothing adorned on mannequins. “It seems as if my instincts lead me to the place of a fellow fashionista! I have to say that I love that Matelassé stitch on those sofas in your living area.” She stated. A grin quickly crept up on Rarity’s face as her eyes lit up with stars.
“Only a fellow connoisseur of the Fine Arts would have been able to detect that style of stitching.” Rarity stated. “Flatteries aside, how come I have never heard of you before? A mare with your artistic insight should have at least some notoriety among the fashion world.” She asked.
“Well, if you must know, I don’t really design outside of my hometown much, so most of my fashion designing is local.” As Rainbow Dash said this, she peered into Rarity’s eyes with a hum. “No wonder your name sounded familiar to me darling! You are the Rarity, designer of the winning fashion line in Manehatten! I have to say that, despite my years in the business, I have not once seen or heard of a pony that has transformed ordinary hotel amenities and furnishings into such exotic art!” Rarity smiled at the compliment.
“Well Ms. Rainbow Dash, you seem to be a pony of fine tastes. Why don’t you stay in my home for a while and discuss everything about fashion with me? I can even tell you a bit about Rainbow Dash while we’re at it.” She said as she let her doors completely open. Rainbow Dash walked into the Carousel Boutique with a smile on her face.
“It would be my pleasure to discuss fashion with such a talented and aspiring fashionista darling!” She stated confidently.
“Indeed darling.” Rarity concluded with a laugh.
Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash flew through the air, slicing the invisible gas in half and causing irregular oxygen intake to happen to everypony below. Finally, in her view came the purple, merry-go-round-like building that is the Carousel Boutique. She decelerated into an appropriate speed and gracefully landed on the ground. As she walked towards the door, she knocked on it. The force of the knock caused the door to slowly become ajar. Rainbow Dash can hear the noise of loud laughter. As she peered her head into the house, she gasped at the sight of a white unicorn mare with a curly, purple mane and a cerulean earth pony mare with a lacy, rainbow-transitioning mane. She listened onto the conversation that the two were having.
“So those boots darling, are they real?” Rarity asked.
“Why, of course they are. You didn’t think that I would have cheaped out of using a real dragon for these boots, wouldn’t you darling? After all, I have to make myself presentable for the audience that is the world!” Aunt Rainbow Dash stated.
“I wholeheartedly agree darling. It’s especially true when you have to go to a high-profile event. Everypony’s eyes shall be on the one that stands out the most!” Rarity concurred.
“And that’s why I like you already darling. It’s important to always dress in style. Speaking of which, you wouldn’t mind if I showed you my hoof-crafted feather boa and feather hat ensemble that my niece made me a long time ago, would you not?” Aunt Rainbow Dash asked.
“Of course not dar-“As Rarity was about to finish, Rainbow Dash flew into the room with a panicked expression on her face. Rarity gasped as Rainbow Dash grabbed her aunt Rainbow Dash by her fetlock.
“No auntie, don’t!” Rainbow Dash shouted. Aunt Rainbow Dash looked down onto the mare who grabbed her hoof and smiled widely.
“Why if it isn’t my niece Rainbow Dash!” She said as she wrapped her hooves around Rainbow Dash and hugged her. “Sooner or later, I knew that you would have come by here. What took you so long?!” Rainbow Dash squirmed in the grip of her aunt as she tightened her grip.
“Why are you here of all places? Why aren’t you in your home making fashion or something like that?!” She said in a high tone. Aunt Rainbow Dash released her grip and gently pats Rainbow Dash’s head.
“Well, I’ve heard the big news that Ponyville was going to be represented by you in the Equestria Games! It is very exciting knowing my own niece is carrying the weight and burden of an entire town on her shoulders! Anyways, I was just chatting with your friend Rarity over here-“Aunt Rainbow Dash moved her head over Rainbow Dash’s left ear and cuffed her hoof over her mouth and whispered. “-who is a really amazing fashion designer-“She moved away from Rainbow Dash’s ear and spoke in her standard voice again. “-and she told me about many things that absolutely blew my mind! You never wrote to me about the times where you assisted in saving Equestria or joined the Wonderbolt Academy. In fact darling, you never bothered writing to me at all! Do you not like the aunt who you were named after? Were the times we’ve spent together anything special to you?” She poignantly asked. Rainbow Dash twiddled her hooves as a splash of red encompassed her cheeks. Rarity looked towards Rainbow Dash suspiciously.
“Rainbow Dash, this was the very first time I’ve heard about your aunt. She’s a very pleasant mare to get to know. You never mentioned her in any of the conversations we had despite being on-topic and I find it somewhat confusing.” Rarity led into. Rainbow Dash nervously twitched as Aunt Rainbow Dash and Rarity looked towards her with discerning eyes.
“I-I…” She stuttered out. Aunt Rainbow Dash put her hoof on Rainbow Dash’s shoulder with a frown of understanding.
“It’s alright if you say that you don’t like me anymore. After all, I’ve seen that you have grown into a very fine mare if I go by the news and words of your friend here.” As she said this, she grabbed a pink teacup from a brown, intricately-carved stand and sipped from it. She put it back on the stand and sat down. Rainbow Dash broke down in a sigh and closed her eyes.
“It’s not that I don’t like you anymore. It’s just that if I told other ponies about you, then they’d laugh at me for being related to a stiff, fancy fashion designer. No offense to you Rarity.” She said.
“No offense taken at all darling.” Rarity replied.
“Anyways, what I’m saying is that-“As Rainbow Dash was about to speak, Aunt Rainbow Dash cupped Rainbow Dash’s mouth with her hoof.
“You don’t think I’m cool enough for your reputation, correct?” She asked. Rainbow Dash nodded. Aunt Rainbow Dash sighed. “You know Rainbow Dash, I honestly hoped that you wouldn’t have judged me by my profession and mannerisms, especially since you enjoyed designing clothes with me when you were just a filly. I did not think much about that possibility even after the long years of no contact with you. But now, I had to find out like this.” Rainbow Dash visibly winced at the piercing words of her aunt. “However, it is understandable for you to feel that way. In a way, I’m actually glad that you decided to hide my existence from ponies you have met.” As Aunt Rainbow Dash said this, both Rainbow Dash and Rarity raised their eyes in confusion and surprise.
“Hold on… what?!” Rainbow Dash shouted in confusion.
“Darling, if you told your friends about me, then they would’ve thought that I was just a pansy! I don’t want them to have the wrong idea about me. However, I didn’t want to tell you this until you were older. Just imagine how my brother would have reacted if I told his daughter about my stories of slaying monsters, dragons and other assorted nasty creatures for sport?” Aunt Rainbow Dash questioned. Rainbow Dash and Rarity’s jaws dropped upon the exposition of information. As the two recollected their composure, Rainbow Dash looked into Aunt Rainbow Dash’s eyes seriously.
“I’m sorry, but exactly what need do you have with slaying monsters? Isn’t that a little, oh I don’t know, unneeded!?” She screamed.
“She has a point darling. I can understand if you scavenge for materials such as those scales on your boots, but what point is there to risking your life by killing monsters?” Rarity asked. Aunt Rainbow Dash smiled cockily.
“Rainbow Dash, I want you to look at my boots more carefully, and I do mean carefully.” As she said this, Rainbow Dash inspected the boots. She saw that the cerulean boots and noticed the scales and gems on them.
“Okay, so they’re dragonscale boots with large gems on them. What’s your point?”
“You didn’t notice the type of fabric I used as a base for those scales Rainbow Dash. You see, these boots are made from dragon leather. If you know anything about Equestrian Trade, then you should know that dragon skin is a very hard item to come by, and dragon leather is even rarer. But the impact of this special leather makes any fashion line more awe-inspiring and durable, so I just had to learn the trade of monster hunting when I was around your age. The skills I have learned carry on even to this day!”
“But… where in Equestria is partaking in monster hunting legal? Isn’t killing other creatures without good reason frowned upon?” Rainbow Dash stated.
“Normally it is. However, I don’t kill without reason. Rather, I take up requests from my city to hunt down these creatures. Ironically, most of my dragon-slaying missions are commissioned by other dragons. I just happen to carve materials from my kills such these gems, which grow inside of dragon livers due to their diets consisting mostly of gems. I’ve wanted to surprise you with these boots, but you never wanted to keep in contact with me.” Aunt Rainbow Dash stated. “And darling, the best part is that you have been working with these monstrous materials in your filly years when you designed fashion with me.” She beamed. As the information sunk into Rainbow Dash’s mind, an explosive grin erupted onto her face.
“That’s… awesome! It’s like you are a fashion designer by day and some ruthless bounty hunter by night!” Rainbow Dash exuberantly exclaimed. She looked towards the eyes of Aunt Rainbow Dash and slightly frowned. “I think I’m going to have to apologize for not keeping in contact with you auntie. I’m sorry.” She said.
“Don’t think much on it darling. After all, I would have been a damper on most of your important dates with destiny that you had if I kept inviting you over to the Equestrian Outpost for some quality time.” Aunt Rainbow Dash stated. She then turned her direction towards Rarity. “And as for you, I have many rare materials in my storage back home. If you would like, you can come visit me and get some materials anytime you would like. It’s the least I can do for a generous fashionista such as you.” Rarity grinned.
“I would greatly appreciate that. Thank you for the offer, and I will be sure to take you up on it.” Rarity said.
“I’m glad. And, just in case if you couldn’t make it, I want you to have this.” Aunt Rainbow Dash peered into her tote and pulled out a feather boa with vivid green plumage and a white gallon hat with a large, green feather. “These were the clothes my Rainbow Dash made a long time ago. these were made using parts from a monstrous, green, bird-like wyvern.”
“I really don’t know what to say here Ms. Rainbow Dash, but this is a symbolic item meant to establish the memories between you and your niece. Is it really alright to just take it?” Rarity asked.
“I’m sure that these items will serve their purpose more in your hooves than they will in mine. After all, it should be a reminder to Rainbow Dash about the times we’ve shared in the past. Plus, I’m sure that you would like an exotic taste to accompany your wardrobe.” Aunt Rainbow Dash reasoned. Rarity levitated the two items towards her. She wrapped the feather boa around her neck and put the hat on her head. She smiled.
“This simply looks fabulous on me! Normally, I’m not a fan of the color green, but the colors presented go so well with each other!” She stated.
“As for you Rainbow Dash, I have a special gift for you.” Aunt Rainbow Dash said. She dove back into her tote and pulled out a cascade blue vest with depictions of her Cutie mark stitched into each side of the vest. She opened it, which cued Rainbow Dash to lift her forehooves off of the ground. Aunt Rainbow Dash dressed Rainbow Dash in the vest. She closed the blue buttons. Rainbow Dash went down on all four hooves. Rarity levitated a five-foot mirror over to Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash turned around as she looked in the mirror and smiled.
“This actually looks pretty good on me. You got the size down and everything! How did you know about the details?” She happily asked.
“Fashion designer’s intuition Rainbow Dash. There is more to a rainbow than what meets the eye. Rainbows aren’t just for show darling. They represent the hopes, dreams and feelings of those who look upon them. Rainbows never end, and they disappear when we least expect it. But the experience of looking upon a rainbow leaves everypony dazzled. As carriers of rainbows, we have to do our best to make sure that the lives of ponies we touch become special.” As Aunt Rainbow Dash said this, Rainbow Dash embraced her. Aunt Rainbow Dash hugged her back.
“I thought you were mad at me. I know that I would be mad at myself if I never kept contact with myself on a regular basis.” Rainbow Dash said.
“I also tend to get upset at myself if things don't go my way. We have a lot more in common than you think.” Aunt Rainbow Dash said. As the two released their hug, Aunt Rainbow Dash continued. “So, now that we got all the feelings of awkwardness out of our system, how about you invite your friends and yourself over to the Equestrian Outpost for some good-fashioned quality time with me? It would seem like a fun way to get to know you and your friends in a more thorough method.” She asked.
“Why don’t I just show you them now?” Rainbow Dash stated. Aunt Rainbow Dash placed her hoof on Rainbow Dash’s cheek.
“Because darling, I have to go now. I’ve spent a while chatting with dear Rarity here, and I’m afraid that the last train to the Outpost is going to head out soon. Anyways, it was really nice meeting you again Rainbow Dash. I do have to say that I’m going to have to make more frequent visits to Ponyville. It’s such a nice, quaint little town.” As she said this, she made her way towards the door. She waved back towards Rainbow Dash and Rarity. Rainbow Dash and Rarity also waved back. They kept waving until Aunt Rainbow Dash was out of sight. Rarity turned towards Rainbow Dash with a smile.
“You know darling, you should never be ashamed of who is in your family no matter how different they seem. Your aunt did break the doldrums of dullness around here.” She happily stated.
“Yeah, she’s alright. At least now I know that awesomeness runs in my family.” Rainbow Dash cockily replied. Rarity looked back at her new items and smugly grinned towards Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash backed up a bit and defensively stared back at her. “Why do you have that face Rarity? It’s kind of creeping me out.” Rarity leaned closer towards Rainbow Dash while keeping the same expression on her face.
“You like designing fashion, don’t you Rainbow Dash?” She asked in the smuggest voice she can muster.
“Uhhh… no I don’t?” Rainbow Dash bashfully said. Rarity kept her grin intact. “Hey, don’t believe that just because I designed clothes with my aunt when I was younger means that I like designing clothes now!” Rainbow Dash screamed angrily. Rarity sarcastically gasped.
“Oh but darling! I saw how you were when you helped me design my fashion line back at Manehatten. You positively enjoyed sewing clothes. You really do share more similarities to your aunt than you know!” As Rarity said this, Rainbow Dash looked in both directions before a blush of embarassment came upon her face. She dashed out of the Carousel Boutique by the front door as quickly as possible. Rarity giggled to herself. “You can’t hide your feelings and desires from me like that darling.” She levitated her glasses from the table and a ruler tape from a nearby stool. She put the glasses over her eyes and sat at a table with a sewing machine. She then began to sew with new insight and inspirations garnered from the visit of a new pony.