Rainbow Dash was a different kind of mare. This was something that Rainbow Dash has been aware of all her life. For a long time, she didn't care what other ponies thought of her. Recently, however, it has come to her attention that there are ponies that don't see her for what she is... A MARE.
*****
I would like to throw this out there right now. I wrote this fic for pure entertainment. I am in no way judging females or claim to know exactly how females act. I apologize if I offended anybody.
On her own private cloud, a rainbow maned pegasus made herself comfortable as she hovered over Ponyville. Rainbow Dash laid back and enjoyed the clear open sky. This was something she had always done as a filly. Aside from Gilda and Fluttershy, she didn't have many friends. She spent most of her free time training and napping.
As she felt relaxed, her eyes became heavy and did not fight it. However, before the napping could truly begin, she heard a cry for help from below. Without hesitation, she jumped to her hooves with a sudden burst of energy. She checked over the edge of the cloud on all sides, but she was not able to spot anypony in danger.
"Somepony! Help us!" She then realized that the cry for help came directly from below. She then rammed her head through the floor of the cloud to reveal an area of the Everfree Forest. On top of one of the trees, she spotted an orange dot and it seemed to be moving. Squinting her eyes, she could see that the orange dot was a colt hanging upside down from a branch. "Help!" the colt cried.
Rainbow forced herself through the cloud and dove towards the orange dot below, trailing her signature chromatic streak. As she dove, the orange dot grew larger. "Hold on kid! I'm coming!" Rainbow Dash shouted. It got the attention of the colt, but was too frightened to look for the source. He hugged the branch even tighter in hope that help arrived soon.
***
Below the trees, another earth colt shouted, "Boxwood! The branch!" The orange colt, Boxwood, heard the horrifying cracking noises from the branch that was holding him up. He closed his eyes as the tree's arm continued to bend. Then suddenly, his body felt light and felt pressure on his back. "Did... Did I fall?" he asked himself.
"You can let go now. You're not as light as you look," Rainbow Dash said jokingly. Boxwood then opened his eyes and saw that he was being held by the cyan pegasus. He smiled at his rescuer and breathed a sigh of relief. As soon as he let go, Rainbow Dash brought him back to the ground floor. He then ran to his friend and bumped hooves.
She then hovered over the two colts with her forelegs on her hips. "Okay. What the hay were you doing up in the tree? In the Everfree Forest of all places." she asked.
"Well, my friend and I thought it would be cool to check out the Everfree Forest," said Boxwood.
"Yeah! We aren't afraid of the Everfree Forest!" Boxwood's friend shouted proudly, but regained his composure after seeing that Rainbow Dash was unimpressed.
"Then I bet him that I was able to climb the tree, but I slipped on the branch and got stuck," said an embarrassed Boxwood.
"Well you should be more careful next time. You shouldn't even be here to begin with. If the branch didn't get you, then maybe the timber wolves might have gotten you or something. Look, just stay in town and play there or something," lectured Rainbow.
"Yes sir," replied the other colt.
"Sir?" Rainbow thought.
"We'll head home right now. Thanks again mister!" said Boxwood as he ran off with his friend.
"Mister? I'm a mare you know!?!" Rainbow shouted, but the colts were already gone and didn't hear. "Mister?" Rainbow thought to herself, but did not dwell on it for too long. She just shrugged it off and flew off into town.
As she once again flew to the sky, she looked to the right to see that the two colts made it out of the forest safely. Luckily, they weren't that far from the outskirts of the forest. "I'm glad I was able to help those squirts, but now I'm wide awake. It ruined my daily nap routine," she thought and sighed. "Oh well, maybe relaxing by the lake will help me nap." Again, she left a rainbow trail behind as she flew to her next destination.
Rainbow Dash had to fly over the city of Ponyville to get to the lake. She flew lower than usual and waved hello to the many familiar faces. Although she was born and raised in Cloudsdale, she considered Ponyville to be her home away from home.
It didn't take long to reach the lake as it was close to Sweet Apple Acres. As she drew closer, she saw that the lake wasn't going to be as quiet as she had hoped. It was slightly warm that day, so she felt she should have known there would be a few ponies there to cool off.
She released a sigh of annoyance, but was determined to get her nap. She decided to make the best of it and nap on the branch of a nearby tree. Not as cozy as her private cloud, but she "trained" herself to be able to nap just about anywhere. She laid along a large branch, looked beyond the leaves to stare at the blue sky. Again, she began to feel relaxed and her eyes got heavy. Her eyes closed and it seemed that she was finally about to get her nap. This was sadly not the case as she was once again disturbed.
Nearby, she heard a couple of ponies laughing. She didn't notice before, but the tree was close to the trail that led to and from the lake. "Oh come on!" she thought loudly to herself. She rolled her eyes and pouted as she waited for the ponies to pass by.
"I can't wait to get in that lake!" an excited mare shouted. Rainbow Dash looked at the pair and it consisted of two mares; one earth and one unicorn.
"Oh would you hurry up? I need to salvage what I can of my nap time," Rainbow thought to herself.
"Hey, did you see that rainbow trail earlier?" the unicorn asked.
"Yep. He was at it again," answered the earth mare, "He is always showing off, but he is pretty cool isn't he?"
"'He?' You mean she," her friend corrected.
"'She' who?"
"You're talking about Rainbow Dash aren't you? He is a she."
"Really?" asked the confused mare, "I always thought she was a stallion. She doesn't really act or look like a mare. Plus, that raspy voice of hers made it all the harder to tell."
"I didn't know you were into mares. Should I be jealous?" the unicorn teased.
"Oh shut up," the earth mare lightly slapped her friend on the shoulder and both shared a laugh.
There it was again, another pony had mistaken her for a stallion. "Are you kidding me? Celestia damn it. I'm a mare!" As a young filly, Rainbow Dash was always teased for acting like a colt. At the time, it didn't bother her as much since she heard these insults from her fillyhood bullies. However, to hear it today from random ponies, it really bothered her and she did not know why.
She jumped to her hooves and took to the skies. Whenever things like this happened, flying always kept her distracted and helped clear her mind. "Those ponies are crazy. I am not a stallion. They don't know what they're talking about." With a big smile, she landed by a river and took a deep breath of relief. However, she looked down at the flowing river and noticed her reflection. He smile slowly disappeared and found herself once again deep in though. She leaned closer toward the water and stared into the mirror. She observed herself closely by turning her head left and right, stroked her hair, and rubbed her hoof on her cheek. "I am a mare... Right?"
At Carousel Boutique, the white unicorn, Rarity, hummed a merry tune as she worked on another one of her dresses. Although this is something that she did on a weekly basis, she treated every one of them with utmost care. Her humming stopped as she fully concentrated on her final stitches. "There now," she thought to herself, "It is all about perfection. Just a few more and-." Rarity's concentration was broken by loud knocks at her front door.
"Rarity? Are you busy?" Rainbow asked just outside the door.
"Rainbow Dash? No. Come in darling," said Rarity as she placed the needle and thread down at her sowing station. Actually, now that she thought about it, she found it very odd for Rainbow to knock before entering. Normally, she would have flown or ran right in.
The door opened and Rainbow Dash walked in with her head down. Again, unlike Rainbow Dash, she gently closed the door behind her.
"Rainbow Dash? Is everything alright?" asked a concerned Rarity.
"Huh? Oh uh yeah. Of course everything is all right," Rainbow answered, but it didn't convince Rarity in the slightest.
"Rainbow Dash, I can see that something is troubling you and I want to help if I can. You wouldn't have come here otherwise." Despite what she said, Rarity was still worried and unsure if she can actually help her rainbow friend. Then again, she said what any other of her friends would say.
Rainbow looked up and made contact with Rarity's eyes. It provided her little comfort, but it was enough to make what she wanted to say much easier. She took a deep breath before asking, "Rarity, what am I to you?"
The random question threw Rarity off guard and was unsure how to answer. Based on the question, she thought maybe Rainbow Dash was looking for some boost of confidence. "Why Rainbow, you are certainly the bravest pony I ever met. You wouldn't let anything get in the way to achieving your goals. You are certainly the most confident pony I have ever met. Why if I had your confidence on a daily basis, I am pretty sure I would-," Rarity was cut short.
"No no no," Rainbow interrupted, "I mean, what am I to you? Like... I look like a mare right?"
Again, the question caught Rarity completely off guard. "Excuse me?" Rarity asked to make sure she heard correctly.
"Ugh. A mare. I look like a mare right?" Rainbow asked in an irritated tone.
"Is that what this is all about?"
"Rarity, just answer the question and I want an honest answer," demanded Rainbow Dash.
"Well of course you do darling," Rarity answered. Although, to Rainbow, it didn't sound very convincing.
"I said I wanted an honest answer," said an annoyed Rainbow.
"I am being honest Rainbow," said Rarity, "It is just that... Well... Although you look like a mare, you don't LOOK like a mare."
"Huh?" asked a confused Rainbow.
"Well you see Rainbow, your mane is always messy. It's as if you go to sleep, wake up, and that's it."
"Umm... That's because I do," answered Rainbow.
"Furthermore, your manners could use some work. Have you seen yourself eat? Why nopony has never mentioned this I will never know. Your hooves also need a good trimming. Actually, Aloe offers a good trimming if you want to get a hooficure. Oh and as long as we are on the subject-."
"Alright already! You made your point!" Rainbow shouted.
Rarity covered her mouth to quiet herself. "Sorry," Rarity apologized, "I guess I have been holding all that in for a while now."
"Yeah no kidding," Rainbow said jokingly and shared a giggle with Rarity.
"Rainbow, why are you asking this all of a sudden?"
"Well, earlier today..."
***
The story of today's events went on for less than 10 minutes and Rarity was sure to pay attention to every word. Whenever something occurred with her friends, she was always sure to treat them with as much respect as her dresses.
"I see," said Rarity, "So that's what happened. But Rainbow, why are you letting this bother you?"
"When it was just those kids, I was able to shrug it off no problem. But then those stallions didn't know either and they lived in Ponyville a lot longer. How many other ponies are thinking like this? How many ponies out there think I am a stallion? I can't be remembered like that! 'The Elements of Harmony; The five mares and that one cyan stallion. Oh who is your favorite Wonder Bolt? That awesome stallion, Rainbow Dash.'" Rainbow could have ranted longer, but she knew she needed to stop at some point.
"Oh Rainbow Dash," said Rarity, "Don't be silly. Even if that were the case, there are still many ponies out there that are aware that you are a mare. I am sure that the princesses have pointed this out many times before."
"Well, it obviously hasn't changed anything. Actually, you reminded me why I came to you in the first place."
"Hmm?" Apparently, Rainbow Dash wasn't there to just ask her a question. What other services would she have been able to offer?
"Rarity... I need a dress."
The request from Rainbow caught Rarity completely off guard. She was so positive of what her friend just said, but she just had to be sure. "Rainbow, darling, did I hear you correctly?" asked Rarity with her head slightly tilted toward her.
Rainbow Dash, annoyed, sighed deeply before answering, "I need a dress."
After Rainbow repeated herself, the room was silent for what seemed like ages. Despite this silence, Rainbow knew something bad was about to happen.
Suddenly, the silence was broken by the loudest scream to ever damage her eardrums. Rainbow never thought there was a pony that existed to be louder than the royal canterlot voice. The source of the screeching sound was coming from Rarity.
As soon as the scream was cut off, Rainbow was pulled into a strong embrace by her white unicorn friend. Rainbow gasped for air as the hug only got tighter and tighter. "Oh Rainbow! You have no idea how happy I am to hear this!" Rarity shouted to the ceiling, "I actually have a wardrobe specially reserved for you!" Rarity suddenly disappeared and Rainbow Dash felt the airflow return to her lungs.
In a flash, Rarity returned with a couple of dresses floating around her. "I simply couldn't decide which dress, but I narrowed it down to about 10 of them?"
"Ten!?!" Rainbow Dash shouted to herself.
"Now darling," Rarity started with an evil grin, "Which shall we try on first?"
"Rainbow Dash? Are you still back there?" asked Rarity.
"I am not coming out," Rainbow Dash replied from behind the dressing screen.
"Why not? Are you not the one that came to me to find a dress that suits you?" questioned Rarity.
"Well yeah, but I am not used to this. Somepony will see me and my image will be tarnished," argued Rainbow.
"Darling, you already feel that from being called a stallion," Rarity reminded her. She covered her mouth immediately after realizing what she had just said. She cleared her throat and tried to choose her next words more carefully, "Sorry Rainbow. What I meant to say was that umm... Your image wouldn't be tarnished, but put you in a different setting. It would show other ponies that you are seeking a change in yourself. There is always a point in a pony's life when they want to try something new. So come on out and let's have a look at the new you." Rarity could hear small hoof steps behind the screen. She assumed this was Rainbow not able to make up her mind.
Rainbow groaned at the discomfort of the dress. No matter how many times she has worn them, she never liked the feeling of the fabric. Also, she always felt that wearing clothes limited her flight capabilities. There have been times where she actually ripped the clothes off her back after taking flight. However, out of respect for her friend, she fought the urge to make these dresses her next victims. Besides, Rarity was right after all. It was her own fault that she was in this predicament. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and said, "You better not laugh."
"Oh of course," Rarity agreed to the demand. "I wouldn't laugh at a time like this. Besides, laughing at you would be like laughing at one of my own designs." Rarity stated. "Now Dash, let me see how the dress looks on you.
Coming out from behind the screen, Rainbow walked out in the dress that Rarity had chosen for her. The upper portion of the dress was a soft apricot colored fabric. On the neckline, there was an amethyst jewel. The lower half of the dress was purple with white zircon gems sewn into it. Looking at that end of the dress was like looking at the night sky.
Rarity was so proud of her own creation. Her eyes lit up as much as the dress. Not only did she succeed in creating another beautiful dress, but she also succeeded in getting Rainbow into a dress without a struggle. She wanted to celebrate as she thought this day would have never come. "Darling, you just look absolutely divine," Rarity complimented her friend.
Rainbow blushed in embarrassment. Although she loved receiving praise and attention from just about anypony, nopony has ever described her that way before. She walked to a nearby mirror to see what the fuss was about.
Even Rainbow had to admit that the dress was not bad. Despite the discomfort, she thought it looked good. However, she couldn't help but feel that something just didn't seem right.
Rarity noticed this and her smile slowly faded away. "What is wrong Rainbow? You don't like it?" Rarity asked.
"Huh? No no no. It isn't that at all. The dress is cool and all but..." Despite how Rainbow felt, she just couldn't think of the right words. She wasn't lying, she thought the dress was nice, and she did like it. Yet she couldn't figure out what it was that scratched behind her head. "I don't know," said Rainbow, "The dress is nice and all, but I don't know how to feel about it."
Rarity wasn't hurt by the comment, but she was taken aback. Based on past experiences, a thought came to mind. "Aha! I think I know what it is."
Rainbow raised an eyebrow, "You do?"
"Darling, I run three different boutiques. This isn't the first time I came across this little dilemma. Maybe it isn't a dress you need. Maybe you just need a certain style," Rarity suggested. "The style you are wearing is considered an 'elegant' style of apparel." Rarity then lit up her horn and rummaged through her racks of clothes. She then found a couple of pieces and laid them on Rainbow's back. "Now Rainbow, go ahead and try those on."
"Huh?" Rainbow questioned. "You can't be serious. Do you know how long it took me to get into this dress?"
"Yes," Rarity replied instantly, "You had just passed the twelve-minute mark. Surely it couldn't take you that long to get out of the dress.
"You're right," Rainbow agreed, "It will take me even longer. You know you could help me."
"But I want to be surprised," Rarity said in a pout.
"Ugh. Fine," Rainbow accepted her defeat. "At least help me get out of this dress."
Almost instantly, with the use of her magic, Rarity slipped the dress off Rainbow with ease, placed it on a hanger, and returned it to the assigned rack. "There you go!"
Rainbow, stood there with a blank expression, still wondering what had just happened. She checked herself to see that the dress had indeed disappeared. Also, with the new stack of clothes still on her back. "What? But-How did you-? Wait, if you can do that then just help me with these clothes!"
"Nope. I want to be surprised and I only agreed to help you out of them. Now go on and try them on," Rarity waved her hoof at Rainbow.
"Ugh!" Rainbow said in an irritated tone. "I swear. What was I thinking?" she asked herself.
***20 Minutes Later***
"20 minutes?" Rarity asked, "20 minutes to change? You have got to be kidding me. It doesn't even take Twilight this long to rearrange her bookshelves!"
"Maybe if you HELPED me, it would have been 10 seconds flat!"
"Well, what is going on back there? Are you having trouble?"
"Why no Rarity," Rainbow answered sarcastically, "How could I have any trouble getting into tighter clothes, with pegasus wings, and NO MAGIC!?!"
"Fine fine, I can take a hint," Rarity annoyed, "But I am not happy that the surprise will be ruined for me now." Rarity used her magic and took hold of the screen.
"Wait! Wait! Don't-!" Rainbow tried to stop her, but it was already too late.
Once the dressing screen was out of the way, Rarity still got her surprise. However, it was not at all what she expected. Rainbow was on the floor and tangled in the black and white striped shirt she gave her. In fact, where the front hooves were supposed to slip into, the wings found their way through them instead. Rarity's jaw dropped at the sight, "Rainbow, how in Equestria did you turn that shirt into a straitjacket?"
Still on the floor, Rainbow looked up to her friend, "Well the shirt you gave me was tighter than it looked. So I thought I could use my wings to stretch it out enough for me to slip my legs through. Instead of my legs, it was my wings that slipped and I fell down. For the record, I could have ripped my way out of here, but knowing you you probably would have been pretty mad. You think you can HELP me now?"
Without saying a word, Rarity used her magic to get Rainbow out of the shirt with ease. Also, she helped Rainbow back on her hooves. "Rainbow, I am sorry you went through that. I will help you from here on and no need to surprise me any further."
"Forget it Rarity. I can't do this. I don't know how you put up with it. The different styles, what matches with this or that, I just don't get it," said an annoyed Rainbow Dash. "Rarity, clothes is just not meant for me. I don't think ponies were meant to be wearing them period!"
Rarity gasped at the statement, "Rainbow Dash! Designing apparel is an art and it is my life. You are my friend, but I will not have you say such horrible things in my presence!"
Rainbow realized what she said and felt guilty at her friend's words. If somepony said something similar to her about flying, she would have retaliated the same way or maybe even worse. She gave Rarity an apologetic look, "I'm sorry Rare, but I just can't wear clothes. No wonder almost everypony sees me as a stallion. Maybe I should just accept it." Rainbow looked down feeling defeated and she hated to lose.
"Now hold on there darling. It is as you said, clothing just isn't for everypony. I mean, look at Twilight, Fluttershy, or even Applejack. They are mares and they don't dress nearly as much as I do," Rarity attempted to cheer up Rainbow.
"Rarity, you can't really compare. Fluttershy acts like a scared little filly and doesn't act like a stallion in the slightest. Twilight doesn't even have to prove anything since she has been given the title 'Princess.' And Applejack-" Rainbow stopped herself and puzzled for a moment. "Actually, she gets just as dirty as I do, she is stronger than most stallions, and she acts just as much a stallion as I do... How the hay do other ponies see her as a mare!?!"
Rarity contemplated on Rainbow's words and she too was at a loss, "You know I am not quite sure myself darling. As you said, she does have the qualities that can match another stallion. Yet other ponies recognize her as a-," Rarity stopped herself as an idea popped into her mind. "Ah! I think I got it!" Rarity stated.
"Huh? What? What!?!" Rainbow questioned.
"You see darling, she doesn't act like much of a mare now. However, in the past, she was taught how to be a well-mannered mare and has already shown herself as one throughout Ponyville."
"Wait, she has?" Rainbow asked.
"Of course. Remember Rainbow? She went to Manehattan for a short time to live with her upper class relatives. There, she was taught proper manners and how to be the ideal mare."
"Yeah I remember, but how does that help me?" Rainbow asked confused.
"Don't you see Rainbow? It wasn't a dress you needed, you just need to act more like a mare," said Rarity.
"Rarity, I don't want to go asking Applejack for help."
"You won't have to," Rarity said with a smile. "For you see, I too know the ways of etiquette and I can teach you myself," Rarity said proudly as she rested her hoof on her chest.
Although this didn't seem like a bad idea, Rainbow was once again getting that same bad feeling she got from before she tried on the clothes. "Well, at least I am not trying on dresses. This shouldn't be too hard," Rainbow thought to herself.
"Now Rainbow, why don't we start with the basics," Rarity suggested. Suddenly, from another area of the room, she levitated a six-inch-thick book and dropped it between Rainbow and herself.
