The Tale of RariDash - Series 1

Another morning had began, the Friday bringing with it a welcome sunny start. Pillars of heated sunshine shot through the windows, letting specks of early morning dust dance and swirl elegantly trough the natural spotlights that the slits in the blinds would create. The bedroom itself was bit of a mess; the pony couple having spent most of their bedtime holding and caressing each other in romantic exploration. Towards the base of the bed, Dash's Commander Hurricane helmet was carefully balanced upon the thin metal railing that made up the foot board. The plate armour was laid out on the floor, surrounded by a few throw pillows that had slipped from the mattress in all the frivolity. Dash was strewn half way in and out of the covers, one foreleg resting behind her head, the other loving cradling Rarity beside her. Rainbow's messy, unkempt mane was half covered in Princess Platinum's crown, cocked proudly to the side in a deliberate fashion. Rarity's gem-trimmed cape was laid upon the head board above them, the stately mare tucked comfortably into Dash's chest.

"I suppose we must get out of bed," commented the white mare plainly, "I need to pay Twilight a visit."

Rainbow peered down at the gorgeous filly nestled into her side, "What're you seeing Twilight for?"

"I'm going to ask her about this. About us."

Rainbow's face quickly adopted a sceptical look, "Um...you sure that's a good idea? I mean, I could go if you like."

With a heavy sigh, Rarity hesitantly pulled herself from her lover's welcoming flank, her hooves immediately raising up to fix her mane which had been slightly dishevelled from the previous night's activities.

"I'm not going to explicitly tell her about us, darling! I was going to inquire if she had any books on pony relationships, which might give us a clue about what's going on. And as for you going in my place, don't you think it would be seen as unusual for you to visit Twilight for a book? Especially when it's not one of those Daring Do stories you love so much?"

The smirk on Rarity's face as she turned to the cocky filly next to her made Dash's burn a bright red, "Yeah, maybe you should go!"

"Marvellous!" proclaimed Rarity as she flamboyantly bounced from the bed, horn glowing as to pull her side bag onto her back and a neck wrap for her walk, "You concentrate on cleaning this place up!"

Dash's slumped and relaxed posture broke as the command was given, recoiling off the bedding as her body tried to almost interject for her! Before Dash could even attempt to challenge the notion, Rarity was already out the front door, a hefty slam making the pegasus recoil and set her task in motion. Pink eyes scanned the mess of the room, the creased duvet and the costume pieces scattered about the place, giving light to the work that was required of the lazy pegasus, "Great..."

The trot to Twilight's library wasn't too far from the Boutique, just a quick canter down the main street before Rarity was carefully knocking on the library's wooden door with her carefully primed, pristine hooves.

The door slid open, ablaze with an aura of purple magic, leaving a smiling Twilight on the other side, "Heya Rarity. What can I do for you today? Or did you just pop over for a visit?"

Rarity's face lit up with a welcoming smile, naturally lifting her body up to catch her close friend in a warm hug to greet her, "Twilight dear, such a joy to see you! I was looking for a certain type of book. If you could help me, I'd be ever so grateful!"

"Of course," chimed the purple unicorn proudly as she turned about and headed into her home, eyes peering at the grand book shelves sunk into the surrounding walls, "Did you have a title for the book?"

More often than not, when a visitor was there to find a book, Spike would leave the guidance to Twilight. But at the sight of his white mare crush, the excitable

little dragon dropped down from the bedroom perch to land beside the two, eyes centred on the ravishing sight of the fabulous unicorn before him.

"Anything I can do for you, Miss Rarity?"

She could almost see the love hearts in his eyes, which made her current feelings all the more awkward. The baby dragon's crush had always been painfully obvious, and she truly did love him. But she wasn't IN love with him. He was very young, for a start; not to mention the fact that they were two different species! However, she never minded playing to his little games, letting him do her odd jobs and stray chores.

"No thank you, Spike. I'm sure Twilight can assist me!"

The purple pony was already looking over her vast book shelves as Spike waddled away to tend to his duties. With the distraction gone, Rarity could return to the question that had been posed to her previously.

"I was just looking for a general book on pony relationships. Romance, partnerships, that sort of thing!" asked the white unicorn, watching as Twilight's eyes never left the bookshelves in front of her.

"Looking for somepony special on Hearts and Hooves day?" teased Twilight, still engrossed in her search.

"On the contrary, my dear. I've already found what I've been looking for!"

Rarity's wording was careful, offering no hint of sheepishness in her voice, her tone conveying that the matter was private rather than a invitation for gossip.

A purple glowing book soon slid its way from the shelves, Twilight turning around with a smile as she trotted back over to her friend, "Well congratulations, Rarity. I'm truly happy for you! Here you are; 'Love One, Love all: A Pony Guide to Partnership'. Should have everything you need."

Purple blaze of magic turned to blue as Rarity took over control and pulled the book to her side, "Oh thank you ever so much, Twilight. I'll return it post haste!"

Rarity was already making for the door when the purple filly called to her, "Rarity? Are you busy at all tonight?"

It had taken a while, but Rainbow was almost finished. For a night of role play and snuggles, the two sure had made a sizeable mess! And with Rarity's stringent requirement for organisation, it had cost Dash quite a considerable amount of time to clean up! Yet the sound of the door swinging open made it all worth while, the contented filly clopping down stairs to greet her partner in the shop front. What she was welcomed to was the faint smiling mare surrounded by bags upon bags of clothing materials and one solitary time balanced atop it all.

"Well, I see you got the book," sniggered Dash in a cheeky fashion, unsure of what the other had planned as her eyes inspected the shopping bags, "What's with all this other junk?"

Rarity begun explaining the situation; before she could leave the library, Twilight had stopped her to ask about her evening plans. When asked why, she explained that Princess Celestia had gifted her with two tickets to the EverNight Ball, a high class couples event in Canterlot which lasted throughout the night, hosted by Princess Luna. The tickets were going to be given to Big Macintosh and Cherilee, yet pair had declined. And upon hearing how Rarity had found a special somepony, Twilight gracious offered her the tickets, instead of simply letting them go to waste.

This made Rainbow Dash break

into a panic. She leapt at the white mare, hooves to her shoulders as she gripped her tightly, "You said no, right? Please tell me you said no!!"

A nervous laugh came over Rarity, shrinking down defensively into herself, "Well, not exactly..."

Rainbow gave her mate a firm shake, still in complete shock at the situation, "We can't go to that thing! As a couple! What if people see us? We could get caught and banished or locked up or worse! What if our friends found out? And what if--"

A sudden white hoof jammed itself into Dash's mouth, halting her ecstatic flurry of worry and questions, "Rainbow Dash, will you calm yourself! Remember, this is Rarity your talking too. And if I'm anything - apart from elegant, intelligent, beautiful, charming, creative and fabulous - I'm resourceful. Besides, who says I'm not going with a stallion?"

Dash took a few moments to let the idea sink in, eyes looking over all the fabrics and padding she had bought. The plan would immediately slot into place, a frown dominating her muzzle, "No! Oh no, not happening! You are NOT dressing me up like a stallion!"

Rarity would give a frown right back to the stubborn filly, "It's either that or we ask Zecora for a potion! I'm sure she has just the think to switch you over!"

"Or we just don't go!" snarled Rainbow, turning her head away from her partner in rejection of the entire insane idea.

A thick pout hit those white lips, nuzzling into that blue cheek, "Puh-lease, my sweet Dashy? The EverNight Ball is a very exclusive, once in a life time opportunity! There'll be fine dining, dancing...oh it'll be ever so romantic! Besides, only the most important ponies will be there.

It seemed the pleas of the unicorn fell of deaf ears, Rainbow Dash sitting on her hindquarters, crossing her forelegs over her chest, firmly registering her stubborn disapproval of the entire ordeal.

But Rarity was more cunning than that, trotting closer to the frowning mare, whispering into her ear, "The Wonderbolts will be performing."

That teased ear gave a flick, eyebrows raising slightly in a moment of interest, "They will?"

"But of course they will, they attend all of Canterlot's main events! And unlike the Gala, they put on a much longer display before the evening begins. All those tricks and turns and what not that you love to watch! Then they attend the Ball with the other guests. Think about it; how many ponies are going to be chatting to them in a couple's ball when they're so busy eating and dancing?"

Pink eyes would grow wide, thinking over the sweet little temptations poisoning her judgement, "Not many..."

"Not many is right! And I'm sure they'd love to chat with...Jet Lightning, the fastest flyer this side of Canterlot!"

Eyes began to show confusion, already having been won over by Rarity's offer, "Jet who?"

A nasty grin came to Rarity's face, horn targeting an item in her bag before it slid free of the paper confines, turning out to be a sachet of blonde mane dye.

"Oh. Jet Lightning. Right..."

Before she knew it, Rainbow was being dragged upstairs in preparation for her transformation. Guilt did grip her, considering the greater pull to this ball was the chance to hang with the Wonderbolts. She did want to please Rarity to no end and she definitely enjoyed a good party, fancy or not! But she would prefer to be there as Rainbow Dash. Whether Rarity would believe it or not, Dash was just as anxious to promote her new relationship proudly to all who would pay it mind. She wanted to share her excitement with her friends and those close to her. But, for now at least, it was not to be.

The couple bursted through the bathroom door, Rarity head shoving Dash the entire way, "Hey! Quit pushing!"

When presented the bath tub, Rainbow hopped into it, sat in the midst of the cold porcelain like a cat waiting for her dreaded daily bath and groom. To Rarity, this was going to be a lot of fun, carefully guiding the sachet to her mouth as she tore the top off, hooves coated in some latex protection so the dyed would not affecting her luxuriously laboured white coat.

"This stuff...isn't permanent...right?" whined a fearful Dashy, hoping not to lose her awesome rainbow mane she treasured so much.

"Of course not, darling. I doubt 'Blonde Dash' would carry as much repletion!" retorted the purple maned mare, carefully using her magic to squeeze out the thick paste substance, hooves lathering the scented mess into the illustrious rainbow hair.

Dash wasn't pleased, the feeling of the cold mush being rubbed into her hair akin to landing head first into a puddle of mud and slob. She was almost like an uncomfortable foal, fidgeting and fussing over every movement Rarity made. It was almost cute, her squirming and squeamish grunts causing Rarity to cheerfully hum while she worked.

Hooves were careful and skilled, making sure not to get a drop on Rainbow's fur or wings as she pulled the lump of drying gold into a hair net to dry. Attention then turned to her tail, pouring the last of the paste-like dye into the surface before methodically rubbing it into the strands.

The outfit came next, put together while Rainbow sat to dry alone in the tub. A mare's frame was quite different to that of a stallion, more streamlined and curvaceous compared to the solid bulk of many males. A dress would normally cover a cutie mark, but the need for drag would call for something more inventive. In the end, Rarity decided on a dinner jacket lined with thick padding. Bulk for the forelegs to give Dash a bit more density, with the powerful backlegs of the pegasus naturally complimenting the thickening of her front legs. Chest was given a bit more bulk, adding a depth to her normally thin frame. The large collar of the jacket and dress shirt beneath allowed the length of her mane to be hidden away. Long coat tails would stretch back to her rump, covering over her cutie mark, the main distinguishing feature that would give her away. Finally, to give Dash the cool factor she so eagerly lived by, no tie and an open collar line. It was formal enough to fit in with the other guests while leaving an air of casual flippancy. For both their sakes, Rarity hoped this would work...