Prologue: A Tomboyish Failure
It was a sunny day as Rainbow Dash zoomed through the clouds, causing them to disappear with a "puff". She paused, hovering midair, to catch her breath.
As she flapped her wings, she absentmindedly looked down at the ground. And, trotting down the path, was the hottest (not mention richest) single stallion in Equestria, Bruce Mane.
Oh my gosh, thought Rainbow Dash, that's Bruce Mane down there! Maybe if I go down there, he'll notice me, and then ask me on a date!
Rainbow Dash, living up to her name, dashed to the ground, landing in an unruly heap of feathers and dust. She scrambled to her hooves, trying, unsuccesfully, to brush the dust out of her mane with her hoof.
"Hi there," she started, "my name's Rainbow Dash! You're Bruce Mane, aren't you?"
The stallion began to back away cautiously. "Yes, I'm Bruce Mane. If you're here to kidnap me or force me to do *ahem* unpleasant things with you, I'm not afraid to use my pepper spray!"
Rainbow Dash chuckled. "I'm not gonna kidnap you!" She inched a little closer. Although I would like to get you in my bed for a little bit, she thought. "I was just wanted to know if you were into hot mares such as myself." She mentally face-hoofed herself for that remark.
"Uhhh....." Bruce continued trying to back down the dirt path, desparately hoping to escape this mare. He wasn't really into tomboyish mares.
C'mon Dash, you can't lose him! She continued inching closer, aware of his escape attempts. "Uh, what I really mean is, you wanna go grab a snack at the cafe?"
Bruce racked his wealthy brain, searching for a polite decline. He couldn't think of one, so he went with Plan B; tell her what he thought of her. "I'm not into mares like you! I like mares that actually act like mares! Mares that are attractive! Mares that are cute! You're not cute AT ALL!"
Bruce Mane, famous millionaire, had just rejected Rainbow Dash. No, more than rejected. Shoved away Rainbow Dash! Rainbow Dash was furious.
How dare he say that! Now lemme tell ya something, Bruce. I'm cute! I act like a mare! Ha! Take that!" Was that supposed to be an insult?
Bruce shook his head as he backed away, turned around, and galloped back into town.
Rainbow Dash groaned aloud. "Well, I just blew my chances with the hottest stallion in Equestria. Wait a minute, why was he a remote town like Ponyville, anyway?"
She began walking in the general direction of her house, becoming slower and more depressed with each step. What's wrong with me? He said I'm not attractive, or even cute. What's wrong with me? She couldn't take it any longer, so she cried out to the sky, hoping to get an answer. "What's wrong with me?!?"
"I don't think there's anything wrong with you, Rainbow Dash." Rainbow Dash jumped, startled by the voice. I thought I was alone... The voice was gentle, kind...wait a minute...
"Fluttershy? Why are you out here by yourself? I thought you didn't like using this path to get to town."
Fluttershy stepped out from behind a bush. "Well, I would like to ask you why you're out here, Rainbow Dash. If that's okay with you, of course."
