Rainbow Dash Always Dresses in Style
In the still of morning, the dark-blue sky faded to light and touched the orange glow of sunrise. A soft breeze added an ambience of rustling leaves to the otherwise dead-quiet morning. It was peaceful morning as any in all of Ponyville with the exception of Sweet Apple Acres.
Applejack had been awake long before the faintest bit of light touched the horizon. She had lay awake for hours, mulling things over.
Today was the big day, and Applejack couldn’t wait any longer. She unceremoniously stomped her way around the house, not caring who she woke as she barged into her sister’s room.
“Rise and shine, sugarcube!” She flicked on the lights, making Apple Bloom groan and pull the covers over her face.
“Come on now, Apple Bloom! It’s a big day for us!”
“Applejack… it’s still dark out,” Apple Bloom said, rolling over in her bed.
“Exactly. It’s gonna be so busy. I bet ponies are already lining up.” Applejack’s voice trilled with excitement.
A unintelligible groan was her only response.
Applejack rolled her eyes and left her sister’s room, promising to return in a few minutes.
In the kitchen her brother was sitting at the table staring at a steaming cup of coffee.
“Morning, brother!” Applejack said cheerfully, to which he nodded slightly. “It’s going to be one busy day! Everypony in town will be here.”
“Eyup.”
Applejack took a seat opposite her brother, only to jump to her hooves seconds later. “I should get the paper. I can’t wait to see it—I bet it makes the front page!” Without waiting for a reply, she bolted from the kitchen.
“Good ol’ Ponyville Daily,” Applejack mused to herself. As she trotted to the front gate, she took a quick glance at the barn. Silhouetted in the twilight were several crates of apples. They were neatly stacked next to a booth.
Smiling to herself, she knew it was going to be the best sale in Sweet Apple Acres history. And she knew the article she submitted to the Ponyville Daily would get everypony in town hyped.
The front gate came into view, and Applejack’s heart pounded. She wasn’t expecting an outright riot, but she suspected that at least half the town would be there, impatiently hoof-tapping.
However, when Applejack reached the gate, her spirits faltered. Her grin vanished. There was no one, not a living soul on the other side of the gate.
“It’s still early, I suppose,” she told herself. After all it wasn’t cider season. “When they read the article in the paper…” Applejack trailed off when she spotted the rolled up newspaper on the ground. “Dang that Snips! I told him again and again to put it in this here box.”
Applejack eagerly unrolled the newspaper. She stared at the headline for a solid minute, unable to process the atrocity on the front page.
Not only was it not the article she had submitted, the picture had to have been a joke. There was no way Rainbow Dash would be wearing one of Rarity’s fancy frou-frou hats. But there was no mistaking that crooked cocky smile, nor the flowery hat resting above it.
“What in tarnation…”
Rainbow Dash’s New Style
Ponyville— Rainbow Dash has always been known as the “cool” pony who never took any interest in non-athletic related activities.
“I never had time for fashion or fancy things. I’m too busy being awesome for that lame girly stuff,” she told a reporter last year when questioned about her dishevelled mane and plain dress at the Grand Galloping Gala—quite the scandal it was too.
However, all of that changed. On Tuesday afternoon, she was spotted leaving the Carousel Boutique wearing what can only be described as an extremely “girly” chapeau. The fashionista who made it (Rarity) was unavailed to answer questions; however, a little unicorn, whom refused to give her name made a statement. “It was really surprising when she asked my sister to make her one of those fancy hats—Rarity nearly fainted, but most things make her nearly faint. Anyways, I think everypony will be shocked when they see her new style.”
She was certainly correct. The reaction was nothing short of pandemonium. Masses of ponies gathered around the brash pegasus demanding photos, autographs, and some were there just to simply gawk.
“Rainbow Dash is awesome, and if she thinks fashion is cool, then I’m getting a hat just like hers,” founder of the Rainbow Dash Fan Club told us. No doubt the entire club will be wearing fancy hats soon.
Was it a publicity stunt? Probably, but no one cares. The town simply can’t get enough of the new and stylish Rainbow Dash.
—Red Apple
Applejack stared at the paper in disbelief. She reread it several times before letting the newspaper fall to the ground.
“That made the front page! Where’s my article about Sweet Apple Acres’ amazing sale?” She snatched the paper off the ground, frantically flipped through the pages, but found nothing.
“Who’s this Red Apple anyways?”
“Applejack! I’m up now and ready to take on the customers!” Apple Bloom shouted, cantering up to Applejack.
She eyed her younger sister suspiciously. All the pieces fit: she was an Apple and had a red mane.
“Are you Red Apple?” Applejack asked abruptly, hoping to catch the filly off guard.
“What? No, I-I’m Apple Bloom?” she cocked her head to one side with a frown. “Are you feeling alright, sis?”
“I ain’t sure, sugarcube.” Applejack passed the newspaper to Apple Bloom who read the offending article and smirked.
“Oops, they pretty much said Sweetie’s name in here,” Apple Bloom laughed. “Come on, sis, it’s kinda funny.”
“Funny? They didn’t run my article! What kinda paper is this?”
“Well, maybe they didn’t have room for it, and they will put it in tomorrow.”
“I suppose…” Applejack lowered her head and stalked off, cursing the newspaper as she went.
The rest of the day passed slowly for Applejack, and she had trouble focusing on doing anything productive. She found herself looming by the booth she had set up the previous day, hoping someone would stop by. She couldn’t get over Rainbow Dash’s antics making the front page.
By the end of the day, she managed to convince herself that the article was simply a one-time thing. There was no way her article was going to get pushed aside again.
The next day started off much to same for Applejack. She was up before the sun, but this time she decided to wake up her sister after checking the paper. She didn’t want to get her hopes up so quickly this time.
She trotted to the front gate again and grabbed the paper. Her heart raced as she unrolled it. On the front page was something so shocking that she forgot what she was looking for. Then reality sunk in as there was, yet again, another picture of Rainbow Dash. This time it looked like she added a frilly dress to go with her hat.
Applejack groaned in frustration as she fought the temptation to read the article. She skimmed through the rest of the paper, but didn’t see her story. She flipped back to the front page and read.
Rainbow Dash Always Dresses in Style
Ponyville— If Tuesday’s news was exciting, just wait until you get this!
Rainbow Dash was spotted on Tuesday wearing a very fashionable chapeau that took Ponyville by surprise.
Well, yesterday she seems to have found a nice dress to go with “dat hat!” All of Ponyville rallied in the town center as Dash strutted in her new lacy dress. She even walked down a makeshift catwalk. “My sister thinks this is all a joke,” the same young unicorn told us after the fashionista refused to answer our questions. But there’s one thing the town is now sure of, Rainbow Dash always dresses in style. “I’m so awesome, it doesn’t matter what I wear!” she shouted into a cheering crowd.
While most ponies were really impressed with the new “fashion secure” Dash, some of her most loyal fans are left in dismay and doubt. “I don’t know anymore… the hat was cool, but I-I can’t deal with this,” A pegasus filly tolds us as she herself sat in a frilly dress of similar design. “Why? Why?” she asked us again and again then rushed off on her scooter. “I can’t be seen wearing this!”
Her recent antics have also caught the attention of the Wonderbolts. “She’s just going through a phase. We’ve all gone through—um, ‘phases.’ We in no way regret having her as part of the team,” Spitfire, captain of the Wonderbolts, said and refused to answer any other questions.
The ruckus caused over the “hat incident” (as we’re calling it), has doubled by the addition of the dress. Ponies from out of town are showing up, hoping to catch a glance of Rainbow Dash as they’ve never seen her before. Everypony is excitedly awaiting her next big move.
A “Fashion Dash” meet-up will take place tonight at the town hall for ponies to debate and vote on what Rainbow Dash should wear next.
—Red Apple
Applejack tossed the paper aside, stomping angrily. “Why in tarnation is Rainbow wearing a dumb dress more important than the biggest sale of Sweet Apple Acres? Where is that Rainbow Dash?” Applejack shouted, stomping on the newspaper. She didn’t notice her sister come up behind her.
“Whatsamatter, sis?” asked a groggy Apple Bloom.
“Apple Bloom!” Applejack stopped her tantrum and sat on her haunches, blushing awkwardly. “Ya startled me, s’all,” she said quickly. “It’s that darn Red Apple! He keeps stealing my spot in the paper!”
“I...um,” Apple Bloom laughed nervously, “I think it’s the Ponyville Daily that’s ignoring your article. Red Apple, she—she’s only a writer—” Apple Bloom gulped, but thankfully Applejack wasn’t really listening.
“Maybe, but I know this is Rainbow’s doing. She just has to be in the spotlight all the time, doesn’t she?” Applejack stormed off.
“Wait!” Apple Bloom tore after her. “What if we go to the Ponyville Daily. I’m sure we can work this out. They’re, um, reasonable ponies.”
“Not now, Apple Bloom. I got a bone to pick with Rainbow!” Applejack charged off, leaving Apple Bloom in the dust.
Applejack figured she could intercept Rainbow Dash before she made it to Rarity’s for what was sure to be breaking news.
Upon reaching the Boutique, Applejack noticed a light on inside coming from Rarity’s work room. She had assumed the worst, it was too late. All she could do now was sit in front of the shop and wait for Rainbow Dash to come out.
The sun had long since come up, and the morning in Ponyville started out as any normal morning would. With the exception of Applejack sitting stone-faced in front of the Boutique. Eventually the front door opened, and just when Applejack thought she could no longer be surprised, she was quickly proven wrong.
Rainbow Dash strutted out wearing her hat, dress, and now with really fancy shoes and makeup. And was she wearing socks? Applejack closed her slack-jaw, remembering she was mad at her friend and marched up to her.
“Hey, AJ. Wh-what’s up?” Rainbow Dash asked smiling sheepishly.
“Just what the hay do you think you’re doing, Rainbow?” Applejack demanded.
“I’m just… you know… trying something new.” Rainbow Dash blushed looking away. “Oh look at the time! I’d like to stay and chat, but… I gotta make some appearances and stuff,” Dash said.
A small crowd began to gather around the Boutique. Excited whispers and gasps emitted from excited tourists and residents alike.
“No I don’t know!” Applejack replied. Ignoring the annoying gaggle of ponies behind her, she grabbed onto Rainbow’s tail just before she could get away.
“Hey, let me go! AJ? What the hay?”
“Not until you ‘splain what you’re doing!” Applejack spat through a mouth full of hair.
“Fine! Just let go of my tail!” Rainbow Dash landed. “Why are you acting this way, AJ?”
“Why am I? Me? What about you, Rainbow? What is.. all of this?” Applejack shouted in outrage while waving her hoof around.
“It’s just a publicity stunt, sheesh,” Rainbow said. “Look, it’s kinda hard to explain. Have you ever expected something to be so awesome, but came to find out it wasn’t?”
Applejack deadpanned. “No. I have no idea what that is like.”
“Look, AJ, I don’t know why you’re mad at me, but I’m sorry.”
Applejack sighed. She couldn’t stay mad at Rainbow Dash; it wasn’t fair. She didn’t know that she was messing up potential business on the farm. “I’m sorry, Rainbow. I don’t mean to yell at you. I was just really hoping—maybe I just had high hopes—”
“Hey, AJ, look, it’s alright.” Rainbow Dash sat closer to Applejack. “Let me explain… when I finally got into the Wonderbolts, it was the best thing ever! I mean it was big news right?”
“Er, yeah, I remember.” Applejack rolled her eyes. There was no way she was going to forget how crazy the town went when that happened.
“After that… I don’t know, ponies no longer wanted my autograph. Then it seemed like no pony even paid any attention to me—to me! I’m the Rainbow Dash and a Wonderbolt. I think they just grew bored of me…” She took a breath and shook her head. “I just wanted to be in the spotlight again. Rarity suggested I do something drastic, and so I did. I guess I got a little carried away.” Rainbow gave Applejack a sheepish look.
“Ya know… I think I can understand. The past two days I’ve been trying to sell a large surplus of apples real cheap. For business n’all. Except not really. I thought Sweet Apple Acres was, you know, really popular and everypony would be excited for a big sale. Maybe the paper is right in ignoring my article. A big sale on apples ain’t all that exciting.”
“This whole thing kind of blew up, honestly. I didn’t know I was going to make the front page, twice. I-I can’t even believe I’m wearing this.”
“Well, that makes two of us! You sure look like a fancy city dweller at a barnyard hoedown. It just doesn’t fit.”
Rainbow smiled and hugged Applejack tightly. “Thanks, pal. If you hadn’t said something, who knows what Rarity would’ve made me wear tomorrow.” She shuddered at the thought as Applejack returned the embrace. “And everypony would go crazy for something like that. Don’t sell yourself short. I’m sure this whole thing will blow over, and they’ll find your article interesting.”
A dozen camera flashes returned Applejack to reality. She was hugging her dolled-up attention-starved friend in front of a crowd gawking spectators, and she knew Rainbow Dash was going to make the front page again. And she had a bad feeling about the next Red Apple story.
Applejack woke later than usual the next morning. There wasn’t much to look forward to. It was all damage control from this point on. She reluctantly stumbled out of bed and made her way out of the house.
There was no avoiding it, the paper was going to take everything out of context, and it was clear to Applejack that she would have to do something drastic to get the town’s attention. But what?
Applejack froze when she reached the front gate, her jaw going slack. There in front of the farm was a massive line of ponies, impatiently hoof-tapping.
A grin formed across Applejack’s awe struck face.
“They ran the story! Yeehaw!” she cheered as relief washed over her.
“When are you going to open, lover girl?” a pony from the crowd taunted, followed with a roar of laughter from the pony gallery.
Applejack cocked her head at the jeering crowd. “Lover girl,” she muttered to herself. The feeling of dread returned as she picked up the newspaper and unrolled it.
Rainbow Dash’s Heartache
Ponyville— From the incident of the hat (dat hat) that spread across Ponyville like wildfire in a dry hay-barn, to the dress that brought ponies from all over Equestria. Ponville really got swept away in it all, enjoying the fashion sensible Rainbow Dash. But many have asked why a tomcolt like Rainbow would suddenly start dressing up in frills.
Well yesterday, it was all made clear just what our prismatic Wonderbolt was up to. Since her acceptance into the Wonderbolts she has lived a pretty public life, and it was apparent that the one thing missing from her life was a handsome stallion, or pretty mare. Well, it seems she has found love after all: a pretty mare—are we really “that” surprised?
That’s right, all the fashion and headlines was an attempt to catch the attention of the mare she had been secretly crushing on. And wow, what a tactic! All that style for ponyville’s least stylish pony, because opposites attract?
After a heartfelt exchange of words, the two shared a tender moment embracing one another. Right in front of the Carousel Boutique! It seems Ponyville’s “too cool for romance” Rainbow Dash has found love at last. “That’s so cute!” cooed the young unicorn resident of the Carousel Boutique. “Romance, fewey! If she makes it awesome, then I guess I can try it too,” a young pegasus told us at the scene.
Of course this has stirred up quite the ruckus at last night’s emergency Fashion Dash meeting. Many ponies have mixed feelings about this recent development. Some were outraged; however, they were usually the ones with unrealistic hopes of having a relationship with Rainbow Dash themselves. And others are simply happy she’s found someone to be in her life. They all, however, remain confused on how fancy clothes were used to woo the fashionless country beauty, Applejack.
Note from the author:
Since this is my third article, and I still haven’t gotten my paparazzi cutie mark, I will be retiring from the Ponyville Daily.
—Red Apple
Disbelief filled Applejack as she let the paper fall from her hooves. It was far worse than she thought. All the ponies lined up weren’t there to buy anything, they didn’t care about a sale on apples, they wanted to see if the article was true. They wanted to sell pictures to the local paper and to other tabloid journalists.
As Applejack stared at the front page, shaking her head at the picture, the last line caught her eye. She reread it, and frowned. “I knew it,” she muttered.
“Apple Bloom! Get your tail out here!” Applejack shouted.
Before she could stomp off and find her sister, and idea struck her. Her sister’s dumb article got half the town out to Sweet Apple Acres, and it didn’t look like they were leaving anytime soon. If she could only find a way to keep them interested in buying apples, instead of waiting for the next most ridiculous thing Rainbow Dash was going to wear.
As her other siblings left the house, her means to keep ponies interested landed on the farm. She looked from Apple Bloom to Rainbow Dash, and a huge grin spread across her face.
“Alright y’all. We’re just gettin’ set up, we’ll be open for business real soon!” The crowd cheered, but she couldn’t be sure if the cheer was for her or Rainbow Dash.
“Good turnout, sis. I’m glad they finally printed your article.”
Applejack rolled her eyes, and waited for Rainbow Dash to get closer. She was happy to see Rainbow was back to her old self, although she could’ve sworn she was still wearing mascara.
Rainbow Dash was smiling bashfully at Applejack as she approached. “Hey, AJ, did you see—”
She was cut off as Applejack wrapped a foreleg around Rainbow Dash, drawing her into a passionate kiss. Applejack took her time to exaggerate her movements, caressing Rainbow’s neck. She moved her forelegs up and down her back, moaning into the kiss.
Cheers and aws broke out from the crowd, and cameras flashed as Applejack continued her kiss with a stunned Rainbow Dash.
When she finally ended the kiss, she gave Rainbow a small kiss on the cheek and a nuzzle before pulling back.
Apple Bloom was the first to recover from the shock. “Um… so that just happened. I guess I was right.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Now, doesn’t Red Apple have something to write about?” Applejack winked at Apple Bloom, making her gulp. “What?” she asked Mac, who was still standing there with his mouth open. “It was a business decision. If that story about Rainbow’s love life got all of them ponies out here... might as well keep the story going! For the farm, you know.”
Rainbow Dash, finally returning to her senses, spoke up, “umm, AJ…that was—um thank you? I-I was just going to ask if you saw the paper, because they finally printed your article. It’s on the second page.”
