Skin Deep

In Equestria, everyone dreamed of the day they would receive a letter in the mail with their soulmate's name on it. After all, finding your soulmate was the biggest occasion of your life. These letters came at different points in everypony's lives. Your soulmate letter could come from the time you're five years old, to when you're old and grey.  And as cheesy as it all was, Rainbow Dash couldn't wait to get that special letter in her mailbox.

From the time she was a little filly, Rainbow had always imagined her soulmate to be the most incredible, awesome pony in Equestria. They would love racing, just like her. They would be tough, and would always be up for fun. She wanted that pony in her life more than anything, and for years, she waited for her letter to come. Just as she began to think she couldn't possibly wait any longer, that she'd have plead for Princess Celestia herself to present Rainbow Dash with her letter early, she finally was rewarded with the name of her soulmate.

"Fluttershy? What kind of name is Fluttershy?"

Rainbow couldn't help but be upset about the name that was typed out before her. Not that Fluttershy was a bad name or anything, in fact, it was a very nice name. However, Fluttershy didn't sound like the soulmate she'd been hoping for.  She didn't sound like the type of pony to be as incredibly awesome as Rainbow Dash was. She allowed the piece of paper to fall to the ground, flopping back onto her bed with a groan of annoyance.

A pony's soulmate was supposed to be the one pony you were destined to be with for the rest of your life. Somepony you were absolutely made for. Whoever this Fluttershy girl was, she wasn't it. There wasn't really anything Rainbow Dash could do about it, though. She'd have to meet up with her supposed soulmate sometime this week. She would just have to let her know that even though they were meant to be soulmates, she wasn't interested in a romantic relationship. Was that even allowed?

~ ♡ ~

"Rainbow Dash, I can't believe it! Congratulations!" Twilight exclaimed, holding Rainbow's soulmate letter in her hooves. "Wow, this is amazing! I can't believe you actually got your letter! I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't just a little envious. Fluttershy sounds like such a nice pony! I can't wait to meet her!"

Rainbow couldn't help but roll her eyes. Twilight was way too obsessive over the idea of soulmates. She always wanted to find scientific explanations, just to learn how ponies were born for each other, how the whole process worked, how anypony could even find out how they were compatible for each other. "Uh, Twilight? I don't think you-"

"Oh my gosh, me neither! We're gonna throw a super amazing party just for you two! It'll be great, and then we can all be bestest friends forever!" Rainbow's other friend Pinkie Pie cheered, bouncing up and down around the room.

Applejack joined in with the both of them, a grin taking up most of her face. "I reckon this Fluttershy pony's gonna be great if she's made for ya, Rainbow. Say, when are ya meetin' this gal, anywho? I just can't wait to meet 'er!"

"I don't know when I'm meeting her, but when I do, I'm letting her know that I'm not interested." Rainbow was scowling, aggravated by all her friends' blubbering on about this mare.

Twilight became slack-jawed at this, beginning to pace around. "What do you mean, 'not interested'!? Rainbow, you have to be interested! This is your soulmate we're talking about here! You can't possibly just let her go just like that!"

"But I am!" The rainbow-maned pegasus cut in, "I'm not interested. Ponies are named based on personality, right? I mean, I can totally tell that Fluttershy isn't anything like me! That name is just so... lame."

"I'm gonna stop ya there, sugarcube. You've been waitin' for this letter all your life! You're not just gonna let that go because of some silly name, are ya? Don't go judgin' books by their covers, and meet this pony before ya send her on her way." Applejack said, putting a hoof onto Rainbow Dash's back.

"Yeah, what if Fluttershy's the most super amazing incredibly awesome nicest pony ever? You wouldn't wanna miss out on somepony like that!" Pinkie had since stopped bouncing, giving Rainbow Dash the biggest hug she possibly could.

Rainbow Dash couldn't help the sigh that came from her mouth. Her friends were right. She shouldn't really judge this mare without giving her some kind of a chance first. It wasn't fair to Fluttershy, and despite not feeling like this pony was her soulmate, she didn't want to hurt the poor girl's feelings. "Okay, fine. I'll give her one chance, but that's all. If I don't like her, there's no way I'm gonna keep seeing her!"

Twilight was more relieved that Applejack or Pinkie Pie combined, her excited demeanor returning almost instantly. "Much better! Rainbow Dash, I have a feeling this whole thing will turn out just fine! It's probably just a nervous reaction. I knew you would come to your senses, though."

"Yeah, whatever, Twi. Just don't get your hopes up."