Dream a Little Dream of Me
Each breath puffed out into the cold November air. Rainbow Dash shivered slightly- her skirt and incredibly awesome rainbow lightning bolt leggings did very little to help with the dropping temperature. ‘Really should have worn some actual pants,’ she thought, decrying her own laziness. With only a pair of camo cargo shorts clean and ready to wear, she honestly had no choice. Sure, Rainbow could have done laundry. And she truly would have too, but it was paramount she spent her entire day trying to beat the final boss in her newest video game.
It was all that kept her from going crazy with anxiety, to be honest. Here she was, walking into her best friend’s home on their weekly hangout night and about to throw the whole thing out of whack with three little words.
That would be enough to drive anyone crazy.
She stood in front of the Carousel boutique- A traditional brick facade painted purple stretched up two stories into the gray November sky. The front door was mocked up to look like a stable door with lilac paint and deep purple borders along the two pieces. Two large show windows flanked it; mannequins dressed in a variety of outfits were posed inside before large white barriers. An empty lot beside the house functioned as a makeshift parking lot; It’s occupants consisting only of three cars, a few scattered dandelions and a beaten up for sale sign dating back several years.
Rainbow stuffed her hand into the breast pocket of her flight jacket and yanked free her bulky phone. A quick click and the screen flashed to life revealing a selfie that Rarity and her took together last month.
“Three-ten. Just a bit early,” Rainbow mumbled. She shoved the phone back into jacket and took a deep breath, crisp fall wind filled her lungs. In slow, controlled bursts, she exhaled. Puff. Puff. Puff. Her tension melted away with every breath.
“Ok, Rainbow. You can do this. You stood up to some giant angry seahorses from another world.” A tenuous half smile came over her. “You are going to rush this right up the center. You are going to make the play. This is little league compared to half the things you've been through.”
She had walked through Rarity’s door hundreds of times. At this exact same day, every week and a similar time for six years running. That it was a new door shouldn't change anything.
Despite her rousing speech and years of experience, Rainbow’s feet refused the call of duty and stood firmly planted on the sidewalk.
Above her, a window creaked open and a pale woman popped out- her immaculate purple hair bobbing in the autumn breeze.
“Rainbow, darling! What ever are you doing standing there? Come inside! You’ll catch cold with those dreadful leggings on,” Rarity said with a fake frown plastered on her glossy pink lips. That same frown she always wore when she was poking fun at Rainbow’s outfits.
“Hey, what if I like it out here? You ever think of that?” Rainbow bit back with a cocky smile.
Rarity giggled and said, “Well if that’s that case, Rainbow, then I will simply have to keep all this decadent hot cocoa for myself.”
Rainbow reached a hand out in front of her and pinched two fingers close together. “Do you have those tiny marshmallows?”
“Of course, darling. Do you think me some sort of savage?” Rarity said with feigned indignance.
“I guess I’ll come in then. Door’s unlocked?” Rainbow asked.
“To the show room, yes. I’ll unlock the stairwell for you. See you in a moment, darling.” Rarity said with a wink before the window thumped closed.
Rainbow shook her head and chuckled. She pushed through the front door, the jingle of the store bell to announce her intrusion into Rarity’s fabulous fortress of fashion. From the back corner, a tired voice floated out over the easy listening filtering through hidden speakers.
“Welcome to Carousel Boutique, where every garment is chic, uniq-” Sweetie Belle muttered until recognition flashed across her face. She leaped up from her seat and excitedly waved. “Oh! Hi Rainbow!”
“Hey, squirt.” Rainbow said with a half wave. “Working hard?”
“Hardly working.” Sweetie’s expression drooped back into boredom and she slumped onto her stool. “I've been here three hours and you’re the first person to come in.”
“Sounds pretty boring,” Rainbow said with a raised eyebrow.
“Yeah. At least I can use the wi-fi,” Sweetie said, pulling her phone out from a hidden nook in the counter.
Rainbow snorted. “That usually helps.”
Sweetie nodded and tapped her phone back to life and was busy swiping through pictures in no time flat; one of her dainty laughs occasionally trickling out from the corner.
For her part, Rainbow began strolling absently through the show floor, her sneakers dragging along the low woven lavender carpet. She slowly wound her way between racks of clothes Rarity hung up for re-sale. A few big brands had their tags poking out, but most of them seemed to be brands she’d never heard of.
Nothing too surprising there, she thought. She couldn't have told you the difference between most of them anyway.
“Sure is taking Rarity a while to come down,” Rainbow thought aloud.
“Sis probably thought she saw a split end or something.” Sweetie said without looking away from her phone.
Rainbow smiled and shook her head. “Wouldn't surprise me, squirt.”
Rainbow came to a stop before one of the many floor to ceiling portraits spread along the walls of the showroom. Most were people she didn't recognize, probably local models or business friends of Rarity’s.
The gout of flame this model called hair, though, caught Rainbow’s eyes. She could tell who this was a mile off.
Sunset Shimmer. She looked barely an adult in that picture, but her eyes betrayed the truth. There was a piercing quality to her stare coming from those deep set teal eyes. It told of an old soul- years of life and the lessons they had seen. Lessons she shared with the motley crew of teenagers she called family. What would she have said now? She always had some prescient piece of advice for nearly any situation. She sure wanted some right then.
“Are you alright, Rainbow?” Rarity’s voice knocked her out of her thoughts with a jolt.
Rarity was standing close- her face contorted in concern. She had an immaculate hand placed gingerly on Rainbow’s shoulder. That old candy pink bathrobe she loved so much was draped over her, tied loosely at the waist. A simple blue nightgown peaked out from beneath; the delicate fabric partially revealed the gentle contour of her breasts.
Rainbow shook her head clear of oversized marshmallows and broke a cocky smile for Rarity. “Sorry, spaced out there; whatcha say?” She asked.
“I asked if you were alright, dear. You were looking quite pensive there,” Rarity said.
“Oh.” Rainbow’s smile faded slightly and she turned her head back towards the portrait. “Yeah, I guess. I was just kinda thinking about Sunset,” she said, poking a thumb at it.
Rarity followed the gesture and her worry melted into a wistful smile. “Ah, yes. Our beautiful little alien. It has been quite some time hasn't it?” she asked rhetorically.
It had been a while; three years in fact. She got a message in that magical book of her’s about her mother, Sunny Daze. She had fallen gravely ill and needed someone to care for her. Within hours Sunset packed up her entire life and was ready to return home to take care of the woman. She had made sure to say goodbye to all six of them personally. Tearful hugs, solemn goodbyes, and quiet reminiscence filled the air around that statue.
And then she was gone. Not even a single glance back as she leaped through the portal to her world. She had left the book with them to keep in touch, but it had been silent since.
The two of them simply stood in silence for a time; the portrait of Sunset loomed larger than it should have in the spacious showroom. Rarity was the first to break the silence.
“Well then,” she said and looked around Rainbow Dash towards Sweetie. “You’re free to go home, Sweetie, I’ll be indisposed for the rest of the day.”
“You sure? I can stay and close up if you want. I kinda need the money, you know.”
“I won't be able to take anyone who needs a fitting tonight, so I cannot stay open.” She said as she pulled the string on the open sign; With a click, the red neon was snuffed out.
“Besides, I’ll make sure you get you get paid for the full six hours. I am closing up for personal indiscretions, after all.” Rarity flashed a sly smile towards Rainbow.
Sweetie’s expression lit up like a bulb. “Thanks sis!” She squeaked as she gathered up her bag from behind the counter. She slung the pack over one shoulder, straightened her shirt and then was out the door in a blink. The only thing to mark her passage was the gentle jingle of the bell and a faint gust of wind.
Rarity glided to the door and locked it with a click. She jiggled it twice before patting it, satisfied it was secure.
“I doubt anyone would be looking for a dress on a Sunday evening,” she said easily as she turned back to Rainbow. “But it just would not do for us to be interrupted.”
“Yeah, that would be kinda awkward.” Rainbow said with a smile.
Rarity sauntered over- her hips swung wide with each step. “Come now, darling,” she said. “I have some delightful hot chocolate waiting for you upstairs.”
She gently ran the tips of her fingers down Rainbow’s arm and gracefully wrapped them around her hand in a single smooth motion. Rainbow was led by the arm, like a dog on a leash, through an inconspicuous door hidden partially behind a curtain in the far back of the showroom. Rarity’s perfume filled the tiny corridor; Cinnamon? It was certainly heady and smoky. Rainbow couldn’t quite make it out. Rarity had been trying to teach her about perfume lately, but it just wasn’t her thing. Rainbow tried for her sake though- it made Rarity happy, so she was fine sniffing wrists for thirty minutes while she talked flowers, fruits, and spices at her.
Rainbow followed into what Rarity called her “drawing room.” She didn’t quite understand why it was called a drawing room, there wasn’t any drawing going on here. That was done in her office down behind the showroom.
In fact, the unpainted room consisted of a small sound system, a modest television mounted to one wall, a simple black coffee table scattered with fashion magazines, a leather recliner, and a single plush red couch
Rarity slipped around behind Rainbow and closed the door behind them with a toe. Rainbow felt Rarity’s fingers gently slip under the heavy fabric of her flight jacket. “Let me help you with that, darling.”
Rainbow thanked her, wormed her way towards the couch, sat down with a flop and sprawled.
Honestly, ‘sat’ wasn't the right word. ‘Sank into’ would be a much better fit. It was like someone took a cloud, wrapped it in the deepest red upholstery they could find, and nailed it to the floor, and called it a couch.
Aches and pains she didn’t even know she had rapidly began fading away from Rainbow’s limbs like she was in a hot bath.
“I love your couch, Rarity,” Rainbow moaned. “So much better than that junk heap I have.”
Rarity stifled a giggle and quickly folded Rainbow’s jacket with a few precise motions. “Such is the difference when you actually purchase your furniture, dear. Dragging home some discarded piece from a suburb driveway is not exactly a guarantor of quality.”
“No, but it sure saves a helluva lot of money,” Rainbow said and thrusted a single finger upwards as if to declare that this was the true final word on such a petty subject.
With a shake of her head, Rarity tossed the folded jacket into the seat of her recliner and moved to pick up the two cups of cocoa she had left on the coffee table.
She gently slid into place next to Rainbow, curled her legs up beside herself and leaned into Rainbow softly.
“Hot cocoa, as promised,” she said as she handed one steaming cup to Rainbow.
Within moments, the television was on and set to some romcom movie. Sleepless in Seasaddle this time, but the particular film didn't really matter. They were a simple stupid kind of fun. You always knew exactly how it would go; Guy meets girl, sexual tension happens, guy misunderstands something, drama happens, they make kissy faces, and it's all happily ever after. Rarity felt the same, too. They usually spent their movie nights just chatting over these formulaic messes.
“So, darling, how was your week?” Rarity asked, eyes still fixed on the movie.
“It went pretty good, I guess,” Rainbow replied. “Celestia was right, the second week was definitely a lot easier than the first week. The kids started to trust me a bit. For the most part. Rumble is a bit standoffish.”
“That’s odd. He was always such a friendly boy when we were younger,” Rarity said.
Rainbow nodded absently; She hoped nothing came of Rumble’s attitude. It was probably just a bad couple of weeks for him.
“What about you?” Rainbow asked. “Early November is usually pretty hectic here.”
“No new clients thankfully. Just the same several dozen ordering something from this season’s line. Was quite routine really.”
“Cool.”
Their conversation faded away, and the sounds of B-list actors reading from a C-list script filled the room. Eventually, the drained mugs, stained with the undissolved remains of instant cocoa, were sitting abandoned on the coffee table. The movie had wrapped up moments ago and the credits rolled along the screen to a faintly romantic piano tune while Ambassador Satch sang over it with a voice like hard scotch whisky.
Through the window, the canterlot skyline was a black silhouette against a riot of colors- sultry reds swam with sublime blues and mixed with fiery oranges and spilled sumptuous purples on all the spaces inbetween. The broken remains of the day’s cloud cover drifted into the serene darkness encroaching from the east, faint puffs of yellow against the growing night.
’Now would be perfect. Tell her how you feel! With the sunset in her window and Satchmo playing, the mood is perfect!’ Rainbow said to herself.
Rainbow looked down at Rarity who was languidly stretching her lithe legs. Rarity caught Rainbow’s eyes and gave her a sly smile; Those big blues glittered gently in the dim light of early evening.
’Tell her!’ she screamed at herself.
A trembling, nervous smile overcame her. Rarity’s velvety hand slowly trailed its way up Rainbow’s thigh. Those big blue eyes narrowed and Rainbow’s face started to heat up.
’Tell her!Tell her!Tell her!Tell her!’
Rarity leaned in closer, putting her legs underneath her body to reach higher. Rainbow felt a her stomach sprout butterflies. She was glad she wasn’t standing; her knees couldn’t be trusted in that moment.
’TELL.’
’HER.’
At this critical juncture, at this turning point in the story of one Rainbow “Danger” Dash, she failed utterly. Her stomach churned with a vast flock butterflies, her face was a raging inferno of embarrassment, and she could not stand to stare at that perfect example of womanhood for a single tortuous moment more.
“So, Cheerilee picked up a boyfriend recently,” Rainbow blurted out with a sharp turn of her head. A bullet sailed through the mood and left it a shattered wreck, the shards clattering around her.
Rarity’s smile dropped like a sack of bricks. With a sigh, she settled back into gossip mode.
“Really now?” She said with no shortage of boredom in her voice. “That's good. Poor dear was always so intent on romance, but never had any luck with it,” Rarity opined.
“Yeah, she’d been pretty gloomy recently. Ever since that picture of her boyfriend popped up on her desk though, she’s been over the moon.”
“Good. I do hope she gets her romance,” Rarity said tersely.
“Thanks for dinner Rares.” Rainbow said as she stepped out the Boutique’s door. She rubbed her belly for emphasis, “You always send me away full.”
Rarity leaned on the doorframe, her robe tied up tight to keep the cold evening air out. “Of course, dear. It’s always a joy to have you over.”
“Yeah,” Rainbow said. She paused, hesitation playing over her face.
’I totally blew tonight,’ she thought. ’But next time. Next time I’ll do it.’
The butterflies decided now was a perfect time to start kicking around again. Her voice had a nearly imperceptible tremble when she spoke up again.
“S-say, how about next week instead of meeting up here, we go out for the evening?” Rainbow asked. “Hit the theater and maybe get some dinner after?”
Rarity looked at her with those big blue eyes as if searching for something in her question. Rainbow felt beads of sweat begin to form in her hair.
’Did I say something stupid? I totally said something stupid. Goddamn it, I said something stupid.’
Rarity broke her stare with a smile. A loaded smile, daringly inviting and subtly coy all at once. She narrowed her eyes and shifted her weight to better accentuate her form, silhouetted as it was by the light inside.
“Dinner and a Movie? Darling, are you trying to seduce me?” Rarity asked playfully.
Rainbow laughed and her cheeks flushed red. “Y-yeah, totally am. You got me!” she sputtered out. She kicked at the ground absently while trying her best to not look at Rarity. “Seriously though. You always cook dinner for me on Sunday. Like every week. Figured I should pay some of that back, ya know?”
Rarity straightened out. “Sounds marvelous, Rainbow. I’ll get us a reservation at somewhere nice.” She said, the playfulness replaced with a genuine warmth.
“Not too nice now, I’m a gym teacher, don’t have too much to toss around.” Rainbow said, putting her hands up in mock defense.
“Oh, of course darling. I doubt we would truly enjoy ourselves if we went any particularly expensive restaurants, anyway,” Rarity waved off.
“Still, wear your suit. You look so devilishly handsome in it,” Rarity’s smile turned predatory.
“O-Ok-- I will.” She stammered out.
“Good. See you Sunday, Rainbow Dash,” Rarity whispered headily. With a wink and a twirl, she disappeared back into her home. The door closed with a gentle click and blotted out the warm lights within.
As the cinnamon scent of Rarity faded into the night, Rainbow Dash let her posture fail and slumped into herself. She trudged back to her car, kicking herself the whole way.
There was always next week.
Back in Rarity’s home, in her decadently decorated bedroom, the woman in question dug through a discrete drawer in her nightstand. “Found it!” she cried as she pulled a small blue object free from it’s prison.
Rarity flopped onto the plush mattress with a grunt, her face a contorted mess of frustration. “I swear, that girl is as dense as a brick,” she muttered. “She’s lucky she’s such a sweetheart. I might have been offended.” A purple nail caught the tiny switch at the base of the blue toy, setting it to vibrate.
“Well, at least I have you, my dear friend,” Rarity said breathlessly.
Unfortunately for her, the buzzing faded almost as quickly as it started.
Author's Note
NEXT TIME ON RAINBOW BALL Z: school days, gym class, and hopeless romantics.
