Rainbow Dash flew, slowly, out towards the forest and away from the town. She hated flying slowly, but for once she didn’t feel like going fast. No matter how much she tried to deny it, she couldn’t escape the fact that she was depressed.
The entire Mare Do Well ordeal was frustrating enough. Nobody had said it, but everyone knew that it was a competition. A competition between Rainbow Dash and the mysterious Mare Do Well. And, well, even though nobody said it, everyone knew that Rainbow Dash lost. She hated losing.
But that wasn’t really what she was upset about, Rainbow thought, as she passed over another line of trees, looking for nowhere in particular. The worst part happened just a few minutes ago, as she found out that all of her friends had played the mare, behind her back, in order to teach her a lesson. They said they needed to take drastic action because she was getting out of hand.
They were right, of course. Rainbow knew that. She had been arrogant, selfish, and completely full of herself. Rainbow Dash nodded along with their explanation, and they bought it. Because she meant it, really. At least, she thought so.
But it still hurt. It was still embarrassing. And she still felt kind of betrayed.
Rainbow Dash barely noticed as she landed, apparently next to a pond or something. She didn’t really care, and it was getting kind of hard to see with her vision clouding up for some reason. Maybe something in her eye. She wasn’t going to cry, though. She didn’t cry over stupid things like that. Crying was for fillies. Crying was for-
“Rainbow Dash?”
The blue mare whirled around to see Rarity standing some distance away. She almost bolted right there. Rainbow Dash did NOT feel like talking to any of her friends right now, and Rarity liked to talk. A lot. Maybe Rarity could tell, too, because she gave a shy smile kept her distance. It would be so easy to just fly away…
But something held her back. Maybe it was the way Rarity seemed to hesitate, as if she didn’t want to come any closer without Rainbow’s permission. Or maybe it was just how weird the whole situation was. Somehow Rarity seemed out of place. Actually, Rainbow Dash realized, it was pretty weird just for her and Rarity to be alone together. They never seemed to hang out unless some of their other friends were around. And what was she doing in the middle of the forest anyways?
“Umm, what are you doing here Rarity?” Rainbow Dash asked, trying to sound normal.
It was kind of an obvious question, but it still seemed to take Rarity by surprise.
“Oh, um, well what are you up to, Rainbow Dash? This is a rather odd place for you to be as well, right?” She ended her question with a weak laugh, but the look Rainbow gave her indicated that she wasn’t in a joking mood.
“Oh all right, I was looking for you. After your… disappearance this afternoon.” As she said this, Rarity approached the pegasus awkwardly, trying not to let their eyes meet.
It was the obvious answer, but it didn’t really answer Rainbow’s question. In fact, it gave her another one. “Why are you looking for- Wait, how did you find me? You must have been really lucky to catch me all the way out here.”
“Lucky? Lucky!?” Her shy voice immediately changed to a whining (or rather, complaining) tone. “Do you have any idea how long I have been running around town asking- ” Rarity suddenly broke off and cleared her throat. “Ahem! Actually, Rainbow Dash, a young colt observed you flying in this direction, and, well, it isn’t very difficult to spot a rainbow colored flying pony.”
Rainbow Dash wasn’t sure what to make of that. She looked pretty proud of herself, but, as Rainbow Dash took a closer look, the unicorn was also a bit flustered and out of breath. She must have really worked hard to find her, and the pagasus was actually impressed. Even though Rarity didn’t make a big deal out of it, it couldn’t have been easy to catch up with her and follow her through the forest. Rarity actually looked pretty cool when she was working hard towards a goal. Wait, what was her goal?
“So, um, why were you looking for me?” Rainbow Dash’s heart sank as she realized what it must be. “I learned my lesson, remember? No more bragging. No problem. It’s- it’s no big deal.” She knew it, she should’ve flown away the moment the unicorn arrived.
Rarity’s smile faded. “No, no, no, I’m not- well, that is to say, I…” Rarity looked down. And to the side. And just about everywhere except at Rainbow Dash. She waited for her friend to finish, but Rarity just stood there, avoiding her gaize. Finally, the pegasus got fed up and trotted the remaining distance to stand right in front of the white mare. She grabbed Rarity’s head to force her to look her in the eye.
“What is it?”
“Well,” Rarity began, “I was hoping I could make you feel better.”
Somehow, that wasn’t what Rainbow Dash was expecting. She let go of the unicorn and this time she was the one having trouble meeting her friend’s gaze.
“I’m fine, Rarity. It’s nothing. Really,” Rainbow Dash said weakly. But she was lying, and they both knew it. “Besides, you wouldn’t really understand anyways.”
Rainbow Dash expected her friend to scold her, or lecture her maybe, but Rarity actually softened her tone.
“No, Rainbow Dash, I understand how you feel.” She moved closer to the blue mare, and Rainbow Dash gave her a questioning look. She wasn’t so sure, but deep down she realized that she wanted Rarity to be right, to understand her.
“I’m sure you remember, Rainbow Dash, when I met prince blueblood at the gala. I thought he was going to be everything I had hoped for. Regal, dashing, charming…” Rarity sighed as Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “But in the end, he was completely rude and selfish! It was most embarrassing, and a complete waste of time! Just like you, I felt betrayed! You see?”
Rainbow Dash didn’t see, and it was quite obvious by the look on her face.
“I don’t know, Rarity. It sounds like you just didn’t get what you wanted, which isn’t so bad. Besides,” she added feeling more depressed than ever, “I didn’t get what I wanted out of the gala either. It sucked.”
Rainbow Dash turned away from Rarity and lay down as she looked out across the pond. It looked like her friend wouldn’t be able to help her out after all…
But Rarity was quick to lie down next to her. “Very well, that was a bad example. But surely you remember the day Trixie came to Ponyville! That was simply awful! She turned my hair green. GREEN!”
“Yea, and she spun me around in a rainbow tornado and I crashed into the ground.”
Rarity nudged the pegasus. “Oh, come now. You crash all the time, but I never leave home without looking presentable. I certainly had the worse end of that encounter.”
Rarity looked at Rainbow Dash, who was, unsurprisingly, not feeling very reassured. She decided to change the subject quickly.
“Or what about the time we thought Zecora cursed us. All of the hard work I put into my mane was wiped away by a silly blue plant!” Rarity laughed. “That was an experience I could have done without.”
“Yea,” Rainbow Dash responded, without her friend’s enthusiasm. “I remember. I couldn’t do my favorite thing in the world. I crashed every time I flew five feet.”
“Yes but you crash all the- oh. Right.”
Rainbow Dash turned her head to face the unicorn. “Look, Rarity. I know you’re trying to help, and, well, thanks, but it’s not really working. You’re just reminding me of all of the bad things about me.”
Rarity looked worried. “Don’t be so negative, Rainbow Dash. You have so many good qualities too…”
Rainbow Dash shook her head. “I don’t think it’s working out”
“But-”
The pegasus stood up.
Rarity quickly stood up as well. “But-”
“Maybe I just need to be alone for-”
“You’re beautiful!” The words escaped her mouth before Rarity even realized they were there.
“…”
“…”
“What?”
“Objectively speaking, I mean. Very pretty.”
Whatever Rainbow Dash was expecting, it wasn’t that. Rarity looked at her nervously.
“Pretty? I don’t know...” Rainbow Dash thought for a moment. She wasn’t used to being called… pretty. “I may be cool, radical, and awesome, but I don’t know about being pretty.”
“Nonsense! Besides, aren’t those all the same thing?”
Rainbow Dash let her face fall onto her raised hoof. “Of course not. They’re completely different!”
Rarity raised her eyebrow. “How so?”
“Well, umm… You can just tell.” Rainbow Dash struggled to find an analogy. “Kind of like how you know that lime green and neon yellow go together, or something.”
“That must be the most horrid color combination I have ever heard. Regardless, you may be ‘cool’ or ‘radical’ as well, but you are certainly pretty.”
Rainbow Dash didn’t look convinced, so Rarity continued.
“You see,” Rarity said, speaking quickly, “you have a very natural beauty. Your short mane, for example, compliments your strong, daring attitude.” Rarity began circling her friend as she listed her physical qualities. “You have quite a nice body, if I may be so bold. Slim, but firm.”
Rainbow couldn’t hold back a blush, but if Rarity noticed then she didn’t show it. She continued without pause. “I know quite a few ponies that would kill for your figure. And your tail! Your tail is so tight and sharp! And it is framed so beautifully against your muscular legs and full flan- ahem!”
Thankfully, Rainbow Dash didn’t seem to be following that last bit. Instead she was preoccupied with a different line of thought.
“You know, Rarity,” she began, “you’re trying awfully hard…”
“Whatever do you mean, Rainbow Dash?” Rarity didn’t like where the conversation was going, but it was a relief to get away from her… hastily spoken observations.
Rainbow Dash, for her part, wasn’t sure where she was going with this, but something told her that she was on the right track. So she continued.
“Why did you chase me all the way out here? Why are you trying so hard to cheer me up?”
“Well, you are my friend of course, Rainbow Dash, and I know how you feel, and I owe you, so…”
That last part piqued her attention. “Owe me?”
Rarity looked down. “Never mind.”
And suddenly it hit her. Of course Rarity owed her. Rainbow Dash saved her life. And it all made sense.
“The young flier competition.” Rainbow said softly.
She looked right at Rarity, but the unicorn turned away. She looked uncharacteristically embarrassed, and, was she blushing?
“I wasn’t going to bring it up, but yes, I am in your debt because of, well, you know.” She looked up at Rainbow Dash, who just looked right back at her, urging her on. “And, coincidentally, you can draw quite a few parallels between that incident and this one. We got a bit carried away showing off, and we both ended up paying the price. When I fell from the sky, my only thought was how I brought this upon myself. But you saved me. And you forgave me.”
Rarity found herself looking deep into Rainbow’s eyes, and the pegasus was staring right back. “Ever since then, I always thought about you. About how I owe you, that is. And how, well, we might not be so different. ”
Of course. And now, Rarity was trying to be Rainbow Dash’s hero, in her own way. As Rainbow Dash looked in her eyes, she knew that Rarity was telling the truth. She saw honesty, vulnerability, and something that was more than just settling a debt, more than just friendship. But she wanted to be sure.
“Rarity.” She said seriously. “You don’t have to owe me anything. I won that competition, remember? And I had a great time with the Wonderbolts afterwards, even if the gala was a disaster. So you don’t have to cheer me up.”
It wasn’t often that Rainbow Dash was so serious, and it completely melted Rarity’s heart. She almost hugged the mare right then and there. But she had to compose herself. Focus, Rarity.
“Well, Rainbow Dash, if it means that you will accept my help, then you might choose to believe that I am not simply here because of my debt to you. If you like, you could believe that I admire your courage and your heroics, even if you put on a bit of a show. Especially if you put on a show.” Rainbow Dash’s face lit up. “You could believe that I like you the way you are, and I don’t want to leave you sulking here all alone.”
“You like me?” Rainbow Dash asked simply.
Rarity blushed, looked away, and hesitated before responding.
“That is hardly a polite question to ask, Rainbow Dash. I am simply here to cheer up a friend.”
And Rainbow Dash smirked. So that’s how it was going to be.
“Well you know Rarity,” Rainbow said as she began trotting in a circle around the white mare. “You aren’t doing a very good job.” Rarity gave her friend a confused and slightly hurt look. The big smile on Rainbow Dash’s face reassured her though, and Rarity didn’t interrupt. “In fact,” Rainbow continued, “I’m still feeling pretty bad. So, to cheer me up, you should probably come with me to a nice restaurant, say, tomorrow night after my weather shift.”
Rarity smiled. “I suppose,” she said, “I have no choice.”
Rainbow Dash began walking back to town, and beckoned for Rarity to follow. That unicorn was awful at reassuring her friends, but Rainbow Dash still felt better. A lot better. She and Rarity had never been especially close, but, the pegasus realized, she had always respected Rarity’s ability to look good, and maybe even cool.
Rarity caught up to her, and the two ponies left the forest together, walking so close they were almost touching. And despite the fact that Rarity was tired, sweaty, dirty, and out in the middle of nowhere, she was happy. Much to the surprise of Rainbow Dash, Rarity leaned in to nuzzle her head against her friend’s neck. Rainbow Dash may not have always been Rarity’s best friend, but she was always her hero.
