Rainbow Dash felt shame very rarely.
Shame was as rare an emotion for her as sorrow. In the case of this day, however, she felt both in spades. True shame, and true sorrow for her were about as rare as winning a million bits in Las Pegasus. She might have thought to fly there and play the slot machines- but her current attire that caused her such shame and sorrow didn’t allow her that luxury.
Rainbow Dash stood in her own birthday party, hair done up in an uncharacteristic braid and unmussed, make up perfect, and in a horrifically frilly and girly dress that rendered her completely unable to fly. Had one bothered to ask her what her definition of hell might be, she would have told them this. Because she was being forced to interact with the townsponies in this dreaded state.
The question she’d been asked most that evening from the guests at her party was if she’d lost a bet. She’d managed a chuckle and nodded her head every time, but that was so far removed from the truth. The truth was this admittedly elaborate and humiliating situation was all planned on Rarity’s part as revenge for Rainbow stranding herself and Pinkie Pie when Applejack had run away from Ponyville and she’d tried to help bring her home.
Had she been thinking clearly, she might have thought to ask Pinkie why she allowed Rarity to control this party and allow this to happen. She, unfortunately, was not thinking straight enough to. Nor was she thinking well enough to call Rarity out on this behavior that was definitely unladylike of her. At this point, she was simply fighting to hold onto the one shred of dignity she had left and not cry or have a panic attack when she thought about the fact that Rarity had touched her hooves in preparation for this torture.
She’d managed to make it through most of the party without letting her mask of composure crack, but when the cake came out and everypony began to sing to her, she felt her mouth begin to quaver and tremble. But she did not break. Not in front of the crowd. She knew all eyes were on her and her horrendously uncool outfit, and she felt so disgusting that she thought she might stand in the shower for days scrubbing herself and never feel clean.
There was cake and presents (Rainbow had managed to gain enough of her wit back at that point to get just a dab of frosting on the dress to make her feel a bit more like herself), and then finally, the night began to draw to a close. She couldn’t have felt more relieved to hear that. The party dwindled in size from a large crowd to small pockets of ponies, and Rainbow leapt at the opportunity to sneak out.
Just before she could, however, Pinkie Pie stopped her.
“Where ya goin’, Rainbow? The party isn’t over yet!” Pinkie asked in her typical bouncy tone.
Rainbow Dash was grateful for the scrap of wit she’d gained earlier, so she could make up an excuse. “Hey Pinkie. Sorry, I’m just a little drunk on the cider and needed some air.”
“Oh! Okie Dokie Lokie, then! I’ll be sure to wrap up your cake for tomorrow then if you don’t wanna take it home now.”
Rainbow smiled a little in gratitude. “That sounds great, Pinkie. Thanks.”
“No problem!” And just like that, Pinkie bounced away.
Rainbow too was about to turn away and leave when she caught sight of Rarity looking at her. The moment between their eye contact was quick, no more than two seconds, but it was enough to give Rarity the impression that Rainbow was on the verge of tears.
Rarity frowned at that. That had not been her intention. Humiliation, certainly, but not that level of upset. It took a few moments for her mind to conjure up a course of action as she’d debated whether or not to go after her, but eventually she graciously bowed out of the conversation she’d been in with Fluttershy and Twilight and went to Find Rainbow Dash.
Rarity illuminated her horn and used it as a flashlight. It was unfortunate a sleepy town such as Ponyville did not have as many lanterns as Canterlot, for it would have made her duty much easier. However, her search did prove fruitful. After five minutes of searching, she found her friend sitting under a tree in what was likely the darkest portion of Ponyville at that point in time.
Rainbow Dash’s mascara was running, leaving black streaks through her cheeks as she tried futilely to get the dress off of her. She only ended up knocking her head against the tree. When her eyes caught the light coming off of Rarity’s horn, she immediately put her hooves up to try and hide her face. She would not further shame herself with somepony seeing her tears.
“Oh my stars… Rainbow Dash…” Rainbow’s ears managed to droop even further, though it seemed impossible.
“Go away!” The vehement declaration was the most she could manage. She didn’t want to see any pony right now, much less Rarity. Her shame for this evening was her doing, and now she’d come to rub it in, still.
“I just came to see if you were alright, Darling. And to talk.” Rarity said softly, as though comforting a distressed foal.
Slowly, very slowly, Rainbow let her hooves down, assessing Rarity as though she were staring into the jaws of a monster that would swallow her whole. She looked like a spooked little animal, and it twisted something inside Rarity to see her typically confident friend so shaken.
Rarity did not move, but spoke. “I Pinkie Promise, I’m just here to talk.” She said. “Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” She said, performing the appropriate motions alongside the promise. Rainbow hesitated a moment before nodding her acceptance.
Rarity took a seat beside her friend. “I’m sorry, darling. I’ve taken this too far. I can see that now.” She said, helping Rainbow from the dress, and pulling a handkerchief to wipe off her friend’s make up. “I did not intend to hurt you, Rainbow. Just punish you for leaving me with Pinkie at Dodge Junction.”
It took Rainbow a few moments to gain her voice. “Rarity, I know I should have gone back for you and Pinkie Pie back at Dodge Junction. I do. But I also felt like there wasn’t enough time left and we had to worry about Applejack. Why I didn’t go back after she was there, I don’t really know. Maybe it was the excitement of having her back. But I am sorry about that. If you’d wanted to make me over for a day, that would have been my just desserts, but taking over my birthday and putting me in a frilly dress that doesn’t let me fly at all was… Harsh.”
Rarity sighed, nodding. “I suppose I did do a bit more than what was necessary. I never intended to hurt you, darling. I hope you know that. I’m terribly sorry that I made you feel so awful. If you like, we can do whatever you like tomorrow to make up for it.”
Rainbow contemplated that. “I’ll have to think about that for a minute.” She said, sniffing. “I’m kind of a mess right now.”
“Of course. Do take your time.”
Rainbow was silent a minute or two. “Alright. We can do something tomorrow. Just… Next time when you’re mad at me, just talk to me about it. Making me feel bad has only made you feel bad too. I say we make a truce.”
Rainbow offered her hoof, and Rarity took it. “Truce. And I hope you can forgive me.”
Rainbow finally gave a smile to her friend that was genuine. “I forgive you, Rares. But, to help repay me, you’re going to have to float a story for me.”
“What story?”
“I lost a bet to Applejack, and you gave her the idea for both of our losing terms and that’s why I was dressed that way.”
Rarity managed a small chuckle. “Deal.” She smiled. “Shall we head back to your party?”
“No way. I’m out, and I’m going home to down some cider, to sleep for a very, very long time, and hopefully forget this night ever happened.”
“Of course. I understand. Shall I say you got sick and needed to get home.”
Rainbow smiled. “That’d be nice. Thank you, Rarity. For our talk.”
“Anytime, darling. Anytime.” Rarity smiled.
Rainbow Dash gave Rarity one last grateful look, before she began to fly home in the comfort of knowing her humiliation was over. Rarity meanwhile, put her hanky away and took the dress in hoof. She dropped it off at Carousel Boutique before heading back to the party to make Rainbow Dash’s excuse.
It was a good talk indeed.
