Rarity and Rainbow were locked in a battle of wits!
Chess
The two have been hanging out at Twilight's request to get over the differences in their personalities.
And they recently made a bet...
Let's start from the beginning...
"RAINBOW!" Rarity cried as Rainbow Dash got mud on her again.
"Hey, not my fault you were standing there," Rainbow snarked as she took back to the air.
"Ugh, these excursions are stressful enough with dust getting on my coat, I do NOT need mud too!" Rarity wiped herself off with a rag.
"Aw c'mon, a little mud never got anypony dirty, live a little," Rainbow said.
"I prefer cleanliness, thank you," Rarity said.
"Lame," Rainbow said.
The two had gone with the group into the gem caves with Spike and Twilight to harvest some minerals for an experiment.
Now if these two could stop bickering like foals.
"I swear, if you don't learn to trot before you fly you'll definitely go soft," Rarity said.
"Pfft, me soft? Have you seen these muscles?" Rainbow bragged.
"Ugh," Rarity groaned.
"Please stop you two, we need to focus," Twilight said as she used her magic to lift a pick ax and chisel open a rock.
"Yeah, we're burning daylight," Spike agreed as he used his tail like a jackhammer to dig.
"I will when this mare here learns some refinement!" Rarity said as Rainbow swooped over her head.
"And I will when this mare learns to live a little," Rainbow said with an eye roll.
"Can you at least help?" Rarity demanded.
"Sure, when you say please," Rainbow snickered.
"RAINBOW!" Rarity said loudly as Rainbow flew over to some stalactites to check for any minerals.
"Calm down you two, we need to find red garnets, blue sapphires, and Opal first," Twilight said as she started chiseling away at a bigger rock.
"Alright alright," Rainbow landed and began digging with her hooves.
As Rarity used her gem-finding magic to scour the ground for any traces of the necessary stuff, she came across a gem patch.
"I found a gem patch!" Rarity said with sparkles in her eyes as she beheld some choice.
Good work Rarity," Twilight said as she trotted over, and began digging through the pile.
Spike helped while Rainbow and Rarity wandered off to continue searching.
As they dug through the ground they saw more gems but not the ones they were looking for.
"I do swear you need to be a tad more refined, I mean, you hardly have any manners," Rarity said.
"Oh not this again, c'mon, why do I gotta bend to your rules?" Rainbow said.
"I am merely suggesting something more fitting, such as wearing the occasional dress, greeting ponies properly, or at the very least not farting on me," Rarity said.
"Hey now, I'm not that much of a slob am I?" Rainbow said a little frustratedly.
"....Well," Rarity thought back.
"Hey Rares! Hoofbump!" Rainbow said, extending her hoof.
"Very well," Rarity did so.
"Oh wait, I forgot I sneezed into that hoof..." Rainbow said absentmindedly.
".....EW!" Rarity hurriedly got out some hoof sanitizer from her purse.
The six were sitting around a table.
And Pinkie and Rainbow were having a belching contest...
"My turn! My turn!" Pinkie said before taking a deep breath and belching
loudly.
"Hah, not bad, but check this out!" Rainbow took a deeper breath.
"Pardon me, can you pass me the salt?" Rarity asked Rainbow who turned last second and belched in Rarity's face loudly.
When it was over Rarity looked shocked and her mane was frazzled.
"Oops, sorry, here," Rainbow slid the salt to her.
"Hey Rares, are you okay with me returning that dress you loaned me?" Rainbow asked.
"Sure... why?" Rarity asked.
"Because it's all messed up," Rainbow hoofed it over and Rarity saw it was in a disastrous state.
"MY WORD! H-how did this happen?" Rarity demanded.
"What do you expect when you crash a frat house party? Especially when they're serving hard cider," Rainbow said nonchalantly.
"....I can think of a few," Rarity said.
"Well you not so innocent either Mrs. Perfect," Rainbow said.
"My word, since when have I been a slob?" Rarity demanded offendedly.
"Maybe not a slob but definitely arrogant," Rainbow said.
"When?" Rarity demanded.
"Don't make me have a flashback," Rainbow said.
"We simply must get this dress, it matches my eyes!" Rarity said as she found another dress to add to the massive pile Spike and Rainbow were carrying.
"Seriously?! When are we getting to the pay counter?!" Rainbow demanded.
"Just a few more," Rarity waved her off.
"You said that like THIRTY DRESSES AGO!" Rainbow said.
"Trust me, this is a slow day..." Spike sighed.
"Ready! Set! GO!" A pony called as the three-legged race started.
The others rocketed out of the starting gate and Rainbow took off with Rarity at her side.
"Yeah! We got this!" Rainbow said... before tripping and turning to see Rainbow filing her hoof.
"Uh... what are you doing!?" Rainbow demanded.
"Oh dear, I stepped on a rock and chipped a hoof, I must remedy this posthaste," Rarity said.
"We're in the middle of a freaking race!" Rainbow said.
"I know I know, I just need to fix this first," Rarity said.
"Ugh..." Rainbow sighed.
"Don't you look fabulous?" Rarity declared.
Rainbow was in an all-pink dress with a bow and an umbrella.
"....I hate this..." Rainbow muttered.
"And those are just the recent weeks," Rainbow said.
"Dear me, it is no crime to want refinement once in and while!" Rarity said.
"A little bit is fine, but you're not even trying to be subtle anymore!" Rainbow barked back.
"Hmmph, like you'd know a thing," Rarity said.
"Girls!" Twilight sighed trotting over as she saw them arguing again.
"I bet you wouldn't last a day as me!" Rainbow said.
"And I bet you wouldn't last an hour as me!" Rarity snapped back.
"I-"
"GIRLS!" Twilight picked them both up in her aura.
"Huh?" They turned to Twilight.
"You two need to stop, this could impact your friendship at this rate!" Twilight said.
"But she-" They both said but Twilight stamped her hoof.
"NO! I am putting my hoof down, you two need to stop, and I see only one way," Twilight said.
"What?" They asked.
"With this!" Twilight said, showing them a beaker full of a green liquid.
"...You waited until we got here just to say that?" Rainbow asked.
"Yes, now listen, this concoction will swap your personalities, temporarily," Twilight said.
"......Are you mad!?" Rarity said.
"What?" Twilight said.
"You expect us to try some experimental concoction to trade personalities? Did Discord put you up to this?" Rarity asked.
"No... anyways, I tested this with Fluttershy, with permission of course and we successfully switched for a few days, this could be the answer," Twilight said.
"Like hay, I'm going to become a fashionista," Rainbow said.
"No way," Rarity said.
"Come on, please, this could prove that last time wasn't a fluke," Twilight said.
"No!" They said.
"How about this, one of you drinks it, with a DNA sample it'll work," Twilight said.
"N.O," Rainbow said.
"No," Rarity said.
"The one who drinks it will get ten bits," Twilight offered.
"....Tempting but no," Rarity said.
"Eh, no," Rainbow said.
"And a trip of your choice," Twilight offered.
"....Oh! Alright," Rarity said.
"Still no," Rainbow said before going into thought "Unless we make it interesting... tell you what, I'll do it, but, Rares has to beat me at chess, loser drinks it," Rainbow said.
"Why chess?" Twilight asked.
"Because I've been practicing, So I'll be ready for you next time Twilight," Rainbow said confidently.
"Beat me at chess? Darling I play every Wednesday, I won't lose," Rarity said with confidence as well.
"We'll see," Rainbow said.
"Left your knight wide open," Rainbow said, moving her pawn and taking down the knight.
"I lured you in, say goodbye to your bishop!" Rarity said, moving her queen.
"Hah, back at you," Rainbow said, striking down her bishop with a rook.
"Tch!" Rarity was betting on that Bishop, she had to find a path to the king before Rainbow struck her down on the chessboard.
"I can smell victory, and it smells like your desperation," Rainbow said with a smirk.
"No! I will not lose this! Take this!" Rarity moved her king out of the path of the rook Rainbow just moved and took down a pawn in the process, double win... except she didn't pay attention to a certain L-shaped movement Rainbow could make.
"And the knight claims the king!" Rainbow cheered, knocking over the king with her knight.
"NOOOOO!" Rarity cried.
"Here's a plate of your words, eat up," Rainbow smirked.
"I-I, I demand a rematch!" Rarity said.
"Sorry Rarity, them's the rules," Rainbow said.
"Yes, now you have to drink," Twilight said, floating it over to Rarity and depositing a hair Rainbow had donated into it, the hair dissolved and the liquid became rainbow-colored.
"....." Rarity looked to the exit.
"Don't bother running, I can move faster than you," Rainbow said.
"Ooooh... Please Twilight, don't make me drink that," Rarity begged.
"You lost the bet fair and square, now get ready to get sporty," Rainbow said.
".....Oh! Fine! It'll be just for a few days," Rarity said before grabbing and downing the whole drink in one gulp.
"Wow," Rainbow said before Rarity let out a burp.
"Excuse me," Rarity said.
"Well? Do you feel any different?" Twilight asked.
"...No... I...Wait...." Rarity suddenly had a stomach ache and she clutched her stomach before groaning as the pain intensified.
"Are you alright?" Twilight worriedly said.
"M-My stomach hurts! I think I'm gonna-" Then with a scream, the room was filled with a rainbow-colored explosion.
"AGH! Twilight and Rainbow cried flying back, upon getting up they saw Rarity standing amidst the smoke.
"Rarity?" Twilight asked nervously.
".......Yeah? What's up, egghead?" Rarity asked before the smoke cleared Rarity was a white and purple pegasus, with the same messy hairstyle and cutie mark as Rainbow Dash.
"Hah! It worked, how's the new confidence, Rarity?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Har har, don't act so superior mini-me," Rarity said.
"Mini me?! You're the mini version of me!" Rainbow got in her face.
"And yet I have greater fashion sense and I'm faster than you," Rarity mocked.
"Oh, you're on!" Rainbow said and the two blazed out of there.
".....Hopefully this doesn't come back to bite me," Twilight said.
The two were standing on a cloud overlooking the town, prepping for the race by stretching and prepping their wings.
"Say Rares?" Rainbow asked.
"Yeah?" Rarity replied.
"How do you expect to race when you've never flown?" Rainbow asked with a smirk.
"I've flown before, remember?" Rarity scoffed.
"Yeah, with butterfly wings, how about pegasus wings?" Rainbow said.
"Yeah right, like I'm going to fall behind you, I'm the fastest flyer in Equestria!" Rarity said determinedly.
"In your dreams!" Rainbow said.
"Then put your bits where your mouth is," Rarity said.
"You're so on, on the count of three!" Rainbow said.
"See you at the finish line," Rarity said.
"Alright, beginning countdown!" Rainbow said as they both got into identical stances.
"......THREE!" The two rocketed off the cloud at the same time, Rainbow expected her to fall behind but Rarity circled over her and waved.
"Hey, slowpoke!" Rarity called before zooming ahead.
"What?!" Rainbow said before flying faster and matching her.
"Nice try, catching up!" Rarity taunted.
"I'm not even trying!" Rainbow said as sweat went down her brow.
The two blazed through the air and ponies everywhere saw this.
"A race? Sweet!" A random stallion said.
"My money is on Rainbow!" Bon Bon said.
"You're on!" Lyra said.
The two were neck and neck and picking up more and more speed.
"Hahaha!" Rarity said as she gained a lead.
"NOT TODAY!" Rainbow matched her again.
As the two blazed through the air and flew over the Everfree they picked more and more speed and Rainbow was preparing to use the rainboom.
"Let's see you beat this!" Rainbow said as she went full speed.
"You're on!" Rarity said as she did the same and they began to form air cones around themselves as the wind resistance was failing.
"She can do a rainboom; I got this!" Rainbow said before giving it her all and taking off, leaving a rainboom behind.
"HAHA! It's in the bag!" Rainbow said as she shot across the sky... before noticing another boom behind her and she turned her head to see a diamond-shaped sonic boom and Rarity flying right behind her.
"WHAT?!" Rainbow exclaimed.
"Forget who the potion modeled me after?" Rarity grunted.
"No freaking way am I losing!" Rainbow said as they reached the other side of the Everfree and they looped around and flew back towards Ponyville.
As they flew they could feel the exertion and the sweat pouring off of them.
Pretty soon they were looping around each other, turning into a multi-colored spiral and they reached Ponyville soon.
As they shot across the sky and back to the big cloud they started on and they crashed into it with great force, actually scooting the cloud back.
As they both lay there panting they stared at the sky looking shocked.
"I.... tied with Rarity?" Rainbow said.
"Guess I'm not the fastest, just equal to her," Rarity chuckled.
"Wow... I underestimated you Rares," Rainbow Dash chuckled.
"Same here," Rarity said and the two started laughing eventually they sat up and saw the setting sun in the distance.
"You like this for a couple days, right?" Rainbow asked.
"Yeah, that's what the egghead said," Rarity said.
"...How about tomorrow I give you a chance to see what a day like me is like?" Rainbow said.
"You got it!" Rarity said.
"Cool, let's rest up and then head home," Rainbow said.
The next day was an exciting day for Rainbow, she woke up with a jaw-cracking yawn and she got out of bed before heading into the bathroom to take a shower.
As she climbed into the shower and turned around, she noticed that it was already on.... and Rarity was in it.
"Hmm?! Hey, get out!" Rarity tossed Rainbow out of the bathroom.
"Hey!" Rainbow cried as she landed on the soft cloud.
"Wait your turn!" Rarity said before shutting the door.
"Uh, this is my house, the hay are you doing in there!?" Rainbow demanded.
"No this is my home!" Rarity said from the shower.
"What? What the hay are you talking about?" Rainbow demanded.
When she didn't respond Rainbow just huffed and went downstairs to get some cereal.
"Hmmph, kick me out of my shower," Rainbow muttered.
After Rarity came downstairs, Rainbow and her exchanged glances, and Rainbow gestured with her head to go over to the counter where her cereal bowl was.
"Thanks," Rarity said.
"So what was all that about you being the owner of this house when it’s clearly mine?” Rainbow asked.
"Because it is, I own this cloud house... right?" Rarity seemed unsure.
"No you live in Carousel Boutique," Rainbow said.
"Odd... it may just be the potion," Rarity said "So what are we working on today?" Rarity asked.
“Well I was thinking of a visit to Cloudsdale since you don’t go there much and we can meet some wonder bolts and probably play a prank on them and then we can go flying around and try some maneuvers and see if you can match me and maybe together we can make quick work out of some tag teams techniques,” Rainbow said
“And at the end of the day come down to Ponyville for some ciders?” Rarity asked.
“Precisely I like the way you think,” Rainbow said
“Duh you and I think the same,” Rarity said.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let’s eat our cereal and get it on.” Rarity said with an eager grin.
“Spoken like a true rainbow dash,” Rainbow laughed.
As the two flew through the air, taking swoops and twirls in the sky, they did some zigzags and loop loops to try and practice for the moves. They’re going to demonstrate at the Wonderbolts arena.
They eventually made it to the floating city, and they wasted no time flying straight to the Colosseum. Several ponies noticed the similar Rainbow Dash pony that looked like that fashionista rarity, and they waved as the two waved at them.
"Alright, you know your way around," Rainbow Dash said.
"Again, duh, you remember?" Rarity chuckled.
"Don't need to keep reminding me," Rainbow rolled her eyes.
"There's Soarin!" Rarity declared and they looked to see the stallion sitting on a bench outside relaxing.
"Let's surprise him," Rainbow Dash said.
"Love that idea," Rarity said and they both circled around.
Soarin lay there relaxing after another grueling shift.
Spitfire was being extra firm these days since tryouts are in a month, she always runs them ragged.
"Hey Soarin!" Rarity and Rainbow's voice called at the same time.
"Huh?" Soarin looked to see Rainbow and a purple and white mare who was her doppelganger "Whoa! What the?" He said.
"What's wrong? Are you seeing double?" Rainbow and Rarity said in unison.
"Uh... did I train too hard? Because I swear there's a differently colored you standing right there," Soarin asked.
Both made a show of looking around in sync and shrugging at the same time.
"Dude I think you might be seeing things after all. You did hit your head pretty hard.” The two said.
“I hit my head. What do you mean?” Soarin asked
“You had an accident in the arena now you’re seeing things,” Rainbow and Rarity said, trying to hold back their chuckles.
"Wait, I’m unconscious right now. This has to be a trick.” Soarin said with a mix of firmness and fear.
“Nope, no trick here. It’s just me," They said with chuckles.
"...Is Spitfire a hallucination too then?" Soarin asked.
"Spitfire?" Rainbow asked.
"Attention! Salute!" Spitfire shouted.
"AGH!" Both were startled and they spun and saluted at the same time.
"Rainbow! No horsing around, get to work!" Spitfire said.
"Yes, mam!" Rainbow said.
"And you!... who are you?" Spitfire asked.
"Um... a big fan?" Rarity said.
"While I appreciate it, fans aren't supposed to be here," Spitfire said.
"Wait! She's got skills like mine!" Rainbow said.
"She does?" Spitfire said suspiciously.
"Yeah, she's... from somewhere else and will have to leave soon… b-but I was hoping we could do some practice while we're here," Rainbow said.
"...Hmm... if she's as good as you say she is we can do a brief audition during break time," Spitfire said.
"Great!" Rainbow said before Spitfire said something else.
"BUT, I expect good flying, if not you have to do infinity symbol flying maneuvers for three hours, got it?" Spitfire said.
"Got it," Rainbow said with a tint of nervousness.
"Rainbow, you don't have to..." Rarity said.
"No no, we got this," Rainbow said.
"Great, head on in," Spitfire said and they went inside.
"....Can I still-" Soarin said but Spitfire cut him off.
"And you get back to work," Spitfire said.
"Ok..." Soarin sighed.
As the group made their way inside, they went through some hallways and approached the arena where some of the trainees were practicing some moves.
“Break time! Rainbow has something to show us” Spitfire said with her usual authority.
The trainees did as told and flew to the benches to relax while Rarity and Rainbow went out onto the field and got ready.
They glanced at each other and nodded.
“Start when ready,” Spitfire said.
The two immediately started by taking off into the air and performing several loops around each other forming a multicolored spiral.
“Follow my lead!” Rainbow said
“Got it!” Rarity said.

They went on to perform a corkscrew in opposite directions with Rarity slightly slower than Rainbow so she could trace her and the two proceeded to ricochet all over the place, performing a synchronized flight maneuver that was almost mesmerizing.
As they descended, they flew close to the ground, then up to each other and they shot into the sky again before zigzagging around each other, leaving the entire arena in a spectacle of purple and rainbow colors.
They then took off and spiraled around their contrails from before before they landed gracefully with a flourish.
They both panted as they stood up and shook off the strain of the athletic maneuvers.
As they rested they heard clapping and they looked up and saw Spitfire approaching.
"Not bad, you were a tad desynchronized but that was colorful and interesting," Spitfire said.
"Whoo hoo!" The two cheered.
"Nevertheless, don't give up on training, there's always room to improve," Spitfire said.
"Welp, guess that's it for training now," Rainbow said.
"Hay yeah!" Rarity said.
"See Rares, isn't it nice to cut loose once in a while?" Rainbow said.
"I admit it's nice to fly like this, a bit of anti-refinement is okay every now and then," Rarity smiled.
"Then let's get moving," Rainbow said.
After a day of exploring Cloudsdale together and having fun, they went back to Ponyville.
The two eventually went to a bar in Ponyville and were taking turns drinking shots of hard cider.
“Doesn’t it feel nice to just toss back a drink every now and then,” rainbow said.
“I do agree I just hope no pony puts two and two together that I am in fact Rarity. I wouldn't want ponies to think that I am unrefined," Rarity said before a pinch in her head made her wince.
"You okay Rarity?" Rainbow asked.
"I-I don't... know," Rarity said, looking a little dizzy.
"Heh, guess the shots are getting to you, makes sense since I'm the real athlete and-" Suddenly Rarity collapsed "Huh?! Rarity!?" Rainbow quickly picked her up and shook her.
"Rarity! What's going on?" Rainbow asked before suddenly Rarity glowed and transformed back into her old unicorn self.
"Huh? It's wearing off already?!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed.
"Ugh, what happened?" Rarity asked, sitting up and rubbing her head.
"You... don't remember?" Rainbow asked.
"My mind is hazy, I certainly remember some things, but not everything," Rarity said.
"Hmm... We better go find egghead," Rainbow said.
Twilight was sitting in a chair overlooking Verity who was on a table and skimming over her with her magic. Eventually, twilight stopped and turned into a rainbow.
“ it seems that the spell wore off early it could be due to certain factors,” Twilight said
“Dang it! I was looking forward to racing her again!" Rainbow complained
"I do apologize but at least we had a decent time together right?" Rarity said.
"Yeah... I guess," Rainbow said.
"I can work on another potion and-"
"No no, I think I am good," Rarity said, getting up and following Rainbow out.
"Alright, have a good night then," Twilight said with some disappointment, when they were gone she turned and resumed writing on her notes.
"Alright next up should be a test between an alicorn and an earth pony, is Cadance willing to partake?" Twilight asked herself.
As the two walked outside the library, they glanced at each other and continued on, as they made it to the boutique they shook hooves.
“All right, I guess you made your point Rainbow cutting loose so to speak every once in a while isn’t so bad,” Rarity said with a chuckle.
Yeah, it was nice to have some pony who I could relate to for at least a day or two, I suppose you want me to drink the potion now and act like you?” Rainbow asked.
“The other day I may have said yes, but I have decided it’s best that we just remain ourselves. Don’t you think?" Rarity said with a smile.
"Agreed, in fact, we can probably make a friendship report about that," Rainbow said.
"Hmm... not a bad idea," Rarity said.
"Then let's go tell Twi, race you there?" Rainbow asked.
"Very well!" Rarity said.
With the challenge set the two stood ready side by side.
"....THREE!" Both launched at the same time.
"Lookie there, guess you do learn," Rainbow chuckled.
"I suppose I do," Rarity chuckled as they hurried back to their friend, ready for another friendship report to be made.
Author's Note
I am happy to announce that I'm doing paid commissions now, so if anyone feels interested let me know.