To be a Cinderainbow

Celestias sun rose slowly over the horizon, bathing the landscape below in a warm, yellow glow. Rainbow Dash was snoring peacefully in her cloud bed, the sheets tossed about and the pillows on the floor, save for one small pillow laying under her head. The clouds that made up dashes house were stark white with a hint of blue witch could only be seen if one were to examine the wall closely. The windows were letting in the first rays on the sun, lighting the lower part of Rainbows Dashes bed.

She gave a small snort in her sleep as her legs twitched slightly, obviously having a very active dream. Next to her bed lay a small nightstand, also made out of clouds, the nightstand held little more than a match lit lamp and a small picture frame housing an autographed picture of her idol, Spitfire. A wall clock hung on a nearby wall, its hands displaying the current time, powered by an enchanted jewel resting within its frame.

The rays of light began to travel along what little remained of the sheets upon Rainbow Dashes bed, making their way to her face inch by inch, soon resting upon her cyan muzzle. She began to stir as the sun reached her eyes, prompting slight grunts of complaint from the sleeping mare.

She slowly opened one eye and then the other as she stared sleepily at the ceiling of her bedroom with a bored and lazy expression. The licked her slightly moist lips, relieving herself from their slimy and drool covered state. Rainbow Dash sat up with a groan of discomfort from waking up and a few bed sores. She took notice to her cocoon of bed sheets, hardening the bored expression upon her face as she began to start her day.

Removing herself from bed, she started to go through a morning routine she had become accustomed to over the past few years of living in Ponyville. Bathe, Groom, Brush teeth and fix bed head to a minimum. She looked herself over in her bathroom mirror once she had finished her routine, shaggy mane, pristine and shiny coat and a small satisfied smile.

She made her way through her house, examining its interior as she went, the few family portraits she had were the standard smiling families and the occasional art piece. She was content with her average home, feeling no need for anything more as she continued down the long staircases and hallways she had designed herself many years ago. Finally coming to a stop at the base of the final staircase, she found herself in the last hallway that connected to her kitchen and living quarters.

She entered the kitchen and prepared her morning meal, a simple daisy and grass sandwich, Simple and quick. She never took the time to learn recipes for cooking, thinking it a waste of time and when she wasted time, it made her feel anxious and out of place. The fastest flier in all of Equestria needed a meal that could waste as little time as possible of course.

As she ate, Rainbow Dash began to go through her mental schedule. 'Wake up... grooming...breakfast and uhm... oh yea, that visit with Rarity!' Rainbow Dash smiled slightly, wondering what her friend had in store for her. Rainbow Dash hoped Rarity wouldn't to frou-frou with her mane and coat, she wanted to look pretty, not like... a 'lady' as Rarity would put it. Rainbow Dash sighed, what would happen would probably be for the best, anything Rarity would do would be in her best interests and intentions, right?

She just gave the thought the cold shoulder, she shouldn't think of such things, it would only make matters worse. With some resignation, Rainbow Dash finally decided to depart for her friends boutique.

It was a slightly cloudy morning in Ponyville, Rainbow Dash didn't have work for another hour, thankfully due to her habit of waking up early. she flew slowly though the air, wanting to enjoy the clean morning air and the cool breeze while it lasted. The sunrise was halfway through its accent into the sky, the colorful display of pink and orange was an awe inspiring scene to even the hardiest of individuals. Ponyville soon came into view as she flew to her destination, the straw thatched roofs and dirt roads could all be seen individually as she flew over Sweet Apple Acres, the hundreds of apples trees planted in neat rows being seen at such a high altitude gave the landscape a green and red dotted pattern with the mixture of yellow and orange from deposits of hay and her fields of corn on the south side of her farm. The outlying mountains and forests gave the world an artful feel, like that of a priceless piece of art. Canterlot hung against the highest peak of the mountain range, its large towers and intricate designs could be seen even at the distance she had spotted them at. She loved living in Ponyville for many reasons, the scenery was a large one.

Rainbow Dash came closer to the ground as the many houses and shops of Ponyville passed underneath her hooves. She landed with a thud and a cloud of dust from the dry dirt pathways that snaked their way all through out Ponyville. She began to head in the direction of Carousel Boutique, her friends clothing shop in the center of town.

The walk to the boutique was uneventful and boring considering only one or two ponies were even awake at an early hour such as she. The pathways became familiar as she remembered them from her previous encounter the night before, she was close to her destination, she smiled as she rounded the corner and the boutique came into view.

The area around Carousel Boutique was the same as she remembered it from last night, the windows were no longer casting their glow and the flags amongst the roof. The surrounding buildings were the same old shops and houses, the bench along the road to the boutiques left was still empty.

Dash approached the front door, eyeing the closed sign in the right window warily, maybe she should  wait a bit longer? Rarity was obviously not awake as early as she was. Rainbow Dash sighed and turned away, her head low to the ground in disappointment. She began her trot when the door opened, revealing Rarity in a bathrobe and hair curlers.

"Rainbow Dash, darling!" she greeted "I thought of you an early Pegasus and decided to help work out your little problem." Rarity retreated into her boutique, leaving the space in the door open for Rainbow Dash to follow. As she entered the boutique she took notice to many ponyquins that usually were occupying Rarity's workspace were now cleared away, dresses and suits among other forms of clothing were laid out, most likely for her to try on, inducing a noticeable cringe as she took notice to the many different styles and colors she thought were just to make her stay at the boutique miserable.

Rarity was looking at Rainbow Dash with a smug smile and a pair of eyes displaying mischief. "Well Rainbow Dash, looks like you and I have plenty of material to work with, hm?" Rainbow Dash just sighed.

"Okay Rarity... I guess better to go through it now than to never go through it at all" Rainbow took one last look at the pile of clothing before her, a feeling of dread forming in her gut.

Rainbow Dash emerged from Carousel boutique, her steps slow and shy, and her head lowered slightly as she attempted to hide her face from the on-looking ponies she passed.

She word a simple white dress that covered her chest and flank, its edges trimmed with a small design and its surface bore a green pattern over the back from the base of her wings to her flank. Her mane was done up in a similar, simple style with a small flower placed behind her left ear for charm as Rarity had assured her, it would only add to her looks. She didn't believe she had any looks to begin with.

She took to hugging walls and turning away from the ponies who greeted her while simultaneously give her looks of confusion and even a few that made her blush. She heard many ponies whisper amongst themselves, asking each other if their eyes told them lies, the brash and athletic Pegasus with the rainbow mane, strutting around in a dress?

She received a few whistles of approval from her simple ensemble causing her face to turn a slight shade of pink ' It's... working?' she thought to herself 'Maybe this wasn't such a bad idea after all,'

Her head began to rise as well as her confidence her slow trot turning into a stride as she made her way through the Ponyville marketplace, her ears picking up a few more remarks and cheers from a couple ponies as she continued forward. Her happy attitude was quickly stopped as well as her stride as she ran face first into a wall of pink and cotton candy.

She rubbed her snout gently as a tear of pain escaped her eyes, she looked at the obstacle she had run into, finding nothing but blue eyes staring back at her. "Pinkie Pie?" Rainbow Dash asked, she received a giggle as a reply.

"Hi, Dashie, what are you doing out here in a dress looking all cutesy wootsie for?"  Pinkie Pie asked as she began to bounce in place as she tended to do. "Are you going out to meet somepony?" Pinkies eyes turned bright and wide as an idea came into her head " We should totally invite him... or her over for a celebration at Sugar Cube Corner!" Pinkie was attracting some very unwanted attention by now and due to the content of pinkies assumptions, was turning Rainbow Dash's face beet red.

"PINKIE!" Rainbow said quickly "keep your voice down, please!" Rainbow Dash cast her cherry faced gaze to the few ponies who were looking at the pair with questioning eyes. "There is no pony im seeing right now, okay?!" Rainbows words were quite and stern but they stung a bit more than she expected, she actually didn't expect them to sting at all.

Pinkie Pie continued to bounce, her voice lowered to a conversations pitch as her friend asked. "Well, mind telling your friend Pinkie here what the dress is all about?" Her eyes met with Rainbows, her curiosity requesting to be sated as to her rainbow manned friends strange actions.

"I'd much rather keep that to myself, Pinkie" Rainbow Dash answered. "I need to get back to Rarity anyway, she said I needed to be out for only a short while anyway" Rainbow Dash began to back away from her Pinkie bouncing ball of a friend "C'ya Pinkie" She told her as she turned around and made her way back to Carousel Boutique.

"Alright, bye Dashie!" Pinkie called out as she bounced off in the direction of Sugar Cube Corner.

Rainbow Dash entered the boutique, the door bell chiming as entered, the hum a sewing machine motor filled the air as she ventured down the hallway to the workshop where her friend Rarity sat, working on another piece of fabric, most likely for her to wear.

"Rarity?" Rainbow Dash called out to catch the seamstresses attention. Rarity stopped her work and brought her sight to the doorway, a smile graced her lips as she saw the smile on Rainbows face as well.

"Oh, darling, I take it that your little test went well?" Rarity knew the answer already."

"You bet'cha, Rarity" Rainbows smile grew wider, making it a toothy grin "I got all kinds of attention down at the marketplace" She shot her friend a playful grin " you might have some competition, Rarity" She laughed a bit as her friends eyes rolled.

"Im very sure of that,dead, but dose this mean that we can move on to the... bigger things?" Rarity looked a Rainbow Dash hopefully, wanting to move up from simple leisure wear to proper clothing and even try some different mane styles.

Rainbow Dashed looked at herself in the mirror, she thought she looked fine, wouldn't going onto bigger dresses and mane styles be over doing it? She thought what she had was more than enough. 'But... if this was enough to get me approval, maybe more would make it even better!' another smile came to her lips as she looked at Rarity.

"Okay Rarity, show me what'cha got!"