A Gray and Stormy Day

Rainbow Dash and Rarity sat down at the table in the kitchen. At this point, Rainbow Dash was considering to just have a quick snack and be on her way. It wouldn't be impossible to fly through a simple rainstorm like this. Of course, she would end up getting soaked and be freezing cold but it seemed like her only chance to escape what boring and humiliating activities that were ahead.

"It's actually quite fortunate that you came here, Rainbow Dash," Rarity said.

"Oh really? Why's that?" Rainbow Dash asked.

Rarity got up and peered into her fridge. "Well, you see, Sweetie Belle normally would be here a lot of times to keep me company but this time she stayed with her friends at their little tree house. I'm glad that you're here. I wouldn't like to spend such a dreadful day sad and alone," she explained.

Rainbow Dash felt a slight change of heart. Now, I really can't just leave her like this. That would be so uncool of me to ditch her if she's this lonely. All of this stuff sounds too girly for me to handle. What am I going do to? she thought.

"Um.. well, you're welcome!" Rainbow Dash tried to say.

"Thank you, Rainbow Dash! I can assure you that today won't be as bad if I have a good friend to spend the time with," Rarity said and pulled out a bag of lettuce along with other salad ingredients using her magic.

"Oh, of course! Rainbow Dash said and gave a fake smile.

Rarity levitated two bowls of salads onto the table. Rainbow Dash looked down at her bowl of salad with a hidden look of disgust. Salad was not something she enjoyed eating on a regular basis. Rather, she only enjoyed the ones which Fluttershy sometimes made for her. Gingerly, she leaned down and grabbed a small piece of lettuce out of the salad. She carefully chewed, expecting a sudden distaste of the food.

"So, Rainbow Dash, let's talk. You really don't say a whole lot about yourself," Rarity said, trying to make conversation.

Rainbow Dash looked up. "That's 'cause I really don't have anything to share," she said.

"Well, what about love? Isn't there somepony out there at all who captures your attention?" Rarity inquired and batted her eyes.

"I-I.. what's it to you? Why is it so important to you?" Rainbow Dash stuttered back, blushing in embarrassment. Who is she to ask me that? It's none of her business! she thought.

"I'm not asking for names. I just am curious if you have any interest in the ponies around here. There's no need to get all upset," Rarity said.

Hesitating, Rainbow Dash said, "I d-don't know.. I really don't feel comfortable talking about this sort of thing, Rarity," she nervously replied.

"Darling, if it makes you uncomfortable talking about it then just say so," Rarity stopped her. "So do you like the salad that I made?" she asked, changing the subject.

Rainbow Dash took a larger bite to get a better opinion of the taste this time. She wished that Rarity had put a different dressing on it because it tasted very different from the ones she had in the past. In fact, it tasted very similar to one that she had at a fancy restaurant a while ago. The only reason why she even went to such a place was because all her were friends were begging her to go with them there.

"It's.. okay," Rainbow Dash lied.

"Okay?" Rarity asked with an exasperated expression. "Honestly, I expected you to like it more than that. Don't you know that this is the kind of salad that they make in most of the restaurants in Canterlot?"

"Yeah, I figured it was by the taste. It would have been better if you just made a, 'normal salad' instead of one that just tastes weird," Rainbow Dash said in a dry tone.

Rarity turned her head away in disgust. "I can't believe how a pony such as yourself would think a expensive salad like this tastes, 'weird' like you said," she said.

"Well, excuse me for having a different opinion!" Rainbow Dash said, flaring her wings.

"Fine. Just let it go to waste then," Rarity said.

Rainbow Dash let out a frustrated groan. "I didn't say that I couldn't eat it," she said.

Instead of waiting for a response, she dove right in the salad, eating in a very sloppy manner and making a mess. In a matter of seconds, the bowl was empty. She lifted her head up from the bowl with small pieces of lettuce stuck to her muzzle. Rarity's face slightly reddened as she shook her head in anger at the sight.

"What in Celestia is wrong with you, Rainbow Dash? Are you crazy? Look at this mess!" Rarity yelled, seething with rage.

Great. Why did I do that? I'm so dumb! Rainbow Dash thought. "I.. um.. well.." she stuttered, blushing in pure embarrassment after her strange outburst.

"What? Tell me, why did you do that?" Rarity pressed. She was now using her nostrils to breath through because she was so upset.

"I.. um.. I'm sorry! I got carried away! I'll clean up, okay?" Rainbow Dash said and tried to wipe the table with her own hoof.

Rarity let out a long sigh and rested her head on a hoof. "Just stop, Rainbow Dash. I'll use my magic so you won't have to get yourself all messy and unclean," she said in a low, strained voice.

Rainbow Dash stopped and let Rarity take care of the mess that she made. She watched as the unicorn manipulated the towel with her magic and wiped away the mess. Instead of brushing off the pieces of lettuce, she used her tongue to grab the bits that were close to her mouth. Before she knew it, a napkin was rubbing off the rest of the food that had gotten stuck to her face and muzzle.

"Sorry, Rarity," Rainbow Dash apologized.

Hesitating for a few seconds, Rarity replied, "I forgive you.. I suppose."

An awkward silence filled the room as both ponies were left unwilling to say another word or start up a conversation with the other. Rainbow Dash contemplated on how bad of an idea it was to stay here. She could've just simply left Rarity's box of chocolates out in the rain and let it get soggy and mushy. If she did that, this whole ordeal wouldn’t be happening and Rarity would discover her sweets in the ruined box, probably ending up throwing it out anyway.

Rainbow Dash tried to break the silence and uneasiness between each other. "Look, is there something that you want to do then?" she asked.

Rarity paused for a minute as if trying to decide. "I suppose that we could do something together. Very well then. Let us head to my inspiration room and we can decide there," she said.

How can this get any better? Rainbow Dash thought sarcastically. Now, she's probably going to have me dress up while we sit at some dumb tea party.

Rainbow Dash followed Rarity and prepared herself for what boring things she'll try to come up with and/or make her do. She tried to come up with other things to do in her head but nothing came up. According to what she believed, she was at the wrong place at the wrong time.