Veiled Violet

It was Sunday morning in Sugar Cube Corner and it was quiet. Rainbow hugged a cup of coffee between her hooves. A strudel sat half eaten on a paper plate beside her.

Pinkie Pie, the pink party pony of Ponyville was still asleep in her room above the shop. Likely sleeping off last nights party.

Here in this quiet moment, the blue pegasus pony simply enjoyed the process of waking.

In an hour she would be working weather. Then she would do some speed training down by ghastly gorge. Then she would have her late morning nap. Then lunch.

It was a rich full life being Rainbow Dash.

She took a sip of the bitter hot fluid and gave a pleased, if sleepy, little murmur.

“Hello darling.”

“Hi Rarity, you're up early,” she replied to the unicorn taking a seat across from her at the table.

“Late actually. Had a little inspiration attack last night.” Now that she mentioned it, Dash could see the bags under Rarity's eyes.

The two took a moment to mutually enjoy their coffee. Rarity took a moment to add a little more honey to hers.

“What's the weather going to be like?”

“We got a new mandate for 'slow drifting clouds' from the Mayor last week, so we'll be doing mostly chop and buck work. It takes more time and care then clear sky but it isn't as strenuous.”

“I thought you liked strenuous?”

“It is fun,” a smile began to spread across the pegasus's face.

“Speaking of fun,” Rarity leaned close over the table to whisper conspiratorially. “I have a new shipment coming in two days, we might be able to find something special for your next date night.”

“I...”

“Oh, we'll have so much fun, I think I know just the right kind of dress. I have sketches ready and drawn out. Pretty but adventurous, exciting and just a teensy bit sleazy. I just can't wait to hear your feed back it.”

“Rarity, I can't.”

“Darling? What can't you do?”

“I can't keep doing this. Pretending that I'm something I'm not. Going out and making a foal of myself. Ponies will start to talk. My reputation will be ruined.”

“I..., I understand, darling,” Rarity pulled back to her side of the table. “I understand completely.”

Dash felt hollow. Like she had just lost something important. But this way she could keep her image safe. Nopony ever said fame and glory where easy.

The two mares enjoyed their coffee in silence for a long moment.

“You know, dear, I am singularly known for producing high society gowns,” Rarity paused for a moment for Dash to nod in return. “But not all of my inspiration is so... cultured. Some of it is rather... how to say... rude.”

The blue pony blushed slightly.

“I can't create and sell such work as Rarity. It would destroy my brand. But I still wind up with illicit designs that would simply waste away if I did nothing. So I do create and sell them. As a little known Canterlot designer named Elusive.”

“You can't be saying...”

“That you could do the same?” Rarity cut her off. “Actually I am.”

A pale white hoof reached across the table to press reassuringly against hers.

“Let me help you, Dash. I'll find a way.”

“I don't know...”

“Come to my shop at 8 o'clock this evening. I can help you.”

“But...”

“Do you trust me, Dash?”

“...yes.”

* * *

Rainbow Dash had thought about not showing. Tried to imagine not being here at this door at 8 o'clock sharp. Tried to imagine herself practising or napping instead.

All she'd done was imagine herself unable to concentrate on her moves or unable to relax enough to nap.

She hadn't really had a choice. Not really.

The front door of the boutique loomed large, dark and unopened.

She could go in. Listen to Rarity's crazy plan. Thank her for her concern and decline. Yeah, just like that.

She raised a hoof to the door.

She could sneak away before Rarity noticed her.

No, no she was at least curious about whatever trick it was that the unicorn had up her sleeve. And it would be rude to just bail on her like this.

But on the other hoof...

The door opened and Rarity pulled her inside.

“Do you trust me?” the pale unicorn was grinning madly, practically bouncing in place.

“Yeah, sure I do.”

“Come right this way then, darling.”

Dash followed those well toned haunches obediently. Down the hall, up the stairs and into a rather ornate bathroom.

It had a large shower stall that filled the left hoof side of the room, On the other side was an expansive vanity and in the farthest corner a toilet that fought and struggled for what little was left of the room.

Rarity turned on the shower and waited a moment for the water to reach a suitable temperature. Then she pushed the blue pegasus inside.

Dash was wasn't surprised at this.

What did surprise her was when the fashionista followed her.

“Rarity?”

“Yes?”

“What are you doing?”

“Why, I'm washing your mane, darling.” The unicorn was scrubbing her mane with her hooves.

“Why?”

“I thought you could use the help.” Now she was working on the tail. Every so often giving a sharp little tug.

“I do this on my own, you know.”

“This time though, I need to know it's done properly.” She pulled Rainbow out of the stream of water and fetched a shampoo bottle with a blue aura.

“No one has washed my mane since I was a foal.”

“Just humour me, darling.” Rarity started lathering up her mane and she was forced to close her eyes against the threat of shampoo.

Firmly and slowly working up the mane with her hooves the unicorn made sure that every hair was caught up in the thick soapy mess. Diligently ensuring that it reached down to the scalp.

Then Dash felt the hooves leave her mane and felt the tugging on her tail again. She moved forward to stick her head under the shower.

Rarity caught her with an arm around her neck pulling her back.

“No, no. Let it set for a moment.”

The tugging on her tail resumed.

After a long moment the tugging stopped. Then a moment droned after that while Rarity used the excess suds to wash out her coat.

“There, now proceed.”

Dash stepped under the shower head and took a moment to enjoy the feel of hot water flowing over her coat. The heat seeping into her flight muscles helping her to relax.

Rarity's gentle hooves returned to help scrub the shampoo out of her mane and tail. Taking extra care to get the excess shampoo out the coat on her rump. She must have spilt some there or something.

“There, all done.”

“Very thorough,” Dash reached for a towel.

Rarity slapped her hoof away.

“No, no. We have to get it in while the mane is still damp.”

“What in?”

“Come along, you'll see.”

Dash once again followed the well toned white haunches. This time into Rarity's work room.

“Lay down over here.” The unicorn pointed to an appropriately placed cushion.

Rainbow complied.

Rarity brought forth a red bottle.

“What is it?”

“This is very special. It comes right out when you get it wet. Very important that,” Rarity explained as she began combing red goo from the bottle in Dash's mane.

“But what is it?”

“Hair dye.”

Dash closed her eyes. I trust Rarity, I trust Rarity, I trust Rarity, she chanted to herself for a moment.

“Why?”

“As part of your alter ego. Your nom de plume.”

“My what?”

“Your disguise, darling,” Rarity rolled her eyes.

“You can't just totally hide who a pony is by dyeing their mane.”

“Look in that mirror.”

The blue pegasus turned and looked into the mirror. She blinked.

In the mirror. Was a pony. A pony she didn't know. A pony with a blue coat and soft red mane. And that mysterious pony was staring at her in surprise. And behind that pony Rarity was now combing red goo into a rainbow tail that looked very familiar.

Oh, it was her.

Rainbow Dash blinked again.

“This... could actually work,” she admitted to Rarity.

The fashionista helped her up.

“What about my cutiemark though?”

“Well as you know, the magic of a cutiemarks prevent them from being concealed by any magic known to ponykind.”

“I'm out of luck?”

Rarity floated over a small vial with a grin.

“What's that do?”

“This is the most potent...” she stopped and reflected for a moment, “... second most potent magical artifact I have ever personally handled. It is rare and valuable. I've never had cause to use it before, but tonight we shall give it a test run.”

A drop applied to her hoof, Rarity began to vigorously rub it into Dash's right cutiemark.

The blue mare bit her tongue and closed her eyes.

The unicorn turned her attention to the left.

She could taste blood.

“Have a look.”

Rainbow opened her eyes and looked at her flank.

It was bare.

“Temporarily. I don't know exactly how long it lasts, but hopefully it lasts for a few hours.”

The pegasus grinned.

Rarity pulled out the chest from her last visit. Now that Dash knew to look for it she could see the name 'Elusive' written on it.

Once again she was, saddled, stockinged, strapped and buckled.

“What's this for again?”

“Well... to help you get into the proper perspective you see...” Rarity's voice wavered uncertainly.

Dash would have suspected duplicity if she could think of a single possible ulterior motive for the fashionista to dress her up in the fetishy clothes. But as there was no such possible motive she simply nodded as though she understood.

“Please, look in the mirror for a moment,” Rarity instructed.

The blue pegasus watched as Rarity approached the other pegasus held within the glass. Watched as she raised the gilded clasps and fitted them over the wings of that other pony. Watched them be locked into place and a thin chain strung between them.

It wasn't her. It was some other pony.

Dash turned to Rarity who was now resting against her barrel grinning madly.

“Hello Veiled Violet, my dear. How have you been?” she purred

“I was thinking Skittles.”

“Veiled Violet it is, then.”