The RariDash Project

The week had been relatively good to Rarity and Rainbow Dash. Aside from Rarity’s heavy orders, the two were able to find numerous days to set aside for brunch and whatnot (only now, Dash had the courtesy to appear at socially acceptable times).

The two decided to actually spend some time together outside of the boutique. The opportunity came for them after the foals’ talent show, and both had come out to show support for the Cutie Mark Crusaders. After the show—and after the Crusaders were safely home–Rainbow offered to treat Rarity to drinks. After the spectacle she had just witnessed (how could her sister have such a lack of fashion sense?), Rarity was all to eager to accept the offer. The two were making their way to Rainbow’s usual spot, when they ran into a familiar farmer.

“Howdy, Rainbow!" Applejack greeted. "Kicker's?”

“You know it!” The pegasus looked to Rarity. “Hey, if you don’t mind, Rarity’s gonna join us.”

Applejack arched an eyebrow. “Is that so?” She chuckled under her breath. “Well, you’re gonna be the one who carries her home after she faints.”

Rainbow laughed. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Rarity huffed and rolled her eyes. “I’ll have you know, Applejack, that even a lady can handle a drink or two.” She smiled, turning to Rainbow. “Now, Rainbow Dash, what is this 'Kicker's' establishment you speak of? Do they serve martinis, or maybe even some chardonnay?”

Rainbow and Applejack practically burst into tears laughing.

Rarity huffed once more. A simple “no” would have sufficed.

—You have now reached your destination—

Kicker's Kavern was Ponyville’s go-to dive bar. It was dirty, rough, cheap, and crowded with working class stallions. Naturally, Rainbow and Applejack fit well into this rustic mold. Rarity saw this atmosphere and let out a defiant huff.

“Honestly, girls? Of all the classy places, just why this... cesspool?”

Applejack narrowed her eyes. “Rare, just because this ain't one of your little fancy froufrou wine bars, or whatever, that don’t give ya the right to go badmouthin’ a good place like this!”

Rainbow groaned. “Come on, guys. Let’s just get some drinks and have a good time.”

Rarity turned to the door. “I’m terribly sorry, Rainbow Dash, but unless we go someplace fashionable, I’m afraid I’ll have to turn in for the evening.”

Rainbow looked dejected, but then she grinned in epiphany. “Well, since you’re turning in early, I guess you won’t mind if I come to your place for brunch early, tomorrow.”

Rarity turned back to her pegasus friend. “Pardon?”

“Well yeah, I mean, since you’ll be rested, I’m sure it’s not problem if I got there at say... four AM?”

Rarity’s eyes narrowed. “You wouldn’t dare!”

“Well, I wouldn’t if you were to stick with us and have some drinks. If I have a little bit of fun a few hours into tonight, I’ll probably let the both of us sleep in tomorrow. Of course...” Rainbow grinned. “... that's all up to you.”

Rarity huffed (again). “Fine! You win! I’ll stay.” Rarity trotted to the stallion running the bar. “Would you be so kind as to give me the drink with the mildest taste?”

The barkeep nodded. “Gotcha. Glass of Top’s Hard, coming up.”

As the bartender went to procure her drink, Rarity turned back to Rainbow and Applejack.

“I shall be in the fillies’ room.” Rarity made another huff, and strutted off to the facilities. As the other two mares found seats at the bar, Applejack waited until the unicorn was out of sight before she spoke up.

“Rainbow, why the hay did you make her stick around?”

“Duh, I wanna hang out with her.”

“Uhh... why?”

Rainbow raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean 'why'?”

“Look, sugarcube, I love Rare like I love all y’all, but she ain’t exactly the 'hanging out with' type.”

“Says you.”

Applejack cocked her brow. “What exactly are you two doin’ together, anyway?”

Rainbow shrugged. “I dunno. Stuff, I guess. I come to her house for breakfast, and sometimes even lunch, and we just... talk.”

Applejack looked shocked. “You? Rainbow Dash... just sitting around and talking?”

Rainbow nodded. “Yeah. So?”

“So?! That’s doesn’t sound like the Rainbow Dash any of us know.”

“What’s the big deal?”

Applejack chuckled. “Nothin’, but that doesn’t make it any less weird.”

Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Whatevs, Rarity’s cool. I like her, and I like hanging out with her. End of story.”

AJ smirked. “Oh, so you like her, huh? Well now, this is starting to come together nice ‘n easy.”

Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Oh, I see. I can’t just like someone as a friend? I guess, by your logic, I must be in love with you, huh?”

AJ laughed. “I guess you’re right, but let me ask you; what do you think of her as a datin’ type?”

Rainbow shrugged. “I dunno. I guess I’m not some girly-girl who spends her time thinking about dating like you are.”

“Come on, it’s the first I’ve ever asked you somethin’ like that. What about me says I’m a 'girly-girl'?”

Rainbow smirked. “I happen to know of a certain cowpony who keeps a lot of Spitfire merchandise under her bed. This cowpony, I should mention, doesn’t know jack about the Wonderbolts, and just really likes that pretty mare who's the captain.”

Applejack frumped and narrowed her eyes. “Those happen to be collectors’ items.”

The pegasus grinned and gave a knowing nod. “Sure.”

By this time, Rarity had returned to the bar and sat next to Rainbow Dash. As the unicorn daintily sipped on her spiked carrot juice, Rainbow leaned closer to Applejack.

“Trust me,” Rainbow whispered. “Her and I can talk about pretty much anything.”

—A few drinks later—

Applejack was rather impressed. Rainbow and Rarity really could talk about anything. The topics were ranging from work to town gossip to history.

"I'm telling you, Rare, Commander Hurricane would have never just torched a unicorn village for no good reason.

"And I am telling you, Rainbow Dash, that the ancient pegasus tribe was notorious for its imperialistic, blood-thirsty culture. It was perfectly reasonable to believe that the Harvest Day Massacre was both her doing and unprovoked."

While the full range of topics wasn’t entirely pleasant, neither Rarity nor Rainbow Dash’s dispositions soured. AJ, for her part, mostly kept silent and watched in astonishment as the unlikely friends gassed-on. The topic eventually turned to the Cutie Mark Crusaders and their unintentionally hilarious display at the talent show.

“I just cannot believe what Sweetie Belle and her friends did to my beautiful fabric.”

Rainbow chuckled. “Yeah, everything looked terrible! The music was pretty good, though.”

Rarity scoffed. “More of that rock and roll music? Please.”

Rainbow narrowed her eyes. “I will not have you badmouth rock n’ roll anymore, Rarity. It’s as Equestrian as apple pie.”

AJ tipped her hat. “Why thank you, kindly, Rainbow Dash.”

“Zip it, AJ, we’re discussing important matters.”

Rarity rolled her eyes. “I hardly believe that something as silly as rock and roll is important. I would be hard pressed to find any that was half-decent.”

Without saying anything, Rainbow Dash stood up out of her seat at the bar and walked away. AJ and Rarity exchanged confused glances.

They got through politics fine, and this is what does ‘em in? AJ thought.

Looking across the room, the two saw that Rainbow was putting bits into a jukebox. Rarity trotted over to investigate.

“What exactly is this all about, Rainbow?”

"This"—Rainbow pushed the proper selector buttons—"is the music that our grandparents listened to. I guarantee you that pure rock n’ roll is 100 percent cool.”

And so it played...

Rarity recognized this group. Apparently, they were rather influential to Equestrian pop culture. Of course, a lady of class like her was above being a connoisseur of anything lowly like popular culture. Yet, at the same time, she could not stop her hoof from tapping and her her head from bobbing along to the rhythm.

Rainbow grinned at her victory and decided to celebrate. She moved to the center of the room and began dancing. Rarity was surprised at first, but then realization hit her, and she rolled her eyes.

She’ll gloat over any small victory.

It was then that Rainbow signaled Rarity to join her on the dance floor. The unicorn looked confused, so Dash reached out and grabbed her by force. Rarity tried to object, but Rainbow was too busy leading her. Much to Rarity’s surprise... Rainbow was good at dancing. She was graceful and Rarity was actually able to keep pace.

Honestly, what’s bringing on this? I must say, the gesture is rather... princely.

Rainbow smirked. The looks that she makes are totally priceless.

Finally, as the song came to its climax, Rainbow took Rarity and flung her up into the air. The gasps of onlookers were heard as the unicorn flailed in shock and terror. The gasps would soon be turned to applause as Rainbow caught Rarity with one sweep of her foreleg. Rainbow looked down at Rarity. Her mouth was agape, her eyes were as wide as dinner plates, and, somehow, she seemed paler than normal. The pegasus snickered.

“Feeling okay?”

“Y-yes.”

“So you agree that rock n’ roll is cool?”

“Y-yes, rock and roll is enjoyable," she said, voice flat and monotone.

“Okay then.” Rainbow proceeded to drop Rarity unceremoniously to the floor. “I’ll be at the bar. Pick the next song, okay?” Without waiting for a response, Rainbow returned to the bar next to Applejack.

“What... was that?”

Rainbow smugly grinned. “That is me having fun.”

“What? Screwing around with Rarity?”

Rainbow thought for a moment before nodding. “Yes. Yes, very much so.”

AJ laughed. “You’re crazy, Rainbow. You know, on that dancefloor, you two looked kinda cute together.”

Rainbow chuckled. “I guess, maybe... yeah, Rarity’s pretty and fun to be around, but I don’t think I’m gonna take a crack at her.”

“Why not? She seems like a pretty filly you’d wanna get under the sheets with.” AJ replied with a mischievous grin.

“Oh, she is, don’t get me wrong, but the thing is, I’m not some stallion prince.”

AJ rolled her eyes. “Do ya really think she’s gonna get that dream prince of hers when we go to the gala?”

“Of course not, but you know her. She wouldn’t settle for anything less.”

“You never know, Rainbow. Rarity’s one of those cosmopolitan types, and them aristocrats are all about that hedonism and junk. A roll in the hay with a mare like you seems right up her alley. Of course, you’ll hafta make room for some pool colts and a dog or two.”

Rainbow arched an eyebrow and looked at the glasses at AJ’s hooves. “How much have you had?”

AJ snickered and banged her hoof against the table. Rainbow rolled her eyes, concluding that her best friend’s theories were just inebriated nonsense. Of course, that didn’t stop the pegasus from pondering said nonsense.

What if she is like that? I mean, Dad always used to say, “A lady in the streets, but a freak in the...” is it sheets? No, that doesn’t sound right. I mean, who would want sheets when you have a nice, fluffy cloud? Dad's stupid.

Rarity returned to her bar stool as the room resonated with classical music. For the rest of the night, she didn't do much talking.

I do believe that I know what makes this mare tic, now. It seems that she thinks she can have the last laugh. The alabaster unicorn adorned a devious smirk. Well, I'll show her soon enough.