Rainbow Dash glided through the sky carrying a banner for a brand of carrot juice Fluttershy was modeling for. Ordinarily, the pegasus would have been content. She was, after all, getting paid to just lazily hovering (by her standards) above Ponyville. Unfortunately, some raspy-voiced jerk had decided to get on her case about what had transpired at Carousel Boutique a week or so prior.

That raspy-voiced jerk was herself.

You’ve been avoiding her, you realize that?

Have not! I’ve just been busy with really important stuff!

The last three days, you and Pinkie have been following Winona all over Sweet Apple Acres to spit seeds at her. Like... that’s not even pranking, that’s just being a jerk to a dog for no good reason.

She’s a dog! It’s not like she’s gonna remember after a few hours.

You’re changing the subject. You’ve been purposely avoiding Rarity because now you’ve got the hots for her.

WHOA! Jump back. Where are you getting stupid ideas like that?

Uhh, maybe it’s because I am you! Ever think that?

Rainbow rolled her eyes at the smart-aleck-ness her subconsciousness was spouting.

You’re mad because you know I’m right. Look, what’s the big deal? So you think Rarity’s hot. You said to Applejack that you’d do her.

There is a major difference between ‘I’d do her’ and ‘I want to do her.’ You’re me, you should know this.

Uh, I know you’re full of it.

Look! Me being attracted to Rarity is just a short phase, and should stay that way. She’s into that stallion prince or whatever.

I’m not asking you to rut her. I’m just saying don’t avoid her like you’ve been doing.

I need to let this phase pass before I spend more time with her. If I’m not too careful, this could move from ‘I want to do her’ to ‘I’d be willing to buy her dinner and then do her’ or even the dreaded ‘I want to buy her dinner, do her, and then ask her to do it again every now and then indefinitely.’ If you even knew me, you would know that that would be a fate worse than death.

...So you admit that you’re purposefully avoiding her?

Rainbow growled. Shut up! When I get to the ground, I’m getting some therapy, and you are so out of here!

“Hey! Yo, Rainbow Dash!”

Dash stopped in her tracks and looked around. Floating in front of her was Cloud Kicker, her friend from work and the pony who got her the job of flying the banner over Ponyville.

“Oh, hey, Cloud Kicker. What’s happening?”

“Just got the word from Carrot Top. She’s gotta drop Fluttershy as her spokespony.”

Rainbow's eyes widened. “Really? What happened.”

“Apparently, Fluttershy quit modeling, so everypony who used her as a spokespony’s gotta drop her.”

“She quit? Why?”

Cloud Kicker shrugged. “Dunno. You’re her friend, you ask her.”

Dash scoffed. “Aiight, Ms. Snippy, be that way.” Dash removed the banner and let it fall to the ground. As she began to follow, Dash looked back to Cloud Kicker. “So who do I see about getting a check for the work I did? Should I just swing by your house later?”

CK looked confused. “Uhh, I never promised you payment.”

Rainbow narrowed her eyes. “I specifically heard you say—”

—This is boring. Let’s go see what Rarity’s up to!—

Rarity returned to her domain after a reconciliatory spa date with Fluttershy. The unicorn made some coffee and retired to her breakfast table with the paper for some light reading. Although, mainly, the purpose of reading the Ponyville Express was to mock the hideously mundane articles that apparently counted as news.

Honestly, The Fig makes better news than this drivel, and that publication is a parody!

However, what did make this particular issue memorable was the fact that the ad section was plastered with Fluttershy’s visage. This would be the first and last time that this would happen, however, as Fluttershy’s career as a model ended almost as soon as it began.

It seems as though everypony has their fifteen minutes of fame. Ooh, I simply must write that down! Everypony will call me a genius for coming up with that! I’ll finally move up from a paragraph mention in Clothes Horse to a full interview in The Manehattanite!

Rarity’s fantastical excitement quickly diminished into light melancholy. And then... they’ll move on to the next flavor of the month, leaving me with my designs in obscurity... unloved.

Rarity looked back at all the pictures of Fluttershy and growled. Honestly! That filly had the whole world at her hooves! They all worshiped her, and what does she do? Walks away from it! Like it doesn’t even matter!

Rarity shook away these thoughts instantly. It wasn’t fair to Fluttershy. After all, it was that kind of mindset that guilted Fluttershy into keeping the modeling career for the time she did. Rarity understood perfectly: a life of fame wasn’t for everypony. Not everypony shared Rarity’s desire to be the center of attention.

However, that was the problem. It was also a question that Rarity asked herself many times. Did anypony share it at all?

Fluttershy is so terrified of other ponies, Applejack and Twilight are so modest about their skills. Pinkie Pie only cares all about spreading happiness, and yet cares none about receiving recognition for spreading it.

Then it hit Rarity. Rainbow Dash.

Of course! Surely, she knows what it’s like to want glory!

Rarity realized that Rainbow wasn’t like the rest of her friends. Like Twilight and Applejack, Rainbow Dash worked tirelessly to be the best at what she did. Unlike Twilight and Applejack, however, who wanted to be the best simply to be the best, Rainbow Dash had higher purpose. She wanted to be part of the greatest flying squadron in Equestria. She wanted the highest accolades in her field. In short, she wanted validation.

It was the reason Rarity worked tirelessly to move up to the ranks of the Canterlot elite by way of her talent. She wanted to be validated.

She wanted to be able to tell herself:
Yes, you are amazing at what you do.
Yes, what you do is important.
Yes, you are important.
Yes, you have a purpose in this life.

A lot of ponies thought Rarity was simply shallow for wanting to be the center of attention. What do they know? They didn’t have to grow up in a house with parents who didn’t understand their dreams and desires. They don’t have to live in a town where their talents are so un-appreciated, that many ponies don’t even recognize them.

Rarity then thought of Rainbow Dash. This was a mare who was already one of the best fliers in Equestria, and yet, upon return to her hometown, was met with mockery and derision from lesser pegasi, as well as a mare who had broken the sound barrier with her flying twice and saved the lives of three Wonderbolts, and yet had still not been invited onto that very team.

In Rarity's mind, she and Rainbow Dash were on the same boat. They were both stuck in the chase for their lofty ambitions of glory, with uncertainty always making its presence known.

We have a lot more in common than I realized. Rarity smiled to herself.

As Celestia as my witness, I will show my unconditional support for Rainbow Dash in all of her endeavors! In fact, I think I’ll come up with a speech of some sort for our next brunch where I tell her all of this! She’ll absolutely adore a grand gesture like that!

It was then that another realization hit her.

“I daresay. It’s been almost a week since I’ve seen Rainbow Dash!” Rarity announced to an empty room. “What in Equestria has she been up to?" A thought crossed Rarity's mind that caused her to gasp. "Has she been avoiding me?”

Rarity got her memory working. The last time the two spoke was over brunch. It was then that Rarity remembered something peculiar about that encounter.

Rainbow seemed a bit... off. Usually, the two talked about a wide variety of subjects, but the last time they met, the conversation seemed to derail after the initial topic.

I was lecturing her on the art of wooing a stallion, and she became rather unresponsive. It was almost as if something I did shocked her into despondence.

Rarity rubbed her chin in contemplation, but could not find any answers.

Drat! Oh, what am I kidding? Double drat! Solving this puzzle is going to drive me positively mad!

Author's Note

And so, the development keeps a'marchin on.

If you couldn't tell by now, Rarity's not the sharpest knife in the deer carcass.