Rainbow Dash had really screwed up, this time.

She and Rarity had been dating for two years now. Sure, on paper, they were nothing alike, but that’s what made it work. Rarity was one heck of a mare, and she made Rainbow Dash feel like a million bits.

But unsurprisingly, they also had the occasional fight. They’d dig in on opposite sides and it’d be nuclear war for a week, but then they’d make up and have super hot— well, the precise details didn’t matter. 

But this time, Rainbow knew that she had screwed up. It started with the dress fitting yesterday, preparation for a fancy party that Rarity had been looking forward to. It wasn’t like Rainbow minded fancy parties. Though she hated to admit it, they were actually fun, particularly with Rarity at her side.

But [i]dresses[/i]? Eeeurgh. 

They were just so… girly. She hated the way they made her look, the way they made her [i]feel[/i].

And so despite Rainbow’s best efforts, her totally-minimal fidgeting and occasional, reasonable complaints had driven Rarity to despair. 

Which was Rarity’s fault, actually. That wasn’t the screw-up.

The screw-up was when Rarity had suggested a compromise: wearing her dress from that first Gala.

Rainbow had a lot of good memories from the Gala. In fact, it was the first time she had started to feel things about a certain seamstress. She had learned much later that was reciprocated.

But she had still never been comfortable in the dress. It was a dress! And when she accidentally let that slip… She had hurt Rarity. Deeply. In a way she wasn’t quite sure how to make up.

Nonetheless, she was certainly going to try. So the next morning, she went to the market bright and early to get Rarity’s favorite flowers. She would have to tread carefully, she knew.

She expected Rarity to still be furious. But when Rarity opened the door, she had a manic grin plastered on her face. Her hair was slightly askew in that way that was still elegant, but also a sign that she had spent all night working on something.

“Uh…” Rainbow stuck to the script. “I wanted to apologize.”

“Yes, yes, darling.” Rarity swept Rainbow into the room. The flowers were distractedly deposited in a vase. “I finished your outfit!”

Rainbow blanched. “Gee, thanks,” she said, trying to sound sincere. Suddenly, everything went black as Rarity draped a cloth over her eyes. “Hey, wait!”

“Shush. Let me get you dressed and [i]then[/i] tell me what you think.”

A familiar sinking feeling settled into Rainbow’s stomach. Rarity lifted one of her legs, then the other. Cloth slipped around her, hugging her legs and chest tightly. “Are you sure this is right?”

“Mmhmm.”

In only a few moments that seemed way, way too long, the movement stopped. Rainbow’s ears twitched, but she held still.

“Perfect!” Rarity announced, and whipped the blindfold off.

Rainbow Dash stared. 

She was wearing a charcoal-grey suit. She lifted one foreleg, then set it down again. She looked at a side mirror, seeing herself in profile, then front again. She looked [i]great[/i].

She turned towards Rarity, mouth opening and closing. She couldn’t find the words.

Rarity was staring back with a fragile smile. “You like it.”

“I [i]love[/i] it! Ohmigosh! How did you—”

“A flash of inspiration.” 

Rainbow posed, tilting her head to the side and adjusting her tie with one hoof.

“Wow. I look just like…” Rainbow trailed off.

“Like a suave, debonair stallion?” Rarity said.

Rainbow blushed. “Well, I mean… It’s just… I look really awesome.”

“You certainly do.”

Rainbow flexed, watching the way her body moved under the fabric. Were her shoulders always this broad? If it was padded, it looked totally natural.

“Life is funny,” Rarity murmured. “You let go of one dream, because life surprises you. But then it changes again. Maybe that’s okay, too.”

Rainbow looked at her, blinking. “Huh?”

Rarity shook her head, and then met Rainbow’s eyes. Her smile was genuine. 

Rainbow grinned. With a flap of her wings, she flew forward, sweeping Rarity off her feet. “I think you have a few books with pictures like this on the front,” she whispered into Rarity’s ear.

Rarity’s eyes lit up with recognition. She flung one forehoof to her forehead for dramatic effect. “Oh, Mr. Dash!”

Rainbow’s heart leapt and she leaned in, relishing how the unicorn melted in her firm grasp.



…they ended up ripping the suit a little in everything that followed. 

Rarity didn’t complain.