"Rainbow Dash? Are you still back there?" asked Rarity.
"I am not coming out," Rainbow Dash replied from behind the dressing screen.
"Why not? Are you not the one that came to me to find a dress that suits you?" questioned Rarity.
"Well yeah, but I am not used to this. Somepony will see me and my image will be tarnished," argued Rainbow.
"Darling, you already feel that from being called a stallion," Rarity reminded her. She covered her mouth immediately after realizing what she had just said. She cleared her throat and tried to choose her next words more carefully, "Sorry Rainbow. What I meant to say was that umm... Your image wouldn't be tarnished, but put you in a different setting. It would show other ponies that you are seeking a change in yourself. There is always a point in a pony's life when they want to try something new. So come on out and let's have a look at the new you." Rarity could hear small hoof steps behind the screen. She assumed this was Rainbow not able to make up her mind.
Rainbow groaned at the discomfort of the dress. No matter how many times she has worn them, she never liked the feeling of the fabric. Also, she always felt that wearing clothes limited her flight capabilities. There have been times where she actually ripped the clothes off her back after taking flight. However, out of respect for her friend, she fought the urge to make these dresses her next victims. Besides, Rarity was right after all. It was her own fault that she was in this predicament. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and said, "You better not laugh."
"Oh of course," Rarity agreed to the demand. "I wouldn't laugh at a time like this. Besides, laughing at you would be like laughing at one of my own designs." Rarity stated. "Now Dash, let me see how the dress looks on you.
Coming out from behind the screen, Rainbow walked out in the dress that Rarity had chosen for her. The upper portion of the dress was a soft apricot colored fabric. On the neckline, there was an amethyst jewel. The lower half of the dress was purple with white zircon gems sewn into it. Looking at that end of the dress was like looking at the night sky.
Rarity was so proud of her own creation. Her eyes lit up as much as the dress. Not only did she succeed in creating another beautiful dress, but she also succeeded in getting Rainbow into a dress without a struggle. She wanted to celebrate as she thought this day would have never come. "Darling, you just look absolutely divine," Rarity complimented her friend.
Rainbow blushed in embarrassment. Although she loved receiving praise and attention from just about anypony, nopony has ever described her that way before. She walked to a nearby mirror to see what the fuss was about.
Even Rainbow had to admit that the dress was not bad. Despite the discomfort, she thought it looked good. However, she couldn't help but feel that something just didn't seem right.
Rarity noticed this and her smile slowly faded away. "What is wrong Rainbow? You don't like it?" Rarity asked.
"Huh? No no no. It isn't that at all. The dress is cool and all but..." Despite how Rainbow felt, she just couldn't think of the right words. She wasn't lying, she thought the dress was nice, and she did like it. Yet she couldn't figure out what it was that scratched behind her head. "I don't know," said Rainbow, "The dress is nice and all, but I don't know how to feel about it."
Rarity wasn't hurt by the comment, but she was taken aback. Based on past experiences, a thought came to mind. "Aha! I think I know what it is."
Rainbow raised an eyebrow, "You do?"
"Darling, I run three different boutiques. This isn't the first time I came across this little dilemma. Maybe it isn't a dress you need. Maybe you just need a certain style," Rarity suggested. "The style you are wearing is considered an 'elegant' style of apparel." Rarity then lit up her horn and rummaged through her racks of clothes. She then found a couple of pieces and laid them on Rainbow's back. "Now Rainbow, go ahead and try those on."
"Huh?" Rainbow questioned. "You can't be serious. Do you know how long it took me to get into this dress?"
"Yes," Rarity replied instantly, "You had just passed the twelve-minute mark. Surely it couldn't take you that long to get out of the dress.
"You're right," Rainbow agreed, "It will take me even longer. You know you could help me."
"But I want to be surprised," Rarity said in a pout.
"Ugh. Fine," Rainbow accepted her defeat. "At least help me get out of this dress."
Almost instantly, with the use of her magic, Rarity slipped the dress off Rainbow with ease, placed it on a hanger, and returned it to the assigned rack. "There you go!"
Rainbow, stood there with a blank expression, still wondering what had just happened. She checked herself to see that the dress had indeed disappeared. Also, with the new stack of clothes still on her back. "What? But-How did you-? Wait, if you can do that then just help me with these clothes!"
"Nope. I want to be surprised and I only agreed to help you out of them. Now go on and try them on," Rarity waved her hoof at Rainbow.
"Ugh!" Rainbow said in an irritated tone. "I swear. What was I thinking?" she asked herself.
***20 Minutes Later***
"20 minutes?" Rarity asked, "20 minutes to change? You have got to be kidding me. It doesn't even take Twilight this long to rearrange her bookshelves!"
"Maybe if you HELPED me, it would have been 10 seconds flat!"
"Well, what is going on back there? Are you having trouble?"
"Why no Rarity," Rainbow answered sarcastically, "How could I have any trouble getting into tighter clothes, with pegasus wings, and NO MAGIC!?!"
"Fine fine, I can take a hint," Rarity annoyed, "But I am not happy that the surprise will be ruined for me now." Rarity used her magic and took hold of the screen.
"Wait! Wait! Don't-!" Rainbow tried to stop her, but it was already too late.
Once the dressing screen was out of the way, Rarity still got her surprise. However, it was not at all what she expected. Rainbow was on the floor and tangled in the black and white striped shirt she gave her. In fact, where the front hooves were supposed to slip into, the wings found their way through them instead. Rarity's jaw dropped at the sight, "Rainbow, how in Equestria did you turn that shirt into a straitjacket?"
Still on the floor, Rainbow looked up to her friend, "Well the shirt you gave me was tighter than it looked. So I thought I could use my wings to stretch it out enough for me to slip my legs through. Instead of my legs, it was my wings that slipped and I fell down. For the record, I could have ripped my way out of here, but knowing you you probably would have been pretty mad. You think you can HELP me now?"
Without saying a word, Rarity used her magic to get Rainbow out of the shirt with ease. Also, she helped Rainbow back on her hooves. "Rainbow, I am sorry you went through that. I will help you from here on and no need to surprise me any further."
"Forget it Rarity. I can't do this. I don't know how you put up with it. The different styles, what matches with this or that, I just don't get it," said an annoyed Rainbow Dash. "Rarity, clothes is just not meant for me. I don't think ponies were meant to be wearing them period!"
Rarity gasped at the statement, "Rainbow Dash! Designing apparel is an art and it is my life. You are my friend, but I will not have you say such horrible things in my presence!"
Rainbow realized what she said and felt guilty at her friend's words. If somepony said something similar to her about flying, she would have retaliated the same way or maybe even worse. She gave Rarity an apologetic look, "I'm sorry Rare, but I just can't wear clothes. No wonder almost everypony sees me as a stallion. Maybe I should just accept it." Rainbow looked down feeling defeated and she hated to lose.
"Now hold on there darling. It is as you said, clothing just isn't for everypony. I mean, look at Twilight, Fluttershy, or even Applejack. They are mares and they don't dress nearly as much as I do," Rarity attempted to cheer up Rainbow.
"Rarity, you can't really compare. Fluttershy acts like a scared little filly and doesn't act like a stallion in the slightest. Twilight doesn't even have to prove anything since she has been given the title 'Princess.' And Applejack-" Rainbow stopped herself and puzzled for a moment. "Actually, she gets just as dirty as I do, she is stronger than most stallions, and she acts just as much a stallion as I do... How the hay do other ponies see her as a mare!?!"
Rarity contemplated on Rainbow's words and she too was at a loss, "You know I am not quite sure myself darling. As you said, she does have the qualities that can match another stallion. Yet other ponies recognize her as a-," Rarity stopped herself as an idea popped into her mind. "Ah! I think I got it!" Rarity stated.
"Huh? What? What!?!" Rainbow questioned.
"You see darling, she doesn't act like much of a mare now. However, in the past, she was taught how to be a well-mannered mare and has already shown herself as one throughout Ponyville."
"Wait, she has?" Rainbow asked.
"Of course. Remember Rainbow? She went to Manehattan for a short time to live with her upper class relatives. There, she was taught proper manners and how to be the ideal mare."
"Yeah I remember, but how does that help me?" Rainbow asked confused.
"Don't you see Rainbow? It wasn't a dress you needed, you just need to act more like a mare," said Rarity.
"Rarity, I don't want to go asking Applejack for help."
"You won't have to," Rarity said with a smile. "For you see, I too know the ways of etiquette and I can teach you myself," Rarity said proudly as she rested her hoof on her chest.
Although this didn't seem like a bad idea, Rainbow was once again getting that same bad feeling she got from before she tried on the clothes. "Well, at least I am not trying on dresses. This shouldn't be too hard," Rainbow thought to herself.
"Now Rainbow, why don't we start with the basics," Rarity suggested. Suddenly, from another area of the room, she levitated a six-inch-thick book and dropped it between Rainbow and herself.
Rainbow gulped, "WHAT THE-!"