Rarity sighed and flipped to the next page of her magazine. She sat behind the counter of Carousel Boutique, eyes slowly passing over the words and not taking much notice of any of them. The article mentioned something about a newly popular herb called astragalus whose use had recently become fashionable among the Canterlot elite. Supposedly, it had the power to reveal the heart’s inner desires, or some such nonsense. Rarity didn’t especially care. She had already read the magazine from front to back. Twice, in fact. But it gave her something to do with her hooves. She sighed and flipped to the next page.

Even for a boutique located in a small, rural town whose residents rarely wore any clothing at all, much less the elite fashion Rarity’s boutique specialized in, it had been a loathsomely slow day. With the arrival of autumn, hoof traffic had dwindled to nothing. It was still too early to introduce her autumn line, but still too late for anyone to be interested in her summer line.

With no orders to fill, no designs to polish, and almost no customers to serve, Rarity had nothing to do and all too much free time in which to do it. She halfheartedly wished some roving disaster would fall upon the town. At least then she would have something to keep her mind busy.

Rarity glanced up over the top of the magazine at her only two customers. Fluttershy stood by the scarves, delicately inspecting each piece of fabric one by one. She had said something about a walrus with a cold who needed a scarf to keep warm. Rarity didn’t know much about walruses, but she did know they lived in the arctic, and she suspected they did so just fine without any of her scarves. She guessed Fluttershy had only come so the Boutique would have at least one sale today. Of course, whatever Fluttershy wanted, Rarity would give her free of charge. But she did appreciate the gesture.

Rarity sighed. If only she could have closed up and spent a day with Fluttershy or one of her other friends at the spa instead. Unfortunately, all of her friends had become conveniently busy just as Rarity had become inconveniently unbusy. Fluttershy had her supposedly sick walrus, Applejack was busy raising yet another barn, Twilight and Spike had both been called to Canterlot to oversee one of the royal courts, Pinkie Pie was visiting family, and Rainbow Dash was bedridden with the feather flu.

Rarity glanced at her only other customer, Flitter, and groaned. Flitter came in every couple days. She would wander around the Boutique, putting her hooves all over everything and dismissing each and every article of meticulously crafted designer clothing with a thinly veiled sneer. And she never, ever bought anything. She had already been hard at work sneering down at Rarity’s new autumn line for the past hour. Rarity didn’t have any choice but to suffer through her presence. She would only be able to ask Flitter to leave in the event of an emergency. Maybe the roving disaster kind of emergency.

Rarity had one customer she would never force to pay and another she could never force to buy, so she sighed and flipped to the next page of her magazine.

Then Carousel Boutique’s front door burst open and Rainbow Dash swooped inside. She immediately crashed into four different display racks at once. Skirts, dresses, and saddles flew every way in a burst of airborne designer fashion. Fluttershy ducked behind a scarf, while Flitter stood wide-eyed in the corner.

Rainbow Dash jumped out of the mess, shaking off some wayward dresses. “Rarity!” she shouted.

Rarity set down her magazine, doing her best to keep from smiling. If any two words could describe Rainbow Dash better than ‘rainbow’ and ‘dash’, those two words were ‘roving’ and ‘disaster’. “Yes, Rainbow Dash?”

“I need you to make me look good,” Dash declared, but then hesitated. “Actually, I already look good. I always look good. So I need you to make me look great.”

Rarity walked out from behind the counter to survey the mess. She guessed it would take at least an hour to reorganize all the display racks. Oh! Maybe she could even set them up in a whole new arrangement!

Now wholly unable to keep the smile off her face, Rarity turned to Rainbow Dash. “What are you talking about, dear?”

Rainbow Dash landed on top of a pile of skirts and struck a pose. “I’m going on a date! And I need to look nice, and you need to make me look nice.”

Rarity froze. “A… date?”

“Yup,” Dash answered, brushing some lint off her chest.

Rarity closed her eyes and tried to keep her breathing steady. “Remember, Rarity,” she whispered to herself, “a lady always remains composed.” She opened her eyes, paused for the briefest of moments, and then promptly squealed in delight and jumped in place. She ran forward and grabbed Dash into a hug. “A date!”

“Uh, Rarity, are you okay?” Dash asked.

“I am so much more than okay!” Rarity had waited years for this. It had been downright incredible that after three full years, none of her friends had yet gone on a single date.

A pity because Rarity had planned everything out for them ages ago. She had already decided which stallions in town were best for each, what each should wear on their first dates and where they should go, lessons in proper etiquette and courting, even their wedding dresses and honeymoon plans. Rarity had expected Rainbow Dash to be the last of her friends she would ever get the chance to guide through the adventures of romance. What a wonderful surprise!

She let go of Dash, turned around, and dropped her smile into a professional frown. “Carousel Boutique is now closed,” she announced to her only two customers, neither of whom had moved since Dash had arrived. “I apologize for the inconvenience, but an emergency has arisen that demands my full attention.”

“Um,” Flitter said. “How is going on a date an emer—Ahh!”

Rarity plucked Flitter up off the ground with her magic, and then dragged the other pegasus out of hiding from behind the scarf collection. She levitated them both to the door. “I said the Boutique is closed.”

She tossed them both outside and shut the door. She allowed herself a small, satisfied smirk when she saw Flitter fall in the dirt outside.

She turned back to Rainbow Dash and opened her mouth to speak. But she cursed and closed it again when she remembered who the other pegasus had been. She opened the door, pulled Fluttershy back inside, then quickly shut it again.

“I’m sorry, Fluttershy,” Rarity said, dusting her friend off. “I lost myself for a moment.”

Fluttershy smiled, looking a little shaken. “Oh, it’s oka—”

“Now, Rainbow Dash,” Rarity said, trotting towards her. “First, we need to wash away all that grime.”

Dash looked down at herself. “What grime?”

“Go upstairs and take a shower. Use my designer coat and mane products, whichever ones you need. The stronger the better. You’ll find them all by the sink.” She sniffed Dash’s mane and cringed. “Actually, I will have to oversee this myself. Go start the hot water running, and I’ll meet you up there. Do not touch anything else. Fluttershy!” she called.

“Oh, I’m right here,” Fluttershy said, still standing by the door.

“Fly as fast as you can to Aloe and Lotus’s and tell them you need the strongest mane and coat shampoos they have. Then come back here,” Rarity ordered.

Fluttershy nodded solemnly and flew out the door.

“And tell them it’s an emergency!” Rarity called after her, then she turned to find that Rainbow Dash was still sitting on the pile of skirts. “What are you waiting for?” Rarity cried, pushing Dash towards the stairs. “There’s no time to waste! We will have to clean you head to hoof before we can even begin considering your makeup. Not to mention putting together an outfit for you to wear. This will take hours!”

Dash dragged her hooves. “I don’t think—”

“Well, I do think,” Rarity said severely. “I know you don’t care if you look and smell like you haven’t bathed in weeks—”

“I shower every day.”

“—But I am your friend, and as your friend, I care deeply for both your wellbeing and your future happiness. I simply cannot allow you to ruin your very first date through your ignorance of proper social etiquette. Your appearance on the first date is crucial. A bad first impression can end a budding relationship before it has even had a chance to blossom. So get up there and start the hot water!”

“But this isn’t our first date.”

“Wha—” Rarity tripped over Dash’s leg and fell face first on the ground.

“Um, Rarity?” Fluttershy said quietly from somewhere behind them.

“Fluttershy? You’re already back?” Rarity turned around, rubbing her sore nose. She saw Fluttershy standing by the door. “I never knew you could fly so fast! That was incredible. Thank you so much!”

Fluttershy looked down at the floor. “Oh, well, um, I haven’t actually gone yet. I’ve been trying to get your attention, but I didn’t want to interrupt…”

“Hey, Fluttershy!” Dash called from behind Rarity. “That medicine is seriously awesome! I feel way better. Like, whoah!” Dash jumped in the air, flipped backwards, and fell slowly down onto her back.

“You’re welcome,” Fluttershy said. “I’m glad—”

“Don’t either of you understand how important this is?” Rarity cried. “We have so much left to do! Why haven’t you left?”

“I’m sorry.” Fluttershy bit her lip. “But the problem is, well, I only brought enough bits to buy a scarf, and Aloe and Lotus’s mane products are really expensive...”

“Is that all? Just tell them that it’s for me and they will put it on my account,” Rarity said hurriedly, shooing Fluttershy out the door. “Now, go, go, go!”

Fluttershy nodded and flew off again.

“Now, what did you say about this not being your first date?” Rarity asked, turning to Rainbow Dash.

“I said that it wasn’t our first date,” Dash answered, pushing herself back upright and into the air with a single mighty flap that sent another rack of dresses toppling over.

Rarity frowned at the mess. “Well, which date is this then?”

“I dunno.” Dash hovered over Rarity’s head and landed back on the pile of skirts. “I lost count.”

“Lost c—How long have you been dating him?!”

“Uh, since, like…” Dash squinted and rubbed her chin. “Forever,” she concluded.

“Wha—How—” Rarity took a deep breath to regain her composure. “What does that even mean?”

Dash looked at her like she had just caught Rarity wearing last season’s fashions. “Uh, forever means a really, really long time. Like, as in, I’ve been the best flyer in Equestria since forever.” Dash squinted at her. “You should really read more. I could let you borrow some of my books, if you wanted.”

Rarity glared at her. She opened her mouth to show Rainbow Dash just how colorful her vocabulary could be when she heard a knock at the door. “Just a minute!” she called through gritted teeth.

She trotted to the door and put on a smile before opening it. But her smile immediately fell when she saw who had knocked. Flitter stood on her doorstep.

“What are you still doing here?” Rarity asked, sounding more pleading than angry.

“I have never been treated more rudely in all my life than I was at your store today.” Flitter stamped her hoof in a pitiful little demonstration of outrage. “I am deeply offended.”

“Hey, Flitter!” Rainbow Dash called from behind Rarity. “What’s up?”

Flitter’s scowl immediately turned into a brilliant smile. She looked over Rarity’s shoulder and waved. “Oh, hey, Rainbow Dash! I’m not doing anything important.”

“That’s cool,” Dash replied, while Rarity rolled her eyes. “I’m still gonna see you tonight, right?”

“Definitely!” Flitter said with a little hop.

“Excuse me,” Rarity interjected. “But did you need something? I’m very busy at the moment, and I really don’t have time for distractions.”

“Oh, right.” Flitter turned her attention back onto Rarity and scowled again. “I am deeply offended.”

Rarity sighed. “So?”

“So!” Flitter declared, flaring her wings and shoving a dirty, unmanicured hoof in Rarity’s face. “I demand an apology, or I’ll stop shopping here!”

Rarity gently pushed the hoof away. “It isn’t shopping if you never buy anything, dear.”

Flitter’s jaw dropped and her face colored a deep red. “You just lost a customer. I’ll never come to this store again!”

Rarity put a hoof to her forehead and mock-swooned. “Oh, woe is me. Whatever shall I do?” she said halfheartedly. “Oh, and this is a boutique, not a store.” She shut the door.

“I’ll boycott you!” Flitter’s muffled shout came through the closed door. “Just wait until I tell my friends about this. We’re gonna boycott you so hard!”

Rarity smiled. At least she had gotten something productive done today. She turned back to Rainbow Dash. She saw the pegasus lying belly-up on the pile of skirts.

Dash yawned widely, looking about ready to take a nap. “Are you done yet?” she asked.

Rarity heard another knock at the door. “Just one moment, please,” she said to Rainbow Dash. Then she growled and flung the door open. “Go away!”

Fluttershy fell backwards away from the open doorway with a frightened squeak. “I’m so sorry! I should have realized you were busy. I promise I won’t bother you anymore today.” She began flying quickly away.

Rarity used her magic to grab Fluttershy by the tail “No, Fluttershy. I thought you were somepony else.” She pulled Fluttershy back to the ground and patted her on the shoulder. “That wasn’t meant for you. Truly, I am sorry.”

“Oh, okay,” Fluttershy said quietly, tentatively stepping back towards the door.

“Thank goodness you are back,” Rarity said, with her most courteous smile. “Do you have the shampoo?”

Fluttershy frowned and looked down at the ground.

“Fluttershy! I—” Rarity swallowed her frustration and kept her voice calm. As a lady should, she reminded herself. True ladies remained composed even in times of distress. “Tell me what happened.”

“I, um, I couldn’t remember what you said you wanted…”

If Rarity hadn’t loved Fluttershy—that wonderfully, beautifully, horribly exasperating Fluttershy—loved her as a sister, Rarity would have screamed and throttled her right there on her doorstep. Then she would have set a pot of tea on the stove and taken a hot bath and forgotten all about this. Instead, she said, as sweetly as sugar coated candy wrappers, “Dear, darling, I need you to ask them for the strongest mane and coat shampoos they have in stock. Then come back here as quick as you can. Do you understand?”

Fluttershy smiled and nodded. “Yes. I’m sorry. I’ll go right away.” She took off in the direction of the spa.

“Thank you,” Rarity said to empty the air. She walked back inside, rubbing her forehead. She could feel a sinus headache coming on.

Rainbow Dash, still lying on her pile, said, “So, are you—”

“No, please just give me one moment.” Rarity took a long, heavy breath, and then stood up straight. She had wished for a disaster, and she had certainly gotten it. “Firstly,” she said slowly, “how are you up and about right now? You said you couldn’t come to the spa with me because you were sick in bed with the feather flu.”

“I was.” Dash rolled onto her back and waved all four of her hooves in the air, as if swimming upside down in place. Rarity couldn’t begin to guess why. “But Fluttershy gave me this awesome medicine!”

“You’re feeling well, then?”

“Well? I feel better than I’ve ever felt in my entire life. I’m seriously seeing things I’ve never seen before.” Dash jumped into the air and somersaulted three times in midair. On the third somersault, her head clipped the floor with a sickening thud.

Rarity gasped. “Are you all right?!”

Rainbow Dash easily landed on her hooves and smiled at Rarity. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“You just…” Rarity hesitated.

Rainbow Dash kept smiling.

“Well then…” Rarity shrugged. She always knew Dash had a thick head. “Secondly, could you please explain to me how it is possible that you, one of my closest friends, has been dating somepony for what? Weeks? Months? Without me, or anypony else, hearing anything about it at all?”

Rainbow Dash cocked her head, looking confused. “Have I never mentioned this before?”

Rarity almost laughed. Almost. “No. I can assure you that you have never once previously mentioned being in a relationship.”

“Huh.” Rainbow Dash shrugged. “Guess it slipped my mind.”

Rarity opened her mouth, but immediately closed it again. Sometimes, she swore she had the most disagreeable, uncooperative friends a fashionista could find. She held in the impolite retort she so desperately wished to voice. She felt like a big pony-shaped tea kettle, the stove fire lit beneath her, water boiling and steam just ready to come screaming out.

For a brief, bizarre moment, she wondered what Rarity-flavored tea would taste like.

“You’re right that this date is important, though,” Dash said casually. “Because I’m getting engaged tonight.”

Rarity’s mind turned inside out and everything inside spilled out on the floor. “What?”