Rarity ran gleefully through Carousel Boutique, desperately clinging onto the last strands of her ladylike image. A cyan pegasus sat morosely in a corner, effectively hiding from the white unicorn.

"Oh Rainbow Dash! Thank you for letting me plan your engagement party! It shall be fabulous, chic, and magnifique!"  Rarity squealed, oblivious to her friend's discomfort. Rainbow Dash let out a long sigh.

"Look Rares, Soarin and I don't want a big do. Just friends and family at Sugar Cube Corner." Rainbow groaned. The athletic mare stretched her aching wings and rolled her rose-pink eyes. "You know me Rares... I hate wearing anything I don't have to wear."

"Oh but Dashie! You simply must look divine for your future husband! I mean, what about your wedding gown?" Rarity stopped abruptly in her tracks, gaping at Rainbow with a horrified gaze.

"Soar will wear his Wonderbolt suit, I'll wear my Gala dress." Rainbow stated simply. Both mares let out a sigh and giggled.

"We are quite different, aren't we Rainbow?" Rarity marvelled, as if the thought had only just occurred to her.

"Yeah, but that's why we're such good friends Rares. It'd be boring if we all liked the same things." Rainbow grinned slightly sympathetically.

"Oh Rainbow. How long will it be until I get married? Pinkie has that Cheese Sandwich, you have Soarin, Applejack married Fluttershy, and Twilight has Flash Sentry. But I, the hopeless romantic, have no gentlecolt to love me..." Rarity mused, her bright blue eyes becoming watery and downtrodden. Rainbow could offer no words of advice or comfort, she knew Rarity had heard it all from the others. Dash stood and trotted over to the gown Rarity had designed for the engagement party. It was a very pale rainbow colour, same style as her Dash's gala dress yet shorter, and with no accessories this time.

"Look at this Rarity. You made this. You have a talent that shines very bright and some don't appreciate that as much as others. The right mare or stallion will come along eventually y'know." Dash smiled gently at the pale unicorn.

"You, Rainbow Dash, are a soft pegasus with a hard shell." Rarity giggled.

"Am not! I'm Rainbow Daring Dash! Fastest flier in ALL of Equestria!" boasted Rainbow.

"Soon to be Rainbow Daring Soar." Rarity reminded the headstrong pegasus. Dash sighed.

"Pinkie hates me. She's Pinkie Sandwich but I can't be Rainbow Soar. She refuses to talk to me, because she won't be able to call me Dashie. She said I'm no Element of Loyalty..." Rainbow trailed off. Rarity gasped, appalled.

"Pinkamena said that?! I shall be having words with her for sure! Why, she's no right to say anything of the sort! That's like saying Applejack isn't the Element of Honesty because she hid the fact she is a... filly-fooler..." Rarity frowned. Rainbow nodded casually, then glanced over at the clock above Rarity's door.

"BUCK! I'm late for my date with someone! Gotta go Rares! Like the dress!" Rainbow flew out of the window and up to her cloud mansion above Scootaloo's house, leaving Rarity speechless.

"A DATE with SOMEONE?!" Rarity screamed. A sarcastic voice came from the doorway.

"At least she likes the dress Rares."