Meanwhile...
>...
>Hmm.
>Is it something she'd like?
>Well, you'll find out soon enough. She should be arriving any minute.
>Well, SHOULD.
>For one as quick as her, she almost always turns up late.
>We'll work on that, though. She's still learning.
>...Hrm.
>...
>Oh! Tea's done.
>Now, how did she like it...?
>She didn't particularly like earl grey last time she was here.
>Maybe cinnamon?
>...She doesn't seem like someone who would go for cinnamon.
>Ah! She's here!
 
 
Rainbow Dash's POV
>Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupidstupidSTUPID!
>What was that?!
>...Why do you feel guilty about it?
>Argh...
>Whatever. As long as Applejack didn't see him holding your...
>Y-your...Hoof.
>Every day, it'd be; "How's yer prince doin'?" and "Where's lover boy?"
>You'd gladly nose dive right now, if she knew.
>...
>...Nah, she probably didn't see it.
>You swear, if she so much as mentions him, you'll...
>Forget it.
>You bonk yourself on the head a few time with your hooves.
>...You can still feel where he touched it.
>It's still tingling, and thinkin' about it...
>...No, you're not thinking about it.
>You've got to meet up with a friend, anyway.
 
>At your speed, you make it there in around 2 minutes.
>Not bad, but not a record.
>You'll cut more corners next time.
>Alright, there's her house.
>Time to...
"Wait, what the hay?"
>There's a door on her roof.
>Why is there a door on her roof?
>There wasn't one there before.
>Why?
>...You bet you know.
>You check the plaque screwed on the wood.
>"Built to honor the endeavors of Rainbow dash, a noble pony who made this exact hole her common entrance to the abode of Rarity, owner of this establishment. Please knock."
>...Wow. You didn't think she cared about you busting through her roof all those times.
>Feeling somewhat stupid, you reluctantly knock the door.
>How is she even going to open the-
>A magical aura materializes around the frame of the door, and it opens by itself.
>Oh, yeah. Right.
>"Welcome, Rainbow Dash! Please, make yourself at home."
>Grr.
>You fly through.
>The door shuts behind you.
>"Do you like the door?"
>You entered the stupid door, and you won't give her any further satisfaction.
"Where's, uh, the dress?"
>She blinks with a pensive look on her face.
>"Rainbow Dash, please. It's polite to answer a question when it's adressed to you."
"Y-yeah. Exactly. S-so...Where is it?"
>She doesn't look particularly pleased.
 
>She stares at you in silence, still not leading you to the dress.
>Why does she have to make this so difficult?
>You sigh.
"...It was...Thoughtful of you to put a door up there for me."
>She smiles.
>"Good. Now, I'll answer your question."
>She walks in the direction of her studio, and you follow.
>Rarity...Is cool.
>Well, for the most part, anyway.
>You'dve thought since she disliked Applejack at first that she wouldn't like you, either.
>But she's always been so...Encouraging.
>She came up with the idea for your friends to see your performance, that one time when you were nervous.
>Admittedly, she also stole the show for a while with her stupid butterfly wings...
>But you ended up saving her butt when things went wrong, so it worked out in the end.
>Besides, she only did it 'cos the success went to her head.
>You...Can understand that.
>Guess it's one of the few things you have in common.
>She's not usualy one for competition, though, so you never really...Hung out.
>But then...He happened.
>You've really had much interest in romance before. You thought it was gross.
>Many guys hit on you in the past.
>And you gave them all the same answer.
>"Sorry, I fly solo."
>Thinking back on it, that sounded kind of...Dirty.
>Whatever.
>...You never even had a crush on anypony before.
>Emphasis on "before".
 
>He just...Staggered into town one day.
>No pack of supplies, just the clothes on his back and a watch.
>He didn't have any idea how he got here. He was kinda scared of us at first.
>But after a while, he opened up a little.
>Of course, you only met him after he had gone through all of that.
>But that wasn't your fault.
>...To think, if that trick worked, you may have never even met him.
>...Eh, he got around. Pretty sure you'd get caught in the loop eventualy.
>But...The way you met him was so...So...
>Perfect.
>Couldn't ask for a better introduction.
>That wasn't what won you over, though.
>He...Just worked for you.
>The way he tried to win with everything he had,
>The way he'd let you win sometimes,
>That teltale smile he gave when he had a plan,
>He was stupid, and goofy...But now...
>Well, he's still stupid and goofy.
>Nothing changed with him, but...You guess...YOU did.
>All of the stuff that was irritating before became...Charming.
>When you trash talked him, you almost wanted him to give one of his retorts.
>Sometimes you wanted him to win, just so you could make him happy.
>Suddenly, he stopped being just a friend you hung out with.
>He become the only friend you hung out with.
>Every last one of his personality traits gradualy became more and more desirable...
>Eventually, just standing near him was enough to make you flare up.
>You flat out avoided him for a while. You needed to get yourself straight.
 
>You'd spend some nights without any sleep, thinking about him.
>It wasn't anything about him in particular, it was just...Words.
>Things he said to you, things you said to him, things you used to describe him...Either in your head or to his face...
>They became some kind of chant inside your head. Not making any sense at all.
>Fortunately, cider season came round.
>A lot of it was blurry, so you probably drank too much.
>You renember waking up at Rarity's house, though.
>She scolded you for what you did, and asked why you did it.
>Without any hesitation, you caved in and told her everything.
>Every last detail.
>You'd normaly hate expressing yourself like this, but it...really hit home this time.
>After you had finished, she nodded, and said that she would do anything she could to help.
>That was it. You were friends before, but this...You couldn't thank her enough.
>You had no idea what to do. No experience, no preperation.
>It came completely out of nowhere.
>You set your pride aside, and accepted that you needed her help.
>Before she even began helping you, letting her know about how you felt really helped.
>You could hang out with others as normal. Even Anon.
>...Well, maybe not "as normal" in Anon's case, but you tried to act the same way you did before.
>A part of you was really mad at him though. Still is.
>He made you go through all of that, and he just smiles and acts how he usualy does.
>Taunting you.
>...You can't even tell him about it.
 
>"Well, here it is, darling."
>You snap out of it and look at the dress.
>Wow.
>It looks similar to the one she made for you for the gala, but it had a shorter skirt. Looked more like a striped bowl this time round.
>...Not really the sort of thing you'd EVER wear, but it's a pretty good effort.
>"Do you like it?"
>Is this a test?
>She's testing you, isn't she.
>Alright, I guess...Be polite.
"It's...I...Thanks. Rarity."
>Geez. You DO need practice.
>She giggles.
>"Well, I suppose it's a start."
>She walks over to it, and stands proudly in front of her creation.
>...
>She can't expect you to put that on, right?
>"...Right then, let's see what it looks like on you."
>Damnit.
"Uh...No offence, Rarity, but..."
>"Oh, come on, don't be like that."
>...OH, CRAP NOT AGAI-
>She uses her magic to hoist you out of the air and over to the dress.
>All you can do is vainly struggle as you attempt to free yourself from her grasp.
>"Come on, Rainbow. Are you going to do this every time you put on a dress?"
"NO, I'm gonna do this every time you MAKE me put on a dress!"
 
>...
>"Please don't slouch, Rainbow. You'll wrinkle the dress."
>You can't help it.
>You couldn't care less if you wrinkle the stupid dress.
>You sit up, though.
>Rarity is sitting across the table from you.
>Today, she's going to help you work on your table manners.
>As much as you don't want to do this, a part of you wants to be more like her.
>You can't tell if it's respect, or because you think it'll make Anon like you.
>You're doing it, anyway. Doesn't mean you'll have to like it.
>You stare at the table.
>Silverware is lined up on her side, as due to being a unicorn, she can actually use knives and forks.
>You have a plate, and a teacup, and so does she.
>There is a teapot on the table, handle facing away from both your and Rarity's side.
>You're having a teaparty.
>You, Rainbow Dash, are having a tea party with somepony.
>Never,
>EVER,
>Have you thought this would be something you'd do.
>E V E R.
>You take a deep breath, close your eyes, Exhale slowly and open them again.
>Yep, still at the table.
>Still with Rarity.
>Dress has not disappeared.
>Teacups still on table.
>Guess what?
>STILL AT A TEA PARTY.
>What did you ever do to deserve this?!
 
>Rarity clears her throat.
>You learned from the last time, when she whipped you on the back of the head with a magicaly suspended tape measure, that you should pay attention.
>You keep your eyes peeled for any objects in the corner of your eye that shouldn't be floating.
>"Now then, what's the first thing we do when seated at the table?"
>Um.
>Damnit, what was the answer.
>You really don't want to get whipped again.
"Uh...Greet...The other guests at the table?"
>Rarity pauses for a moment.
>...
>WAS I RIGHT OR NOT?! GIVE ME A SIGN!
>"Not bad. That would be acceptable."
>Phew.
>It seems she's giving you some credit.
>"Alright, now at this point, one should try to make polite conversation with the other guests. What would be an appropriate topic, Rainbow Dash?"
>She half closes her eyes, raises her head slighly and looks at you from behind her nuzzle.
>OK, that's not too bad.
"Uh...How has your day been?"
>I dare her to tell me that's wrong.
>"Good example. Well done."
>As if you ever doubted yourself.
>You can't help but smile a little.
>"Ah, good. A smile is very important. Not too forced, just wide enough to be friendly."
>Not even trying.
>You rock at tea parties.
>...
>OK, maybe...Not "rock", specificaly...
>...Yeah, that's lame.
 
>"Alright, now we move on to the manners themselves."
>Crap, you suck at this part.
>She lifts the teapot with her magic and pours tea into both of your cups.
>Yours first, then hers.
>...Damn, she's good.
>"Alright, now I'll demonstrate how to drink tea without using magic."
>She casts a knowing glance at you.
>Gulp.
>"First, clasp the cup between both your forlegs. Like so."
>She skillfuly picks up and holds the teacup using her front knees.
>Again, she's good.
>You're not going to screw up this time though.
>Showing your inexperience, but with determination, you mimic her actions as best as you can.
>This time, you didn't knock the teacup over, staining the teacloth.
>Nor did it slip out of your grasp and break on the floor.
>You're actually holding it.
>The liquid inside is rippling menacingly.
>Please stop.
>"Nice work, Rainbow Dash. Now, bring it to your mouth, like so, but don't tip it."
>She brings the cup to her mouth while keeping it level, takes a sip, and returns to the previous position.
>She makes it look so easy.
>"Alright, Rainbow Dash, don't be nervous, otherwise it'll shake."
>Don't be nervous.
>Yeah, you're not the mare who's about to get her head smacked again.
>You look at the cup, and as steadily as you can, move it to your mouth.
>A drop falls from the cup and lands on the dress.
>You wince.
>Rarity looks ever so slightly annoyed.
>This is going to be a long day.