Flatter

"No, that's the wrong color. Not this. Or this. Yellow? Blue? Green? Oh none of these!"

Rainbow Dash flinched as ribbons, tiaras and other fashion do-dads that she didn't really care for hit her in the snout after Rarity tossed them aside. Somehow she had gotten the Pegasus  to stand in as a model for her, but so far the unicorn wasn't happy with anything about the outfit Rainbow was currently wearing.

"I'll never get this to look right!"

Tired of standing around idly, her front hooves stomped the pedestal and her wings twitched under the fabric. Rarity wouldn't have even noticed if she did take off. Really the only thing keeping her grounded was the far off look in her friend's eyes. Still that didn't stop her from putting up a fuss.

"Please hold still, Rainbow Dash!"

"What's got your mane in a knot?"

Rarity didn't look up as she attempted to place a pin between two pieces of fabric. "Nothing, I just… Nothing seems to be working right now, that's all."

Rainbow attempted to hold still as much as possible, partly (well, mostly) to keep from getting poked, and partly to study Rarity's face.

"Ok if you're going to keep me here, then tell me what's wrong."

Rarity leaned back. "I told you before, I'm fine. Really!"

Rainbow's tailed flicked. "Well ok. So where's Flutter--shh!?" Rainbow gagged when Rarity tied a ribbon too tightly around the Pegasus' waist.

"Fluttershy," The unicorn huffed, letting go of the ribbon with a snap, "is off having a grand old time with Photo Finish. You know this, Rainbow Dash."

Rainbow shook herself until the feeling came back into her ribs. Now she really didn't want to be here. "Well yeah, but don't you see her anymore?"

"I'm afraid not." Rarity's haughtiness melted and she looked away, pretending to study her work to avoid anymore words on the modeling pony. Rainbow felt her wings droop a bit, as much as they could tied down so tightly. She felt bad for her friend, she seemed to be having mixed feelings about Fluttershy's new career. Rainbow remembered how hard she had worked making the five of them custom dresses for the Galloping Gala. This pony was dedicated to fashion.
On the other hoof, Rainbow didn't know how much more of this she could take. Her legs felt itchy from being on the ground and it was horrible having her wings constrained. Obviously she would have to use her cunning to get out of here.

Rarity isn't one to fall for cheap tricks, though, so Rainbow opted for laying it on thick.

"That certainly is a shame, Rarity."

"What is?" The unicorn tilted her head, a sewing kit floating next to her.

"About the whole modeling thing!" Rainbow explained, putting on her most sincere voice. "I bet you miss Fluttershy a lot."

"I do." Rarity smiled.

Rainbow flipped her head, flickering her mane around, and trotted off the pedestal. "And you know? I don't think Fluttershy is really cut out to be a model. I think they picked the wrong pony." She stomped, attempting to make her point clearer.

Rarity's smiled turned into a small smirk and her eyes narrowed a little. "Do you really, Rainbow Dash?"

Rainbow faulted for a moment. That face meant it was working brilliantly, or failing horribly. No point in backing off now. Time for the charm. "Personally, I'd much rather see you out there, working those cameras!"

"What makes you say that, dear?" The unicorn raised an eyebrow, but her expression was still otherwise unchanged.

She wasn't sure if this was working or not, but Rainbow noticed that at the least, Rarity wasn't fussing over what she was wearing anymore, which meant the distraction was successful. She trotted in slow circles around Rarity as she began to make her points, keeping an eye on the door. "Well, you certainly know a thing or two about fashion! You're composed, you're never a mess, you're great in front of the cameras, and you love dresses, and you're pretty and talented and --!"

Rarity caught a ribbon from around Rainbow's neck and stomped on it, swiftly stopping the Pegasus in her tracks and bringing them nose to nose. "And you're a liar, Rainbow Dash." Despite saying so, her smile was mischievous and her cheeks were pink. "Didn't anypony ever tell you, flattery gets you no where?"

Getting over her shock, Rainbow looked up and smiled nervously. "Aww Rarity, I wasn't fooling you, honest!" But at her friend's stare, she confessed. "…how'd you see right through me?"

"Because I know you, darling." Rarity simply said. She let Rainbow go. Rainbow shook her head, then suddenly felt the extra weight and the bindings around her body float away. More importantly, her wings no longer felt tied down. She looked up to see the outfit she was wearing pile next to Rarity. "Really dear, if you wanted out, you should have said so."

Quick as a flash, Rainbow took to the air, doing laps around the room's ceiling, cheering happily. Her wings pleased, she touched back down. "Ok, you caught me." She said, momentarily embarrassed, then gave Rarity a hard look.

"What is it?

Rainbow smirked. "You were blushing."

"I most certainly was not!" Rarity startled.

"You most certainly were! Seems flattery gets me somewhere!"

Rarity huffed, her cheeks coloring again. "W-well, you said I was pretty."

Rainbow trotted to her side. "Well you are pretty. And you need to get out of this stuffy place and away from all these clothes." She began pushing Rarity to the door. Unsure what Rainbow was up to this time, Rarity let herself be guided.

Once outside, Rainbow did a few loops in the air, then landed back down. "Ok, so you need to have fun. Whatever you and Fluttershy usually do, let's go do that. So long as it's no more dress up!"

"Well, our favorite thing to do is meet at the spa! How about it?" Rarity bounced on the spot.

Rainbow blanched. More girly gunk?!

"Uh, I er..y-yeah that sounds…fun!"

Rarity laughed airily. "I'm just teasing you Rainbow Dash. You go fly. I'll go see Twilight and ask if she'd like to join me sometime. But you owe me!"

"Yes!" Rainbow cheered and zoomed away. Just as Rarity was turning away, she returned, touching down gently. "Seriously though? Talk to Fluttershy. Ok?"

Rarity shrugged, but smiled. "We'll see Rainbow."

Rainbow flapped her wings, winked, then disappeared. Rarity smiled to herself, then headed towards the library.