Just Another Mare in Ponyville

Rainbow Dash looked down in confusion at the mare groveling at her hooves. She had so many questions that weren't being answered. Every time she questioned Lightning Dust the only response she received was a mix of crying and "I just want somepony to love me again."

Rainbow Dash thought it was upsetting. She hated seeing somepony she knew like this.

Lightning Dust thought it was pathetic. She thought she deserved it, that it was her own fault. She hated this, the fact that all she could do was fall over and cry. She wanted to talk so badly, wanted to receive help, wanted to work everything out, but all she was able to do was lie down and cry at Rainbow's hooves.

Cry like the worthless piece of refuse she was, or at least that she thought she was. And she hated it.

She hated it almost as much as she hated herself.

Almost as much.

She knew that she had probably ruined any chance she had of receiving help, that her pathetic state probably ruined any of her chances of fixing anything. She knew that she would probably only receive disdain and hate from Rainbow Dash for showing up and acting like this.

"Lightning Dust!" Rainbow yelled this time, still trying to get her to snap out of it. "What's wrong? What are you doing here? Is somepony after you? Are you in danger? Do you need my help?!?"

Lightning Dust stopped her crying for a moment and looked up at her. It sounded like a Rainbow Dash cared about her. Like somepony actually cared about her.

And she thought that was funny. She knew nopony cared, so why did it sound like Rainbow Dash did?

Rainbow Dash looked straight into Lightning Dusts eyes. For a moment she thought she had caught her attention, and could finally get some answers from the depressed pony. She looked expectantly at her, urging her to tell her what was wrong.

And she received the same response.

"I just want somepony to love me again." Lightning Dust said the words as tears started welling up in her eyes.

Seeing Rainbow Dash had pulled back all the memories to the forefront, and all she felt was sadness. And and a deep hatred for herself. She tried to talk, but depression had fully taken hold of her. Grabbing onto her like a chain, keeping her as a hostage of her own mind. It was definitely going to take some time for her to snap out of it.

She began to cry again.

Rainbow stared down at her, unsure of what to do. She couldn't just leave her there; she knew that for a fact. This was an old friend, and she was always there for her friends.

After several moments she decided to slowly push Lightning off her hooves. She took a step back, and stared down at the pony, who was still crying, slowly curling up into a ball.

Rainbow once again thought about it. She definitely knew she couldn't just leave her there. She knew exactly what she had to do.

She leaned over and picked her up in her forehooves, flapping her wings to keep her upright hovered above the ground.

It took all her strength, but she carried Lightning Dust into the house and laid her on a bed in the guest room. She looked at the pony, who was still curled up crying in the bed, and felt a pang of sadness.

She leaned forward and hugged her, knowing it was the only thing she could do for her at the moment.

Lightning Dust looked up at her shocked, and hesitantly embraced the hug. She didn't believe it was real.

That somepony might actually care.

She thought it was fake.

She expected that at any moment she would awaken, and be back in some Celestia forsaken place where she wouldn't hold a job for over a week.

That her depression was just messing with her, trying to make her feel happy so it could crush her as hard as possible when she woke up.

But that didn't happen.

They continued to hold the embrace for several moments, before Rainbow slowly moved away.

Lightning Dust looked into her eyes, and a small smile came across her face tear stricken face.

Maybe somepony did care.

"I need to you to tell me what's wrong." Rainbow Dash said sincerely. "I can't help you if you don't tell me what's wrong."

She stared at Lightning Dust, and there was silence for several moments. She thought perhaps Lightning Dust would cry again, and she would get no answers. She didn't want that to happen, and knew watching Lightning Dust cry again would only make her angry. That going back to the same routine as five minutes ago would make her angrier than ever.

But she knew she would deal with it. She would endure it for her friend. She would stay there for her friend.

"I just want somepony to love me again." Lightning Dust said. She paused for a moment, fighting back tears. "To care about me."

"I care about you." Rainbow Dash said softly. 'You're my friend. And I'm always here for my friends."

At the sincere words Lightning Dust began to cry again. She knew the words were true, and they felt good to hear.

But at the same time they hurt so much.

She felt a blackness coming over her, blurring her vision and obscuring her thoughts. She was overcome by a mix of emotions varying from good to bad.

As if depression was trying its hardest to make her feel bad, and Rainbow Dash was forcing her hardest to fight against it.

She could hardly see anymore, the tears and darkness from the depression blurred her vision, but she could make out one thing.

The outline of Rainbow Dash sitting down next to her, reaching over and hugging her and not letting go, letting Lightning Dust cry on her shoulder.

She heard one last thing before being overtaken by the blackness, before slipping away into her own sadness.

"I'll always be here for my friends."