Night Terrors

Rarity galloped as fast as she could towards the Twilight's new castle. She was over an hour late for Twilight's birthday party. She would have thought a 4:00 start would be plenty of time to finish her order. Alas, it was not the case. The dress proved more complicated than she originally thought. Ever since winning Manehattan's fashion week, anypony who was anypony wanted a custom dress from the designer. Especially with the Grand Galloping Gala coming up. Twilight's party was the first break she had in a week.

When she finally arrived, the party was in full swing. Her friends started up a game of pin the tail on the pony. Even though Pinkie was the one blindfolded, she was the first to notice Rarity's arrival. "Hey-ya Rarity! Do you wanna go next? I bet you can't beat me!" The pink pony pounced forward and smacked her tail just an inch away from its mark. Pinkie removed her blindfold and squealed at the results.

"I'm so sorry I'm late Twilight. I just got so tied up that I nearly missed your party. Things have been rather busy of late." Rarity hung her head in shame. This is the second year in a row she ruined Twilight's party.

Twilight smiled, "It ok. Your not even the last pony to arrive. Rainbow Dash hasn't shown up yet."

"Has anypony even seen RD today," asked Applejack.

"Ooh ooh! I saw her doing some amazing tricks in the park earlier," Pinkie Pie offered, "she was all zoooom and swish. She was moving so fast I couldn't even keep up with her."

Fluttershy piped up, "um, I saw her near the forest a couple hours ago. She looked like she was training really hard."

"Train'n or no, Rainbow wouldn't be this late to yer party Twi. Why just yesterday she was goin' on about that signed Daring Doo book she was gett'n ya." As soon as the words left her mouth Applejack facehoofed at her blunder. So much for the surprise Rainbow had planned. Granted one of those signatures was her own, but Rainbow thought it was considerate.

Twilight ignore the slip of the tongue, "I'm sure she will come eventually. Let's just enjoy the party. Can I see what gift you brought Rarity?"

The five mares and baby dragon partied on into the evening. Twilight opened her gifts (which were all books of course), they played some of their favorite games, and they all sang happy birthday to Twilight. However, as Celestia lowered the sun and Luna's moon began to crawl high in the sky they became more and more concerned with Rainbow's absence.

Finally Applejack spoke up, "Where the hay is that blue menace? Not even she's this rude."

Fluttershy had a worried expression, "Do you think she's alright? Maybe she's hurt or lost or worse. Oh we've got to find her."

"I agree," said Rarity, "this is far more than a case of poor punctuality. Something must be amiss."

Twilight nodded, "then it's settled. Sorry Pinkie, but this party is over." She cut the music short.

"Awww," Pinkie moaned.

Twilight quickly divided them into search parties. She and Spike would check downtown, AJ and Pinkie would look around the edge of the Everfree Forest, and Fluttershy and Rarity would head to Rainbow's place to see if she was home. With that they set out to find their friend.

Fluttershy peered through the windows of Rainbow's cloud home. It didn't look like anypony was home. She went down to Rarity and shook her head in dismay. The yellow pegasus was so worried she was on the verge of tears.

Rarity tried to comfort her, "there there Darling. It'll be alright. Rainbow will turn up sooner or later."

As if on queue, Rainbow Dash fell out of the sky and crashed into the ground close by. Fluttershy and Rarity ran over to check on her. The daredevil sprang to her hoofs and grumbled to herself, "darn it! I was so close. How can I get be the best if I keep choking like this?"

"Rainbow Dash," Fluttershy wrapped Rainbow in a tight embrace, "I'm so glad your alright."

Rainbow pulled out of the hug, "uh, yeah! Why wouldn't I be?"

"We all got worried when you didn't show up for Twilight's birthday."

Rainbow rolled her eyes, "oh that. Look, I'm sorry I didn't make, but I have to perfect this maneuver asap."

Rarity blinked, "surely your friends are more important than some acrobatic trick."

"No! It's not! I've already wasted enough of my life being held back by you guys. I could have been a full fledged Wonderbolt by now. I could be so much more than an ordinary weather manager in some back water town. But I can't because I'm stuck on the ground with you guys."

Fluttershy looked confused, "but we're your friends. I thought you liked being with us."

"Why should I be friends with a lost cause like you? I stood up for you since we were fillies Fluttershy. I sacrificed so much of my time and energy to get you to grow a backbone, and you made absolutely nothing of it. Every time you've shown any confidence in yourself you went right back to being a cowardly doormat a week later. If your never gonna stand up for YOURSELF then I'm not gonna bother anymore."

Fluttershy looked absolutely crushed. The ferocity and anger in Rainbow's words forced her to start crying. Rarity stepped between the two pegasi, "that is quite enough Rainbow Dash. Your not the only one who makes sacrifices. Don't you remember we were there for you in the young flyers competition."

"I remember it perfectly. I remember that both of you did more to ruin my chances than help them. I remember I had to save your marshmallow flank after you spent the entire day stealing MY spotlight. And that's not all. How about when all my 'friends' went behind my back to humiliate me in front of all of Ponyville? What about all the little favors you guys constantly ask from me? Oh Rainbow I know you hate wearing dresses, but can you please serve as my personal mannequin? Um Rainbow, will you go with me to an extremely long and boring butterfly migration even though I'll ditch you when the dragons fly by? I have put more effort into these friendships than anypony else and what do I get? A stupid necklace and eternal recognition as Princess Twilight's sidekick. I have zapped, brainwashed, captured, and magicked more times than I can count. And I'm sick and tired of it. You two can tell Twilight that I'm done being second. She'll have to find somepony else to drag to Tartarus and back. I'm done." With that Rainbow Dash took off, leaving her old friends in a puddle of their own tears.

"She did what?" screamed a shocked Twilight.

"Just like that," Rarity said glumly, "She doesn't want to have anything to do with us."

Fluttershy was still sobbing in the corner of Twilight's throne room. Applejack and Pinkie Pie were doing their best to cheer her up. Spike was just as stunned as Twilight, "that doesn't make any sense. She was just fine yesterday."

Twilight agreed, "To exhibit such a drastic change in attitude overnight. It doesn't seem natural."

"Do you think somepony is responsible for this? Maybe Discord?"

"I doubt it. If there's one thing I'm sure of, it's that Discord has changed for the better. Besides, his antics usually involve more... gloating than this. It's possible this is all just stress getting to Rainbow's head. I think we should let her sleep on it and confront her in the morning."

"A- Are you certain that we should do that," asked Rarity.

"No. I'm not, but it's getting late and it will be easier to talk to her with a full night's rest. Don't worry Rarity, we'll get our old Rainbow back."

After a solemn round of hugs the Twilight's guests returned to their homes and beds. All of them were shaken by Rainbow's outburst, especially the two who were there to witness it. Yet they still remained hopeful that their friendship will stay strong in the end.