Fall of the Butterflies

by chankl2

Rating: teen
Tags: Fluttershy, Tragedy, Slice of Life, Alternate Universe, Sad, Main 6, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Spike, Rainbow Dash, Other
Length: 26160

Friendship is something that should be respected. It has created new life, new emotions with every step, forming unbreakable bonds that bring happiness and joy in our darkest hours. But what if the inevitable happens? What do you do then?

It is weeks after the Summer Sun Celebration. The residents of Ponyville are enjoying the arrival of fall and the leaves are already starting to drop gracefully one by one to the soft ground. Each of the mane 6 are doing their own hobbies and jobs just as always, and it doesn't seem like anything would go wrong, that their friendship would never be fractured. Or so they thought. Sometimes we ask ourselves the single and simple question: "Why?", to no answer, to no solution. Sometimes there is nothing we can do and we are forced to accept that, as that is the definition of life. To move on.

There is no such thing as a perfect ending, but it doesn't mean that you have to give up on it.

Published 2015-03-23 15:10:02 UTC
Last updated 2015-07-23 03:34:58 UTC

Prologue: The Breaking of Harmony

She’d stopped trying to bring her back.

She only came back when she felt like it, in dreams and lies and broken-down déjà vu, only to remind her once again that she was gone. Gone forever.

Like, she’ll be working at Cloudsdale, only to find a yellow pony with a pink mane standing in the corner-and she could have sworn, for at least half a choking moment, that is was her.

Then she’s see that her mane change back to orange, or even red sometimes, snapping her back to reality.

Then it would happen again and she’ll see that she was still wearing the blue flower on her head, still carrying the bunny on her back.

She always hated that bunny. Angel never deserved Fluttershy.

Fluttershy…

Standing behind her at that instant, silent.

The shock sent Rainbow Dash out of the bed, gasping and choking, letting oxygen back into her system, making everything just now seem drabber and flatter and never good enough.

Fluttershy ruining everything.

Fluttershy, gone. Gone forever.

She had to remind herself again as her head slumped back into the pillow. The painful truth, her decision, reality.

She’d stopped trying to bring her back.

A cool breeze swept over the kingdom of Equestria as the land welcomed the arrival of fall. Ponies around the region were enjoying the calmness and relaxation of the season, the young ones playing in the leaves while the adults shooed them away playfully, smiles on all of their faces, an unique feeling that only autumn could bring.

It was no exception in Ponyville, where the lazy sun shone over the crystal castle, casting a mysterious shade of light that seemed to project itself all over the town. It was a school holiday and the cutie mark crusaders were once again exploring and searching for their hidden talents while the townspeople watched closely, fearing slightly of a tiny chance of chaos or another ear shattering performance, though it happened rarely now.

The rest of the Apple's were counting their harvest while collecting the seeds from the vampire fruit bats to use once again during the beginning of spring. Even the storeowners in the market and the stores were taking a break, the workday suspended and leaving a whole period out for relaxation for sundown.

As for the mane 6, nothing was really out of the ordinary either. Twilight was stacking the remaining books in the castle library with Rarity’s help, levitating them one by one and placing them neatly in categorized shelves, much to the other’s dismay.

Pinkie was holding the second birthday party for the cake twins, and from the many explosions in the store it was obvious that she would have a lot to clean up after the celebration, though it was all in good fun nevertheless, balancing responsibility with enjoyment. Applejack was with her family, and Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were together in the outskirts of the woods outside her cottage, having a small picnic together with Angel and Tank.

“It’s been a while since we hung out together, Fluttershy.” Rainbow remarked with her mouth full with a hay burger she bought, spraying a bit of breadcrumbs onto the red and white cloth.

“Er…yes, it really has been quite a while, Dashie.” Fluttershy said while calling on a flock of ducks and birds, which happily devoured the crumbs that Rainbow dropped.

“So, what do you want to do next after this? There’s a new nature crossing I found to the north of the Everfree forest that we could walk through, or we could even fly over to the Rainbow Falls and maybe find some rare animals over there to adopt, I guess.”

Her enthusiasm was clearly shown, but Fluttershy didn’t look really into the mood for anything of the sort, her expression remaining impassive with the same small smile.

“Well, I don’t really know about that, Rainbow. The Everfree forest is kind of dangerous at this hour, and I need to take care of Angel, since he seems to be having a slight cold.” The rabbit, upon hearing those words from the distance feigned a cough.

“Don’t you think that he’s faking again like the last time this happened?” Rainbow asked, annoyed.

“You should never ignore the benefit of the doubt.” Fluttershy said as Angel scurried over to her lap and sat on it.

“But what about another picnic some other time then? Or do you want to go and see the butterfly migration tomorrow?”

“I’m sorry, Dashie, but I’m really busy with caring all the animals at my cottage, and I’m not sure that I can be able to join you again.”

“But what about next week then? Next month?”

“I don’t think that I would have the time to do so, Rainbow.”

The rainbow pony couldn’t take it anymore. She stood up and confronted Fluttershy face-to-face, desperate rage shown in her expression.

“That’s it. Why are you deliberately avoiding hanging out with me in particular? Why is it that when you’re with Rarity, Twilight, Applejack, even Pinkie you’re so willing to talk to them! Even when we participated in the Equestria Games, all you said was generic and honestly the same during both training and racing!” Rainbow Dash yelled, angry.

Her sudden outburst took Fluttershy by surprise, and even Angel quickly ran off back towards the cottage, leaving the two with Tank, who watched them with his mouth dropped.

“What are you talking about…”

“Think about it. We helped each other out when we were fillies during our time in Cloudsdale. We were good friends! Then suddenly you disappeared and went to Ponyville and when I followed you, you were distant and silent, forcing me to leave you alone. “

“I didn’t mean to do that…”

“Only after Twilight came and created a new group of friends did you socialize, and even though we are all grown up now we still need each other’s help. You chose my pet, cheered for me during the Young Fliers Competition, and I tried my best to support you when we transported that water with the other Pegasus ponies. Then it was all back to square one. What happened Fluttershy, What happened?!”

A long silence echoed among the grassland. Tank was hiding in his shell, too scared to leave the area. Finally, Fluttershy spoke.

“I’m sorry if you think of me like that, but you’re scaring the animals right now. I would appreciate it if you leave them out of this.” She retorted with a slight hint of anger in her tone.

“You’re not answering my question!”

“There is nothing to answer for. You’re my friend and if you want it to stay that way, please calm down.”

“Fine! Be like that! I’m leaving!” And with those words the grass separated wildly as she shot into the sky, leaving a rainbow line.

“………………………….”

Staring at the ground that Rainbow projected off from, she neatly dusted the grass and flattened the pasture to its original shape, not saying a word, not even to the petrified Tank, who slowly flew off towards Rainbow Dash’s direction.

If only she knew the truth behind her actions. If only she knew.

If only she knew the truth…

If only…

The world suddenly blackened around her, and there was silence, the only sound being the increased wind speed as her friend returned.

“Flutters, I sorry that I yelled at you just now. Maybe we could have a compromise…Fluttershy?”

Rainbow shook her. There was no response. Her eyes were lifeless. Her whole body was cold.

“Fluttershy?! FLUTTERSHY!!!”

Author's Note

Before anyone says anything, I am not shipping both of these characters. :pinkiesick:

Chapter 2: 30 days of life

“It cant” be…it cant”!” Applejack yelled.

While Twilight was still sobbing uncontrollably on the floor, Pinkie was silently weeping in Rarity’s hooves, her hair completely deflated and the happiness from before disappeared. Even Rarity was trying hard not to break down like the others, but to little success. As for Applejack, she was literally frozen in shock.

“It may take some time for the news to fully sink in…I’m very sorry, I really understand how you feel, but…Oof!”

Rainbow pushed away the doctor with blind fury in mid-air as she busted out of the door, rushing through the now empty and meaningless rooms in the hospital as quickly as possible, knocking over medical equipment, patients, and even the staff. The sound of hurt voices and the annoyed grunts echoed around the building, but Rainbow couldn’t hear them. In fact, as she flew off into the clouds, she didn’t want to listen to anything at all. Not anymore.

“Rainbow! Come back! Come back…” Twilight cried.

“Give her a while Twilight…the fact that poor little Fluttershy has…cancer is very hard to believe…even for me, and that includes everypony else.” Applejack managed to say, trembling.

“First Fluttershy, now Rainbow Dash?!” Pinkie screamed, and started flooding the area with her tripled amount of tears.

“No no no Pinkie! Rainbow Dash just left!” The Doctor reassured her. Though it stopped the flooding, the crying was going to be quite impossible at this time.

It took a few periods to calm the remaining mane 4 down. However, in the end the doctor was able to successfully inflate Pinkie’s mane to her recognizable self, although it continued to droop miserably.

“I know that this is a hard time for all of you right now, but I have to say something.” The doctor said quietly, making sure that all eyes were focused on him and not the ground. Seeing that the situation was settled, he continued his message.

“According to the blood test that yielded the positive result just now, her condition is at the final stage and there is nothing we can do to stop the process, though we can slow it down. During this time, I beg you all that you’ll consider her feelings as well. She is in much pain as you four are in, and she knows it. Promise me that you’ll not express the obvious, if you know what I mean…” He stated grimly.

“But…isn’t there a spell to heal this disease? There has to be, right Twilight?” Rarity wailed.

“I’m sorry Rarity, but there’s a reason why cancer is considered the most deadly condition to have in all of Equestria. The virus contains Hessonite crystals, which negate all forms of magic, not just unicorn spells but magic from any magical creature.” Twilight replied.

“Hessonite? The dark crystal that Sombra trapped you in during that time in the Crystal Empire?” Rarity gasped.

“Exactly…that’s why I broke down when the doctor…Oh!” She pressed her hoof to her cheek, falling silent again.

“Twilight, y’all. We need to stay focused.” Applejack reminded the rest of her friends, looking at the doctor with sudden determination.

“Thank you, Applejack. What I’m trying to say is…spend some time with her. With the hospital’s calculations, she only has less than a month to live. Make sure that she…passes on peacefully.” He finished his lecture, and exited the room without a further comment.

“You heard him, Twilight. Fluttershy needs all of your help and reassurance during this one month period.”

“Huh?” Twilight looked out of her hoof to see the small dragon right in front of her, scowling.

“Spike? When did you get here?!” Pinkie exclaimed.

“I was here the whole time. I came before you four did with Rainbow Dash as I saw her crying for help while rushing over to the hospital, so I ran over here to see what was going on. And now the truth has been revealed.” He replied solemnly.

“But…why aren’t you sad? Fluttershy is going to die and you’re just a baby dra…” Rarity couldn’t even finish her sentence before she found herself glared fiercely by the dragon, his eyes tinted with green fire.

“If I’m still considered to be a baby, then what are you? What are all of you? One of our best friends is about to die due to lymph cancer and you all are just sitting there moping and crying your eyes out! For pete’s sake, when I was sick, at least I had a group of friends to care for me! Is the only thing Fluttershy going to see before she passes on her reflection on the wall as her friends are too depressed to comfort her, to even take care of her?!” He shouted furiously.

“Spike…Wha…” Twilight mumbled.

“Especially you Twilight, I’m disappointed in you.” Spike walked over to her crying face and held it up to eye level. “You’re supposed to be the most organized one, the most controlled, always ready to solve a problem when it comes, even seemingly impossible feats such as preventing an invasion and stopping Tirek. Where is that Twilight I know now?” He looked over to the rest of the mane four. “Where are the friends that I’ve been with since moving to Ponyville? Please…at least do it for her.” He said, finally shedding a tear.

There was a long echo of the last two words that Spike said, which reverberated around the stunned room while silent sobs came from the young dragon, who had closed his eyes in humiliation. Suddenly, a flow of warmth spread around him and opening his eyes, he saw the alicorn hugging him tightly, like a mother to a son.

“We’re all here, Spike. We’re all here.” She spoke softly as Spike broke down completely in her arms. Gesturing to her friends, they walked in front of her, drying their tears and standing upright.

“You heard what the doctor said, what Spike said. We have to make sure that Fluttershy can pass on without worrying about us, be there for her when it happens. I understand what they both mean now. We’re all part of a family, and nothing can change that.”

Applejack nodded with determination, while Rarity and Pinkie smiled softly for the first time as Twilight continued.

“I think that we should visit her one by one over the course of the one month period, along with her other friends and family that might want to come over to this hospital, so that it never gets too crowded for her, a situation we all know Fluttershy dislikes. We can still visit her together and in groups, but we’ll only talk about the personal thoughts when we’re alone with her. How’s that sound?”

“Sounds like a good plan to me.” Applejack replied.

“I’ll do to for her, for all of us!” Rarity exclaimed dramatically.

“I won’t rest until she smiles again! That is what I’m supposed to do!” Pinkie said loudly, her mane fully inflated with passion.

“Thank you. Thank you all.” Spike spluttered emotionally.

“We’re all in this together, right?”

“RIGHT!”

Now Twilight, Pinkie, Rarity, and Applejack were ready to start the blossoming cycle, which would not be mourned but celebrated. However, there was still one pony that did not know. Still, friends are supposed to stick together no matter what. And that is a fact that forms the very essence of friendship.

And so it begins, the 30 days of life.

Day 1: Twilight time

It was bound to happen.

It just had to come at this particular time, at this particular hour, after that particular moment. It just had to.

Fluttershy was staring out the depths of the room’s glass window, watching as the animals of the night came out slowly one by one, sniffing the night air as they went into the woods to hunt.

The nurses had locked the frames of the windows when she had woken up from her coma, and by that time it was already dark, the crescent moon already drifted to the top of the sky, illuminating the grounds with a pale blue aura.

She tried standing up from her position, only to find several tubes inserted into her arms, stopping her movement with it’s mechanical grasp, fierce and cold, threatening her with the constant beeping sound that came from the source.

“I can’t believe I got myself into this mess…”

She sunk back down to the awaiting pillow in a matter of self-defeat, her eyes staring silently at the ceiling of the hospital. If only it was the ceiling of her cottage. If only the bed was not a bed but the reliable green couch that welcomed her when she was too exhausted to go upstairs after a long day with her friends.

Her friends…

Their realization.

She lost consciousness when Rainbow Dash…

Unable to control herself, she started to struggle from the withholds of the machine, kicking and screaming like an injured animal in an inescapable trap.

“Let me out of here! Let me go!”

The electronics came alive in alarm to the sudden increase in movement, glaring red as it injected tranquilizers into Fluttershy’s body, forcing the mare to lose her will.

“Let…me…go…” She collapsed, the impact of the medical drugs sinking into her system, forcing her into a torturous sleep.

“Alright Spike, today’s the day. Did you get the checklist?”

“Yeah…but does it really have to be this long? I’m glad that you’re taking what I said seriously, but this list is even longer than the one you told me to construct when Celestia gave you that test…”

It was a rather busy start to the morning in the library of the crystal castle. Twilight had spent most of the previous night looking over all the books that were related to Sombra, Hessonite, horse biology, and magical chemistry.

“I know that the disease is incurable, but perhaps I can find a loophole in the biological system that can perhaps averse the effects of the symptoms related to the illness…”

“Twilight…” Spike said worryingly.

“Or maybe there’s a counter spell to the crystal that counters spells? It might not make logical sense, but according to the theory of maristocrats the sense of the senses counter the rhetorical…”

“Don’t you have an…I don’t know…an important appointment with someone? You know, the pony you promised to help?”

Twilight suddenly stopped short on her tracks and made a gasping sound that could rival the dramatizations of Rarity’s.

“Oh right! How could I have forgotten?! Oh wait…I didn’t forget, my stuff is right…wait…where did I put my stuff again for my visit to Fluttershy? Where is it?!” She gasped.

“It’s right beside you.”

She turned and found the leather bag slumping on the corner of the table, which Spike picked up and fastened to her back.

“Oh…right…Heh…Thanks Spike.”

“Don’t mention it…”

She took off through the castle windows and soared towards the direction of the hospital, leaving the dragon, who had his claws on his face as he closed the window that she flew through.

“Sugarcube corner, market, forest…Ah! There it is!”

She lowered her velocity and landed swiftly on the pathway, face to face with the entrance of the building.

“Alright Twilight, you can do this. Just be yourself, and make sure not to crack or show any sign of negativity. Stay positive.”

She walked through the doors of the hospital and immediately bumped into another pony, causing both of them to drop their belongings, and fall to the floor.

“You really do have a tendency to bump into colts, Twilight Sparkle.” The doctor said as he readjusted his glasses.

“Oh! Doctor Horse! Sorry about that. I was just too occupied with planning how to spend the day with Fluttershy.” She blushed, embarrassed.

“I see. So you’ve decided to visit her individually, with you being the first of the bunch.” He said while picking up the clipboards.

“Something like that. Though it won’t always be the same formula. We need to stay as positive as possible and make sure that she can move on without any sadness or regret.”

“I’m afraid that you already have a problem regarding regret to be solved, Twilight.” He remarked sadly.

“What do you mean Doctor?”

“See for yourself.” And without a second glance he continued on and out of the hospital, leaving Twilight behind.

“Can’t give up now. I have to see what the doctor meant.”

Room 349 was considerably dimmer the last time the mane 5 were there. Fluttershy however was awake this time, her vision dazed.

“Fluttershy?”

There was a pause, then the pegasus slowly turned to face the familiar sound, her ears perking as she saw one of her friends.

“Twilight! I’m so glad to see you!”

“I’m also happy to see you again, Fluttershy. How is life in the hospital? It can’t be as bad as Rainbow describes it, right?”

“Oh no, the doctors and nurses here are very kind and helpful to me and the rest of the patients when anypony needs their help. I’ve made a lot of friends since I got here.” Fluttershy replied.

“Really? I mean…you’re not scared of being alone by yourself in this room right? We can always accompany you through the night if that’s a problem or anything…”

“Don’t worry, Twilight, I’m perfectly fine.” Fluttershy interrupted Twilight, her eyes darting to the ground for a second.

“Well, I brought you some books about nature and animals, just in case you were bored. When you’re out of the hospital I can finally show you that rare phoenix species that Celestia lent me. He’s even more magnificent than Philomena!” She said excitedly while unpacking her sack, her horn glowing as she levitated the many books from the fallen bag to the shelf beside the pegasus.

“Thanks, Twilight. I’ll make sure to read them as soon as possible.”
She tried to take one, but hesitated at the last second.

“Need some help?”

“No, I can take the book without an issue. It was really kind of you to come and visit me Twilight, but you can go now if you want.”

“You don’t want me to stay?”

“Um…I do want you to stay, but you must need to have something else to do besides waiting for me to recover, and I don’t want to waste your time or cause any cancellations.” She said nervously.

“I schedule all my appointments and meetings. You know that Fluttershy. Is there something that you’re not telling me?”

“There’s nothing im hiding! I just forgot about that, that’s all!” Sweat was starting to show on the rim of her forehead.

Catching her body language, Twilight moved closer to Fluttershy’s bed and held her hoof with her own, her expression clearly showing a sign of both concern and curiosity.

“Fluttershy. Tell me what’s going on. I don’t want to put you in the spotlight or anything, but you haven’t been yourself since your picnic trip with Rainbow Dash. Is there a problem between you two that you’re not willing to talk about?” She questioned.

“I…I…I never had a problem with Dashie. Being friends who have differences, it’s common for us to have little arguments now and then, but in the end like all of our other friends, my friendship with each of you remains strong.” She answered quickly.

“………In that case, I’ll leave you alone then. I know what you’re going through and you obviously need some time by yourself.”

“Thank you, Twilight.”

She nodded silently and started towards the door, but not before taking a bouquet of pink peonies from her knapsack, and placing them on the empty vase on the desk by Fluttershy’s bed.

“They’re beautiful…”

“I’m glad that you like them.”

She gave a final wave and started to close the door from the other side, giving a small yet sad smile as the final parting gift.

“Twilight, wait!”

Her hoofs paused on the doorknob, and she peeked her head out of the gap of the doorway.

“If possible…can you bring Rainbow Dash here? I…need to talk to her…” She mumbled, barely loud enough to be heard.

“…Sure Fluttershy, I will.” The door closed, and the lights faded back to its original dim state, flaunting the area with paleness.

“So how did it go?”

Twilight was back in the castle with the rest her friends, who were sitting on the thrones of the center room, all previously staring at the empty chair with the butterfly symbol.

“Not good. She’s not willing to talk to me about anything related to either the disease or her feelings.” Twilight recalled.

“Is she depressed or sick mentally?!” Rarity pondered.

“Worse. She’s clearly hiding something from the rest of us, and I tried to persuade her to tell the truth, but it will take clearly more than a single speech to convince her otherwise.”

“But why is she doing this y’all? That” just ridiculous of her to lie to her best friends!” Applejack objected.

“It’s just not like her! I refuse to believe such a thing!” Pinkie grimaced.

“Calm down girls. I did manage to acquire a source for her to open up to us. She wants to talk with Rainbow Dash, who could be the only way we can find the truth about this whole scenario.”

There was a long silence as Rarity, Pinkie, and Applejack looked at each other worryingly before turning back to Twilight.

“Um…Are you sure that she only wants to talk with Rainbow Dash?” Rarity choked.

“Yes, and I want to ask, Rainbow…” She looked around the room for the other pegasus, but there were actually two thrones empty.

“Girls…where is Rainbow Dash? Is she at her home or something?”

The three of them fretted once again towards each other. Finally, Applejack got off her chair, took off her hat, and went over to Twilight, who was perplexed towards their behavior.

“No. Since yesterday, the day where the doctor revealed that Fluttershy had lymph cancer, Rainbow Dash left Ponyville.”

“But…couldn’t we track her and…”

“We can’t. She took a hessonite crystal.”

Author's Note

If anyone asks, "chapters" and "days" are different, where one is the subset of the other. Chapters are the more important set that moves on the plot further while days can either be important to the plot, or just enforce the meaning of friendship/tragedy/sadness, etc. :ajsmug:

By the way I would love it if anyone reading this would want to suggest what other creatures or ponies should visit Fluttershy during the 30 days of life. Any suggestions will be welcomed with open hoofs. :twilightsmile:

Chapter 3: Somewhere over the Rainbow

“She took a hessonite crystal?! From where?”

“I dunno sugarcube. Well we arrived at her house to comfort seeing how she flew away after the doctor revealed Fluttershy’s disease during your hospital visit, there was nothing there but a very traumatized Scootaloo.” Applejack explained.

“She left her sister behind alone?!” Twilight gasped.

“You can bet my hoofs that she did! I couldn’t believe that she would do such a thing…it’s even worse than breaking a Pinkie promise!” Pinkie growled.

“And don’t worry about little Scoots. After calming her down she” now staying with Sweetie Belle at Rarity’s place.” Applejack assured.

“So there was no trace of anything in the house? Then how did you form the conclusion that Rainbow stole Hessonite?”

“Sorry dear, the pure shock of seeing somepony abandon their sister must have gotten into me. Actually, we did try to find some evidence, and through my gem finding spell I managed to catch some small shards of dark gems on the floor. I tried to pick it up with my magic but it just didn’t work, proving it to be Hessonite.” Rarity informed.

“Where is it now?”

“I picked them up with my hoofs and placed them inside a bag. Excuse me for just a second…”

The unicorn took out a plastic bag from the shelves surrounding the castle in the background of the room. Inside were several shards of black crystals that sunk to the bottom of the flying plastic, not affected by the floatation of the levitation spell.

“That’s Hessonite all right…Shoot. We need to think more clearly about this, even I’m not quite sure what to do now.” Twilight groaned.

“First Fluttershy, now Rainbow Dash…Pinkie was right to say that the other day. Oh ponyfeathers, I can’t bear witness to any more tragedies.” Applejack remarked, perplexed.

“Wait…bear witness…Witness! Of course! The only reason Scootaloo would be traumatized is if she witnessed Rainbow Dash leaving! Rarity, she’s still at the boutique, right?”

“Why yes, that’s a ingenious idea, Twilight! Let’s go!”

The mane 4 set off towards Rarity’s home. Rushing inside and going upstairs to Sweetie Belle’s room, they found all the members of the CMC. Applebloom was still trying to comfort the weeping Scootaloo while Sweetie Belle was rewashing the towels at the sink.

“Oh it’s your sister, Sweetie Belle. Wait a second, Twilight? Pinkie? Big sister? Applebloom said, surprised at the large reception.

“Hi, Applebloom. Do you mind if Sweetie Belle and you leave this room for just a while? We would like to ask Scootaloo some questions regarding Rainbow Dash, if she doesn’t mind.” Twilight quipped.

They looked at their friend, who nodded slowly. Seeing this, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle left the room and closed the door behind them, leaving the mane 4 with the remaining pegasus.

“Sniff…I’m ok…just tell me what I need to answer about…cough…Rainbow Dash…” Scootaloo sniffed.

“What exactly happened when Rainbow Dash came back home?!” Pinkie questioned, grasping the filly to her chest softly.

“Um…well…I was preparing a surprise for Rainbow Dash, since today is the anniversary of the day she got her cutie mark! When she came in, I was prepared to throw her the best party I could ever make! But then…then…she…” She started out excited, and then her faint smile faded to a depressed state as the rest of the memories came.

“Then what, Scootaloo? Please, take your time dear.” Rarity assured.

“Rainbow Dash…she pushed me out of the way and starting packing all her things into her bag, you know the one that she used during her awesome training at the Wonderbolts academy…then when I asked her where was she going…”

She pulled away from Pinkie and stared out of the window into the horizon, in the direction of the cloud house.

“What happened then, Scootaloo?” Twilight enquired.

“She…she said to leave her alone, and without even looking at me she just flew out of the door without even saying goodbye. She didn’t even acknowledge my existence!” And with the memories recalled she once again started to weep, waves of tears that hit the ground with heavy emotion.

Applejack went out of the door and quickly came back with her younger sister as the rest of the mane 4 left the premises, the need for Rainbow Dash’s return rising higher than before as they closed the door behind them.

“Gosh Darn it! It” just a dead end one after the other! We don’t have a clue to what RD’s doing and where she is!” She erupted.

“Calm down Applejack. I’m as frustrated as you are, but there’s really nothing we can do right now.” Twilight pleaded glumly.

“Um…Twilight? There is something that Rainbow Dash left. Scootaloo just forgot to show it to you.”

Sweetie Belle was standing in front of the stairs, and floating through her magic was a knotted up feather. One was blue, the other yellow, with the two tying together into a perfect double knot.

“Those feathers…they must be from Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash’s wings!” Rarity exclaimed.

Sweetie Belle nodded. “I’m not sure if they can help you in finding Rainbow Dash, but this is all that we have. We want to help too, but as you can see, Scootaloo needs our company right now.”

“We understand. Thank you Sweetie Belle. Be sure to tell Scootaloo that we thank her as well, and that we’ll definitely bring her back.” Twilight assured.

With a final goodbye hug shared between the two sisters, the mane 4 left the boutique and headed towards the Crystal Castle.

“Do you think that we can find a tracking spell for these two feathers in the library?” Rarity enquired.

“I don’t know. Tracking spells for living objects are more complicated, and I don’t know if it can work with only two feathers…Pinkie what are you doing?”

The pink pony had untied both of the feathers and placed them on the respective chairs of the empty seats. Unknown to any of them a faint light started to glow from the chairs as the objects were placed.

“I just thought that it would feel better if a part of Rainbow and Fluttershy were with us.” She sniffed sadly.

“We will find Rainbow Dash and save Fluttershy, Pinkie. None of us are going to give up.” Applejack clarified as she sat on her throne.

“I completely agree.” Rarity chimed in, doing the same.

“Will…will they be alive to smile again?” Pinkie whimpered in her chair.

“It’s our responsibility.” Twilight cracked a small smile. “Yours, to be exact. What future do you want to have?”

“A happy one?”

“Count on it.” And the final piece was completed.

The symbols of each of the chairs started to glow in a bright and cheerful light, shocking and surprising Twilight and her friends. The colors of purple, orange, white, pink, yellow, and blue exploded respectively on the star in the middle. Crystals then formed from six sides, pushing towards the center and creating the crystal roots.

“Wha…What’s happening?!”

From the point of intersection the table rose up graciously, revealing what was to be known as the cutie map, the whole kingdom of Equestria revealed in a circular pattern.

“Twilight! I just came back from the Boutique! I think that Rainbow Dash…um…is that new?” Spike dropped his jaw in fascination.

His sudden arrival snapped Twilight out of her stupor.

“It is…what is this map? It looks like Equestria, but there are a lot of places that I can’t recognise!”

“It has to be! There’s Ponyville, there’s Canterlot…And oh! Even my parents are here!” Pinkie said as she walked on the surface.

“It must have formed when all parts of us were at the thrones! Pinkie Pie, you’re a genius!” Rarity stammered.

“I am?!” She quizzed, confused.

“You really are, Pinkie. Why, if you didn” place those feathers, we never would have…what’s that tickling feeling behind my back?”

Applejack stared backwards, and found to her further surprise that her cutie mark was glowing repeatedly, as the rest of her friends were having the same result as well. Even from the feathers they could see that both of the pegasus’ cutie marks were now embedded on the respective owner.

Without even giving the mane 4 a chance to react, the symbols of the mane 6 flew out of their locations as projections, spinning together in harmony before scattering in different directions. Although four cutie marks stayed at the location of the castle, Fluttershy’s mark was at the hospital. And Rainbow Dash’s…

“Where is that cutie mark at?!” Pinkie asked. “Why does it seem to be in a…village?” She looked deeper. “A village with identical houses?!”

“That…that must be where Rainbow Dash is!” Twilight shrieked.

“Then what are we waiting for? We need to go there immediately!” Applejacked shouted, as excited as Twilight.

“I’m coming with you girls. I want to save Fluttershy as much as the next pony, and if getting Rainbow Dash is the solution, I’m in.” Spike insisted seriously.

Twilight nodded. “Looks like it’s time for a roadtrip!”

Author's Note

Day 2: Glimmer of Hope

“Rise and Shine, everypony!”

The megaphone blared the message around the cartridges in the train, though at this time only one could be described as occupied. The mane 4 groaned and stretched in their bunk beds as the conductor continued his speech in the front of the train.

“We have reached the end of the railroad track. Thank you for using the Ponyville Express! Make sure that none of your belongings are left behind, and have a nice day!” He exclaimed cheerily.

Spike leaped out and starting pulling the curtains from the windows, causing the sunlight to flow into the compartment.

“You heard him. Come on girls, we need to go!”

“Urgh…are we’re there already? It seems like the place Rainbow went to is further than we thought…” Twilight yawned.

“Well, it’s far enough for a whole day train ride…Ow!” Rarity winced. “I think that I have a cramp on my shoulder! Spike?”

“That shouldn” be the issue right now. The point is that we”re here. I’m just about ready to leave…Y’all leave when Rarity” done.” She finished, watching Spike massage the unicorn.

“Aw…but I’m hungry…Hope the town has snacks!” Pinkie quipped.

After the massage was done, they bid farewell to the conductor and set off into the plains. It took quite some time to reach the town, having to cross through wooden bridges, raging rivers, and over a mountain before the five reached their destination.

And what a surprise it was.

“What…is…this?”

The town, as it was seen in the map, was exactly the same, with no differences. Literally. It did not look new, nor did it look worn-out, the streets, and the colors, even the houses, were unchanged.

“This…this is where the map located Rainbow Dash’s cutie mark?! It looks like the place where she’ll never step foot in!” Rarity remarked.

“I have to agree. It doesn’t look exciting, dangerous, or adventurous to any extent. In fact, it’s a perfectly normal town! Which is the complete opposite to her character!” Twilight admitted.

“Um…well…it looks ok. At least it” habitable.” Applejack stated.

“I don’t like it. I don’t like it one bit!” Pinkie grimaced.

They stared at Pinkie. Her attitude had gone from carefree to serious once they had been in sight of the village.

“What do you mean, Pinkie?” Spike questioned.

“Just…Just look at them!” She snapped.

“The ponies living there? What’s wrong with the residents?”

“Look at their smiles! They’re so unnatural and weird…it’s like they don’t have a motive to smile yet they do it! It’s just not right, and the way they do it creeps me out!” Pinkie grunted.

“Well looking close it does look like…wait…Girls! Forget the smiles, look at their cutie marks!” Twilight observed.

“Huh? They all have the same cutie mark! And it’s an equal sign!” Spike marveled, puzzled.

“An equals sign? Why would they have an equals sign instead of their own individual mark?” Rarity gasped.

“I don” know Rarity. But if we need to find Rainbow Dash we have to go in and find out for ourselves.” Applejack replied.

“Applejack’s right. Prepare yourselves. I have no idea what we’re going to face, so stay alert.” Twilight warned.

“You bet we will! I can’t wait to find out who’s behind all this…and when I do…” Pinkie growled.

“How do you know that someone’s behind all this?” Twilight asked.

“Just a hunch.” She giggled. “But those smiles are bad news.”

One by one the villagers turned and grinned at the ponies as they walked into the entrance of the strange area.

“Welcome!”

“Welcome!”

“Welcome!”

The phrase was repeated each time they passed one of the townspeople. They did not run or attack, rather just standing in their position and smiling continuously to the visitors presented in front of them. In a way, it was more dangerous than the other two scenarios.

“This place is giving even me the creeps...” Applejack cowered.

“Me too…let’s just find Rainbow Dash and quickly get out of here. The sooner we leave the less chance of danger.” Twilight said quietly.

“Oh…I really should have stayed at home…” Rarity complained, then cursed. “Grr…Rainbow Dash! If we find that you don’t have a good reason to be here I swear I’m going to…”

“Welcome!” A sudden voice came from behind.

“Ahh!” She shrieked, and fell onto the floor.

“And you are?” Pinkie demanded aggressively.

“Why hello there! My name is Party Favor, and I welcome you all to our humble village…Oh my…Forgive me for my accidental implication, but are you an alicorn?” He asked, staring at Twilight.

“Yes she is…the princess of friendship, if you must know.” Applejack scoffed, looking at his absurd behavior.

“Well you ponies sure have come to the right place for friendship!” He reckoned strongly.

“I doubt that…” Pinkie murmured, then fell quiet as another pony came up to the group.

“And my name is Double Diamond! What brings you to town?” He burst out, speaking in the same level of awkwardness.

“Um…we need to find a pony named Rainbow Dash…Is there a chance that you may have seen her?” Twilight asked.

They looked to each other, and then shook their heads in unison. “We don’t have a Rainbow Dash here, but we do have a bunch of new friends! There’s Blueberry, Sunrise Spark, Rodd Gain…”

“Well…shoot. I guess we should go now. I don’t think that she’s here…” Spike said before being shoved aside by Party Favor.

“But we never even took you on a tour of our village! You are all our special guests! Especially since you have such unique cutie marks!”

“Um…thank you…but…”

“And we haven’t even shown you our beloved founder, Starlight Glimmer! You must come with us!” Double Diamond pleaded.

The mane 4 and spike looked at each other desperately, and without warning quickly formed a circle to isolate them from the two colts.
“I’m telling you that Rainbow’s not here! Why would she be? This place is both boring and creepy!” Spike whispered.

“I’m totally with Spike. This place is just dreadful…Horrible even!” Rarity quickly fretted.

“We don’t know what’s wrong here, and I’m not willing to bite off more than we can chew.” Applejack implied.

“Me too! These townspeople are just so…awkward!” Pinkie nodded.

“…There’s no other way to find where Rainbow is. I know how you are all feeling right now. But the map led us here. And Fluttershy doesn’t have that much time left, remember?” Twilight concluded.

“…I guess you’re right. Fine, we’ll meet the founder, get Rainbow Dash, and go home as soon as possible.” They nodded, and broke out of the circle, facing the still smiling ponies.

“We’re ready. Could you take us to your founder?”

“Why of course! Follow me!”

“Actually, that won’t be necessary, Party Favor.” In the top of the village, stood another pony, her purple blue mane shining slightly in the light of the afternoon sun.

“Starlight! We have new visitors! And one of them is a princess!” Double Diamond greeted happily.

“I see. An alicorn…how very delightful!” She gloated softly, walking around the ponies and ignoring Spike.

“Do you know of a pony named Rainbow Dash?” Twilight asked again, this time cautious.

“Why I don’t, Princess…”

“Twilight. These are my friends. Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Spike the dragon.”

“Pleased to meet you all! I’m Starlight Glimmer, the founder of this peaceful and wonderful residence, where everyone here learns true friendship and true happiness!”

“What do you mean by that?” Pinkie suddenly snorted.

“Allow me to show you!” She grinned. Turning around, she took out a whistle and blew it, causing all of the townspeople to go out of their homes and march out in perfect fashion. And without even allowing the group to react, she started singing.

♫ Life is so great in our town♫
♫ We're always filled with cheer♫
♫ We never have to look around♫
♫ To know that there’s no fear♫

The citizens surrounded the founder and started singing as well, their tune as distorted and similar to her own.

♫ In our town, in our town♫
♫ There’s no fear or hate♫
♫ We find out that our destiny♫
♫ Is just to emulate♫

“Let's see those big, happy smiles!” Starlight shouted.

♫ Life is a smile in our town♫
♫ Our cutie marks the same♫
♫ Because we don’t differentiate♫
♫ Ourselves by more than name♫

♫ In our town, no showdowns♫
♫ We dare not compete♫
♫ Winning only breeds the worst♫
♫ Ego-filled conceit♫

“You see? Now everypony’s happy!”

♫ Life is a breeze in our town♫
♫ We're all equal here♫
♫ No one is superior♫
♫ And no one shakes in fear♫
♫ In our town, in our town♫
♫ We work as a team♫
♫ You can't have a nightmare♫
♫ If you never dream♫

“Wait…What!” Pinkie yelled.

♫ Other ponies argue♫
♫ Do you ever wonder why? ♫
♫ When you think your talent's special♫
♫ It leads to fear and lies♫
♫ There's just too many differences♫
♫ That lead to disarray♫
♫ But when you learn to act as one♫
♫ You find another way♫

♫ In our town, with no frowns♫
♫ We don't complicate♫
♫ When you learn to simplify♫
♫ Life is oh, so great♫
♫ Join in our utopia♫
♫ Come out of the dark♫
♫ Banded by equality♫
♫ By our cutie mark!♫

The symbol of equality flew across the mane 4 by a giant banner, and the citizens cheered together as one.

“So…do you get it now? Join us, and be perfectly happy without your cutie mark!” Starlight cheered.

“Um…ah…er…Huh?” Twilight freed herself from the absurdness of the whole song as she looked at one member of the population. Although her mane was the same style as everypony else, the color was grey…too grey. She could have sworn that she saw a flash of rainbow light that attracted her attention to this one pony.

Twilight poked her friends and pointed towards the odd pony out. Looking at them, it went inside and closed the door behind itself.

“You think that’s…” Twilight placed her hoof in Pinkie’s month and turned to Double Diamond. Meanwhile, catching her signal, the rest of the mane 4 turned to Starlight and began to chat.

“Excuse me, Double Diamond. But do you know the name of the pony who lives in that house?” She said, pointing at the particular hut.

“Oh, that’s Rodd Gain, our newest member!” You want her to be your friend?” He asked excitedly.

“Rodd Gain? That not only sounds like the name of a colt, but it doesn’t sound like a pony name at all!” Twilight exclaimed. “Wait a second! Where have I heard that name before…Rodd Gain…Roda Ding…Daring Do!” She gasped.

“Rainbow Dash is one of the equalists!”

Chapter 4: Dashed Hopes and Dreams

“That pony there is Rainbow Dash?” Applejack said, stunned.

“I know that she doesn’t look like her, but it’s obvious that she dyed her mane grey! I saw a flash of rainbow light, with her as the source! We need to go there and convince her to leave!”

They were residing in one of the houses that Starlight provided easily for them after Twilight suddenly asked to stay for the night in the middle of the conversation from before. Rodd Gain, or Rainbow Dash’s house was two blocks in front of them.

“But…why would Dashie dye her mane?! I don’t think that she ever lets anyone cut it beside herself, and the last time someone asked her to change her mane color…” Pinkie gulped.

“It’s obviously to hide from us. Didn’t you look at her face when we saw her? It wasn’t happiness, but fear!” Rarity pouted.

“Couldn’t she be doing that because she has a equal sign cutie mark like everypony else around here?” Spike asked.

“I don’t think so Spike. The townspeople may act weird and smile for no reason at all, but I sensed that inside every one of the citizens, a part of them actually wants to stay here. They actually do act on their own accord…it’s just the ideals that are forced.” Twilight explained.

“They want to stay here?! Why would anypony even want to step foot into this place?!” Pinkie shouted.

“Pinkie Pie! Don” shout! Remember that the townspeople kept on watching us in the morning? Who knows if they are watching us now?” Applejack reprimanded.

“Honestly, it wouldn’t really matter at this point.” Twilight shook her head and moved towards the window. “Because we are going to her house right now.”

“WHAT?! At this time of night? Why?” Rarity protested.

“Do you want to save Rainbow Dash or rather continue having your precious beauty sleep?” Applejack scoffed.

“Ugh…fine. Let’s go.”

The door creaked open as one by one the ponies went out of the hut. The town was completely silent, with only a few sounds of snoring and grunting heard occasionally.

“The coast is clear, come on.”

They reached the house and Pinkie put her head to the hinge of the door. “I don’t think she’s awake!”

“Pinkie wait! She might be…”

But the pony had already opened the door completely before the rest of her friends could stop her. Before she could respond, a pan suddenly flew in front and smashed into her face.

“Aren’t the cupcakes pretty today? Haha…Haha Hee Hee…”

She fainted to the floor in front of the group. Rarity gasped as Twilight levitated the pan out of the unknown’s hand’s grasp forcefully. Before the shadow started to run, Applejack ran into the house and dived, followed by a large crashing noise.
“I got her! Twilight, Rarity, Spike! Need some help over here!”

They ran inside the house to find Applejack struggling to keep a pegasus from being airborne, hoofs colliding with each other as they fought for their position.

“Oof…get off of me! Get off!” The mare grunted.

“You really think that you can pretend to be somepony else, Rodd Gain? Or should I say, RD!” Applejack retorted.

“Leave me alone Applejack!” She blurted, then immediately regretted her outburst as her friends smiled sarcastically at her.

“Oh hi…random pony that we shouldn’t know…say, if you’re not who we know you are, explain how you know Applejack’s name?” Rarity said dramatically in an ironic tone.

“Oh shut up Rarity…” Rainbow Dash groaned. Applejack released her grip and the familiar pony stood up, glaring at them with contempt.

“So…are you going to explain…”

“No. I’m not. I’m left for a reason and I intend on staying here with my new friends.” She grunted solemnly.

“Your…new…friends?” Pinkie went up to her and shook her violently.

“We’re your friends since the beginning! What about us?”

Rainbow pushed Pinkie off brutally and shrugged her shoulders. “What about you? I don’t need anyone, especially you guys.”

“What in the hay are you talking about? We didn” even insult or hurt you in anyway and here you are jabbering and blabbering insults to everypony like a hose left with an open tap.” Applejack said angrily.

“You’re one to talk…Can you guys just leave me alone? I didn’t want to be found, and I certainly did not want to be interrogated by any of you!” She yelled.

She took up a shard of hessonite from the shelf and threw it out the window. “Some piece of junk this was…”

“Where did you even get that, by the way?” Twilight questioned.

“I stole it from the trash of the diamond store in Ponyville. The shopkeeper bought it because he thought it was amethyst, but threw it away once he found out it was Hessonite, which I know since Twilight explained it at the hospital.” She replied bitterly.

“But why would you run away from us…You’re the bravest and most loyal pony that I know! You represent the ELEMENT of loyalty, for Celestia’s sake!” Pinkie reprimanded.

“Well do you still see my cutie mark around?!” Rainbow demanded, turning around to reveal the equal sign on her flank.

“That doesn’t mean that you can give up on us, on Flutter…”

“Don’t you dare utter the full word of that name, Pinkie.”

Rainbow was literally staring daggers at the pink pony, who reeled back at the expression that her best friend was giving to her.

“So it’s about her, isn’t it?” Twilight divulged.

“Erughh! Yes, yes, yes! It’s about Fluttershy! Could it been have more obvious? I freaking ran because of what the stupid doctor said!”

“Don’t you go blame the doctor for Fluttershy’s condition!” Rarity pestered. “That’s just cold!”

“I don’t give a flying feather about the doctor. I will only leave if she doesn’t have that disease.”

“But lymph cancer is incurable…”

“Exactly. Now get out! This is my home now!”

She tried to push the mane 4 out of the door, but found that Spike was standing in front of it.

“Out of the way, Spike. You need to get out too.”

“………………………….”

“I said, get out! Leave me alone and never come back you stupid drago…”

SLAP.

The dragon’s claw turned a perfect angle as Rainbow Dash was sent crashing into the shelves, which broke in half as her body collided with the wood in tremendous force.

“Spike!”

“Aah!”

“Oh my goodness…”

“Ugh...I can’t move my legs…”

Spike went to the destroyed debris and picked up the injured pony with ease, his rage fuelling his hidden strength of a full-grown dragon which he had withheld for so long.

“How dare you. How dare you, insulting not just innocent ponies that are trying to help Fluttershy, but your best friends as well. How dare you, ignoring us and even telling us to leave when we spent an entire day looking for you. How DARE you, leaving your own sister behind because of your conflicted emotions, causing her to fall in a state of psychological trauma. And you even have the nerve to judge us, to tell us to go, to mock the very meaning of friendship.”

“I…”

Spike dropped his bag pack and took out a gem-encrusted box that Rarity gave him for his birthday. Inside were the two feathers that shone slightly with Fluttershy’s and Rainbow Dash’s cutie marks.

“See what I’m holding right now? You dropped this before departing didn’t you. Look at what it did when Pinkie placed them on the thrones in Twilight’s castle. They are the reason that we were able to find you even though you protected yourself with Hessonite. Even they tried to help us, help Fluttershy, when you didn’t. Even your own body contains more loyalty than your personality."

“But…I didn’t know what to do…” Rainbow became silent as the dragon’s fist tightened, his eyes tinted once with fire, but this time burning red as anger was the main emotion, not frustration.

“Do you even feel guilty in the slightest?! Some friend you are. Even Angel wanted to visit Fluttershy when I was taking care of the animals. Even he has a bigger conscience than you, you heartless self-righteous selfish…”

“Spike, that’s enough.”

“What do you mean that’s enough! She…she…”

Twilight placed her hoof on Spike’s fist, which relaxed, causing Rainbow Dash to fall to the ground in shock.

“You’ve done enough. I think she knows that what she has done is wrong, and I know that deep inside she’s hating the words that come out of her mouth. She’s in a bad mood, Spike. Don’t make it worse.”

“………………Come on everypony, Let’s go.”

Spike left the door open as the mane 4 slowly went out behind him, besides Twilight the rest shocked as the left the household.

“Spike? Are…are you alright?” Rarity whimpered after a long silence while walking back to their provided accommodation.

“I’m ok. Just let me regain some sanity.”

“Oh…you won’t be able to…dragon.”

Starlight Glimmer was standing in front of them with an army of villagers, holding a wooden staff with her magic as she stepped forward to face the group of friends.

“Did you really think that we weren’t awoken by your arguments? I see now that you four are quite special…especially Twilight. Her cutie mark would make a great addition to my scheme!” She laughed.
“What are you talking about? What scheme?”

“Oh…you won’t get to know. Don’t you know that freethinking individuals will never prosper? Your arguing and bickering just proves that ponies special will never experience true happiness or friendship in any matter. Equality will always be the best option, no matter if the subject likes it…or not!”

A bolt of magic came from the staff and flew towards Twilight. Before she could react however, Rainbow Dash came soaring from the roof of her house and intercepted the blast, taking it full blow. Her colour darkened to dark grey as the equal sign was multiplied beyond its limits. Without a sound, she fell to the ground, her pulse dead.

“RAINBOW DASH!!”

Chapter 5: Flashbacks of Fillyhood

“Is she going to be alright?”

“Yes…she’s lucky even to be alive in my opinion. Any later and she could have really lost her life and her cutie mark forever. As for her condition, she’s fine now. A night’s rest is all that’s left.”

“Oh, if I ever see that pony escape, I swear I’m gonna…”

“Pinkie, no. She learned her lesson and she’s in prison now. You don” have to stomp on a broken snout.”

“But she…she…she did THAT…that despicable, cowardly move…I can’t stand it! Why would she…”

“Ssshh!”

Rainbow groaned feebly as her eyelids started to flutter as she regained consciousness. Opening them fully, she found herself back in the Ponyvile hospital, with multiple syringes beside her and her friends smiling happily in front.

“RAINBOW! YOU’RE AWAKE! YIPEE!” The pink pony screamed joyfully as she prepared to jump on the hospital bed. Luckily, the magic of the three unicorns were able to stop her movements in mid-air, causing her to somersault multiple times above the bed before crashing beside it onto the hard floor.
“Pinkie! Did you forget that she’s still injured?!” Rarity reprimanded, walking over to her with a hint of disgust.

“Oh…HOW COULD I FORGET?! Oh I’m so stupid…” Pinkie suddenly flung herself to the unicorn and broke down in tears in Rarity’s arms.

“Er…is she ok?” Rainbow Dash asked, bedazzled.

“I…think so. She has been in and out of a frequent rate of mood swings since Starlight hit you with that blast.” Twilight replied.

“So what exactly happened? How did we come back here?”

“Oh it was awesome!” Pinkie randomly appeared and knocked Twilight flying to the side. “After Starlight hit you, we all freaked out, and Twilight got mad, and then we all got mad, then our cutie marks started glowing, and then we acquired the Rainbow Power thingy, she tried to blast us with the equal spell, it bounced off us, then our Rainbow magic glowed, and then BOOM BOOM POW POW WHAM!”

She stood in front of the staring ponies with her hoof in the air proudly, then fainted in front of Rainbow Dash and started snoring.

“I told her to stop using cider as a stress device…come on Rarity, let’s get her to a bed and let the doctor fix her up.” Applejack said while shaking her head. The two left with the doctor following them.

“Er…yes. That’s…kind of what happened. After we subdued her I sent her to Celestia in a magical bubble to later trial for brainwashing and kidnapping ponies. You should have seen the vault in the caves where she puts all the residents’ cutie marks! She’s just plain evil!”

“So what happened to the rest of the citizens? You know…the ponies who were under her brainwashing far longer than I was.”

“Oh, we found three ponies who wanted their cutie marks back, and they brought us to the vault, which we destroyed, freeing all the cutie marks back to the townspeople. Most of them didn’t understand their purpose in life and therefore went to the town, so all of them refused to leave, but thankfully I think that they will have a much better and diverse community thanks to our help.”

Twilight blinked as the main question came back on her mind.

“Oh, that reminds me. How did you find that place?”

Rainbow shrugged. “I was just going as far as possible from Ponyville. While flying through a hill of snowy mountains I met two colts, Blueberry and Sunrise Spark. They told me that they were going to a place to find another life and purpose. I…joined in with them and well…you saw how I looked in that awful house.”

There was a long period of silence after that statement. The moon reached its peak as the clock struck midnight. Twilight sighed at the clock, then looked back at the pegasus with a tired expression.

“You know that what you did was wrong, right Rainbow?”

“I know…leaving Scootaloo and deserting you guys…I shouldn’t have been so foolish. It’s just that…” She tried to suppress her emotions as she wiped her face. “…I didn’t know what to do.”

“Didn’t we reassure you Rainbow? Didn’t we tell you that no matter what happens to Fluttershy, we would be there for her, together?”

“But…she has…”

“So what if she has cancer? It shouldn’t make you give up. We will live through this together. Just as we helped you get back home, we will help her in our own ways.”

Twilight reached out both of her hooves and placed them on Rainbow’s shoulder, her expression determined and ready.

“And trust me, we will find a way.”

Rainbow start to grit her teeth, then slowly one by one tears started to drop from her eyelids as she finally released all her restrained emotions, pulling herself closer to Twilight as she broke down.

“I was so stupid…A jerk…an idiot…Element of loyalty my plot…I’m really, really sorry Twilight…I did such horrible and stupid things…not just to myself but to you…but to my friends…”

“It’s ok, its ok, Rainbow. I forgive you. We all have.”

“So have I. And I hope that you can forgive me as well.”

The curtains pulled back as Fluttershy revealed herself in the neighboring bed. The tubes were gone, along with the machine.

“Fluttershy?!” Rainbow spluttered.

Twilight smiled. “She was worried sick when we brought you back to Ponyville and requested to move here. See, what did I mean by doing this together? Everypony’s here for you.”

“You were?” Rainbow asked guiltily.

“Of course! What did you think I felt, along with Twilight and the others? As for the thing…I’m ready, Twilight.”

The alicorn nodded and left the room, leaving the two alone.

“Are you alright?” Fluttershy questioned.

“Yes…yes I am. I see that they removed those tubes on you…that’s good…I guess.” Rainbow stammered.

Fluttershy took a deep breath, and then breathed out solemly.

“Look, there has been something that I wanted to tell you since we met Twilight for the first time, Rainbow.”

“What? Why are you suddenly saying this? And why now?”

“Because there’s no time left for me…so it’s better if you knew the truth beforehand…” She muttered.

“Then what is it Fluttershy? Tell me.”

“Remember when we met for the first time in flight school?”
“Wait…what? Cloudsdale? I thought you said that…”

“Listen. When you first met me…where was it?” It was an odd question, though her look was completely serious.

“Oh! You protected me from a group of bullies that were tormenting me because I couldn’t talk very well back then.”

“Yes, and after that we became best friends and spent 2 years in flight school. I taught you to speak properly and you soon found yourself having a natural gift for flying, and so did I.”

“We used to fly around Cloudsdale 20 times a day after school didn’t we?” Rainbow asked, leading to a small nod from Fluttershy.

“Do you remember how I was like? My personality?”

“Um…you were energetic, brave, and happy…which was why we became such good friends…but then...”

“I suddenly became shy and scared of everypony around me, going to the extent of even a leaf from down below causing me to faint.” Fluttershy interrupted.

“Yeah you kind of did…and when you got bullied I had to protect you as you did from me…but you never changed…and once you accidently fell from the skies when I did that race…you never came back, forcing me to go down to Ponyville with you and live there.” Rainbow Dash moved around on her bed uncomfortably.

“Well, I didn’t mean for you to actually come down to Ponyville. I ignored and ran away from you everytime you came close.”

“And over the years I slowly started to ignore you as well…I didn’t like it when I kept getting rejected…so I mocked you instead…until…”

“Until Twilight came along and brought us back together.”

“…………..…” Rainbow looked down, embarrassed.

“The reason I changed so much Rainbow, it was because of my parents.” Fluttershy finally spoke.
“Your parents? Weren’t they on a expedition to somewhere outside Equestria?” Rainbow Dash commented.

“Yes…they were. I was raised by a foal sitter for quite some time, but I didn’t mind since they promised that they would come back.” Fluttershy’s voice was starting to crack.

“Fluttershy?”

“One…one day…I received a letter from the Ponyville Express. It was a telegram for me, and I opened it. They had disappeared in the forests of the outskirts, and the bodies…were found 2 days later.”

She started crying on the pillow, silent tears that flowed gracefully like a river from a mountain.

“I…I’m as guilty as you are. I abandoned you, my best friend…for my own selfish emotions…and forced you to hate me…” She sniffled.

“Fluttershy…you can’t blame yourself for reacting like that…I lost my parents before I was born! I know how you feel…” Rainbow urged.

“That’s the point! You were so brave back then…and I wasn’t…I caused our friendship to end…and even after we became friends again…I kept trying to stall the bond, even break it…desperate to escape from you personally…” Fluttershy sobbed.

Rainbow got out of the hospital bed slowly, balancing one hoof after the other due to the aftereffects of the medication.

“Rainbow! Don’t…”

“Don’t worry Fluttershy, I’m fine.” She crossed over to her friend’s bed and gave the crying pegasus a tissue from the counter.

“I forgive you. You taught me to be confident and loyal. I will never forget that. Friends are supposed to stick together, remember?” She winked, causing Fluttershy to smile softly.

“Now go get some sleep. Everything will be better in the morning.”
Rainbow turned off the lights and climbed back to her bed.

“Good night, Dashie.” Fluttershy whispered.

She smiled. “Good night, Flutters.”

Author's Note

Day 3: To Sew a Gemstone

“Just what were you thinking, miss…”

“Just what were you two thinking?! Your hospital room is simply too simple and rustic! Why can’t you let a fashion designer beautify it up for you, instead of stripping it all down like a naughty child! Do you know that most of it was hoof embalmed silk from Trottingham?!”

There was a large commotion outside of the room. For some reason the interior walls were completely white instead of the natural green shading, and chunks of plaster were littered around the floor.

“Look at the mess you colts made! Even my sister wasn’t as careless as you two! Ruining a piece of divine art, destroying creative perfection…you sirs are a plague to fashion!!”

“Er…”

“Don’t you dare stutter at my direction!”

“You see…Miss…um…”

“Miss Rarity, thank you very much!”

“Yeah…Miss Rarity, you do know that this room, along with the rest of the building, is hospital property right?”

It was the colts’ turn to look un-amused.

“Oh! Yes…um…”

“Aah aah aah, you said no stuttering. Call us Sir Prissyfoot and Gentleman Whishammy.” They snickered.

“But…but…”

“Forgive me if we withhold our enthusiasm, fair lady, thank you very much, but this wonderful hospital is owned by the director, and if you do not have his delightful sign of approval to renovate the place…”

“Ok ok I get it! Hmph!” Rarity bit her lip hard as she left the two ponies, who were now rolling over on the ground chuckling.

“Is anything wrong?” Fluttershy asked as she saw Rarity slam the door with upmost annoyance.

“The staffs here are simply horrible! I make a tiny mistake and they berate me for it like a bunch of Timberwolves!” Rarity complained.

“Well I’m sure that if you talked with them nicely, they would…”

“Snickering and mocking me like a bunch of school foals, I really have to send a complaint to the hospital…”

“Isn’t that a teeny bit…”

“Well it’ll be only for the maintenance ponies, since the doctors here are acceptable…some are quite fine, even…”

“Um…Rarity?”

“I mean that colt at room 45, such a…Oh! I’m sorry Fluttershy, I got a bit caught up in a rant again, didn’t I?” She giggled.

“Oh, it wasn’t that bad…” Fluttershy lied.

“Oh well, I guess that I have to reveal the surprise. I wanted to decorate your room here at the hospital, spice is up a bit, so I came in the early morning and started. Then after going to the ladies room for a bit I came back to see my work completely ripped off by those two buffoons.” Rarity grumbled.

“Don’t worry, it was sweet of you to do that for me.” Fluttershy said, hinting a small smile.

“Anyways, I brought some jewels and thread for us to sew!” She took up a large woven basket from under the neighboring bed and levitated up to the top, resting it on the blankets.
“You did? That’s…”

“I thought that since you liked sewing so much, maybe we could spend some together sewing some patterns! It would be nice to hang the completed products around the room, and also in our homes!” She said proudly, taking out bundles of yarn and piles of gems.

“Wow…I don’t know what to say…” Fluttershy mumbled.

“Is there something wrong, dear?” Rarity questioned, surprised to see that Fluttershy was holding a ball of yarn with interest, but ignoring the gems that were scattered around her.

“Do you not like sewing gems?”

“Um…well…I’m more used to knitting clothes, not sewing.” She admitted.

“You knit your OWN CLOTHES?!” Rarity screamed excitedly.

“Err…you do remember the dress we made for you as a gift to say sorry for not accepting your artistic designs for our gala gowns, right? Actually…I did it by myself…the girls only helped me with gathering the materials.”

“REALLY?”

“And…um…I also kind of maybe have a basement under my cottage with hundreds of sweaters, scarfs, and earmuffs…”

What came next could not be described as an explosion or an outburst, as the voice that came out of the unicorn’s lips was so filled with pure excitement that it could rival a hyperactive Pinkie Pie.

After the doctors left with their sedation syringes empty, she was finally able to form words that were slow enough to interpret.

“Wh…wh…why…didn’t you tell me this?!” She stammered.

“I was afraid to…but…since there isn’t really much I can keep…I guess that now is the best time to reveal this.” Fluttershy blushed.

“Sweet Celestia! I’m the first pony to know about your…”

“Chamber of Extreme Knitting…”

“What kind of name is that?” She asked, confused.

“Well, I did want to call it the palace of friendly pony grotesqueries…”

“That’s even more absurd! I know that you can think of a better name then that! What about…Fluttercraft Oaks?” She quipped.

“Oh! That does sound more fitting.” Fluttershy nodded.

“Well that settles our schedule for the day! Let’s have a little competition between us artists to see who can make the largest quantity and the best quality of clothing with these materials!”

“But what would we do with all the clothes that are made?”

“Simple! We can donate them as new clothes for the hospital patients! I’ve seen the pattern of the current one, and it’s just too dull and boring…so by giving these clothes away we ensure a more confortable and happy environment. A kind and generous act at the same time!” Rarity squeaked enthusiastically.

“But…what if they knew that I was the one that made them…” Fluttershy whimpered. Stage fright was still a problem to her.

“Oh…well, if you don’t want the attention, you won’t mind if I label all of our products as mine, wouldn’t you?” Rarity asked, tilting her head. “Not that I want to steal your spotlight, since looking back at the dress incident…I think that that would be the best decision.”

She watched nervously as Fluttershy pondered Rarity’s proposal.

“I know that inside you do want a little bit of fame for that…but I also know that fame is a crucial part in sustaining your job. I accept. Thanks Rarity!” She replied cheerfully.

“Well then…” She took two balls of yarn and tossed one to Fluttershy, who caught it easily. “Ready?”

“Ready.”

“3…2…1…Knit!”

Author's Note

Chapter 6: Apple-Jewel Connections

“So I take that your visit was a success?”

It was approaching evening at Carousel Boutique. Sweetie Belle was already in bed, as so was most of the foals in Ponyville.

“Absolutely! It was wonderful! Me and Fluttershy managed to make so many clothes and accessories for the hospital patients that we ended up making it for the staff as well!” Rarity exclaimed.

“That” good to hear. It’s comforting to know that we can still spread friendship across the town and the rest of Equestria.”

“I guess so! By the way, Applejack, I almost forgot to thank you for taking care of Sweetie Belle and the rest of our little sisters while I was gone.” Rarity praised.

“Nothing to it. Our little sisters are maturing every day, and I’m proud to say that even if they still often spend time in that tree house I built down at Sweet Apple Acres, they are growing as a whole.” She chuckled. “I don’t even have to stop them from jumping off cliffs anymore or hurling themselves into random situations.”

Rarity giggled herself as she poured herself another cup of tea from the table that they were sitting on. “Oh…that really was the worst. Though whatever my sister chooses to be or wants to do in the end, I’ll support her decisions, as long as they’re not that dangerous.”

“Amen to that.” Applejack noted, raising her own teacup before downing it in one swing.

“You do realize that you’re supposed to hold the teacup with two hooves, and not one, right?” Rarity grunted.

“Well…I’m still not as fancy as you want me to be, and you can” really expect me to change in a long time. I tried the city life, and I just don’t like it as much as living in the countryside.” Applejack chirped.

“Hmph.” Rarity pouted before taking her own sip.

“Speaking of which, who won the competition? You did say something about you two having a knit-off, or something like that.”

Rarity moved around on her chair uncomfortably.

“Um…it was a fair game…we all tried our hardest…and we did manage to make a difference! Heh heh…”

Her nervous expression quickly became furious as she noticed Applejack trying not to spit out her tea.

“You lost the competition, didn’t you Rarity?” She laughed, gulping down the liquid to avoid further chaos.

“It was just a difference of ten pieces of clothing! You should have seen her go, Applejack! The girl can weave faster than me during the Canterlot Celebrity Fashion Show!” She complained.

“Alright, alright, calm down. I was just playing around with you.” Applejack reassured, though still hiding a giggle.

She finished her teacup and walked over to the door. “I’m going back to the farm to see if Applebloom’s asleep yet. It’s getting late, and I also need to get some sleep.”

“Wait a second!” Applejack turned around confused as Rarity quickly downed her own cup and rushed towards the earth pony. “Can I tag along? I just don’t feel that tired yet…and since everypony else is asleep I got nothing to do. Even my latest project is already done.”

She watched nervously as Applejack looked at her with curiosity.

“Well…I suppose that there’s nothing wrong with that. Sure, grab anything that you want to bring and follow me.”

The two ponies walked across the dirt path, and soon they arrived at the outside of the house beside the farm. Opening the door, Applejack went over to the kitchen while Rarity quickly accompanied one of the cushions around the wooden table.

“I’m still not sure about you” coming here, Rarity.” Applejack spoke, breaking the long silence that had prolonged from their journey.

“Oh! Well…I don’t know what to think of myself anymore…”

“Huh? Just what in tarnation are you talking about?!” The odd sentence was enough to stop Applejack from washing the dishes.

“Today was the happiest moment I could have ever spent with Fluttershy. There were no arguments, no disagreements, just a plain old friendly competition where we benefited hundreds of ponies, and both of us were enjoying what we did.”

She signed as they stared outside to the left, where the hospital stood, the lights shut and silent.

“I thought that I would need to comfort her. Poor thing…We all knew that she was the most shy and timid of us all…and for something to this extent to happen, and for her to still remain so positive…”

There was a slight sound of thunder in the distance as she continued.

“It was makes me feel horrible. I thought that I would need to maintain a constant happy attitude to everything to cheer her up, because I thought that she would be in depression…or worse. Imagine my guilt when I saw that every smile, every expression, every action…was genuine.” She sniffed. “Unlike mine.”

“……………” Applejack went over to her friend, and sat down beside her. Watching as she slowly broke down with every sentence.

“Did…did you know how hard it was not to cry?” She wailed. “She was having such a good time…making all those scarfs and mittens and wooly hats…and I was just sitting beside her thinking that I would soon never see her again…”

“Now don’t say that…”

“I’m such a mess…since Fluttershy was diagnosed I have been crying in and out of sleep, having nightmares where she would just disappear from all of my memories…I even had to start taking anti-depressants just so I can rest!” She sobbed.

Applejack placed her hoof around Rarity shoulder while grabbing a box of tissues towards them and pulling out one for her, which she took and blew her nose.

“Never did I have to constrain all my emotions so badly…love…anger…happiness…these are feelings that I have been hiding ever since I moved to Ponyville…and it’s slowly killing me.”

Finishing her outburst, she sank on the surface of the table before being helped up by Applejack.

“Sometimes…these things will happen. And you can” always predict when and how…but more importantly why. If Fluttershy is showing joy and happiness, then be happy for her. Don’t feel guilty or ashamed because you thought that she would be depressed. Because I thought the same too.” Applejack admitted.

“But…but…you don’t need to take anti-depressants! You don’t have to cry yourself to sleep every night! I’m so mentally scarred that sometimes even I want to…”

She stopped as she saw the sudden anger in Applejack’s eyes as she increased her grip on Rarity’s shoulder.

“Don’t you ever say that. Never…say that. If you ever even try to commit such an act...I’ll never look at you the same way.”

“But…”

“Do you think that I don’t feel sad or angry towards these recent events? Didn’t I tell you before? I cry on the inside. And don” you forget that. We all have to restrain ourselves one time or another…but make sure that you’re not harming yourself or others by doing so. Do you think that Fluttershy would like somepony suffering for her?”

“No…she wouldn’t.”

“Exactly. What you need is relaxation. Not physical relaxation like from the spa…but mental relaxation. If you can do that…I’m sure that you won’t have a single nightmare ever.”

“Are…are you sure about that, Applejack?”

It was strange, seeing how a teenage adult pony, a professional fashion designer to add, speaking like the little sisters that they shared.

“I’m sure.”

The sky suddenly started to pour rain down on the grounds of Ponyville. A strong wind was blowing through, increasing its vigorousness.

“Well…there” an unexpected storm. Funny that, it seems like this thing happened sometime ago. However…this time we understand each other.” Applejack went back over to the kitchen.

“You need a pick me up? I can make some first-class apple cider right now if you want to.” She smiled, causing Rarity to do the same.

“I’ll love one.” She marveled.

“Now that’s the spirit! Let all your emotions go! Tonight will not be another nightmare, but the start of a new dream!” She said, chopping up the apples and tossing them to the pot.

Soon she was done, and the two ponies celebrated with their jugs of cider as the night came to an end. It was a start of not just a new lifestyle, but also a new form of acceptance.

“CHEERS!”

Author's Note

Day 4: Apple to the Core

“Applejack? Er…what are you doing in my room?”

The mare woke up with a jolt hearing the familiar sound of her sister, who was in front of her with an expression of confusion.

“Oh! Applebloom! You” back from the boutique…wait…why did you come back?” Applejack jabbered.

“I came back just now to pick some cider up for Scootaloo. Even after Rainbow Dash came back and apologized to her she” still pretty broken.” Applebloom admitted.

“You know how strong that stuff is for fillies, right?”

“Don” worry. I purified it with more apple juice just like you taught me. I just hope that it isn’t too sweet. Anyways…why did you go sleeping in my room again? Don’t you have your own?”

Applejack got out of the covers and onto the floor, tossing aside the small blanket that she had to cope with during the night.

“Well, Rarity wasn’t feeling good after you three fell asleep in the boutique, and she asked me to bring her here. Unfortunately that storm came after she was planning to leave and she’s now resting at my room with Big Mac.”

“Rarity asked to come here? I thought that Sweetie Belle said that she hates nature!” Applebloom remarked.

“Sometimes things just pile up like a tower of hay bales and cause more and more stress with each pile. Haven’t you noticed that Rarity hasn’t been that well lately?”

“Well…she did keep rushing back and out into her room while we were in the boutique, ignoring everything that was around her. One minute she was helping us prepare dinner, the next locked in her bedroom. When I went upstairs to check up on her, I heard some weird jiggling sounds…”

“Don…Don” have any worries about that. I talked with her, and I think that she’s ok now. Could you do me a favor and wake Rarity up after I go? She needs to go back to the boutique.”

“Where are you going, Applejack?”

“To see Fluttershy. It’s my turn to go.”

“Oh, it is? Well, good luck to you, sister. Oh, I almost forgot! Do you think that we three could visit her as well someday? That cold can” last that long, right?” Applebloom happily chirped.

“Yeah…that cold won” last that long…I reckon. Maybe so Applebloom.” She turned by the door and closing it, sighed.

“Maybe so.”

She trotted over to the farm-field and picked up the saddlebag that was waiting for her. The flap fell open due to pressure and revealed several different varieties of apple desserts and snacks, along with some cushions and bed sheets that were partially withered due to their period of use, but dusted and cleaned.

“I have no clue what I should do there…do I offer some apple treats for her to sample, talk to her for a bit, then give her these cushions and blankets so that she can sleep more peacefully in that place? Gosh, this is even more troubling that when Granny lost her false teeth…” She pondered.

The squirrels scurried away as they saw the farm hand walking towards them. Their hands carried stolen nuts and berries from the trees beside her, and they squeaked nervously as she approached.

“Darn it…I never understood her love of these critters.”

She shooed them off and they scarpered away thankfully. She watched as the animals went into the tree holes, where their babies lay, still not fully matured and sleeping as they were fed.

“Oh…right. She once told me…or scolded me…that animals, like us ponies, no matter how brutal, powerful, or scary they were, still contain a substance of parenthood and kindness to their children and the surroundings around them.” She recalled.

She remembered how she chased down a couple of rats to a corner with her dog after they stole some of the farm’s most expensive golden apple seeds, only to find them standing still in a upright position, behind them their child, who trembled in fear while the parents remained impassive. They were willing to sacrifice themselves to her, the predator, to protect their offspring.

“Sacrifice…”

Applejack…

Applejack had stopped moving in her tracks. Her eyes were glazed as she started to drift off into a strange dimension outside her understanding before snapping back to reality.

“What…what the hay was that…”

Applejack…where are you? Applejack?

“Oh no…not this again!” She yelled, clasping her hoofs to her ears as the all too familiar voice came back.

Applejack…Don’t you…

“SHUT UP! Of all the places to resurface you come out now! Do you understand how hard it was to remove you from my head!”

The fire…the farm…the ear piercing screams. All those memories came flooding back to her memory as the voice continued to search for her. She thought that it had been removed a long time ago. Her calm and serious attitude from before had completely vanished as she dropped her bag and ran back towards the farm.

It’s okay to cry…sweetie…

“You’re not HER!” She screamed, her throat tight and constricted in blind fury as she rushed past through a surprised Big Mac.

“Applejack, are you alright?” He managed to say before his sister went in her room and locked the door.

Is that your brother? My…has he grown quite a lot since…

Since we last saw him…Hello there, Applejack.

“No…no no no no no! I don’t want the two of you coming back here! Go away! Go away and never come back!” She ducked in-between the bed covers, her fear imminent of these two mysterious voices.

Why, aren’t you always the feisty one to talk to…

Why haven’t we been able to show up for so long? The last time we saw each other was with old mother…then after that it was pitch dark…

“For the love of Celestia go away! I want to forget you two! Just leave! Never come back!” Applejack shouted.

Isn’t that a bit rude for talking like that to the ponies who saved your life…isn’t that right, dear?

Yes indead…My back is still sore and burnt after all those years, and your” is too, I reckon…

Worse than yours. It’s so red that I could plant a tomato next to it and you wouldn” even be able to tell the dang difference!

“QUIET!!!” A lamp flew over to the wall and shattered through brute force, echoing a loud ringing in the house while the bulb cracked and crackled on the floor.

“HOW DARE YOU JOKE ABOUT THIS! HOW DARE YOU MOCK YOUR OWN DEATHS! YOU’RE NOT THEM! YOU WERE NEVER THEM!! YOU EVIL SOULESS HUSKS THAT WILL NEVER REPLACE MY…”

“Applejack?”

“WHAT…”

She stopped screaming as she saw her brother opening the door halfway, his expression of familiarity and concern as the two shadows disappeared with his entrance.

There was awkward silence as Big Mac continued to stare awkwardly at his sister, who was in a fighting pose towards the door. Then, he saw her climb back onto the bed standing upright, place her hoofs in her face, and sob softly. The hat was thrown with the lamp.

“Applejack…” He said slowly as he climbed onto the bed and sat along with her. “I’m…I’m here.”

She looked up at her brother to find his sad and sweet smile on his face. Though small, it was filled with compassion and kindness.

“Big Mac…I…I’m sorry for…”

He placed his hoof on her shoulder.
“Don’t be. They came back…didn’t they?”

“Ee…Eeeyup...”

“Don’t you remember what we told you before?”

“Yes…”

“You couldn’t stop losing control didn” you?”

“No…Nope…”

“I’ll deliver the package to Fluttershy. You stay here and clean up this mess, alright sis?” He said clearly.

“Ok…I will.”

He patted her back, handed her a tissue from the box, and started to go outside of the door.

“Wa…wait!”

He turned around and saw her heading towards the wooden cabinet, where she took out an envelope and gave it to the colt.

“Give this to Fluttershy, will you?” She smiled slightly.

“You can count on me, Jackie.”

Inserting the letter into his saddle, he lifted off the blanket with his teeth and Applejack, accepting the invitation, climbed onto it willingly as he covered her.

“Remember to clean up after you’re done resting, alright?”

“Alright.” She nodded.

“You need me to sing you a lullaby?” He asked, feigning a grin.

He smirked when he saw Applejack grumble a bit at the childish method, but then she gave up and threw her hoofs into the air.

“Oh…what the heck. It’s been a while since you did that…and honestly? Rarity isn’t the only mare who” a little bit stressed right now. Go ahead, quartet boy.”

He poked Applejack lightly in response to the snide comment, who giggled, then opened his mouth and sung in a deep smoothing voice.

♫ Hush now, little sister, you’re loved by all we know ♫
♫ You’ll never lose your friendship, no matter where you go ♫
♫ The shadows are all gone now, so don’t you cry or fret, ♫
♫ They both sleep peacefully now, so go and take a rest. ♫

“See you later, Big Macintosh.”

“Sleep well.”

Author's Note

Chapter 7: The Letter

A heavy feeling was ridden in his heart as Big Macintosh left his resting sister at the barn. Though he was able to restrain it most of the time in front of the family, he found it impossible in the case of the suffering victim.

It was strange. Although he and Fluttershy rarely communicated, save for some small talk while she was hanging out with Applejack, there was a certain distress to see his sister’s friend in trouble, though ironically for his own sibling, there was none. It wasn’t romantic love, or even some sort of a weird family-like bond to her. It was just to be described…as a feeling, a crack in his stone chest, which he had believed to be unbreakable since the incident.

“Oh hello there, Big Mac. How’s Applejack?”

Granny Smith was walking slowly towards the barn gates with her trusty walking stick.

“Oh! Well, she’s not feeling that well, so I’m visiting Fluttershy instead of her.” He simply replied.

“To the hospital?”

“Eeyup.”

“Flutter…shy?” She asked, fiddling with the lock. “Is that one of our old cousins from Manehatten or New Fork, or is it one of the removed ones? Even your old granny can’t remember that many names.”

“Nope. She’s one of the friends of Applejack, Granny Smith. You know, the unrelated ones.”

“Oh…the group that she always hangs out with. Not that I dislike them or anything, but they often seem to ignore us two, don’t you think? I can’t remember the last time one of them directly addressed me, save for the pink energetic one. But phooey, that pony is literally friends with everyone!” She chuckled.

“I suppose so. But they’re still important to Applejack, which means that they’re important to me too.” Big Mac admitted, unlocking the gate and letting his grandmother to pass through.

Could that be the reason? This feeling…of mutual aid, for a figurative stranger in request of a family member? No…that clearly wasn’t it.

“Well, I’m off to take a nap. Twenty-five rounds of Bingo with the old folk really does quite a number on you, Heh heh.”

“See you later, Granny.” Big Mac muttered, closing the fence-gate behind him, waving slightly as she continued to move forward.

And just like that she was temporarily, no longer his concern. It took a long time to get adapted to this method. To only care for a pony, no matter how important or deep the relationship, when they are in the vicinity of his sight, or in the able protection of others, in this case his sisters, whom he trusted could easily help her in case anything went wrong. Many others, when discovering of using this method, were considered to be cruel, heartless. For him, it was a relief.

So why was he showing concern for Fluttershy when clearly he did not know her personally, that she was well under a lot of protection, and that she wasn’t face to face with his own?

“Darn it…what is today?” He said to himself, grumbling as went into the paths leading to Ponyville.

“Oh hello there Big Mac!” A fellow friend of his greeted cheerfully.

“Hi there.” Poof. Extinct.

Another pony came up to him, bearing a similar greeting.

“Nice to see you after yesterday’s challenge. How are the apple trees growing? You know that it all depends on your cider!”

“I’m be sure to keep them it check, mate.” Bang. Disappeared.

Cheerilee came up to him, bearing a smile that could melt honey.

“Why hello there big boy! Don’t forget about our little date tonight!”

“I won’t, don’t worry sugarberry.” Gone with the wind.

Every pony, every creature, every contract, every situation, everything. Present, react, ignore. The fundamental rule, the un-falsifiable principle. Something that must be followed for their sake.

For his own sake.

“Focus…Big Mac…focus.” His aim now was to visit Fluttershy, yet he brought nothing but the letter. The night market was still open, so he went over to Rose and brought a bundle of pink rues. He didn’t know why he bought rues; it was just the first thing to come to his mind.

Flowers were good enough, right? The many times he saw the pony she was shy and willing to comply, so he knew that a simple gift would be the best one. But why was that feeling still there?

“Wait a second…”

Didn’t Applejack face a similar dilemma just before? Which he solved? While he faced situations and ponies with a intended purpose, she remained impassive on even the most heartbreaking situations, a policy which if he remembered correctly, described as “crying on the inside”. So if she could find the solution, why couldn’t he? What was making this so difficult?!

In frustration, he took out the letter that Applejack gave him, in blind hope that the parchment could give him even a hint of the answer.

“……………………………”

He folded it up, placed it back under the saddle, and threw the rue flowers onto the muddy ground. He understood now. The feeling was gone. And there was a much better choice.

“Big Mac? What are you doing here?”

Fluttershy was flustered as she saw him walk solemnly into the hospital room, his hands holding a different bundle of flowers.

“Are…are those…for me?”

“Who else? Applejack’s not feeling well, so she asked me to see if you’re alright. Are you?” He asked, placing the flowers cautiously on the wooden desk.

“Yes I’m fine, Big Mac, thanks…” She went over to the desk and sniffed the lilac plant. “If I’m not mistaken, Arborvitae?”

“Eeyup. Well, I’ll be off. She also gave you a letter, which I placed on your side when you were sniffing the flowers.” He nodded.

“Oh! I see. Well, goodbye.”

She placed the flowers into a vase, then opened the scroll and started to read the words that had freed Big Mac.

##########################################################################################################

Dear Fluttershy,

In the case that you are reading this old letter, it” probably because I broke down my promise to stay impassive towards any situations, a policy which I had followed even before we had become friends. Not really much of achievement, to be honest. Since we rarely actually interact with each other. Heh, at the beginning I either had to drag you around a mountain or force myself to talk with you since you were so darn shy.

Now look at you. You have grown as much as our other friends have. An passively assertive figure that little Applebloom and the other crusaders can look up to. Every day I find us something new about animals thanks to you, and for that you have proven yourself to be well worthy of any-pony” respect. However, I can’t really say the same for myself.

You see, since we formed our little old band of six, while every-pony else fixed their known flaws, I had to discover my own: stubbornness. Before now, I had always considered myself to be the symbol of Ponyville. Hardworking, honest, and loyal. But one by one you and our other friends broke through the real barrier of truth, and I found myself lying. How bad could that be, to be the actual ELEMENT of honesty and lie so many times, even deceive in some cases. In the start I despised myself, then tried to prove it that you guys were wrong, to only make the situation worse. I lost a lot of respect, some of which that never will be regained.

That’s when I decided to form the impassive barrier towards every situation. I became the stable pony, the one that you could depend on no matter what, just like how my big brother had been to me all these years. In the exterior, it looks like I had succeeded. Slowly one by one ponies started to trust me again. Some even started to ask me for advice, not just information related to farm work but life choices. I had become so filled with common sense and logic that I could provide a answer to solve any-pony” problem.

Except my own. I remained a stressful and stubborn idiot, the only difference being that no-pony was the bearer of witness. Every night I had to get rid of…figures in my sleep, while making sure that my brother, or the rest of my family wouldn” hear the frightened screams of a scared filly. It became so bad to the point where I considered and attempted…the unthinkable. My family found out. But thankfully, not Applebloom, as it would break her heart. They counseled me, yet I still couldn’t find an answer to such a seemingly impossible problem.

But seeing and thinking about your condition and Rainbow Dash” today made me cry for the first time in twenty years. My crying during the middle of the night brought back the shadows. But for some reason, I felt relieved. I see now why my method was so wrong. I know now that sometimes you may seem important as a hero to others, but inside your life can be as empty as a conch shell if you don’t understand your meaning behind your purpose. I used to always believe that no matter what happened I had to stay strong and collected. That was only the purpose behind all the actions that I did. The real meaning behind my life, behind every-pony”, is the ability to realize that some things are not worth storing from the past, as they may torture you for a lifetime unless you forget. That’s something that me and old Big Mac share. We both shared the same emotion and sadness towards the same tragedy, and we both adapted our own foolish methods, methods which worsened our feelings of emptiness.

What I” trying to say is, don’t worry about us. You’re moving on, and you have to realize that there are things that have to be put down from your memory not matter how important that may seem, because I learned the hard way that in the long run they will damage you more than comfort you. Go be yourself. Don’t force yourself to comply, and don’t force yourself to grieve. It will come naturally, but not when you want it to. That’s what I learned today.

Live life to the fullest.

Applejack

Author's Note

Tiny Knowledge Question: What do the two types of flowers in this chapter represent?

Sorry for the long wait by the way. This took a long time to think of how to present, and the fact that I'm still doing exams kind of adds to the stress. Oh well, this is my current favourite story idea project, and I can't let it down as I can't let you guys down. :pinkiesmile:

Day 5: Party of Two

“You mean I can just…leave?”

“That’s right, Miss Fluttershy. We managed to stabilize the terminal illness with the medications that were given to you daily. It’s now under stasis, and it will take quite some time before it reactivates again. I’m sorry to say that we still couldn’t find a cure…but…”

Doctor Horse was quickly interrupted as Fluttershy suddenly hugged him tightly from the bed, emitting soft sobs of joy.

“Oh thank you, thank you! Thanks to you I can now visit Angel, meeting with my friends, and have a normal life again!”

“But…” The doctor choked.

“Don’t worry about my condition. You and the other ponies that helped did more than enough. I can’t thank you enough for allowing me the chance to make my friends happy!” She cried.

“You’re…choking…me…” He gasped. It was impossible to move away from the tight hug Fluttershy was giving him.

“Oh! I’m sorry!” She immediately let go, leaving the doctor gasping for air. “Are you alright?” She asked with concern.

“Yes, yes I’m fine. I already signed your papers. You’re free to go.” He spluttered. Her grip was as powerful as a bear.

“Thanks once again doctor! Oh, and thank the other ponies for me!” She said as she galloped pass him.

“*Cough…sweet mare…but…by Celestia is she strong…”

Fluttershy soared through the sky as she welcomed the warm air of autumn into her lungs, a feeling that she had missed for five days, but to her personally, an entirely.

“Oh I can’t wait to see Angel again! And all the other wonderful animals! I wonder how my friends are taking care of them! Oh right, my friends! I got to tell them about the good news! But first, Angel!”

The all too familiar cottage was starting to appear in her line of version. In excitement, she rushed towards its direction while making several cartwheels, causing several ponies to look up.

“Is that a bird?” Matilda asked.

“No…I think it’s a tree!” Lyra proclaimed.

“You’re both wrong, it’s Fluttershy!” Derpy exclaimed happily. “Hi Fluttershy!” She said as she flew up and beside her.

“Oh hey Derpy, how was your day today?” She greeted.

“It was great! Pinkie’s batches of muffins really were delicious!”

She took out a steaming brown muffin from her mane.

“Want one?” There were bits of blonde hair stuck inside the dough.

“Er…um…you can have it.”

“Sweet! Thanks Fluttershy!” She cheered as she threw the muffin into her mouth.

“Speaking of which, have you seen her?”

“Pinkie? Oh! I did, at Sugarcube Corner! She sold me muffins!”

“No Derpy, I mean right now…”

“Oh……she said something about taking care of animals for somepony…” She pondered.

“Oh! She’s taking care of my animals right now?” Fluttershy said as she looked back into the cottage.

“I…guess?”

“Ok, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow. Bye Derpy!”

“Bye!”

Fluttershy sighed as she flew back onto the doormat of the cottage.

They didn’t know. Or at least, some don’t. Thank Celestia.

She gave a push and the door creaked open.

“Oh come on Gummy, stop chasing Angel! Harry, put that bowl down! I didn’t fill it with food yet! Gummy? Gummy! STOP…”

The pink earth pony stopped in her place as she saw Fluttershy with her mouth agape, the door half open on its hinges.

“Flut…Flut…Flut…Flut…”

“Oops…” She had forgotten what kind of reaction Pinkie would have. Being the most energetic of the group, a surprise was the worst thing that she could witness on Pinkie Pie.

“Um…Pinkie…calm down?”

“Flut…Flut…Flut…Flut…”

The scream that came later was passed on by the townspeople for many generations to come, as the cry of the pink terror that could scar happiness into your heart.

“FLUTTERSHY?! EEEEE!” She squeed.

“Um…” She managed to get out, her hooves still in her ears.

“Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh! When did you come back?! How did you come back?! You’re back! I’m…I’m so happy!” She squealed.

“Well, I…”

“SHE CAME BACK!” Pinkie shouted joyfully as her hooves wrapped themselves on an imaginary box, shaking it up and down.

“Um…Pinkie, who are you talking to?”

“No-pony! Oh I'm so HAPPY that you’re back! We need to have a party immediately! Wait…you don’t really like group parties don’t you? What about a friend party! I’ll invite Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Maud…”

“Actually, Pinkie. I think that I don’t really need a party right now.”

“Aw…but everyone needs a good party!”

“Yes Pinkie, But I was thinking more of a quiet “party” with my animal friends. It’s been a while seen I’ve seen them, and unlike you girls.” She said as Angel graciously snuck up on her leg. “They can’t really visit, can’t they?”

“Well…I guess you’re right. But can I join in? I never been in a animal picnic party before…might be fun!”

“Um…you want to join me? Well, I guess…”

“Great! What do we do first?”

Fluttershy looked around her cottage. Although the place was kept neatly dusted and cleaned, most of the animals looked grumpy.

“Hmm…We could start by cleaning and feeding all the animals.”

“ALL of them?!” Pinkie gasped, looking at the gigantic quantity and variety of critters surrounding the area.

“Well, you said you wanted to help.”

A few hours later, both of the ponies were done, and they sank onto the floor tired as the animals ate in their respective territories. It was already approaching night as the sun sank down.

“Wow! That really took much longer than expected!” Pinkie admitted, wiping sweat off her brow.

“It usually doesn’t take this long, but since I wasn’t here for five days you girls didn’t really clean any of them did you?”

“I tried to! But they wouldn’t stop moving and moving and moving! Twilight tried to use her magic to automatically clean them but they kept moving around! Rainbow Dash did manage to soak them all with a giant raincloud then blew them off with a sonic hurricane, but it caused them to become mad! Heck, Applejack and Rarity didn’t even want to go near any of the animals!” Pinkie ranted.

“Applejack still doesn’t really like them, doesn’t she?” She questioned.

“Well, she never really did, to be honest.”

“I’m sure that I’ll convince her someday. So…what do you want to do right now? I’ll all done with the cleaning, thanks to your help.”

“Well, we could throw a welcome back Fluttershy party to surprise the rest of our friends, you want that?”

“Um…sure!”

“Yay! I’ll go prepare the invitations and stuff! Wait until they know that you’re all better!” She cheered. “Seeya!”

“Actually Pinkie, I…”

But she was already gone, bouncing among the grass happily back to the town, humming a catchy tune.

She tried to catch her attention by waving, but her focus was completely towards the party tomorrow. Giving up, she went back into the cottage and sighed.

“I guess I’ll just have to wait until tomorrow then to tell them the truth. Twilight should be smart enough to figure it out.”

She slowly climbed upstairs, Angel following her in close pursuit. Letting herself drop onto the mattress of the bed, it was so much more comfortable than in the hospital. The bunny kissed her softly on the cheek before snuggling close beside her.

“Good night Angel.”

It sniffled and wrapped itself on her mane, snoring, causing her to giggle softly as the moon rose up onto the starry sky.

Author's Note

Day 6: A Revelation of a Conclusion

Day 6: A Revelation of a Conclusion

“You want us to do WHAT?!”

Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Rarity were staring at Pinkie with annoyance in Sugarcube corner, the five of them grouped around one of the tables, Pinkie oblivious to their anger as she finished her request.

“What’s wrong with finding a way to clean Fluttershy’s animals better?” She asked, tilting her head in confusion.

“What’s wrong, is that you literally dragged us all out of very important events! You said that it was very important, and we all give up our time only to listen to you say that you want to organize a new way to clean animals?! I was busy training for a later race with Spitfire and Soarin!” Rainbow Dash snapped.

“You forced me to cancel a friendly lunch with Lyra Heartstrings!”

“You know that Big Mac can’t work on the whole farm by himself right?”

“There are at least five different orders that I have to hand in tomorrow!”

They stared directly at Pinkie again, who gulped as she realized their anger.

“Well, um, we can just do this now and not need to worry about it later? Please?” She pouted. “Pllleeeeeeeeaaaaaaasssssseeeee?”

There was a weird silence as Pinkie continued to bash her eyelashes at her friends. Unable to take the excessive flirting, Applejack spoke.

“….Aw shucks, fine. I suppose it would be good to settle this now and forget about it. I want to interact with those animals as little as possible, especially with that bunny.” Applejack admmited. The others sighed, and nodded their heads to this.

“Alright! Let’s go!” Pinkie cheered.

“You never can get angry at her, can you?” Twilight asked.

“None of us can, to be honest. Come on!”

They walked out of the door and trotted towards the forest, and soon they were at the stairs leading to the door of the cottage. The house was surprisingly quiet.

“That’s weird. Every time one of us had to go to this place it was usually surrounded by growling, howling, and squeaking animals…” Rarity exclaimed.

“Yeah…it seems a bit…too quiet.” Applejack agreed.

“Maybe they went to the woods to hunt for a snack!” Pinkie resolved.

“Maybe…ugh…I really hope that Fluttershy would come back sooner and fix the mess that we did…I really miss her.” Rainbow Dash sighed.

Twilight walked over to Rainbow Dash and patted her on the back.

“We all do Rainbow. Just let her take the time and she’s be better.”

And with that, they pushed open the door, only for them to open their mouths in shock as the scene revealed the surroundings to them.

The place was spotless. Every piece of animal hair or other related mess that had been littered all around the household was gone. As for the animals themselves, they were sitting on the floor nicely, contrasting greatly to their previous behavior with them.

“Wha..what? The animals…they.,,” Twilight spluttered.

“Pinkie? You did this?” Rarity asked, stunned.

“Well duh, of course not.” She happily replied, trying not to giggle.

“Wait…Pinkie…you don’t mean…”

Before Rainbow Dash could make the conclusion, Fluttershy jumped out from behind the couch, blowing a party blower as the animals cheered.

“Surprise! Woo hoo…” She faintly cheered.

“SURPRISE!” Pinkie followed, pulling Fluttershy into a tight hug.

“………………….”

Silent tears were slowly dropping onto the carpet. They came slowly, then the drops turned to drizzles as Rainbow Dash broke down.

“Flutt…Flutt…Flutt…Fluttershy…” She sobbed.

“That’s what I said too!” Pinkie mentioned, trying not to cry herself as she witnessed the first display of true happiness from somepony who had really needed one.

“I’m…I’m sorry!” Rainbow cried, rushing over to the Pegasus. “I didn’t know what I was doing, I didn’t know what to actually do…I couldn’t even bear to visit you when you were in the hospital because I couldn’t…”

“Rainbow Dash, you know that I already forgave you from the start.”

“But I was the one who abandoned you because I didn’t receive enough attention! I was the one who caused our friend’s lives in danger because I was so stupid!”

“You told me this already, its ok.” Fluttershy said, trying to reconcile her.

“But even though you forgive me, I can’t forgive myself! It’s like there’s a shadow around me, reminding me of what I did, of what I became!”

“I know how it feels like. The same shadow haunted me during the first day at the hospital, when I didn’t tell the truth to you yet. But we both did when you came back from that town. It’s over. There’s no reason for something in the past to haunt you and stop you in the present. I learned that during my stay…not just from the help of you, but all of us.” She motioned towards the rest of the group as she continued.

“Rainbow, you showed me that telling your own personal struggles to someone who is the cause of the case really does help, and that there are no consequences to telling the truth. From that lesson, I chose to follow a much more optimistic look into my condition, and to live the remainder of my life the best I can.

“Live life to the fullest…” Applejack muttered.

“It wasn’t only you who learned a lesson…and I understand it now too.” Rarity admitted. “I…I think I was the second worst pony to be affected by the news. Before, I always took anti-depression pills before I slept from the sheer stress of my work. And when the doctor told us…I couldn’t stop talking them. I had endless nightmares and empty visions, where I couldn’t find a purpose towards myself. When I visited you, I put on a mask of happiness…I’m sorry, Fluttershy. When I saw how happy you were, it pierced my heart even harder. How could the witness to a victim suffer harder than the victim herself? I felt pathetic, dumb. I even considered sucide…but Applejack was able to help me.” She expressed, smiling faintly to Applejack.

“Yeah…but I had put on a fake mask as well. You saw what I wrote, didn’t you sugarcube? I made myself into a strong shoulder to cry on, but I had no support for myself. However, even though I realized what Rarity said earlier than her…I still had nightmares of my own. But I was able to get rid of them for good itself of putting them aside thanks to Rarity. It’s strange I know, but I learned something also. Seeing Rarity’s breakdown gave me the experience to overcome my own. And I really owe her for that. Thanks.” She responded, causing Rarity to smile softly.

“………..I didn’t know that.”

“Twilight?” They turned to her. She was staring off into space from their individual realizations. “Did…did you…”

“I did! I also tried to stay calm and withdraw my emotions until now! I kept working day and night to find a cure even though the books kept saying that there was none! To be honest, the only reason I’m awake right now is due to the coffee…” She cried.

“Don’t worry Twilight, we all have our problems. None of us is perfect! That is what makes us special!” Pinkie remarked. A single tear was flowing out of her eye.

“Indeed we aren’t.” Fluttershy smiled, pointing to her eye. Pinkie stared and gasped before quickly raising a hoof to wipe it out, only to be stopped by Fluttershy.

“Oh…right. Heh.” Pinkie let out a soft chuckle as more tears ran down. “I guess I’m not that great as well.”

They all laughed. “No-pony is.” They laughed as they pulled each other into a group hug, their reassurance having an significant improvement.

“Well, I guess its time to start the party.” Fluttershy said, smiling as she saw most of the animals crying humbly. Even Angel was holding back a bit.

“You all really are the best friends any-pony could ask for.” Twilight admitted.

“That’s what makes us special!” Pinkie cheered. “Enough chitchat, time is candy! Let’s do this party right!”

“YEAH!”

Day 7: Tea with a Slice of Chaos

“Fluttershy…Fluttershy?”

The Pegasus yawned lazily as she woke from a continuous poking of her shoulder.

“Who…who is it? I thought the mail-pony took breaks today…”

“Um…no. It’s Discord. Didn’t you forget that today is Tuesday?”

“Oh…hi Discord.” She replied, too sleepy to look up.

“Don’t you hi Discord me! What happened to our Tuesday Tease?” Discord replied angrily, poking her shoulder a bit harder.

“Tuesday Tease? Oh…OH!” She sprang up from the couch and sent Discord flying towards the wall before he teleported back towards the ground. “How could I have forgotten? Oh I’m sorry, um…let me go prepare the tea and cookies.”

“You mean you haven’t even prepared snacks?! Luckily I brought a little more than I should have…” He muttered, snapping his fingers and causing a plate of quesadillas to appear on the small table. “What happened? You still haven’t replied from my last letter seven days ago, and today you forget about a friend?” He sulked.

Fluttershy hesitated a bit in the kitchen before starting to reply.

“Oh, I was in the hospit…”

“Nevermind nevermind, I’m here now. So how are you doing Fluttershy? Did you get rid of Angel yet?” Discord asked with a hint of excitement.

“Er…no. I told you already that Angel stepping on your tail does not give you the right to throw him into another dimension."

The bunny, hearing this, hopped across the room cheerfully while grinning at the chaos sprit then sprayed him with spit from the other side of the room, where Fluttershy vision of sight was limited.

“Why you little…”

“Discord, be patient with Angel. He just has a little grudge from your first meeting with him at my house.” Fluttershy called out apprehensively, putting the pre-made cookies into the oven.

“Well I have changed, so why can’t he?” Discord protested, teleporting right next to Fluttershy with Angel on his claws, holding his ears.

“Angel doesn’t really mean it, don’t you Angel?” The rabbit nodded, forcing Discord to let it go and scamper out onto the backyard, snickering all the way.

“Oh, let me help you with that.” Discord said grudgingly, preparing to instantly finish the heating process.

“I told you that I want the snacks I prepare to be natural…”

“Well since you’re late, there’s not really much time left is there?”

“Oh, fine.” Fluttershy agreed, causing the cookies to disappear from the oven and onto the table completely baked. The teapot and cups went along with it, the pieces levitating one by one a placing themselves neatly beside the plate.

“So.” Discord began, waiting for Fluttershy to sit down before doing it himself. “Why were you so busy all this time again?”

“I was about to tell you…its just that…”

“That you’re too busy hanging out with your friends and Treehugger to actually spend time with me.” Discord huffed.

Not this again…Flutershy sighed to herself.

“Discord, the truth is that I have Lymphosarcoma.”

“What the heck is that?”

“…Lymph Cancer.”

“And that is?”

“Um…do you know what is hessonite?”

“Hessonite? Yes, I do know. The magic negating crystals…why are you bringing that up?” Discord questioned, confused.

“Because those crystals are stuck in my body through mutation. I only have about a month to live, Discord. I’m sorry.”

CRASH.

The teacup broke into countless pieces as it fell onto the cold hard ground while Discord spat out his tea onto the debris.

“Wha..WHAT? That’s not possible! I never heard of Hessonite being formed through mutation. It’s simply ridiculous! This is some kind of prank, right?”

“Do I look like the type of pony to make jokes?”

Discord stood up from the table, panicking as he disapparted every few seconds into the house and back.

“But that’s impossible! How did you manage to get such a disease?”

“To be honest. I’m not sure. But I suspect that I managed to get it in the Crystal Empire when Twilight was trying to stop Sombra.”

“Insane…Unacceptable…Morbid…Crazy!”

“Look, I know that you’re in denial right now, but…”

“No no no no! I can’t allow this to happen! This is just some kind of sick joke Rainbow Dash came up with right?”

“Do you really want proof?” Fluttershy said sadly. “Lift me.”

“What?”

“Try to levitate me. I’ll allow it.”

Gingerly, Discord focused his aura on the pony, and slowly raised his hands up towards the center height of the room. Instead of Fluttershy being raised up by its motion, she remained stable on the ground as the crystals inside negated the chaotic magic effect. Even through intense focus the task was impossible.

“You…you really do have Hessonite inside.”

“I told you. I’m really, really sorry Discord for telling you now, at such a late moment. But this is the main reason I forgot and did not pursue to answer your letters or prepare for our Tuesday Tease. I spent 5 days in the hospital. And yesterday I had a party with my friends here, which is why you found me at the couch.”

“…I refuse to accept this.”

“Discord…”

“I don’t care what your friends or your doctors at the hospital say. What I do know is that nothing is non-curable. There has to be a way to remove that Hessonite tumor from you…I mean…I have a lot of connections outside Equestria.” He mumbled.

“What do you mean?” Fluttershy asked, surprised at how quickly he was resolving the situation instead of complaining or making a scene.

“The Hessonite crystals inside your body are very unique…Grade S…there really isn’t anything that can stop its effect, even in the shadow market.”

“Um…what?”

“You think that I would abandon my friends so easily? Especially the first real one I ever had in centuries? Don’t worry Fluttershy. I may not have a lot of friends in the monster world…but I do have a lot of clients. What else did you think I was doing when I wasn’t coming in to visit from Ponyville?”

“You’ve been working outside Equestria?” Fluttershy guessed.

“Not exactly work…more like business. All non-lethal and non-evil of course!” He quickly added, noticing Fluttershy giving him the Stare. “I just take part in gathering and getting materials to and from many different mystical creatures and beings.”

“Ooh! Mystical Creatures and beings?” Fluttershy inquired excitedly.

“They aren’t animals, Fluttershy. Most are either demi-gods or monsters.”

“Oh.”

“Anyways...there’s bound to be something that can help you out there. Promise me that you’ll be there when I come back, alright?”

Discord was kneeing down on half of his body, his paw and claw holding on to Fluttershy’s hooves tightly as their eyes met.

“I promise.” She answered confidently.

“I’ll be back.” And just like that he was gone again.

“Wait! Oh…he didn’t even eat any of the cookies…”

After sweeping the floor and dumping the fragments into a bin, she began to take the tray out of the table before seeing a clumsily wrapped gift below his former chair.

“What’s this? He never brings in gifts…”

Inside was a single piece of paper along with a lamp that was shaped like the chaos spirit. Three words were present on it: Get Well Soon.

Smiling, she placed it on top of the fireplace, next to the other cards and letters from her friends and the members of the town.

“And I’ll be waiting.”

Author's Note

Dear god, the last few lines made me want to build a ship when the purpose isn't to. Why does writing and reading two characters in this show interacting imply this thing so well? :fluttershbad:

Day: .........

It had been one week since Discord’s last visit. He didn’t show up on Tuesday, instead sending a letter saying something about “poison fighting poison”, and to keep fighting strong. Life of every-pony was back to normal.

Fluttershy yawned as she got up from her bed lazily from the rooster’s cry at the courtyard. The breeze coming from the forest waved slowly towards the area, filling the room with the lovely smell of nature.

“Well, its time for the start of another day, Angel.”

The bunny just nodded faintly and hopped over to the kitchen table, getting a carrot from the shelf and gnawing on it half-heartily.

“Let’s see…oats…vegetables…or fruits? Which one should I pick, Angel? Or do you want to go over to Pinkie’s and get a pancake or a smoothie? You’ve been behaving very well this whole week. You deserve something sweet.”

He shook his head.

“You don’t want a treat?” Fluttershy asked, a bit shocked.

He shook his head again. Grabbing a bowl from the rack beside him, he gingerly pushed it towards Fluttershy.

“Oh, ok then. Oats it is.”

The two said nothing as they ate breakfast together. Most of the other ponies were busy today, so Fluttershy finally had a day of free time all to herself.

All to herself…

There was so much to do. Pinkie had introduced her to a new radio channel about cooking, and after trying one of the famous chef’s recipes herself, she had been hooked ever since, using the recipes not for replicating but as the basis for her own.

Angel was unfortunately the frequent taste tester for most of her “experiments”, though in other times, when the rabbit didn’t immediately spit out the food he ate, she would then produce more and give away to the townspeople for their kindness and generosity when she was in the hospital. Winning the food contest on Saturday by a landslide, Most of the residents told her to make a restaurant out of all the excellent foods that she provided. However, they were all surprised when she handed a very shocked Mr. and Ms. Cake a full book hoof-written manual of all her works for free.

She hoped that they would like it, as something that could benefit the town for a long time even after the inevitable. A replica of the key to her knitting lair was also given to Rarity yesterday, who fainted right there on the spot and had to be taken to the hospital for about 18 seconds before she woke up and dashed back towards her house giddy with excitement.

It really did feel better to give her prized possessions away. They were obviously going to the right hoofs, and she knew that her recipes and clothes would develop so much more efficiently than they were in her care.

The only thing that was missing was a pony to take care of the animals. She knew that Ponyville and Canterlot had great vets…but there was yet to be a pony who would take the full responsibilities that she had done for so many years.

Oh well, nothing was perfect. She did all that could be done.

“After we finish breakfast, do you want to go visit your animal friends, Angel?”

Angel, often hearing this, strangely nodded more eagerly than usual. They finished their food and set off into the woods.

It was not long before they arrived at the center of the threshold. She had greeted the birds at the entrance, and they had already gathered most of the other creatures to the meeting spot. Seeing the Pegasus, they all cried out happily.

“Hello everybody! It’s so nice to see you all again!” She cheered happily.

It was a wonderful time. The birds taught her a new song that they had composed themselves. The squirrels and beavers introduced her to new species of nuts and berries that could be used later in the afternoon. Harry himself brought over a honeybee nest, with the bees cooperating as they gave out spoonfuls of honey to every animal that asked, in return for the bear showing them a new orchard of flowers.

As they walked back towards the cottage, Fluttershy noticed her pet holding a single flower in his hand, hopping along cheerfully.

“Who gave you that flower, Angel?” She questioned, smirking.

The rabbit upon hearing Fluttershy say that, immediately hid it behind his back and starting walking on two legs, blushing furiously.

She giggled. They grow up so fast.

She opened the door, allowing the flustered bunny to hop quickly over to his room and hide his precious gift. Opening the saddlebag she brought, she poured the different gifts from the animals onto the table.

“Hmm…I suppose I could make a good salad from all of these ingredients…”

Her train of thought was interrupted by a knock on the door. Opening it again, she found herself face to face with Twilight and Rainbow.

“Oh hey Twilight, Rainbow Dash, how are you?”

“Fluttershy, the town is really thankful for what you did in the past week.” Twilight said, smiling faintly.

“Thanks to you, not only have Mr. and Ms. Cake become the most famous chefs in Equestria, but Ponyville as well! Mayor Mare wants to honor your contribution with a dinner party in the town with every-pony!” Rainbow Dash cheered.

“Really?” Fluttershy gasped, amazed.

“Yeah! The party’s going to start at around 6:00pm in the evening. We’ll see you there! I got to go meet with Spitfire, so I gotta dash!” Immediately after saying this, she flapped her wings and soared off into the sky.

There was a brief moment as Twilight ruffled her mane back together before she continued her speech.

“Yeah, what Rainbow said. We’re really happy for what you did, Fluttershy.”

“Oh! Um…it’s nothing much.” Fluttershy grinned, pawing the ground nervously.

Twilight chuckled a bit and patted her on the shoulder lightly. “See you there.”

“Ok. You can count on it.” With that, Twilight waved as she walked back towards Ponyville. She never liked flying that much.

Closing the door, Fluttershy sighed happily as she returned to the counter. Friendship really was the best thing to have. All of her friends had stood alongside her for so long, as she had stood along them as one of the team.

Looking back, it was funny how they managed to be friends. She remembered how she used to be a social outcast, when Applejack didn’t directly interact with her yet.

If she knew just how bad her socializing skills were in the beginning, that would be even more embarrassing. Now they were partners in helping and creating nature, using each other’s knowledge of the earth and animals to create an optimum environment for both plants and animals. She had even managed to convince her to adopt a litter of ladybugs, a slow but significant feat, having detested all kinds of animals and insects before, except for her dog.

Rarity was so much easier to interact with once she made that dress for her. Fascinated by the quality of her work, they had been having frequent chats with one another about different fabrics and cloths that they had collected over the years, as well as different knitting and sewing methods that improved both of their skills.

Pinkie admittedly was the scariest to socialize with. Their personalities contrasting so greatly, she remembered how her welcome to Ponyville Party went. Being welcomed by so many ponies at once with them all cheering and yelling, it gave her a temporary fear of balloons and cannons, which thankfully disappeared before Twilight came. After Pinkie Pie learned how to socialize differently with different ponies with Cranky, their relationship has never been better, except for that day last week where she beat her in a cake baking competition. Luckily minimum damage was sustained.

Speaking of Twilight, she came from a similar standpoint as well. While she preferred friendship with creatures and wildlife, Twilight preferred relationships with…books, and literature works. Both of them were so obsessed with their hobbies that they ignored the personal friendship bonds between ponies to another. Now looking at her as the Princess of Friendship, she is just as proud as every-pony else is.

She went over to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water.

And Rainbow Dash…Rainbow Dash could be considered as the best friend that she never deserved. She didn’t have to stick up for herself when she was still a filly, when the colts were bullying her sudden shyness, fear, and decline of flying skills. But she did. She was the one who managed to give her the reason to continue to live, the reason to still have a purpose in this world. And the sonic rainboom that she created brought all of their destinies together, the race allowing her to discover her love for animals’…to find a purpose, to find a solution to her loss.

They were all great friends. Best friends. Along the rest of the citizens in Ponyville. They all molded her into what she is today. Although there may be frequent arguments, conflicts, and sadness, it is the empathy and joy of living that drives all of them forward, especially towards her. It is a feeling that will last forever.

For…

“*Cough…*Gack”

Suddenly Fluttershy found herself unable to stop coughing as blood splurged out of her throat, staining the water glass a bloody red as it shattered onto the floor. Angel screamed in horror as he saw the impending sight.

“An…gel…*Cough…get…Twi…light…”

The rabbit did not need a second reminder as he ran for his life outside the door, tears angrily forming in his eyes as he rushed towards his owner’s final plea.

The Pegasus collapsed onto the floor. Her parents, her friends, Rainbow Dash, Angel, the animals…the townspeople…flashing in her head. Beautiful...everlasting memories. It hurt. It really hurts.

Then the pain was gone.

Author's Note

Day 18: The Blessing of Fall

“……………”

The Room was pretty quiet as Rainbow Dash lied down on the pillow. It had been ten days since she left…ten days. Today was the funeral.

Yawning, she got up slowly as the sun started to shine on the windows, before immediately being blocked by the drawn curtains. There was no need for sunshine today. Today, the morning was her enemy.

She remembered how everyone, including herself, reacted when they saw Twilight carrying her body into the castle. The shock…it sent all of them into a broken silence. Although this had to happen…why did it have to occur at that moment?

She stopped trying to bring her back. Every-pony did. According to Twilight, she had already died before she had found her. There was no point for a trip to the hospital.

Fluttershy…was gone. And now…now she had to do what she promised. To stay strong and not cry. To not…cry…

Tears were already starting to roll down once again on her cheeks before they were washed away by the water in the sink as she forcefully cleaned herself with a wet towel. She had to stay focused.

“Focus…I can do this…”

She looked back up towards the mirror, and right in front of her face was not the reflection of her own, but an ever so familiar mare sporting a color of pink and yellow…holding a basket of flowers in her mouth…

“ARGH! STOP IT!” She yelled. Her hallucinations were getting worse by the day, and in the day of the funeral, it had to be at its peak.

Looking back up, the image disappeared.

“Ugh…what is happening to me?” Rainbow Dash moaned.

Was she doing this to herself like last time? Or was Fluttershy literally haunting her very mind, destined to stay there for all eternity?

“Rainbow Dash...Rainbow Dash...”

The whisper came in so suddenly; it caused the pegasus to fly straight into the air. Shaking her head violently, she attempted to clear her head, to no avail.

“Who…who the heck are you?!” She screamed.

“I’m the shadow of your best friend…the deep, dark side…the side which was never to be revealed in front of any-pony…Dashie.”

Smoke started to swirl into place, forming the ever so familiar long mane, along with the ghostly face. Her eyes were painted a hellish red.

“Rainbow Dash…fool…I never liked you…you were always so annoying…” The shadow mocked, surrounding her in imaginary fire. It was impossible to determine the hallucinations from reality at this point.

“Shut up! Get away from me!”

“Get away? I’m the one who wanted you to go away…dragging me from one place to another…I didn’t just find you annoying…I secretly hated you…”

“No! It’s not true!” Rainbow cried, losing herself.

“It is a hundred percent true…Dashie…I wanted to die…I wanted to end my life quickly so that I wouldn’t have to see you again…” It cackled.

“………………..”

“Did I hurt your petty little feelings? Break…BREAK!”

“No…that’s not true.” The tone that came out of her mouth was not filled with fear…but confidence, confusing the shadow.

“Huh?”

“Fluttershy didn’t want to end her life quickly…if there’s one thing she taught me…it is to live life to the fullest!” She roared, stepping forward towards the shadow, which cowered in fear as it tried to escape from the positive surge of emotions.

“You…I…No…this can’t be happening!” It shrieked. It did not have Fluttershy’s voice anymore. Its tone had dropped several octaves as its power started to diminish.

“You are not Fluttershy! You are nothing but my fear…my own repentance!” Rainbow declared. “I will not be tortured by you again!”

“No…No! Get back! GET BACK!”

“You're not the shadow of Fluttershy...you're the shadow of me!! GET OUT OF MY HEAD!” A giant ray of light suddenly appeared in the sky, trapping the shadow, which screamed horribly as it burned to a crisp.

FLASH.

“*Gasp…”Wheeze…What…where?”

She was back onto her bed. The vision just now was nothing but a nightmare. Sinking back onto the pillow, she sighed deeply. It was all over now.

“Rainbow Dash…Rainbow Dash?”

A sudden knock, then the door opened. Twilight and the others were dressed in black dresses with Rarity holding a spare one.

“It’s time to go.”

The flag at the city centre waved lazily at half mass as the rest of the houses were draped in black ribbons in the dying sunlight. Flowers from all around the region were being brought in my bees, birds, all kinds of different insects and animals. Treehugger stood at the middle. She was the one who had coordinated all the animals in the first place, coming to Ponyville as soon as she heard of the news.

Every-pony was going into the mayor's office. The seats were placed in neat rows. Ponies from Canterlot, Appleplooza, Manehatten...different ponies from all around the region had came to pay their respects to the fallen friend of the princess.

"You didn't have to invite so many ponies, Princess Celestia." Twilight mentioned. Her mentor was standing beside her, her expression sad...yet strangely quiet. She shook her head a little before responding.

"Oh, sorry about that Twilight, I was...thinking back to the first time one of my dear friends...nevermind. Your friend deserves all the recognition I'm giving. As one of your friends, I cared for her as much as I cared for you. And it is really heartbreaking to see her go...at such a young age." She replied bitterly.

"Thanks. By the way, there really was no point on sending those trained doctors over. A natural way to go would have been Fluttershy's most favourite choice." Twilight added.

"I know...desperation really does do a number on a lot of things. Is Rainbow Dash alright? According to your letters she was the closest to her, being friends with her since the beginning."

"She's ok. She almost did break down when we first arrived, but the Wonderbolts helped us get her out of it. Soarin's comforting her right now." She glanced over to the east side. Rainbow Dash was there, sobbing a bit on his shoulder, her head on his lap.

"I see. Well, I guess you should be going up the stage right about now." Celestia reminded.

"I know. I'll see you after the..."

CRASH.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE'S ALREADY GONE?!"

"That voice...that couldn't be..."

Discord stormed inside the town hall, his eyes furiously burning as he knocked any everything his way, walking towards the pair with a strange green potion flask on his left arm.

"SHE PROMISED ME THAT SHE WOULD BE THERE WHEN I FINISH THE CURE! SHE PROMISED THAT SHE'LL WAIT FOR ME! WHY COULDN'T SHE KEEP HER PROMISE! WHY...WHY COULDN'T SHE..." His claw raised up into the air, preparing to smash the bottle into oblivion.

"DISCORD, STOP!" Twilight yelled.

"DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!" He roared back. "SHE'S GONE ALREADY! NOTHING MATTERS NOW!"

"Is...is that a cure for..." Luna gasped. She had been sitting on the front row watching Twilight and Celestia.

"YES! YES IT IS...A CURE FOR ALL KINDS OF HESSONITE-RELATED DISEASES AND TERMINAL ILLNESSES! THE SMOOZE'S LIQUID NULLIFIED THE HESSONITE'S MAGIC NEGATING PROPERTIES! ALL THAT EFFORT...WASTED...WASTED!!!!!"

"Discord...you could..."

"I KNOW WHAT IT CAN DO....I know what it can do...but I wasn't able to save her...I failed." He growled angrily, pitying nothing but himself.

"But you can save so much other ponies and creatures with that...please Discord. Fluttershy would have wanted no-pony to suffer the same pain that she had. Do it for her." Twilight begged.

"I...I...I'm sorry, Twilight Sparkle." His claw drooped down, dropping the potion onto Dr.Horse's hooves. "I just...it was too fast...and I was too slow." He sat over with the rest of Twilight's friends and began sobbing to himself.

"Discord..."

"I'll go talk to him. I know how it feels like, losing a friend for the first time as an immortal being. Go do your speech, Princess Twilight." Celestia interrupted, looking at the chaos spirit with nothing but pity.

"Right. Thank you..."

She walked up to the stage, her expression solemn yet firm. Clearing her throat, she watched as the audience's attention completely shifted over to her, the small talk disappearing. She took a deep breath, then began.

"Mares...colts...donkeys..animals...everyone. Welcome. We are here today to celebrate the passing of Fluttershy, a kind and generous pegasus who has changed all of our lives. She was a great friend, a best friend towards us all, a spirit so passionate and willing to help out others if they are in any sort of trouble or danger. This motherly nature...really showed all of us the kindred of friendship as a whole. I, as one of her most personal friends, watched her as she grew, developed this kindness while experiencing my own growth, along with Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity. However, she wasn't always like this. In the beginning, she was shy, timid, afraid to interact with other ponies in fear of being bullied or harassed as she had been in Cloudsdale. Her kindness was kept secret, demonstrated only in full view in front of her animal friends, or by herself." She gestured over to the many creatures, who were all sitting and flying on the left side of the hall.

"It is strange how we used to differentiate ourselves from these animals, treated them either as pets or toys to keep. Fluttershy was one of the first ponies to embrace them as equals, and look at how this change has affected us now. Thanks to her, we ponies can interact cooperatively with animals and insects, respect each other needs and help each other out instead of fighting or arguing. Without Fluttershy, we wouldn't have a place as beautiful as Equestria. And that's not all. When we convinced her to come out of her shell, she did with a bang. She started joining animal care organisations. She started participating in group activities like the hurricane reservoir event, being an animal expert who you could rely on for accurate advice...she became a mother to us all, a treasured family member whom we will find quite hard to forget. However, we must not grieve after this ceremony. We must not sink ourselves into depression, or fall under a crisis due to the death of an innocent butterfly. Fluttershy's last words to all of Ponyville were words that told us to stay strong, to not worry. Let us cherish the passing of this mare, not feel pity for it. There was nothing any-pony could do, and we must assure that, as there is no point in harming yourself for another. Doctors of the local hospital. Friends. Animals. Residents of Ponyville. Let us stand up together as equals, as beings of Equestria, as one, to mourn now for this fallen friend. May she rest in peace."

"May she rest in peace." They echoed.

The door creaked open, and Harry the bear came out, cradling the body in his hairy arms. He held her as it was a cub, gentle, caring. The birds sang in a sad harmonic melody as he slowly placed her sleeping figure into the coffin, below the hundreds of flowers, below the sky. Closing the glass lid, he let out a sad, yet beautiful roar. Empathy.

One by one ponies and animals started walking towards the coffin, saying their blessings before returning back to their seats.

"Thank you for saving my pet." A single rose.

"Thank you for your kindness towards our business." A batch of daisies.

"Thank you for forgiving me after all that I did." A wreath of violets.

"Thank you for being there when I was in trouble with my animals." A bundle of rue.

"Thank you for being my friend." A gentle pat on the surface.

"Thank you."

After everyone said their goodbyes, they followed the mane 5 as they walked towards Fluttershy's Cottage. A hole in the backyard had already been dug for the occasion. Without a word, the animals started carrying the coffin down to the bottom.

"We'll, I guess this is...goodbye...Fluttershy." Twilight croaked, looking back at the silent coffin.

"We'll never forget you..." Pinkie sobbed.

"We'll see each other in another life, perhaps." Treehugger suggested.

Applejack stood firm as Rarity cried uncontrollably on her shoulder, her face looking down slightly as she bid her last farewall. "Goodbye." She spoke.

"Goodbye." Rainbow Dash echoed.

And with those final words, Rainbow Dash, the pony who had carried a heavy heart for twenty years against the one friend who cared for her more than anyone had ever did, was now crying tears of sadness for her. They were finally at peace. She was a true angel, a true, true friend. Something that everyone had every reason to be proud of.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------The End-------------------------------------------------------------------

Author's Note

And this concludes "Fall of the Butterflies". A really nice project that I was thankfully able to finish before the summer ended. I really hope that you enjoy this little piece of work, and like always, stay strong and keep reading. However, the story is not over yet. I plan to add a little epilogue to this fanfiction after I finish another story to tie in a little it more detail. Stay tuned, and I'll see you all next time. Like Applejack said, live life to the fullest. :ajsmug:

chankl2 :pinkiesmile:

Chapter 1: The impact of reality

Night had already fallen. The full moon basked itself to the top of the sky, as if it was surveying all the sleeping ponies that quietly rested in their respective homes, peaceful and calm. However, the same could not be said for the mane 5, as they waited silently in the room, the tension rising and falling as the life of their friend was at risk.

“Rainbow, are you all right?” Twilight asked, concerned for her mentality. She had been crying since she brought the unconscious Fluttershy to the hospital, and stayed silent in the waiting room even when the rest of her friends showed up, stuck in a state of depression.

“I’m…I’m fine, Twilight.” She managed to stutter.

“You certainly don’t look that way…”

“I said I’m fine!”

Silence. Rainbow Dash was the only one of the group who was sitting apart from the rest, and with those words she moved to the back row of the chairs, isolating herself.

“It’s all my fault, It’s all my fault…” They could hear her mutter.

“It’s not your fault Dashie! Stop blaming yourself for what happened to Fluttershy! No one could have expected…well…this!” Pinkie reprimanded, breaking the silence.

“Honestly Rainbow, you’re overreacting! Fluttershy must be just having a bit of a headache, that’s all!” Rarity remarked.

“That was no headache. Her body was as cold as ice, and I couldn’t feel a pulse when I carried her to the hospital.”

“Brainfreeze?” Pinkie interjected.

“It isn’t the time to joke around, Pinkie.” Twilight said sternly, seeing the anger in Rainbow’s eyes.

“Y’all just trying to be optimistic about the situation, RD.” Applejack went over to the crying Pegasus and placed her hoof on her shoulder.

“I know Applejack. It’s just that nothing like this has happened before. Why did this happen? Why her?!” She was starting to lose control again.

“There are some situations in life that we can’t explain Rainbow. Sometimes life gives us joy and sometimes it drops a piano on your head.” Twilight answered.

“Don’t worry though, I’m sure that Fluttershy will back to her lovely self again after the doctors and the nurses are done.” Rarity added.

“Yeah! And then we can all have a get well soon party!” Pinkie exclaimed happily.

“We’re all in this together, sugarcube. Right Y’all?”

“RIGHT!” They cheered, causing Rainbow to finally smile.

“Yeah, I guess…thanks for comforting me, you guys.” Rainbow said sheepishly. “I was being kind of pessimistic.”

“Don’t worry, we all have our bad mane days. So, are you ready to visit her?” Twilight said encouragingly.

“Yeah, I guess so. Let’s go!” And with that she finally stood up, and started to trot slowly towards the medical room, with the rest of her friends following her.

The hospital had pretty much changed completely since the last time Rainbow was a patient during her injury while training for the Equestria Games. As they continued walking on the pathway towards the counter, she could see nurses and doctors pacing in and out of the rooms, most of them either levitating or holding clipboards, the sound of pens furiously scribbling heard every few seconds.

Most of the patients were either earth or pegasus ponies, though at a second glance there was always a unicorn or two in each ward. Bandaged, Sickly, even strapped to machines, there were such a large variety of injuries and diseases that the whole building was separated into four quarters: Natural injuries and diseases, magical injuries and diseases, critical care, and of course the maternity ward. She wondered which sector Fluttershy was in. Hopefully it wasn’t the third one. Hopefully.

“Can I help you with anything, sweetheart?”

The sudden voice snapped Rainbow out of her trance. Shaking her head, she tried to answer, but nothing could come out.

“Er…Yes…you…Fluttershy…” She stammered.

The nurse, who didn’t want to waste time, walked out of the counter and went over to Twilight.

“What is she trying to say, Princess Twilight?”

“Oh! Um…could you tell us the direction the room that Fluttershy is in?” She said nervously. “She’s a Pegasus by the way.”

She took out her own clipboard from the bag strapped on her back and scanned it.

“Fluttershy…pegasus. Sector 1, room 349.”

“Ok thanks. Come on Rainbow!”

“Oh, right! Heheh…”

Moving on, she took a huge sign of relief. Sector 1 was natural injuries and diseases, something that the doctors could easily heal, like her broken wings and body in those two accidents. She was almost ready to break down before, thinking that she’ll hear that Fluttershy was in some other sector.

“Oh how relieving! Sweet Celestia, I thought that she was actually going to be in a serious situation.” Rarity said happily.

“"I" with Rarity. Now let’s go visit her! I made some cider at home that You” all going to enjoy. Now come-on everypony!” Applejack exclaimed, looking at Rainbow for a response. Sure enough, a smile started to form in her mouth.

“You’re smiling again! WOOO!” Pinkie screamed joyfully, resulting in a large chorus of “shhh!” from the doctors and the nurses.

“Oops! Sorry…I forgot that I’m in a hospital. Sorry…” She giggled.

After a few minutes of wandering, they arrived at the room. Fluttershy was lying down on one of the beds, with no bandages, but a tube was in one of her arms, which pumped nutrients into her body from the plastic bag above. She was moving, but barely conscious.

“Oh that poor thing, I feel so sorry for her!” Rarity cried.

“At least it doesn’t look like she’s hurt or anything. I was worried that the situation would be much worse.” Twilight said quietly.

“Yeah…thank goodness...” Rainbow agreed faintly.

“I see you’re back again, Miss Rainbow Dash.”

The mane 6 reeled back in surprise at the sudden voice, only to find that it was doctor horse, the doctor who took care of Rainbow when she crashed and broke her wing the first time.

“Oh, hey Doctor Horse. Are you still mad of what I did the first time I was here?” Rainbow said nervously.

“Hardly. Your theft of the Daring Do book and our chase has been so popular around the hospital that we tell it to the young fillies who come here as a bedtime story.” He admitted.

“So, how” Fluttershy?” Applejack asked.

“Oh, she doesn’t seem like to be sick at all. Should be just a little case of fainting, but nothing special really. However, to be sure we took a blood sample and the results should be coming in about now.” He answered.

Just as he finished his sentence, a beeping noise came from his pockets. He took it out and smiled.

“Speak of the devil! I’ll be right back, girls.” And he trotted off to one of the staff offices.

“Why are they taking a blood sample Twilight?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“It’s just to make sure that there is really nothing wrong with Fluttershy before letting her out of the hospital. Honestly I don’t think that they’ll find anything serious.” Twilight replied.

“I hope so…” Rainbow muttered, nervous again.

“Is there something that you’re not telling us, Rainbow?” Rarity remarked.

“No, nothing of the sort. It’s just that before she fainted, we were having a picnic together, and I tried to organize another event where we could socialize, but she kept rejecting my offers and I lost my temper, resulting in an argument.” Rainbow admitted.

“What were you two arguing about?” Pinkie said, confused.

“Um…about why was she always keeping her distance away from me, making up tons of excuses when I try to spend time with her. And…err…about the condition of our friendship.” She said guiltily.

“You doubted your friendship with her?!” They said together, shocked.

“I know! I feel stupid about that fact! That’s why I was so nervous and depressed when I found her unconscious and cold body, and when we were waiting in the waiting room! I was actually scared that I couldn’t say sorry to her ever again!!” She cried, small drops of tears forming in her eyes.

Pinkie immediately handed her a tissue, which she dried her tears quickly and blew her nose.
“Thanks, Pinkie…” She stuttered, the others looking at her concerned.

“Rainbow, don’t ever think like that. Friendship is the most strongest bond that is present in Equestria. I’m sure that Fluttershy has a good reason for not telling you the truth.” Twilight said sternly.

“I know…but…”

“You should know better than to doubt one of your best friends. You’re the element of loyalty, remember? Just wait and see.” Rarity continued.

“Everypony knows that you should never give up trying when things get rough or don’t turn out for the best. That” what my parents taught me.” Applejack exclaimed.

“Hug?” Pinkie asked, wrapping her hoofs around Rainbow and patting her on the back.

“I…didn’t realize my mistake. Thanks for comforting me again. I’m really sorry for what I put all of you through.” They smiled, and soon they were in a group hug, the warmth of friendship spreading around the area.

“I’m sorry to interrupt this occasion, girls.”

“Doctor! You’re…back?” Twilight frowned as she said the grim expression on his face, the optimism before completely gone.

“May I talk to you girls in private?” He said, indicating an open door that led to an empty room.

When they were inside, he closed the door, and took out his clipboard, his expression serious.

“I’m sorry to say this…but Miss Fluttershy has Lymphosarcoma.”

“NO! It can’t be!” Twilight shouted, her expression appalled.

“I’m sorry Twilight, but the tests were positive.” The doctor said with his head dropped, pawing the ground nervously.

“Wait…what’s Lymphosarcoma?” The other ponies questioned, confused. Twilight was shaking, and she seemed to be lost from reality as she replied the inevitable answer.

“It’s…It’s…lymph…can…cancer. Fluttershy is going to die!” And with those words, she broke down crying.