The Rasp

I had fallen asleep in Twilight's room. Applejack had insisted I get to bed. She said she'd look after Twilight while I got some much-needed rest. Really, I couldn't blame her. I've been pulling late nights worried about Twilight, and sleep was hard to come by with all the coughing and screaming she was doing. I was out like a light. At some point, I was aware there was a conversation going on downstairs, but I was so out of it, I couldn't concentrate on it. I just wanted more sleep.

Until the screaming started.

"GET OFFA ME!! GET OFF! I'M NOT SICK!!"

"Calm down! We ain't sayin' ya'll got it! We're just discussin-"

"NO! NO! WE SAW WHAT THEY DID TO RARITY! I WON'T LET THEM DO THAT TO ME!! YOU'RE IN ON IT!!"

"In on what Dashie? You're not making a lot of sense anymore,"

"YES I AM!! YOU'RE TRYING TO TRICK ME!! YOU WANT MY WINGS!! YOU'RE ALL JEALOUS!!

"HOLD HER DOWN, AH GOT THE ROP- HURRROFF"

"DON'T TOUCH ME!! EARTH PONIES ARE ALL IN ON IT! I KNOW THEY ARE!! IT'S A WAR!! YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE ME LIKE YOU!! I WON'T LET YOU! I WON'T!!"

That was Rainbow Dash's voice. Boisterous and unrestrained, like usual. But this time, it was stressed. It was different than shrieks and hollers of wild excitement pegasi were known for. This was more like an angry panic. I could hear thrashing downstairs, and the sound of books tumbling to the ground from the shelves. I could hear the sound of fighting.

"Wowie zowie, please calm down! Rainy, it's me, it's Pinkie, you know me! We're friends Dashie, You'd never do anything to hurt me, and I would never EVER do anything to OOOF!"

"YOU CAN'T HAVE THEM!! YOU CAN'T HAVE THEM!! YOU CAN'T!! THEY'RE MY WINGS!! THEY'RE MINE! YOU CAN'T HAVE THEM!!"

"SHE AIN'T TRYIN TA TAKE YER WINGS DASHIE!! SHE'S JUS- WHOA NELLY! DASH GIT OFFA HER!! LEGGO!!"

"D-DASHIE THAT HURTS!! PLEASE THAT HURTS!! YOU DON'T WANNA HURT AUNTIE PIN-GAAH!! ARRGGHHHHH!!!!! STOP!! LEGGO, LEGGO!!!"

"I'M NOT SICK!! I'M NOT SICK!! I'LL PROVE IT!! I CAN STILL FLY! YOU CAN'T HAVE THEM!! YOU CAN'T-"

That's when everything went quiet. And that's when I made my move.

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