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"Won't you join me, dear friends? I'm very happy here!"

What did that sneaky little witch do to her? I can't believe this. The pony I grew up with is now leaving me for that....THING. Why would Fluttershy trust Starlight? She's done nothing but steal our cutie marks, and now I can't even fly. Please, Fluttershy...come back to us!

"Rainbow Dash?"

Fluttershy called out to me! Was she really there? Was she faking it just to slip by Starlight? Please Fluttershy! Let's get out of here and run away together!

"Please, join me! I want you to be as happy as I am!"

My heart sank. This was Fluttershy now. She did become like them. Tears started to fill my eyes, but I held them back. All I could feel was anger toward that maniac Starlight and her creepy smiling village.

"GIVE HER BACK!" I shouted at her. The loud screaming filled the whole village with noise. I didn't care. I wanted Fluttershy back.

"Oh, Rainbow, don't you see?" Fluttershy talked to me again. "I'm very happy, but very lonely as well. I need you, Rainbow Dash. I need you to join me and the other wonderful ponies here! I promise you'll be happy!"

"No." As much as it hurt me, I rejected my begging friend. She had become one of them now. There was no way dragging her out of it.

Unless....

"Wait!" I caught Starlight's attention. "What if...I could be with Fluttershy for just a few minutes?"

Starlight held a straight face, then slowly started to smirk suspiciously.

What's she planning now?

"If you say so," She agreed. She gestured me to another empty cottage, and I waved a hoof goodbye to my friends, who knows if I will get killed in there....

The door shut. I tried opening it.

Locked.

"Dash!" Fluttershy immediately spoke. "I'm so happy we could spend some time together! Then you'll finally see the light!"

Wait a minute...

"Why don't you want to be equal alongside me?" She asked. "It's wonderful here!"

"Fluttershy!" I said. "Please listen to me! Starlight has you tricked! I thought you were getting the marks back, then we could fly out of here, and go back to Ponyville."

"This is my home now!" Fluttershy grinned. "Why would I ever want to leave?"

"Because of your friends! Me and the others, your family, everypony! Look at yourself! You've changed inside and out. But I know there's a little bit left of the real you in there. Come back to us!"

"Aren't you loyal to me, Dash?"

No....

She's trying to break me! Starlight locked me in here because she knew I would give in easily to the pony I've known the longest. But I won't back down. It hurts so badly, but I must resist!

"Fluttershy....I.."

My cutie mark glowed.

"Oh, my! That's a sign you're already into the equalization process! I knew you could do it, Rainbow!"

No...

No, no, no, no, no, no, no!

"I....just... can't. I can't leave everything."

"You won't have to! You know very well the other four will join us happily!"

"No..."

"And, why have you always been so competitive? You're no better than anypony here. There's no contest necessary. You may not be able to fly, but that's the same way for everypony else."

"But I've loved to fly! You know that!"

"Then you'll be even happier when your equal. Aren't you loyal to me?"

Stop it. I wont!

"We can be happier here, Dashie...together. Just you and me."

"Just...you...and me?"

Fluttershy nodded calmly. "Remember, Rainbow Dash, Equality is happiness."

"Equality...is...happiness."

"See? Easy, isn't it? You want to be with your best friend forever, right? We can both live great lives here, together!"

Yeah...easy....no. I...can't....ugh! My head thumped as my cutie mark glowed once more. Why was it so relaxing? Why does it feel so right? Am I really doing the right thing?

"Dashie..." Fluttershy whispered. "You'll be happy here, you'll see. Trust me."

Ugh.....No...

Another glow. Longer than before. Then....a feeling of warmth. I feel....safe.

I feel...

H a p p y .

"Aren't you loyal to me, Rainbow Dash?" Fluttershy asked for one last time, and I finally responded.

"Yes, Fluttershy. I'm happy." I started to grin along with her. I feel less sad when my mark glows like this. Fluttershy was right, I am happy. To be with her, forever, with no fighting, no superiors, just equals.

I'm happy.

I'm equal.

Fluttershy yelled loud enough to alert Starlight and the other villagers. "We have a new friend!" Starlight Glimmer opened the door, and glared at me.

"Is this true, Rainbow Dash?"

"Y-yes," I said hesitantly, still a little nervous. "As long as I get to be with Fluttershy, then I'll stay here for as long as I live."

"Wonderful! Let's show your friends that you have joined Fluttershy into happiness. And, don't forget to smile! Show them you're happy!"

I put on a smile a wide as my mouth could stretch, because I was indeed very happy. My mane might not be changed yet, but Starlight will fix that later. All that matters now is Fluttershy, and showing my other friends how happy it is to be equal. No competition, no responsibilities, and most of all...freedom.

Starlight busted the door open, showing my friends who I was meant to be from the start.

"Hello there!" She greeted. "Why don't you see what has happened to your friend?"

They looked worried when they saw me. Why? I'm fine. I have nothing to worry about. I'm okay, really!

Pinkie Pie looked the most worried of the four. "No! Not my Dashie!"

"Pinkie," I said to her. "I'm happy. Happy and equal. You'll be happy with me and Fluttershy, I promise."

Why was she scared? I'm safe.

"Let's fix that mane of yours, shall we?" Starlight asked me. "Fluttershy, you go back to your cottage, it's sunset, get some rest."

"Of course, Starlight." Fluttershy obeyed, and walked over to her cottage. Starlight beckoned me to follow her with her tail, and so I did.

When we arrived inside her cottage, I felt warm fire engulf its warmth around me, I could just fall asleep right here on the rug.

"Let's make this quick, shall we?" Starlight said. "You look tired."

I was indeed tired. Today was busy, although fun, since being equal is happiness, of course. "Can I close my eyes?" I asked.

"Alright," she agreed. "You can just fall asleep right here, I'll have a very important thing for you to do tomorrow."

Important thing? What important thing? What if I can show one of my friends how happy I am? Pinkie looked the most sad for me. I really want to prove to her its good to be equal. Equal is the right thing. Equality is happiness. This is the truth.

I fell asleep right where I was, exited what tomorrow would bring me.

I'm happy.