"The potion you like, you cannot buy. It's quite a crime to-" Zecora began, but was interrupted by Starlight shouting for her to be quiet.

"I don't care! Make it now!" The purple unicorn stomped her hoof and the zebra flinched. "Do it!" Before the zebra had any chance to reply, Starlight's horn lit up and she trapped herself and Zecora inside the hut. "Don't make me hurt you."

Zecora glanced around the room and felt herself panicking. She didn't even think this could happen. "I'm afraid I have no option," she admitted, turning toward her pot, "I see you're tainted by corruption." She slowly began brewing a resurrection potion.

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Rarity was worse than ever. Fluttershy was forced to tell her the news about Rainbow Dash, but the unicorn barely even responded before turning back to the dress. The dress was finished, but she wouldn't stop adding onto it. It was like she never wanted to stop working.

"Please, Rarity, take a break. Do it for me; do it for your friends." Fluttershy begged as she hovered next to Rarity's desk. She was on the verge of tears and could feel herself cracking under the pressure. She felt like she was stuck in pit of hopelessness with what used to be her friends.

"I'm already doing this for my friends- the most wonderful dress is for them!" Rarity turned around to face the meek pegasus. Her mane and coat were ratty and her blue eyes were wild and glazed over as her gaze settled on Fluttershy. "Don't worry, Fluttershy, darling. You should go home and take care of yourself."

"Rarity, listen to me! You have to break through this. This isn't you, I want the Rarity I know." Fluttershy's voice was desperate and her eyes were pleading. She just wanted her friend back. She needed her friend back.

"Darling, this is me! You must be tired. I need to keep working, but you should leave. Don't worry about me." Rarity turned back to the dress.

Fluttershy was about to scream. This was too much for her to handle! What was she supposed to do? She curled up on the floor as tears welled in her eyes.

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Pinkie Pie was still locked in her room, but her personality had shifted from hopeless to manic. She danced around her room and grinned even as tears formed in her eyes.

Mrs. Cake put her ear up to Pinkie's door and heard giggling and things moving. Cup was so worried, she just needed to see what was happening. She turned her back to the door and kicked the door with her back legs. It burst open and she rushed into the room but stopped once she saw Pinkie.

Pinkie Pie halted her dancing and looked at Cup with tears flooding down her cheeks and a smile on her face. "W-what happened?" Cup sputtered.

"I learned to accept life as it goes, that's what happened!" Pinkie hopped over to Cup and extended a hoof out to her. "Would you like to join me?"

"Pinkie... What...? I don't understand..." The blue pony stared in shock at Pinkie as she slowly stepped back.

"Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're gonna get. We got a bad box of life, but it's still chocolate, isn't it?" Pinkie explained, still grinning and crying.

"Is this how you react to getting a bad slice of life...? This... This isn't you..." Cup's voice was shaky and she took another step back. "I-I... CARROT!" she suddenly called out for her partner.

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"Ow, ow, owwww! You can stop now, Cotton!" Jay yelped, making his wife step back. He looked back at her and saw she was smiling like her prayers had just been answered. "What? Why are you smiling?"

"You have feeling in the wing! You can use it now! Isn't that fantastic?" Her pink eyes glittered with joy as she began hopping happily.

"That means I can go back to work! Yes! See ya, honey, I gotta go see Asher!" Jay suddenly bolted out of the house and toward Asher's house in Ponyville.

I gotta tell him the great news! I gotta! Yes! Jay reached the edge of the cloud platform and braced himself to fly. He jumped and spread his wings, taking flight. The wind against his mane and coat felt so refreshing and free! I miss this!

Author's Note

Guess who's not dead? Me! Sorry for the hiatus, I swear to God I won't do that anymore. I know this seems kind of terrible, but it's leading up to something good. Just be patient with me, I'm very easily distracted.