Pain. That's all Rainbow felt, was pain and it didn't feel good. Both mentally and physically... but she didn't show it. Why did Spitfire call her in? What was going to happen? There wasn't any time for this, there was a performance to... well... perform.

Spitfire sat at her desk and then gestured for Rainbow to take a seat facing toward her. Rainbow sat down and for about 5 long seconds, they stared at each other.

"Rainbow Dash, can you tell me what happened this morning?" Spitfire said in a serious tone but with a concerned face.

"With all due respect, ma'am, I don't know why everypony is acting like this is such a big deal-"

"It is a big deal Dash!" Spitfire interrupted. Rainbow jumped back. She started to think that she shouldn't have said something like that to Spitfire, or worse, her "boss". Spitfire continued. "Dash, it- it really is a big deal." she became more and more concerned as she spoke. "I want my flyers to be in good shape and to be healthy all the time. I can't have a sick flyer here and what's even worse... is she's making herself sicker."

"I said I was alright. I'm fine."

"Are you?" Spitfire dug deep into Rainbow Dash. She knew SO much better, she knew when Rainbow Dash was lying, she knew when all of her flyers were lying and she absolutely wasn't born yesterday. She eyed Rainbow, her goal was to make her tell the truth because that's all Spitfire wanted.

But that's not what she was getting.

"Dash, tell me. Are you 'fine'?" Spitfire asked once more, firmly.

Rainbow Dash hesitated. Spitfire sighed, and as soon as she did, Rainbow jumped up and yelled. "Okay! Spitfire, I'm- I'm n-n not... fine."

Spitfire smiled. "That's all I needed to hear." Rainbow Dash cocked her head. Spitfire looked into Rainbow Dash's eyes. "Look, all I want is for you all to trust me and come to me with your problems, as long as you're not being wussy." Spitfire chuckled.

"-And that's why I was-"

"Dash, you're not being wussy, this is your health we are talking about." Spitfire continued. "Dash," she sharpened her look and focused her eyes on Rainbow Dash once again. "This is nothing to mess with. You threw up about 2 hours ago I recall? That's not good and nopony knows what's wrong with you, not even you."

"I don't think it's anything serious."

"Are you in pain now?"

Rainbow Dash remembered what Spitfire said about telling her the truth, so she limited her hesitation and just told her. "Yes."

"Then, here's what we are going to do... you... are not going to the performance, you are going to rest."

"But Spitfire! I've worked so hard for this performance and it'll mess up the work we've done if I'm not there! What if I get better before the performance? There has to be something I can do!"

Spitfire got up out of her seat and went to a small cabinet next to the desk, got something out of it, sat back down and placed it on the desk in front of Rainbow Dash. It was a thermometer. "Put it in your mouth and we'll see what your temp is, if it's over 100, you can't go. I want you to keep checking it... if it gets over 100 you need... to... tell...me."

"Okay." Rainbow Dash placed the thermometer in her mouth and when it beeped she took it out and it read 99.7. Low Fever.

"Dash, I love how determined you are and I love how much you push yourself but I don't want you pushing yourself too hard alright?"

"Alright."

"Now go back to training and remember what I said."

"Yes ma'am!" then she flew off.

Author's Note

Yep! Short chapter! But don't worry the next one is long and very touching I promise you!