The morning in Ponyville shimmered and shone in the morning sunlight. It was a perfect sunny day. A day like this could lift almost anyone out a foul mood. You will admit that as Twilight and Spike pushed you out the door of the Library, the fresh air and the warm breeze that blew through your hair was a welcome change from staring at the walls. As the stroll begins, it’s almost like you’re normal again. You can forget the circumstances that keep you bound to this chair. It’s like playing pretend.

“It’s a beautiful day out isn’t it,” remarks Twilight.

“S-sure is,” you reply. As the heat of the sun warms your skin, you close your eyes and breath in deep. Relaxation overtakes you as old memories surface. It reminds of long summer drives that would lull you to sleep when you were a child.

You open you eyes, not wanting to fall asleep like an infant in a stroller. Why waste this privilege by napping through it? You should enjoy the sights and sounds while you can.

“Mind if we head to the park?” you ask Twilight.

“Of course, sounds lovely!” she replies.

As you make your way, the sparse streets begin to fill with more and more ponies going about their days. But as you approached, you began to take notice of the looks said ponies where casting towards you. Looks of pity. And they weren’t very good at hiding it. Perhaps they thought you didn’t notice. There where many of them all about town giving you looks of pity. Perhaps each individual thought you didn’t notice them specifically. But they were a collective of concern, all directed at you. And it made you feel sick. But as bad as the looks where, it was what you could hear being said about you that was much worse.

“Poor thing,” you heard one mare whisper.

“-heard he can’t move anything below his neck,” spoke another.

“Can you even imagine living like that!” Roseluck seemed to have said that part louder than she intended as when your eyes both met, she sheepishly turned away.

“Twilight,” you called for her attention.

“Yes Anon?” she asked as if she didn’t notice anything wrong.

“I think I’d like to go back home now.”

“What? But I thought you wanted to go to the park?” she sounds genuinely confused. Did she not notice the problem? Did she not see the looks and hear the pitying gossip?

“I changed my mind,” you reply curtly.

“Are…are you sure?”

“YES,” your answer is absolute. Twilight and Spike exchange worried glances, before she concedes to your wishes.

“Well…alright.” She uses her magic to turn your wheelchair and begins rolling you back to the Library, away from the pitying eyes of the town.

Fluttershy after greeting her friend, invited Rainbow Dash to talk privately her parents shed in the back yard. It was a quaint little she-shed/green house with a little tea nook set up surrounded by lovely flowers and greenery. A perfectly beautiful and private place for the two of them to talk.

The two sat on plush lavender cushions as Fluttershy poured two cups of tea. She looked content, but curious while Rainbow Dash oozed apprehension.

“You look really worried about something Rainbow. It’s not like you at all!” Fluttershy commented with concern.

“I…I really needed to talk with somepony,” replied Dash.

“And you flew all the way to Cloudsdale just to talk to me? It’s not that I mind but…why not talk to Twilight, or Applejack or any of our other friends?”

“I…they already know and…well…I just feel like you’re the only one I can talk to about this right now.”

“Oh…okay. Well you know I’m always here for you. Just tell me what happened and I’m sure we can work out whatever’s bothering you!” Flutterhsy’s smile ignited a small spark of hope in Rainbow Dash’s heart. Surely her oldest and most compassionate friend would understand her side of the story right? She wouldn’t judge her as harshly as the others.

“O-okay. But before I tell you, promise you’ll hear me out all the way, alright?”

“Of course!”

“And…promi-TRY, try not to get mad, okay?” she asked hesitantly. Fluttershy’s eyes narrowed slightly as she took on a look of confusion and worry.

“Why would I get mad at you Rainbow Dash?” Rainbow let out a deep breath, and began to explain the events that had taken place. How she barely paid attention to Twilight’s explanation about Anon’s lack of magical resistance, how her lightning prank, which had been performed SAFELY dozens of times had resulted in dire consequences she could have never imagined. How her friends all hated her, how the Princess had revoked her weather license, and struck down her dreams of being a Wonderbolt. And finally, how sorry she was, and her friends won’t even give her a chance to apologize and try to make things right with Anon.

At the part where Rainbow had mentioned what she had done to Anon, and the resulting injury, Flutterhshy’s eyes had widened and she lowered her tea cup to its saucer with a trembling wing. She had a hard time keeping herself from interrupting Rainbow Dash, but she had promised her friend she’d allow her to explain herself fully before making any comment. By the time Rainbow had finished, Fluttershy could only think about the pain her friend must be going through. Her human friend.

“I…I can’t believe you did that….” The yellow Pegasus muttered in horror. Rainbow Dash winced.

“I swear, I didn’t mean too! It was an accident, I never would have done it if I knew what was going to happen!”

“Why didn’t anypony tell me sooner?” Rainbow Dash merely shrugged. Fluttershy’s eyes moved back and forth with contemplation, before she stood up from her seat with a stoic look on her face.

“F-fluttershy?” questioned Rainbow. Fluttershy just turned and made her way out of the shed. Rainbow sat there in silence for a few moments before she too got up and followed Fluttershy as she made her way towards her parents home. Fluttershy had entered the house before Rainbow caught up to her. “What are you doing?”

“I’m packing my things and going back to Ponyville,” she replied curtly.

“Huh?” Rainbow was confused. This wasn’t the chastisement she had been fearing. The two stepped into Fluttershy’s foalhood room and she began to pack her belongings.

“I have to get back to see Anon!”

“…Right now?”

“Of course Rainbow! My friend has just been horribly hurt! I’m not just going to sit here while someone I care about suffers! I have to go back and help in any way I can!”

“Okay, yeah, that makes sense. But uh…what about m…I was hoping we could talk s-some more?” Rainbow asked with the confidence of a foal approaching an irate parent.

“Rainbow, this isn’t about you! It’s about Anon! He’s the one who’s hurting right now, and needs all the help and support we can give him!”

“Y-yeah, yeah you’re right,” conceded Rainbow Dash as she rubbed her foreleg with a hoof. “Soo, what should I do then?” Fluttershy finished packing her suit case and shut it closed.

“If you want to be helpful, tell my parents I had to rush back to Ponyville for an emergency.” With that, Fluttershy galloped down the stairs and out the door, pushing her wings to fly back to Ponyville with speeds that would impress Rainbow in less morose circumstances. Rainbow Dash dejectedly fell to her rear sitting silently in Fluttershy’s old room.

“Y-yeah…okay….”

Author's Note

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