Newbie Dash (Alternative)

They talked for a while longer, and Celestia told them that there is a chance that Dash won’t be able to fly until she recovers, since her Pegasus Magic is getting weaker as she starves her body.

It hasn’t been much of a surprise to Rainbow, she’d noticed long ago that it was becoming more and more difficult to fly. To Dash, it was just all the more reason for her to want to recover.

They decided that they would call for a meeting at the castle, so that their friends would know everything as well. But until the others are due to arrive, Twilight tries to get Rainbow to eat a carrot.

“We have to start small.” Twilight repeats Celestia’s words at Dash’s apprehension.

She nods subdued and takes the smallest bite possible. Twilight rolls her eyes at her, but then sobers up. Dash isn’t acting this way to spite her. She’s fighting a deadly disease.

Rainbow needs to take a second, more appropriate sized bite to actually have something to swallow. It would take her a ridiculously long time to finish the carrot, if she even manages to finish it, that is.

When she swallows the first bit and bites off more, Twilight smiles proudly. “You’re doing great, Rainbow Dash.”

Blushing at being praised for something so absolutely not cool, Dash quickly swallows down the second bite. “You don’t have to stay here and watch, you know.”

“I’d rather make sure you’re okay… plus, Princess Celestia said that you might try to hide food to make others think you ate.” Twilight points out. It really is a strange disease, when you thought about it.

After all, how can some ponies be so afraid of food that they go to great lengths to fool everyone around them into thinking they’re eating and doing just fine? It made no sense, even if they saw themselves as obese when the reality was the total opposite.

Furthermore, if Twilight was honest, it sounded more like something that Rarity would worry about. Not an athletic pony with a high self confidence like Rainbow Dash.

But, as she watches her emaciated friend struggling to eat a healthy carrot, she can’t help but wonder if Dash is only acting like she’s got a huge ego, to hide how vulnerable and insecure she actually is.

It sounds even more ridiculous when she thought about how Dash literally just became an official member of the Wonderbolts. She should feel practically invincible, like she can achieve anything. Untouchable.

But if that were true, then why are they here now? With Rainbow possibly on the verge of dying.

It started with her dream coming true, so there has to be more to it than just wanting to lose a few pounds to fit into an outfit.

And if that had been the only reason, she should have started eating normally again, which she hasn’t.

Celestia had told them that the name of Dash’s disorder was called Anorexia Nervosa, and that ‘anorexia’ means a clinical lack of hunger and appetite, which definitely fits, Dash had said so herself. The ruler of Equestria had also said that it was a type of eating disorder, not a weight disorder, as they could occur at any weight, and while the disorder may appear to only revolve around weight and numbers, it’s only a side effect, a symptom, of the actual problem:

Ponies afflicted by an eating disorder, no matter which type, use food control in various ways — be it by eating too much, eating a lot all at once and then getting rid of it in unhealthy ways, or restricting the intake. The latter of which was Dash’s problem.

It was a way to seek control, when the afflicted pony was unable to find a way to deal with something going on in their lives.

This last fact makes it even more confusing why it has suddenly appeared, right when Dash should have been the happiest and most confident she’d ever been.

There’s chatter and the sound of hooves approaching, and Twilight turns her attention back to Dash, who has now finished the carrot and was looking rather unhappy.

“The others are here.” She informs her friend, who sat with her shoulders slumped. “I know you don’t feel well. It will take some time for your body to get used to eating again. Is there anything I can do to make you more comfortable?”

Dash shivers slightly. “I’m cold, and reeeaally tired.”

Twilight is momentarily confused at Dash feeling cold, but then she remembers the magical pills that slow down her metabolism. There wasn’t much keeping her friend warm, now. She teleports a blanket to them and gently wraps it around her shoulders.

“Thanks.”

Just then, the large doors swing open and the other girls enter the room. They do a bad job at keeping their shock hidden, when they lay eyes on their friend.

“Oh Rainbow, darling! You look even thinner than yesterday!” Rarity is the first to exclaim.

“Girls, please!” Twilight interrupts any more comments from being made. “We had a very long talk with Princess Celestia, and she told us that one of her students had the same problem. She told us everything that we have to do to help Rainbow Dash recover.”

The others all take their seats and look guilty.

“Uhm, recover from what exactly, sugarcube?” Applejack asks hesitatingly.

Twilight shares a glance with Dash, asking for permission. Dash nods, her eyes falling shut for a moment as she fights to stay awake.

“Princess Celestia said that Rainbow is suffering from a mental disorder, an eating disorder, called Anorexia Nervosa.”

Rarity loudly gasps in shock, knowing that specific term. “Oh, darling, I’m sooo sorry!” She apologises to Dash, who just looks confused.

Pinkie doesn’t seem to catch on, either. “So, what exactly is this ‘ana-lexica’ thing-a-ma-gig?”

“Anorexia.” Twilight corrects. “It essentially means that Rainbow doesn’t like food very much, because she sees herself much bigger than she is, and she’s afraid that eating will only make that worse.”

The others seem even more confused now, their eyes falling on the Pegasus in question, who curls up under the blanket in shame, unable to stomach their disbelieving eyes.

“But that’s not the real reason she’s not eating. It’s a way to take back control.” Twilight continues, bringing the attention back to herself.

“Take back control?” Applejack asks dumbfounded. “Ah’m afraid ah don’t fully understand.”

Rarity clears her throat. “I know a bit about that. After all, a lot of really famous models develop this.. anorexia. As the pressures of perfection increase, it seems to just break them… so they look for something that they can control, to feel more in control of their lives again.”

They all turn back to the lump under the blanket again, which has started to snore. They’re all thinking the same thing: maybe the pressure of becoming a Wonderbolt had been too much.

Applejack turns back to Rarity. “But how does eating less and less, help in any way? Ah mean, they have to feel terrible, physically. Ah know Ah wouldn’t be able to buck mah apple trees if Ah stopped eatin’. What’s that sahpposed tah solve?”

“It doesn’t solve anything. It’s more of… a coping strategy. But it’s a disease, it doesn’t make sense.” Twilight explains. “If it made any sense, it wouldn’t be a disorder.”

The others couldn’t argue her point.

“How can we help her?” Fluttershy asks.

Twilight takes a deep breath, then starts to relay everything that Celestia has told her.