Obsession and Regression

Part 3
Chapter 1

One week later...

Apple Jack spent a few days in the hospital. She left with a limp, a collar brace, and a bandaged side. She wouldn't be bucking apples for months in her condition.

Rainbow Dash was still in the hospital. She was alive, but hadn't spoken a word since her last happy muse to Apple Jack. She wasn't exactly catatonic, but she wasn't exactly responsive either:

The hospital staff didn't know what to do with their rainbow-maned charge at first. They initially had Dash on life-support, because they didn't know what she'd been given and had no idea if any of her vital systems were going to suddenly give out. After a week of stability they unplugged Rainbow and kept her under observation. All she did was lay silently in her hospital bed, looking off as though she were daydreaming, occasionally sighing or giggling to herself. She ate when they placed food near her snout, and even took it in her hooves, but that wasn't something that happened right away. They had to feed her at first. Rainbow never became restless, agitated, or even indicated in any way she wanted to leave, which the Doctor knew was uncharacteristic of her. The only thing she did during her stay that suggested even the tiniest desire for comfort was touch the satin of her blankets and bury her face into its soft, cool ribbon. Never would she look up if another pony came into her room, even her own friends. Doctors and therapists got nothing out of her, and could only run a handful of tests because she didn't seem to respond to anything, even pain. She'd been checked over with a fine-tooth comb for any sign of brain damage or organ damage, but her MRIs came back just fine. This baffled the Doctors. It was as if she had gone somewhere else, leaving her body behind. What remained resembled a pony who was conscious yet comatose, completely isolated from the world, and completely helpless.

Ironhoof was dead and Buttercup was brought up on criminal charges of kidnapping, keeping illegal animals from the Everfree Forest (the dog which had escaped was fortunately put down by the police). There were also the charges of attempted murder as well as the second-degree murder of two ponies who's remains were found in her backyard, as well as possession of illegal substances. Her trial wouldn't be for a while, but normally mysterious and reclusive pony was now the talk of Ponyville for very horrible reasons. The papers called her the "Filly-fooler Faux Foal-napper" (many ponies had trouble saying that three times fast, so it never caught on). She would kidnap a Rainbow-maned mare and hold her in her basement, treating her like an infant. Constant sedation of the mare to bring about an infantile state eventually would lead to her demise... every subsequent mare that fell into her web got sedated less often... but eventually, they'd succumb and either die or stop eating/responding to the world... much like Rainbow Dash had. Rainbow at least could eat on her own, which was promising. This was the only sign of improvement she showed during her stay at the hospital.

Doctors and Pharmacists has no idea how Ironhoof's drugs worked. They were common hallucinogens, as well as barbiturates and sedatives, however they were enhanced and cut with chemicals one would find under a sink, and manufactured using MAT (Magic, Alchemy, and Technology), which a pony had to get permission from Celestia to legally do. Even looking at his notes and samples, Equestria's scientists were unable to replicate perfectly what he had made on their own, even though he'd gotten common magic ingredients from stores and was not a Unicorn. As a result, they never could fully understand what was going on with Rainbow Dash, and could only treat her symptoms as they showed up... ineffectively. Eventually they put her down as a casualty they were unable to help.

With the help of her friends, Apple Jack went into Rainbow's room to pay her a visit. The 5 didn't know if she even heard them or not when they visited, but it was better the group didn't talk about her like she wasn't even there. They talked about good times when around her, amongst themselves, giving Rainbow room to respond... which she never did. Still they tried, twice a week for an hour at a time, for the three months Rainbow Dash stayed there:

"Rainbow?" They'd always ask, entering her room.

They'd never get a look from her, let alone an answer.

Rainbow's friends eventually had to have a serious talk. Her home in Cloud's Dale was gone. She had no family to take her in and if they left her in the Hospital for much longer she'd end up being Institutionalized. Locked up and all 5 of them knew in their hearts that if they ever wanted Rainbow Dash to go back to the way she was... this was not the way to do it. They would not allow the loyalist of ponies to be put away somewhere to rot, especially after rescuing her. They had one idea, but they could only carry it out together.

One night Twilight sat down with all her friends around her and had Spike take a letter:

Dear Princess Celestia,

We are all writing to you concerning our good friend Rainbow Dash. We know of the regular updates you have been receiving on her status, and we wish to let it be known that we are very afraid for our friend. Given her fate of shortly being Institutionalized, we would like to adopt Rainbow Dash as our charge and care for her in hopes that she will someday recover. We realize the severity of this proposition and everypony is up to it. She's still our Dashie and always will be. However, we require a letter of recommendation and would like to simultaneously ask for your approval. We will not let you down!

Your Loyal Subjects,
Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Apple Jack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy

Within 20 minutes, the Spike barfed up a response:

Dear Twilight and Friends,

I approve of your request and you have my full recommendation if you truly wish to take on Rainbow Dash as your charge. You realize that you all are taking on a huge responsibility and it is noble of you to put your friend's needs ahead of your own. You have learned a great deal about the meaning of true friendship, and I know you will not let me down.

Sincerely,
Princess Celestia

It started by signing the paperwork at the hospital and turning over the letter. They would individually be responsible for Rainbow Dash's well-being for one whole week, then it would be another pony's turn to look after her. They'd all be checked up on every couple of months by a Social Worker to make sure they were fit. Their attitude was that they must come through for their friend or she'd be taken away and lost forever. They had to put their goal in writing, too, and this was easy enough for them to do. They were all very nervous about the future...

* * *

With the Mane 6 trailing behind her, Rarity rolled Dash out of the hospital in a wheel chair. The Pegasus wore a back brace to keep her loose body from slumping over and a disposable brief or "diaper". There was a blanket draped over the front of her chair for warmth and to protect Rainbow's dignity, though it did little as she quietly blubbered to herself when they hit a few bumps, staring off into space.

"Okay, Rarity has her the first week..." Said Twilight, going over a checklist on some parchment. "Are you sure you're up to this? Being the first pony?"

"It's the least I can do. I'd imagine it can't be that hard... I've already made some perpetrations. She'll be staying in my guest room on the bottom floor! I'll just need to take a week off to make sure she's going to adjust well enough."

"You'll need a week off each month!" Said Apple Jack, now with a slight hitch remaining from her injuries. "Now, I can do that, living with the Apples... I'll just have to work harder on my days ta compensate. But you're all alone. Sweetie Belle only visits every once and a while, and she can't sew dresses!"

Rarity sighed:

"You're right... but I'm doing this all for my friend! And how hard can it be? ... it'll be like caring for a foal!"

"I wouldn't recommend you say that again," sighed Twilight.

"Why not? That's pretty much what it'll be like! ... helping her eat, bathing her, changing her, putting her to bed, talking to her, and even just watching her will be almost exactly like caring for an infant. An extremely heavy infant, but an infant nonetheless. I'm ready for all that... so what is the problem?"

Twilight looked into Rainbow's seemingly vacant eyes:

"Because I know if I were in there... I'd probably feel bad enough about this as it is already. Girls, she's helpless and entirely at our mercy... the last thing she needs is to think of herself as some freak or burden. We need to take good care of her, show her respect and dignity. You know she'd do the same for any of us. She's in there... I know it."

"You're... entirely right Twilight. Perhaps I am simply trying to detach myself." Rarity turned to the Pegasus and smiled sincerely. "I'm sorry, Rainbow Dash."

Twilight continued to look into Rainbow's eyes:

"We're here to do everything we can to help you. It's our prerogative to get you back to the way you were. We'll keep at it however long it takes..."

The other 4 nodded in agreement.

* * *

Rarity took her first, reflecting on what Twilight had said. The 5 pushed her chair to Rarity's home. Ponies gawked at the spacey, frizzy-maned Rainbow-headed retard as they passed... rather than acknowledging that, the 5 kept their mind on their destination.

Months passed by in a big rainbow'd blur with Dash in their care:

The first few days went so well that Rarity felt she could work a small amount with Rainbow in the room. After all, the biggest chore was just getting her into the bathtub, which she could always call on her friends for help in doing. The ivory Unicorn reflected out loud on good times she had with her rainbow-maned friend, per Twilight's instructions, while she worked and Rainbow snacked on some baby carrots on the floor next to her chair. The goal was to (hopefully) jog her memory and get her to respond. No such luck. Worse yet, Rainbow had gotten a hold of some beads and of course put them in her mouth... Rarity watched in horror as her friend was choking to death, cursing herself for being stupid enough to feed Dash in the same room that she worked. The Unicorn struck her back repeatedly, performing the Heimlich when all else failed. Fortunately the beads came loose... watching RD would require more energy than Rarity thought, but she still needed to create something during this time to keep production moving.

That night was sleepless... she had Rainbow on her mind. Sleepless nights can sometimes work for artists. Rarity got hit by an idea: make a simple, yet dignified garb for Rainbow to wear over her medical gear. The next morning she called upon Fluttershy to help her take measurements and draft... 2 days later they had a prototype design ready and waiting. The mares carefully slipped her into the dress, which flowed silky down to her hooves. It was loose and light-weight, enough so to accommodate the rigid brace and bulky materials Rainbow wore beneath. It didn't look frou-frou, but practical... sleekly made with Rainbow's personality in mind. It was stripped in magenta to match her eyes, its streamlined appearance made it appear smaller than it really was. In a couple weeks variants of it would appear in Rarity's shop under the label "Stylish Accommodations".

Fluttershy took Dash in next. It's a given that her animals still needed to be cared for even though she had her friend to worry about, too... but she made it work. The biggest obstacle was Angel, her pet bunny, who was used to seeing other animals sick but didn't know what to make of a grown pony -- a particular pony whom he thought of as God-like -- being in that type of state. To top it off, he was a jealous animal... and just hearing about how beautiful Fluttershy thought her friend's dress was... how she cared for it and invested so much time and energy into it... he couldn't help but wonder what it tasted like.

"No Angel Bunny!" Fluttershy shrieked, finding Angel eating a loose piece of Rainbow's dress on the third day.

It just was a small piece he'd taken, but it was noticeable. Fluttershy managed to mend it.

Even with her animal friends to help lift the Pegasus, it wasn't easy caring for her. It was the very last night for Fluttershy and things had been going smoothly. While drawing a bath for her friend, Fluttershy left the room for a brief second... to quickly take care of an impatient badger's needs in the hallway. She heard something she hoped she never, ever would hear again -- a blood-curdling scream coming from her bathroom. The room she had just been in seconds before. She rushed in to find that Rainbow Dash had disabled the cold water while the tub was filling, and was being burned by the rushing hot water. They had to make a trip to the E.R...

Dash was bandaged and fine, passed off to the next pony: Pinkie Pie. Problem was, the Cake's Bakery was set up in a way that had all inhabitable rooms on the second floor. This meant the pink mare and the owners had to lift Rainbow in her wheel chair up and down those stares every single time the cyan Pegasus needed to go out. Fortunately it wasn't often, but Pinkie loved the outside... and where ever Pinkie went, Dash had to go, too. The Cakes were too busy with a Bakery and their own foals to help out for even a half an hour. Despite this, Pinkie took good care of her rainbow-maned friend, even making her smile and laugh with her random antics (which was progress seeing how she was unresponsive to most things when they first took her). Taking Rarity's advice, she kept candies and other small objects away from her friend... though she once caught Rainbow eating a small amount of confetti during meal time (which she promptly spit out, a good sign at least). The worst thing Pinkie actually did to Dash was give her too much soda, which caused the Rainbow-maned Pegasus to barf multi-colored syrup on her bedroom floor.

Finally the day came to pass her on to Twilight. While taking her down the stairs, one of the safety catches on Dash's wheel chair harness failed. She fell hard and tumbled down ten stairs. Twilight and Pinkie both heard the high-pitched snap when she struck the first step with brutal force on her way down. At the bottom, Rainbow was silent... they prayed she hadn't broken her neck. They both heard her take a very large amount of air... then scream.

Another trip to the E.R. and an x-ray at the 5's expense discovered that Rainbow had broken her arm and wing in the accident. Since she was now inactive, she only needed to be kept overnight, and was released bright and early the next day to Twilight Sparkle.

For the most part, Twilight had a pretty easy time caring for her friend. Since she was also the master of carefully budgeting her time, hardly did her work and studies suffer at all. Again, there was the same problem Pinkie Pie had -- no inhabitable space for her chair-bound companion to live on the bottom floor. Taking the wheel chair up and down Twilight's extra long staircase was an absolute nightmare, but with Twilight pulling and Spike making sure the harness stayed snug, they managed. Spike also helped substantially in feeding and keeping Rainbow clean, but was too grossed out by the idea of actually changing her. That job was left to Twilight, who grudgingly carried it out with a clothespin on her nose like all her friends had to. It was just one of the many sacrifices they'd have to make in order to keep Rainbow free and give her a chance.

Towards the end of her stay,Twilight was reminiscing with Spike about all the wonderful things the Mane 6 had done with Rainbow Dash while working in the Library. Rainbow was nearby, sitting on the floor, a small laminated chart listing the colors, shapes, and letters was laying nearby for the Pegasus to look at. Unfortunately she was staring off into space... not looking or apparently caring about anything. While talking, Twilight hoped she'd say something or even perk an ear, but it never happened. As Twilight got more engrossed in her work, there was a bit of a rhythmic sound, almost like rocking, not too far off. Twilight, too absorbed in what she was doing to look, immediately thought of her dragon assistant:

"Spike... What in the wide, wide world of Equestria are you doing?"

"I'm over here, Twilight!" Spike said, his voice coming from the other side of the room. "I thought that was you!"

In seconds Twilight zeroed in on where the sound was coming from. Somehow Rainbow had moved over at least two isles and was rocking an entire bookcase while looking off to the side with a blank expression... heavy-looking books were threatening to topple off the highest shelf.

"Spike! Please stop her before she gets hurt!" Twilight cried out, running towards Rainbow Dash.

She was too late. 4 books landed directly on Rainbow's skull and she fell over like a sack of potatoes... knocked clean out.

The Mane 6 were not having the best of luck caring for their newly accident-prone friend. Another trip to the ER, with Rainbow Dash being discharged the same day after being treated for a concussion, cost Twilight and her friends quite a handsome number of Bits. However, it was not entirely wasted. Twilight remembered that in order to have gotten hurt by those books to begin with, Rainbow Dash would have had to have moved... while she didn't see her in motion, it was the only logical answer. However, Twilight had to answer to the Social Worker, who came to talk to not only her, but also the Mane 6. Assembled in the library, the white-collared earth pony said that Dash had been injured way too many times and he said told them bluntly they were on thin ice. He left with Spike and Pinkie Pie blowing him a raspberry.

There was one more place for Rainbow to go before being dropped off at Rarity's for a second stay (which the Unicorn was dreading and looking forward to at the same time). That place was Apple Jack's farm house.

* * *

It was mid-day. Twilight pushed Rainbow Dash to her new destination with Apple Jack at the front of the group. On the farm the air was open, quiet and clean, unlike any other place she had stayed in Ponyville. The group tried to talk to her, but she didn't answer... simply looked off into the distance, smiling at what must've been all the tall Apple Trees they passed. With the farm house in sight, the group passed Big Mac, who was out bucking apples.

"It's our week to care for Rainbow," said AJ as they crossed paths.

"Eee-yup," responded Bigmac, acknowledging the 6 with a nod. "I'll do what Ah can to help out."

Apple Jack had a guest bedroom on the bottom floor for their friend to stay in, much like Rarity's set up. She was set up and the 4 said to their orange friend:

"Call on us if you need help!"

"I'll be fine," replied AJ with a confident smile.

The first few days Apple Jack devoted entirely to Rainbow. During her waking hours, she attended to Rainbow's every need, talking to her about the good times and the Mane 6, and how much they valued her Element of Loyalty... to the point if had rubbed off on them all. She took her on walks through the apple fields, thinking the fresh air would do her some good. She even slept on the floor in Rainbow's room right beside the bed, just in case there was an emergency. She found an old stuffed animal in the attic, spruced it up and had Rarity repair it so that she could give it to Rainbow... of course the Pegasus just laid there with it beside her, but she never gave up hope. There had to be someway of reaching her friend. Someway. Only their closest friends knew of the two's past together... spending nights together in bed and whispering sweet nothings into each other's ear... wrestling, cuddling, kissing. They dated briefly, but like always with Apple Jack, things in the relationship department were surprisingly complicated:

"I never felt I had the time, Rainbow," Apple Jack said one late night in the darkness. "Now I wish I'd never felt that way because it looks like we might not ever get the chance again."

There was no response.

There were... other adjustments to be made in having Rainbow living at Sweet Apple acres for a week. Though Apple Jack had told Apple Bloom that her friend would be staying there once a month for a week and was in awful shape, Apple Bloom couldn't even begin to imagine what that even meant. Even though the entire family tried to explain, using simple medical words like "unresponsive" and "handicapped," the idea of a pony just not being there was too foreign and scary for Apple Bloom to comprehend... therefore, it didn't exist. She'd been told to stay out of the way for now and for a few days, Rainbow and Apple Bloom never crossed paths because of school... but once the weekend rolled around the two finally met in the guest bedroom. Apple Jack had briefly stepped into the little fillies room, leaving the door wide open:

"Hi Rainbow!" Apple Bloom cried, cantering up to the wheelchair bound Pegasus. "How're ya doing? It's been so long!" She noticed the casts. "Heard ya broke your arm and wing!"

Rainbow Dash stared at the wall... grinning but not blinking.

"Come on, Rainbow!" Apple Bloom approached her. "Say, that's a really pretty dress!"

Again, nothing. Not even a nod.

Apple Jack stepped back into the room, wiping her hooves.

"What's wrong with Rainbow?" Asked Apple Bloom a tone of concern in her voice. "She ain't... talking."

"This is just the way she is right now," Apple Jack replied in a matter-of-fact way. "Ain't nothing we can do 'cept hope she snaps out of it."

"Can't the doctors do nothing?"

"Lock her away."

"That's awful." Apple Bloom suddenly sniffed the air, catching wind of an unpleasant oder emanating from the wheelchair bound Pegasus. "Yuck! She smells like foalpowder and wee-wee!"

"Eyee-yup. That's just the way it is right now."

"Pollutin' herself like that... gross!" She stuck her tongue out at the idea.

"Apple Bloom... don't say that."

"Why not?"

"Because maybe she can hear you and you're hurting her feelings."

"She can't hear me," replied the little filly, waving a hoof in front of the rainbow-maned Pegasus. There was no response. "See? There's no pony in there!"

"Knock it off!"

Big Mac casually stepped into the house, hearing the commotion from outside. He walked right into the doorway of the room:

"What's troublin' you Apple Jack?"

"Apple Bloom is saying Rainbow's a lost cause... it ain't true, an' we don't need that type of disheartin' talk in this house!"

He looked at Apple Bloom:

"Is this th' truth?"

Apple Bloom swallowed nervously... nodding her head.

"Well..." Big Mac paused for a moment, deep in thought. "GIT OUT!!!" He thundered, pointing behind himself with a hoof.

The little ran out of the room in terror, all the way up to her own room on the second story.

Big Mac sighed, approaching Apple Jack and putting his arm around her:

"That must hurt, hearing it from yer own sister..."

Apple Jack nodded, looking at the floor.

"Ah don't know if it's the truth, but giving up on somepony you care so much about will get you both no where fast. Ah know you love Rainbow, and Ah could see it in the way you two looked at each other... the way you two played together on the farm during your off time." Apple Jack gazed up at him, her eyes suddenly suggesting only a faction of the vulnerability she actually felt. "It's alright... it's alright. I'm your big brother and Ah love you, and nothing will ever change that."

"I don't want Rainbow to stay like this," Apple Jack said. "But I don't know how to make it better..."

"You are doing all you can, and Ah think that's mighty noble of you." He gave her a hug. "Years back when Ah was a colt in school, everypony made fun of me because of how quiet and calm Ah am. They'all thought Ah must be simple... do you know why they really made fun of me?"

Apple Jack shook her head.

"Because Ah was different from what they were expectin' and they didn't understand. It's the way younger ponies cope with things they can't wrap their heads around. They're afraid. Having Rainbow here in this state might actually help Apple Bloom develop into a compassionate young mare if'n we lead by example showing both her and Rainbow consistent understanding and love, and that we're there for them no matter what. Are you with me, AJ?"

Apple Jack nodded her head.

He looked over at Rainbow:

"Ah really do not know if you'll ever be the same, but Ah know you're a strong pony and Ah support my sister's decision to help you. As Ah said, Ah will do what Ah can. Fight it for us all, Rainbow, but mostly for yerself. You owe yourself that much."