Rainbow Dash sat in a blissful daze leaning against a bookshelf in Twilight's library. She had managed to find several different doctors in Ponyville and beyond, each unaware of the others' prescription. With enough doctors doling pills out, Rainbow could obtain as much medication as she wanted. She decided to increase her dosage for that night because she was feeling tired and stressed from a day of doctor shopping. After emptying a couple of bottles into her mouth, she was in a state of pure joy teetering in a twilight zone between consciousness and unconsciousness. She was remembering the happiest times of her life. When she was free. When she was innocent.
The pegasus's eyes were closed, yet she could see so clearly. She was soaring over Cloudsdale, zipping around with incredible speed and agility, light and free. Nonchalantly gazing down at the cloud city, she spotted a small yellow filly, shrinking in submission before three of her classmates. Rainbow was unsure why, but she was drawn to her. The filly needed her help, she was just doing what any decent young pegasus would do. As she stood up to the bullies, her world became a blur and the sense of pride was replaced by the wonderful sensation of wind rushing through her mane.
Rainbow Dash was pushing herself to the limit. One of the colts had fallen far behind, but the other had just rammed her from the side. She wouldn't take that. Focusing all her energy into generating downward force, she raced past the foal. Leaving him far behind she continued to accelerate, wanting to make the defeat as humiliating as possible. A visible cone of air formed around her hooves. This was the moment. With all her might she urged herself to accelerate. In a few fleeting moments which felt like an eternity, she hit the sound barrier. There was moment of pure silence, followed by a deafening roar. A wave of rainbows spread across the countryside, almost as brilliant and vibrant as the one following her. Looking back she saw the tail of the sonic rainboom streaming behind her, and the cutie mark form on her flank. In that surge of wonderful adrenalin, the vision faded and her memory flashed forward.
Why did she have to leave? Her place was in Cloudsdale, not in Ponyville with a bunch of apple bucking mud ponies. Rainbow almost wished she could follow Fluttershy to the ground. She had been her best friend for over five years, ever since the sonic rain boom. The athlete decided to confide in the frail yellow Pegasus privately. Maybe she could talk some sense into her. They shared more than friendship; surely it was a bond that could never be broken.
"Hey, Fluttershy," Rainbow Dash said, entering the yellow pegasus's room.
"Oh, hello Rainbow Dash," Replied the yellow filly with a smile.
"Why are you doing this?" the athlete demanded, wasting no time in getting to the point.
"I was afraid you'd ask that," the gentle pony sighed.
"You don't belong down there."
"Lots of pegasi live in Ponyville, Rainbow."
"Yea well, you're better than them! You're from Cloudsdale, not some random cloud village out in the sticks. You belong here."
"Oh, Rainbow. Ever since I first landed there and got my cutie mark, the idea of life on the ground is all I've been able to think about. It's like a prison up here. No pony here but you likes me, and I'm not much of a flier. I don't stand a chance at a decent life in this place. Try to understand."
"You'd have every chance! You know I'll always stick up for you."
"Please don't make this harder than it already is, Rainbow. I have to do this. I love it down there. I... really, really don't like it up here. I have no family and one friend." Tears were welling up in the gentle pony's eyes as she continued, "It's taken me years to prepare for this. I've made my decision."
The fastest filly in flight school was taken aback by the assertion in her usually timid friend's voice. This shock was overshadowed by empathy, as she saw her friend on the verge of tears. Struggling to keep a straight face, she croaked, "but what about me?"
"We can visit each other at any time."
"You know that's not true."
Fluttershy bowed her head. Any Pegasus who abandons Cloudsdale would be seen as a weakling and a coward. Rainbow Dash would be viewed the same way if she was seen with a filthy emigrant. Her life in the clouds would be over. Her prospects would be worse than Fluttershy's.
Without a word, Fluttershy wrapped her forelegs around her friend's neck and drew her into a tight hug, weeping into her shoulder. After a moment of hesitation, Rainbow returned the gesture, squeezing the weeping pony tightly. The proud, athletic filly allowed her emotions to get the best of her and let the tears roll down her cheeks. They were only kids, and they shared a feeling that none of this was fair. It felt like it was them against a cruel world, and their only weapon in the fight was the comforting warmth of their embrace.
When they finally broke apart, both ponies felt physically and emotionally exhausted. Their gaze met, and they saw the defeat in each others' eyes. Both realised it was hopeless. They were split up by a society that wouldn't tolerate deviance from the norm. They had lost.
Once again, Rainbow Dash's surge of emotions got the best of her. Just as she had prepared herself for the rain boom, she cleared her mind and prepared herself to make a move. She summoned every ounce of her courage and leaned towards the yellow pony. Without hesitation, she pecked her lightly on the lips.
Fluttershy didn't return the kiss. She pulled back slightly as her eyes widened in surprise. After a brief awkward silence she began, "Oh... my. Rainbow, I just-"
"I- I'm sorry," Rainbow Dash replied hastily, backing away from the startled filly, "I don't know why I did that." She was panicking, her eyes twitching rapidly. Sweat built on her brow as she reversed further from the yellow Pegasus.
"I, um-"
"No, don't even think about it. I'll, er, I'll just go now. Yea. See yah around," the blue filly hastily blurted out as she fled, trying to outrun her embarrassment.
Fluttershy followed her to the door and called out "You're like a sister to me!" but got no answer.
As her voice faded, so did the alluring décor and architecture of Cloudsdale, replaced by the lush greenery of the outskirts of Ponyville and Fluttershy's cottage.
As she poised to knock on the door, Rainbow hesitated. She was starting to get cold hooves and have second thoughts. It wasn't too late to go back to Cloudsdale. They'd welcome her back, glad to see the number one late teen flier rejoin them. Fraternising with a filthy ground dweller would seal her fate as an outcast. She wouldn't be officially banished, but she'd never be accepted by Cloudsdale's community. Especially since she was already a suspected filly fooler, one of the many things frowned upon by the fanatically patriotic and closed-minded pegasi of the ancient city. Before she could properly consider these thoughts, the door swung open and the yellow pegasus, now almost fully grown, emerged before shrieking in shock and collapsing to the ground.
"You- you- Rainbow Dash! Oh- startled me," the astonished mare stammered incomprehensibly as she picked herself up.
"Hey there, Fluttershy. You remember me, then?" replied the fastest flyer to abandon Cloudsdale with a coy smile.
"W-what are you doing here? You should go! Cloudsdale will never-"
"Yea, and maybe I don't wanna live in Cloudsdale anymore," interrupted the athlete, "you can't do anything there. They wanna tell you what to do, what to think, what to feel. It's like you're not even a pony, you're just part of this big..." she trailed off, realising she had begun to rant.
"I understand," replied Fluttershy, now in her regular tone, "Oh, um, come in. If you want"
The two pegasi walked in but neither sat down. After staring at each other in awkward silence for a while, Fluttershy tried to start the conversation. "So, um, how are you?" she asked.
"I ran away from my home town 'cause they didn't like my filly fooling," Rainbow Dash replied incredulously, "take a guess."
"Oh- I didn't mean – I'm sorry."
"This was stupid, we haven't seen each other in years. I don't even know why I came here."
Another silence ensued, and was once again broken by the shy mare. After a moment, Fluttershy sat on a two pony lounge. "Hey, why don't you take a seat?" she asked with a slight smile, tapping a hoof at the space next to her. As Rainbow sauntered towards her long lost crush, the world melted before her eyes and was replaced by another vision.
Her dilated pupils stood out brilliantly on her cyan irises. Fluttershy's bright eyes had Rainbow totally captivated, as if her mind, heart and soul were momentarily lost. The couple smiled with their forelegs wrapped tightly around each others' body. She had suffered through years of persecution and self doubt, but Rainbow Dash finally got her girl, the light of her life.
"Like a sister, huh?" Rainbow chuckled as she pulled her lover closer.
Squeezing her mare friend, the drugged up pegasus desperately tried to hold onto the thoughts and feelings that were swelling through her. Before she knew what was happening the dream was gone, replaced by her worst nightmare.
The content loving gaze staring back at her turned to a shocked expression of pure fear and pain. Looking her up and down in disbelief, Rainbow Dash made her best attempt to put pressure on the gaping cut in Fluttershy's torso. It was no use. Warm blood continued to spill as both ponies grew pale. The element of loyalty felt totally useless.
"Come on, Fluttershy, you can make it. Stay with me!" she cried between sobs.
The dying pony gurgled and let out what was almost a chuckle. "You'll find me again."
Rainbow Dash watched in horror while the life left her best friend. The most important pony in her life. Unable to escape the dream, the junkie remained trapped in what had become a bad trip.
