Applejack looked over her shoulder at Twilight Sparkle, then turned back to Pinkie Pie. "Hey, Pink? Twi's here."

Pinkie opened her eyes and gazed up at them with dread and shame. She tried to smile, but it was more like a frown. "I guess you're all wondering why I'm in the hospital."

All five of Pinkie's friends were gathered around her bed now. Some of them nodded.

"I… I have… bulimia."

Her friends looked shocked and confused.

She continued. "It started out back at the rock farm.… My family wanted me to be perfect. And… I couldn't. I guess I got really stressed. Whenever I couldn't be who they wanted me to be, I got punished. They never hit me, but… I guess I have scars in my heart." She took a shaky breath or two before continuing. "I started noticing everything wrong with myself, and I thought I could change it. I thought I could control who I was. So I started throwing up everything." She took another breath. "And… I guess I really hurt my body. The doctor said I'm dehydrated and malnourished. I'd denied how sick I was, and no one really knew what I'd been doing, I guess, until… I ended up here." She gestured to the room.

"I'm sorry, Pinkie," Fluttershy consoled, reaching out to hold her hand. "That sounds terrible."

Pinkie Pie offered a weak smile.

"Pinkie Pie…" Rarity began. "Um… goodness, I don't know quite how to say this…." She bravely looked into Pinkie's baby blue eyes. "I judged you." She sighed, almost in relief. "I called you…" She almost whispered it: "a glutton." She grimaced, then continued. "I let myself be blind. I should've been able to see how stressed you were." Rarity's eyes looked dark with regret. "I understand what it's like to have so much pressure put on you. When I was a younger teen, my parents sent me to a special school where I learned everything from etiquette to fashion. They wanted me to get good grades and make use of the special opportunity I'd gotten. They never were able to go to a special school like that." She stared at the floor, reluctant to say more. "I… had a sort of mentor who coached me on how to run a business and look good doing it. I suppose he was successful." She shrugged, dolorous. "He… taught me how to manipulate others into getting what I want. And…" She took in a sharp, quivering breath. Was she really about to say it? She felt tingly and lightheaded. "He… he pimped me." Suddenly she started sobbing, covering her face with her hands.

Rainbow Dash's and Applejack's mouths fell open. Fluttershy wrapped her arms around Rarity and cried with her. They all spent a few minutes comforting her and saying kind words to her.

Once everything calmed down, Applejack exhaled. "I have a bit of a confession, too. My father…" She exhaled again. "Most o' y'all don't know this, if any o' y'all. My father is still alive. And… he's in jail." She had to force the words out. "He was a pimp. I don't know what all he did, but he did a lot of bad things. And… I don't know if he really loved us. He'd get angry a lot, and… he hit us sometimes. Finally the police found out about things he'd been doin', drugs and such. He went to jail, and not too long after… my mom died." She spoke so matter-of-factly, but it was plain to see she was hurt. "Today was her birthday. I didn't say it to nobody. I didn't think nobody remembered. But I started to realize a fear I've had in my heart that I couldn't face: the fear of becoming my father." She took a breath. "I guess it's okay to be honest with yourself and own up to who ya are."

"But who you are isn't dependent on your parents, Applejack," Rarity contended. Her voice became tender. "I've heard stories of your mother, and I know you have her heart. I know it's easy to let your past affect your future… but it doesn't have to." She smiled encouragingly.

"Shucks, Rarity, I guess you're right." Hope sparked in Applejack's eyes. "Thanks." She smiled back.

"Um…." Rainbow Dash was sweating. She couldn't hold it in any longer. "I… I think I'm… gay." The word seemed to sit in the air. It almost seemed surreal. Had she actually said it out loud? She nervously glanced at her friends, who all seemed astonished but concerned. "I… tried to kiss Fluttershy." Her face felt hot, and her head pulsed. "At first I thought I was just protecting her… but I ended up hurting her." She tried to look at Fluttershy, but guilt pulled her gaze to the floor. "Fluttershy, I'm… sorry." She took a breath. "I guess it started when my dad got really abusive. He hurt my mom, and… I became her protector. And… my mom…" Her breathing quickened, but she calmed down after a moment. "My mom died of a heart condition." This time she was able to look at Fluttershy, but with regret and sorrow. "Fluttershy has the same condition." She swallowed, but her throat was tight. "I thought… 'This time, I'm not gonna let her die.'" Her voice had an edge. Tears formed in her eyes. "All I ever wanted to do… was protect you. I'm sorry I was such a bad friend." She looked down again. "I know you probably hate me now."

"Rainbow Dash, I don't hate you." Fluttershy rested a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I understand you." She pulled her into a hug. "And I love you, gay or not."

Dash sighed in relief. "Thanks, Fluttershy."

After their embrace, Fluttershy said, "Well, I guess it's my turn." She fixed her eyes on a faraway point as if looking into a distant memory. "I was raised in an orphanage. I don't know if my parents were alive or not, but I didn't have any family. The first person who became a real friend to me was Rainbow Dash." She smiled proudly at her. "She always stood up for me. But when she wasn't around, I got bullied a lot." Her face drooped with sadness. "They called me names and made a fool of me. I felt so confused and ashamed and helpless and worthless…." Tears streamed down her cheeks. "I didn't know how to cope with all that pain. So I started cutting myself…." Courageously she pulled up her sleeve to reveal her scars. "And… I still do it. It makes me feel… relieved for some reason. I guess it doesn't really make a lot of sense when I think about it."

"I think we all find ways to punish ourselves when we think we're not good enough," Twilight Sparkle interjected. "I guess you all know I struggle with perfectionism."

Everyone else nodded.

"I think… we're probably worrying over nothing. Nobody can really be perfect—that's impossible. I mean, except maybe Celestia!" She laughed for a second, then soberly continued. "I think I convinced myself that, if I tried hard enough, I could be perfect at everything. But… I'm not a perfect mom."

"Wait, you're a mom?" Pinkie exclaimed.

"Oh, my," Fluttershy murmured.

"No, not biologically! I mean Spike!" Twilight explained, flustered.

Everyone seemed confused. "You know he's a Dragon, right?" Rainbow asked.

"No! I mean, yes! Of course I know that!" Twilight growled, exasperated. "Don't any of you see me as his mom?"

"I mean, you're like fifteen." Rainbow smirked.

"That has nothing to do with it! The point is, I can't seem to relate to him anymore!"

"Have you tried seeing things from his perspective?" Fluttershy gently offered.

"Well… no." Twilight looked down humbly. "I guess not." She sighed. "I guess I can be a little overbearing sometimes."

"'Sometimes'?" Rainbow Dash's eyebrows went up.

Twilight frowned. "Am I the only one who doesn't get sympathy?" She huffed. "Anyway, we used to be really close. But now… I feel like he's drifting away from me." Her shoulders sagged.

Rarity put a hand on her shoulder. Fluttershy wrapped her arms around her. Pinkie did her best sad face. Applejack patted her arm. They all looked at Rainbow Dash.

"What?" she cried.

"Aren't you gonna comfort Twilight, too?" Fluttershy wondered.

Rainbow rolled her eyes, then gave in. "Yeah." She hugged Twilight. "Sorry I was rude."

"I forgive you." Twilight smiled a little, but the pain was still in her eyes.

"Have you made amends with Spike?" Rarity inquired.

"Not yet. I tried to, but… I didn't handle it very well."

"Do you think you could try again?" Fluttershy gave a kind smile.

"Yeah." Twilight smiled back. "I think I could."