When a freak reading accident causes Twilight to be admitted to the Ponyville hospital, Rainbow Dash is right by her side. Compelled by a sense of duty and repayment, she takes it upon herself to cheer up her friend.

For as long as any of the Cutie Mark Crusaders can remember, Diamond Tiara had always been the biggest bully they knew. But when that said bully dies in an accident, each of them starts to go through their own emotional experience from this sudden change in their lives. Each will learn more about themselves and about the pony who they all thought they knew before she is laid to rest.

***Takes place just after season 3 but before season 4. This story is completed.***

Now with TV Tropes page

All Rarity wanted was an opportunity to style that rainbow-colored mane, but–

Sproing

Not again!

Note: This story does not ignore the Filly-Rainbow-Dash-Flashbacks in the show. It just assumes that those flashbacks are what her friends imagine when she tells them about something.

Many Thanks to Cherry Frosting for being the first prereader I've ever had,
and to Bookish Delight for not only being an awesome prereader, but motivating me to actually finish the story, too. (Yes, I have convinced the Bookish Delight to preread this story. There may have been some whining involved at one point - or three)

Edit: Whoa! This story made it to the top of the Popular Stories box for a moment. This was as much as I could ever hope for...
Thank you so much, all of you.

Why this has not so many views? It's written excellently!
-toxiconym

this is cublins approved. this is also my new head canon
-Cublins

Since I'm an eeeevil little pegasus, I figure I should tell you:

The "Popular Stories" box randomizes story placement every time it's reloaded.
-Bookish Delight

When your life is as dull a gray as the world that surrounds you, the mundanities can make it all seem meaningless. Sometimes all we need is a little color -- or six -- to reintroduce us to what truly makes life worth living.

*6-16-2017 Edit, added Rainbow Dash tag because it triggered knighty.*

Most changelings only want to feed on love and serve their queen, defending her with their lives. But Scales the changeling has never seen eye-to-eye with the others. All he wanted to do was cook. He leaves the hive and finds himself in Ponyville as a baker. He finds peace, but will that peace stay?

((Being rewritten starting from chapter twelve))

Princess Twilight Sparkle has a problem: she's possessed by a question. It came from a silly little book. Now, after a week of poor sleep, Twilight relents. She has to answer this question, even if it kills her.

Okay, so it won't kill her, but Twilight is going to have to violate one of the biggest pony taboos in existence to do so. That's okay. It's for science!

original author wille179