"No no no no no no that's not true."
Dash didn't understand what she read. This didn't make any sense to her whatsoever.
"Well, maybe the writer is being overdramatic." Fluttershy tried to help.
Rainbow just stared at the headline, trying to figure out what just happened, trying to figure out if it was true, trying to figure out what she did that made him do this to her. Was this why he stopped writing? Was the long distance stressing him out? If that was the case, why didn't he just talk to her? Dash's mind was twisting and turning itself hoping it was all a lie. Everything stopped moving around her, everyone went silent, her mind turned itself off.
"Rainbow?" Fluttershy looked at her now silent friend with more worry than ever.
Dash looked at Fluttershy with a small smile.
"It's no biggie. I'm fine." Just like that, Dash left before Fluttershy could respond.
Fluttershy watched Dash fly through the rain, she jumped as a familiar voice spoke up behind her.
Pinkie looked out the window while holding freshly made cupcakes.
"Where's Dashie going?"
Fluttershy looked back out the window for a second before turning to Pinkie and showing her the newspaper. Pinkie then set down the cupcakes to read it and looked back at the window where they last saw Dash.
"Ohhhhhhhhh."
Fluttershy and Pinkie went to the Friendship Castle to tell the others about Dash and Soarin. When they walked in, Twilight, Spike, Applejack, and Rarity were already inside talking to each other, all looking at a newspaper, the same one Fluttershy had. Rarity looked over to see the two friends walk in.
"Oh darlings, have you heard the dreadful news about Soarin?" Rarity asked as Fluttershy sat down.
"Yeah, I feel so awful for her," Fluttershy frowned.
"I'm sure we all do, I don't understand how he could have done this to her," Twilight looked back at the newspaper.
Rarity shrugged. "Perhaps it's all a misunderstanding. I know we haven't known Soarin as long as Rainbow Dash has, but he does not seem like that type of pony."
Pinkie rolled her eyes. "Obviously he IS that type of pony! I don't really see ANY GOOD REASON for him to cheat on her!"
Everyone was quiet until Applejack realized something.
"Hang on, does Rainbow know? We can't have her thinking Soarin is as loyal as she is!"
Fluttershy nodded. "I told her not long ago today, I thought it would be best if she heard it from her friend."
"We should probably go check on her," Spike suggested. Everyone else nodded in agreement.
Everyone stood in front of Rainbow's door. Each thought of what they should say and what they should do. Twilight knocked on her door with caution. They all waited for a minute until the door opened slowly, Tank looking up at them.
"Hey, Tank! Is Rainbow Dash home?" Twilight asked the tortoise.
Tank nodded slowly before moving to let them walk in. He then motioned his head in the direction where Dash's room was, and they walked there.
"Thanks, Tank!" Fluttershy smiled as the tortoise nodded before going back to whatever he was doing.
Twilight was the first to enter, while everyone else followed close behind. To their surprise, Rainbow was laying on her bed, reading one of the newer Daring Do stories.
"What's up?" She asked without looking up.
Dash's friends looked at each other with about the same amount of confusion written on their faces.
"Uh, what's up with you? Fluttershy told us that you know about Soarin." Applejack said, prepared for a sudden emotional outburst.
Dash put down the book and sat up to look at her friends. "Yeah, I know."
"And... you're not upset? At all?" Twilight asked.
Dash shrugged. "I'll admit I was at first, but I'm okay now."
Twilight looked at her friend quizzically then turned to everyone else. "Let me try to talk to her."
Everyone nodded and left the room, leaving Twilight and Dash alone.
"I really don't know why you're making a big deal out of this. I can handle it on my own," Dash shrugged.
"Rainbow Dash, I don't know why you're not making a big deal out of this. This is Soarin. Not some random stranger. It's okay to be upset over it."
"Twilight, I'm not upset over it. He chose Blaze over me. That's it."
"This isn't you. Since when did Rainbow Dash ever give up on something? Every time something was wrong, you tried everything to fix it. If it couldn't be fixed, you would get help from one of us. What happened to Rainbow Dash? What happened to you?"
Rainbow sat in silence as the alicorn spoke. In reality, she was hurt, no, more than hurt. She felt as if everyone she ever loved turned against her. She felt like a loser, like an idiot, like a failure. She felt like she was ongoingly fighting this monster, but it was invisible and powerful. There was no one who could help her.
Except for her friends. She had six amazing best friends who'd help her with anything. They would help her get through these feelings and help her become stronger afterward. She knew this, of course. She knew that her friends wouldn't judge her if she cried it out. They wouldn't judge her for having a heart. She considered getting help from her friends, but none of them could fully understand what it feels like to be cheated on.
Rainbow thought more for a while. Her whole idea of playing it cool wasn't working. She continued to think about how to fix this.
She had to talk to Soarin. How? He was on tour, a different city almost every day. That's when she remembered his last letter.
Dear Rainbow Dash,
Just arrived in Fillydelphia. We should be here for three days, then we'll be in Canterlot for about five days. Don't worry, the tour will be over soon and we'll hang out more. I promise. This is the longest tour we've had, and it's only for two months. If you think about it, a month is only about four weeks, and two weeks have passed. That's almost half way there! I'll be back soon.
~Love,
Soarin
Rainbow thought out loud. "He sent that letter a week ago, which has seven days. Which means they should be done in Fillydelphia. That means they should be in Canterlot right now, and tomorrow is the last day!"
Twilight tilted her head as her friend thought. "What are you saying?"
Rainbow Dash stood up.
"Twilight, we're going to Canterlot!"