Rainbow Dash was just about to wake up when her dream turned into the blank white of the therapy room. Luna came in shortly after with bags under her eyes.
"Luna? Are you okay? It seems a little...late for this." the cyan pegasus asked.
"I have been consoling Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy. Worry not for me, it is them that face the real trouble." she replied regally.
"Okay, well, I'm fine. I mean, I think I'm fine. I really don't know if I'm like how I used to be, but I don't feel all that bad. Just the usual sense of impending doom!" Rainbow said awkwardly, and a little too cheerfully.
"...very well, I must move on to Twilight Sparkle, then." Luna said, and flew off.
Rainbow relaxed, and prepared to march on out the wakeup exit...only to realize there was none, the princess had forgotten it. The therapy room faded, shattered, and dropped away piece by piece around her, leaving Rainbow in darkness. The pegasus hovered in place, scared.
A moment later, lightning flashed, revealing her surroundings to be some kind of tower in Canterlot. The rain was loud and pouring as thunder boomed. In the dim light of a candle, she caught a glimpse of Cadance approaching Twilight.
From another corner, watching the same scene, Luna spoke. "You must tell me what really happened eventually, Twilight Sparkle."
Everything suddenly felt all...wrong. Rainbow couldn't put her hoof on it, but it was like she was in another world. Her vision began to wobble and distort, as if squashed corner to corner. Cadance spoke. "She's turned evil, Twilight!" The words echoed eerily and everything went blurry. Rainbow could hardly make out the shape of Luna watching Twilight, who was stiff as a board. Strangely, without moving her lips, Twilight spoke. "No, it can't be..."
"Whatever the case, we must help the remaining Yaks escape." Cadance's reply brought immediate, relieving clarity. It only lasted a moment, however, before everything dissolved away except the three.
Around them, Canterlot formed, but as if it was made of a fog. Suddenly, Twilight could be heard shouting a horrifyingly angry but sad "NO!" accompanied by the sound of a magical blast. Yet, Twilight still hadn't moved at all, and her eyes were closed. A sudden flash of magic the color of Twilight's enveloped Rainbow.
"Waah!" she screamed as she nearly flopped out of bed. She panted a bit as the others stopped to look at her. Fluttershy, Applejack, and Rarity were apparently playing Go Fish, and Rarity had stopped for a potty break.
"Are you okay, darling?" the fashionista asked with a blush.
"F-fine...I'm fine. Just a dream that went bad." Rainbow looked to Twilight, who groaned a bit, but otherwise was sleeping peacefully in Pinkie's hooves.
"Oh, how awful. Luna must be so overworked." said Fluttershy.
"Yeah, tell me about it..." replied Rainbow.
Rarity was blushing a bit on the toilet as she took a moment to concentrate. She suddenly farted, the splashing of urine following rapidly as she went absolutely beet red. "Oh, excuse me!"
"You're on the gosh-danged toilet, sugarcube! And we agreed no politeness about it even when we aren't!" replied an annoyed Applejack while Rainbow just snickered.
"Right, right...this will take quite some getting used to." Rarity replied as she flushed, still looking very red.
Rainbow rolled her eyes and went over to help Fluttershy play.
A week later, Rainbow had really hit it off with the yellow pegasus.
"You know, Fluttershy, you're pretty good at Go Fish." she complimented the mare.
Fluttershy made a girly giggle. "Oh, thanks, Rainbow. I never thought I'd play it with you. You never seemed much into card games."
Rainbow shrugged and kissed up Fluttershy's neck, earning some ticklish giggles. "Anything to spend time with you in here."
Rarity turned away to not look at the couple's display of affection, but clearly regretted her choice of looking to Twilight as the purple pony moaned loudly, having finished with her hoof on the bed, covers not even pulled over. The fashionista turned back rapidly, only to cringe at Pinkie straining on the toilet. Rainbow had a huge grin from the amusing sight.
"Enjoying the show, Rarity?" she asked.
Rarity scoffed. "I swear, it gets more uncouth by the day! By the time we're executed, we might as well be barbarians."
Pinkie spoke up. "Hey! I'm just testing out my new party cannon. All natural, baby! ...it's a little jammed, probably too much fiber." Pinkie rubbed her chin with her hoof as she started to analyze her diet.
Applejack put a hoof around a sickened Rarity and giggled. "Don't worry 'bout them, sugarcube. Guard said our little sisters are visitin'. Focus on the positives."
Rarity sighed. "Would you mind terribly if I buried my face in your fur and didn't remove it for, oh, the time until they show up, Applejack...darling?"
Rainbow stifled a giggle, while Twilight began washing her hoof in the sink.
"Not at all, darlin'." Applejack said with a wink, making Rarity's cheeks go from white to red in a hurry.
Rarity buried her face quickly, but Rainbow had already spotted the blush.
A few hours later, everything was quiet. Rarity was all but sleeping in the warm embrace with Applejack. Rainbow was napping, leaning on Fluttershy. Pinkie and Twilight were sharing some books by the toilet.
The door opened and three fillies bounced in, then shouted in unison. "Girls, we're here!"
Rarity rushed from Applejack to the bars, and immediately planted three kisses in a triangle from Sweetie's forehead to her cheek, and to the other cheek. "Sweetie Belle! How much I've missed you!"
Sweetie giggled. "Same here. You alright?"
Rarity nodded, while Applejack trotted over. "Heya Apple Bloom. How's the farm?"
"Alright, I suppose. Some of my cousins are helpin' out." she replied.
Scootaloo shouted for Rainbow, and the pegasus stretched and yawned. "Mmm...hey squirt."
Rarity was going over some business details that went over Sweetie's head, while Applejack preferred to just give a nuzzle to her little sister.
Scootaloo was giddy. "Hey Rainbow Dash! You know, you're still awesome, even if you'll never fly again!"
Rainbow teared up a little. "Thanks. I uh, don't know what to say."
"You don't need to say anything. We'll keep you in our hearts forever!"
The other four went quiet. Apple Bloom put on a sad smile. "Yeah. I'll never forget you, big sis."
"Same here, Rarity." said Sweetie as she teared up a little.
Applejack nodded, while Rarity gave Sweetie a nuzzle. "Make sure they make dresses of me."
"I will." the filly replied.
Rainbow was, surprisingly, the only one to bawl. Scootaloo cried silently with her while Fluttershy held her.
"So uh, see to it that you do me right at the funeral, Apple Bloom. Oh and, tell Big Mac I understand that he couldn't come. I wouldn't let the farm suffer for it." said Applejack.
Pinkie spoke up suddenly. "I have plans for all our funerals. Just ask Gummy, he'll show you where!"
Twilight facehooved.
Apple Bloom was a bit confused, but nodded. "Uh, okay. I love you, sis. Goodbye."
Applejack smiled and leaned in, then puckered her lips.
Apple Bloom did the same, and a quick peck sealed the goodbye before the filly began leaving.
Twilight, Pinkie, and Fluttershy gave an "aaaw" in unison.
Scootaloo, having finished her crying, stuck her tongue out. "Blegh, farmponies."
Everypony else glared, and Rainbow took action, grabbing Scootaloo's head through the bars and forcing a kiss onto her lips.
Scootaloo flailed for a moment before giving in to the passionate, but platonic, smooch. Rainbow pulled away with a "mwah" sound. "I love you, Scootaloo, and you best scram or I'll put even more spit in the next one!"
Applejack and Twilight chuckled lightly.
Scootaloo looked a bit horrified. "Yep, definitely scramming... but, it was okay because it was you. I love you, Rainbow Dash. You've always been a big sister to me."
Rainbow nearly cried again as she waved the leaving filly goodbye while Fluttershy stroked her side comfortingly.
Rarity gave Sweetie a pat on the head. "Goodbye, Sweetie Belle. I love you. Have fun with your friends."
Sweetie nodded and turned to leave. "I will, Rarity. I will." Unlike the other two, she trotted slowly, seemingly not wanting to leave. Her face was a sad mess when she turned to look back a final time.
Immediately, Rarity could be heard gasping sadly, but she didn't have a break down for once.