//------------------------------//
// Laughter is the Best Medicine? 
// Story: When Kindness Falters 
// by Quillfeather882 
//------------------------------//

"I don't know what to do, Gummy!" Pinkie cried, flopping on her bed. Applejack had returned from Rainbow Dash's home yesterday, defeated. They were all becoming frustrated, especially Pinkie. Gummy was bouncing around her bedroom, his toothless jaws latched onto a bright yellow balloon. Rolling over onto her back, Pinkie groaned, putting her hooves over her eyes. 
"How did I not notice? I know my friends' smiles better than anypony!" Pausing, she placed a hoof on her chin thoughtfully. "Not that I've seen her lately, so I couldn't see her smile, or not smile...hmm." 
It was at that moment that Gummy stopped bouncing, falling to the floor and licking his eyes with his reptilian tongue. 
Pinkie bolted up, gasping. "That's it! I need to help her get her smile back! If I remind her how to have fun again, how to laugh again, then not only will she smile, but she'll leave her house!" Sweeping Gummy into her hooves, she grinned at him, planting a kiss on his scaly head. "Gummy, you're a genius!" 

****
 
A few moments later, Pinkie made her way over to Rainbow's cloud dwelling. But, she wasn't planning to go through the front door, oh no. No, she was hovering outside Dash's bedroom window, pedaling her old flying contraption, which hadn't been used in a while. With a bit of oil, and no shortage of dusting, it was back in working order. Her hope was that the contraption would remind Dash of happier days...and the favorite pastime that they shared. 
"Oh Rainbow Dash!" Pinkie called out brightly. There was no response, so she tried again. 
"Rainbow Dash! It's me, Pinkie Pie! Wanna go have some fun?" 
There was a movement by the window, and the sound of a latch being undone. Then, the window was raised and Rainbow's face appeared at the windows, her eyes bloodshot from sleep deprivation and crying. Her main was still filthy and disheveled. 
"Did Applejack send you?" Rainbow growled, "Because you can tell her I'm still not coming out." 
Pinkie shook her head, still smiling. "Nope nope nope! I'm here all on my own! So, what do you say?" Rainbow didn't seem convinced. But then, to Pinkie's delight, her eyes drifted to her flying contraption. 
"You still have that thing?" She asked, an eyebrow raised. 
Pinkie's smile only grew wider. "Oh yes! I love this thing! You remember the first time I used it?" 
Rainbow nodded, still not smiling. "Yep." She squinted at Pinkie. "Hey, if Applejack didn't send you, then why aren't you asking me about what happened? Aren't you here to pester me to?" 
Pinkie maintained her smiled, but her eyes softened. "Not if you don't want me to. Besides," She grinned, "I'd rather have fun with you." Cocking her head, she inquired, "Should I ask?" 
Rainbow sighed, "I'd rather you didn't," Turning away from the window, she bowed her head to the floor. "And, I don't think I'll ever be able to have fun again." When she looked up again, she yelped in surprise, finding the party pony had entered the room while her back was turned. 
"Then it's a good thing you're friends with the Queen of Funafunfun!" Bouncing into the air, Pinkie shot off her party cannon and placed a crown upon her head. When she landed, she pulled two chairs out from behind her and sat down in one. "Why don't we sit down and decide what funafunfun thing to do first!" 
Rainbow let out another long sigh. "I won't be much help, since I don't know how to have fun, but...ok." 
Pffffftttt! A long, squeeking sound came from the chair Rainbow had just sat down on. She blushed mightily, and Pinkie Pie, unable to stifle her impending giggles any longer, fell off her chair. 
"Ahahhaaa! Oh, that's such a classic! Right Rainbow?" 
Getting off the chair, Rainbow found there was a whoopee cushion right where she'd been sitting. Pinkie watched excitedly as Rainbow stared at it, as if frozen. 
Oh no.. Pinkie thought with growing horror, Did I go too far? 
After a long silence, Rainbow snorted...then snickered, and finally, burst into uncontrollable laughter. "P-pinkie pie..." She exulted, struggling to speak as she guffawed, "You really are so random!" 
Grinning wildly, Pinkie sprang over to the pegasus, tears in her eyes. "There's that smile, Dashie!" Without hesitation, she wrapped Rainbow in a hug, squeezing her. Rainbow squeezed back, her tears becoming a mixture of happiness and relief. It had been so long since she had laughed that hard, let alone smiled. 
"S-so?" Rainbow said, brushing a hoof over her eyes. "Who are we pranking first?" 
Releasing Rainbow from her embrace, Pinkie picked up the Whoopie cushion from the chair. "I have a few  in mind." 
Rainbow grinned, and then sniffed the air, wrinkling her nose in disgust. "Ugh, what is that smell?" 
Pinkie giggled nervously. "Um...when was the last time you took a bath, Dashie?" Glancing around the room she added, "Or took out the trash?" 
Rainbow lifted a wing and sniffed, and then chuckled. "Oh...right. I should probably clean up first." 
As she said it though, Rainbow had a sudden urge to just crawl back into bed. The idea of exerting the necessary energy for a shower seemed...nearly impossible. Mentally, she froze. Since when had cleaning herself up become such a chore? She'd always washed up after Wonderbolts practice because, well, it was hard work and she did sweat. 
"Rainbow?" Pinkie asked, concern in her eyes, "Are you alright?" 
Rainbow should her head to clear it. 
"I'm not sure honestly." She admitted. "I'll go hop in the tub." 
Once she was in the bathroom, though, it became quite clear that the tub was going to be unusable. Dried feathers and 
mildew clung to the entire thing. If anything, taking a bath in this tub would be a colossal was going to be a total waste of time. 
Pinkie, not hearing the water running poked her head in. "What's going on Dash...eeewwww." Pinkie gaped at the tub. "Wow. That is most definitely not clean." 
"Ya think?" Rainbow said with a groan. "How the hay am I supposed to go out pranking with you if I can't get cleaned up?" 
Pinkie grabbed a Daring Do hoodie from the floor and tossed it to Rainbow. "Here, put this on. I'll run a bath for you at my place! We'll have you squeaky clean in no time!" 
Pulling the hoodie on over her head, and poking her wings through the designated holes, Rainbow pulled the hood up over her head. The hoodie was, she was relieved to see that the hoodie was long enough that it covered her cutie mark. She wasn't quite ready to face too many other ponies in public yet. From the look on Pinkie's face, Rainbow could see that her friend had realized this. 
"Thanks Pinkie." Rainbow said, her smile returning. "Let's go." 

****
 
"Bah ha ha ha, did you see the look on her face? I don't think she'll ever look at pie the same way again!" 
After successfully getting a bath at Pinkie's place, they had chosen to prank Lyra with a simple "pie in the face" gag. The end result had been outstanding. And Rainbow Dash was enjoying every minute of reliving it with Pinkie Pie. 
"Hee hee hee, that was amazing!" Pinkie agreed. 
As they continued to laugh, they began walking in the direction of Twilight's castle. The closer they got, the more nervous Dash's laughter became. After a moment, her ears drooped and she frowned. 
Pinkie looked at her, again concerned. "What's wrong now Dashie?" 
Rainbow let out a heavy sigh, lowering her head. 
"I feel really bad about the way I treated Fluttershy...and A.J. What if...they're still mad at me? Or...don't want to forgive me?" 
"They miss you Rainbow." Pinkie said reassuringly, placing a hoof on her shoulder. "We all did..or do, I guess. Only I don't miss you anymore, because I got to hang out with you!" 
Rainbow sighed again, but this time, she lifted her head, a familiar, confident look on her face. 
"You're right. They're my friends, like you, and they'll forgive me." At least...I hope they do...