"No, Dash, it's not like that." For the past two hours, Fluttershy has been trying to calm Dash down from a self-depriving talk.
"Yes it is. You know it is, this is all because of me. All of the fans I have are going to forget about me, you guys will be ashamed you know me, and Scootaloo will, oh Celestia, Scootaloo." Rainbow breaks down into tears. "I've failed her. She won't get anymore lessons from me, she won't even see me anymore. My little sister..."
"Dash, I, you can't, please don't cry." She just lies into her pillow, soaking it with tears. "Dash, please, it's ok, we are all here for you. And you haven't failed anypony Dash, you just need time that's all."
"I-I know, but I don't see how looking at this like it's nothing helps. Yeah it's on the inside that counts but public insight still matters."
Fluttershy, out of things to say, just sits there and looks at her friend. It's quite a sight to see, the fastest and most respected flyer in all of Equestria breaking down and opening up to you and you alone. It's something Fluttershy won't soon forget.
"Please, just leave Fluttershy. Thanks." Dash asks, sick of looking like a fool in front of her best friend. Fluttershy stands and hugs her before walking out.
Reaching the ground, she sees Twilight waiting anxiously outside of her cottage. "Hello Twilight, can I help you with something?" Fluttershy asks, curious.
"I figured it out! Rainbow is going through the five stages of grief right now, Denial and Isolation, anger, bargaining, depression, and then finally will be acceptance! By tommorow, she should be just like her old self again, happy and content with the way she is."
"Oh good, I was worried that she would be like this forever." Fluttershy goes to open the door, but stops. "Twilight? What if she stays like this?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, it's just, I saw her and she is in horrible shape. I've never seen anypony like this before, so I don't know if she will recover."
Twilight thinks for a minute. "Well, if she doesn't, then I guess she could just go back to the therapist. I mean, it seemed to help last time, but I highly doubt she will be stuck at depression. She is a strong, proud mare who will get over this with time to spare."
"Ok, I guess that makes sense. Want to come inside?" Fluttershy asks, opening the door fully now.
"I'm good, thank you though. I heading back to the others to tell them. If you'd like you could help."
"Ok."
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Rainbow lies like a rock on her bed, tired and worn out. "I don't care anymore." She says to herself. "It's not like complaining would make a difference. I just need to realize that I'm like this forever. I'm not going to have fans, I'm not going to have Scootaloo anymore, I'm not going to try out for the Wonderbolts anymore, I'm just going to be a regular mare that nopony cares about." The more she thought of this, the more conflicted she becomes.
She continues looking around the room. "And who cares anyway? It's not like I'm dead, I'm just different. Sure I'm not a rainbow of colors anymore, atleast I'm here, right?" She looks at Tank who is sleeping. "You're right, it does affect this. It always does, how you look to other people, it matters. It matters a lot. But why? Why can't I just be me and not care about how I look?" She grabs a book.
Siting in her bed, she looks over some old photos in her own yearbook. "Look how happy they are. Colorful, cheerful, excited, filled with glee, everything I'm not. I used to be just like Pinkie, but now I can't even see anyone without having mouths gaped at me. I wish I wasn't like this, wasn't a nobody. I used to have it all, but now..." She looks at her hooves. She becomes furious.
"Now it's all pointless. Nothing but useless potential! I have the stamina, the patience, the durability, and now it's all for nothing! The worst part is that I could have easily avoided it, the loss of color. But no. Now I'm just a shadow. A shadow that everypony knows, but nopony cares about. I wish I could prove them wrong, that this could show them that I'm something more now, but I can't. It'd be pointless."
She looks at a picture of the prom from flight school. She hated the prom. The only one she had to talk with was Fluttershy, and even then it was terrible. She resented all of them for another year before forgiving them. Especially Soarin, how he betrayed her. Seeing this makes her clouded, her judgment blind. "I shouldn't have to deal with this, my life has been as tough as I'd make it, but this isn't my choice. They deserve this, all of them. I payed my dues, took my toll, and now it all means nothing."
Turning the page, she sees the scientist section. "I should have gone into engineering. It would have been so much easier, less dangerous. Stupid flying, stupid friends telling me to stick with what I'm good at. Doing that tuned me into this monster. They turned me into this monster, they all did this to me. Twilight, she wanted this to happen. She expected me to turn out grey, and now I am. Well congratulations princess of Friendship, you're wish is granted." She recognized a name in the listings of the scientists. Of all ponies, it was Spitfire.
"I'll get you back Sparkle, I'll get back at all of you. I swear it by Celestia's name. I'll need help. Who though, Spitfire? Well, I can't ask her. What if I asked him? No, too risky. I need a Pegasus who can make this, but who?" She sees a name that gives her chills, if she could dispose of him after he helps her, that would be her own revenge. "Here we go. He is just sick and twisted enough to help. Plus I'd be able to get back at him for the prom, sicko. I hope you're ready Twilight, because your world is about to be turned upside down."