Fluttershy walks down the path heading to Sugar Cube corner, enjoying the sunlight and breezes of fall. No one has seen Rainbow Dash for two weeks, they all assume that she went on a vacation, but Fluttershy disagrees with them. Just as she gets to the door, Rainbow flies in front of her, a huge smile showing. "Rainbow!" She hugs her, happy to see her.
"Yeah, I know! Hey, come with me real fast." Rainbow grabs her hoof and flies off, going too fast for Fluttershy to keep up. Once at her house, Rainbow kicks open the door.
"Rainbow, please, you're scaring me." Rainbow ignores Flutteshy and opens a metal door on the floor. "Dash wait, what's going on? Dash!" Rainbow throws Fluttershy down the hole.
Inside, Fluttershy struggles to get out. She tries flying up, but the entire machine is made from metal. She lands on the floor, trying to see anything, though it's too dark. She feels a claw clamp on her back hoof, then the other. She screams in pain, trying to make them let go. Another pair of claws clamp onto her front hooves, she is now standing. A needle pokes her neck then is pushed away by another metal pallet. She goes to sleep.
Rainbow unlocks the cover and opens it up. She flies down with a flashlight and looks at Fluttershy who is now barley conscious. "I'm sorry you got caught up in this, you're my best friend you know." Rainbow says, pressing buttons on a keyboard. Fluttershy tries to talk but can't. "I didn't mean for you to be like this, to be the first victim. But that's life I suppose. Don't worry, you won't die, but it will turn your world around. You'll be in healing for a few hours, and you won't remember any of this. I'm sorry." She leaves. Fluttershy tries to escape, but is too weak. Just as the light begins to fade, another needle pokes her neck. She looks at a mirror in front of her left by Rainbow. The last thing she sees before the light goes away is two Rose colored eyes staring back at her.
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Fluttershy wakes up in her bed, more tired than usual when waking up. She gets up and walks to the bathroom. "Good morning Angel, how are-" the bunny backs away. She reaches out her hoof, and stops. In front of her is a grey, lightly colored hoof. She runs to the bathroom, staring in the mirror. She falls, crying from absolute terror and confusion. In the mirror was a grey Pegasus with no color except for her eyes which are now the color of a deep rose. Not knowing what to do, she just sits in the room crying and hoping someone will find her.
"Fluttershy?"
"H-hello?" She replies, stumbling over her words.
"It's me, Applejack, where are ya'?" Fluttershy flies down the stairs, running into her with a hug while sobbing. "Fluttershy?" She looks up and Applejack backs away. "W-what? How? Where, why, when did this happen?"
"I-I don't know, I woke up like this. The last thing I remember is walking to Sugar Cube Corner and then, this happened." Applejack runs and tells the others, though only Twilight follows her back to the cottage.
"I don't get it, what happened to you?" Twilight asks, looking over Fluttershy.
Applejack walks back and forth. "I don't know, but we need to figure this out. If it is some sort of disease then we need a cure, a remedy."
"What's going to happen to me?" Fluttershy asks, still quietly crying.
"Well, as far as Applejack and I know, nothing. Just your color is gone, that's it. But don't worry, we'll keep an eye on you." Twilight walks over to Applejack. "What will happen to her?" She whispers.
"Ah' don't know, hopefully nothing. I think we should go to Zecora's place, she might be able to help."
"Good thinking, but should we bring Fluttershy? I don't think she's capable to go anywhere right now." Twilight loos back at the grey Pegasus who is now snuggling Angel and weeping.
"Then no, let's go ourselves." They say goodbye to Fluttershy and head out.
"So do you really think it's a sickness?" Twilight asks, just passing the forest line.
"I don't know, I hope so because that way it can be cured. Otherwise I have no idea what it could be." They walk past moving bushes and flying shadows, one of which particularly scared them as it looked like a pony.
"Fools." Rainbow says to herself, watching them from a tree. "They have no idea what they're getting into. Why can't she just leave it alone? A disease that can't be cured, leave it at that. No matter, she will be my next victim, and then they will all fear me."
"Zecora?" Applejack asks, walking in with Twilight behind her.
"These ponies come for a remedy, but they don't know that the cure will never be ready." Zecora walks out of her kitchen, greeting them.
Twilight steps forward. "Hello Zecora, I'd like to ask you if you know something about this, sickness, that got to Fluttershy. What happened is-"
"The illness isn't one of bacteria, it is not one of malaria, but it is one of hysteria." Zecora cuts Twilight off.
"Now look here Zebra, I want to know the remedy and I want to know now." Applejack walks towards her, mad.
"A remedy does not exist, but a pony should not be missed. Leave now to find the truth, or stay and eat some soup." Zecora smiles.
"Come on Twi', let's go." Applejack storms out.
"Applejack, don't you think you were a bit harsh?"
"There is a disease going around and I want to know how to fix it before it's too late! Ah' don't have time for pointless games!" Applejack walks ahead of Twilight.
"Fine, but if something goes wrong, it's on your head." She says, catching up.
Rainbow heads back home, leaving the tree. She begins cleaning the machine. "Time to make a princess have a dull part in history."