This fic takes place about 2 years after Rainbow Dash's number was drawn. Rainbow Dash wakes up inside a coffin with no knowledge of how she got there, or how she died. All she knows is that everyone thinks she's dead. But one of her friend
I know you guys are tired of all these Cupcakes sequels and stuff, but I thought it would be fun. I'm jumping on the Cupcakes train! This fic takes place about 2 years after Rainbow Dash's number was drawn. Rainbow Dash wakes up inside a coffin with no knowledge of how she got there, or how she died. All she knows is that everyone thinks she's dead, she has no wings, no cutie mark, and no organs. And she has a strange sense that one of her friends knows more about Rainbow's death than she's telling. I know, it sounds really dumb, but give it a chance! Read, comment, and enjoy!
"Where…am I?" It was pitch black. Rainbow tried to stand, but the ceiling and walls were right next to her. She was in a box. "What? Why am I in a box? Is this…some kind of joke? You got me, guys! Can you let me out now?" Rainbow scratched at the ceiling, and a bit of dirt crumbled and landed on her muzzle. "Dirt? They buried me?" Rainbow chuckled. "Very funny, guys! You can dig me up now!" Rainbow called. There was no answer. "Guys?" Rainbow called again. Still, no response. "Guys, this isn't funny anymore! Let me out!" Rainbow pounded the ceiling with her hooves. Just silence.
"Let…me…OUT!!" Rainbow pounded the box lid with all her force. She couldn't see it, but she could hear the wood cracking. Again and again she beat it, until the wood finally snapped. A flood of damp earth came rushing into the box. "Well, that's just great." Rainbow managed to turn around and feel how wide the hole was. It seemed like a tight squeeze, but she could manage. She pushed the dirt on the floor out of the way, then started to dig at the top, only to find more dirt cave in. She continued to dig until the entire box was filled with dirt. She placed her hooves on the soft grass at the top and prepared to force herself through. To her surprise, she slid through with ease. She scrambled up onto the grass and let the cold night breeze sift though her fur and mane.
"Wait…night? How long was I in there?" Rainbow rubbed her eyes and rose to her hooves, shaking off all the dirt she could. The pale white moon hung high overhead, dimly lighting her location. A stone at the corner of her vision caught her eye. She parted the tall grass and read the inscription on the stone. "Here lies…Rainbow Dash? Lover, Mentor, and Friend." Rainbow's eyes went wide. She read and reread the inscription to make sure what she was reading was real. She turned from the stone to the hole she had just climbed out of. "That looks like…6 feet? They really set me up, didn't they?" Rainbow giggled. This was by far the best prank yet. "Now, time to go home." Rainbow ran, then jumped, expecting to take off. Instead, she revived a face full of dirt and grass.
"What the- how come my wings aren't working!?" Rainbow flapped her wings, only to not feel them at all. "Hey! What's up with my wings!?" Rainbow turned her head to see that her wings indeed weren't working: they were gone entirely! "What the hell!? How did they pull this off? I bet Twilight used her magic or something. Egghead." Rainbow Dash continued to gallop in the direction of her home until she realized: how could she even get up to her house with no wings? "I guess I'll just go to Twilight's place to get my wings back." Rainbow changed direction and galloped full throttle to Twilight's Library. The cyan mare skidded to a halt right outside of Twilight's house. She could see dim light emanating from inside the treehouse library. She peered inside to see Twilight slumped over her desk, an open book in front of her and an abundance of papers spread all over, along with a bottle of spilled ink dripping over the edge of the desk and onto the floor.
"That egghead stays up too late." Rainbow pushed open the door and snuck in, tiptoeing as silently as possible. She worked her way though the scattered papers until she was standing right behind the snoozing lavender unicorn.
"GOTCHA EGGHEAD!!" Twilight jumped up and fell out of her chair, landing face first in the ink puddle. Twilight scrambled to her hooves, then rubbed away the ink, smearing it all over her hooves.
"Who- oh, it's you, Rainbow Dash. You scared the he- RAINBOW DASH!? AAAHHHHH!!" Twilight tore off up the stairs, then hid behind her bed.
"Twilight, come on. You know I'll find you, so just come out now." Rainbow trotted up the stairs and immediately saw the quivering Twilight. Twilight crept out from behind her bed. It was true. One could never hide from Rainbow Dash.
"P-p-p-please d-don't hurt me! I didn't do it, I swear!" Twilight pleaded, her amythest eyes filled with fear.
"Twilight, what're you talking about? I would never hurt you, you know that." Rainbow trotted up to Twilight and held out a hoof. Twilight looked up to Rainbow Dash.
"So you're not a ghost seeking revenge?" Twilight squeaked.
"A ghost? Revenge? Twilight, I have no idea what you're talking about. If this is part of your prank, stop. I just want to know what the hell is going on."
"This, this isn't real. YOU'RE not real. I must be imagining this. Yeah, imagining. I just need some sleep." Twilight said to herself, clapping her hooves together nervously.
"Twilight," Rainbow grasped Twilight's hoof. "This is real. I am real."
"No, I've- I've lost it, I'm completely nuts! HAHAHAHA!"
"TWILIGHT!!" Rainbow Dash slapped Twilight back to reality.
"Ok, ok. I'll tell you." Twilight took the offered hoof, then sat down on her bed, accompanied by Rainbow Dash. "Where should I start?" Twilight took a sip of her water.
"How about you start by telling me how I ended up in a coffin?" Rainbow shifted to a more comftorble position.
"Rainbow, I-I don't know how to put this…"
"Just tell me, Twilight!"
"…You're…Dead, Rainbow Dash." Twilight sighed. Rainbow burst out laughing.
"WHAT! Twilight, you're such a crack up! I'm not dead! Hahaha!" Rainbow dried the tears from her eyes and looked at Twilight, expecting a giggle, or at least a smile. But Twilight's expression was that of sadness and loss.
"Rainbow, I'm not joking. You died 2 years ago."
"If I died 2 years ago, how am I here, alive and kicking?" Rainbow's face bore a wide smile.
"…" Twilight levitated a small chest out from under her bed, grabbed the key from her bedside table, then unlocked it. She rummaged around until she pulled out a photo. She then slid it over to Dash. Rainbow's smile immeadiately faded. The photo was of her, or, her body. Her body was flayed wide open, organs gone. Her wings were missing, as was her cutie mark. "I took this picture, 2 years ago. You were dead, Rainbow Dash. I stitched you up, I helped dig your grave. I have no idea how you're here."
"You're not kidding…"
"No, I'm not."
"Do any of our friends know what happened?"
"That's the thing…your body was found 2 miles away from SugarCube Corner."
"SugarCube Corner? Twilight, are you hinting at something?"
"No, it's just-"
"Just what?" Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes.
"A few ponies went missing right around the time you died. They were all at SugarCube Corner before they went missing- It just seemed a little peculiar, don't you think?"
"Are you saying that the Cakes- or Pinkie Pie, are responsible for my death, and the deaths of other ponies?"
"No, I'm not, I just think we should investigate, that's all. I'm not accusing anypony." Twilight placed the photo back in the chest and returned it to its place under the bed.
"Investigate, are you kidding me? Look at me. For one, I'm supposed to be dead. And, I don't have all my bits and pieces." Rainbow gestured at her thin body.
"You're right. You're in no shape to be walking the streets of Ponyville, let alone having everypony recognize you." Twilight smiled deviously. "Rainbow Dash, I'm gonna give you a makeover."
"But-" Twilight gave her a "seriously?" Look. "Fine. But can we wait until morning?" Dash pleaded.
"I don't have all the proper supplies…I suppose we could wait. I'll keep the library closed. You can sleep on the couch tonight. I have to take a bath, no thanks to you." Twilight stepped off the bed, then trotted to the bathroom. Dash descended the stairs, then flopped down onto the couch. She closed her eyes, and, after what seemed like hours, fell asleep.
............................
"Rainbow Dash…Rainbow Dash…wake up Rainbow Dash…" Dash's vision came into focus. Twilight stood above her, levitating a filled bag.
"Dear Celestia, what's that horrible smell?" Rainbow plugged her nose as Twilight pushed her up the stairs and into the bathroom. Twilight shoved her in, then locked the door behind them.
"That, my dear Rainbow Dash, is the smell of Mane Dye."
"Wait, Mane Dye…!? You are NOT dying my mane!!" Rainbow tugged on the door handle frantically.
"I saw that one coming, so that's why I brought this." Twilight levitated a thick rope, then, using her magic, tied up Dash. Twilight placed Dash in the bathtub, then turned on the warm water.
A FEW MINUTES LATER…
Twilight shut off the water, then dropped in a ball of bath salts.
"I hate you, Twilight." Growled Rainbow Dash, watching the bath salts dissolve into abundant pink bubbles.
"I'm not the one who resurrected you." Twilight started to scrub Dash with a sponge. Rainbow was soon coated in a thick layer of bubbles. "Now, time for the rinse!" Twilight pushed Rainbow Dash under the bubbly surface of the bathwater. Twilight hauled her out of the tub, and she landed on the tile floor with a wet slap. Twilight quickly dried her off with a towel, then put her on the toilet. "Time to dye."
"Twilight, before you wreck my mane and tail, can you at least tell me what color it is?"
"I got 2 bottles. One is Periwinkle, and the other one is White. Trust me, it'll look great." Twilight squirted both bottles into Rainbow's mane and tail, washed and rinsed it, grabbed a Manebrush and a bottle of manespray off the counter.
"Twilight, no. No, no, NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!" Twilight brushed Dash's mane to the style she wanted, put in a purple headband, then unleashed an enslaught of manespray. "Twilight *cough cough*, im dying again…the manespray…so bad…" Dash coughed.
"Rainbow, stop being such a baby, I'm almost done." Twilight sprayed until there was none left. "Ok, finished." Twilight held up a mirror to Rainbow so she could see.
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!! WHAT HAPPENED TO ME!?"
"You died, and let me do your mane. That's what happened."
"Oh, yeah. I guess it's not that bad, it just looks…weird. Are we done now?"
"…Not yet, but almost. You still don't have a cutie mark."
"…That." Rainbow glanced back at the paper thin patches of skin where her cutie mark once was. "Twilight…you can untie me now."
"What's that?"
"I give in. You can untie me."
"Hmmmm…alright." Twilight undid the knots and dropped the rope on the floor. Twilight levitated a pack of acrylic paints out of the bag, as well as a piece of parchment, a quill, and a bottle of ink. "Draw your new cutie mark here." Twilight pointed to the parchment.
"But Twilight…" Rainbow whined.
"But what?"
"But I like my old cutie mark…" Rainbow stomped a hoof on the floor.
"Rainbow, you can't have your old cutie mark."
"But Twilight…I want my old cutie mark!" Tears started to well up in Rainbow's eyes.
"Ok, ok. Jeez, you don't need to have a temper tantrum. I'll just make the lightning bolt yellow instead of red, blue, and yellow."
"YES!" Rainbow Dash cheered. Twilight painted the cutie mark onto Dash's flank. "Now, what about my wings?"
"The only type of wings I can give you are glimmer wings. Is that ok?"
"Yeah, as long as I have wings." Twilight's horn lit up.
A blinding explosion of light erupted from the library, right at the time when Rarity was dropping off the books she had checked out.
"Twilight dear, are you alright up there?" Rarity called. The white unicorn gingerly opened the front door and set her saddlebags on the counter.
"Oh dear Celestia…" Twilight froze at the sound of Rarity's voice. "Yes, I'm fine Rarity." Twilight called.
"Alright then. I came to return these-" Rarity sniffed the air. "Do I smell manespray? Are you finally styling those boring bangs?" Rarity trotted up the stairs, then paused in front of Twilight, who cracked the door open a tiny bit.
"Um- no, you don't." Twilight smiled nervously.
"You shouldn't have used that stuff, it smells like…flowers!" Rainbow flapped her new wings, and shot up into the ceiling with a loud crash.
"Quiet!" Twilight hissed. Rarity just stood bewildered in front of Twilight.
"Who's there with you? Were you giving each other makeovers? Why wasn't I informed!?" Rarity pushed open the door all the way to see a pony dangling from the ceiling, head stuck, and a very sweaty Twilight. "Twilight, who's that?" Rarity gestured at the pony in the ceiling.
"I'm Rainbow Dash." Said the pony, muffled by the ceiling.
"You're who?" Rarity leaned toward the pony.
"I'm Rainbow Dash!" Yelled the pony. But alas, she was still muffled.
"You're Rainbow who?"
"RAINBOW DA- I mean, RAINBOW BLITZ!!"
"Rainbow Blitz? I used to have a friend with a name similar to yours. Rainbow Dash was her name. Did you know her?"
"Uh, yeah. We're…um…cousins! Yeah, cousins."
"Glad to meet your acquaintance, Rainbow Blitz. I'm Rarity." Rarity stroked her curled mane.
"Cool. Can you guys help me get my head out of the ceiling?"
"Yeah, we'll get right on that, right Rarity?" Twilight looked over at the other unicorn.
"Of course we will!" Rarity stood proudly.
....................
"Al-most- there!!" With one last tug, Rainbow's head popped out of the ceiling, and she landed directly on Twilight.
"Rainbow, can you please get off of me!?" Twilight shoved Dash off. Dash stood and brushed herself off. All the while, Rarity stared horrified at Rainbow Dash.
"Oh my stars DARLING! Whatever happened to you!? Twilight, you shouldn't have done this without knowing how to do it properly! I mean just look at her! You got white and blue dye all over her coat! Come with me, darling. I'll fix you right up." Rarity ushered Dash down the stairs with her. Rarity dumped the books on the counter, then put on her saddlebags. "Twilight, the books are on the counter." Rarity trotted out, accompanied by the new Rainbow Dash.
....................
Rainbow, would you please sit here?" Rarity pointed to a stool. They were back at Carousel Boutique, and Rarity was fixing the mess made by Twilight. Rainbow sat down.
"Alright then, lets set this right." Rarity grabbed a bottle of white dye.
"What're you going to do with that?" Dash asked.
"You see Rainbow Blitz, Twilight was not careful using the dye, and got splotches of it all over your coat. I'm just here to fix the mess she made. And, I do love your wings." Rarity squirted the dye onto Rainbow's coat, then started to work it in.
"Thanks. But what about my Cutie Mark? Will that get dyed too?" Asked Dash.
"I'm afraid the answer is yes, your Cutie Mark will be dyed as well." Rarity continued to scrub in the dye.
"Hmm…could you…paint it on?"
"Paint it? I suppose I could."
"Cool. But what about my mane? I don't really like the style, or the color." Complained Dash.
"Why of course you don't! I don't admire it either." Rarity ran the bathtub water and washed the lather off. Rainbow's cyan coat was now snow white. "Time to take care of this horrid mane!" Rarity grabbed a pair of scissors and a brush.
A FEW MINUTES LATER…
"Ha ha! Perfect!" Rarity clapped excitedly. "Say, Rainbow Blitz. Would you care to join Fluttershy and I for our weekly spa trip?"
"Ummm…" Rainbow thought. Rarity would never shut up about how "fantastic" it felt to get a spa treatment. "Ok. I'll go."
"Yay! This is going to be FABULOUS!!" Rarity cheered. She levitated a cell phone and put it up to her ear.
"Fluttershy darling, we have a guest for our spa trip!" Rarity listened. "Who? Why Rainbow Blitz, cousin of our dear, departed Dashie." Tears welled up in Rarity's eyes at the name "Dashie". "Y-yes Fluttershy, I'm alright. I just miss her, that's all. I'm alright, really. I love you too. See you soon." Rarity sniffled. She hung up and put the phone in her saddlebags, which were lying by the bathroom door. Rarity brightened, then turned to Dash.
"You don't have a robe, do you?" Rarity inquired.
"No, I don't." Replied Dash.
"Not a problem! I'll make you one, right now." Rarity glanced at the bathroom clock. "It's 12 o' clock, and we have to meet Fluttershy at the spa at 2:00, so…that's perfect." Rarity led Dash downstairs into her workroom. Rarity grabbed her measuring tape and put on her glasses. She claimed that she only needed them for work, but Dash highly doubted that. "Time to measure you. Stand still, please." Rarity wrapped the tape around the base of Dash's glimmer wings.
"Hmm…I need to…well…let's see if we can make this work. You see, I've never made a robe for a glimmer wing pony before. It'll be a challenge, but I can do it." Rarity trotted to her machine and levitated several bolts of cloth, along with pins, and various spools of thread. "Thread by thread, stitching it together…Yard by yard, pressing all the details…piece by piece, snip by snip, hmm hmm hmm, shoulders hip, bolt by bolt, prim and press, yard by yard, never stressed, and that's the art of the dress…" Rarity began to sing her classic dressmaking song. The clock chimed one.
"Oh my goodness, one already? That's alright, because I'm finished!" Rarity held up her creation proudly. It was a light blue robe with rainbow colored trim. "Do you like it?" Asked Rarity, holding it up to her customer.
"Yeah, it's cool." Replied Dash. "But how do you put it on? The wing holes are too small for these massive wings." Rainbow gestured at her wings.
"I'll show you." Using her magic, Rarity stretched the holes to fit over Dash's wings, then let her put it on.
"Wow. How'd you do that?" Asked Rainbow.
"Elastic." Replied Rarity, rushing upstairs to get her own robe. She ran back down with her robe draped across her back. "Now, off to the spa!" Rarity quickly put on her robe and trotted out the front door with Dash.
"Hello, darling." Rarity gave Fluttershy a quick hug, followed by a kiss on the cheek.
"Hey Fluttershy." Greeted Dash. Aloe and Lotus quickly trotted up to the trio.
"Hello ladies. The usual, please." Said Rarity. The sisters nodded, then led Fluttershy, Rarity, and Dash to their first treatment: the hoofacure. Rainbow Dash was starting to second guess herself, but it was too late.
Rainbow Dash sped up when she realized that a certain yellow Pegasus was following her. Jeez Fluttershy, way to be creepy. Dash glanced over her shoulder. Fluttershy was still there, and she was catching up. Rainbow tried to keep her cool and pretend she wasn't nervous. She quickened her trot. So did Fluttershy. Rainbow Dash broke into a gallop, sprinting as fast as she could to Sweet Apple Acres. Dash once again looked over her shoulder, and Fluttershy was gone. She slowed back down to a trot, relived that the yellow mare was gone.
"Hello, Rainbow Dash."
"STOP FOLLOWING ME!!" Rainbow whipped around and struck out with a hoof. Nopony was there. She was alone, save the forest of apple trees that surrounded her. "What the- I heard Fluttershy, but she's not here…" Dash said to herself. She shrugged and continued in the direction of the Apple Family's home.
"You have no idea what's really going on, do you. You're so gullible." Fluttershy taunted. Rainbow once again turned around, half expecting to see Fluttershy standing behind her with a knife, but she was still alone.
"She's not real…is she?" Dash pondered. She had witnessed Fluttershy walk Rarity home. Carousel Boutique was all the way across town. Fluttershy couldn't have gotten here that fast, even of she WAS a strong flier.
"We have plenty of things planned for you."
"Shut up, you're not real."
"Oh no, this isn't a joke. It's real."
"I said SHUT UP!!" Rainbow Dash pounded her head with her hooves. As she did so, a wave of pain came from her flanks. She looked over at them, and her cutie mark was gone, cut out. Blood dripped down her legs and seeped into the grass beneath her hooves.
"Hey! It's my turn, Fluttershy!" That voice…it sounded like…Pinkie Pie? "I think I'm gonna 'wing it' now!" Pinkie giggled.
"No…please…stop!" Dash pounded her head again. "AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!! STOP!! STOP!!" Dash collapsed onto the grass. She could feel her wings being hacked off, and it was too much for her to bear. Then she heard voices. Not those of Pinkie and Fluttershy, but those of the Apple Family. But when somepony showed up, she saw that it wasn't Applejack, or her family for that matter. It was Pinkie. She was dressed In a gown made of cutie marks. 6 pairs of Pegasus wings adorned the back, and a necklace of unicorn horns clacked whenever she moved. She trotted over to Dash and held out a bloody hoof. Dash grasped Pinkie's hoof. She then threw Pinkie down onto the grass and punched her in the middle of her forehead. Pinkie cringed, then stood. Pinkie then picked up a large rock and threw it at Dash's head.
....................
"Applejack, she's wakin' up!" Applebloom called.
"Ah'm comin', Applebloom." Applejack walked over to the couch where Rainbow Dash layed. Dash slowly sat up, then winced as she gingerly touched her head.
"What happened?" Asked Dash. The 2 sisters exchanged looks, then Applejack began to talk.
"Well, Big Mac, my brother, and I, were out applebuckin' when Winona, the family dog, started barkin' at us. We followed her through the orchard, till' she stopped. We saw you lyin' on the grass, screamin' and beggin' for somepony to stop. You looked to be in an awful lot of pain, so I tried to help you up. But you put up one hell of a fight. Gave me a pretty bad bruise." Applejack lifted her bangs to reveal a large black bruise. She then lowered them and continued to speak. "Ah' didn't know what else to do, so I had to knock you out and bring you here." Applejack explained. "Ah'm Applejack, by the way. This is mah' little sister Applebloom, and Granny Smith is outside with Big Macintosh.."
"I'm Rainbow D- I mean, Rainbow Blitz." Rainbow smiled sheepishly.
"Nice to meet ya'." Applejack shook Dash's hoof. "And, welcome to Sweet Apple Acres."
"Thanks."
"Now, how can I help y'all?" Applejack asked.
"Um…" Dash tapped her chin. "I really don't know. You've helped me alot already. I don't think I need anything else. Thank you, Applejack." Rainbow got up off the couch and started for the front door, tail swishing behind her. As she reached for the doorknob, she remembered what she was coming here for: information. Dash turned and strode over to Applejack, her gossamer wings catching the golden sunlight. She looked like a fallen angel.
"Applejack."
"Y-yes?" Applejack gulped. Dash's angelic appearance was…sort of scary, actually. Her scars made her look as if she had been in a horrible war, and she looked like she wasn't afraid to kill Applejack if she got an answer she didn't like…
"What do you know about Rainbow Dash's death?" Applejack went pale, and she stared to shiver. "Applejack, what do you know." Dash commanded. She needed answers.
"Applebloom, go to your room." Applejack said.
"But-"
"NOW." Commanded Applejack. The filly stomped up the stairs. There was a loud slam, then Applejack began to speak. "You're not with the guard, are ya'?" Dash cocked her head.
"No, I'm not. Why?"
"Because I saw…" Applejack drifted, her eyes blank.
"Saw what? Tell me, I need to know. What did you see?" Applejack came back into reality.
"Ah'm not sure…"
"Tell me, please."
"It was dark. Ah' was headin' home from Twilight's house, when I heard screamin'. I ran to see what it was…"
"What was it?"
"It was comin' from inside SugarCube Corner, the local bakery. Ah' knocked on the door, and after a few minutes, Pinkie Pie opened it. Ah' couldn't really see, but it looked like she was covered in…blood. And it looked like she had a unicorn horn necklace. Ah' didn't know what to say, so ah' just ran home. Rainbow Dash's body was found outside the next day." Applejack's eyes were filled with tears. Dash took a shocked step back.
"Thank you for all you've done, Applejack." Rainbow started for the door.
"What're y'all gonna do?" Applejack managed to find words.
"I'm gonna end this, once and for all." Applejack stood.
"Let me help you. Rainbow Dash was the love of mah' life, and ah' would do anything to avenge her." Said Applejack. Dash blushed.
"Ok, let's go." Said Dash. The 2 mares galloped out the door.
"Where are we going, and how're we gonna stop Pinkie?" Asked Applejack.
"I know a mare who will answer both those questions. Her name is Twilight Sparkle."
"Y'all know Twilight Sparkle?"
"Yes. And I know she'll help us." Rainbow and Applejack galloped faster, almost colliding with several other ponies. Twilight's house was coming into view. AJ and Dash skidded to a halt in front of the Library. Twilight swung the door open and ushered her friends inside.
"Hi girls." Greeted Twilight.
"Twilight, we need to talk." Said Dash, taking a seat next to Applejack.
"About what?" Asked Twilight.
"I know who did it, Twilight. Applejack told me, right AJ?" Applejack nodded.
"Who!? Who did it?" Twilight practically jumped over her coffee table.
"It was…Pinkie Pie, Twilight. Pinkie Pie did this." Twilight fell and landed in a quivering heap on the floor.
"W-what? P-Pinkie Pie? No, she wouldn't do something like that! HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT!?" Twilight yelled between sobs.
"Ah'm sorry Twilight, but it's the truth." Applejack offered a comforting hoof.
"YOU SHOULD BE SORRY!!" Twilight smacked Applejack's hoof away and continued to cry into her hooves.
"MAYBE YOU SHOULD HAVE YOUR EYES CHECKED, APPLEJACK!! Pinkie Pie would never do something like that! Don't you remember her at all!? She was the kindest, most lovable pony in all of Equestria! She couldn't hurt a fly…" Twilight brought her face out of her hooves and wiped her tears.
"Twilight, Applejack wouldn't lie to you, or to me. Pinkie Pie is a killer, and she needs to be stopped before she hurts anypony else. Now, are you gonna help us, or not?" Dash narrowed her eyes.
"Would you 2 just SHUT UP!? I need to think." Twilight ran her hooves through her mane as she whispered to herself. Twilight then stood up and faced Rainbow and Applejack. "Ok, my mind is made up. I'll help you, on one condition."
"What's your condition?" Asked Dash.
"We are NOT killing her. Understand?" Twilight eyed the 2 mares.
"We wouldn't dream of it, Twilight." Said Applejack. Rainbow Dash nodded in agreement.
"Alright then, it's settled. To SugarCube Corner!"
.....................
"Are y'all ready?" Asked Applejack. The trio was outside of SugarCube Corner, planning their assult.
"As ready as I'll ever be…" Twilight whispered.
"Girls?" Asked Dash.
"What's up, sugarcube?"
"I need to face Pinkie alone."
"But why? You don't even know er', and even I wouldn't challenge a killer alone." Applejack gasped.
"Applejack, I have a confession to make."
"Now isn't the time fer' this!" Applejack whisper-screamed.
"Yes, it is. My name isn't Ranbow Blitz."
"Really!? That was it!? Well then, what's yer' real name!?" Applejack hissed.
"I'm Rainbow Dash." Applejack's face grew red with fury.
"How DARE you say that you're Rainbow Dash!! If you're tryin' to prank me, it ain't funny!!" Applejack shoved Dash into a wall.
"Applejack, stop!" Twilight pushed Applejack away from Dash.
"What're you doin', Twilight! Lemme at er'!" Applejack growled.
"No, Applejack. She's Rainbow Dash, I swear!" Twilight pleaded.
"Alright then. I'm gonna ask you a question only the real Rainbow Dash could answer. Who came with us on our camping trip up to Winston Falls?"
"There were me and you, Applebloom, Rarity, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo, my little sister." Said Dash.
"Oh my stars, it's really you! I've missed you so much." Applejack have Dash a tight hug. "Alright, Rainbow. If you wanna go it alone, that's fine by me. Twilight and I will be right outside if you need us." Dash nodded.
"Alright girls, I'm going in." Dash trotted up to the door, then gave it a light knock. Mrs. Cake cracked open the bakery's door.
"I'm sorry, but SugarCube corner is closed on Sundays." Said Mrs. Cake.
"I'm here to see Pinkie Pie, actually. Is there any chance she's here?"
"Pinkie Pie hasn't been feeling too well of late, so yes, she's home." Mrs. Cake opened the door all the way, and Dash entered. Mrs. Cake closed the door behind them. The interior of SugarCube corner was bathed in darkness. The only light came from the lantern that Mrs. Cake was carrying.
"Pinkie Pie's sick? The last time she got sick was when we had the "Baked Bads" incedent. Do you know what's wrong with her?"
"To tell you the truth, this has been going on for about 2 years now. She refuses to leave, and doesn't let anypony in her room, or in the cellar. Mr. Cake and I take care of her and run the bakery. I don't know what's gotten into her. But it's gotten worse over the years. It's gotten to the point that she won't even get out of bed, and sudden movements set her on edge. She talks to herself, and once she ripped out a chunk of her mane. I'm scared for her." Mrs. Cake explained.
"I'm here to fix it, Mrs. Cake." Said Dash.
"That's kind of you, it really is. I wish you could fix her, but I think she's beyond fixing."
"I'll try." Dash followed Mrs. Cake up the stairs to Pinkie's room. Mrs. Cake gingerly knocked on the door.
"Pinkie Pie, a nice pony is here to see you." No response came. Mrs. Cake cautiously opened the door and led Dash inside. "I'll leave you 2 alone." Mrs. Cake set down the lantern, then headed back downstairs.
"Pinkie, this has to stop." Said Dash. Pinkie was hidden under her blanket in a quivering lump. "Pinkie Pie, I know you can hear me. You have to stop this." Pinkie slowly peeled the blanket back, revealing herself. Her pink coat was matted and dirty, and her cotton candy mane clung to her head and neck in a pink miasma. The worst was her eyes. Her beautiful blue eyes… her pupils were dilalated differently, one was larger than the other. Her eyes were screaming and begging, and she couldn't stop shivering.
"You need to l-l-leave." Stuttered Pinkie.
"I'm not leaving until I know that you're ok, and that you'll stop killing innocent ponies."
"K-killing…that's why you need to leave…Dashie." Said Pinkie.
"How did you know that…Pinkie?"
"How did I not know? I've missed you so much, you have no idea."
"Then why did you and Fluttershy kill me?"
"I didn't, I wouldn't! It was P-P-P-Pinkamena. She m-made me do it. And Fluttershy wasn't there. It was just, just, her. I'm trying so hard to keep her contained…but I still loose control sometimes, and that's why I stay here, to keep her from hurting anypony else." It was then that Dash realized: the only way to save what was left of Pinkie Pie was to take her out of this room, this house. It was plaguing her mind, like poision. Pinkie Pie's psyche had always been unstable, but the friendships she's made have held her together all her life. Friendship could save her.
"Pinkie, it's time to go outside." Pinkie shrank back.
"N-no, I'm not ready! I can't leave yet!" Pinkie started to kick wildly.
"Pinkie, you've secluded yourself in here for 2 years. You are ready, you just need to be brave." Dash placed a hoof on Pinkie's chest, and her flailing subsided. Pinkie took a deep breath.
"Ok, I think I'm ready now. But Dashie?"
"Yeah?"
"C-can you help me?"
"Yeah, I can help you." Dash offered a hoof, and Pinkie took it. Pinkie slowly sat up, placing her back hooves on the wood floor. She cautiously put her front hoof down, the other in Dash's hoof.
"Ok, let's go." Dash started to walk forward. Pinkie hesitated, then began to walk herself, her hooves shaky. Dash started to pick up the pace, while still walking slow. "Dash, not so fast! Can you please slow down?" Pinkie pleaded.
"Here, how about you lead the way?" Pinkie nodded, then led Dash downstairs, step by step. Finally, Pinkie and Dash were at the door. "Are you ready to go out, Pinkie?"
"Mhmm." Dash slowly opened the door, and the flood of light hit Pinkie like a wave. She winced at the sun's light. This was the first time she had seen real sunlight in 2 years. Pinkie let go of Dash's hoof, then walked up to Twilight and Applejack.
"Pinkie Pie, I'm so glad you're alright!" Twilight hugged Pinkie tightly, a tear escaping her eyes.
"I'm glad I'm ok too, Twilight." Twilight released Pinkie from her death hug.
"Oh Pinkie, ah'm glad you're back. Things haven't been the same without ya'." Said Applejack. For the first time in 2 years, Pinkie Pie smiled.
..................
"Just like new!" Rarity cheered. It was true. Pinkie Pie looked much better than she had yesterday. Her cost was clean, her mane was back to being cotton candy, and her pupils were dialated properly. She looked just like her old self, but she didn't feel like her old self. Insanity still clawed at her mind.
"I do look like new." Said Pinkie. The rest of the gang nodded in agreement. Dash trotted up to Pinkie and whispered something in her ear. Pinkie nodded, then followed Dash downstairs.
"Remember how you told me it was just Pinkamena, and that Fluttershy wasn't there?"
"Mhmm."
"I asked that because I had a vision, or heard something, I don't know. But I heard Fluttershy, and I heard you. I just don't understand…" Dash scratched the back of her neck.
"You were just hearing things. Fluttershy wasn't there, and she couldn't hurt anything, especially her friends. You have nothing to worry about." Said Pinkie. Dash nodded.
"Rainbow Dash! Guess what I just found!" Said Twlilght happily. Twilight joined Dash and Pinkie on the couch, a book in her hooves.
"I don't know, some kind of spell?" Asked Dash.
"Exactly! But this isn't just any spell, it's a spell that can fix you, restore you." Said Twilight.
"Whoa, cool. Cast away, Twi!" Said Dash excitedly.
"Here goes…" Twilight stood, her horn glowing a bright magenta. Twilight's horn flared, then Dash was enveloped in magic. There was a blinding flash of light, and the spell was complete. Dash looked herself over with disbelief. Her coat was back to its natural cyan color, her mane was rainbow once again, and best of all, her feathered wings were back, as well as her cutie mark. And she had her guts back, too. The rest of the Mane 6 came rushing downstairs, their jaws dropping slightly. Pinkie Pie bounced off the couch.
"Hey, you know what this calls for? A PARTY!!" Pinkie exclaimed. The girls high-hoofed. Out of the corner of her eye, Rainbow Dash saw Fluttershy smile darkly, and mouth the word "soon".
"Where…am I?" It was pitch black. Rainbow tried to stand, but the ceiling and walls were right next to her. "What? Where is the....hrmph...what the...is this a box? So, is this some kind of joke? It has to be. Why else would I be in here? You got me, guys! Can you let me out now?" Rainbow scratched at the ceiling, and as a result, a bit of dirt crumbled and landed on her muzzle. "Dirt? They buried me?" Rainbow chuckled. "Very funny, guys! You can dig me up now!" Rainbow called. There was no answer. "Guys?" Rainbow called again. Still, no response. "Guys, this isn't funny anymore! Let me out!" Rainbow pounded the ceiling with her hooves. Just silence.
"Let…me…OUT!!" Rainbow pounded the box lid with all her force. She couldn't see it, but she could hear the wood cracking. Again and again she beat it, until the wood finally snapped. A flood of damp earth came rushing into the box. "Well, that's just great." Rainbow managed to turn around and feel how wide the hole was. It seemed like a tight squeeze, but she could manage.
She pushed the dirt on the floor out of the way, then started to dig at the top, only to find more dirt cave in. She continued to dig until the entire box was filled with the cold soil. Dash placed her hooves on the soft grass at the top and prepared to force herself through. To her surprise, she slid through with ease. She scrambled up onto the grass, and let the cold breeze sift though her coat and mane.
"Wait…night? How long was I in there?" Rainbow rubbed her eyes and rose to her hooves, shaking off all the dirt she could. The pale, white moon hung high overhead, dimly lighting her location. A stone at the corner of her vision caught her eye. She parted the tall grass and read the inscription on the stone. "Here lies…Rainbow Dash? Lover, Mentor, and Friend." Rainbow's eyes went wide. She read and reread the inscription to make sure what she was reading was real. She turned from the stone to the hole she had just climbed out of. "That looks like…six feet. They really set me up, didn't they?" Rainbow shook her head, smiling. This was by far the best prank yet. "Now, time to go home." Rainbow ran, then jumped, expecting to take off. Instead, she received a face full of dirt and grass.
"What the- how come my wings aren't working!?" Rainbow flapped her wings, only to not feel them at all. Rainbow turned her head to see that her wings indeed weren't working: they were gone entirely! "The hell!? How did they pull this off? I bet Twilight used her freaky magic or something." Rainbow Dash continued to gallop in the direction of her home until she realized: how could she even get up to her house with no wings? "I guess I'll just go to Twilight's place to get my wings back." Rainbow changed direction and galloped full throttle to Twilight's Library. The cyan mare skidded to a halt right outside of Twilight's house. She could see dim light emanating from inside the treehouse library. She peered inside to see Twilight slumped over her desk, an open book in front of her and an abundance of papers spread all over, along with a bottle of spilled ink dripping over the edge of the desk and onto the floor.
"She stays up too late." Rainbow pushed open the door and snuck in, tiptoeing as silently as possible. She worked her way though the scattered papers until she was standing right behind the snoozing unicorn.
"GOTCHA, EGGHEAD!!" Twilight jumped up and fell out of her chair, landing face first in the ink puddle. Twilight scrambled to her hooves, then rubbed away the ink, smearing it all over her hooves and face.
"Who- oh, it's you, Rainbow Dash. You scared the he- RAINBOW DASH!? AAAHHHHH!!" Twilight tore off up the stairs, then cowered behind her bed.
"Twilight, come on. You know I'll find you, so just come out now." Rainbow trotted up the stairs and immediately saw the quivering Twilight. Twilight crept out from behind her bed. It was true. One could never hide from Rainbow Dash.
"P-p-p-please d-don't hurt me! I didn't do it, I swear!" Twilight pleaded, her amythest eyes filled with terror.
"Twilight, what're you talking about? I would never hurt you, you know that." Rainbow trotted up to Twilight and held out a hoof. Twilight looked up at Rainbow Dash.
"So you're not a ghost seeking revenge?" Twilight squeaked.
"A ghost? Revenge? Twilight, I have no idea what you're talking about. If this is part of your prank, stop. I just want to know what's going on."
"This…this isn't real. YOU'RE not real. I must be imagining this. Yeah, imagining. I just need some sleep." Twilight said to herself, clapping her hooves together nervously.
"Twilight," Rainbow grasped Twilight's hoof. "This is real. I'm sure as hell real."
"No, Rainbow! You're just a hallucination!" Twilight shouted, jerking her hoof away.
"TWILIGHT!!" A hard smack was accompanied by Rainbow's loud voice.
"Fine! Just leave me alone after this, alright?" Twilight took the offered hoof, then sat down on her bed, accompanied by Rainbow Dash. "Where should I start?" Twilight took a sip of her water and blinked repeatedly, but Dash's filthy, impossibly thin figure was still there.
"How about you start by telling me how I ended up in a coffin?" Rainbow shifted to a more comfortable position, ignoring Twilight's blinking.
"Rainbow, I-I don't know how to put this…"
"Just tell me, Twilight!"
"…You're…Dead, Rainbow Dash." Twilight's entire demeanor changed within seconds. Rainbow burst into loud fits of laughter.
"WHAT! Twilight, you're such a crack up! I'm not dead! Hahaha!" Rainbow wiped the tears from her eyes and looked at Twilight, expecting a giggle, or at least a smile. But Twilight's expression was that of sadness, loss, and the slightest air of suspicion.
"Rainbow, I'm not joking. You died two years ago."
"If I died two years ago, how am I here, alive and kicking?" Rainbow's face bore a wide smile.
Twilight levitated a small chest out from under her bed, grabbed the key from her bedside table, then unlocked it. She rummaged around until she pulled out a photo. She then slid it over to Dash. Rainbow's smile immeadiately faded. The photo was of her, or, her body. Her body was flayed wide open, organs gone. Her wings were missing, as was her cutie mark. "I took this picture, two years ago. You were dead, Rainbow Dash. I stitched you up, and I helped dig your grave. I have no idea how you're here."
"You're not kidding…"
"No, I'm not."
"Do any of our friends know what happened?"
"That's the thing…I'm not sure if any of the girls know exactly what happened, but…" Twilight bit her bottom lip and looked away from Rainbow.
"What, Twi?"
"…Your body was found two miles away from Sugarcube Corner."
