While all of Ponyville could rightly be called a calm and peaceful place, there was one spot in the entire town that truly held the title of the most idyllic area around; Fluttershy's cottage. This small home, for all intents and purposes, looked like it wouldn't be out-of-place on the cover of a foal's fairy tale book, with the many birds happily chirping around the place, the tiny pond in front of it, and just how beautiful the place looked. Granted, it was odd that it was located so near the Everfree Forest, a place that everypony knew its occupant, Fluttershy, was utterly terrified of, but that did little to ruin the pleasant overall image it had. All you really needed over the place was a rainbow and the image would have been complete, and given that Fluttershy was best friends with a weather mare, that actually wasn't too much of a stretch. Today seemed especially peaceful for the place, though for reasons that would undoubtedly seem odd for those who frequented it, for there were fewer animal sounds than normal. No chickens clucking, nor bears growling as they waited for their usual medical check-ups, and barely any other creatures to be heard, aside from the aforementioned chirping birds. So while the place remained beautiful, there was nevertheless something that felt off with it today.

Such was the sentiment shared among the mares that now approached the place. Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity and Pinkie Pie were all trotting up the small path that led to Fluttershy's front door, and each of them were bearing looks of concern. But, it seemed that the four of them were not alone today, as they had also brought along their pets; Tank the tortoise, Winona the dog, Opalescence the cat and Gummy the toothless alligator respectively. But, these creatures were not walking, or in Tank's case flying, along with their owners as they usually did. Today, and to the concern of their owners, they seemed completely lethargic, having to be carried around in baskets as the mares approached Fluttershy's home. Clearly this was a veterinary visit, and it wasn't long before Rainbow, first to the door, raised a hoof and eagerly banged on in. A few moments passed before it opened, and while Fluttershy greeted them with a smile, that soon faded as she caught sight of their pets. Seeing that, and the looks on her friends' faces, she got the message immediately, and soon stood aside, giving them entry. Once the group were all inside, she closed the door behind them, and afterwards, without even saying a word, immediately flew off as fast as she could, which wasn't very fast at all, in the direction of her nearest medicine cabinet.

But, as the shy mare was doing that, her friends were busy trying to make their respective pets as comfortable as possible, finding whatever soft place they could to lie them down on. They went for sofas, chairs, even random cushions, before gently placing their animals upon them. As they did this, Rarity glanced upwards, and noticed, for the first time, that their animals weren't the only ones here. There were all sorts here, from Fluttershy's own pet, Angel the rabbit, to small mice, a few birds and even a deer. Every one of them had been resting in small beds made for them by Fluttershy, and, more importantly, they all looked just as inactive and miserable as their own pets. Seeing this, and noticing that Fluttershy was returning, Rarity spoke up to her.

"I say, darling, what in Equestria is wrong with the poor dears?"

Fluttershy, after setting down a small box of medicinal pills, looked over her animals before shaking her head.

"I don't know! They were all fine just yesterday, but now...now it's like they're all sick from the same thing, but...I can't see anything wrong with them."

Taking out a pill from her little box, Fluttershy flew over to the nearest pet, Winona, and gently tried to get her to swallow the offered medicine. But the dog was uninterested, instead turning over with an unhappy whine. Slumping her shoulders in defeat, Fluttershy turned to the rest of the group.

"Every animal has been like this all day. It's like...it's like there some kind of...imbalance amongst them...but I just don't know what it is."

The other mares all looked to each other with clear worry, and before long, Applejack started to speak up herself.

"It ain't just here. All the animals on mah far have been actin weird, like they don't wanna do anythin! Pigs, sheep, y'all name it!"

Pinkie nodded at that before adding her own voice to the mix.

"Even some ponies are feeling it! Some of the Cakes' customers have been coming in for their morning snacks, only to fall down like they want to sleep! But...they just stay awake, looking super-duper-unhappy!"

Rarity turned to Fluttershy after hearing her pink-maned friend's words.

"We really can't explain it. I don't think it's a disease or anything, since lethargy seems to be the only symptom, but...I have no inkling as to what's causing it or how we can help!"

There was a general murmur of agreement amongst the group. The situation was an unpleasant one, that much was certain, and every one of them seemed to be at a loss on what to do. However, there was one among their number that actually seemed to be thinking the issue over deeply indeed, and that was Rainbow Dash. There was a time, long ago, when the cyan mare would not have hesitated to say what was on her mind. And yet, here, that was exactly what seemed to be happening, as she looked to each of her friends with a nervous expression on her face, as if she was almost ashamed at having to say what she needed to. But, after taking a deep breath, she finally just came out and said it.

"You know...we could always find...other help."

The group turned to her, and at first, didn't know what she was talking about. But, as the moments passed, realisation dawned on them, as they now knew to what Rainbow was referring, or rather, who she was referring to. As befitting of a diverse group such as this, each one reacted in their own way. Rarity and Pinkie Pie both looked to her with uncertainty, with even the latter's usual smile replaced with deep thoughtfulness. Applejack turned away from her rainbow-maned friend, as if she'd just opened up an old wound. And as for Fluttershy, she remained as silent as ever, but there was something else mixed in with that silence. It was a hurt. Rainbow's words had been a veritable stab to the heart for the usually-timid pegasus, and as she stared at her foalhood friend, she narrowed her eyes at her as she spoke.

"How...how can you even think of asking her for help?! As far as I'm concerned...she can stay out of Ponyville!"

Rainbow hung her head somewhat, upset at seeing her old friend so angry at somepony, perhaps more angry than she had ever been in her life, as she then continued speaking.

"I...I know you're still upset at her, Fluttershy...but if there's anypony who can help us...it's Twilight."

Fluttershy turned from Rainbow, with her expression being one of barely-contained anger. It wasn't unexpected, given how she and Twilight had parted ways not so long ago, but even so, Rainbow felt the need to press the issue.

"Flutters...I know you don't like this, but I really do think it's the best option. You have to understand that."

Only now did Fluttershy resume looking at her, still bearing that look of anger.

"Oh, I understand completely. You've been her right hoof ever since she arrived in Ponyville. I’m not surprised you'd take her side."

Rainbow frowned at that.

"Fluttershy, there are no sides here! We're friends...all of us!"

Fluttershy took a step forward, appearing to be outright offended at those words.

"Friends?! Friends don't do what she did!"

Before Rainbow could reply to that, Applejack entered the fray herself.

"Ah'm sorry, Rainbow, but ah'm with Flutters on this one. Twilight tricked us! Right from the start! From the moment she set hoof in this ere town, she's been lying ta us. Day in an day out, she ain't been honest with us, an in mah book...that ain't the work of a friend."

Yet again, Rainbow found herself frowning at her friend's words.

"Applejack, you know why she just couldn't come out and tell us about this kind of stuff!"

After those words were spoken, Rarity now stepped forward and added her voice to Rainbow's.

"I’m afraid I simply must agree with Rainbow on this one, Applejack. While I share your dislike of that kind of deception, I cannot say I don't understand why Twilight felt the need to do it."

Applejack looked at her alabaster friend with a somewhat indignant look, but was prevented from saying anything when Pinkie started to speak up.

"Yeah! I mean...if she just told us from the start that she had all this weird future stuff in her head and was trying to change history and the world...we'd have though she was completely and utterly bonkers or something!"

Those words, in Pinkie's usual style, were accompanied by a number of over-the-top reactions, including exaggerated and twirly eyes on her part. But Applejack, ignoring such antics, kept her eyes on Rarity as she spoke in a serious tone.

"That's as well as maybe, Rares...but friends trust each other. And if Twilight didn't trust us with the truth...well..."

She didn't finish her words, but then, she didn't need to, for the implication was as clear as day. More to the point, it was an opinion that Rainbow seemed to take great offense at, as she approached her farm friend with a glare.

"Twilight is our friend, Applejack! From day one, she's been doing nothing but helping us! No matter what problem Ponyville and Equestria has had to face, she's been dealing with it. Helping you on your farm, helping me with my sonic rainboom. Stopping the dragon, stopping Sombra, stopping...stopping everything that's tried to do bad stuff! If she didn't care about us, she wouldn't have bothered with any of that stuff!"

The orange mare took in each of those words and, naturally, had a hard time thinking up a counter argument to it. But, while those four mares had been bickering amongst themselves, Fluttershy had been silent, never letting her eyes stray from Rainbow. But now, she finally spoke, and her voice still had a measure of hurt to it.

"Rainbow...she killed."

The cyan pegasus looked to her oldest friend, and saw, to her horror, that there were tears in her eyes. Instantly, Rainbow knew what was going on in Fluttershy's mind, as Twilight's confession at having effectively slaughtered the timberwolves was, perhaps, the biggest shock of that entire confession of hers. And Fluttershy, above all else, loved animals. Granted, the animals in question had been plaguing any pony who so much as looked at the Everfree over the centuries, as Applejack's family could easily attest to, but even so, they were still animals, and Twilight's treatment of them had been the straw that broke the camel's back for Fluttershy. To her, treating any creature, even a dangerous one, in such a manner was a sin that simply could not be forgiven, and Rainbow, knowing her better than any other pony in Ponyville, found herself softening her expression considerably. Silence fell in the room as Applejack, Rarity and Pinkie Pie kept on glancing from one mare to the other, and eventually, Rainbow found herself walking up to her old friend before slowly and gently placing a hoof upon her shoulder. When she spoke again, her words were far softer and more considerate than they had been before.

"I know she did. And I know you'll probably never forgive her for that. And...I'm not asking you to forgive her."

Fluttershy turned from her, shutting her eyes tightly as a single one of her built-up tears started to fall down her cheek. Seeing this, Rainbow looked around, seeing the many still animals around them, and knew exactly what she needed to say to her friend.

"But...this isn't about forgiveness, Flutters. Ponyville has a problem right now. A big one. The animals...heck, even some of the ponies, are in trouble."

Opening her eyes again, Fluttershy turned to her friend, before glancing around at each and every one of her animals, with her gaze eventually locking onto Angel specifically. Seeing her beloved rabbit so without activity broke her heart to see it, and her breath caught in her throat, for she knew that nothing she had been doing to help was having any effect. Instead, she turned to Rainbow once more as the latter continued.

"Twilight has done her best to solve every problem this town, and each of us, has faced. If nothing else…we owe her for that, big time…at least enough to try and talk to her again. We can't handle this, Fluttershy...but...you know that Twilight can."

Fluttershy frowned at that, albeit in a smaller way than before, as her friend kept on speaking.

"Whatever else you might feel about her...aren't you at least willing to have Twilight back just...just to fix this?"

The other mares watched in complete and total silence, not only seeing Fluttershy take in Rainbow's words, but also thinking them over themselves. Several minutes passed, and still, the silence continued. Eventually, and after a great deal of mental back-and-forth of her part, Fluttershy let out a sigh, though still looking somewhat upset. Slowly, she began to walk away from Rainbow, all while the latter kept her eyes on her the whole time. After staring at her back for a few more moments, Rainbow listened as Fluttershy began to speak up, her voice bearing a stern edge to it.

"Rainbow...could you please help me write a letter?"