Rainbow Dash was relaxing peacefully on one of her many cloud beds over Ponyville, basking in the warm rays of the sun. She didn't know how long she'd been laying there, and she honestly didn't care. She took in a deep breath and sat up, stretching her legs and wings. While she did enjoy napping frequently and sitting around, what made her her was flying. The freedom, the speed, the adrenaline, it made her feel more alive than anything in the world.

She opened her wings and sped off her floating mattress like a rocket, leaving her signature rainbow trail behind her. The cool air rushed through her mane and feathers as she put on an awesome aerial show for her fans as only she could. She sped through numerous clouds as she performed, the moisture tickling her skin. Several corkscrews, loop-de-loops, and spin-o-ramas later, she stopped short over the center of Ponyville and congratulated herself. She waited to hear the cheers from her adoring fans, who would no doubt be grateful for the awesome display she just put on for them.

Nothing came. She opened her boastful eyes and looked below, expecting to see a bustling populace going about their usual business in Town Square, but It was a ghost town. She hunched over and grunted in annoyance. She didn't know, or frankly care, why nopony was around. She needed to hear the citizens chanting her name. She wasn't just some nopony; she was Rainbow Dash, the fastest, most awesome flier - no, pony - in all of Equestria! What good would it be to show off from time to time if nopony was around?

One thing she knew better than anypony though, save for maybe Applejack, was that being so amazing at what you did, particular if it was physical in nature, made you work up one fierce appetite. She glanced over the abandoned town once more, shrugged, and headed to Sugarcube Corner to meet up with her favorite pranking pal. After being snubbed by the empty city, she needed to find somepony to mess around with to pick her spirits back up to where they had been when she started her high-flying acrobatics.

She entered the bakery upon landing, expecting to see the usual crowd that partook of Pinkie's incredible sugary delicacies on a regular basis, but it was empty here too. In a way, that was fine with her. It meant she got first pick of the treats!

Pinkie popped up from behind the counter, her big bright smile greeting the pegasus. There was something.. off about how the party pony looked though. Aside from her typically big, curly hair being draped down the side of her face, her blue eyes looked rather lifeless and strangely small. Granted, she knew that Pinkie wasn't with them anymore, but she had always figured all that energy would give her the means to be bouncing off the walls, wherever she may be. She did seem to be able to do the most unusual things at will. Why would being dead stop her?

"Hi, Rainbow! What's going on?"

"Hey Pinkie," she said warmly, "nothing much. Was just showing off a bit for the ponies at Town Square, except there weren't any ponies at Town Square for some reason." The pegasus looked away glumly, remembering the lack of appreciation and recognition. "What do you have to eat?"

Pinkie reached under the counter, her rump shaking in the air as she dug around, and pulled out a fresh tray of cupcakes. "How's this? Just made them!"

Her confectionery delights always smelled and tasted so good, and this batch was no exception. Rainbow gobbled up the entire lot and let out a satisfying belch. "Aah.. those were almost as awesome as me, Pinkie. How much?"

She waved a hoof dismissively, "No worries, I got ya covered."

"You sure? Wow, thanks! Hey, what are you doing later? Want to go pull some pranks?" Rainbow asked with anticipation.

"I'm not doing anything really. Being dead kinda leaves you with a lot of time on your hooves!" Pinkie quipped.

The joy in Rainbow's eyes melted into sorrow and she hung her head sadly. "Pinkie, I'm really sorry about everything that happened. I-I wish I could go back and fix everything," she said, holding back tears. "We were always so used to saving the day all the time, y'know? Then, this happens."

Rainbow sighed and glanced away regrettably, unable to even look at Pinkie as she poured her heart out.

"Meh, what are you gonna do? But I am in the mood for some pranks," she gasped, "and I have a great one in mind! You'll love it! It's a real killer!"

The pegasus perked her wings up, eager to have some laughs with her departed friend one last time. "Oh yeah? Who'd you have in mind? What're we gonna do?"

Pinkie innocently looked away with her shrunken, vacant eyes, "It's a surprise! But," she leaned in closely, "I heard earlier there was another surprise up in Cloudsdale, just for you!"

Rainbow cocked an eyebrow, "For me? What is it?"

"Oh, I'm not going to spoil it! Trust me, you'll just die over it! Go on ahead, I'll meet you there!"

"Uh, you do remember that only pegasi and ponies with a cloud-walking spell on them can walk on the clouds, right? How do you expect to meet me there?" Rainbow asked confusedly.

"Because I'm Pinkie Pie! Duh!"

Knowing better than to argue logic with the party pony, Rainbow just shook her head and chuckled, "Well, OK, I'll see you there I guess?" Pinkie Pie nodded and continued smiling, slightly creeping Rainbow out. The pegasus left the establishment and flew off in the direction of Cloudsdale.

The pegasus capital was as deserted as Ponyville was. She checked around everywhere looking for some signs of whatever could be considered a surprise, aside from the lack of ponies. She stumbled upon the entrance to where her idols, the Wonderbolts, routinely met and trained.

She took a step toward the doorway when Spitfire, Soarin', Blaze, Fleetfoot and Silver Lining stepped out. Rainbow smiled so wide, her cheeks almost cramped up.

"Well, the legendary Rainbow Dash! We were looking for you earlier," Spitfire said with a sly grin. "We didn't know where to find you, so we asked your friends to have you stop by. Looks like you got the word."

Rainbow's smiled changed slightly into a look of shock, "You were looking for.. for me?"

"Yep! We've been talking for a while, and we know what you're capable of. We'd be honored if you were to become the newest member of the Wonderbolts!" Spitfire offered.

"Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!"

They laughed at her enthusiasm, "We had a feeling you'd say yes. Oh yeah, by the way.. " Spitfire began to say before she and the others started expanding like balloons. They burst into confetti and streamers in front of Rainbow Dash, turning her elation into utter confusion.

"Surprise!" Pinkie screamed, popping out of what used to be the Wonderbolt captain.

"Pinkie? Where're the Wonderbolts? What's going on?"

"Oh, they were never here. What'd you think of my prank? Super awesome, right?" she said, still beaming like she was at Sugarcube Corner.

Rainbow's mouth hung open, her recent joy totally replaced by depression. Tears started flowing down her cheeks, having witnessed her wildest dream smashed right in front of her. "That was your prank? That's no prank, that's just.. cruel! You know how I've wanted to join the Wonderbolts since the first time I watched them perform! Why would you do that?"

"Aww, you didn't like my prank," Pinkie said, disappointed. She continued to grin wildly instead of pouting at her failed attempt at humor. "That's OK! I'm still game for some fun!"

"I'm not exactly in the mood for fun right now, Pinkie," Rainbow snarled. "That hurt. A lot."

"I wasn't asking your permission," the pink pony declared, looking down her own nose at the rainbow-maned mare. Cloudsdale suddenly faded out of existence and Pinkie plummeted to the ground.

"WEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.......!"

Rainbow caught herself as the ground vanished and hovered there, watching the city disappear in front of her. She gasped, realizing in an instant that her flightless friend was falling and snapped her head down. She was nowhere in sight.

"What the..?"

"...eeeeeeeeeeeeEEEEEEEEEE!" Pinkie slammed onto Rainbow's back from out of the blue, knocking the wind out of her and causing them both to fall several feet before she was able to right herself. Pinkie sat up on her friend's back as if she wore a saddle.

"What the hay, Pinkie?!" she yelled.

"What did you expect? It hurts when heavy things land on you," Pinkie retorted.

Rainbow wasn't sure what hurt more now, Pinkie landing on top of her or the knife she just twisted. Sorrowfully, she looked away. Physical pain will always eventually go away. The other kind, not so much.

"Aw, come on, Dashie! We're still gonna have some fun! Now, show me what you got! HEEYAH!" she cried out, slapping Rainbow on her flank. The pegasus took off with sudden breakneck speed, her wings seemingly having a mind of their own.

"Piiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinkieeeeeeeeeeeee!"

Twilight sat at her desk with a few books on the floor next to her. The candle she lit was mostly gone at this point. The circles under her eyes were starting to get heavy and the bed was looking inviting. She hadn't found any new information to help her determine if her suspicions may hold any water.

Rainbow suddenly lifted into the air, the blanket flopping onto the floor. Twilight spun around and noticed the bundle laying by the bed. The flapping of wings overhead grabbed her attention. The cyan pegasus was laying on her side, her back to the unicorn, hovering in midair.

"Rainbow? What're you doing?"

She didn't answer. Curious, Twilight trotted to the other side of the bed. She did a double-take when she came face to face with her friend. Her eyes were closed and she was snoring peacefully.

"Woohoooooo! This is awesome, Rainbow Dash! I understand why you love it so much!" Pinkie yelled over the rushing wind.

Rainbow struggled against her wings, but to no avail. No matter how hard she would try to stop flexing them, they refused to listen. "Pinkie! What did you do to me?! I can't stop!"

The pink mare laughed, "Isn't it great? But I know you can go faster, Dashie! You're the only one to ever perform a Sonic Rainboom! Come on, let's see it!" She leaned forward with her tongue hanging out. She squinted hungrily, grabbing onto Rainbow's ear and cocked it back and forth. It locked into place on the back of her head and the pegasus' speed increased dramatically. Their bodies coned and shattered the sound barrier, blasting a ring of colors into the air and leaving a rainbow in their wake. A similar pink trail left by Pinkie's mane dragged above it.

"YEAH! GOGOGOGOGOGOGO!"

Rainbow's sleeping body suddenly flew to the other side of the room, crashing into a bookshelf. The loud noise jolted Spike awake.

"Gah! Wh-what was that?!" he cried in panic. A body whooshed past his head and he ducked quickly. He looked up and saw Rainbow Dash flying around the room recklessly, knocking over everything it came into contact with that wasn't nailed down. She was clawing and kicking at the air, unconsciously trying to hold onto something.

"Twilight, what's going on?!"

"I don't know! She's asleep!" the unicorn yelled. "Rainbow! Wake up!"

Spike tossed his basket aside and ran upstairs to the balcony. He tried to jump on the sleeping mare as she flew by, but was knocked away head first into a wall as he collided with her. Twilight ran over and helped him up. He may have a bump the next day, but was otherwise alright.

Pinkie looked down as the world below her rushed by in a tiny blur. She patted Rainbow on the back of her neck. "OK, Dash, this is just awesome, don't get me wrong. But I know you have more in you! You're the most awesomest pony in Equestria after all, right?" Pinkie cocked her ride's other ear around and locked it into place next to its twin. Rainbow's body exploded with even more speed.

"Piiiiinkieeeee!" Rainbow struggled to scream thanks to the excessive air friction. "I've.. never.. gone.. this.. faaaaaaassst! Sloooow.. doooooown!"

"No way!" Pinkie giggled. "We're sharing a moment! Isn't this exciting?!" Pinkie was unaffected by the ridiculous speed.

Rainbow's cheeks and eyelids flapped violently as she raced across the sky. Her wings were working so hard it felt like they were on fire. The skin on face started to tear against the wind. Bristles from her feathers began to fly off. Strands of her mane were pulled loose and caught on Pinkie's body. She nonchalantly yanked them off and let them go. The strain on her skin and body made Rainbow wince and grunt in pain.

Twilight grabbed onto Rainbow's out-of-control body with her magic, trying to pull her to the floor and stop her from destroying the entire library. Despite having some of the most powerful magic in Equestria, the pegasus still bounced off everything in the building.

Twilight's focus was interrupted by something warm and wet splattering against her cheek and then her chest. She wiped her face and found a string of blood on her hoof. She looked on her chest and found yet another blob of red staining her coat.

She gasped and watched her cyan friend in horror. Every crash into the wall and every dash across the room left a trail of thick red droplets. Unbeknownst to Rainbow, she was groaning and crying out in pain as she darted around the library.

"Help! Somepony help!" Twilight yelled.

"Heeheehee! This is so cool!" Pinkie squealed. "Let's have some more fun, Rainbow! What do ya say?"

The rocketing pegasus was gritting her teeth too hard to respond. She could almost feel her eyes being forced into the backs of their sockets. All of the friction had been holding her eyes open to witness the terrifying rate of speed she was moving at. Her heart was beating almost as fast as she was moving. While Rainbow enjoyed moving like a bullet sometimes, this was too much even for her. The air started tearing away at her eye and their lids, blinding her with her own blood.

"I'm gonna take that as a 'yes'," Pinkie said. She leaned over Rainbow's head and looked her square in her saturated eyes. "I remember a super fun game I used to play with the Cake twins. Wanna know what it is?"

Pinkie sat back on Rainbow's back and suddenly slapped her pink hooves over the cyan mare's eyes. "PEEKABOO!"

"Pin.. kie.. STOP.. !"

The party pony yanked Rainbow's head around, forcing her to turn as if she had reins hooked up to her mouth. Pinkie laughed and carried on as she forced Rainbow to act as her own personal roller coaster. After several loops, twists and turns, the pink mare had her fill of fun for the day.

"OK, Dashie, I'm gonna go. It's been awesome hanging out with you! I'll see you real soon!" Pinkie let go and her straighten mane poofed out into a make-shift parachute. Rainbow spun her head around to see what happened to her insane friend, fighting the speed so as not to snap her neck as she looked. She finally saw Pinkie high above her, waving goodbye with the disturbing grin that never left her face.

Rainbow slowly pushed her gaze ahead of her. It only took her a second to see the ground rapidly coming at her, too fast for her to react in time. Her eyes shrank and she screamed.

The cyan mare's rampage came to a screeching halt as her entire body abruptly folded into itself like an accordian. Every bone shattered and blood squirted out violently from every orifice she had. Her broken, crushed form fell lifelessly to the floor like a beaten rag doll, landing with a sickening squish.

Spike and Twilight grabbed onto each other and screamed.