Fluttershy lay in her bed that night, unable to sleep. She stretched and ran her hooves through her mane. She was so confused. What were these feelings she was having? And why did she have them for Vinyl Scratch?

Because she's hot!

Fluttershy squeaked in fear and hid under her blankets. Who said that?

I did. Or rather, you did.

Fluttershy thought, Who are you?

The voice, which matched hers, answered. You. Or rather another you. An alternate you.

I don't understand.

I am simply your alternate persona. The one created with Iron Will's techniques. The one who doesn't get pushed around. The one who takes what she wants.

I thought that was just a... a p-p-personality flaw. Are you saying...that there's another me?

Sort of. Although, I'm not mean. To you at least. We share the same head, and the same thoughts. I wish you no harm. I just...like to be in control once in a while. Make things go how I want them to.

Is that why you...made me kiss Vinyl Scratch?

Her other self chuckled in her mind. Oh no darling, that was you. Don't you get it? I AM you. Sure, a different you, but you nonetheless. I still care for Angel, and all the other animals of the forest, I just don't care for their petty bologna. If Angel doesn't eat his lettuce, he doesn't eat.

So...You're saying that I really am...attracted to Vinyl?

That's exactly what I'm saying. Good. You're catching on... I'm tired now. If I don't take control, I can't use the energy that your body stores. And I wouldn't want to hurt you. Or me. Same thing. I'll leave you to your thoughts. For a little while at least.

Fluttershy shuddered. It was strange, having another you, inside you. So, were her feelings for Vinyl hers, or hers? Oh, it was so stressful, trying to figure this out!

She sighed. She guessed she would have to confront Vinyl about it. But what would she say? Did...did she want something like that with her? She never noticed anyone in that manner before, not even any of the colts. She thought for a little while.

I guess Vinyl is...attractive. Her hair has a nice style, I suppose. It reminds me of the sky and lakes near my house. And the birds and fish that live there. And her ruby-red eyes sparkle and contrast nicely with her electric blue mane. And those violet shades of hers add an air of mystery. Oh dear.

Fluttershy had started to blush, and was feeling a little warm. She guessed Vinyl was still up. It wasn't that late. She got up from her bed, and went to go have a chat with the red-eyed vixen.

Meanwhile, Applejack had been lying on her cot, with Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash. Applejack opened her eyes, and was staring at her lover. Her short-ish mane had partially covered her right eye. She reached out, slowly, delicately, and brushed it away. Rainbow did not stir.

Applejack sighed. She loved that mare. There was no question about that. She was just worrying. Worrying that her love wasn't returned. That she was just a plaything. She...she had to make sure. She reached over, and gently shook the shoulder of the mare next to her.

Rainbow's eyes popped open, along with her wings, in surprise.

" Sorry fer wakin' yah. Ah...Ah just had something on my mind, and I couldn't wait another second. Ah just have to ask you something. " Applejack explained.

Rainbow yawned, and replied, " Sure AJ, anything for you. What's up? "

Applejack hesitated, noticeably. " Erm...Oh, it's gonna sound stupid! And it might offend you... I don't want to lose you. "

" Oh come on AJ, it can't be that bad. I doubt I could ever willingly separate myself from you. " Rainbow Dash chuckled.

" Well... Ah was wonderin'... Erm. Do you...love me? I mean, really, truly love me? I'm not just a plaything for your amusement, am I? " Applejack said. Her eyes started to water.

Rainbow Dash stared for a second, open-mouthed. She spoke, " Oh Applejack! Of course! Of course I love you... " She brushed away the single tear that was forming in Applejack's eye with the lightest stroke of a wing. " I would never have made my promise to you if I didn't love you. I'd do anything for you AJ, anything. As a symbol of my faith to you, and only you, I want you to have this. "

Rainbow Dash then got up from the cot. Applejack turned around. Rainbow extended her wings toward Applejack.

Applejack was confused. She even said so, " Rainbow...what in tarnation are you doing? "

Rainbow had her head down. " The single greatest joy to any pegasus, anywhere, is flying. Feeling the breeze in your face, your mane, your wings. A pegasus' wings are their single greatest possessions. To a normal pegasus, there is nothing more valuable. " She explained.

Applejack's confusion remained. " That doesn't explain anything. "

Rainbow sighed inwardly. " It means... It means I trust and love you Applejack. Pegasus feathers are tough stuff, and hard, if not impossible to grow back once lost. I... I want you to take a feather... Any feather. Five feathers, ten, take them all! Whatever it takes to prove myself to you. "

AJ was stunned. " You... you'd rather have me than not fly? But, you love flying! Your dream, before this whole war started, was to be one of the Wonderbolts! You're...you're saying you love me more than flying...wow... "

AJ was lost in her thoughts for a little bit. Rainbow Dash coughed in that hey-I'm-still-here way.

" Oh! Sorry Rainbow. You just startled me. I'm sorry! I apologize. I'm sorry for asking you to prove yourself! I never should have done it. It's just that, with...with what happened to Big Mac, I didn't want to get hurt no more. Please, I don't want to hurt you! Ever. "

" Applejack, just take a feather. I was going to offer anyway. Please...take a feather. Once offered, it's the worst thing to be rejected. Take it. And take care of it. "

Applejack then reached her mouth forward, and clamped onto a single feather on Rainbow's right wing. She tugged.

It was the worst pain Rainbow Dash had ever felt. What was really two or three seconds felt painfully stretched into minutes. She was a pony of the air. She wasn't supposed to lose her feathers. No pegasus was. But the pain was outweighed by the love she felt for Applejack. And that's what she kept telling herself. For Applejack. For Applejack. For Applejack... Applejack!

Finally, and abrubtly, the pain came to a swift end as Rainbow collapsed onto the cot, huffing, next to Applejack, who still had the feather in her mouth. The feather radiated the colors of the rainbow. Applejack could literally feel the love embedded within the feather. It mad her sad that Rainbow had lost such a valuable thing. But also very happy, that she was the mare that Rainbow chose to give it to.

She cried, but only two tears, one out of each eye. A tear of sorrow and loss, for the small sacrifice Rainbow had made, and one of joy; she finally knew, without a doubt, that Rainbow was that one special pony that she would be with forever. The tears slowly slid down her face, and fell onto the bare spot that once held the magnificent feather that Applejack now held within her mouth.

Then, as the tears, of sorrow and joy, sadness and pleasure, hit the spot where the feather should have been, there were the tiniest sparks of light. A new feather began to form! Rainbow looked up in surprise. And happiness.

" I guess it's true. What they say. " She said.

" And what might that be? " Applejack asked.

" That true love really does make them come back. "

The two mares stared into each other's eyes for a moment. Dashing, challenging pink met a tender, warm green. Rainbow Dash and Applejack both felt happier than they had in a long time, possibly ever. The couple climbed back into bed. Applejack got on top of Rainbow Dash, snuggling up under her chin, while Rainbow wrapped both wings around Applejack, making Applejack feel warm and safe.

Feel protected.

Feel loved.

Next Chapter: Chapter 12: Fluttershy confronts Vinyl Estimated time remaining: 18 Minutes