I decided not to ask either of them directly. Logically, if nothing was wrong and what I saw was actually how it was, then it would be none of my business. But if something was wrong and neither of them had partaken willingly, there would be a strong likelihood that neither of them would be able to tell me what was happening. There was still the slight chance that one or both of them might know, but given the other potential circumstances, that was a chance I didn't want to take.

        Instead I went to Pinkie Pie about it. I knew from experience that, assuming our conversation was private, she would never let word of this slip. And considering her extensive knowledge of Ponyville's social happenings, if the occurrence I had witnessed (which from here forward I will refer to as the "FlutterDash Incident") was genuinely their own choice, Pinkie Pie would be able to immediately confirm this.

        Well, potentially. Pinkie Pie was well-versed, but not omniscient. This conversation would be a well-evaluated gamble, but not a guarantee.

        "Hey, Twilight!" Pinkie squeaked loudly from an upstairs window at Sugar Cube corner. I let myself in, and a moment later Pinkie came bouncing down the stairs. At least she was the same as ever.

        "What's up?"

        "I have something important to ask you," I whisper, "but it has to stay completely secret. Okay?"

        "Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!"

        "Great. Now, is there a room here where we won't be heard?"

        Pinkie led me up to the top floor where her bedroom was.

        "Nopony ever comes up here except me, so you don't have to worry!"

        "Alright then...well, it's like this..." I start to explain, but I don't know how to put it. It's a sensitive topic, and I want to phrase it tactfully. I take a moment to think it over. It soon occurs to me that if I take too long to say something, Pinkie might think I'm Kira. I silently laugh at this thought and just decide to say it.

        "I saw Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy kissing yesterday."

        "OOOH! Love is in the air!"

        "Pinkie, this is serious. Neither of them looked like they had kissed willingly. It was like they had been forced to. I'm worried about them, and maybe I'm just imagining things and it's none of my concern, but aside from the obvious, something about what I saw seemed very off."

        "Twilight Sparkle, are you homophobic?"

        "NO! I have no problem with their personal choices, I just don't think it was a personal choice-"

        "Twilight, it seems someone needs to explain to you the nature of the birds and the other birds."

        "PINKIE! Listen to me. I know I probably sound paranoid right now, but if you saw what I saw, you would be just as worried. There was no love or romance in their eyes. Only fear. Their expressions spoke of shock. Fluttershy looked like she would start crying, and Rainbow Dash looked about ready to have a mental breakdown."

        "In other words, Rainbow Dash tried expressing her feelings towards Fluttershy, and Fluttershy wasn't ready to accept that the feeling was mutual. And now Rainbow Dash is depressed because she messed up and may never get that chance again."

        I sighed. I wasn't particularly upset about Pinkie Pie not believing me. What upset me more was that she was probably right...