Everypony crowded in the center of the train, with the exclusion of Peter and Rainbow Dash, who were currently sleeping on the hammock, a cyan wing covering Peter as they napped, and Spike as well, who was currently napping in his small basket. The five friends talked in hushed voices, Twilight asking the most prominent question.

"How should we wake them up?"

"Uh, Twilight-"

"I mean, should we just tell them that dinner's ready, and ignore the fact that they're sleeping together? Again?"

"Twilight, please-"

"Ah think we should just ask them about it. Y'know, just wake them up and have that be the first thing we ask 'em?"

"Applejack, I'm not exactly sure they would appreciate us being so upfront about it."

"Alright, Twi', it's your call. Rarity, have you got an idea?"

"Well, Applejack, I do. I think we should just go with what Twilight said: we should wake them up and ignore it.”

“Everypony, listen to me.”

They all looked at Fluttershy, shocked by her sudden assertiveness.

“I don’t think any of you understand what’s going on here.”

Twilight chuckled lightly.

“Uh, I think we do. Rainbow Dash is best friends with Peter. We should just-”

“No, Twilight. Not best friends. She feels like she’s more than that, but whether Peter does or not is a different story.”

Everypony exchanged glances, immediately questioning Fluttershy as to what she meant.

“It’s Pegasus culture. The wing hug is one of the most intimate gestures ever performed in Pegasus history. It marks the beginning of a…relationship. And, maybe Rainbow Dash doesn’t mean it like that, I don’t know either way. But, if she does, then the two of them must not eat until tomorrow, but instead, spend time together, asleep or awake. Basically, we need to wake them up, and then leave them alone. If Rainbow Dash comes down for dinner, then we know that she’s just friends with him.”

Everypony looked up at the hammock, confusion coursing through them.

“But…that makes no sense! No food for the rest of the day?”

“None. It’s a mark of devotion. I’ll wake them up, and see if she comes down.”

Fluttershy bit her lower lip as she ascended, her suspicions proved correct.

Oh, my...are they...?

"Wake up, sleepyheads..."

She gently nudged the both of them in turn, repeating her call to the conscious world.

"It's time to wake up, you two!"

Peter was the first to stir, grunting as he opened his eyes.

"Oh...hey, Fluttershy..."

Fluttershy cast a look at Rainbow Dash.

"Rainbow Dash...it's time to wake up, sleepyhead..."

Peter shook his head slightly, and removed his arm from around Rainbow Dash. Fluttershy gulped as the sleeping Pegasus' tightened around Peter, the wing hug pulling herself closer to him.

"I've got this, Fluttershy..."

"Alright...just, when you wake her up, come down for dinner, okay?"

"Will do."

The yellow Pegasus backed off slightly, watching as Peter turned onto his side, struggling under the wing. When he was facing the cyan Pegasus, he placed a hand on he shoulder and shook her lightly, whispering something into her ear. After about a half a minute, Rainbow Dash finally opened her eyes, and Fluttershy descended, patiently awaiting their descents.

She opened her eyes to see Peter smirking, wide awake after the rejuvenating nap.

"Well, good morning, 'Dash. Took you long enough to wake up."

She blinked, staring at Peter, emotions and thoughts thundering through her head.

Keep him here...show him how much you care...

No, don't...he might take it wrong...

How could he possibly take it wrong? He said that you can tell him anything. Just tell him how you feel.

No, I can't...what if he doesn't feel the same way?

Why do I feel for him in the first place? Is it because of how much he cared in the hospital, or is it because of how he saved me from the dreams...what is it?

No...it's because I can tell him anything...because he listened to me in the hospital, and I feel as though I can truly be myself with him...

She drew him tighter in the embrace, a knot forming in her stomach as he raised an eyebrow, obviously concerned.

"Rainbow Dash...are you okay?"

The Pegasus drew all the courage she could muster, and said this:

"Yes…just….don’t leave…please…”

She closed her eyes tight, embarrassed at her inability to tell Peter why he shouldn’t leave.

I’m…scared…

“Then…How am I supposed to eat?”

“Just…please…don’t…stay here with me…until tomorrow morning…just, skip dinner and desert…I will too…just, please, stay here…”

“What? That’s ridiculous! I’m going to eat, whether you want me to or not!”

A single tear came to Rainbow Dash’s eye, but she held it back, just as she held Peter back, tightening her embrace on him.

Oh, Celestia…why can’t I tell him?

“Peter, just…stay here, please...”

“Why?”

She opened her eyes, and a few tears came forth, the lids no longer holding them back.

“I…I can’t tell you…just…please, stay here, please, don’t leave me, Peter…”

Peter stopped struggling, and looked Rainbow Dash directly in the eyes, wiping away the tears as they fell. He put a hand on the side of her face, and the Pegasus started crying, the idea that Peter had almost rejected her, and a raw fear coursing through her.

“Rainbow Dash…you can tell me anything. Anything.”

She gulped, but didn’t close her eyes, trying to show him what she wanted to say through her eyes.

Peter…I want to be with you…forever…I feel at home with you, I feel…happy, with you…

She tried to say it, but all that came out was a whimper and a tear. She just couldn’t tell him.

Peter put both of his arms around her and held her close, bringing her into a sitting position as he sat upright. She hooked her other wing around him, and pulled him back down.

There’s no way that you’re getting away from me…I want you, Peter…

“Rainbow Dash...why are you keeping me here?”

She choked on the words.

Because I like you as much, much more than a friend…and I want you to be mine…

“You can tell me, Rainbow Dash.”

She finally found a way to tell him, albeit in a roundabout way.

“Because then…it wouldn’t be complete…”

However, that brought more questions.

“What wouldn’t be complete? What are we doing?”

She closed her eyes again, and pressed herself even closer to Peter, both of her wings helping her do so.

“I’ll…I’ll tell you in the morning…just, please, don’t…don’t leave me…”

She heard peter sigh, but then felt him hold her closer, rubbing her back.

“Alright, Rainbow Dash…I’ll stay with you. And I’ll always stay with you.”

She felt the knot in her stomach explode, as well as a bubble of joy in her heart. She sniffed, and rubbed her head on Peter’s shoulder, her bottom hooves almost touching his feet.

But…he’s a human…and I’m a pony…this is…odd…

She smiled to herself, remembering Pinkie Pie’s words.

It doesn’t matter…feelings are feelings…just like Spike likes Rarity…I can like Peter…

“Thank you, Peter…this means…so much to me…”

“Any time, Rainbow Dash…”

She grinned.

“So, while we’re together like this, is there anything you want to talk about, Rainbow Dash?”

Thank you, Fluttershy…

The yellow Pegasus ate in silence, dreading the moment that Peter finally broke free of Rainbow Dash’s grip…

Rainbow Dash wants you to be her stallionfriend, Peter…please, stay with her…

She sighed, realizing how ridiculous it was.

They’ve known each other for less than a week…and already, Rainbow Dash is…trying to be with him…this may end up going horribly wrong…

She gulped, realizing how much was truly at stake here.

“Oh, look! Peter’s stopped trying to get out!”

The exclamation came as a hushed whisper from Twilight, who was pointing a hoof up at the hammock.

“Oh, my…this is truly wondrous! I truly hope that it works out alright…”

Fluttershy choked on her words, her sentence echoing in her mind.

Me, too, Rarity…me, too…

“Pinkie Pie, Ah thought you said that Rainbow Dash wasn’t lyin’ before?”

“Maybe she didn’t know yet. Or maybe…it’s more than just a crush.”

Everypony exchanged a hurried glance at the sudden idea.

“Oh, mah…what if it is more than a crush?”

“I doubt it is, Applejack. Rainbow Dash is more level-headed than that.”

“Twilight, we’re dealing with the old Rainbow Dash here. Not the Rainbow Dash we know.”

Everypony grunted, Fluttershy having just explained who the old Rainbow Dash was.

They continued to stare up at the hammock, Pinkie Pie rummaging around in her mane.

“Hey, everypony…if Peter stays with her until morning, I’ll throw a surprise party a minute after midnight!”

Fluttershy blinked.

“Oh, my, Pinkie, that’s…a wonderful idea!”

Pinkie smiled, and stalked away into a corner, where she re-arranged the cake she and Spike had made.

“But, you’ll have to do it more than once…this ritual carries on for two days…”

“Alright! More partying!”

She continued re-arranging the cake, a huge smile spreading over her face.

“I, for one, think this is just blegh!”

“Spike, shut up.”

“Whoa, Twilight, harsh.”

“Really?”

“Yep. I love running.”

“Well, I have a feeling that we’re going to get along just fine!”

“Given that I don’t pass out in the first mile.”
“Heh…”

“Are you sure that you’re okay?”

She smiled.

Always there for me…

“Yeah, I’m sure.”

“…Alright. Anyway, what about you? What do you do in your spare time, besides nap and fly?”

“Well, I…that’s about it.”
“What? You’ve got to do more than that. I mean, you’re awesome! You should be able to do anything!”
Her heart skipped a beat.
He thinks I’m awesome…
“Heheh…thanks…well, there is one thing that I do. I’m…a black belt in martial arts.”

“Really? That’s…awesome!”

“You really think so?”

“Hell yeah!”

She nuzzled his shoulder lightly.

“Thanks…”

She shivered as he lightly preened her, loving every second of it.

“Peter…I think I’m ready to tell you what the…‘ritual’, is…”

Peter kept pruning her, a knot forming in his stomach.

“It’s to…start a relationship…”

Peter pulled back slightly, a look of incredulity contorting his features.

“What?”

“It’s to start a relationship, Peter…I want to…be with you…”

Peter blinked, and frowned.

“Rainbow Dash, look, I appreciate it, but…I don’t think either of us are quite ready for this…”

Rainbow Dash looked up at him, feeling as though a spike had been driven through her heart.

“But…but…”

“And whether you know it or not, I doubt that you mean it. You’re just…grateful, for what happened in the hospital.”

“Peter…”

“I’m sorry, Rainbow Dash…I’m going to have to say no…”

The cyan Pegasus removed her wings from his sides, and started crying hysterically, tears streaming unbidden down her face.

“But….But…I’m READY, Peter! I want to be with you!”

Peter suddenly felt something new, something accompanying the feelings he already had for Rainbow Dash…

“Never talk to me again!”

Time slowed down. Rainbow Dash turned, her rainbow tail slapping Peter in the face.

And then, his heart picked up speed, his arm thrust forwards, and his hand clamped shut on the tail, the same one that had just smacked him in the face.

And, as time resumed its normal pace, Peter grabbed Rainbow Dash around the torso, and hugged her harder than he had ever hugged anyone before.

“Rainbow Dash…I’m sorry…I wasn’t thinking…”

He pulled away, just enough to raise his hands to the sides of her face, wiping away the tears that fell.

“I’m ready. Let’s…let’s complete the ritual, Rainbow Dash.”

Her wings immediately spanned out and consumed him, the tears continuing to flow, even as he hugged her harder and harder, about one hundred million things thundering through his head.

What have I gotten myself into…

How did this happen? We’ve known each other for less than a week…

This must be more than a crush, but it’s definitely less than…love.

But then…what is it?

And why do we feel it for each other?

Wait…

Why am I questioning this?

This is…amazing!

I’m going to be in a relationship with Rainbow Dash…

I couldn’t ask for anything more.

Forget the Doctor.

I can defend her.

And I will defend her.

…

What have I gotten myself into!?

All questions ceased as Rainbow Dash fell unconscious in his arms, her tears still flowing.

“It’s okay, Rainbow Dash…it’s okay…we’re going to be the greatest couple ever…just you watch…”

She rubbed up against him, and Peter rubbed up against her, loving every second of it as he preened her, holding her head in the crook of his neck.

I’ve gotten myself into something wondrous…

Everypony, except for Spike, stared up at the hammock, eagerly awaiting the results.

“Wait…what’s he doing?”

Fluttershy watched even more attentively, dreading that Peter was rejecting her.

She was right.

“No…he can’t be…”

“He is. He’s going to hurt Dashie. I’m going to hurt him.”

“Pinkie, calm down. We can’t let ‘im hear us.”

“Wait…watch…”

“Ah guess he had a change in heart?”

“Maybe he didn’t realize it about himself?”

“Perhaps…I don’t know.”

“Wait, Fluttershy…if the ritual is interrupted, is it ended?”

“No. It goes on.”

“Good…”

Everypony watched on in silence, Pinkie Pie eagerly awaiting her chance to launch the surprise cannon.

“You almost rejected me, Peter…”

“And I’ll never make that mistake again…”

It had been about two hours since his ridiculous blunder, and he had no intentions of breaking the ritual.

“Peter…we have to do this every night for the next week…y’know, going without dinner, and sharing a wing hug? If we don’t, we won’t be a true couple…”

“I’d do this every night, even if we didn’t have to…”

Rainbow Dash nuzzled him again, and Peter kept preening her.

“Peter…when I said that a Pegasus’ wings are very sensitive…I also meant that…when they’re touched by another pony, or by any living thing…it’s a very intimate connection.”

“How intimate?”

“The most intimate in Pegasus history.”

“Really?”

“Yeah…”

Peter kissed her on the forehead, smiling.

“Well…I love it.”

“So do I…”

They stayed silent for a small amount of time, Peter repeatedly kissing her on the forehead, the both of them simply enjoying each other’s presence.

Finally, after about an hour, Rainbow Dash spoke once more, her voice small.

“Say what you said in the hospital…”

“What?”

“All of it…”

Peter smiled, and kissed her on the forehead again.

“You’re beautiful, Rainbow Dash. And I’ll never leave you.”

He gulped. He couldn’t bring himself to say ‘I love you’. Not yet.

We’re only dating…I don’t love her to the point of full love, but I…I still love her…ugh, I don’t know…this is difficult…

“Good…”

She nuzzled up against him, and Peter up hugged her closer.

“Rainbow Dash…this is…”

He swallowed, the word not coming to him.

“Scary?”

“Exactly.”

She nodded.

“I know what you mean…I mean, this is happening so…so, fast…we’ve known each other for less than a week…and already, we’re a couple…or almost a couple…”

Peter kissed her on the forehead.

“But it’s also amazing, Rainbow Dash…it’s amazing, and it’s wonderful…and in all honesty…I just can’t wait until the ritual is over…”

Rainbow Dash pulled back, feeling somewhat insulted.

“Why? I thought you were...enjoying this…”

“I don’t mean it like that…I mean, I can’t wait until we’re officially a couple…y’know, in Pegasus culture.”

Rainbow Dash pulled herself closer to him, and nuzzled his shoulder again.

“Good…”

“But at the same time, I don’t want the ritual to ever end…because it’s just so amazing…”

“We don’t have to stop doing this…”

Peter nodded.

“True, true…”

They stayed in the same position for about three hours, and then fell asleep.

However, at a minute after midnight, they were awoken by the loudest bang they had ever heard in their entire lives.