After Zephyr returned from Fillydelphia, he learned what had happened while he was gone. When he heard about Rarity and Pinkie getting left behind in pursuit of Applejack for the truth, he visited the fashionista to see if she was alright. To her credit, Rarity was more disgruntled about it than mad but had already lectured Rainbow Dash for leaving her behind with Pinkie.

Huh... I was going to confront Rainbow over it myself if Rarity didn't, but... why does my chest feel empty at the thought? Speaking of, I heard she was taking a few days off from weather duties starting today. Maybe I should visit her house later to see if she's alright.

The other thing that happened a day before he came back was the Apple Family's show-off with the Flim Flam Brothers. When Applejack described their cider machine, she had a slightly stunned look when Zephyr told her it sounded like they made the cider factory into something mobile.

"... An' that's what happened!"

Zephyr had an incredulous look at the contents of Applejack's letter. "If you were just going to write that, why did you even bother?"

"Ah' had to write somethin'! What, you have a better idea?"

"How about something along the lines of 'innovation may be important, but it's also important to keep traditions alive for the sake of our values'. How's that?"

Applejack had a surprised look before switching to an embarrassed one. "Ah' guess that would have been much better." Shaking her head, she scans her farm with a sigh. "That aside, ah'm still cleaning up the aftermath of that 'contest'. It's been difficult, especially with many of our faithful trees getting destroyed in the crossfire..."

"Do... you want me to help? I'm always willing to volunteer." Zephyr could tell a lot of work still needed to be done still.

"That would be greatly appreciated, but yer' not 'volunteering', ah'm 'hiring' you. You jus' got back from that Fillydelphia Concert, no way ah'm making you work for free."

"... If that is how you feel, then I won't argue with your decision." Zephyr remembered the Apple Family stubbornness when it came to rewarding honest work. He had long since given up on fighting against it.

Applejack smiled when she knew he wasn't going to argue about it. "That's the spirit! Come on, let's get started!"

After a few hours of helping, Rarity had decided to show up. "Ah, Zephyr dear! Have you been to visit Rainbow Dash?"

"Huh? Oh, not yet. I've been meaning to, but I wanted to help AJ with her farm first."

"Oh? Haven't you heard? She's in the hospital right now."

To nopony but Zephyr, it sounded like glass shattering as he looked at Rarity with a horrified look. S-she's in the hospital?!

"While things looked bad for a--" Rarity was caught off guard when Zephyr suddenly took off at high speeds towards the hospital. "-- minute... oh dear, perhaps I should have lead with 'she's fine'."

"What's going on?" Applejack came over after hearing the tell-tale sound of a high-speed take-off.

"Oh, I had just told Zephyr Rainbow Dash is in the hospital. He didn't even stick around for me to finish my explanation before he took off like a madpony." Rarity had a thought cross her mind. Could he be..? No, perhaps I should hold off on presuming anything before it becomes more apparent.

When Zephyr reached the hospital, Nurse Redheart was surprised when he came through the doors tired out. "W-which room is Rainbow Dash?"

"Ms. Dash? Furthest room down the left hallway." Zephyr nods at her and, doing his best not to run in the halls, hustled to the room. As curious as his actions made her, Redheart decided not to pry for now.

Rainbow Dash had been growing more and more bored as the day went by. Despite it only being her first day of admittance, she already ran out of ways to entertain herself. This is torture for a Pegasus like me...

That's when she looked at the one thing she had yet to do. The book Twilight had gotten for her, 'Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Stone', lays on the nightstand tempting her. Right as she was about to break and start reading it, she gave a start when the door burst open. "Rainbow!"

"Z-Zephyr?! I was wondering why you didn't show--"

"Are you alright?!" Zephyr had bolted over to her bedside and was looking at her wing with immense concern.

Rainbow huffed a bit. "I'll be fine! Just had an accident practicing a new trick but I'll walk it off as best I can, like usual!"

"Like... usual? But doesn't that imply you always have bad accidents?"

"Well, not always, but I've had plenty and I walked away from them all so I... huh?"

She stopped herself when Zephyr started giving her an immensely frustrated look. "You... you idiot!"

"Why am I an idiot?!"

"Because you're being so RECKLESS! Yes I understand that I'm a fine one to talk, but that's precisely WHY! What if your next 'accident' turns out to be your last?! What if you try to do an overly dangerous trick that'll cripple you for life?!" Rainbow was about to grow angry when she saw the tears in his eyes. "Why... why don't you care more about your own health? There are so many ponies who care about you! Who would be devastated if something were to happen to you!"

It was then Rainbow knew this was nothing like his birthday. Zephyr was mad here, but he sounded so close to breaking down at the same time. It hurt her heart far more than she was expecting, to the point she couldn't even put up an aggressive front. "I'm sorry. I'll... do my best to be more careful in the future."

Zephyr suddenly dropped and laid his forehooves down onto Rainbow's bedside, like he didn't want to go anywhere. "I'll hold you to it..." An awkward silence reigned before he says, "do you... want me to--"

"Mr. Windstorm? I'm afraid visiting hours are over." Doctor Horse had come along to make sure Rainbow got proper bed rest. "I'm sure Nurse Redheart allowed you on account of your panic, but Ms. Dash needs a more relaxing environment."

Though very reluctant, Zephyr conceded. "Alright. I'll... try to visit you tomorrow when I can." With that, he left the room, but shot one more look at Rainbow. No anger remained, just pure concern.

Rainbow was left with very confused thoughts and emotions. Needing to distract herself from it all, she broke down and picked up the book off the nightstand.

As Applejack continued cleaning up debris on her farm and bucking any ripe apple trees in the way, she had noticed something peculiar. On occasion, she'd spot a green feather on the ground as if it was recently shed. The first time she thought nothing of it, but after seeing 3 others she grew worried, knowing who the owner was.

Her instincts were spot-on when she saw an exhausted Zephyr trying to remove some errant dirt piles. While there were no signs of self-abuse, his wings were clearly missing a few feathers. "Sugahcube, you quite alright?"

"Huh? oh, yes... I'll be fine. Just... didn't sleep last night." He stumbles a bit but catches himself.

Now Applejack KNEW he was not fine. "You have been acting weird since you left the farm yesterday. Ah'll have to guess it has something to do with Rainbow? That mare will be fine--"

"How could you be so sure?!" Applejack reared back a bit when Zephyr suddenly snapped at her. "Why do you have such a caviler attitude towards Rainbow having an accident?! It turned out 'fine' this time, but what if the next time she's crippled for life or worse?! Don't you even care about--"

"Big brother, please!" Zephyr cut himself off when Fluttershy suddenly appeared and held his hoof in deep concern. She had a feeling something was going on and she was glad she followed her instincts as a sister. "Snapping at Applejack or your friends won't solve anything! Please calm down!"

After a delay, Zephyr collapsed onto the ground with a despairing look, a feather falling off one of his secondary wings. "I'm... I'm so sorry. My head's been in such a mess and my emotions are everywhere. I... I don't know anything anymore..."

"Ah suppose ah do owe ya' an explanation." Applejack regained her composure after Zephyr calmed down thanks to Fluttershy's presence. "We've seen Rainbow Dash get into accidents and tumbles all the time long before even Twilight showed up. That's why my attitude was 'caviler' as you called it. Truthfully, this is the first bad accident she's had in a long time and it wasn't like we weren't worried when she first got admitted to the hospital. Even so, that mare is so durable, ah' could've sworn she was part Earth Pony if it weren't for her amazing flying."

Fluttershy nuzzles her brother reassuringly. "Scootaloo mentioned to me how stressed you've been today and I couldn't help but be concerned. Don't worry, Twilight and I had visited Rainbow earlier. She's... actually been acting weird."

"You too, Fluttershy? When ah' visited with Rarity and Pinkie Pie, she was acting very strangely as well... maybe Zephyr's worries weren't completely unwarranted."

Zephyr had a thought that made him flinch. "Her... weird behavior might have something to do with me..." Seeing confused looks he clarifies. "I got mad at her in the hospital for being so reckless. But because I had went after visiting hours were already over, I got kicked out in short order..."

"Y-you got mad at her? Why?" Fluttershy, while getting more used to her brother's protective side, was confused as to the reason this particular time.

"I... I don't know. Maybe because my own 'accidents' turned out bad, I got exceedingly worried about her." Zephyr looks down at the ground, ears drooped. "I don't get it... she's the one in actual pain, so why does it feel like I'm the one who's hurt?"

After a bit of silence, Applejack comes over with a smile. "If ya' feel bad about it, you should go an' apologize to Rainbow. Ah'm sure it'll make you both feel better. And before ya' say anything, ah'll be fine with cleaning up. It's almost done anyhow."

Zephyr hesitated before nodding, ears still drooped. "Thank you... and sorry for snapping at you, AJ." With those words Zephyr took off, though not before losing another feather.

Fluttershy grabbed the feather with a worried look. "H-he really has been stressed out..." Seeing Applejack's confusion she shakes her head. "Pegasi and birds are similar in that excess stress causes them to start losing feathers through various reasons. Overpreening, or stress-preening as it's commonly called, tends to be the main reason."

"Well... hopefully he'll feel better after his apology to Rainbow. Though ah' wonder..."

When Zephyr arrived at the hospital once again, Nurse Redheart saw he had excess feather loss. "Oh dear! Are you quite alright?"

"Not really, but... I want to see Rainbow Dash again... if she'll have me..."

"She's still in the same room as before. Don't worry, she seems fine."

Zephyr nodded and went towards the room in question. Right before he opened the door, he heard Rainbow reading out-loud to herself. He slowly opens the door anxiously. "Rainbow?"

Rainbow Dash, not expecting another visitor, fumbled the book she was reading in an attempt to hide it. "Z-Zepher?! That's twice you startled me--"

"I'm sorry..." Rainbow gave Zephyr a surprised look when he sat at her bedside again, this time looking guilty. "I... came unglued at you yesterday when it was... unwarranted. It's just, I was so worried about you that I couldn't help myself. When I heard you were acting strange today, I figured... it was my fault..."

"Nonononono! It wasn't you at all! I was just... preoccupied when my friends all came to visit!"

Despite Zephyr's guilt, some of it got replaced with curiosity. "Preoccupied with a good book?"

"I-I have no idea what you're--" She squeaked when Zephyr pulled out the poorly-hidden book from behind her pillow. "I wasn't reading it! I'm not an egghead!"

Zephyr had a stunned look for a long time as Rainbow crossed her forehooves in an attempt to look standoffish. She gave a start when Zephyr slowly started laughing. Despite the situation, it was such a 'Rainbow Dash' reaction he couldn't help himself. "I-I'm sorry. I'm not laughing at you, Rainbow. It's more so out of... relief, I guess."

"Relief? Why would you laugh out of relief?"

"Because despite everything, it's still you! You're one of the few ponies who WOULD have a reaction like that and... it relieved me that you haven't changed despite being stuck in here." Rainbow felt her heart flutter at Zephyr's smile. "Anyways, who told you that books are only for 'eggheads'?"

"Nopony. I-it's just what I've always thought!"

Zephyr couldn't help but chuckle more. "Oh? And here I thought I was going to hunt somepony down and make them write a self-reflective essay on how they shouldn't deceive ponies." Shaking his head, he gives the book back to a stunned Rainbow. "Jokes aside, not all books make you an 'egghead', Rainbow. In fact, I figured this kind of book is right up your alley. Now if you had taken interest in ACADEMIC writings and books, then I would've been concerned."

Rainbow felt an immense weight lifted off her shoulders, but there was still one point of concern. "Thank you for understanding, but... please don't tell our friends about it! I've... already denounced reading in front of them and..."

"You're worried about looking hypocritical in front of them, right?" Zephyr finished for her. When she nods, he gives her a small smile. "Alright, I'll keep my mouth shut. Do you want me to leave so you can continue?"

While she was initially torn, Rainbow gave him an apologetic look. "I'd like to keep reading. It's getting good where I am at... provided I can find where I was again..."

Noticing that he had lost one more secondary wing feather entering the room, Zephyr picked it up and gave it to Rainbow. "Here, you can use this as a bookmark."

That was when Rainbow noticed that Zephyr's wings were less feathered than yesterday. "Your wings! Even your secondaries are missing feathers!"

"Ah... that might have been because I stress-preened them last night when I couldn't sleep. I'll get them checked out here before leaving, I assure you."

"Please do... it'd be bad if you couldn't fly for your j-job." Rainbow couldn't help but stutter because she felt weird saying it "Also... could you come again tomorrow? Regardless if I'm done reading or not?"

Missing the stutter, Zephyr nods. "Of course! I'll be seeing you then!" Rainbow waved goodbye, but noticed the feather she had received had intricate cloud-like patterns. For some reason, it made her feel nostalgic.

When he got back to the front desk, Nurse Tenderheart was there now. "Are you finished visiting, dear?"

"Yes, but I'd like to get my wings examined quick. I... stress-preened them last night so I want to make sure I won't lose anymore feathers."

"Oh, but of course! And don't worry, Twilight Sparkle gave us your files regarding your unique physiology and magic. Earth Ponies like myself will try and limit contact!" Knowing that Twilight had good intentions doing so, Zephyr nods as he gets lead to an examination room.

"I'm glad you feel better today, big brother!"

Fluttershy had decided to visit Zephyr while Scootaloo went to school. While she had been around him when he was still vulnerable after his foalnapping, she had never seen him get that bad until yesterday. Because of that, she wanted to spend some time with him to help him recover.

"Sorry for the rollercoaster of emotions I've been on. While I do feel better after visiting Rainbow yesterday, I still feel like I know nothing. It's... strange."

That was when Fluttershy remembered something Rarity told her during their spa visit yesterday. Could he be... in love? I've never been myself so I can't say for certain but Rarity, after hearing about his situation, figured he was acting like an incredibly worried boyfriend. I guess he hasn't figured it out himself yet and I promised Rarity not to say anything if it really is the case. 'It'll make his feelings more genuine if he figures it out himself' she said...

"Fluttershy, you've had a weird look on your face for a while now..."

That got a squeak out of Fluttershy. "O-oh, I'm sorry! I was just thinking about it. I still can't figure out why Rainbow was acting strange yesterday. Was it really because--"

"Yeah it really was my fault." In keeping his promise to Rainbow, Zephyr lied though he felt cruddy about lying to his own sister about it. "Rainbow should be better now, but I'm also uncertain when she'll get released from the hospital."

"I think Doctor Horse said she might get released today. Sadly, I need to keep an eye on my animals, they seem frazzled today."

"Alright, I'll head on over just to be sure somepony is there to greet her if she IS discharged." He was about to head out when he noticed the knowing look on Fluttershy's face. "... What?"

"Nothing! Good luck!" She leaves the house, with a confused Zephyr following suit shortly after.

When he arrived for the third day in a row, he saw Rainbow pacing outside the building, a green feather in her hoof. "... What's going to happen to Daring?!"

"Prematurely kicked you out?" Rainbow whipped around on the spot before breathing a sigh of relief that it's Zephyr. "Guess the only ones you didn't suspect interrupting you was the hospital itself, huh?"

"Oh be quiet. I godda get back in and finish the book somehow! Maybe if I--"

Zephyr knew what she was thinking. "If you're going to pretend you have some other malady, please refrain. There's a term-- can't remember it off the top of my head --for ponies who pretend to be sick or sicker to get special attention. Hospitals HATE that kind of pony. Why not ask Twilight if she has a copy in her library?"

Despite herself, Rainbow conceded that point. "But I can't ask Twilight after I denounced reading 'like an egghead', remember?"

"Ah, right. I hate to say it, but if you're going to get into reading that series, Twilight's going to figure you out one day." Rainbow grimaced at that, only to look surprised when Zephyr chuckled. "If you really want, I can help you."

"You're... not going to borrow Squirt's copy, are you?"

"Who do you take me for?! That's HER copy and I refuse to mess with it! Besides, she's still going through it so I'd feel awful borrowing it from her now."

Rainbow, feeling happy Zephyr was such a good brother, smiled a bit. "I would as well, from one reader of the story to another."

Zephyr thought for a moment before deciding on a solution. "How about I borrow the book from Twilight while stating that exact reason? Then, at a later point, I'll meet up with you and hoof it off for your reading pleasure. After you're done, you can return it under the premise of 'Zephyr couldn't because he's busy so he asked me' and even borrow another one in my name."

"Wouldn't Twilight figure me out if I did it too much? I-I know I have to come clean to her eventually but... I'm worried she'll catch on before I'm ready!"

Zephyr tried to think more on it before he gave up, unable to think of anything else. "Sorry, that's the only thing I've got besides staggering your borrowing or letting me do it on your behalf. Let's go with it for now and we'll play it by ear from there."

"A-alright. Meet me at my house an hour from now." Zephyr nodded and takes off. He didn't realize it, but Rainbow was left behind with her chest once again feeling very strange. "No... I'm here, I should figure out if I have some other issue before it gets worse."

Reentering the hospital, Nurse Redheart was surprised to see Rainbow Dash looking uncomfortable. "Ms. Dash? What's the matter now? I'm sure your wing is--"

"I-it's not my wing. My chest has been feeling funny for the past week or month or so. It keeps hurting, feeling hollow, or feeling like it does flips and flutters and I'm scared it's something bad!"

While initially concerned, Redheart exchanged it for curiosity once the flips and flutters were mentioned. "Okay... and when do you get these feelings? Can you identify any sort-of trigger for them?"

"T-trigger? What... trigger's them?" When Rainbow flashed a glance at the green feather still in her hoof, Redheart, knowing who's feather it is, started laughing much to the prismatic Pegasus' dismay. "Why does everypony keep laughing at me?!"

"Forgive me, Ms. Dash, I meant no offense." Stifling her mad giggling, Redheart called for Tenderheart to take over the front desk. "In the interest of Doctor-Patient confidentiality, I'll bring you to the examination room. It's soundproofed for that reason."

Rainbow, nervous about what's going on, followed Redheart into the exam room. "S-so you have an idea of what's going on?"

Redheart knew the kind of pony Rainbow was and decided to help keep her pride intact. "Certainly I do! And I don't need Doctor Horse to diagnose you or my capacity as a nurse. As a fellow mare--" She puts a hoof on Rainbow's chest. "-- I diagnose you with love-sickness!"

It took Rainbow about 10 seconds to process the information as best she could. The moment it finally clicked like a ringing alarm clock in her head, she went bright red as she stammered. "L-l-love-sickness?! H-how?! I'm supposed to be too cool for that!"

"And that's why I chose to keep the reveal more private. Plus, nopony can resist genuine love forever, not even 'tough' mares like yourself." Redheart giggles a bit more. "I imagine there's a stallion who's been causing all those feelings in your heart. In fact, you're clutching his feather right now!"

Rainbow didn't realize she had started clutching Zephyr's feather more tightly at that time. "But, we've had such a rocky friendship this entire time! How could I have fallen in love?!"

"Ah, but such trials tend to make the heart grow fonder so long as it doesn't remain broken. Well, let's try and work from the beginning before we continue. When was it you first felt these strange 'pains' in your chest?"

"When I first felt..?" Rainbow flashed back to the Mare-Do-Well incident.

"But you're not alone, Rainbow. You have me."

"But... he was getting sick at that time! I thought him saying what he did was just the illness talking!" In that moment, her heart ached and she put a hoof up to it with a flinch. "So why..?"

Redheart knew what the tomcoltish mare was getting at, especially her physical reaction. "You worry his words were a product of illness, but it's just as likely said illness had turned his filter off. You knew that possibility which is why it hurts you to convince yourself he never meant it."

"It happened again when I thought he was a father. While he quickly confirmed he was just babysitting for the Cakes, for the briefest of moments... even then?"

"Possibly, and it manifested as jealousy even if it didn't stick around long." Redheart started organizing the medical tools on the nearby desk. "Now, if you're worried he won't reciprocate, I doubt you need to. When he first came in after your admittance, he looked terrified for you and Doctor Horse admitted to overhearing him reprimanding you for your recklessness. That's what we call 'anger born of worry' in the business.

"Even after that, he grew so stressed over the situation he couldn't sleep and had stress-preened. I know this because he let us examine him after he visited you yesterday." Redheart giggled at Rainbow's stunned reaction. "Granted, he's probably just as in-the-dark on his own feelings as you initially were. That's why it's good I helped you figure it out now. I have no doubts other ponies will see your unconscious attraction for one-another and might get frustrated with you or him."

"But... I'm still scared..." For the first time, Rainbow felt a fear she had never felt before. It was worse than when she was in the Young Fliers Competition. "Even with what you told me... I'm afraid he'll turn me down or mock me..."

Redheart nodded in understanding. First love's were always the scariest, especially for a mare like Rainbow with zero experience. "You just discovered your feelings, don't rush too much. But don't take too long either or else his feelings might vanish without him realizing. Build your courage however you feel necessary, whether it's starting small with him or admitting other faults to other ponies first."

Rainbow thought about it a bit longer before smiling shyly. "I... think I know where to at least start... thank you, Nurse Redheart."

"My pleasure. Who knows, I might hear wedding bells soon!" Redheard giggles at Rainbows embarrassed blush and pout before she left the room.

Understanding where she needed to help herself, she decided to come clean to Twilight first. However, that required getting the Daring Do book Zephyr was borrowing on her behalf. I-it's going to be so awkward interacting or even working with him now. But I've got to stay strong. Stay cool like a cucumber!

Not long after reaching her home, Zephyr showed up with the book. "Here's the book as promised, Rainbow."

"Thanks, but... I'm sorry to make your effort a bit wasted, but I'm going to come clean to Twilight."

That threw him off guard. "What happened? You seemed so adamant about not letting her find out this fast."

"I've... learned something about myself that made me want to do it. Don't worry about me, I won't need your help. It's something I've got to do for myself." Rainbow hoped her saying that wouldn't get Zephyr down.

To her surprise, he nods with a smile. "If that's what you feel, don't let me stop you. I'm sure Twilight will understand if you explain yourself properly." He felt incredibly proud of Rainbow at that moment.

And I hope, one day, I'll have the courage to face you head on! "Thanks, Zephyr! Now if you'll excuse me, I'll do that first before I finish that book!"

Author's Note

I know I had Rainbow act kind of weird here but that's because... um...

*Flips through the Excuses Book*

Because love tends to make people act weird.

That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!