Doctor Jekyll and Mister Shyde

Applejack's family was worried about her.

Ever since she came home abruptly a few days prior, she had been acting strangely. She stayed in her room all day, refusing to talk to anypony.

In the morning, though, Big Mac would notice that all of her chores were already done, most likely from the night before. He appreciated that his sister was back to working on the farm, but he missed her nonetheless. Sometimes, on particularly rough days, he relied on her stories to pass the time.

Twilight had visited Sweet Apple Acres a couple times, asking for Applejack, only to be turned away at her bedroom door.

She contemplated teleporting inside and confronting the farmer, but stopped herself. Applejack will come out when she's ready. I just hope it's soon. I wish I knew what's going on.

After being turned away for the sixth time, the alicorn resolved to find out why Applejack was suddenly so reclusive. Thinking back, she remembered that the earth pony had been alone with Rainbow Dash before all this started. Maybe she knows what was going on with Applejack?

Twilight unfurled her wings and took off in the direction of Ponyville General Hospital.

It didn't take Twilight long to fly to the hospital, and it took even less time to make her way to Rainbow Dash's room. Unfortunately, that's where everything became slightly more difficult.

She knocked on the foreboding door separating the two friends. No response. She cautiously opened the door a crack. "Rainbow Dash? Is everything okay?"

Twilight could barely hear her friend's response: "I'm not really in the mood to talk..."

She pushed her way into the hospital room. "I just want to ask you something."

The room was dark, too dark to see anything. Twilight cast a simple light spell in order to make her way over to the curtains. They were heavy and durable, giving the patient privacy whenever he or she desired. Of course, it also had the downside of plunging the entire room into darkness, no matter how bright it was outside.

With the curtains drawn, the princess was able to clearly see her friend lying on her bed. Rainbow Dash was reclining against a couple downy pillows. Her mane and feathers seemed unkempt and lifeless. Her eyes were bloodshot, making them even redder than normal. When she spoke, her voice sounded hoarse, grating against Twilight's ears.

"I don't really want to talk to anypony now, Twilight."

"Will you at least answer a couple questions? I promise I'll be quick."

Rainbow rolled her eyes and sighed, but nodded. It looked as if she had resigned herself to her fate.

"Why did Applejack leave in such a hurry the other day?" Twilight asked, gauging the Pegasus' response. If freezing and avoiding eye contact were anything to go by, her friend knew something that she'd rather not say.

"I- I don't know what you're talking about."

Twilight sighed. This wasn't going to be easy, but she needed answers. "Look, I know that the two of you stayed in this room after I left with Pinkie Pie. The next thing I knew, Applejack was galloping down the hallway like a mare on fire. She crashed into me, made some excuse about going back to the farm, and then secluded herself in her room. Nopony has been able to talk to her since then. I'm certain that this irrational behavior has to do with whatever occurred when both of you were here alone. That means that you know why Applejack is acting this way. Now, I'm concerned about the wellbeing of my friend, but I can't do anything to help her unless I know what's going on. So, please, tell me what happened."

Rainbow Dash was clearly conflicted. Her mouth was open, as if to speak, but she was still hesitating. After a moment, she asked one solitary question: "Do you promise to not tell anypony?"

Twilight caught and suppressed a grin before it showed on her face. She had gotten through to her friend and was finally going to get some answers! She solemnly met Rainbow's gaze. "Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye."

Satisfied, Rainbow Dash told her what had happened. How she was awake when Applejack kissed her, her confession, and how the farmpony ran out upon hearing that she heard everything. Twilight didn't say anything, but merely listened. Finally, when Rainbow had finished speaking, Twilight opened her mouth.

"Well, do you reciprocate her feelings?" After receiving a baffled look, she reworded her question: "Do you feel the same way towards her?"

Rainbow Dash looked away, seemingly lost in thought. When she finally spoke, it was a small whisper, "I don't know."

Twilight tilted her head. "Well, what are you thinking now?"

The Pegasus sighed, still avoiding eye contact. "On the one hoof, I don't say yes to her. She's already really sad, but that'll make her even more sad. Things will get weird if we're even in the same room, so I don't think we'll be able to use the Elements anymore.

"On the other hoof, I go to her and say yes. She's really happy, but what if I realize I don't actually like her that way? I'll be stuck in a relationship I don't like after lying to the Element of Honesty. And if I do tell her that I don't like her, she'll be heartbroken even more than she is now!" She threw her hooves up in despair. " I don't know what to do. Do I even like her that way? And what about Keres? If she's coming back, I don't want to put Applejack in danger just because she's close to me."

Twilight thought about this for a minute, going through everything her friend had said. "What if I told you there's another way? A third hoof that you haven't considered? Say you give her a chance and you actually find out that you have feelings for her? Then you'll both be happy. No leading anypony on, no lying, just the two of you being happy together."

"But... what about Keres?"

"You leave Keres to me. I created her, so I'll be the pony to destroy her. For Fluttershy."

Rainbow Dash nodded. "I guess I should just give her a chance?"

Twilight smiled. "I think you'd both like that. It would certainly make her feel better," she commented.

The cyan pony shook herself, fully awake. "Then let's go! I've got a friend to help. I just wish I could fly there. It'd be a lot faster." She glanced at her wing, which still sported a decent-sized hole.

Twilight helped her friend off of her hospital bed. "I think the doctors will be relieved to hear you are taking it slow," she said, pointedly.

Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Point taken. Now, let's go! I've got to help Applejack!"