Love is Like Gravity

 Unsure.

 Swift didn't know how to feel as he walked idly to his cloud mansion. The large book in his grip had his mind set on one thing, to be sure, but as for how to talk to Rainbow about their relationship... that was another game. Swift looked around, he was just outside Sugarcube Corner, and therefor, in the view of a large number of people. Before the 'incident', this would have terrified Swift. But now that he had learned to be more social, people didn't seem as scary. Thinking that, a common saying of Pinkie's came to mind, something about, "Giggling at the ghosties" or something like that. He was walking just beyond the eatery when a stray comment penetrated his ear;

                 "Where's his other wing? Freak..."

 Swift froze in his tracks. '...What?' Swift thought at the comment. What... why... who would say that? Swift stopped himself before he could continue, that line of thinking was no good in any way, shape, form, or flavor. Besides, it was probably just some asshole who has some kind of insecurity deep inside. Swft continued walking home, intent to forget about the random encounter. 'Whatever. They wouldn't have said that if they knew who I am... I need a PR agent.' Swift thought. The rest of the trip was uneventful, but if you think reeeeeally hard, you can imagine a crippled pegasi walking home with a big book. Thrilling, I know.

 Swift had just closed the door when the sound of light, excited knocking came from the other side. 'Gee, wonder who that could be.' Swift thought to himself as he opened the door to reveal Rainbow Dash. "Hey Dash. Come in." Swift said.

"Hey Swift. What's that?" Rainbow asked pointing to the large book.

Swift opened his mouth to respond with the truth, but a much funnier thought crossed his mind. "It's a special edition of the newest Daring Do novel. It's jam-packed with bonus content." Swift said while trying his hardest to keep his tone neutral. Swift had never tryed so hard in his life to keep from smiling as he watched Rainbows eyes widen.

Rainbow looked from Swift to the book and back before Swift understood her intentions. "Rainbow, it's no-" Was all Swift could say before Rainbow rushed forward and tackled Swift. Swift, not entirely prepared for this, simply let Rainbow pry the book from him and eagerly open the cover. Her face went from excited to confused to realization as she read about metals and how they were discovered. Had Swept been standing, the laughs escaping him would have put him on the ground anyway. Rainbow shot daggers at him with her eyes as Swift rolled around laughing.

"That's not funny." Rainbow said once Swifts laughs began to dissipate.

Swift wiped his teary eyes and stood, "You're right, it's not funny." Rainbow smiled. "It's HILARIOUS!" Swift said before laughing again. Rainbows smile disappeared.

"You think you're cool Swift..." Rainbow muttered as she handed the book back.

"By about twenty percent." Swift replied as he took it and made his way upstairs, Rainbow following him.

"Aside from that, how's it goin'?" Rainbow asked.

"I'm fine." Swift replied; intentionally vague.

"Just fine?" Rainbow asked.

"How did you guess?" Swift asked as they climbed the stairs on the second story.

"It's all in the voice." Rainbow said as they reached the base of the spiral staircase to the Crows Nest.

"Wait here, I'll be right back." Swift said as he began to climb.

Rainbow was going to wait before a thought crossed her mind. 'Why does he keep us out of there...? Maybe I'll go have a peek...' Rainbow thought as she put her foot on the first step. 'But, he asked us not to go up here. I should listen to him.' She took her foot off. Rainbow waited around another few seconds before she unfurled her wings and flew as quietly as possible up the staircase.

 When she got to the halfway point, a voice from behind sounded, "Going somewhere?" Rainbow yelped in surprise and flew as quickly as she could down to the bottom and assumed a nonchalant pose while Swift finished coming down the stairs. "That's what I thought. Now, if you would follow me please." Swift said as he walked passed her. Rainbow was curious as to what Swift was leading her to, so she followed, intertwining her fingers with his. Swift flinched, but recovered quickly, but not fast enough to keep Rainbow from noticing.

"What's wrong?" Rainbow asked with a mix of worry and hurt in her voice.

"I'll tell you when we get there." Swift said, in a distant voice he used when a crushing weight lay within his mind. Rainbow stopped him, gave him a soft kiss and hug, and pulled back.

"You can tell me. I'm here for you." Rainbow said softly. They continued their trek, each step heavier for Swift.

Outskirts of Ponyville

 Swift lead Rainbow though the last of the trees that separated them from their destination. Looking around, Rainbow gasped in surprise; it was a breathtakingly beautiful clearing. Trees lined about the clearing, roughly 400 feet all around. In the distance, the mountain Canterlot called home was clearly visible. Yellow flowers dotted the area, swaying gently in the breeze. Swift walked forward to the center of the clearing before stopping and looking off to the mountain. "Swift... this place is beautiful." Rainbow said as she pulled him into a sideways hug.

"Do you know where we are?" Swift asked, still distant. Rainbow looked around once more, not sure if what Swift said was another joke or not. It seemed familiar, but in a way somewhere completely new to you seemed familiar.

"No..." Rainbow said after a while.

"This is where we met." Swift said. Rainbow was surprised, to say the least, and she looked in front of where they stood. A soft imprint was in the ground accompanied by a small black mark.

         "But... why did you take us here?" Rainbow asked, looking up to Swift. Swifts eyes glinted in the light of the setting sun as he looked back.

"We need to talk..." Swift started almost scared. Rainbow was concerned with his tone, but knew that, in the end, it would be okay. It always did. Usually. Swift motioned for her to sit down and he sat as well, placing his elbows on his knees while Rainbow crossed her legs, facing him. Swift was still distant, wondering how to word his thoughts. Rainbow, for a rare moment in her life, waited patiently. After a few moments, Swift was ready. "Rainbow... It's been a life-changing couple of months for me. I got hit by lightning, I meet you, I've opened up to people... everything's changing so fast. Including us." Swift started. Rainbow began to grow fearful of what this could lead to. But Rainbow was a tough girl, she could handle it... hopefully.

"What we did last week... um... shit, how do I say this?" Swift mumbled to himself. "With what we did, I'm grateful, but... I'm not sure if we should have done it." Swift said, looking to Rainbow. Rainbow was confused, they had said 'I love you' and Rainbow meant it.

"What do you mean?" Rainbow asked. Swift looked away, off to the mountain again.

"It's... I'm not sure what I'm feeling, Rainbow. I care about you, a lot. But..." Swift drifted off.

"But what?" Rainbow asked, fearing the answer. Swift thought for a long time. He took a deep breath;

 "I'm not sure if I love you."

 Rainbow was shocked. She couldn't believe what she heard. "What... what do you mean 'not sure'? Why aren't you?!" Rainbow said, her voice increasing in volume and anger as she went. Swift didn't turn to face her.

"I don't know what I'm feeling inside. I-" Rainbow was yelling now.

"Why don't you?! I gave myself to you! I love you!" Rainbow yelled, angry tears running down her cheeks. Swift faced her, sun glinting of his own tears in a haunting beauty.

"I mean, after what I've been through, I don't know what I'm feeling. I'm sorry..." Swift said, hanging his head in shame and defeat.

"Sorry won't work right now!" Rainbow said, now in hurt rather than anger. Swift didn't respond. Rainbow rose and flew out of the clearing, leaving Swift where he was. Swift watched helplessly as she went.

'I fucked up... I fucked up really bad this time...' Swift thought to himself as Rainbow became nothing but a speck on the horizon.

Skyline Above Ponyville, the Direction of Cloudsdale

 Rainbow flew as fast as the tears would let her. The world rushed by in a blur, not that Rainbow wanted to see it anyway. What Swift said... it hurt. In the back of her mind, the quiet voice of reason, told her that Swift had been through a lot, and this was something she needed to help him through. But it was drowned out by the angry, hurt yells blasting through her mind at what Swift said. The way he said it and the timing of it... it was just too much for Rainbow right now. As her own cloud home came into view, she flew for the door, opened it and slammed it shut. She hastily made her way for her bedroom and flopped onto her bed, and proceeded with crying softly to herself. Tank ambled in slowly after a long time, eyeing Rainbow with worry. Rainbow leaned over and picked him up, holding him closer to her as she cried softly.

         Tank lovingly rest his head on her neck as she cried, closing his eyes to take a small nap for what he thought was going to be a long time. Rainbow methodically stroked his shell, allowing the mindless task to take some of her focus on something else than hurt. The two spent several hours like this, the sun down and Luna's moon well in the night sky. Once Rainbow had calmed down enough, she tried to think on what he said. But it didn't work, because she started to cry again. Later, she worked up the bravado to attempt it again. She was able to think enough about it to hope that it would turn out okay before it broke her will once more. Finally, she gave up, and decided to slip into the realm of dreams to escape the cruel mistress reality could be. This would not bring her peace either.

Ponyville

 Swift almost dragged his feet as he went, every second of their talk feeling like an eternity in his head. He didn't know when the sun went down and the moon came up, or when he reached his front door. He opened it and climbed the stairs to the Crows Nest, in hopes of find refuge from himself within its familiar walls. He sat down and simply looked out the window in the dark, as though the answer to his problems would lay somewhere in the treetops below. When nothing happened, he thought over their talk once more. When it came to the angry, hurt look Rainbow gave him and the crushing feeling at knowing that he caused those tears to streak down her face... he lost the will to continue dwelling on it.

 Logic took note of this and decided that Swift was, in fact, in love with Rainbow. But it was far too late to do anything about it now. For now, Logic would have to simply sit back and hope Swift could control the tidal waves that rocked gently behind their crumbling prison. As though on cue, a large crack formed in the wall. Logic thought for sure that its contents would come spilling out and Swift would simply break down into a well of agony, pain, and disappointment. But the wall held, if just barely. Perhaps it was the confirmation that he did love her that held it together. Perhaps it was something else entirely, or even strong willpower to sustain some level of dignity. Logic decided to cross that last one out, however. One, willpower wasn't much of Swift's thing and two, dignity from who? He was the only one in this room, he had nothing to hide from.

              Eventually, the sun began to light the horizon as it rose by Celestia's will. Swift hadn't slept, his emotions wouldn't permit it. But Logic was holding them back so he could find a logical solution to this. Nothing had been accomplished yet, a blank expression on Swift as he gazed with unseeing eyes to the outside world. Logic was contemplating his next move when he felt a change behind the walls of Swift's emotional prison. Curious, Logic peered over the weakened structure and was surprised to see not the waves that licked constantly at the walls, but instead some lone individuals wandering about, looking for the exit. 'That can't be good...' Logic mused as he quickly retracted from the wall. Logic was going to inform Swift of this development when the doorbell rang. Swift dejectedly made his way down stairs and opened the door.

To say Swift was surprised at his visitor would be an understatement.