Love is Like Gravity

Hurt.

 Rainbow mused for a moment over how she could feel the heart-aching pain that flooded her veins, but it was quickly forgotten because of the nightmare playing in her mind. Speaking of, it was odd, even for Equestria’s number one flyer and overall most awesome person. Looking about, she was in a movie theater, the lights still bright as gray, faceless ponies shuffled in, taking seats as the entered. Rainbow wondered why none of them had faces and were all the same shade of dull, lifeless grey. Looking down to her own hands, she noticed she too had the haunting gray upon her skin. She attempted to rise from her seat, located in the very middle of the room, and found that she couldn't. She looked down again and saw no bounds holding her to this, she simply couldn't find the will to move. It was like she was forever a part of the chair, yet something that shouldn't be attached to it in any way imaginable.

She continued her fruitless struggle for a few more moments before begrudgingly accepting her fate. A few more faceless ponies entered and sat as the lights about the room dimmed. Realization hit Rainbow at this point, as it always did the many times this nightmare played. The memory of the first one entered her mind, the film, the ponies around her, all of it. She feared what would play until something new happened in the dream; the screen was blurry. She looked on in morbid curiosity as the hauntingly vivid movie of her life played, blurred beyond recognizing anything past shapes of ponies as the moved about. Unfortunately for Rainbow, she knew all too well what was on screen. It was her earliest memories from when she was just a little girl, those of faces she couldn't place, couldn't see, couldn't know.

The faces of her parents.

Rainbow never knew what became of them, where they had gone. But she did remember them, if only their bodies. All the faceless ponies were, in one way or another, a cloned memory, an attempt to reconstruct the looks of her parents through mixing and matching what little she could remember of them, none of them successful. While she couldn't tell what played upon the screen, she knew it involved them in one way or another. It hurt her heart, knowing that they were so close, yet so far away. She sat there for what felt like an eternity in the theater of her mind, the blurry video continuing on until it reached its end, something Rainbow had grown to memorize the timing of. But when the video slowly began to clear into an understandable quality, Rainbow became confused.

         The screen eventually cleared enough to allow Rainbow to tell what was happening. It was the day she met Swift, she could tell by the gray clouds swirling and racing across the sky on screen. She watched as her eyes gazed upon Twilight, setting up some odd experiment that Rainbow had no interest in, save for the fact that it needed lightning. She had been drawing circles in the ground and Rainbow recalled something about "alchemy in nature" or something like that. Rainbow, bored once more, looked back at the stormy sky, chuckling to herself as she pictured Fluttershy jumping slightly whenever lightning struck and thunder roared across the sky. But then something odd caught her eye, something that she thought she would never see: a pegasi flying about, well within striking distance of a cloud.

 "Twi? Do you see what I see?" Rainbow heard herself say to Twilight. Twilight ignored her and continued with her odd experiment. "Twilight?" Rainbow asked louder this time. Twilight paused for a moment and Rainbow thought she had gained her attention but when she returned to her drawing, Rainbow sighed. "Egghead!" Rainbow yelled, snapping Twilight out of her concentration. "What, Rainbow?!" Twilight asked frustrated that the twitchy pegasi had interrupted her. "Do you see that guy up there?" Rainbow asked while pointing to the direction of what Rainbow knew now was Swift, but not the one pointing. Twilight looked about in the area that Rainbow was pointing and her eyes widened as she spotted Swift.

"Yeah. He should be more careful, he might get-" Lightning flashed in the sky and thunder released a mighty yell as the figure began to fall to the earth. Rainbow and Twilight exchanged worried looks before they both took off in the direction of the stranger. Rainbow was the first to breach the treeline into a small clearing looking about frantically for anybody she could. As Twilight came behind her, Rainbow spotted a crumpled figure let his arm fall to their side. Both girls ran forward, Rainbow to his left and Twilight to his right. "Is he dead? Is he Twilight?" Rainbow asked as she looked over the body. She winced when her gaze fell upon the black, ragged flesh that connected their right wing to their back. Twilight leaned in close to their face and slowly answered, "He's barely breathing. I don't think he has a lot of time left..." Rainbow flipped what she could now tell was a male and cradled him in her arms. "We need to get him to a hospital. Now." Rainbow said as she began to run for the direction of Ponyville.

  Rainbow ran quickly, being sure to be gentle on the stranger in her arms. She ran rather than flew, and while this surprised her slightly, she didn't focus on it; there were more important tasks at hand. At some point, the stranger opened his eyes and looked about weakly. Rainbow could only glance down before returning to looking at what was ahead of her. Rainbow heard a soft groan before looking down at the stranger, unconscious once more. 'At least that means he's alive. Hang in there.' Rainbow heard herself think. Soon enough, the hospital came into view, Rainbow rushing forward with her breaths coming in ragged pants. She burst through the door and made her way for the nurse behind the counter and cleared her throat, "This guy needs help."

Rainbow was confused when the screen began to blur once more. She was also confused on the turn of events the nightmare had taken. She hadn't revisited this memory in previous recurrences, and she was stumped as to why it decided to surface now. Before she could think on it longer, the empty seat to her right was suddenly filled with the person she dreaded most, the incarnation of all that was opposite her, save for her cocky attitude. She didn't focus on Rainbow right now, she looked forward like the multitude of gray memories. This gave Rainbow a chance to actually look her over, something she hadn't done in... ever.

The figure that resided next to her is, more or less, her. She had the same facial features, same body, and also the same haunting grey skin. But it was here the similarities ended. She was everything Rainbow hated, the shadow version of her, so to speak. Her Cutie Mark was the same as Rainbows, but the rainbow colors were on the cloud rather than the now white lightning bolt. Her irises were also a very light sky blue. After a while, she turned to face Rainbow. "Hello Rainbow. Did you miss me? Or should I say you?" Shadow Dash said with a confused look. Rainbow sighed. "Yes, sooo much." Rainbow said dryly with a roll of her eyes. "Tsk, tsk, Rainbow. You need to remember that this is MY realm. But, I've missed me, so I'll let this one go." Shadow Dash said with a small shrug.

Rainbow sighed again. "Can we just get this over with? Today sucked." Rainbow said. "I know, I was there. Please, Rainbow, I thought you were smarter than this. Oh, almost forgot, why do you think I'm here?" Shadow Dash said with a devilish grin. Rainbow remained silent. "Good girl. Now, as you know, we've been with this Swift guy for about three months, right?" Shadow asked. When Rainbow didn't respond, Shadow sighed. "'Yes Shadow, we've been together for three months' Thank you Rainbow. So, we've gone on quite a ride with him, haven't we?" Shadow said, in the worst mock voice of her Rainbow had ever heard. Rainbow stayed quiet, causing Shadow to sigh. "First of all, we need to stop sighing, or I'm going to go crazy." Shadow said. "Too late." Rainbow said. Shadow smiled. "Why, Rainbow! You flatter me. Now, as I was saying, we've gone fast with this one. Faster than normal. *Gasp* Shh, the movie's starting!" Shadow said as she turned to watch the movie.

 Rainbow looked back to the screen as well. Sure enough, the clarity was back to viewing status. It took Rainbow a moment before she noticed this was the conversation leading up to their first kiss. It warmed her a little to remember this moment, the reassurance, the kiss, the happiness she felt. Not to mention the impeccable timing of the pizza delivery guy. She always chuckled when she thought back on that moment. When the movie reached the part where Rainbow shot up and kiss him, pain shot through her. She remembered where this would eventually go. The knocking didn't cheer her up this time, and soon after, the movie began to blur once more. Shadow Dash turned to face her again when the video was beyond recognition.

"Ahhh, the memories. Aww, Dashie, you look sad." Shadow said with mock concern.

 "What do you care?" Rainbow mumbled, not facing her. Shadow laughed, more than was needed and even slapped her knee for good measure. "Rainbow, you know me to well. Anyway... ah, damn, what was I saying?" Shadow thought aloud to herself. She sat there with her hand on her chin as she thought back on the conversation before the movie became clear. Rainbow just sat there and looked around for something entertaining to focus on. Given that the dim room was full of gray, faceless people, she eventually looked back at Shadow. Shadow thought for only a moment more before snapping her fingers in victory. "Ah ha! Now I remember! We were talking about Swift and how we're going mach 7 with him!" Shadow said with a self-satisfied smile on her gray face.

"So, are you sure you know what you're doing?" Shadow asked with an expression like they were two teenagers gossiping over a crush. Rainbow remained silent, not just to spite her, but because she didn't know the answer to her question. Shadow batted her eyes and let out a small laugh. "As I thought. You DON'T know what you're doing." Shadow said. Rainbow huffed and looked away from her in frustration. "Rainbow, if you keep ignoring me, I'm going to have to hurt you. So, I'll ask again; do you know what you are doing?" Shadow asked in a voice that could sway even the coldest of hearts. Rainbow was in the process of formulating an answer when the screen began to clear once more. It started with Swift and Rainbow making out on the bean bag chairs. Rainbow felt a deep blush form in her cheeks as the memory played on screen.

"Ooooh, I haven't seen THIS before!" Shadow said eagerly, hungrily absorbing every detail that played. Rainbow's blush only deepened as she said this, Rainbow also trying furiously to hide her blush from Shadow. Not that she was paying attention to Rainbow anyway. Shadow would make constant remarks on the memory, ranging from, "Oh, I didn't know you could moan like that!" to, "Mmmm, wish he could do that to me...". Rainbow was sure that her cheeks would burst into flame at any moment from the blush she was sporting right now. Rainbow chanced a glance to Shadow and saw her arm moving about her waist and heard her breathing grow heavy and she quickly turned to look away, hoping Shadow was doing anything but that.

 As the memory neared its end (at least Rainbow hoped), the screen showed Rainbow resting her head on Swifts chest as they both said, "I love you" to the other. Her heart ached again, hurt pounding through all her being. As the video dimmed rather than blur and the lights grow bright slowly, Rainbow heard Shadow groan. "And I was so close... oh well. So, you're answer?" Shadow sighed as she turned to face Rainbow. Rainbow hadn't had what was considered a "thinking environment", and hadn't had ample time to come up with an answer. Rainbow thought for a moment, thinking over what she did think she was doing with him. The answer came to her in sudden realization:

"I don't know."

Shadow sighed and snapped her fingers. Rainbow felt a sharp, physical pain in her chest and looked down. A small spike and exploded from the back of her chair and speared her heart on the end, the muscle still beating, yet disconnected. Shadow snapped her fingers again and Rainbow watched in pain as the spike retracted into the seat and her wound close as though it never happened. "Don't lie to me Rainbow. It hurts my feelings. And when you hurt my feelings, I'm going to hurt you. So, and answer with the truth this time, do you know what you're doing?" Shadow asked, perfectly calm.

Rainbow had just about enough at this point. "I don't know! And I don't care right now! Just leave me alone!" Rainbow yelled at Shadow. Shadow sighed. "I see this is pointless. You don't feel like talking. Fine. I understand. I'll just wait here until you're ready. Or not." Shadow said, reclining in her chair. "There's the door. Go on, on your bike. Fuck off." Shadow said, waving her hand. Rainbow rose from her seat, shimmied to the aisle and walked through a set of double doors into a bright, white light.

 Reality, Rainbow's Bedroom

 Rainbow shot up into sitting position and panted, looking this way and that before groaning and falling back onto her pillows. Tank moved his head out from within his shell at the sound of Rainbow waking up, eyes full of worry. Rainbow opened her eyes and looked at him. She gave his head a soft pat as she dwelled on her nightmare. She simply lied in her bed, out of energy from what she was sure was a night of little rest. After spending several moments deciding on whether to lay in bed today or get out and about, Rainbow sighed as she threw of the covers and began her slow, zombie-like stumble to the kitchen. Tank followed close behind her and Rainbow heard his stomach growl slowly, just like everything the trusty tortoise did. Rainbow picked him up as she increased her pace. "You didn't get dinner last night, did ya bud?" Rainbow asked. "Sorry about that." Rainbow said as she set him down on the kitchen floor and reached for the reptile show.

 Swift's Mind, Behind the Wall

         The ocean of emotions, while unknown by Logic, was very much alive. The way it moved, how it acted, were all carefully planned and executed actions. Its ability to be alive without Logic knowing is its greatest threat. But, it is not some omnipotent being, far from it in fact. While its motions and actions are carefully supervised, it was a proverbial free-for-all inside its depths for control of the ungodly force. There was a time, long ago, when Swift was at the reins of this massive creature; now, individual emotions battled one another for that position. While Swift was able to influence the battle, if unknowingly, only one could emerge victorious. And, for the unfortunate news for Swift, it would not be him in his current state.

 After the wall had been erected, shortly after the murder of his parents, the emotions were lead in a sort of uneasy democratic union, for the greater good of Swift. Slowly, over time, Swift used his emotions less and less, starving them of the expression they oh so craved by their master. As tensions rose higher and higher, they dissolved from the humanoid forms they once were and meshed into the untamed sea it currently is. From that point on, chaos ensued, each emotion trying to come out on top and reunite the shaky democracy they once had. Each emotion had his own reason for why they wanted to do so; Anger to dominate and rule with an iron fist, to toughen Swift into a man. Hurt wished to rule so that he could sway Swift to spare them both of this wretched existence and  join their parents in the other life.

Insanity, however, had a far greater purpose than all the other emotions. Aside from the fact that it was simply funny to watched the chaos spread like the madness he is, but there was a force even greater than Swift at play here, and that force was the Spirit of Chaos and Disharmony himself, Discord. While the demi-god had no long-term plan for the inventor, he did love an emotionally unstable person to use as an outlet for his chaos. It was just so easy to plant a seed of chaos magic in the person's mind and watch as it bloomed into a full plant of self-destruction. It was when Discord tilled the gray matter and caringly poured the seed into the hole and covered it was Insanity born. And Father Discord had gave him a simple purpose;

 Spread his chaos as best he could.

 Insanity was more than willing to obey his father, and dedicated his existence to causing chaos. This was easier said than done, as his presence only set the other emotions on edge further, rejecting his ideas because they all knew that letting Insanity have control would lead to nothing but trouble for all of them. Insanity decided to respect their unanimous decision to reject him with grace, then he stepped back and smiled as his work was done for him as Swift's world collapsed around him with the death of his parents. Once the fighting began, Insanity saw his chance to claim victory and entered the fray.

 It had been a struggle of epic proportions as Insanity slowly climbed his way up the ranks. It started being as simple as finishing off the wounded emotions that had clearly lost the battle to going as far as taking on emotions in open conflict. One by one, emotions fell to Insanity as he grew in power from such glorious self-conflict, save all but Hurt. Insanity, crazy as he may be, knew that Hurt would make a valuable ally later on in the game. And Insanity's foresight payed off today, Hurt being powered by the events of today to a level that almost riveled Insanity's. Almost. In a final push, Insanity, Hurt, and Anger (Insanity saw him as a key player as well) struck down the last of Swift's emptions that remained powerful: Love.

Once Insanity ruled supreme, the emotions slowly formed back into the humanoid forms they once held, battered and broken by the hand of Insanity. Insanity was able to view his form for the first time in a long time and he had no intention of letting it go unchanged. "Hurt, if you would be so kind as to fetch me a mirror." Insanity said softly. Hurt merely nodded and snapped his fingers, a mirror floating in front of Insanity. All of the emotions had the same body and looks of Swift, save Insanity. Insanity looked more or less like Swift, save the extended fang and mismatched eyes of his father. He also wore a tee shirt that read WUB-WUB-WUB (he liked to think he was the cause of Swift's enjoyment of dubstep) and cargo shorts. Insanity sighed, "This simply won't do." With a moment of thinking and a snap of his fingers his clothes transformed into a snappy-looking black and white tux, appealing to Insanity as the correct garb of a ruler.

         "Much better." Insanity said as he examined himself in the mirror. "Yeah, yeah, you clean up well. Now what do we do?" Anger asked, well, upset. Insanity saw Logic duck down away from the top of the wall. "Now? Now we wait, and build our strength. The battle may be won but the war is far from over. We have still one opponent to best. One that is more powerful than any we have faced before." Insanity said in the histrionic way he always did. "Who's that?" Anger and Hurt asked in unison. Insanity spawned a martini and took a small sip, savoring the soothing fluid. As he finished, he turned and faced the two emotions. "The only opponent that remains," Insanity said, his face growing his lopsided grin and widened eyes that intimidated even Anger," is Logic."