"Dante?" I was shaken slightly. I rolled over and opened my eyes to find a terrified looking Fluttershy.
"Flutters, whats up?" I yawn. She blushes, hiding behind her mane. "I'm scared. . .can you sleep in my room?" She asks, plainly nervous. I smile softly and reach down, pulling her onto my chest.
"How about this." I chuckle, and smile as she nods and buries her muzzle in my neck. I wrap my arms around her and close my eyes again. I was just about to fall asleep when it hit me. I was holding Fluttershy. THE Fluttershy, in my arms, snuggled up to me.
It was kind of surreal.
I suppose I had thought it was a dream up until now, but as I felt her soft breathing on my skin, I realized it wasnt. Something I had wanted for a long time had acually happened. I was in Equestria. Not only that, but apparently Discord thought it amusing to turn me into Dante. Not that I was complaining, if he hadn't, Flutters would probably be dead. So I was thankful.
I yawned and stroked Fluttershy's back, burying my face in her mane. I fought back a yawn, and closed my eyes. Moments later, I was asleep again.
I dreamed again this time. Thankfully this was far more pleasant.
I was lying down in a field, with a bright and beautiful moon overhead. A few stray clouds covered the stars, and a light breeze ruffled my hair. I tried to sit up, but couldnt. I looked down to find a rather peculiar sight. Fluttershy and Luna both had a hoof over my chest, with their muzzles in my neck. Their wings wrapped over a sleeping Rainbow Dash, who was lying with her chin on my stomach. I smiled softly and stroked Fluttershy and Luna's manes gently, running my fingers through the soft hair. They stirred slightly and scooted closer to me, making me smile wider. This was so. . .peaceful. Perfect. Wonderful.
"Mmm. . .Dante?" I heard Luna ask, ending with a yawn. I looked over at her with a smile.
"Nothing love, go back to sleep."
Love?
Where did that come from? I had no intention of saying it at all, and yet it felt so natural. So. . .right.
"If you say so." She yawned again and snuggled back up to me. I stared at her flowing mane, still stunned.
Why had I called her that? And why was I starting to feel like it fit? Like that was all I ever wanted to call her? I sighed, and the movement made Dash look up, blinking.
"What's wrong, you? You haven't sighed like that in years." She mumbled, scratching her mane with a wing.
"Nothing. Just thinking." I smiled, stroking her neck. She smiled widely, arcing into my touch.
"Mmm. . .okay." she smiled at me again and nuzzled into my chest, before falling asleep. I continued to stroke her, as I laid my head back to stare at the stars. My eyes started to close, and as soon as they did, I woke up.
Fluttershy was still on my chest, mane falling over my side, moving slightly as she breathed. Every now and then a wing would shift under my hand, or an ear would twitch. She looked so adorable, and happy, asleep without a worry. Her front hooves were wrapped around my neck, and her hind legs were stretched out over mine. Her tail was tangled up underneath her, and a wing draped over my side and off the couch.
She looked like she hadn't ever been happier, or felt safer.
I smiled and rubbed her back softly, thinking. These mares. . .those three mares were making me feel things I had never felt before. That dream last night, while slightly strange, was so. . .peaceful. Happy. Like it was a glimpse of Paradise.
I wanted to go back.
I wanted to experience that feeling again. . .
I want to be loved. Because thats what it was, that I felt from them and for them. . .maybe here, now, I didn't love them, and they didn't love me. . .but we could. So easily.
I looked down at Fluttershy and smiled.
"Don't you worry about a thing, Flutters. . .I'm here and I'm not going anywhere." I whispered to her, before sliding out from under her, gently placing her on the couch. I smiled down at her sleeping form, and on an impulse I leaned down and kissed her forehead. I stood, smiled again, and walked away, a spring in my step.