Fluttershy looked out over the battlefield. Now stained red with the blood of ponies, griffins and Minotaur alike. Archer's stage had become like a second home to her. She always went there to think in times of uncertainty. Celestia's setting sun gave the scene a very picturesque view. Oranges and reds mixed together in a graceful dance. Fluttershy noticed Big Mac making the gradual ascent up the path to her. Saying nothing, he sat beside her and watched the sunset. As they had almost every day since Big Mac got out of hospital.
"Did you hear the news about the Doctor and Derpy?" Mac finally asked. Fluttershy smiled, pleased for her friends.
"Yes, it's nice to see that even here, the horrible gates of hell itself. That something as normal as that still occurs." Big mac turned and kissed her. And she kissed back, glad as always to be with her coltfriend. They stayed like that for hours, locked in each other's embrace. The moon rose, bathing them in a serene white light. Fluttershy ran her hoof along the scar on Big Mac's side, feeling her usual pang of guilt. He just smiled; instincts and experience telling him how she was feeling.
"You know ah hate it when you blame yourself." He said, pulling her in closer.
"I know, but I can't help it. I shouldn't have let you get yourself into this war."
"You didn't. ah volunteered. And ah did it just so ah could keep you safe, not the other way round." Big Mac began to kiss her neck, making Fluttershy giggle.
"I know. But still…" Big Mac sighed, looking at his fillyfriend.
"Ah was going to leave this till another time, but now seems right." He turned over, reaching into a bag that he had brought with him. He pulled out a box, giving it to Fluttershy.
"Fluttershy, will you do me the immense honour of becoming my wife?" He asked as Fluttershy opened the box and stared at the ring that sat inside. Fluttershy blushed, looking at Big Mac.
"Yes, yes I will." Her face lit up in the biggest smile Big Mac had ever seen. Fluttershy threw her arms around him, kissing him passionately. She broke it off, flying into the air.
"Oh my, we just have to tell everypony." She took off in the direction of the main tent. Big Mac quickly packing up and chasing after her. Fluttershy entered the tent to find all of her friends, except for Pinkie, who was still recovering from the reprogramming. The other elements were there, as well as Princess Celestia, Black Diamond, Lightstar and Applethunder. They were all congratulating Derpy on her big news. Big Mac finally arrived, standing next to Fluttershy.
"Um… Everypony. I have an announcement. And I'm sorry to steal your spotlight Derpy, but…" Fluttershy held out her hoof, the ring shone brightly in the candle light. The Girls and even Princess Celestia all squealed, galloping up to Fluttershy. Big Mac was forced out of the way. Black Diamond and The Doctor gave him a hoof shake, congratulating him on his engagement. Fluttershy had never felt so happy in all of her life. The good news kept going, as Princess Celestia promoted Black Diamond to Duskheart's former position. Duskheart was being sent back to Canterlot to await trial. The war, for that night, was forgotten and the ponies celebrated. But all knew that the celebration would be short lived. There was still a war to fight, no matter what was happening in their personal lives.
Fluttershy awoke the next morning, warm in Big Mac's arms. Easing herself out of his grasp, she put her armour on and went to see the only one of her friends she hadn't told; Pinkie. She opened the tent that was her prison. The chair she had been tied to had been replaced by a bed, although she was still tied to it.
"Pinkie, I have some wonderful news. I'm engaged. Big Mac proposed to me last night." Fluttershy told the sleeping pony. Pinkie's ears stood up straight, and her hair had gotten back some of its natural puffiness. A sure sign in Fluttershy's opinion that she was getting back to normal.
"Well I just hope that when my wedding comes around that you will be awake to plan the reception." She said, smiling at her friend. She left, feeling optimistic about the days ahead. Fluttershy began to walk back to Archer's stage, ready for the next battle. But then she heard crying coming from the research tent. Investigating, she found Rarity, curled up in a corner. Her left eye was black and she had grazes and cuts all over her.
"Rarity! What happened!? Are you okay?" she asked, worried. She put her hoof on Rarity, who screamed;
"No! Don't touch me, not again." Fluttershy pulled her hoof back, not wanting to upset her.
"Rarity, it's me. Fluttershy, you can trust me. Just tell me what happened." Rarity shivered, as though she was remembering something horrible.
"It was Tinker. He came in… I thought it was Diamond… He held me down… Told me he would kill me if I screamed… and he…he…" Rarity couldn't finish. She just began to cry even louder. Fluttershy finally clicked as to what she was talking about. Fluttershy felt the rage build up inside her. She walked out and saw Twilight walking over.
"You! Get in there and help her!" Fluttershy shouted at Twilight, Who just did what she was told, bewildered. Fluttershy found Tinker still sleeping in his bunk. She threw him out, shouting obscenities. Tinker put up his hooves as Fluttershy cocked an arrow in his direction.
"Hey, hey there's no need for that." He said. Pleading with Fluttershy. She let go of the arrow, which went straight though his arm and into a notice board behind him. He screamed, loud and animalistic, as the pain took hold. He held up his other hoof, and Fluttershy pinned that one to the notice board as well. More screams came from his degenerate mouth. By now his bunk mates had woken up, but were either too scared to do anything, or just didn't care about him enough. Fluttershy cocked another arrow, and aimed it right between Tinker's eyes. She released, but the arrow didn't move. It was being held by Princess Celestia's magic.
"Fluttershy! What is the meaning of this?" she asked. Shocked at the display.
"He hurt Rarity Princess. He is going to get what he deserves." Fluttershy said. She whispered what had happened into Celestia's ear, so as not to embarrass Rarity in front of the other ponies. Celestia's eyes burned with anger. She looked at Tinker, then at the arrow, still charged with enough kinetic energy to put an end to his miserable existence. Fluttershy noticed the look of contemplation on Celestia's face as she decided whether or not to let go of the arrow. Eventually her rational side took over and she lowered the arrow to the ground.
"Rest assured Fluttershy. He will be punished. But this is not the way to do it. I will have some guards escort him back to Canterlot for trial. But not now. I think I will tell them in a few hours." Celestia said, the anger in her voice clearly upsetting Tinker's bunk mates. Rarity was moved to a secluded tent by herself, and refused to see any male ponies. Celestia had female doctors brought in specifically for Rarity. Black Diamond took it particularly hard. Even going as far as beating Tinker to a pulp one night as he sat in the prison, although it was never proven. Fluttershy stayed by Rarity, who seemed to only really trust her. Rarity had nightmares at night, and Fluttershy was always there to help her. One month afterwards. Rarity told Fluttershy exactly what had happened, crying as she did so. It was so hard for Fluttershy to see her like this. The strong, confident Rarity was gone, replaced by a ghost of her former self. Fluttershy secretly wished that Celestia had not stopped the arrow. A week after that, and Rarity had stopped having nightmares, or they were less frequent at least. Twilight came to relieve her one night, just wanting Fluttershy to get a good night's sleep. Fluttershy went to Big Mac's bunk instead of her own. She curled up with him, and as they started to fall asleep, Fluttershy said;
"I'm going to kill her Mac."
"Who?" asked Big Mac, worried about his fiancé.
"Gilda. She started all this. And I won't shoot her with an arrow either. No. I will be up close, personal. I want to see the light leave her eyes and know that the last thing she sees on the earth will be me."
"I will help you do that." Said Big Mac. The seriousness in his voice gave Fluttershy comfort.
"Good. She has taken too much from us and it's high time we returned the favour." Fluttershy fell asleep, visions of killing Gilda danced in her dreams all night.