//------------------------------//
// Desirable 
// Story: Fluttervile 
// by Aiet 
//------------------------------//


Chapter twelve:


“Desirable”

The black cloud dropped and flooded the streets of Ponyville, casting an artificial night that the sun peaked through. All six ponies, spike, and dolorem stood near some houses in town square. Dolorem watched as it approached until hot pain flared in him he dropped to a knee clutching his chest and groaning loudly. Fluttershy and Twilight both turned to him, fluttershy next to him and twilight in front.
“Dolo!?” fluttershy placed a hoof on his arm, his face contorted in pain.
“are you ok?” twilight watched him as he looked up at her and yelled.
“move!” he pitched forward and pushed twilight to the side as a neon green beam hit him in the chest, throwing him into the building behind them. He slid down the wall on to the ground not moving. Everyone turned to see what the beam came from and it stepped out the darkness. It appeared to be a black pony but with more of a black shell than fur. Eyes without pupils, pale blue, and long white fangs, a dark blue shell with blue steel near translucent wings that sprouted out. Fish fin like mane and tail. It's legs however were normal except from the fact that holes riddled them and can be seen all the way trough. A black horn sat on top of it's head that formed out from the shell. It hissed and green ooze frothed from it's mouth.
“Changelings!” the cloud erupted, dissipating, leaving behind a swarm of the vile creatures. The town plunged into chaos as ponies ran in terror and the changelings fell on them. Some fight but most fled being chased. The one in front of the group was shot with a purple beam and twilight turned to the rest.
“come on we have to stop them!” everyone but fluttershy rushed in different directions. Screaming and destruction came from all around and fluttershy stood next to dolorem's motionless body. She was shaking him, pleading for him to get up. Finally he shifted and rose his head, fluttershy sighed in relief. She was about to speak but then he raised his hand, balling it to a fist and shot it out. A cracking and loud thump came behind a startled fluttershy as a changeling hit the ground. Dolorem got up to his feet looking all around. He spotted a wooden pole about as tall as him holding up a flower pot and grabbed it, the pot crashing into the ground. He walked in front of fluttershy holding out the pole.
“this would be better if I had a Khakkhara.” then from atop the clock tower a loud hiss pierced the air. It was another changeling but much large like the princess. The shell on her back was tinted green with large insect like wings and the rest of her shell was a black like a night that held no moon or stars. Her long mane with holes at the ends was a dark cerulean. She had normal eyes, harlequin, filled with hunger. On top her head a bundle of short stems ending in small round pods sat behind her long horn that was punched with holes like her mane and legs.
“Now my children!” she called from atop the tower and a large group of changelings stop their rampaging while other continued. They swarmed to dolorem who set down the pole and grabbed a small round wooden table the also sat in front of the house. He crouched behind it in front of fluttershy holding it forward as they dove. As a whole the collective could overwhelm anyone but individually they were not very smart and it showed as they rammed into the table one after the other. The table was holding them back but hooves and horns were breaking it apart and it wouldn't last long. Then a loud explosion blew the diving swarm apart with small boxing gloves soaring through the air.
“Party cannon beotch!” pinkie pie wheeled a large pink and blue cannon around shooting more gloves. It would be comical had their lives not been in danger. Dolorem throw the table away, torn nearly to pieces, and picked up the pole as more changelings advanced towards him. Then they came at him and muscle memory and instinct kicked in. with jabs, thrust, swipes, and swings he tossed the changelings aside. They regrouped and rushed him but dolorem was quicker and barreled down the middle sending them apart. Once finished with them he ran back to fluttershy who was ducking by the house, he picked her up and ran around the houses. On the other side he found twilight squaring off with the large changeling.
“out of my way girl!” she look near deranged as she glared at twilight.
“what do you want Chrysalis?” she gave a heated glare back. The changeling laughed a blood chilling screech.
“that's Queen Chrysalis to you girl and it's none of you business!” her horn glowed and a brilliant green aura shot out at twilight, who jumped to the side and the beam hitting the ground she once stood. When twilight moved chrysalis caught sight of dolorem and grinned with glee.
“come to me human!” she charged dolorem who, setting down fluttershy, braced himself with the pole behind him. As she neared he brought up the pole and smacked her with a solid whack sending her airborne. She flipped into the air and hissed. Changelings heard the pain and hatred in her voice and rushed to her. Dolorem walked away from fluttershy after placing her behind a bush. An even larger mass from before dove at dolorem and he braced himself for it. They swamped over him and he disappeared from view. The held together the ones on the outside pushing to the middle to get to him. Then with the swishing of something soaring in the air dolorem appeared again. He had thrashed and swung so fast that it seemed the mass of changelings exploded off of him. He stood holding out the pole with cuts and bites on him, more changelings rushed him and he turned to face them. He was smashing the pole into them sending them left and right as he backed towards a house. He never knew about the changelings that chipped away at the edges of the wall of the house he neared. The wall teetered and started to fall at dolorem, he didn't notice it before he could move. At that moment he was slammed forward into the changelings tossing them around and a loud thump came from behind him. Dolorem got up to see fluttershy pinned beneath the wall that was moments away from crushing him. Luckily it had caught on a stone pillar in front of the house not falling all the way, but fluttershy didn't move. Dolorem dropped the pole and ran to her. The pillar snapped and the wall began to fall once more but dolorem got to it in time and held the wall from crushing fluttershy. Changelings attacked him, biting and scratching, as he slowly pushed the wall up, it's weight not allowing him to move a hand to protect himself. He trembled under the wall but did not falter, pushing it higher and higher. Fluttershy was free but she still didn't move and dolorem's muscles screamed. The changelings continued their onslaught until they were ripped away. Applejack was bucking them off dolorem sending them flying with sicking cracks. Rarity rushed over to fluttershy and used her magic to drag her to safety. Several changelings poked their head over the wall but dolorem had pushed it upward and it fell over crushing them. Rarity brought fluttershy to the clock tower and dolorem ran to them. his back was turned as he stood over fluttershy and Chrysalis made her move. She dove at dolorem and rarity tried to yell at him but before she could he snapped around and grabbed her out of her dive. His hand wrapped around her throat and he brought his knee into her rib cage sending her to the ground. He grabbed her tail and dragged her through the dirt. He started to spin around and around lifting her off the ground until he let go and she flew into the air. She tumbled in the air and bounced of the clock tower crushing off some of it's edge. She manage to gain control and roared in pure fury.
“I WANT HIM NOW!” every changeling took off to the sky and once again dive bombed dolorem. Instead of piling on him they grabbed him and took to the air, even Chrysalis held onto him. The gained height and rainbow dash rocketed to them. Dolorem thrashed around and kicked out as hard as he could. His foot connected to right under and behind Chrysalis jaw and dazed her causing her to lose her death grip on him. They were high above the tower as he fell and at the time the royal guard appeared fighting any changelings left behind. Dolorem fell strait down and would have smashed into the ground had rainbow dash not ram into him sending him at the clock tower. He hit a beam nearly snapping it and slid off the side falling again. Rainbow dash zoomed for him but she would never make it in time. He fell fast and nothing else could stop him, moments before impact a light rose plain stopped him. It slowly set him down before blinking out of excistance. Rainbow dash stopped looking for who had summoned the plain. She spotted a white unicorn with a blue mane and tail stripped with light and dark blue. A dark blue shield with a purple star was on both sides of his flank. His light blue eyes met with rainbow dash's red wine colored ones.
“Shining Armor? What are you doing here?” rainbow dash called down but an ear slitting shriek cut her off. The guard had chased off the rest of the changelings and they swarmed around a beaten Chrysalis in the air. Her eyes burned with pure madness as she glared at Princess Celestai on the ground who had arrived behind the royal guard. She turned with another defeated shriek and took off with her hoard. As the town ponies watch her shrink in the distance they began to cheer. Dolorem stumbled around the tower supported by rainbow dash. Celestai caught sight of him and watched him with a cold glare. She took flight and was followed by her guard all except Shining Armor. Dolorem made his way to a still unconscious fluttershy with the help of rainbow dash. He keeled down and ran his hand along her side and she finally came too, lifting her head and a smile smile on her lips. Dolorem released a sigh of relief as all the others came over along with Shining Armor.
“I didn't have a chance to warn you so I had to get you out the way.” fluttershy spoke softly still weak. Dolorem hushed her and brushed the hair out her eyes.
“Shining!” twilight ran to the white unicorn hugging him. He hugged her back and smiled.
“I'm glade you are all safe. We saw them approaching but we thought they were heading for Canterlot. We came as quickly as possible.” he turned to dolorem eying him. Twilight sighed in relief.
“well I'm glade you did. We needed all the help we could get.” she walked over to fluttershy and looked her over.
“we need to get you to the hospital. And we need to start gathering anyone else who was hurt too.” she looked around the town serving the damage. It wasn't too bad but hard work would be need to repair the destruction. After gathering all the wounded with the help of Shining Armor they were sent to be treated. The injuries were not server but still needed to be checked and fluttershy had to stay for some time. Dolorem spent each day and night with guilt besides her bed blaming himself for her getting hurt, holding her feather from his pocket when ever he was gone. After a week she was free to go but she was still a little weak so dolorem carried her to his house.
“but my animals...” she tried fighting him but he wouldn't let her leave.
“twilight has spike taking care of them since you have been in the hospital.” at fluttershy's cottage spike was ready to pull out every crimson scale from his body with frustration. It wasn't that it was a difficult task it was the fact the Angel was an asshole as he was told many times by the dragon. Fluttershy reluctantly laid back down in dolorem's bed as he made a meal for her. For another week he sat besides her taking care of her, feeding her and bathing her but nothing like what had happened with twilight. The entire time dolorem was burden by guilt still blaming himself as she almost died trying to save him. He would never forgive himself if she had.

“You may hold the world on your shoulders and with your arms, crushing you into grief and despair, but with love can you shrug off your burden and hold the world in your hand.”

Two weeks after the changelings attacked the town had been repaired, the damages focused more on the center never going to the out skirts. Soon everyone was back to their normal routine even fluttershy. She made it back to her cottage and her animals missed her terribly, spike on the other hand didn't look back as he walked out the door. They knew she was still recovering and with winter very near they became almost non demanding. The season had rolled into fall and the animals left one by one to holes and caves for hibernation. Angel was the only one who stayed with her and helped her. Dolorem was there everyday to check up on her but never staying long. It pained him to see wince as she would reach for things or stand up and he couldn't bare it. One day he took Angel to the side and spoke to him.
“now I need you to help fluttershy as much as possible. She doesn't need to being staining her self. Do you understand?” angel rolled his eyes and gave dolorem a look that said what do you think I've been doing. Dolorem left and walked back home, it hadn't been touched by the changelings. On the way there he ran into applejack.
“oh hey Dolorem I was just comin' to find ya. We are havin' a little get together at the barn and I was going to invite you and the rest of the gals. So what do ya say?” dolorem smiled and nodded.
“sure sounds fine. I could use a little... fun.” applejack nodded her head and head to twilight's tree house.
“alrighty then. The party is at eight so don't be late now.” dolorem continued walking home to get clean. At his house he looked at himself in a mirror in the restroom. He had trouble trusting the mirror at first but when it didn't try to suck him in he was fine. His clothes were in a horrible state, the changelings ripped and tore at it. He decided he needed new ones and grabbed his bits and headed to rarity's.
“Of course I'll make you new clothes!” rarity was jumping with joy when dolorem had ask her if he could buy some clothes. She ran around the shop gathering the necessary supplies and dolorem stood in the middle.
“now I have never made clothes for a human so I well need to take precise measurements. Now take off those horrid rags.” rarity spoke as she unfurled a length of measuring tape.
Great, why don't we just invite the other three who haven’t seen me naked, get it all out of the way.
Dolorem striped down all the way sitting his clothes in a pile next to him and rarity turned to him. Her mouth slightly dropped as she stared at him but she shook her head and walked to him in a professional manner.
She looked like what they did... wait fluttershy has never seen me naked.
Rarity levitated the measuring tape to him taking notes with a quell and pad next to her, she would give him directions on how to move so she could get more detailed measurements. At the time a small filly came down stairs.
“hey rarity, can I go with the girls today? Applebloom said they are having a party at the barn and I wanted...” she made her way down and stopped staring wide eye at the two. Rarity wasn't paying attention to what was happening until dolorem quickly turned around covering him self. She gave him a puzzled look and turned to the direction he was pointing. She gave a little yell and quickly levitated some cloth to cover dolorem up.
“oh course you can, you should leave right away!” sweetie belle walked to the door fast and left, running to Sweetapple acres. Rarity turned to dolorem with a nervous smile, blushing.
“sorry I forgot she was here.” dolorem just shook his head and dropped the cloth.
“let's get this over with.” rarity nodded her head and went back to work. When she finished measuring him she told him to come back in two hours so he redressed and left. He walked around town for a bit until he saw a traveling pony selling wares. He walked up to the cart that held many different items and was greeted by a male green earth pony with a blond mane. He had an image of a road leading to bits on his flank. His blue eyes where warm and kind.
“well hello there. Something you see that you like?” his voice was smooth and quite charming. Dolorem smiled and looked at the cart until something caught his eye. He grabbed it, a leather bundle that held tools inside, examining it closer.
“now that is a wood sculpting kit and very high quality. You can make all sorts of carving with this set. It come complete with every tool to shape and detail your art work.” his sales pitch wasn't to bad and dolorem still needed to find him self a hobby.
“how much?” dolorem turned to the pony with the tools in hand.
“twenty bits.” dolorem wasn't sure if he was getting ripped off or not but he bought it anyway. He went home and grabbed a large chunk of wood that was sitting behind his house from a tree that had fell over. He set it on the table in the living room and moved both to the middle of the room. He opened the kit and a little instruction manual was inside. He read it and learned which tool was and what it was used for. He grabbed the starting tool and began to work. Soon a pile of wood shaving surrounded him and he set down the tools. It was time to head back to rarity's and he steeped back from the carving. It was a very crude attempt at the head of a pony but it was his first time so he didn't fret much. He made his way back to the boutique and walked in. rarity came down from up stairs with a large smile.
“good you back just in time come have a look.” rarity led him to a her work shop. She levitated him the new clothes as he striped down again. Once finished he stood in front of a mirror to see him self. She made everything he needed, black boxers is what he had put on first and they felt great. His shorts were the same length as his others and didn't need a belt at all. A soft white shirt was under a sleeveless button up vest that had a breast pocket on the left. The shorts and vest where a bright green with yellow trim that looked almost golden. She even made a pair of leather sandals that were very comfortable, showing off his rather hairy feet, and a leather brown belt like his old one that was for show. He really liked it a lot and it went well with his tanned skin and brown hair and eyes. He turned to rarity when he was done finishing admiring her work.
“this looks great. Thank you so much rarity.”
“not a problem at all. And besides I couldn't let you run around in those rags any longer.” dolorem went to his clothes and pulled out the bag that held his bits. Rarity shook her head.
“no no. for you free.” dolorem tried to argue with her but she wouldn't budge so he left thanking her again. It was getting close to eight so he went home to take a bath and get ready. As he was walking out the door he stopped and turned back to the pile of his old clothes. He dug around until he found what he was looking for, a yellow feather. He placed it in the breast pocket and left. He made it all the way to the front of Sweetapple acres when he found fluttershy. He walked up to her slowly and she smiled at him.
“wow I really like your new clothes.” dolorem was smiling as he stopped in front of her.
“rarity made them for me. My old ones were falling apart.” the kept smiling at each other and gazed into the others eyes.
“Dolorem I...” fluttershy was about to say something else when a loud voice interrupted her. Applejack was walking to them.
“hey yall two come on in. the party is about to start.” fluttershy moved first walking to applejack and dolorem followed. All three made it to the barn where loud music had just picked up and played.
~If it hadn't been for Cotton-Mane Joe 
I'd been married long time ago
Where did you come from where did you go 
Where did you come from Cotton-Mane Joe...~
Dolorem stopped and listened to the song.
Cotton-mane Joe? Are you serious?
Dolorem walked the rest of the way in and sat at a table that had a white cloth hanging over the sides with fluttershy off to the side. A lot of the town ponies where here even the Cutie Mark Crusaders, who were sitting in a corner whispering to each other and looking at dolorem. He had a good idea about what they were talking about. The rest of the party goes made it and a lot of them were dancing to the music. Dolorem sat there next to fluttershy and was staring at her, as she was watching everyone dance, when he felt something hit his foot. He looked under the table to find three fillies who knew they have been caught. Dolorem knew why they were there and gave them stern looks as they back away out from under the table. He stood up and turned to fluttershy.
“come on let's dance.” she looked at him unsure and nodded her head. The song was a slightly fast one and they two grabbed each other like they had when they danced alone. Dolorem had to show her how to do the dance first but she learned it quickly and soon they were two-stepping around everyone. Some stopped to watch them dance and when the song finished and they stopped everyone cheered. Fluttershy looked around nervous but dolorem just smiled at her. Applejack walked up to them.
“now that was some mighty fine dancin'. You wouldn' happen to know how to play an instrument would ya?” dolorem looked at the band and then back to applejack.
“got a guitar?” applejack nodded and called to a pony to bring one. It was big mac who brought a brown guitar on his back and gave it to dolorem. He walked up to the band and turned to face everyone else as they went silent. Fluttershy sat closer to dolorem to watch. Dolorem tuned the guitar and spoke.
“this is a song that actual helped me once upon a time.” he started a slow upbeat tune.
~Well I won't back down, no I won't back down
You could stand me up at the gates of hell
But I won't back down~
Dolorem played a song of man that had died in his world long before he was born but his song helped him in rough times as he sang it to him self. Dolorem sung well although he wouldn't be famous for it everyone else enjoyed his voice.
~Gonna stand my ground, won't be turned around
And I'll keep this world from draggin' me down
Gonna stand my ground and I won't back down~
Fluttershy rocked along with the music, she never new he could sing. She loved his voice and watched him in front of everyone as his song came to an end. The entire time dolorem's eye were on fluttershy as he sang, to him it felt as if she was the only one in the room.
~Hey baby there ain't no easy way out
Hey I will stand my ground
You can stand me up at the gates of hell
And I won't back down~
Dolorem finished the song and placed his hand on the strings to stop them as everyone cheered. He set down the guitar and walked back to fluttershy, sitting down with her again. The band picked back up again and the party kept on going. Dolorem and fluttershy danced some more together and he even dance with applejack, pinkie pie, and twilight. It was past midnight as everyone started to go back home. Angel would be fine tonight by himself so fluttershy went with dolorem to his house. They walked in and dolorem's sore attempt of a sculpture met them. Dolorem just tossed a towel over it and led fluttershy to his bed room. Dolorem striped down to his boxers and slid into bed with fluttershy.
“did you have fun?” she asked watching him.
“yes, did you?” she nodded her head and they laid there until they fell asleep. It was a cool peaceful night that became longer with each day closer to winter. Out side in the sky above with the moon and stars sat a single cloud. On the cloud a large pitch black queen sat, glaring at the red slate colored roof. Her eyes crazed and her mouth wet as she licked her lips.
“Sleep now human. Soon you shall miss that and more.” she grinned a wicked, toxic smile and pawed at the cloud. Below shadows moved with fangs and pale blue eyes as they closed in on the house. Then the thunder boomed deafeningly.

“I'd be willing to die today if it meant I could have your love tomorrow.”