//------------------------------//
// Black and purple 
// Story: Fluttervile 
// by Aiet 
//------------------------------//


Chapter thirteen:


“Black and purple.”

A flash of blinding light and the crack of an invisible whip. A storm spewed into the sky, a last minute shower before winter, the clouds frothed and churned. Fluttershy bolted strait up with the boom of thunder, breathing fast and her heart beating hard. Torrents of rain poured down slapping the land in strides. Fluttershy began to shake as another flash of lightning danced across the sky followed by a loud clap. Two large hands wrapped around her yellow coat pulling her to warmth and safety. Dolorem held fluttershy closely as she trembled in his arms. He rocked her in his arms as another bang filled the air. The rain beat against the walls and windows without any sign of letting up. Soon fluttershy calmed down, her breathing regular and her heart normal. The lightening and thunder continued but fluttershy no longer jumped. Dolorem let her go and she turned to face him, smiling. Light flashed showing her illuminating her face more, cast half in shadow. Inside the house it was silent but it was broken with a loud grumbling noise from fluttershy.
“I forgot to eat.” she giggled as dolorem smiled and shook his head getting out of bed. He lit a lamp and walked out the bedroom door to the kitchen. He was about to grab a bowl of fruit when a glint caught his eye from outside the window. He slowly walked to the window that was next to the door and looked out side. He couldn't see much of anything as he squinted his eyes still scanning the darkness. He was able to make out some movement outside as he moved his face closer to the window. He saw something come closer and closer when the lightening flashed and...
“dolo?” dolorem spun around and fluttershy was looking at him.
“oh I'm sorry I didn't mean to startle you.” she walked up to him and he smiled stepping away from the window. They went to the kitchen once again but before they could eat anything a loud bang sounded. Then it came again faster from the door. Dolorem walked to the door and opened it. Twilight stood in the rain with her hair plastered down and soaked. Her facial expression was troubled and she spoke.
“spikes missing!” dolorem backed up so she could come in and he went to his room. Fluttershy grabbed a towel from the bathroom and wrapped twilight in it.
“what do you mean?” twilight grabbed the edges of the towel tightly and shivered.
“I heard a loud bang in the library and woke up but I thought it was the storm so I went back to sleep. I woke up again later and looked over to spike's bed to check on him. He wasn't in bed so I called out. When he didn't answer I started to look around the house but he was nowhere to be found.” dolorem walked back in the living room fully dressed and went to the door.
“fluttershy watch over her please.” she nodded her head and dolorem turned to leave but twilight called out.
“I saw someone going towards the school.” dolorem nodded and left, fluttershy had twilight follow her to the bedroom as she dried off. Outside the rain was still falling in waves and dolorem was soaked in seconds. He started to jog to the school as the cold rain hit his skin. The storm clouds had blocked out the sky and it was near pitch black as dolorem came closer to the school house. He slowed down to a walk and stopped completely in front of the door. It was slightly open and rain had made it's way partly inside. Dolorem pushed open the door slowly as it creaked. He walked inside and the door closed behind him suddenly. In the middle of the room surrounded by up turned desk, thrown around in an obvious sign of a fight, laid a small dragon. His scales had started to slowly fade back to it's natural purple and they shined with the water still on them. Dolorem slowly moved to spike as the floor boards groaned. He was now standing over spike and he keeled next to him. Large patches of scale were missing and others were cracked, trickles of blood ran down his sides. Dolorem softly turned spike over and saw his face. His left eye was nearly swollen shut and his lip was busted. He let out a moan, letting dolorem know that he was alive. Dolorem softly scooped up spike and he let out another moan. He walked out the door, cradling spike in the crook of his left arm, back into the rain. He walked slowly back to his home and the rain picked up more along with a gusting wind. Along the road a rustling could be heard, different from everything else. Then a black body moved out from a bush and stood in front of dolorem. A single changeling blocked the road as dolorem stopped, staring each other down. Dolorem gently set down spike against a tree stump, the rain cleaning off his blood. The changeling hiss and ran at dolorem, who stood on the road again. He brought up his foot with his leg strait out and going above his waist. As the changeling neared he brought his heel down and connected with the changelings with a sicking snap. The changeling slid past dolorem motionless. Dolorem walked back to spike and picked him up, walking off again. He neared his house and light shined through the windows, twilight and fluttershy back in the living room. Entering the door twilight turned quickly to it. Dolorem shut the door behind him and twilight rushed forward to the unconscious dragon in his arms.
“wha...” she couldn't speak as she saw his face and scales. Dolorem walked past her to the couch and set him down softly. Twilight and fluttershy came over to spike.
“changelings.” twilight was in tears as she looked over spike and fluttershy rushed to find a blanket as he shivered. Dolorem walked back to the door looking back.
“stay here.” he walked out the door into the freezing rain. Fluttershy brought over a blanket and covered spike.
“where is dolorem?” twilight could only motion to the door as tears ran down her face. Fluttershy walked over to the window to see dolorem walking off once again.
Please be safe...
Fluttershy walked back to spike and started to treat his wounds, twilight sat down near them still at a lost for words. Outside dolorem walked back to the school. The rain once again picked up even harder and dolorem could only see a few feet in front of him but he knew where he was going. Soon he was back to the spot the changeling had been left unmoving but it was no were to be seen. Then a faint glint of green caught dolorem's eye and he saw a small blood trail leading into the bushes as it was being washed away. He quickly followed it into the bush were he pulled back the leaves to find the changeling. It had dragged it's self into the bushes and lines of green blood trickled down it's head from the top. It hissed at dolorem but it was weak. Dolorem grabbed the changeling by a leg and dragged it out from under the bush, weakly kicking and twisting to get free. He held him out by his side but not close enough so it could attack. He walked back to his home where twilight was gently holding spike. Dolorem came closer to his house, the light glowed through the windows, the changeling hissed and thrashed wildly. He walked in with his struggling burden and fluttershy turned to him. He went to his wood sculpting tools that sat by the covered wood and grabbed them, fluttershy became worried.
“what are you doing?” dolorem didn't answer and walked to his bedroom door. He turned to fluttershy as he grabbed a chair along the way.
“I would cover your ears...” he went in and closed the door behind him. Twilight wasn't paying attention to what was going on and fluttershy slowly walked to the door. She gently pressed her head to the door to listen and she heard a muffled growl. Inside dolorem tied to changeling to the chair with his belt and the tool kit was laid open on the bed. He held a clamp in his hand and squeezed on the changeling's tongue, pulling. He let go and spoke to it.
“why did you attack spike?” the changeling hissed at dolorem and he quickly clamped back down on it's tongue, pulling firmly. The changeling whined loudly and looked at dolorem pleadingly. he reached for a a sharp tool and pushed it itto the side of it's tongue drawing out more blood and moans.
“what do you wa...” the door swung open and fluttershy stood there with horror in her eyes.
“what are you doing?!” she rushed forward as dolorem let go of the changeling's tongue and she pushed him away standing between the two. She breathed heavily and tears built up in her eyes.
“why would you do this? It may not be a nice creature but it doesn't deserve this.” she unbuckled the belt and the changeling ducked behind her, shivering in fear of dolorem and blood running out it's mouth. Dolorem stood there with the tools still in hand and held his head down. Fluttershy walked past him with the changeling hiding behind her as they walked out to the living room. She went to the door and opened it, the changeling darted out the door into the torrential down pour, dolorem walked back into the living after her. He placed the tools next to the wood sculpture and sat down on the floor. Fluttershy closed the door and turned on dolorem.
“how could you? That was horrid and plain evil. I can't believe that you would do something like that. Where is the gentle giant I fe...” she couldn't talk anymore as tears rolled down her eyes and she walked to twilight who was confused with what was happening. Everyone sat in silence until the rain slowly died and the sun rose. When the rain was gone and the sun shined in the widows spike finally came to. He opened his right eye, his other eye swollen entirely shut, and spoke with a dried rough voice.
“twilight?” twilight had dozed off but shot wide awake and smiled in relief.
“ho-how do you feel?” she lightly brushed her hoof across his forehead and spike tried sitting up but was pushed down gently by fluttershy.
“you need to rest spike.” fluttershy spoke softly and twilight nodded. Dolorem stood off to the side watching them.
“let's get you home spike.” twilight stood up and went to levitated spike but dolorem walked forward and gently picked up spike.
“I'll carry him come on.” he turned to the door with spike and the blanket in his arms. Twilight opened the door and fluttershy stood there unable to look at dolorem. They left, leaving fluttershy alone, heading back to the tree house. Spike was still hazy and dipped in and out of consciousness. They arrived at the tree house and twilight opened the door for them. Dolorem went to spike's bed and laid him down softly, he opened his eyes looking at him.
“did you save me?” spike asked dolorem as he pulled away, he nodded as twilight walked up. She hushed spike and spoke softly.
“we'll talk later spike just rest.” spike closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep. Twilight and dolorem went to the living room as spike mumbled in his sleep. Twilight went to the book selves and used her magic to pull off a very large book from the top. She lowered it onto the table in front of the couch and went to sit. She opened the book and it turned out to be hollow and inside was a glass bottle with amber liquid sloshing around. She undid the glass stopper and took a large drink of the contents. Dolorem watched in silence as she placed the bottle down looking at him.
“I keep it hidden from spike and never let him see me drink it. I only drink when I'm extremely stressed and need to relax so I think this calls for it.” she tipped the glass towards dolorem and he walked forward to her. He grabbed the bottle and sat next to her on the couch taking a smaller drink then hers. They handed the bottle between each other taking drinks in silence until half a hour later the glass was empty. Twilight face was flushed and dolorem looked still fine but swayed a little.
“I-I can't thank you enough for finding spike. He means the world to me, I hatched him and I'm practically his mother. I felt so helpless when I couldn't find him and I didn't know what to do. I could only think about getting to you, I knew you would help. Spike likes you a lot. And I...” she spoke slowly and slurred only a little, tears welled up in her eyes. She suddenly buried her face into dolorem chest and cried as he held her.
“I don't know what I'd do with out him. Or y...” a shuffling noise came into the room and twilight sat up, stopping what she was going to say. Spike came into the living room walking stiffly and slowly. Twilight got off the couch and went to spike.
“what are you doing out of bed you need to be...”
“she said she won't stop until she haves you alone. I just remembered this but she wasn't talking to me.” spike looked at dolorem who looked back at him. Spike stumbled slightly and twilight held him up.
“she was talking to her self I think. I really couldn't tell. I was under hooves and there was a lot of hissing.” twilight looked at both of them not fully understanding with her fuzzy mind what spike was saying. Dolorem stood up and walked to spike.
“what exactly did she say?” he lowered him self down in front of spike, looking into his eyes.
“she said that she needed you. That she couldn't stand it any longer and would do anything for you.” spike swallowed as he was hearing her say the word in front of him again. Dolorem stood up and ran his hand through his hair. Twilight looked worried and went to a scroll and quell. She used her magic and started to scribble down something on the scroll quickly.
“I need to tell Celestai about this. She well know what to do.” she wrote her letter and when she was finished she rolled it up. Spike walked forward and took it from her.
“here I got it.” he let out a green fire and it consumed the letter turning it to dust that flew out the window into the sky. Moments later spike hiccuped and another letter appeared from green flames. Twilight quickly grabbed the letter with her magic unrolling it reading. She set down the letter looking at the other two with wide eyes.
“she wants to see me now...” she rushed to the bathroom, dropping the letter. Dolorem walked forward and grabbed the letter reading it. Just like twilight said she wanted her and her alone but what really caught his eye was the last line separate from the rest. It read “Do not bring the human.” he placed the letter on the table as spike shuffled back to his bed. Twilight ran back out to the living room and stopped in front of dolorem.
“can you please stay with spike? I'll be back soon.” dolorem nodded and twilight's horn shined brightly with white. With a loud pop she was gone and dolorem stared at the spot she once stood. After a bit he walked away and sat back down on the couch. He sat there for some time when there was a knock at the door. He stood up and went to the door, opening it slowly. Rarity stood in front of him with a look of worry all over her face.
“where is he? Is he ok? Can I see him? Well he...” dolorem interrupted her frantic talking.
“he's fine, he's asleep.” rarity brushed past dolorem heading to spike. Dolorem was about to close the door when rainbow dash and applejack ran up. He just stepped to the side and let them in. they stopped in the living room as dolorem closed the door and went to the couch.
“so how is he?” applejack stood by rainbow dash, both looking at dolorem as he sat down.
“a bit worse for wear, but he'll be ok. They weren't trying to kill him just to send a massage.” applejack nodded her head and rainbow dash stepped forward.
“so what are we going to do? We need to find them and... and...” applejack placed her hoof on her shoulder to calm her down. Rainbow dash hung her head down and a silent sobbing could be heard. Rarity stood next to spike running her hoof across his forehead gently.
“you poor thing. Why would anyone do such a thing to such a sweet dragon?” spike's eyes fluttered open and he was staring into sapphire eyes. Rarity smiled at him as he shifted to sit up.
“Am I dreaming?” rarity leaned forward and kissed spike on his nose.
“get some rest sweetie. Everything well be fine.” she kissed spike on the cheek and walked away as he placed his hand on the cheek she just kissed.
“well I hope I don't wake up.” he laid back down and watched her walk away. Rarity went back into the living room and started to cry. Applejack went to her and hugged her.
“it's gonna be ok darlin' trust me.” rarity just nodded and wiped her eyes. She turned to dolorem with a daggers in her eyes.
“who did this?” dolorem stared back and the three ponies waited. He sighed and told them the story.

“A child who suffers pain will smile more then those who know no evil and face it unprepared.”

twilight appeared with another pop, teleporting to Celestai's study. She was aiming for the royal chambers but another force directed her here. She looked around confused when Celestai walked out from the shadow.
“sorry twilight but I needed you here directly.” twilight nodded her head, she still felt fuzy, and went to her mentor. Both walked to a podium that a small book rested on. Celestai opened the book and a drawing of human was on the page.
“when I received your letter my fears were confirmed. Do you know about the human that came into our world three hundred years ago? Twilight nodded, trying to hid the achool on her breath, as Celestai turned the page to another drawing, one of Chrysalis and the human.
“when the human crossed over it had been only three days when they met. It was by chance but it changed Chrysalis forever. She feeds off of love as you know but a human's is much different. She became addicted to it and kidnapped the human after two weeks of being here. She used her power to trick her and invoke her love. After some time the human was able to break free of her magic and took her life. I am surprised that she didn't act sooner when the human you brought over arrived but now she will do anything to get to him. You are all in danger if you keep him close. I warn you twilight, stay away from him. he will bring despair.” twilight listened in silence as Celestai turned the page to yet another drawing of Chrysalis standing over the dead human, pure rage in her eyes. Twilight understood that dolorem was in danger but she couldn't tell him. She didn't think she could bring her self to tell him that he was the reason they attacked Ponyville. Celestai closed the book and turned to twilight.
“now we have some more things to discus, come with me.” twilight followed her with a heavy mind and heart.

“I wish that I had other choices then to harm the ones in love.”