Fluttervile

by Aiet

... though I walk the valley of the shadow of death...

A couple of days after the letter was sent dolorem paced around his house slowly and methodically. Twilight had walked in seconds after the letter left and looked at the two. Dolorem sat back as spike looked like he was going to be sick. Twilight became worried as she walked over to spike.
“Spike are you ok?” she placed a hoof on his head to feel his temperature. Spike just stood up to leave.
“I just feel a little dizzy. I'm gona lay down.” he walked to his bed as twilight watched him. Dolorem stood up and walked to the door but twilight spoke up and stopped him.
“Are you ok?” dolorem stopped with his hand on the door and he turned his head to her. He smiled and nodded but twilight didn't believe him. He opened the door and left, closing it as twilight quickly went to her bed. Spike was laying down with his eyes closed but completely awake and twilight looked over him to see if he was ok. Satisfied he would be fine she left and ran out the door. The ground was hidden under a foot of snow and the sky was cold and gray. Dolorem hadn't gone that far and twilight was moving fast to him. He heard the crushing of snow behind him and he turned to see twilight making her way to him. He stopped and watched her but a rock was unseen and she tripped over it. She was pitched forward and dolorem throw out his arms to catch her, falling backwards into the snow. He laid in the snow with twilight on his chest grinning.
“Sorry.” dolorem just chuckled and shook his head. The snow was cold and melted against the bodies of the two as they continued to lay there. Twilight started to shake from the cold and dolorem softly pushed her off.
“come on.” he started walking off to his house and she followed. Along the way twilight had an idea and used her magic to gather some snow. Dolorem was walking when suddenly the back of his head exploded in a white fluff. He stopped and turned to twilight who was looking of to the side whistling to her self. Dolorem gathered some snow him self as she kept walking and pact it together. Twilight past under a tree as a snow ball hit the trunk behind her. She looked at dolorem and laughed.
“you missed.” dolorem just shrugged and turned, walking away as he pointed up. Twilight was confused and looked up in time to see a large pile of snow falling. The snow hit twilight and she was no longer seen, dolorem laughed as he kept walking. She dug her self out and looked at dolorem with squinted eyes. She ran at him and jumped, tackling him into the ground. The rolled around laughing and throw more snow at each other. Soon they where both wet and cold so they hurried to dolorem's house. They entered the house, cold and silent, dolorem began to undress. He had his back turned to twilight and she watched as he peeled of the damp clothes down to his boxers. He laid out his clothes to dry and headed to his room, coming back out seconds later with a blanket. He sat on the couch and motioned for twilight to join him. She got up on the other side but let out a small yell as dolorem grabbed her and wrapped her in the blanket with him. He didn't say a word as she looked at him and he held her close. Their body heat warmed and dried each other as they sat there together. Twilight pressed her back into dolorem's chest and shifted her self so that she sat right in his lap with her legs on his. Dolorem was the first to break the silence.
“It must be hard trying to let go, cause I know it is for me.” twilight didn't understand at first but then dolorem pulled twilight even closer, if that was even possible. She began to breath a little faster along with her heart beat. She could feel dolorem's breath, warm with the tropical scent that hid underneath, creeping down her neck. Dolorem's arms were around her chest and she placed her hooves on them. She could feel dolorem's heart beat hard in her back and shivered as his breath continued to dance on her skin under the damp fur. It suddenly came to dolorem.
The only thing missing is the fire place.
He remembered twilight's dream that he was showed by Celestai's sister but then his heart sunk as he remembered the other dream. Twilight could feel the shift in dolorem and turned her head to look at him. He smiled but his eyes were filled with pain. Twilight didn't understand but dolorem knew. He knew why he could never be with either one of them. He had to stop before... a knock at the door sounded. Twilight got off of dolorem and he headed to the door. He opened the door and rainbow dash stood there. She grinned as she looked at dolorem who was still only in his boxers
“oh you did most of the work for me. You won't mind if I take a peak before hand would you?” rainbow dash moved as if to push down dolorem but twilight spoke rather loudly.
“hey dash, what brings you here?” twilight sat on the couch wrapped again in the blanket, only her head sticking out. Rainbow dash stepped back noticing her for the first time and blushed. Dolorem looked startled as he let her in and closed the door.
“hey twilight, I was just coming over to for a bit.” she looked at the ground still embarrassed. Twilight just raised her eye brow and nodded trying not to laugh. Dolorem just shook his head as went to the bathroom. Rainbow dash looked up and spoke.
“so you two a thing?” twilight was caught off guard and stared at rainbow dash.
“No...” twilight looked sadly at the ground but rainbow dash didn't notice as she was thinking about something. Dolorem came back into the living room and looked at the two ponies. The cyan Pegasus turned to dolorem grinning wickedly.
“so if you humans wear clothes all the time does that mean the we're naked? How to you feel about that?” both looked at her in surprise and she went on.
“it must be pretty exciting being around naked girls the entire time uh? All it takes is a little breeze and well... What do you think about this?” dash turned around and lifted her rump in the air and gave it a wiggle. Twilight went wide eyed and dolorem just stared. The Pegasus turned back around pleased at dolorem's face. Twilight untangled her self from the blanket and got off the couch, heading for the door. She excused her self and left, leaving the two. Rainbow dash looked at the door and back to dolorem confused.
“what's with her?” dolorem shrugged his shoulders but inside he felt hurt. Then he remembered something he need from the rainbow maned Pegasus.
“could you do me a favor?” she looked at him and grinned.
“and what's in it for me?” watching dolorem she flew to the couch and sprawled out on in it, her legs spread apart. Dolorem just continued to look into her red wine eyes.
“I found a way back home.” dash tried take to the air but fell off the couch.
“no way! twilight found a way to send you back?” the fact was she hadn't but after her visit with the princess she knew she need to start. He lied to her and kept on lying.
“yes. Look I don't know how your weather duties work but I need something to happen if I'm going to get back.” she nodded and waited for him to go on.
“we need to be alone. It's in the Everfree and a blizzard needs to be raging so that no one can get in.” rainbow dash felt unsure about this but she agreed. Dolorem went over the rest of the conditions for the storm and when he finished dash went to leave. He stopped her before she left and spoke.
“no one can know about this. Don't even mention it around twilight.” she nodded and left, the house was quiet with dolorem standing in the middle of the living room. He looked again at the corner with the wrapped bundle. Soon he would leave but not back home or to anyone's home. This would be how he stopped it from happening before either of them was hurt by him. He was torn between the two and couldn't decide. But then again it was made to be that way. In the end it wouldn't matter, he would fall with or without them. It was better this way, they wouldn't be hurt, not physically anyway, and they could continue on. If it meant never seeing his home again. If it meant never seeing them again. He could live with that or in this case... die. Out side the true night had begun and the snow fell from a high.

The next day began like any other with light snow fall and gray skies. Dolorem was no where to be found but everyone else, with the exception of fluttershy and rainbow dash was at the library. They sat together talking to each other over hot cups of cocoa. They stayed well into the evening and as time crept on spike became more and more frigidity. Twilight noticed his behavior and went to him.
“spike are you ok?” spike nearly jumped out of his scales turning to the purple unicorn.
“I'm sorry but he asked me to!” twilight was confused but then the door swung open and two Pegasuses came in. Rainbow dash, followed by fluttershy, stared at twilight with confusion to match hers.
“shouldn't you be... you know that one thing? That's the whole reason I started the blizzard.” twilight became even more confused as the wind out side picked up. Ponyville was hit by cast off from a blizzard that whipped the Everfree forest.
“what are you...” the door burst open letting in the fierce wind. A gray, blond mane, crossed eye Pegasus tumbled in. rarity used her magic to close the door and checked her hair to see if it was still in place. Applejack helped the dizzy pony up, while pinkie pie chugged her cocoa. The gray mare pulled out two letters from her saddle bag and handed one to fluttershy and one to twilight.
“this is for you and one for you. Good bye.” she turned and opened the door, the wind picked up even more and she struggled to close the door. Both the mares opened the letters and read identical words.
Please come to my house. I wouldn't ask like this if it wasn't important.
Twilight turned to spike again with a stern look. He try to smile but he was to nervous.
“Spike, What's going on?” he wrunged his hands together and spoke.
“um well... you see...dolorem asked me to send a letter to Chrysalis...” everyone was shocked at hearing this and pinkie spit out her cocoa, spraying applejack.
“WHAT?” twilight was getting real mad and spike flinched.
“I did get a look at it though. It said something about the Everfree forest.” spike couldn't look at twilight any more. applejack was wiping her self off as rainbow dash walked up.
“he told me that you found a way to get him back home. That's why I was confuse to see you here. He said you both needed to be alone and that's why you needed the blizzard.” fluttershy rushed to the door and rarity called out to her.
“dear where are you going? It's horrid out there.” fluttershy stopped and turned.
“the letter said to go to his house. He might still be there.” twilight also walked to the door with her.
“then let's go.” they nodded to each other and throw open the door, cold wind whipped them and the door was forced shut with magic. The other ponies were confused and rainbow dash turned to the orange mare.
“hey you missed a spot.” she leaned forward and licked some cocoa that was above her right cutie mark. Applejack blushed and rarity just shook her head with a small smile. Pinkie had her tongue out and waving at it.
“ah hrunt may toong.” everyone laughed at the pink pony, everyone but spike. He felt horrible and was worried about dolorem. Out side the two fought their way to the house with the red slate colored roof. They pushed open the door and forced it close, inside was silent and still. Fluttershy went to dolorem's room as twilight looked around the living room. She didn't find anything but then a soft voice called out to her.
“twilight I found another letter.” she rushed into the room where the yellow Pegasus was reading a letter on the bed. She finished and backed away with tears in her eyes, twilight went to the letter and read.
By the time you read this I will be gone. I am sorry but this is the only way. It was my fault spike was hurt so I do this for him. And for the both of you. I do it to protect you all. To stop this from happening again. It has to be this way so you remain safe. She will get what she wants and you both can continue your lives.
The purple unicorn looked in disbelief as she read the letter again and again. Fluttershy finally was able to speak again.
“what does he mean ''she will get what she wants''?” out side the sun was setting and the little light it provided was gone. Large foot prints were swept away by the wind, erasing the existence of the one that walked there. Twilight spoke after a silence.
“Chrysalis. She wants him...” fluttershy ran for the door and left the house. Twilight couldn't move and she began to cry her self. The winds were to strong for flight so fluttershy had to trudge through the snow to the Everfree forest. Twilight sat down and stared at the floor.
She will never let him go.
Yellow feathers were flung high into the sky as the wings they belong to held tight to the body of the Pegasus. She fought the blinding snow in the wind and on the ground with tears that froze on her face.
I need to find him. I have to stop him.
She carried on and the weather became even worse. Soon twilight was able to stand and she knew she had to follow fluttershy, to help him. She rushed out side and closed the door with magic, facing the same fight as fluttershy. The blizzard would rage for hours and in the end no one knew what would happen.

Dolorem had little trouble with the blizzard since he had made his way nearly all the way to the Everfree forest before it started. He had on the clothes rarity had made for him, his only ones mind you, and carried the wrapped bundle. Snow covered the entire forest and muted out nearly all detail as he made his way around the trees. He was heading for a clearing he found on a map in twilight's library, past the house of a pony named Zecora. The wind picked up fast and harsh, blowing snow into his face. The entire forest was silent beside the screaming of the wind and nothing moved unless the wind made it so. The blizzard reached it's peak and the sun was gone, dolorem could see barely five feet in front of him. He committed the way to memory and continued with the cold numbing his skin. Soon he couldn't feel much of anything but it didn't matter to him. Then he reached the clearing. It was bare and large enough to build a house with a big yard. He walked to the middle of it and waited with the wind and cold. Then she came. Chrysalis stepped from the shadows in front of dolorem and a sickening smile was on her lips.
“oh you poor thing you must be freezing. Come here and I'll take you somewhere warm and safe.” she stepped forward one step and spread her wings as if to embrace him. Dolorem just looked at her with a blank face and she hid the impatiens that was building in her.
“look you have a visitor.” behind dolorem soft steps came up to him.
“dolo.” dolorem turned slowly to face... fluttershy. She stared at him and he couldn't believe she was there.
“she is who you most desire but does she desire you? Do you really think that you would find someone for you in this land? I know what she feels for you and it is not the same that is in your heart.” Chrysalis watched with delight at the two. Fluttershy stepped forward a bit and spoke again.
“she's right. I though that I did but I don't. You were something new and I was excited to have you but... now I see that you are nothing special. You're just some poor fool that twilight brought from another place and in time we would forget about you as if you were never here. Even twilight felt the same and that's why she just let me have you, like you were a toy she was tired of.” dolorem breathed heavily in total heart brake while fluttershy looked disinterested. He felt used and fake, the entire world sat on his chest, like he had never matter.
“you never mattered to me, why would you? You weren’t a stallion, I could never have a life with you. You were just a play thing to interest me until something new came along. I know what she wants for you and she should just go with her. Twilight was wrong about her, she is the only one who would ever want you. If you left no one would notice just like back in your world. You are pathetic and no one would ever love a warped thing like you. So just leave.” dolorem couldn't breath any more and his heart beat so fast it threaten to explode. Chrysalis grinned with wicked glee at the total destruction of the man before him and fluttershy became furious. She yelled at him.
“JUST GO! NO ONE WANTS YOU! I DON'T LOVE YOU ANYMORE!” dolorem could breath again as he thought about her last words. Suddenly he brought the bundle around and it cracked fluttershy on the side of the head with a ringing sound. She yelped and slid across the ground, motionless. Nothing happened and she didn't move. Then her skin crawled and a green light shone over her body. A changeling lay on the ground where fluttershy once was and more melted from out the shadows around the clearing. Dolorem breathed heavily and slowly turned to Chrysalis.
“you almost had me... but you forgot one thing...” the pitch black queen yelled in anger and the grunts advanced. Several would lung at dolorem but he didn't move, rooted in place. As they slowly enclosed him he undid the knot on the bundle. The rope and leather wrapping fell besides him and reviled a staff. It was eight feet tall in total and the wood was tan and about as thick as a bit was wide. On top, clamped and embedded into the wood, sat the metal head piece. The large metal ring was worked into the wood and two smaller rings hung on both sides of the staff. The point of the large ring sat at the very top and all the metal had been cleaned and polished to it's cold gray color. He held it in front of him and waited. The first changeling attached coming at him from the front. Dolorem swiped it aside as another came at him from behind, he brought it behind him and slapped it back. Each move of the staff would make the rings clank against each other sending off a low dinging. The changelings went at him in larger groups and he fought still. The would bite and scratch and he would knock them away with a ringing. He moved faster and faster throwing them all around the clearing. He spun the staff on his back as he leaned forward and it hit several of them away. Chrysalis grew inpatient and roared. The changelings back away slowly, hissing angrily, into the edge of the clearing. She stepped forward and spoke unable to contain the anger in her voice.
“now why do you have to be difficult? Please just set it down and come with me. I promise you would be well cared for and you get to spend it all with the one you desire the most in this world.” she calmed down as she spoke at the end and walked forward, a green fire engulfed her. Fluttershy walked to dolorem and his heart skipped a beat.
“Isn't this what you want? To be with me for ever. If you come with me you could. You wouldn't age and we would stay the same for all of time. Just you and me, eternally.” dolorem let is grip slacken on the staff. He knew it was a trick but he couldn't help it, this was something he wanted. Fluttershy saw him loss focus and pounced. In mid air she was engulfed in flames again and returned to her menacing state. She pushed dolorem to the ground and his weapon flew from his hand. She pinned him down and smiled cruelly.
“just come with me and I will give you all that your heart desires. And in return I simply want to feel the love you have.” dolorem sneered at her and brought his legs up, stiffening his body, sending her over him. She yelled as she hit the ground and popped right back up. Dolorem got to his feet and faced her. His staff lay in the snow ten feet from his left and she snarled at him.
“if you will not come with me by choice then I will drag you kicking and screaming!” she charged at him and he dropped to a knee. As she closed in he brought his hands together and come up with his palms outward, hitting her at the back of the jaw and sending her to the ground. He took this chance to dive for his staff as she jumped back up and charged again. He spun around while rising and caught her just in time. The pointed tip of the large ring cut the pods off her head before bouncing off her horn. She barreled past him and screamed in pain, green blood trickled down her head. She would lunge, bite, and stomp dolorem. He would return with swings, butts, and bashes of the staff and it's metal head piece. Back and forth they drew blood from each other and it painted the white snow. The blizzard blew harshly and the temperature dropped well below zero. The two fought each other for what seemed like hours deep in the woods. They pushed each other out of the clearing and the changelings followed. They kept their distance but longed to rush in for their queen. They hissed with the ringing of metal and roars of fury. They fought through the trees until they reached a small drop, only three feet lower then where they stood. Dolorem rushed Chrysalis and pushed her over the edge. He was about to follow but several changelings dropped from the tree tops in his way. He backed up from them throwing his staff in the air and ran past them. They snapped at him but he jumped over the ledge grabbing the staff mid air and brought it above his head. Time slowed down. The hissings became drawn out and the wind only rustled slightly. Dolorem dropped to Chrysalis slowly and the staff came down the same. She had stood up and bared her fangs at him with her horn lighting up in a violent green aura. The head piece of the staff was nearly touching her head and her horn glowed even more brightly. A loud bang and force brought the world back to speed as green flashed through the air. Dolorem soared back wards over the ledge he just jumped from and skidded on his back on the ground, only a short piece of the staff remained in his right hand. The blast singed him and his clothes as smoke rose from off him. A horrid scream of agony came from Chrysalis as she thrashed her head around. Smoking shards of what had been her horn scattered around her in ruins. She jumped back up the ledge breathing heavily and yelling in complete rage.
“NOW, my children!” several changelings stood behind dolorem and he tried to turn to them but was to weak to. They didn't even look at him however, none of them did, they all ignored him. Each and every single one stared at Chrysalis unmoving. She snapped around looking at them.
“what are you doing? I said get him now!” they didn't listen. Then they slowly walked away from her still facing her. Dolorem took his chance and stood weakly, heading back for the clearing. She didn't pay attention as she was being deserted by her hoard. She became frantic.
“My babies! What are you doing? Come back!” they all slipped into the shadows and were gone. She roared in anger and charged forward. Dolorem had stumbled back into the clearing but couldn't go no more and collapsed onto his back in the middle. Chrysalis burst through the trees and leaped at him. There was nothing he could do but raise the wood piece he still held. The end was jagged and she flew through the air at him. She fell on it, piercing her chest, and she stood above him. She snarled and lunged forward with her teeth and he pushed the stick up forward. Her head flew back and she let out a high pitch screech. It had hit her heart and she fell to his left. As she hit the ground dolorem went with her but stopped with a snap of the stick. He never knew that the other side was jagged too, he held the middle of the staff since the top and bottom had been blown away, and he never felt it go into him. It was in his stomach to the left side and blood seeped around the edges. He pulled it out, a grave mistake as now it bleed even more and faster, turning to Chrysalis. She was on her side and was facing him, her eyes boring into him. Green blood wept from the stick in her chest on to the snow along with his red blood. With some difficulty he reached into his right pocket and pulled out a yellow feather. It clung to the blood on his hand and he held it tightly. He looked back up into the sky that no trees blocked from him. It was gray and... calm. The blizzard worked it's self out and everything began to settle. The wind started to slow down and the snow fell more softly. He bled heavily and he lost track of time. He wasn't sure any more on how long he laid there and his blood pooled from his side. He could feel it in the back of his throat so he coughed and it sent blood onto his lips and chin. He turned his head again to her and the blood trickled out his mouth. His vision started to fade around the edges and he felt cold. Not the numbing cold of the air but an empty cold, hollow. He could feel his heart slowly beating each second a minute, each second less of a beat. His mind floated in a haze and he tried to speak but only more blood flowed from his mouth. His chest rose and fell slightly, less and less each time. He watched the snow fall gently onto her and it started to pile.
It was more then I could ask for. As long as I was dead it would have been fine. Now they can be in peace. Winter had always been my favorite time of the year. It is so much more clean here. Even with the taint of green and red blood, the snow is so... pure... and soft... so........... beautiful......
dolorem's eyes fluttered shut and he drifted into the dark.

Fluttershy fought hard against the blizzard and had made it to the edge of the Everfree forest. She paused there, fearful. She shook her head and set off determined, she had to be strong for him. He showed her how to be and she would not stop. Twilight was not far behind and she saw fluttershy go into the forest, she picked up the pace to catch up. Fluttershy made her way strait, she really had no other idea where to go. After about ten minutes she heard it. The ringing of metal. She didn't know if that was him or not but she didn't have anything else to go on. She followed it the best she could but the wind road in her ears and the snow blinded her. Twilight finally made it into the forest and went strait also. She had magic on her side and she used a spell to detect heat. She saw a red glow in front of her some distance that could only be fluttershy. Way off in the distance she saw multiple glows of red. She pressed on heading for them along with fluttershy who had guessed correctly from the sounds. Luckily the blizzard started to die down but then a flash of green sparked in the air followed by a scream. Both still apart went as fast as they could to the source. The twilight stopped as she saw with her spell a mass of red leaving. She wasn't sure what it meant but another scream ripped through the air and she could see a big glow not that much further. With the flash of green and first scream fluttershy worried but after the second one she was nearly panicking as she rushed through the snow as fast as possible. In five minutes she spotted a clearing and she ran as fast she she could. The blizzard had worn it's self out and the wind was not as fierce and the snow gently fell. The yellow mare burst through the trees and spotted a mix a red and green blood all around in the snow, two bodies lay motionless. She rushed to the green vest and brown hair that laid beside the black lump. A large pool of blood was to the human's left. She rushed forward and turned his face to her. Blood ran down the side of his face and was on his lips and chin. As she held his head his eyes opened but they were distant and unfocused. Fluttershy began sobbing and pleaded with him not to leave her. Twilight made her way into the clearing and her heart nearly stopped. Chrysalis lay dead with a staff piece jammed into her chest and fluttershy held dolorem on the verge of death's door. She ran forward with her mind in chaos. Every second that past was one that dolorem slipped further and further away. She wouldn't be able to teleport him to a hospital and even if she could it would be to late. The she remembered her studies of things of dark matters. Forbid magic. She turned to fluttershy and spoke.
“do you trust me?” she looked up with tears running down her face confused.
“then you have to let him go.” fluttershy didn't understand nor did she want to ever let him go. But she did. She backed away as the purple unicorn stepped forward. Her horn glowed with dark purple aura and Chrysalis's body moved. The shaft slipped out from her body and her blood poured freely but it didn't touch the ground instead it snaked it's way through the air into the hole in dolorem's stomach. Dolorem didn't have enough blood any more and Chrysalis's blood was stopped with the stick. Using her blood and changing it to match what little blood that remained in his body, she filled his veins once again. As the last of the green blood slipped into dolorem the hole started to close but not completely healed only enough to stop the bleeding. For a moment nothing happened. Dolorem's body was cold and lifeless. Then twilight sent a jolt through him and he twitched. It wasn't sure if it was from the jolt or not but he didn't move again and twilight and fluttershy became near frantic. Then he moved. It was subtle but both mares eyes watched for anything. His chest rose all the way up and fell back down only to repeat it's self. Heat flared through out his body as his breath misted in the air. His fingers twitched, something yellow poked out from them, and his eyes fluttered open. Then his heart thumped. Again. Again. It thumped over and over again making the blood flow through his body. Fluttershy rushed forward and looked into his eyes, they were glazed over but they slowly focused. Twilight walked up slowly next to fluttershy who was coxing dolorem back. Both couldn't believe he was back and were glad beyond belief. But it was short lived. His fingers stopped moving, hiding the yellow again, and his chest fell down and failed to rise again. His heart slowed once again until it no longer moved. The blood in his veins flowed to a stop and the heat dissipated from his body. His eyes closed and he moved no more. No mist came from his mouth. Fluttershy began shaking him frantically pleading for him to come back. Twilight just stared. She had failed, she wasn't able to save his life. Fluttershy cried loudly into the air holding dolorem's head to her chest. The sky was it's gray and the wind it's cold chill. The snow fell ever so softly. Ever so gently. Pure. Beautiful.

Two weeks had past and the weather became very mild. Deep in the Everfree sat a stone in the ground, in the middle of a clearing. The ground had been frozen and it took big mac with his plow to tear up the frozen dirt. He was able to do it and with in hours applejack and him had made a pit for a grave. They lowered a simple wooden casket into the ground and shoveled the dirt back in it once again. A blank tomb stone was set in the ground at the front. The next day a yellow mare sat in front of the grave confused. She sat there thinking about what had happened two weeks before. All the blood was gone but when she closed her eyes she could see it as if it was still there. Shards of horn, metal and wood had been gathered and returned to their owners. But it didn't matter any more. What use were they now? They would be horrid reminders of something cruel and evil. A fight between two that ended more lives. The changelings had left and no one ever saw them. They had simply disappeared but no one complained. They wanted to thank the one responsible but found they were unable to. Many gifts and flowers piled by the house with a red slate colored roof. The door was never opened since then. Inside some spider webs formed in corners and dust coated everything. The wood shavings still showered around the covered sculpture. Food rotted and smelled horrendous, filling the house. With out a window to flow out, it lingered in the air. Some would visit the house with hope but leave sadden. Others would visit the grave site if they were brave enough to go into the Everfree forest. But today fluttershy was alone as she wondered in her thoughts. She still couldn't understand.
“Why?” she spoke to her self but was answered by another. They talked as they walked slowly behind her, stopping a few inches from her.
“Because everyone deserves a proper funeral. Everyone deserves a final resting place. I don't blame her for she did. It's what she was, her nature and that is next to impossible to change. She was driven mad by a different kind of lust. A lust that was her down fall in the end. The view of evil here are far different then ours. But maybe you well understand one day.” fluttershy looked up and smiled at dolorem. He was sweating despite the cold and out of breath. He should have been resting in bed but he kept arguing until he was finally let outside. It was his idea to bury Chrysalis and would have done it him self but that's where fluttershy put her hoof down. She was able to talk applejack and big mac into it, all though they were hesitant and didn't want to be near her body even if she was dead, and they went right to work. The freezing cold preserved her body just the way she had died minus the stick. After the hole was dug and a casket was made twilight helped place her in it with magic they lowered the body down into the hole and twilight found the first piece of Chrysalis horn. Before they covered her back up with dirt twilight gathered all the horn fragments and placed them down with her. Applejack asked why and she said that if it was her she would want to be buried whole. The only thing never found was the pods from atop her head but they didn't noticed they where missing. A blank tomb stone was placed and they left. Dolorem examined it and pulled out a hammer and chisel. He knelled down with some pain but manged through it. He chipped away at the stone and after ten minutes he pulled back looking over his work. He carved in her name fairly well and that was enough. If anyone who found they would know she lay here. But soon time would forget her along with everyone else. She would be in history books and studied in class. Foals would wonder how she was in real life and probably play games involving her and the changelings. But for know dolorem sat down and watched the grave. Fluttershy looked at him tenderly. They were so close to losing him. When the spell didn't work and he faded away a second time, fluttershy lost all hope but then something happened. She felt a pull from inside her, as if something was taken from her though not important, and dolorem's eyes snapped open. He breathed once again and his heart hammered in his chest. The blood surged through his veins and his chest raised and fell rapidly. Fluttershy was overjoyed and spoke soothing words to him, calming him. Twilight stared in total and utter disbelief. She was at a lost of words and dumb struck. Tears of pure joy ran down fluttershy's face as she held dolorem tight. Twilight used her magic to send a note to the hospital. They rushed as fast as possible and made it there in half an hour. They surrounded dolorem pushing back fluttershy, she tried fighting them but twilight held her back. She calmed her down as the levitated dolorem with them and rushed back to the hospital. They had poor understanding of humans so twilight had to come help they after she walked fluttershy to the library. She made her way there as the rest gathered around fluttershy. They asked her what happen but she was barely able to talk and it was applejack who got everyone to back away as she led her to the couch to lay down. At the hospital twilight directed the doctors on what to do but he was mostly fine. The black magic had healed the most fatal wounds and all that was left was flesh wounds in need of cleaning and bandaging. He was released the next day but fluttershy absolutely refused him when he said he wanted to go back home. She held a one sided argument by her self on why he was going to stay with her at the cottage until he was back to full health. She didn't even pause for a moment and when dolorem tried to interrupt her she gave him the Stare. She peered into his eyes, ripping apart any form of argument he had, and he felt as if she was boring into his very soul. He didn't say a single thing and let her continue. She went on again about how she was going to take care for him no matter how long it took. The rest of the gang were to scared to argue with fluttershy and they simply nodded in agreement. Dolorem was set up in fluttershy's bed still wearing the same clothes. She helped him out of them and was able to smell how bad he was. She got the bath water ready and told dolorem she would be back shortly. She made her way to rarity's boutique with dolorem's shredded and burnt clothes. She wouldn't let her fix the clothes for free and shoved them and some bits into her hooves. This was so unlike the shy and timid fluttershy of before, so she didn't argue. Rarity deemed the clothes a lost cause and throw them away. She began work on a whole knew set for dolorem with the same measurements as before. When fluttershy got back to the cottage she didn't find dolorem in bed. He tried to make his way to the tub him self and was panting on the floor besides it. Fluttershy hovered in the air in front of him with her arms crossed. Dolorem tried to smile at her but winched in pain when he went to pick him self up. Angel stood to the side shaking his head. Fluttershy agreed with him and went to dolorem. She helped him up off the floor onto a chair by the wall. All that he was wearing was the black boxers and he tried to get them off him self. He couldn't lift him self up to slid them off so fluttershy pushed away his hands. She tugged at them and couldn't get them off, so she used her teeth to help. Dolorem went wide eyed as she pulled them down with her teeth and finally they were off. For the first time she saw him completely naked but he was covered in blood so it ruined the effect. She helped him up and into the bath water. It was hot and steam rose from it's surface. A faint hint of lavender came with the steam. Fluttershy gently pushed dolorem down and began scrubbing his chest with a soft brush. She washed away dried blood, green and red, and softly brushed the area he had been stabbed. It was highly sensitive and slightly white around the entrance. Dolorem gasped slightly as she touched it but she was gentle. She traded the brush for a wet rag and went to his face. She started at his neck and worked her way up. She washed way the blood on his chin and up to his lips. She leaned very close as she wiped away the blood from his lips. Dolorem could smell the wet blood from the rag, the lavender from the water, and the sweet scent of her breath. She was so close that her nose brushed against his but she didn't pull away. They stared into each others eyes until a loud thump startled them. Angel, being the selfish asshole he is, wanted her to finish so she could feed him. Fluttershy moved on to dolorem's forehead with the rag and continued. Angel rolled his eyes and hopped away. She pulled him forward and went to work on his back. She washed away the blood from there also. It seemed to be everywhere on him, blood on every part of his body. When she finished she went back to his front. She pushed him back again and went to his waist. The water became cloudy with sweat and blood but she cleaned anyways. She went first on the outside of each leg then half way up the inside. After that then she went the rest of the way. As she was moving her hoof back and forth on his inner thigh she brushed past something. Dolorem blushed but fluttershy didn't. She knew she would have to clean here and she continued. Finally he was cleaned so she drained the water but kept him inside the tub. She then filled a small bucket with fresh water and poured it over him multiple times. She started the hot water once again and filled the tub. She told him to lay back and relax now. She was going to take care of some things and she would be back. He nodded and laid back as she left to feed angel. After that she went back to rarity's. She entered the shop to see the clothes still in a pile and was confused. She found rarity who explained that the clothes were beyond repair so she just had to make new ones. Fluttershy just nodded and left once again, returning to the cottage. Along the way she ran into rainbow dash who was just walking through the snow with no real destination. She stopped to talk to her.
“hey dash, what's the matter?” the cyan Pegasus never heard the yellow Pegasus come up and jumped slightly.
“oh hey shy. And nothing...” she looked off to the side, fluttershy could see plainly that something was bothering her. She placed a hoof on her shoulder, brushing the rainbow mane out of the way. Dash just sighed and spoke.
“me and applejack had an argument. I really screwed things up and I don't know what to do.” she looked as if tears were going to form in her eyes but she just blinked furiously. Fluttershy nodded and hugged her.
“It's ok dash. If you really love each other then it will work out. You'll find that you love each other no matter your... differences.” fluttershy her self seemed to realize something with her own words. Rainbow dash looked up with a smile.
“thanks fluttershy. I think I need to go found somepony and try to make this up.” she hugged back and took off into the air. Fluttershy continued on to her cottage on foot and made it home without any more stops. She entered the cottage to see dolorem with a towel wrapped around him trying to walk to the kitchen. She became mad and stomped to him. He tried smiling at her but she just pushed him back to the bed repeatedly. He tried not to fall over but she wasn't helping with her firm shoves and angry eyes. She shoved him hard onto the bed and he landed nearly with his head on the pillows. He winced as he had hit his wound on the bed and fluttershy flipped him over roughly onto his back. Dolorem was shocked at the way she was behaving. She grabbed the blanket and tucked it underneath him, pinning his arms to his side. She stepped back and spoke firmly.
“don't you dare get out of this bed. If you need anything I will do it for you. Do you understand?” she gave him the Stare again. He felt as if her eyes were burning into his and she was going to beat him if he didn't listen to her. He nodded his head and she turned to leave when he spoke.
“you look cute when your angry.” she snapped around and glared at him while he chuckled. She turned again and was blushing as she went to get him something to eat. Dolorem worked out his arms and waited for her to return. Fluttershy prepared some food for him but not much, he need to eat light at first. When she came back she rolled her eyes as she saw him with his arms above the blankets. He grinned and shrugged but that caused him to flinch from pain. She placed the food to the side and sat next to him and started to feed him.
“you know I can still feed my self?” she gave him a stern look and he backed down and let her feed him. She spoke as she pushed apple slices into his mouth.
“I all ready have one hard head in this house, I don't need another.” dolorem swallowed and chuckled, letting her continue to feed him. He finished all the food and she grabbed a small towel, wiping his mouth clean. She leaned forward, gently brushing his lips with the towel and could smell his breath. She could smell the apples but underneath was the tropical scent that always hid. Dolorem grabbed her, pulling her close to his chest. He just smiled and held her. She gently wrapped her arms around him and buried her face into his neck. Then she began to cry, she couldn't help it and she held him tightly. Dolorem just ran his hand through her pink mane and rocked her. Fluttershy never wanted to lose him again so she held on to him and cried. Soon she stopped and they looked at each other. Dolorem used his hand to gently wipe away her tears and smiled. She smiled back and laid back down on his chest. Soon they fell asleep in each others arms and outside the snow drifted down softly with the night. That night fluttershy had dreams of warmth and safety in strong arms but dolorem's dreams were far different. Blistering cold wind and floods of green and red blood that mixed together. Dolorem was caught in it's torrents and was thrown around. He tried to reach out for anything to hold on to but nothing was there. He could feel something pull him and he come to a whirlpool. He skirted along the edges and started to be sucked into the center. He could see what waited for him. Black bodies with white fangs, changelings, moved back and forth hungrily snapping for him. Then he stopped and he looked up. Fluttershy held his hand on a ledge that had not been there before. He smiled in relief but she looked back at him with a blank face. Dolorem was confused but then Chrysalis appeared behind her. She smiled grimly and spoke.
“didn't she tell you before? You don't matter to her.” he looked back at fluttershy in fear and she let go, Chrysalis laughed cruelly and it echoed through out the air. Dolorem was sucked in faster to the middle and the changelings pulled and tugged at him. They dragged him under the water and the last thing he saw was fluttershy's eyes, bored and disinterested. Then the darkness consumed him and he floated in nothingness. That's when he saw it. A bright blue light that shone above him. He tried to reach for it but he couldn't move as he sunk faster. The light rushed for him and engulfed him, bathing him with sapphire glow. He stopped sinking and he was standing in mist. He looked up to see the same royal blue pony from before. She stepped to him and spoke.
“with Chrysalis death my sister feels more at ease, she can now trust you. But what does this hold in-store for you? Chrysalis may be gone but time still holds many challenges for you. I wish to see you happy, dolorem, but many things can happen. It is up to you on how you handle them but remember... even with the triumph of evil the heart can still be hurt. Your bindings still anchor you to either world and follows without hesitation. When they are gone you shall be free but at what cost? When it ends what will you be left with? I cation you to chose carefully because it may rip you from what you hold most dear... or worse. When you wake tomorrow a summons waits for you from Celestai. Now sleep and be free from nightmares.” everything fade from dolorem but her. She stayed in focus until everything was gone. Then dolorem woke up. A yellow wing was wrapped around him and the sun shine dimly. Then there was a knock at the door. Dolorem looked at fluttershy but she was still asleep so he gently shook her. She came to slowly and was about to asked him what was wrong when the knock came again. She got and walked to the door sleepily. She opened it and a familiar gray Pegasus stood there with a letter in her mouth. She gave it to fluttershy and left before she could thank her. She closed the door and turned. Dolorem spoke up.
“it's for me.” fluttershy looked up at him confused then looked at the letter. He was right, it was addressed for him but for this cottage. She gave him the letter and he opened it.
To a Dolorem Pati. Her royal highness, Princess Celestai, has wished to speak with you over the matter concerning the late Queen Chrysalis. A royal guard, Pegasus drawn carriage will arrive for you at noon. Please be ready to leave at said time.
He gave the letter to fluttershy and she read it. She looked up with panic.
“but you're in no condition to be out of bed, you still need rest. And you clothes... oh no your clothes! I'll be right back.” she ran for the door and left. She flew quickly to rarity's bouquet and rushed inside. She called out for rarity and she came down the stairs with heavy eyes and a steaming cup levitation near her mouth.
“oh hi fluttershy. What's the matter dear?” she spoke and sipped on her drink. Fluttershy was near frantic.
“Celestai summoned dolorem to come to her at noon and he has no clothes!” this was like a slap to the face for rarity as she dropped her cup and brown liquid spilled onto the ground. She ran around the shop gathering everything she needed. She spoke as she work quickly.
“let me worry about the clothes, you just go get him ready dear. I'll bring them before noon.” she had only two and a half hours but she could work wonders still. Fluttershy left and flew back quickly. She ran into the cottage to find dolorem not in bed but she heard the sloshing of water. Dolorem had manage to make his way into the tub and started a bath. He was still clean from last night but it never hurt to take another in the morning. Fluttershy went in quickly and dolorem spoke.
“I know you're going to get mad but...” he was interrupted with a bucket full of water was poured on him. Fluttershy didn't give him time to react and pushed his head under water and back up again. He spit out water from his mouth as she combed through his wet hair. She told him to get out and she started to dry him off. She led him to the living room still naked and sat him on the couch. she began fixing his hair and pulled it back into a pony tail. Then she went to grab bandages to re wrap his wounds. As she did this rarity came bursting through the door with a bundle of wrapped paper. She opened it and handed dolorem a pair of black boxers, he put them on with some difficulty. She pulled out a plain velvet red shirt and used her magic to put it on him. Next she pulled out shorts that ended half way between the knee and ankle, with golden yellow trim. He put this on him self as she pulled out a matching vest like his green one with golden yellow trim also. But this vest didn't end with the last button at the waist like the other one. It continued about eight inches below his waist and split off from the last button almost like a very short skirt that didn't close in the front. On the shoulders were golden yellow pads that had short strings that dangled from it. A folded collar sat around his neck from the vest and had two golden yellow buttons that matched the six running down his vest. She pulled out tan sandals and he put them on as she took out the last couple of things from the bundle. The first was a pair of red wrist bands with the same trim as his clothes and the other was a scarf. It was a cloth scarf that was golden yellow with red trim. Rarity used her magic to tuck it under his collar and it hung evenly past the front of his shouldered about seven inches. Rarity stepped back pleased with her work then out side the swishing of wings was heard and a loud thump. A knock came from the door and fluttershy answered it. A royal guard stood there and motioned for dolorem. He walked slowly forward and made his way outside. The snow lightly covered everything still and the wind was gentle. As he walked out the door rarity suddenly remembered something. She went back to the paper bundle and levitated a hat from inside. She placed it with her magic on dolorem's head. A perfect fit, a soft red velvet fedora with a golden yellow band and trim. Fluttershy helped him in the carriage and once he was sited she fanned out a wing. She used he mouth to pull out a seven inch feather and gave it to him.
“Here. To replace the one you lost.” the one from before had fell from his hand on the way to the hospital despite the blood sticking to it. He held it carefully and smiled at her. She backed away as the carriage started to take off. He looked back as they took off into the sky and fluttershy fought the urge to follow. As they shrunk into the distance dolorem turned back around looking at the feather. He then placed it between the band and the hat on his right side, sticking back. The air was even colder up high and stung his eyes but soon Canterlot came into view. It was grand and large, much different then Ponyville. A sudden jolt pitched dolorem onto the floor of the carriage and that's where he remained until they stopped moving. He pulled him self up with a groan and found him self in a court yard. He stumble out out of the carriage and was met by a familiar blue pony. He stared at her as the carriage took to the air leaving them. She approached him slowly.
“Welcome, Dolorem Pati. It is a pleasure to finally meet you in person. I am Princess Luna, sister to Princess Celestai. She awaits for you in her study, please follow me.” She turned and slowly walked away. Dolorem followed her and she slowed enough for him to keep in step with her. They walked side by side into a large room that was even more grand than the city. There sat Celestai on a mound of cushions reading letters and when she noticed the two she left the letters and walked to them.
“Hello, Dolorem Pati. How are you?” they stopped in front of each other in the middle of the study. Dolorem looked into her purple eyes and spoke with a flat tone.
“taking in account that I died I'd say pretty well.” Celestai gave him a blank look while Luna had a smirk. Celestai turned around and walked out to a balcony.
“Come we have much to talk about.” dolorem followed but Luna stayed behind. He walked out onto the balcony and had a view of the beautiful city. Celestai spoke while looking over the city.
“Now tell me Dolorem... what do you know of names?” the sun hung high in the sky but the clouds blocked the warmth. They both looked out over the city as the snow began to fall. Hours later dolorem returned to the cottage exhausted even though he had only talked to the Princess. His mind hang on her words that nearly mirrored her sister. He walked into fluttershy's house to find her asleep on her bed. He walked quietly to the bath room and went to the mirror. As he looked into it he stumbled back frighten with a small yell. His reflection was not quite him. He had black skin and green eyes. He slowly looked back at the mirror and found him self as normal. He calmed him self and walked back to the bed where fluttershy still lay. He watched her sleep peacefully and thought to him self. Just maybe it had past and that with his death it had sufficed, despite the words of the royal sisters, maybe he could finally live his life. He gently laid down besides her and drifted to sleep. Out side the snow fell softly and the wind blew lightly. The winter was calm and ever so peaceful.