//------------------------------//
// Child assembly required 
// Story: Fluttervile 
// by Aiet 
//------------------------------//


Chapter twenty four:


“Child assembly required.”

“mom! Have you seen my tools?” rivet called out for his mom as he he looked under the cushions of the couch. Now he was seventeen and taller than his mother, he was still growing. His messy black mane was long and singe from a “don't worry about that explosion” in his room. He tied his tail at the top and bottom to keep it out of the way from his work but it was hard since it was really poofy almost like pinkie pie's but not curly. He would have to braid it before going to fly because it would catch in the wind but he was fast at it. His yellow coat was often dirty with oil and dirt but when clean it was bright and gleaming. He still had his large wings but they weren't hindering, they were powerful and strong. He was looking under the couch as rainbow dash called out.
“ask your dad.” she was cooking breakfast as rivet walked in.
“dad!” there was no answer as he looked around. With out missing a beat or turning rainbow dash spoke.
“he's at the shop.” rivet nodded his head and went to the door to leave. The “shop” was dolorem's old house, it was to small to be their home so since he still carved from time to time and rivet had his “mech-flowers” he turned it into a shop for them. He took to the air and glided to the shop where dolorem was inside carving a chair. He had started taking orders from other for bits and was doing well. Rivet landed in front of the house and walked in, dolorem had his back to the door by the window by the front door and with out turning he spoke.
“by the couch.” rivet blinked then it dinged on him. He walked over to the couch and on the table was his tools like his father said. Dolorem was sanding the chair as rivet walked over to the part that was his work station. It was table by the window that faced the road to Canterlot covered in oil and scratches. A shelf was above him that held other metal pieces, small and large, with out looking up he started searching for a piece. When he couldn't find it he looked up and searched again but it wasn't there. He turned to dolorem but before he could say anything dolorem did.
“by the shelf over next to the kitchen.” rivet walked over to the shelf and began searching. He found it, a long metal rod with a socket at the top, pulling it down it caught a towel over something and took it off. The towel fell on his head and he took it off, looking up. Then he saw it. A beautiful wooden bust of a mare, it had been treated with chemicals and other solutions to make it last for nearly a life time. He couldn't take his eyes off it, so life like and so beautiful.
“dad... is this...” dolorem turned and saw what he was looking at as he said the last word.
“... fluttershy?” dolorem slowly stood and made his way to him and her. He stopped and reached out his, gently running his hand over it. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, rivet could see the pain flash across his face. He knew about her from his a picture he found at home and after asking his mom. It hurt her to talk about it but she didn't tell him what she was other then her friend. Dolorem took it off the shelf and went to the living room to set it on the table.
“yes...” rivet followed him and looked again at the bust. Dolorem had a small smile.
“before I married your mom I was married to her. After I lost her it was your mom who saved me. I would have killed my self from the grief. That's something you should never think. No matter what you feel. No matter the darkness of the moment love and hope is always possible... never think about killing your self. You leave behind more pain then you think you're getting rid of.” rivet listened to him and would remember this words but know there was something else he wanted to know.
“how did she die?” he could see the reaction in his eyes, they got some what watery like he was going to cry but he didn't.
“I killed her...” this stuck rivet, he didn't understand. Why didn't he ever know this? One day dolorem would tell him the entire story but for know he didn't want to weigh his mind with his darkness. He walked back to his work as rivet continued to stare at the beautiful sculpture. Then he went back to his work but his heart wasn't into it, he wanted to know that story. After awhile rainbow dash walked in.
“hey you guys what are you...” she saw fluttershy and stopped. It still struck her, so beautiful and life like. Dolorem stood up and went to her.
“why don't we go out to the park today?” she looked up to him and nodded as rivet came over. He was going to go home real quick to wash up and would meet them there. As they watched him take off rainbow dash turned to her husband.
“did you tell him?” dolorem just watched as his son left.
“no... in time.” she nodded and they continued to the park. It was beautiful summer day, bright and hot. They sat under a tree in the shade as they waited for rivet and he came soon. His coat was clean and his mane was still it's mess. His tail was horribly poofy, bigger then pinkie pie's tail. Dolorem and rainbow tried not to laugh as he walked up.
“hey fuzz butt.” dolorem spoke as rainbow dash laughed hard. Rivet rolled his eyes sitting with them and started to braid his tail. He did a hunter braid but all they way to the bottom except for three inches that looked like a fuzzy ball at the end. They sat together and told jokes and funny stories until a blond mailmare flew to them.
“For a Mrs. pati.” she pulled out a letter and gave it to her. She took off as dash opened it. She sighed as she tucked the letter away.
“I got to go. There is some trouble at the rainbow factory and their to stupid to figure it out them selves. Sorry guys I'll see you at dinner.” she hugged them both and took off. They watched her leave and continued with his story.
“... and I woke up and she was licking my toes!” rivet laughed hard, he couldn't believe pinkie pie was that crazy. They were still laughing when they heard a scream. Ponies were running away back into town. Dolorem shot up and looked at from where they were running from. A loud roar ripped through the air and they both saw it. It was a lion but twice as large as the ones dolorem knew and it's claws were even bigger. He could see the muscle rippling in the front of it's body. Then over it's large mane a goat head popped up but it was attached to it's body, a little below the shoulder blades. Half way on it's body turned into that of a goat and it's hind legs too. Then at the end was it's tail, a long scaly rope with a menacing snake's head with hateful red eyes. A chimaera. It roared again and slowly moved forward, looking down. Then dolorem saw her. A small foal crawling on her back in terror. She was pink with a blue mane and in pure terror. He did what came natural. He ran for her as the chimaera closed in. rivet even ran too. Dolorem turned just as he reached her and snatched her into his arms when a large clawed paw came down. Rivet followed dolorem as he ran away from the beast. He sat down the frighten foal and rivet stopped next to them.
“take her to town.” rivet nodded and scooped up the foal, taking to the air. Dolorem turned to see the chimaera barreling down on him. He turned to face it and waited. Dolorem dived to the side as it leaped at him. They played a game of cat and mouse, it would charge and he would jump to the side. Rivet touched down in town and gently placed the foal down. Others rushed to him.
“rivet what's going on darling?” rarity came up to him as he was about to take off again.
“I don't know what it is but something attacked ponies in the park! Dad still there, I need to go back. Get help.” he took off and flew fast to the park. Rarity rushed away as the foals parents ran to her. In the park the game turned deadly. As dolorem dived side ways the chimaera snapped it's razor teeth at him. He caught his left leg and pulled him closer. It began shaking it's head side to side violently and tossed him aside. Dolorem hit the ground hard and wasn't moving, his leg horribly mangled. Rivet watched as the beast had him in it's mouth. He dived down at full speed as it tossed his father and he switched in air, slamming his hooves into the lions head. It fell over with the lion head confused and that's when the goat took over. It got back up, the lion head dangling down unconscious, and started to hop around. The snake head shot out and snapped at rivet as he took off, missing him by an inch. It bounced up and down trying to reach rivet in the air. He flew away and to his father. He landed next to him and shook him. He opened his eyes and rivet was relieved until he was pounced. A few feet from dolorem the chimaera pinned rivet to the ground, the lion woke up and was back in control. Then it lashed out with it's razor teeth and latched onto his right wing. Rivet let out a scream of pain and dolorem dragged him self up. The snake noticed him and lashed out, sinking his fangs into his shoulder.  He could feel the poison burning through his body. Dolorem gouged out it's right eye and it whipped back hissing in pain. Dolorem stood up shaking and rushed to them. The lion head pulled back and with a sicking snap and tearing of flesh rivet's right wing was torn away. He blacked out from pain as the chimaera went for him again but dolorem was there. He grabbed it's maw and stopped it. It tried shaking from side to side to free it's self but he held on. The beast got free from his hold and opened it's mouth to sink the deadly teeth into him. With his left hand he grabbed it's top jaw and with his other the bottom jaw, stopping them from closing. The teeth cut into his hands as he pried the maw apart. He pushed down with all his strength on the bottom jaw, harder and harder. Then the jaw snapped and it pulled back as a gurgling roar of pain came from the beast's throat. It fell back onto it's side and dolorem fell with it by the goat head. The snake wrapped around him and was about to sink it's fangs into him once again but he caught it. He opened it's mouth and slammed the fangs into the eye of the goat, it let out a high pitch scream as it convulsed with the poison quickly killing it. He twisted the snakes head and it loosened it's death grip on him. Untangling him self he crawled to his son. He could feel the venom burning in his veins as his world faded. He reached out for his son but blacked out. He could feel his heart beat slower and slower until...
“mom I'm ok.” rainbow dash was fussing over rivet in the hospital. She flew as fast as she could to find her family in the hospital when she was told about the attack. Dolorem was still in surgery and rivet was already in his room. Both were in shock as they saw his right wing or the lacking of. He actual could accept it more then his mother, she knew he would never fly again. Never be a true Pegasus. All that was left was a stub and it pained him greatly. He had to lay on his left side and dash sat in front of him. She almost lost both of them today and she was in tears. After some hours a doctor finally came to her and asked out into the hall. The moment of truth.
“we were able to stabilize him but he lost a lot of blood and there is a couple of things you need to know... his leg was badly damaged and we... had to amputate below the knee. With the poison we gave him an anti venom, it's a lot harder to fight a chimaera's venom but we were to late. He's... in a coma and we don't know when he'll wake up. I'm sorry but they're lucky to be alive.” her heart felt heavy and her knees weak. But she had to be strong for them both. The doctor led her to his room and she went in. many tubes and machines were connected to him as he laid there. She went to his side and laid her head on his chest, crying hard. She looked at his leg. It was more then half the length of the other, she couldn't tell with it covered in bandages and the blankets. His breathing was shallow and his skin pale. She kissed him on the forehead and left, going back to her son.
“how's dad?” rivet asked her as soon as she stepped into the room. She tried to look not so pained.
“he's... sleeping.” rivet let out a sigh of relief. She wasn't lying completely. A week later rivet was released but rainbow dash wouldn't let him see dolorem. She forced him out the hospital and to the shop. She was going to keep him on the ground for know and for good reason. then it finally hit him. He wouldn't fly again. He was no longer whole. Everyone would come to visit him and try to make him feel better. It was hard for rainbow dash but even harder for him. The foal they saved and her parents came to see him too. He laid in the bed as rainbow dash tried to sleep on the couch. He became a little drawn in, still in shock. After another week he talked to his mom.
“I want to see dad.” rainbow dash looked up with tired red eyes. She had been crying her self to sleep since dolorem was in the hospital. She couldn't fight him and just nodded. He rushed to the hospital, passed doctors into his room. He saw him sleeping and made his way to him.
“dad? Dad wake up.” he shook him slightly but he didn't wake. He did it again a little harder but still nothing. He didn't understand and he looked him over. Then he couldn't breath. He saw how his left leg was shorter then the other. He finally breathed again and cried. Now his father was like him, not whole. He wouldn't ever be able to walk again. He felt a hoof on his shoulder as rainbow dash tried to comfort him. Taking him back to the shop she told him that he was in a coma and they wouldn't know when he would wake. Rivet was sitting at his table, tinkering with random pieces. Then it hit him. He reached behind the table and pulled out something large, wrapped in cloth. Unraveling it he looked to the couch, his mother asleep. He pulled out the metal wings he made a couple of years ago. He knew know they would never give his father the joy of flight. They would have to be three times his height and even though they were made of light weight metal it would still be to heavy. Maybe he could fly again. His wings had grown but it was matter of shifting the metal feathers and adding more length. It took a month of secretive work that involved very precise measurements. Rainbow dash had left to got shop for food as rivet was finishing the last part of the wing. Fitting tightly on the stub that was his wing, the shoulder plate moved smoothly with his body. A leather strap ran across his chest and under his left arm helping it stay in place. It wasn't his true talent but he did it. He made a wing, a completely functionally wing. It matched his other but was a golden bronze that shinned brightly in the sun. he went for a test flight and after all that time of being grounded he once again enjoyed the sensation of the wind blowing through his mane. Rainbow dash was walking to the shop and went inside. She couldn't find rivet anywhere. She stepped back out side scanning the area when she heard a voice call out.
“mom! Look up!” she was confused and she looked up to see rivet... flying. The sun reflected off the golden bronze wing and cast a glow around him... like an angel. He landed a little clumsily next to her, he still had to get use to it, and she broke down into tears and dropped the bags of food. He hugged her tightly and spoke soothingly to her.
“see mom I told you I was ok.” she cried more and pulled back smiling. He helped he gather the food and they went inside. She made lunch as rivet gathered his tools. They ate and she couldn't help but stare at the glowing wing. After they finished he stood up.
“I'm going to see dad.” she nodded as he left. He flew to the hospital and made his way into his father's room. Every time he came in it flooded him with pain and sadness. He went over and uncovered his... leg. He took detailed measurements from the hip and waist all the way to the bottom of his right leg. After he kissed him on the cheek he left, he needed to get to work. It was eight months in since the attack and dolorem still hadn't waken. Rivet worked hard and had made many prototypes, he had to make it perfect. But he still couldn't get it right. He was beginning to give up hope and today he felt like seeing his father. He flew there perfectly, it took a lot of hard training and physical exhaustion but he could fly even better then before. He walked into his father's room and like always felt a near crushing sadness. He went over and kissed him on the cheek like always and moved a chair to the end of the bed. He laid his head down on his right leg with his face away from his dad as tears ran down.
“you know that looks good on you.” it was low raspy voice and rivet turned. Dolorem had his eye open and was watching his son. Rivet couldn't believe it, he thought he was dreaming so before he could wake up he rushed forward and hugged his father tightly. Dolorem weakly hugged him back as rivet cried into his shoulder. 
“you heal fast. How long have I been out?” rivet pulled back with a sad face.
“it's been eight months, you were in a coma.” dolorem tried to think but his mind was still cloudy. He tried pulling him self up with difficultly.
“I cant breath.” he sat up with rugged shallow breathing and tried to calm him self with his eyes closed tightly. Finally he was breathing normally had he reached his hand down to his left leg. He began to slowly move his hand down his leg. He groaned loudly.
“ghaa, my leg is killing me.” his hand went over the stump and landed on the bed. He slowly opened his eye to see the missing limb. He couldn't breath again as he stared at the stump. Then he started to breath again and he sighed.
“well looks like we're both missing a piece of our self but you fixed your self didn't ya.” rivet felt his heart drop as dolorem stared at his stump. He looked up and smiled.
“hey why don't you tell your mom I'm ok.” he nodded and turned to leave.
“and tell them I'm hungry.” rivet smiled at that. After telling the doctor that his father was awake and hungry he went to find his mom. She was picking at her food when rivet came in.
“mom. He's awake.” she shot up and rushed up to him with large hopeful eyes. They made their way to the hospital where dolorem was draining a bowl of soup. He put down his bowl as rainbow dash came in with rivet. He smiled as her eyes flooded with tears. She ran forward had pulled him to her tightly. She didn't want to let go and cried even harder with joy. After a couple of days he was cleared to go home and left in a wheel chair. He was still in denial, they would find him on floor when he would try to get up for something. Every morning would start with pain and trying to remember why he wouldn't feel his left foot. After eight months in a coma he had restrengthen his body. The entire process was hard on rainbow dash and rivet but harder still for dolorem. In secret rivet still worked on the leg but still made no progress. Then rainbow dash had worked and worried her self sick and had to stay in bed. All of them in the cloud house, rivet know took care of them both. Her stomach would be in knots for days and she couldn't get get out of bed. Dolorem tried his hardest to make it easier on rivet until one day.
“hey mom, dad wake up.” rivet opened the curtain that covered the window and flooded the room with light. They covered their eyes and dash managed to sit up. She had gotten a little better and dolorem felt a little less pain but not much.
“I have something to show you.” they both dragged them selves out of bed, dolorem into his wheel chair, and went to him by the window.
“ok what is it, I...” rainbow dash stopped dead as she looked out the window with dolorem. She had been bed ridden for a months and had missed the ground some what. What they saw now silenced them. What they saw was... flowers. Different kinds of wild flowers in dirt that floated by the window of the cloud house. They were in a short green tinted metal cylinder with small tubes running from the top to the bottom. A fan was in the middle sucking in air and pushing it out, keeping them aloft. They bounced gently in the air so... beautiful. Rainbow dash began to cry and dolorem smiled. It was a gift so beautiful for them by their son. They hugged him tightly and thanked him so much. every day rainbow would water them and by passing Pegasus noticed them. One day a purple Pegasus with a dark blue mane with different colored purple strips stopped by like others before asking about the flying flowers. She also had a cutie mark of a cloud with a pint brush with a tip covered in a rainbow of colors. Dolorem went to the door and was a little shocked as she looked so familiar, the difference was her man was curly.
“hey I'm Marble Cloud and I was coming to ask about the... flowers?” dolorem turned in his chair and called out.
“rivet you have another fan!” then a loud explosion sounded from his room.
“don't worry about that explosion, I'll be right down!” moments later he came down with oil all over his face and his mane singe and smoking. He came to the door and stopped staring at the mare. They were about the same age and he couldn't take his eyes off her. She was so beautiful.
“hey I'm marble cloud. Did you make those flowers?” he tried speaking but nothing came out by incoherent mumbles. Dolorem elbowed him and he came to.
“yeah, I'm rivet orchid pati. What's you na... what never mind.” she giggled as dolorem wheeled off to find rainbow dash. He whispered yelled for her.
“sweetheart come her!” rainbow dash came to him and was about to ask him what was wrong but he shushed her and pointed at the two by the door. They smiled as she left and he turned with a goofy grin.
“hey there player, so what happened?” he snapped out and smiled a little embarrassed.
“oh well she's an artist. She sculpts and paints clouds and she was wondering... if I would make her some of the flowers.” they grinned at him as he went to his room. Dash turned to her husband.
“his growing so fast.” he hugged and kissed her. Rivet went down to the shop and began working. After a week he finished and after delivering them he went to his parents.
“hey mom, dad? Marble cloud is opening her art gallery and she invited us. Do you want to go?” the two looked at each other and smiled, nodding their head. Rivet flew while his parents took the hot air balloon, they watched the sun shine brightly off his golden bronze wing. Their heart's filled with joy. They made it to a cloud platform and watched in awe. Beautiful cloud sculptures of all manner of things that were painted expertly. Then the flowers. Just like the ones out side the window at their house. But there was hundreds of them floating around every where and they were just as beautiful as the art work all around. Marble came soaring down and hugged rivet.
“they love it! It's a big hit. Thank you so much.” he blushed deeply and slowly wrapped a hoof around her. She showed them around and she stood close to rivet. His parents smiled as they watched the two. They left but with out rivet, they knew he would be safe. But what they didn't know a month later both rivet and marble called them to the living room.
“we have something to tell you...” rainbow dash was confused but dolorem got the idea.
“I got marble pregnant...” there was a moment of silence and rainbow dash was shocked. Dolorem spoke.
“so what are you planing to do?” rivet looked into his eye and spoke calmly.
“I'm going to take care of them.” marble smiled and placed a hoof on his shoulder. Dolorem smiled as rainbow dash was settling down. A couple of months later they were at the wedding and even though they were young, his parents couldn't be any more proud. With the help of applejack they converted the shop into a house again and built another room onto it. And soon enough it was a girl, a beautiful Pegasus that was a yellow, purple maned bundle of joy. Everyone was happy, rainbow dash and dolorem lived in the cloud house while rivet and is family in his old house, the shop.
“grandpa!” the yellow, purple maned foal, diamond brush, jump into dolorem's lap, he was wearing a green shirt and brown shorts, in the wheel chair in the cloud living room. He hugged her and spoke.
“so how's my favorite granddaughter?” she giggled and smiled.
“I'm your only granddaughter silly.” she grew so fast and was so pretty now four years old. She jumped down bouncing.
“daddy has something to show you.” he wheeled after and into the balloon to the ground below. They went to the house and inside. Rivet stood by a table with something covered and a big smile. Rainbow dash and marble stood to the side and it look like dash had been crying.
“hey dad!” dolorem rolled over to him and hugged him, before he could speak rivet continued.
“I want to you to close your eyes.” dolorem was confused but did as he was told. He felt something going on with his left leg and something wrapped tightly half way up his leg like a band. Rivet pulled away and dolorem slowly opened his eyes. A golden bronze. A prosthetic leg. Dolorem was stunned and in disbelief. Then he stood, wobbly. He took his first step with two leg for the first time in years and... cried. Diamond came up to him.
“grandpa, why are you crying?” he looked at her and picked her up, hugging her.
“because I'm so happy.” he set her down and grabbed rivet, holding him tightly. Rainbow dash was next and tears flooded her face, her husband could walk again. His son gave him something as great as the joy of having him in his life. It was freedom. It would be hard work to walk again like before but in time he was even running with his granddaughter as she was practicing to fly. But unfortunately things were going to well.

“And from you my son, from you, you have shown me life. You have given me love and for that I watch you leave. You will go far from here and far in life. Know always that I love you and always you shall be welcomed home.”