//------------------------------// // Epilogue // Story: Restraint // by Habanc //------------------------------// “Wow, Azure, this is... Wonderful.” Fluttershy stared in awe at the sight before her, a golden orb of light teetering over the far treeline, soon to dip beneath the horizon. Before it, stretched gentle waves of blue, lapping against the rocks in rhythmic simplicity. Wisps of clouds were painted with the rest of the sky in a gradient of orange, red, and purple. “I'm glad you like it,” Azure replied with a smile. “Lake Greenhoof is one of my favorite places.” Sitting on a small dock, the two arranged themselves on pillows, enjoying the luxuries of wine and nature as the sun set. A hundred yards off the shore, up a steep hill that overlooked more of the lake, sat a tiny cabin. With only a kitchen, a bathroom, a bedroom, and one tiny bed, it was just enough for the two of them. “How did you manage to get this place for the weekend?” Fluttershy asked before sipping at her drink. “Oh, I just called in a few favors from my sorority days.” Azure chuckled and shook her head. “It turns out I saved more than a few mares from getting gypped on their student loans. It figures, being the only one studying interest rates when everypony else is horn-deep in magical theories.” “You were in a sorority?” “Are you trying to say I don't look like party pony material?” “Of— of course not,” the pegasus backtracked. “I just remember you telling me about studying so much in college. I never went to anywhere after flight school, but I always thought that sororities... you know, partied all the time.” Putting down her glass, Azure placed her hooves together and looked out over the lake. “Here's the best way I can put it. You always have work that needs to be done—that's something that will never change. But at the same time, you need to try new things every once in awhile, or else life will get stale and repetitive. I'm not saying repetition is a bad thing, as long as you put a new spin on it every so often. For me, I just didn't want to be stuck with a routine, you know?” “Sure,” Fluttershy responded. “Well, being in a sorority helped me with that. First I met all these wonderful ponies within, and they got me out doing new things, and then I met more new ponies, so on and so forth.” Azure sighed. “I enjoyed it back then, even though I still hunkered down most weeknights and studied over noodle soup and cheap tea. See, that's why I joined, because if I didn't, I would have been sucked into the routine of college itself.” “If I understand correctly, you do new things to keep life interesting and meet new ponies?” “Yeah!” Azure smiled. Fluttershy frowned. “So, you're with me just to keep things different?” “What?” Azure's expression popped. “No! That's not it at all! I've— I've discovered after so long that constantly changing isn't so great either. I need something—somepony—to keep me on my hooves, to always be there for me, to—“ she stopped. Her eyes studied the other mare intently. Leaning towards Fluttershy, she asked, “Is that a smile I see? Fluffers, are you teasing me?” The mare in question blushed at her pet name. “What, me? Oh no, I'm much too shy to do that.” Azure put her face up to hers, drawing a hoof against her chest. “Aw c'mon, just tell me. I promise I won't do... much.” Fluttershy looked to the ground, testing her proverbial hooves in its newfound water. “I- I don't know. I can't, um, remember if I was.” She forced her gaze back up and held it with Azure's. “If you keep telling me what you were saying before, maybe I could, you know, remember.” Azure's jaw hung agape. At long last she whistled, moving back into an upright position. “Wow, look at you.” She chuckled. “Well now, I guess I have no option but to tell you. “Fluttershy,” Azure continued, looking her in the eyes, “I need you. You seem to know just what to say or do when I feel lost or down. When the world is going crazy, when I feel like there's nothing I can do, you're always there for me.” She paused for a moment to nuzzle her. “I couldn't imagine a day without you, you always manage to make me happy and I love to watch you laugh, no matter how silly or stupid I looked.” Azure held her hooves. “I just want you to remember that, no matter what, I am yours.” Fluttershy smiled. “I know. Since you've moved into the cottage now, I see it on your face every morning when I wake up.” Azure sniffled and wiped at her eye. “Really? Even with my drooling and messy bed hair? The pegasus giggled, trying in vain to cover it up with a hoof. “Yes, even with your adorable, messy mane. Don't worry, I know you love me, you've told me so many times before.” “I— I'm not being clingy, am I?” “No, of course not,” she replied. “You're being you, and I like it that way.” Azure's worry melted. “Aww.” She leaned in and kissed Fluttershy on the cheek, before resting her head against her shoulder. “You're amazing.” Fluttershy nodded, “Oh... Oh I know.” Looking sheepishly at Azure's flabbergasted expression, she added in with a whisper, “And yes, I was teasing you.”