I spent the majority of my life in space. Raised on an Earth Cargo Service freighter owned by my parents, I learned from a young age that space is a dangerous place and that you have to learn to prepare for anything. Even after partaking in four years of grueling physical and academic training at Starfleet Academy, piloting starships into the unknown, holding hundreds of lives in my hands in the process, and going on dangerous away-missions, I thought I was prepared for pretty much anything the universe could throw at me. Hell, I've taken down one of Equestria's greatest threats to date with a single shot. Well, Storm Front helped, but that's beside the point.
So, when I tell you that absolutely nothing in this world or the next could have prepared me for this, you know where I'm coming from.
"Come on! Eat your damn food!" I ordered, raising my voice in frustration, attempting to copy the same tone and mannerisms that had worked in the past.
Instead heeding my command, the large Kodiak Bear just looked at me with sad eyes, sat down on his haunches and gently pushed the plate of fish away with a paw the size of my head.
At my wits end, I start to rub the bridge of my nose trying to ward away the tension headache I could feel coming on. For the last four days, Fluttershy had shut herself in her cottage. With the door locked, not even I could get inside. So, here I was, trying my best to take care of her daily chores, but it wasn't hard to see why the task was so difficult.
As stubborn, antagonistic, or jealous as Angel could get, he was a respected force among the animal charges under Fluttershy's care. On many occasions, it was with his help that I was able to take care of them all when Fluttershy was away, and his absence could be felt as if it were tangible.
Giving up, I just sat down next to the hulking member of the Ursidae family and vented my frustration with a protracted sigh.
"You know, I get it. I miss him too, and I know that you don't like seeing 'shy so upset." I started explaining to the animal. He just turned his head to look at me inquisitively. "If it's upsetting you, it's killing me. There's only been one other person in my life that I've cared for as deeply as I do for Fluttershy, and losing her nearly broke me." I continued. "I wasn't there for her when she was killed, and it still hurts to this day, and right now all I want to do right now is hold Fluttershy and tell her everything is going to be alright."
The bear made a grumbling sound that I took as understanding. Whether he did or not, I don't know.
"Look, if you want to see Fluttershy smile again, to be happy, nothing could accomplish that better than taking care of yourself," I told him, trying a different tactic to get him to eat something.
He just stared at me, and I noticed that the sadness in his eyes melted away to be replaced by determination, then let out a loud 'Hrumph!' and threw one of the fish into the air and caught it in is mouth.
"That's a good boy," I said, patting the large animal on the back roughly.
A soft sniffle drew my attention towards the cottage, and there standing a few meters away was Fluttershy. Her mane was a ratty mess, her beautiful cyan eyes bloodshot, underscored by dark shadows, and her wings, hanging lazily by her side, were in desperate need of preening.
She looked like hell.
"Did..." She started to say quietly. "Did you mean what you said?" She finally asked, her gentle voice raspy, no doubt from crying.
To answer, I got up and pulled her into an embrace.
"Of course I did. You know I'm always here for you." I whispered into her ear. Pulling out of the hug and placing my hands on her withers, I look directly into her eyes. "Come with me," I told her softly.
I led her into her cottage and up the stairs to her bedroom. I told her to sit down in front of her full-length mirror and not to move. I went back down into the kitchen, taking note of the tea still staining the floor and a few shards of her tea-set still scattered around the living room. After grabbing a glass of cold water, I went back upstairs.
"Drink this, you'll feel better," I told her, handing off the beverage. Grabbing the stool she had in front of her vanity, I sat down behind her, brush in hand, and started to softly work the tangles out of her flowing mane. We sat in silence as I ran the brush methodically, over and over again, through the hair. A few times I caused her wince as I encountered a particularly stubborn knot. Turning slightly to face me, she broke the silence.
"What was she like?" She asked, her voice having returned to its reserved, gentle tone. Stopping what I was doing, I stared off into the mirror forlornly for a moment. "I'm sorry, you don't have to answer," She told me meekly.
"To understand T'Pomei, you have to keep in mind what Vulcans are like," I said, starting to brush again. "They're a species known for their stoic, emotionless demeanor, and their infallible logic," I explained. "But nothing could be further from the truth. At their core, they are some of the most emotional and passionate people in the galaxy, but as a necessity, they repress and control their volatile emotions. In ancient times, they constantly waged war with each other. Paranoia and homicidal rage were commonplace." With all the knots out of her hair, I started to work my fingers into mane to massage the roots of her hair and her neck, eliciting small moans of pleasure.
"As their technology progressed, they developed terrible weapons that could wipe out their entire species. At that time, a man named Surak developed a philosophy whereby mastering and controlling their emotions and embracing a lifestyle of pure logic, they could bring about peace, both personal and as a species." I told her. "T'Pomei was a very reserved, but kind and inquisitive woman. She had a cool logic that made it difficult to relate to others easily, but she tempered that with a very subtle sense of humor. She was also a very caring individual, always concerned with the well-being of others." I recounted, smiling at the memories.
"This wasn't common for Vulcans, and that made her unique." I pointed out. "While her quiet beauty attracted me initially, her personality was what I fell in love with. She tempered my brash and reckless nature. I was a risk-taker when I first met her, I lived for the thrill and often it would land me in trouble. If it wasn't for her, I probably wouldn't be here today." I stated. "Come to think of it, I guess that was what happened to the other me. I didn't have that influence in my life and I fell back into my old ways."
"She had some odd hobby's though. She enjoyed old Earth horror stories; in fact she took me to see one on our first date. She even kept a Japanese bonsai tree that she had tended since she was a child. Her parents gave it to me when I visited them last, I should show it to Applejack, she would get a kick out of a miniature tree." I said with a small laugh. Taking locks of her mane in hand I began to braid her hair.
"She sounds like a wonderful person." Fluttershy told me. "I wish I could have met her."
"You would have liked her." I said with a warm smile. "You know, you have more in common with her than you think." I continued, quickly braiding one side of her mane and working on the otherside, working an elaborate wave into the weave.
"Are you... Are you braiding my mane?" She said in surprise.
"What? A guy can't know how to braid his lady's hair?" I said sarcastically, getting her to giggle. There you are, lost you for a while. "My sister had longer hair than you, she constantly had me braiding her hair, I got very good at it. Just sit still, you'll like what I'm doing."
Fluttershy sat still with her eyes closed as I weaved her mane into an elaborate french braid that curved itself so that half encircled her neck like a necklace. She told me she wanted it to be a surprise.
"Keep your eyes closed, there's one more thing I need to add," I told her, getting up and walking over to the vase she kept on her nightstand and picked a small daffodil and placed it into her braid just above her ear. Looking at her in the mirror, she was a picture of serene beauty, a marked difference than she had been this morning. I savored it for a moment then told her to open her eyes. Judging by the gasp, I had gotten the intended reaction.
"It's beautiful." She told me, her voice barely above a whisper.
"You're beautiful, I only braided your hair," I stated with a smile. In one motion, she quickly turned around and pulled me into an embrace and gently, but passionately kissed me. When we parted, I placed my hand on her cheek, using my thumb to wipe away a single tear, then I touched my forehead to hers.
A loud gurgling noise drew us apart suddenly and made Fluttershy's cheeks turn a deep shade of crimson.
"When was the last time you ate?" I asked.
"I... I had some crackers last night..." She admitted.
"Let's go into town, I'll treat you to a good meal. Sound good?"
"Yes, it does, and I'd love to," she answered with a larger than life smile appearing on her face.
"Fluttershy!" Pinkie exclaimed as she galloped towards her friend and pulling her into a huge hug. "I was so worried! I'm so happy you're out and about again!"
"Thank you, Pinkie. But you should thank James, he was the one that pulled me out of my rut." She told the bombastic pink Mare.
"Yeah, he's a charmer that one; if he wasn't taken, I'd snatch him up for myself!"
"We were just going to the Café for something to eat, do you want to join us?" I asked. In response, she took in a huge amount of air in an exaggerated gasp, as if preparing to say something loud.
"Sure." She said, matter-of-factly and started to bounce down the street towards the same Café we had eaten at all those years ago when I first came to this town.
As we turned the corner we came upon Zecora standing under the sign of Quills and Sofas.
"Fluttershy, it is fortunate that I should meet you here," She greeted. "A question I ask, about a young animal whose wellbeing for which I fear." She continued, reaching into her saddle bag and producing a small baby rabbit, too small to be away from its mother.
It had white fur with black splotches, the biggest of which was on its head near its right ear which was also entirely black.
"Oh no... This little one shouldn't be away from its mother! What happened?" Fluttershy asked, her eyes showing not only concern but fierce determination.
"Last night, I discovered this baby hare, her mother and siblings had met a fate most unfair." The zebra explained in a grim rhyme. Taking the small animal in her hooves, Fluttershy cooed softly at it.
"I can care for her if that's what you're asking." She told her, getting a nod in return. "James, I'm afraid we'll have to get that meal some other time." She told me. "I'll meet you back home." She said before gracefully flying off back towards her cottage.
Standing next to the chimney of a house across from the furniture store, I blended in almost perfectly. Casting a spell that made my coat and mane to take on the colour of any surrounding was simple, and it was working perfectly.
I watched as that bitch fly off with another pitiful rodent for her to care for in tow, leaving that human James, as she had learned, standing next to a pink pony and a zebra. Above them was a large, and very heavy sign for the shop behind them.
"Yes, heavy indeed," I said to myself letting the pleasure rush through me as I picture the sign mysteriously 'falling' on the human.
Taking aim with my magic, the amulet and my eyes started to glow crimson as a swirling miasma of sickly red and green surrounded my horn, I fired an impossibly thin bolt of magic at the chain from which the sign hung.
"Pinkie, why's your tail twitching?" I asked. Her eyes widened suddenly, and just as quickly, I had a chest full of pink pony as she tackled me to the ground.
"What was that?" A stallion said from the front door of the store.
"Your sign fell again, Davenport, DUH!" Pinkie said in jest.
Zecora, who had jumped out of the way in time, was now examining the chain closely. Walking up to her, I looked at one of the links in the chain. One of them was cleanly severed in half. There were no tool marks, no evidence that it had been cut or tampered with. Where once there was a solid loop of iron, it was now impossibly cut in half.
"What is it?" I asked, with Davenport had joined me by my side
"This was cut by a magical spell, the source of which if I am correct, dark things in the future I foretell." Zecora said darkly before heading off towards the path leading to her hut in the Everfree forest. Davenport, Pinkie and I looked at the sign then each other with worry.
"Buck." Starlight Glimmer swore.