Chapter Sixty-Six: Love Realized

Smokey sat up, dragging Fluttershy into his lap to cuddle her.

"I d-don't w-want t-to r-risk h-hurting y-you… If… i-if I d-did… I d-don't th-think I c-could e-ever l-live w-with the g-guilt… E-ever…"

The sight before the remaining ponies and young dragon was enough to even sap Rainbow Dash's previous outrage. Touching to the floor and folding her wings against her sides, the cyan pegasus frowned in sympathy.

"You won't," Fluttershy said with the utmost confidence in her words. "I know you won't. I trust you, Smokey."

Spike turned his gaze away, still looking incredibly upset. Noticing this, Twilight Sparkle exhumed a resigned sigh.

"… Okay, Fluttershy, we'll… give you one more night… But I'm staying here, just… just as a precaution. I think we all should."

"Yeah."

Rainbow Dash nodded, looking over her shoulder at the rest and received a murmur of agreement among them.

"Spike?" Smokey choked out, nuzzling his pegasi friend's cheek. "Y-you m-may h-have th-the r-rest of m-my g-gems."

Spike lifted his head, an expression that conveyed that he was touched but worried all the same.

"… Th… thanks, Smokey. I really appreciate it."

"It's n-no p-problem, l-little b-brother."

As the older dragon said this, he forced a small smile for the younger.

The group remained in relative silence for the next few hours, the only one making much noise being the baby and several animals. Smokey practically clung to Chenoa the entire time. While his heart longed to spend time with his animals, too, Fluttershy could not locate them when she went out to search. After a quiet dinner was shared among them and the chick was given a bath, the pale yellow pegasus released a mournful sigh.

"… I suppose we should go to bed for the night. It's getting late." Fluttershy turned to her friends from her spot in Smokey's lap. "Two of you can take the bed, if you don't mind sharing it."

"Ah, no offense, sugarcube, but that room's kinda small. Ah don't think it would hold all six of us," said Applejack. "… And Chenoa and Spike."

"It won't. But that's okay, I'm staying downstairs with Smokey."

"But… Miss Fluttershy, don't you want your bed?"

While Smokey was supremely glad she wanted to stay with him, but he wanted her to be comfortable.

Fluttershy shook her head, handing the drowsy baby over to Pinkie Pie as she cantered over to receive her.

"No. I want to be with you."

The mare rested her head on his chest, blowing a sigh through her nostrils.

"Now, Fluttershy, Ah know you think Smokey's not dangerous," Applejack began, "But, Ah think y'really maybe want to-"

"I want," the yellow-pelted equine stated, in a bold, almost aggressive, yet calm, and very firm intonation that hadn't been heard in a long time. "To stay. With Smokey."

Heart turning in his chest, the red-scaled draconian couldn't help but smile. Purring to the mare in his lap, he ran his hand once over her head and mane and pressed another kiss to her head, this time holding it for several moments.

"Okay… But if he even growls at ya, come get us," Rainbow Dash requested.

Fluttershy figured they would agree with that request, if nothing else. As Smokey kissed her cranium again, the mare melted in his arms. Her heart swelled, her chest flooding with warmth.

She didn't want him to go. If only there was a way for him to stay… She shivered, tears finding their way back to her eyes. She had to accept it… but she didn't want to. She loved him too much.

She blinked in contemplation, before raising her shining eyes to Smokey… Was it true? Did she truly? The thought popped into her head, but, as she stared into his eyes, the more her feelings became clear to her. His kindness, his compassion, his own affection for her, Chenoa, animals, and others, and his selflessness - she had grown to admire and care for all of this, admire and care for him.

She had to, she thought. She wouldn't be so… devastated, otherwise.

This feeling left her both elated… and crushed. The mare knew she had to tell him this, and a powerful desire to tell him this was bursting, yearning forth… but… somehow, there was something holding her back. A force, a crippling shyness, prevented her from speaking her mind. As such, she just sat there, gazing into his eyes…

Smokey gazed back into her beautiful orbs. Just the very sight of them - and her as a whole - sent his heart into a wild flutter. Even now, he couldn't get over how mesmerizing they were. There were several instances where he would be sucked into them. As he brushed his fingers over her cheek fur, he began to reflect on everything they went through together. The day they met, the time they spent caring for their darling baby, those quiet days tending to the animals, their picnics, tea time, even that failed date…

Date… They would never get the chance to go on that date…

Her eyes burning with a yearning, the mare glanced off, seeing that the others had already went upstairs. Both individuals had been so absorbed with each other, they hadn't even heard the sound of their footsteps as they left them.

She had to tell him… but, despite everything, she simply couldn't bring herself to do it. She wasn't sure how to… It was only three little words, but they carried so much weight. So much meaning.

Tomorrow, she decided. In the morning. First thing. She had to sleep on this. Perhaps she would be able to assemble her courage then…

Sighing as their eye contact finally broke off, the dragon touched his nose to her ear and brushed it along the edge until he reached the base. Pressing his snout to the patch of fur behind her ear, he rubbed it into her skin, massaging it. While he did this, his hands started to slowly glide towards her wings, eventually delving underneath them to scratch her there. Purring lovingly as she sank against him and nuzzled his neck in response, he continued to rub her sensitive patch with his nose just to make her feel good. After a few minutes of that, he removed his maw to lick the area once and followed it with a kiss. While one hand kept on scratching under her wing, he brought his other hand around to place it on her warm, soft belly.

Fluttershy whimpered lightly. His hands and muzzle felt so good…

In her reaction, she slid her hooves up his chest, caressing the sides of his face and neck while she nuzzled his chest. Her wings quivered, lifting to give him better access and flicked her tail around his hip to rest upon his own.

The dragon purred louder with more emotion. His heart was hammering against his chest, his entire body filling to the brim with warmth. Hand traveling up her torso, it ghosted over her shoulder, and cupped the back of her neck, the balls of his fingers digging into her tissue and giving her another massage. Lips brushing over her brow, he left a trail of kisses down the side of her head and back up again. Planting kisses all across her forehead, he made his way over to the other side of her face to perform the same thing.

Sighing almost desirably, the mare nuzzled his cheek and brushed her lips along the side and bottom of his chin. Idly tracing her hoof across his chest, she continued to nicker softly while opening her eyes to meet his.

She wanted to tell him. She wanted to tell him so badly - but, no matter how much she wanted, she could not.

The touch of the mare's lips left a trail of fire burning in their wake on Smokey's scales. His heart swelled, feeling it might burst. As they locked eyes again, he kissed her velvety nose, an amorous smile playing at his face. The hand underneath her wing left to hold her hip while his other kept up its massage. A spark of desire sharing between them, the dragon brought his lips to her chin and the side of her neck.

Shivering, Fluttershy nearly locked up when Smokey kissed her nose. Now blushing quite bashfully, she brought her forelegs up in front of her with one pastern over the other. Smiling, she tilted her head forward in such a way her mane draped over her face and almost entirely obscured it.

Once he kissed her neck, she let out a deep moan.

Ear frills flaring at the moan, Smokey felt encouraged to kiss her neck again, and again, and again - even sneaking his tongue in on the last one. Removing his hands from her hip and the back of her neck, he curled them around her waist to hold her close, his chest beginning to heave as his breathing picked up the pace.

Fluttershy released a deeper, more sultry moan as she felt a chill race down her spine. Her wings, completely against herself, sprang out and fully stiff at her sides. Her eyes wide, shimmering with tears pooling in her eyes, she let out another whimper.

She was beginning to feel a bit of… was this excitement? Suddenly, she felt even more mortified, simply because all of her friends were upstairs, as she still heard creaking upstairs to signify they were still moving about. Apparently, they hadn't heard her.

Pausing as he heard Fluttershy whimper, he removed his maw from her neck to meet her gaze.

"Are you all right, my dear?" Smokey asked, his voice deeper and more husky.

"We can't continue like this," Fluttershy said. "Not while everypony's upstairs…"

Her voice, too, had sultry undertones. If it weren't for them, nor for Chenoa and Spike, she wasn't entirely sure she would've been able to fight off her carnal desire for him… She wasn't even sure she would be able to fight off her carnal desire for him now. She was so filled with a longing to wrap her forelegs around his neck and just kiss him until the sun rose…

"I suppose you're right," he breathed hotly, a cute blush dusting his ruby red cheeks. Even in the state he was in now, he could hardly believe what he and Fluttershy had just done… What they could've done. Still holding her close, he leaned back against the couch just to cuddle her. A crack of thunder sounded from outside, signifying that it was about to storm. Remembering that she was frightened of thunder, he lifted a hand to stroke her mane.

The mare jumped and squealed, clutching onto Smokey. Blinking up at him, she frowned and nuzzled her face into his chest. Trembling, she sighed… before breaking into soft, near silent sobs as tears trickled down her cheeks.

"It's all right," the dragon spoke soothingly to the pegasus, still stroking her hair. "Nothing is going to hurt you, my dear."

"I know… But… but, who will keep us safe when you're… you're…?" She lifted her head up again. "Smokey, I don't want you to go. I wish you didn't have to go…"

"You can always ask Angel to keep you company. Or Ross. I know he wouldn't mind." The draconic being frowned as depression found its way back into him. "I'm… going to miss him… And the doves… Everypony."

"I'll look after them for you. Now that they have mates and families, I know they'll be happy - but all the same, I know you'd want to make sure they'd be well cared for." She stroked her hoof over his chest. "It's the… l-least I can do. After all you've done f-f-for m-me and Chenoa…"

Smokey felt his eyes fill up with tears again as he was filled with even more depression.

"I… I j-just wish… I c-could w-watch Ch-Chenoa g-grow up…"

"I know…" Fluttershy said, choking. "… I'm sorry this had to happen, Smokey. I'm so, so sorry…"

"I s-suppose… it w-wasn't m-meant t-to b-be…" he cracked. "As usual…"

Fluttershy's lip quivered, and she shuddered, burying her head in Smokey's chest again.

Not meant to be. No. No, that couldn't be. Why? Why? The one night Fluttershy finally figured out her feelings for him had to be the final night they had together. They would never be able to go on their date. Chenoa would never know him as a father…

It was just too much for the poor pegasus, who broke out in muffled sobs again - and could not stop.

The sound of Fluttershy crying tore his heart asunder. Even though he was crying, too, he attempted to console her by nuzzling and stroking her mane.

"It's a-all r-right," he whimpered.

"No!" she cried out. "No, it's not!"

She pulled away from him partially, staring into his eyes.

"You didn't do it, Smokey! I know you didn't! I… don't know what to do…"

With a sob, tears running down his face, he stared down at the mare.

"Y-you w-will… h-have t-to l-let m-me go…"

"I don't want to." With another shiver, and pressing her face to his chest again, she whispered, "… I don't want to.

"… But I know I must…"

"I'm d-dangerous n-now, M-Miss F-Fluttershy… Th-this is th-the only w-way t-to s-set th-things r-right… S-so I d-don't h-hurt a-anypony a-again…"

Holding the mare tighter, he practically buried his snout into her mane.

Fluttershy whimpered.

"I wish it didn't have to be this way…"

She sighed, her eyes closing. She was feeling drained, and the emotional fatigue was taking a toll on her physical body.

"So d-do I… M-more th-than a-anything…" Taking his muzzle away from her hair, he planted yet another kiss to her head. "I… wonder w-what the f-future w-would have h-held f-for u-us."

Fluttershy paused, her eyes widening as she allowed her mind to wander… What would the future have held for them? True, Chenoa would have a father and mother, but how would THEY have been affected?

Various images flashed through her mind. The two of them, together. Foreleg and arm, at the beach, in a field of flowers, on the slopes of the Misty Mountains overlooking Equestria… In the town hall of Ponyville, with her in a long gown and him in a sharp dress suit… Swinging on a bench out back while feeding the chickens on a spring evening…

However, for just as many calm and wondrous thoughts she had, she had another that was just as heartrending. The two of them, hounded and persecuted for their love for another. Being openly scorned and pelted, perhaps even driven out of Ponyville… Out of Equestria.

Fluttershy frowned. Who knew what the future would have held? … It didn't matter now.

"I don't know…" she whispered, giving another sigh.

Smokey, too, imagined their affection for each other being ridiculed by hostile ponies. It would be no different than when he was treated wherever he went, only Fluttershy would be involved. And he didn't want the sensitive little pony to be subject to that.

Yes. It would be for the best.

"J-just kn-know… n-nopony c-could t-take y-your p-place… O-or Ch-Chenoa's. Y-you t-two are t-too s-special t-to m-me."

Fluttershy looked into his eyes once again. Biting her lip, she shuddered.

"Let's run away," she said suddenly. "Just the three of us. You, me, Chenoa, to a place where nopony will ever find us! Let's do it! Let's do it tonight!"

She went silent for a moment, before she moaned, pressing her hooves to her head.

"Oh, what am I saying? I can't leave my friends behind - or any of my animal friends. I'm… I'm not thinking straight." Whimpering, she slumped against the dragon. "I'm tired…"

He had been about to point out her friends and the critters, but he didn't need to. Besides, where would they run away to? Surely, someone would recognize Fluttershy.

"Maybe we should get some sleep," he suggested with one final stroke to her mane.

"Maybe," she mumbled, closing her eyes. Her exhaustion from crying and worrying had finally taken its toll, and she had nearly cried herself to sleep. It didn't take much longer for her to fall asleep, but she mumbled something incoherent as she did so.

Sighing heavily, Smokey gently held the pony in his arms, his hand continuing to pet her hair as if on its own accord. Though he, too, felt drained from crying and the weight of guilt, sleep refused to come to him. As a few hours passed, he still remained wide awake.