Chapter Sixty-Nine: Holding On

The intensity lingered in the atmosphere as a long silence was shared among the group. Deciding to break the silence, Applejack turned to Spike and opened her mouth to speak.

"That still don't answer anything with Smokey and Pendulum. What if Smokey attacks him again?"

"Pendulum owns tons of dangerous animals," the baby dragon pointed out. "And he's got plenty of assistants to help him handle them."

"But-"

"But nothing," Spike cut in. "Smokey would rather leave us forever rather than hurt any of us, whether it be getting put down or not. Exile should be just as good of a punishment! He's… he's no longer any concern anymore at this point anyway, right?"

"I'm not sure," Twilight Sparkle spoke up. "What would Princess Celestia say about this matter? Perhaps… I should write to her about this…"

"You sure, Twilight? What if she sends the Royal Guard after him?" Rainbow Dash questioned. Though she still thought going after the dragon was best, she didn't want to see Fluttershy more heartbroken than she already was.

The baby griffon whimpered and cried out to voice her hunger. That, and she also turned her head in every single direction. Being used to Smokey's presence, she was highly confused as to why she didn't see him.

"Shhh, sweetie."

Fluttershy kissed Chenoa on the head as she glided down the stairs. Fluttering over the others, she got to work preparing breakfast for her, and promptly ignoring her friends. She hadn't arrived on the scene on time to even hear Rainbow Dash's warning.

"Or… we should discuss this elsewhere. Or at another time," the alicorn suggested, shifting her attention to the pink-haired pegasus. "Fluttershy?"

The addressed mare paid no heed, dropping slices of bread into the toaster.

"Um… Fluttershy. I'm really sorry about everything," the young princess stated earnestly. "I'll just… I'll… erm… I think we should be leaving now…"

"Yeah… Let's get outta here…" the cyan pegasus agreed under her breath before directing herself to the table to collect her batch of cupcakes. Flapping her wings to keep herself aloft, she picked up the box in her forelegs and turned back to Fluttershy. "You gonna be okay, Fluttershy?"

Fluttershy paused her task of peeling a banana with one hoof and her teeth, Chenoa occupying her other foreleg, but she ultimately said nothing. She didn't even look at Rainbow Dash. Silently, after collecting her and Spike's cupcakes in a cloud of mana, Twilight Sparkle shared a concerned look with the pegasus, then led her and Spike out of the cottage. Pinkie Pie said nothing as well, nor did Rarity as the two of them left with their treats. Applejack stayed only long enough to deliver a sad stare to the miserable mare, then gathered her own cupcakes-albeit hesitantly-and left.

As the last mare departed, Angel left his basket and scampered right up to Fluttershy with concern. Tiny paw tugging at her tail, he asked for his own breakfast with a silent hungry look. Chenoa did nothing to improve his mood. The longer the chick waited for her meal, the louder her cries seemed to become.

Startled, Fluttershy jolted and dropped her gaze to the rabbit.

"Oh… Hello, Angel. Hang on…"

Turning, she fished out a carrot from the refrigerator and gave it to her beloved furry companion before returning to the mashed bananas and pieces of toast she had prepared and fed them to Chenoa. She seemed almost distracted, trying to focus on the baby, and desperately trying not to cry with her.

Accepting the carrot, the leporidae opened his mouth to take a bite, but paused as he watched his caretaker. Though she was trying to hold back, he knew she had plenty more tears to shed. Nibbling on the tip of the carrot, he surmised she would need a few days to mourn before she would start feeling better.

… However, Fluttershy didn't feel better.

Three days had passed since then, and Fluttershy never left her cottage, save for caring for her animals friends. The fact it had been raining almost constantly didn't help matters. To her, it seemed as if the world were crying with her. Shattered, heartbroken, and hurt beyond measure, the pegasus appeared to have lost most of her strength to do anything other than loving on, feeding, or playing with Chenoa.

She had doted on her-and Angel, and the other animals to a lesser extent. She seemed unfocused, almost half-heartedly going through the motions of her normal everyday life. Though, when she wasn't feeding the animals or attempting to entertain Chenoa, the mare spent her time softly and quietly weeping for hours on her couch.

She had refused to see anyone-not even bothering to answer the door.

Chenoa didn't understand what was going on with her mother. Through everything she did, including lavishing her love upon her, didn't par up to when her father was still around. Since the dragon had left, she wondered where he was. Often, she would waddle her way around the accessible parts of the cottage, vainly searching for him.

Today, she was even more dedicated to finding Smokey-looking behind and under objects she had already checked several times before. Ignoring the toys Fluttershy had laid out for her, she passed her and peeked under the couch.

"Dada?" she said for the very first time.

Fluttershy, watching the baby, found her antics slightly amusing. She had tried pointing out to the small griffon where her toys were, but she didn't seem to be very interested in them. She was confused as to why… up until she spoke.

Eyes widening, jaw hanging slightly ajar, the pegasus took a breath and nearly began weeping all over again.

"Daddy's not here, sweetheart…" Fluttershy stated, picking her baby up and nuzzling her. "Daddy won't be coming home. Daddy won't be coming home ever again."

"Dada?" Chenoa chirped again quizzically, unable to understand what Fluttershy was telling her. The chick attempted to pull away to continue her search for the dragon, but her efforts were futile.

"Dada's not here," she explained again, her heart breaking again. "Dada's gone. He left… He… left… us…"

She sniffled, whimpering. Closing her eyes, she curled up on her side, still keeping her hold on Chenoa-not wishing to release her in a primal fear that she, too, would disappear if she dared to let her go.

"Dada!" Chenoa cried out as she squirmed in Fluttershy's forelegs, still feeling the need to continue searching for her lost father. After three days of his absence, she wanted nothing more than to be held by him. To snuggle up against his chest and fall asleep in his strong arms. "Dada!"

Fluttershy's frown deepened, knowing it was fruitless to keep Chenoa still. She knew the baby wouldn't understand, and loosened her hold with the knowledge she wouldn't be able to escape the confines of the cottage or get into anything since the home had long been baby-proofed.

Her eyes rolled to stare out the window, at the raindrops that splattered against the glass. Eyes taking on a glassy appearance themselves, the pegasus continued to limply lay there to idly gaze without really seeing anything, her mind not quite registering what was in her line of vision.

Finally free, the child resumed her search. Peeking back under the couch, she then proceeded to climb the staircase to look around the second story, the nearby animals keeping an eye on her.

Not even watching her go, the pink-maned pony continued to stew in a simmering solemn state, her one pulchritudinous complexion a pathetic pallor of what it once was. After a few more moments, her ears perked as she suddenly heard a faint knocking at the front door.

"Fluttershy?" came the worried voice of Twilight Sparkle. "Fluttershy, are you still in there? Open up, we've been worried sick!"

"We haven't seen you for DAYS, darling!" Rarity could be heard through the door. "Let us in, won't you? We're all out here!"

Pushing past the other mares, Rainbow Dash burst through the door and precipitated herself in front of Fluttershy.

"Hey, Fluttershy. How ya feeling?"

"I didn't know the door was unlocked…" Twilight Sparkle stated.

"Well, neither did I, but you generally don't barge in somepony's house!" Rarity huffed.

Fluttershy lifted her eyes to Rainbow Dash… though, it didn't seem like she was looking AT her so much as she was looking THROUGH her.

"Fluttershy?" The prism-maned equine poked the yellow pony's shoulder, growing even more concerned. "Yo, Fluttershy, are you in there?"

"What do you want, Rainbow Dash?" she muttered in a concern-evoking deadpan fashion. She hadn't said it with a normal infliction-it sounded more like she had made a statement, rather than actually asking a question. Her words rang hollow… Morose. Almost dead.

"We haven't seen ya in three days. We were worried," the cyan pegasus replied. Taking a cursory glance, the mare noticed the chick wasn't around. "So… where's Chenoa?"

"Upstairs," Fluttershy responded in a similarly hollow intonation.

"Darling… are you feeling all right?" Rarity asked, walking closer.

"I feel fine," Fluttershy woodenly answered.

"Are you sure?" Pinkie Pie pressed. "Because your hair looks flat and your coat is pale and your eyes look heavy and you look like you haven't eaten and-"

"Of course she looks fine!" the alabaster unicorn interjected, trying to rescue her friend's image and prevent any offense. "She just looks like-"

"Absolute heck," Applejack grunted, and received a rather nasty glare from Rarity.

"Why don't you come out and have lunch with us? Bring Chenoa, too," Rainbow Dash offered.

Fluttershy tilted her head back to the window, as it was still raining. Following her gaze, Rarity shook her head.

"It's only a little water. It's not going to hurt you," she said, despite the fact she always wore a raincoat and boots and held an umbrella over her head for good measure whenever it rained, and today was no exception. "Besides, you've been cooped up here for three days! Don't you think it's time you got a little fresh air?"

"Yeah, come on! You know how much Chenoa loves water," the pegasus tacked on.

Just then, soft cries originating from the chick echoed from Fluttershy's bedroom and wafted downstairs into the foyer. After having checked every accessible area, Chenoa finally came to the conclusion that Smokey wasn't there…

Fluttershy frowned at this-however, Pinkie Pie was already halfway up the staircase, having grown to care for the baby just as much as she cared for Pumpkin and Pound. Spotting and scooping the griffon up, she proceeded to rock her in her forelegs with a comforting smile.

She hadn't forgotten the promise she made to Smokey, and was quite determined to live up to her self-given title as Auntie Pinkie.

Chenoa tried to wiggle her way out of Pinkie Pie's forelegs. She didn't want Pinkie Pie, she wanted Smokey. Sobbing harder, tears streaking down her cheeks, she screamed "Dada" once more.

"Its okay, Chenoa." Pinkie Pie paused to nuzzle her fluffy head. "Everything's gonna be fine! I'm sorry… Dada… Dada will be coming home soon. Dada will come home one day. Don't cry."

As the baby continued to cry, an idea popped into her head and transferred her to one foreleg.

"Why don't we go downstairs… and… um… look for Dada! Outside! With Mama and Auntie Pinkie?"

"Dadaaa!" Chenoa wailed, tears wetting her fur and feathers. She squirmed harder, wanting to get away to do another sweep of the house.

"My… How long has she been like this?" Rarity questioned, ears pinning at the sound of the child's misery.

"Ever since Smokey left." Fluttershy sighed. "She's been looking around constantly, trying to find him."

"Well… You'll find another guy to replace Smokey someday," said Rainbow Dash, patting her fellow pegasus on the back.

The statement hit Fluttershy hard. Turning slowly to her friend, the yellow mare stared at the rainbow-haired equine as if she had suddenly grown a second head.

"… Replace him?" she repeated, appearing as if she was just asked to rip off one of her own wings. "… REPLACE him?"

"I suspect Chenoa will need a father figure of sorts," Twilight Sparkle mentioned.

"Not to mention you need a stallion of your own," Rarity said.

"A… a… stallion…?" Fluttershy whispered.

"Yeh," Applejack joined in. "Don't you, well, wanna, maybe… see any eligible bachelors?"

Fluttershy looked stunned. Affronted, even.

"Yeah, Smokey's never coming back anyway," Rainbow Dash remarked, nodding in agreement. "Chenoa will forget him someday. She's still just a baby."

"No," Fluttershy answered.

"No?" the farmer ventured. "Fluttershy-"

"No," the normally timid mare averred. "Nopony will ever replace him. Nopony can EVER replace Smokey."

"I know he'll always have a special place in your heart-" Rarity began, before she was cut off.

"You don't understand! I thought you of all ponies would, Rarity!"

Applejack arched her brow with a confused tilt of her head.

"Ah'm afraid Ah don't quite git it…"

"Um, DUUUUUH!" Pinkie Pie called down from the top of the stairs. "It's, like, totally obvious!"

"What's obvious?"

Rainbow Dash furrowed her eyebrows and shared Applejack's puzzlement. Twilight Sparkle and Rarity, too, were confused, until the unicorn emitted a gasp in realization.

"Oh, my. Pinkie, you're right! How could I have not seen the signs?"

"I'm not quite sure I follow," the alicorn said, pursing her lips.

"Oh, you, Twilight? An avid reader of the romance genre? I would've thought you were privy to the telltale signs as well! I admit, I didn't catch them either, but the forlorn, longing expression. The heartbroken pining? The-"

"Wait, wait, wait," Applejack interrupted, holding up a hoof. "Yuh mean yer telling us she was in love or something?"

"… Is… Am," Fluttershy choked, blushing rather heavily.

Realization spawning in Rainbow Dash's eyes, she bit her lower lip and pinned her ears as sympathy bubbled up in her.

"Fluttershy… You gotta get over him. You'll never see him again."

Fluttershy didn't even look at her, refusing to meet her eyes.

"No. I refuse to believe that."

Applejack sighed.

"Sugarcube, are we going to have to go over this AGAIN?"

"He. Did, Not. Bite-"

"For cryin' out loud, girl!" Applejack groaned, her voice amplified in an irritated tone. "Yer more stubborn than a mule! When are you gonna get it through your thick head-"

"Applejack!" Rarity protested, as Fluttershy appeared even more offended.

"My thick head!?"

"Girls, girls," Twilight Sparkle began in an attempt to becalm the incensed mares. "Please, let's calm-"

"Nothin' doin', Twi!" The blonde pony snorted. "Ah ain't stepping down until we convince her once and for all!"

Twilight Sparkle groaned, placing a hoof on her head. It hadn't helped matters Chenoa was still screaming upstairs with a ragged looking Pinkie Pie stumbling down the steps with the child.

Ears erecting, Rainbow Dash turned her attention to her pink friend and the wailing infant in her foreleg. Sighing, she went back to Fluttershy.

"Look… Fluttershy… Just grab your kid and let's go. We gotta get you out of this house."

"We're not going," Fluttershy said.

Twilight Sparkle stared at the pegasus in bewilderment.

"Wait, wuh?"

Fluttershy's eyes never left Applejack's as she continued to speak.

"If you're going to sit here and insult me…"

"Insult-Fluttershy, Ah-"

"Applejack," the young princess stepped in. "Stop. Before you make things any worse."

The farmer looked outraged, but kept silent as Fluttershy turned her back to them.

"I know you all think me silly. Or a fool. Or hopeless," the kindhearted pegasus began. "But… the truth is… I don't care. I love Smokey. And I know we'll be together again one day. I know we will."

"Right, just like you knew Smokey didn't bite-OW!" Applejack cried out, wincing as she turned a glare to Rarity-who had delivered a swift kick in the flank with her right hind leg.

Now Rainbow Dash was growing more irritated. Snorting, she stamped a hoof into the floorboard beneath her.

"Fluttershy. This is crazy! Smokey's gone! Gone! And nothing's gonna bring him back!"

Fluttershy turned to glance over her shoulder, looking even more hurt. Closing her eyes, she dropped onto her haunches and broke into more sobs.

Glaring at Rainbow Dash and muttering something about "uncouth, barbaric manners", Rarity trotted forward to pull Fluttershy into a hug.

"There, there, dear. If it was meant to be, then he'll come back. If he doesn't, then perhaps maybe he wasn't the right one for you. Destiny can be fickle about these things… I thought Prince Blueblood was my fateful paramour! And, well, we all know how THAT turned out."

Rainbow Dash felt bad for making Fluttershy cry, but she rationalized that she had to face the truth. The dragon wasn't coming back…

Angel sighed, having observed the whole ordeal. He disliked Smokey and resented his presence when he had been around, receiving attention from his caretaker that he believed should have been his… He should be happy he was gone, but seeing the yellow-furred pony like this… Seeing Chenoa like this… Despondent, heartbroken, and prone to breaking down. The rabbit glanced at the blood-soaked cloth he had kept hidden underneath the couch with guilt weighing down upon him.

If only there was something he could do… If only he could tell Fluttershy-tell her friends-what he had witnessed. That Smokey was innocent. Suddenly, an idea sprouted in his brain! What if they could extract the blood from the handkerchief and get it tested? That could possibly prove the dragon didn't bite Pendulum!

Scrambling under the couch to retrieve the cloth, he ran up to Fluttershy and tugged on her wing.

Fluttershy jerked a bit upon feeling a tug on her feathers. Glancing down at the rabbit, she frowned.

"What is it, Angel bunny? I just fed you. Are you hungry again?"

Angel shook his head, holding up the soiled handkerchief with one paw and pointed at it with the other before dropping it and making motions with his paws for the ponies to leave.

"What's he got there?" Twilight Sparkle asked, her eyes widening in disgust a second later. "Is that… blood?"

"Isn't that the same bloody cloth from before? What're you still holdin' onto it fer, 'Shy?" Applejack inquired.

"I… I wasn't," Fluttershy replied, riddled with confusion. "I didn't even realize it was still around…"

Angel pounded the floor with a foot, pointing at the handkerchief again and repeating the same motions.

Fluttershy stared at him, then focused on the cloth. Narrowing her eyes in concentration, she tried to figure out what the bunny was attempting to convey…

And then, it struck her. Jaw slacking, she didn't know why she hadn't mentioned it before.

"We can test this," she breathed.