Moving On- Part Four

Fluttershy trudged along the streets of Ponyville heading towards the library. While her rest at Zecora’s had calmed her and allowed her to put her exhaustion at ease, she was still sore from her time in the hospital and the rest had the unwanted effect of allowing the pegasus to feel the strain her body was under.

It had been a little while since she left Zecora’s hut, according to the Zebra it had been late in the day when she was awoken, but by the time they reached the edge of the forest the sun had set. While Fluttershy had started the trek at a near gallop due to her determination to see the one pony she hoped truly cared for her, she slowly found her body aching more and more causing her pace quickly fall to just above a trot. This was fine, she knew she could make it to the library easily, but it was taking a lot longer than she wished it would.

Fluttershy glanced up to Luna’s moon, thankful that it was a bright half moon tonight that assisted the few lights around her as she walked down the street.

“I’m coming Twilight.” she whispered to herself as she approached the library.

~~~~

“I hope she’s ok...”

“Twilight, will ya just go to bed already? It’s bad enough I can’t use my own bed but I can’t sleep with you wandering around talking to yourse-” Spike passed out mid-sentence onto the pillow Twilight had laid out for him earlier.

Spike had been complaining about Twilight’s talking for hours now, ever since he finished his dinner and found himself kicked out of his bed, yet again by Angel, Spike had fallen in and out of slumber on the makeshift bed, each time blaming Twilight’s volume.

“Sorry Spike.” Twilight whispered to the already sleeping baby dragon.

The unicorn walked over to her desk and began absentmindedly rereading Celestia’s letter as she pulled over various books with her magic. She needed something to distract her. Sleep wouldn’t come for her tonight.

~~~~

‘Finally’ Fluttershy thought with a sigh, she had reached the library. Luna’s moon seemed lower than it had been earlier, telling Fluttershy that is had to be sometimes after midnight by now.

‘I hope she doesn’t mind me waking her up,’ she thought, her mind returning to it’s normal shy nature now that her time to think alone was waning.

‘What if.. what if she does mind? What if she’s really mad about me leaving or-or she was lying at Zecora’s and has Rainbow in there right now!’

Fluttershy stood within sight of the library as her mind betrayed her with more and more depressing and terrifying thoughts of how Twilight Sparkle was playing a prank on Fluttershy with Rainbow, or might have given up over the course of the night and forgotten about her.

As she sat her mind began to push forward, ‘If she is waiting for me, and does care, does that not mean she’ll do the same things Rainbow does? No... Twilight wouldn’t do that... would she?’

Fluttershy bowed her head as a tear escaped her, running its course until it landed on the ground below her.

‘No. She cares about me and wouldn’t do that.’ her mind tried to argue but she silenced it as she rose to her hooves. ‘She wouldn’t do that. She wouldn’t forget me, she wouldn’t beat me, she wouldn’t... ‘take’ me....’

The mare began her walk to the door.

‘I... I have to try. She... she did come for me.’

Fluttershy reached towards the door and froze, her mind going blank as her heart fluttered.

Fluttershy shook her head, unintentionally pushing her mane over her eye as she tried to gain control over the sensation. “Umm...” she squeaked to herself. She recognized the feeling, it was the same way she felt when she met Rainbow in Cloudsdale. The feeling had never fully gone away when they were together, but now it was muddied and bound by the feeling of fear. It felt somehow different now, she didn’t fear the mare she felt for. ‘Do I... I mean she cares for me... doesn’t she? Is that why I...’

‘Maybe....maybe I do ‘like’ her...’ the pegasus thought, her mind returning to the night she left Twilight’s house, to their kiss. ‘and... maybe..maybe she ‘likes’ me...’

...

*Knock*

~~~~

*Knock*

Twilight furrowed her brow as she placed her book back on the desk. ‘Always when I get to the good part, who in Equestria would come to the Library at this time of night!’

The studious unicorn walked over to the door and opened it as she closed her eyes and tried to say in her kindest, yet sternest voice “Sorry but we’re closed-” she opened her eyes to confront who was interrupting her at this hour. “Flutter-...Fluttershy?”

Fluttershy had jumped a bit as the door opened, tossing her mane away from her face as her eyes locked with the unicorn’s.

Twilight froze as she stared into the cyan colored orbs of the mare she spent the day searching for. The mare she worried about more than anypony else, who she truly cared for and wanted the best for.

Twilight felt her heart begin to beat rapidly as her mind rushed through images of the pony before her, she heard Celestia’s words echo through her head ‘follow your heart’ but she couldn’t move. Twilight remained frozen as she lost herself in the eyes of the mare she knew she had feelings for.

“Umm.... Twilight?”

As Fluttershy’s voice broke the silence, and snapped Twilight out of her trance as tears ran down her face. She lunged forward and pulled the pegasus into an embrace.

“Oh Fluttershy! I was so worried, I thought you might have been hurt, or lost in the EverFree or-”

Fluttershy’s face now mirrored Twilight’s as tears ran freely, “I know Twi... I-I know you came for me...You came through the EverFree for me...” Fluttershy couldn’t help but replay some of her previous questions in her head, “Twilight? Why did you come for me...”

Twilight moved out of the hug and held Fluttershy by her shoulders. “I told you I care about you Fluttershy.... I would do anything for you. When I said I cared... I wasn’t ‘completely’ honest,” Fluttershy felt her chest tighten with pain as Twilight continued,

“I...I”

Fluttershy turned her gaze downward as more tears rolled down her cheek and she tried to turn away.

Twilight reached out and grabbed Fluttershy’s chin turning her back to face her, “I love you, Fluttershy.”

It was Fluttershy’s turn to be stunned, she felt her voice leave her but she pushed herself to talk as hard as she could, “R-really?”. The question came as a whisper as she practically mouthed the word.

Twilight pulled the timid pegasus into a kiss to answer. As the two lovers ended their kiss they found themselves blushing heavily. Twilight continued, “You’re kind, and giving. You risk it all when it comes to your friends, and-” Twilight was cut off as Fluttershy pushed her muzzle into Twilight’s neck and nuzzled her as she spoke, “I-I think I love you too” she squeaked.

Both mares found themselves blushing much deeper now that their words had been heard and accepted.

Twilight looked down to the pegasus buried in her neck, she felt herself smile as she mused over how perfect this moment was, how beautiful the mare before her looked, how cute she found the smell of the obviously exhausted pegasus (even being through the EverFree forest left her smelling of flowers to go on top of the light smell of perspiration), and how relieved she felt that Fluttershy was safe.

Twilight moved to nuzzle into Fluttershy’s mane when the pegasus pushed herself up to look into her eyes. As they stared Twilight moved in for another kiss. As their lips connected she lost herself in the moment. Twilight was suddenly knocked back to reality as Fluttershy’s hunger for the kiss became apparent.

The usually timid mare’s tongue pushed its way into the now stunned unicorn’s mouth as it began to explore each corner. Twilight collected her thoughts and allowed herself to join in the intoxicating dance after a few licks to her own tongue. Each second felt an eternity for the love struck ponies, both letting out light, pleased moans as they explored each other’s mouths. Both mares parted ways panting heavily. As Twilight caught her breath she swore she heard a near silent apology, to which she pulled the timid pony into a loving embrace to show it wasn’t needed.

Fluttershy felt truly happy being here with Twilight. She had found true love and every second of its joy left her feeling like nothing bad had ever, and wouldn’t ever, happen to her. She had overcome Rainbow Dash’s love and found the real thing.

‘Twilight does care! She loves me!’ she thought happily as she tightened her hold on the mare she loved.

~~~~

Princess Luna let out a sigh as she leaned back on her plush pillow placed on her balcony as she stared up at her moon. It had been a long night. It had worn on her nerves while she simultaneously hoped and dreaded that the guards would come in any minute with a certain Element in custody.

Luna’s focus on the moon was cut short by the sound of shouting from the halls. The princess rose from her balcony and lightly flew through her room to the door, opening it with her magic to see if her guess on the source was correct.

“Let go of me already! Do you know who I am? I’m the one who saved all of you from eternal night? RING A FUCKING BELL?! What the hay!” The rainbow maned pegasus was being dragged through the hall towards the night goddess’s personal quarters, as per her request, and was making quite the scene as she struggled to break free from the guards grasp, despite being clad in shackles and having her wings bound to her body by a thick metal belt.

“Rainbow Dash. I expected better from you.” Luna said with a small frown. “Guards, this is indeed the correct pony, please take her to the holding cells for now.” Luna kept her voice as steady as she could while relaying the orders, and kept a brave face up while the still cursing pony was dragged back down the hall. As the sound of the struggling mare ebbed away to nothing the goddess turned back to her room and lay on her bed as her mind began to take focus on how the Element had grown to be such a pony.

Bringing out a scroll and quill she wrote,

Dear Twilight Sparkle,

Rainbow Dash has been found and is now being held until you and Fluttershy can come to the castle for a trial with my sister. I hope you are able to find Fluttershy in good health, and please reply as soon as you do.

~Princess Luna

Luna sent the scroll and leaned back into her bed in a mock attempt to get sleep, knowing at this late hour it would be hopeless. ‘Must be a sad story to this rage filled pony....’ she sighed as she pushed back thoughts of Nightmare Moon, and how wrong a pony could become.

~~~~

Twilight groaned as Celestia’s sun broke through her window and smacked her across the face. ‘Why not five more min-’ Eyes jolting open Twilight looked across her room to the still sleeping Fluttershy and let her breathing return to normal, *pwew* ‘That wasn’t a dream then, Fluttershy really is safe.’ the unicorn thought as a smile came to her muzzle and she moved out of her bed.

As the lavender mare walked down the stairs towards the kitchen she heard the sounds of breakfast being made,

“Hey Spike, what’s for breakfast?” she called out.

Spike jumped slightly, having not heard any hoofsteps through his cooking, but quickly returned to his task as he spoke, “Oh, good morning Twilight! I’m just making some pancakes. Don’t worry I’m making extra since I saw Fluttershy showed up last night.” he said as he poured the first pancake into the waiting pan. “I almost forgot! A scroll came for you last night,” Spike said gesturing towards the kitchen table, “so anyway-”

Twilight zoned Spike out as she focused intently on the scroll and brought it to her eyes and unfurled it. As she read her expression went from joy to worry and found itself caught between them when she finished the short message. ‘Rainbow’s finally caught... but now Fluttershy has to go through her history again to make sure she stays away...’

*Snap* *Snap*

“Twilight are you ok? You really need to stop zoning out when reading, I’ve asked you five times now, how many pancakes did you want?”

“Oh. Sorry Spike, I’ll just have two, make two for Fluttershy as well.”

“Alright then.” Spike replied, tossing the first finished pancake onto a plate.

As Spike finished making the stack of pancakes he separated them onto different plates and put them on the table asking Twilight, “Are you going to wake up Fluttershy or should I?”

“Oh, I’ll go get her.” Twilight said as she rose from the chair and went back upstairs.

“Wakey wakey, it’s time for breakfast Flutter.” the unicorn said softly as she softly shook the sleeping pegasus.

“Mmm, what? Oh, oh. Sorry, I’m getting up.” Fluttershy said as she rolled out of bed and looked meekly at the floor. “I should have been up earlier, I could have helped make breakfast.”

“No, no, no Fluttershy. You don’t need to do that, you’ve been through a lot and Spike made you and I breakfast as a gift, you don’t need to worry about it.”

“Oh, Ok.” Fluttershy said lighting up a bit. She wasn’t exactly used to being given anything just yet, but Twilight’s assurances helped ease her into the situation.

The two made their way back downstairs to find their plates sitting on the table while a full Spike rinsed his empty plate off in the sink.

“Spike, do you chew your food at all?” Twilight said playfully. The baby dragon laughed lightly at the comment and made his way to the main library to start his chores.

“Oh, Thank you Spike, for breakfast I mean...” Fluttershy quietly said as he passed.

“No problem Fluttershy, it’s no big deal.”

Twilight took her seat and looked over at the pegasus with a reassuring smile as she gestured towards the seat next to her and its plate of pancakes.

Fluttershy slowly walked to the chair and eased her way into the seat, seemingly terrified it would break as a prank.

“You seem uneasy Flutter, is everything Ok?” Twilight asked.

“Oh... e-everything’s fine. It’s just that, I’m not used to things going like this. Somepony providing a home for me, trying to help me, giving me food. It all seems so... surreal.”

Twilight sighed quietly as she moved herself closer to Fluttershy. “You need to learn that love and friendship are a two way road, it’s something I had to learn when I first came to Ponyville. You don’t go through a relationship only giving, or only receiving. You gave Rainbow so much and accepted it when she returned nothing, I won’t let you be used that way again, especially not by me. I love you, Fluttershy.” she punctuated this point by hugging the pony to calm her further, “and I promise to show you real love. I might not have experience in this sort of thing, but we can learn how to live with the one you love, together.”

Fluttershy tried to talk but felt the lump in her throat harden as tears threatened to run down her cheeks. But she wasn’t sad. Fluttershy felt true joy fill her as she returned the hug, tears finally breaking through as she smiled the truest smile she’d had in years.

~~~~

“I’ll have to thank Spike again for the pancakes!” Fluttershy said as she placed her dishes in the sink and turned back to Twilight.

“They certainly were good.” Twilight chuckled as she levitated her dishes to the sink as well. As the unicorn turned back to the mare she loved she saw a scroll lying behind her on the table. Just where she left it.

“Oh...”

“What is it Twilight?” the pegasus asked tilting her head.

“I almost forgot that I had news.” Twilight took a deep breath as she used her magic to float the scroll over to Fluttershy, “Rainbow has been found and Princess Celestia requires your presence for a ‘magic trial’ in which you will be able to tell your story and-” she thought for a moment on how to most lightly lay this news onto the mare she loved- “help justify keeping Rainbow away...”

Fluttershy’s mouth turned to a small frown as she read through the short letter and absorbed Twilight’s words. Tears formed in her eyes but she refused to let them fall as she spoke, “It’s..it-it’s for the best right?”

Twilight walked over to Fluttershy and lay her hoof on her shoulder, “Of course, Flutter. She needs to be kept in a place where she can’t hurt herself or others.”

Fluttershy looked into Twilight’s eyes and nodded slowly as the tears finally left thin wet lines down the sides of her face. “ I know, Twi. It’s just... hard. I-I don’t know if I can do this...”

Finding herself pulled into an embrace, Fluttershy listened intently to the quiet words spoken to her. “Fluttershy, you’re so much braver than you think you are. I know you can do this, for yourself and Rainbow.” the hug tightened as she continued. “I believe in you, and I promise to be by your side the entire time.”

Fluttershy returned the embrace as hard as she could in reply.

~~~~

As the chariot began it’s descent towards Canterlot Twilight nudged Fluttershy awake.

“Wake up, Flutter. We’re almost there.” Twilight said this as comforting as she could but couldn’t help but have her own nervousness seep into each word.

Fluttershy reluctantly stirred from her nap and glanced out the window to the early afternoon skyline.

“So this is really happening?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you for coming with me, I don’t think I could go through with this without you...” Fluttershy sighed.

The carriage shook as its wheels made contact with the ground and the pegasus ponies flying it slowed in front of the castle.

“Come on, Flutter. We need to do this, I know you have it in you.” Twilight laid her hoof on Fluttershy’s shoulder as she moved towards the door. The two ponies made their way into the castle, side by side.

~~~~

Entering the main hall Fluttershy began to shake as she saw the Princess sitting before them with Rainbow Dash in shackles next to her.

“I’m scared, Twilight.” she whispered.

“It’s Ok, Flutter. I’ll be here the entire time, right by your side.” Twilight said as reassuringly as she could.

“Fluttershy, I’m so glad to see you’re safe. I’m sorry to meet on such terms but I think it would be best if we work our way through this sooner, rather than later.” the goddess seemed distressed and talked in a less cheery voice than she would usually use when confronting her subjects, let alone Twilight and her friends, who had become family to her.

Fluttershy looked to Twilight, who nodded to her, before turning back and nodding to the princess.

Celestia took a breath as she prepared to explain the procedure, “Rainbow Dash, you’ve been taken into custody on the belief that you’ve caused another pony pain that the land of Equestria cannot stand by and let happen. The pony in question has been brought to this hall to tell her story. Through my magic she will not be able to falsify any part of her speech, and your fate will lie with me after I’ve heard it.” Rainbow Dash glared to the princess before turning her attention back to Fluttershy, staring daggers into her.

“Alright then. After this spark you may begin, Fluttershy.” Celestia gave a sad smile as her horn glowed and sparked a beam to Fluttershy before quickly dissipating.

“You better not say a fucking thing you bitch...” Rainbow growled just loud enough to be heard across the hall.

“SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UP!”

Everypony jumped back, even Celestia at this loud voice.

Fluttershy stopped trembling for a moment and noticed that she was glaring at Rainbow. As she calmed herself she noticed her teeth were clenched and that Twilight was staring at her. “Oh my.” she said as she realized she was the one who shouted.

Rainbow’s jaw had dropped at the initial outburst but she quickly composed herself and returned to glaring at Fluttershy, in silence now.

“Please tell us what Rainbow Dash has done Fluttershy.” Celestia insisted as she regained her own composure.

“I-I..” Fluttershy glanced back to Twilight who gave her a sad smile to reassure her.

Taking a breath Fluttershy began, “Rainbow Dash abused me for years. She would beat me if I forgot to make her a lunch, or if I refused to please her, or if I mentioned our friends in her presence...” the words came easier than she expected, and she found she wasn’t scared, she was beginning to feel angry. Anger towards the mare she had loved, the mare she now glared at as she gave the testimony that would decide her fate.

“She...she is the reason I was in the hospital a few weeks ago. She beat me. She broke my jaw, left my face a bloody mess that was only able to heal thanks to unicorn magic, and left me for dead...b-but before she left me she...she raped me.” a tear ran down Fluttershy’s face but she didn’t notice through her rage. She was now physically shaking with anger as she stood.

“YOU BITCH! How DARE you backstab the only pony who loved you?!”

Fluttershy’s shaking intensified as she stepped towards Rainbow and began shouting, “No Rainbow, How DARE YOU! You took advantage of my love and gave me nothing for it but pain and regret. I accepted you into my life, offered you my home, gave you what I could, and you just turned around and took more while beating me when I couldn’t find more to give! You are a MONSTER! And sompony else loves me, and not the ‘love’ you gave me. True love, where we both care for each other and want the best for each other. Twilight fought for my safety and is the reason I gained the strength to come here in the first place! Without her I’d still be stuck with a monster who abused me whenever she felt the need or boredom.”

Fluttershy quietly panted after her rant but refused to break her glare from Rainbow. The bound pegasus returned the anger filled gaze in full despite seeming a bit taken back by the talk.

Celestia cleared her throat to gain the attention of the three ponies near her. “Fluttershy, thank you for your words. I believe I have enough information to condemn Rainbow Dash to the prisons below this castle.” she choked slightly as she finished, it was only barely audible but she was certain the ponies present heard her. “You two are free to take your leave.”

Twilight placed her hoof on Fluttershy’s shoulder, gaining a small smile from the timid pegasus as they turned and made their exit.

~~~~

Rainbow Dash fell limp in her shackles after Fluttershy exited, she felt drained by her outburst. ‘How could she act like that? Is it true?... Is it...’

She felt a hot tear run down her cheek as she glanced to the heavenly pony to her right as the guards came to collect her.

“Celestia...”

Princess Celestia felt herself near tears as well, but maintained a stern voice as she spoke. “Yes, Rainbow Dash.”

“She’s right isn’t she... I’m... I’m a monster.”

Silence overtook the great hall as Celestia waved the guards to stop and stared down Rainbow.

“No, you are but a pony who made decisions a monster would.” Dash found this cold statement bittersweet as it cut into her.

“Do...do you think I could change?”

“Maybe. But it would be a hard task for anypony.”

“I want to try...”

~~~~

Twilight opened the door to the chariot as Fluttershy eased her way in, head held low. As the pegasus took her seat Twilight followed suit next to her.

Placing her forehoof around the pegasus, Twilight pulled her into an embrace as the pony began to softly weep.

“You did the right thing, Flutter. I know you did. You’re safe, and I’m here to help you get through this.”

“I..I..I know, Twi. I-It’s just th-that I loved Rainbow. I really did.” Twilight was silent as she stroked her mane and let her pour her sorrow out into the unicorn’s shoulder.

“Th-thank you, Twilight,” Fluttershy raised herself to face her marefriend, “I love you.”

Twilight leaned in and kissed the mare she knew she would fight to protect no matter the threat. As their lips parted she whispered softly “I love you, too.” as she pulled Fluttershy into another embrace.

“We’ll be home in no time, and I promise things will be better now that we have each other.”

Fluttershy barely heard her lover’s last words as she fell asleep holding the kindest pony she knew. Next Chapter: Epilogue Estimated time remaining: 3 Minutes