Autor’s wordy-bitz: Heeyy… Sorry ‘bout the wait since the last chapter, and the length of this one. I have been cracked out on Fallout: New Vegas and my priorities suck. Anyways… ‘ere she is!

My eyes flew open. I was in the hospital again, and Fluttershy was by my bedside, along with Zecora. Fluttershy squeaked in surprise as I shot up straight in bed, and Zecora looked like she was waking up from a nap. However, I soon realized she was using a Dream Walker spell from the incense wafting in the room. The pieces quickly fell into place and I realized what my sister had done. She had cast the spell of “Eternal Night” on me. The spell puts the body of the victim into a comatose, while causing a sensory overload and the illusion of living your greatest fears. Truly a fate worse than death, and I was beyond relieved that it was all over. However… because of the nature of the spell, I was supposed to die in that state. I didn’t, and I felt noticeably different from the experience. I had killed my friends and my lover, as well as several others before I discovered it was a lie. However, the emotions that came from the illusion still linger, and I can’t help but feel slightly unhinged from it. Nonetheless, it was just a Dream, and I should treat it as such.

“Hello, love. I just finished having the worse nightmare. Pray tell, how did I wind up here?”

“I found you lying in the woods. You wouldn’t wake up, so I had some of my animal friends bring you here. When the doctors said that you were in a magic-induced comatose, and they couldn’t figure out why. When even Twilight couldn’t wake you up, I got desperate and had Zecora come here to try and help. She told me that you were under a curse, and that she could help. The two of you were under for several hours and I was afraid you weren’t going to wake up-”

“I’m ok, Fluttershy. It’s all ok. We’re both awake now, everypony is ok.” I shuddered, remembering killing Fluttershy. I shook it way.

“Well… If you say so. But a few minutes ago you were crying. If you need to talk, I’m here for you. That’s what marefriends are for.” I shrugged, and moved out of the bed. I motioned for Fluttershy to head out, and I stopped Zecora at the entrance.

“What happened in there stays between us, ok?”

“The experience that we hold shall not be told.”

“Good! And why do you rhyme all the time?”

“The reason I rhyme all the time, is due to a foalhood trauma involving limes.” ‘Right. There is nothing weird about that.’ I moved towards the door, yanking out the I.V. as I went, and outside the door waiting was my beloved.

“Pray tell, love, how long was I out?”

“A day.” I shudder ran through me. Today was Hearth’s Warming. I needed to get her somethi-

“I know you weren’t able to get me something, between working in the mines and this…” ‘Wait, she knew all along? Wow, I suck.’ “So you don’t have to worry about it. An idea popped up in my head. I leaned in and kissed her, right on the lips. She hesitated, but leaned into the kiss quickly. We stayed locked in a passionate embrace for several moments before we broke away.

“Happy Hearth’s Warming, love. I hope you enjoyed your gift.” She said nothing, but instead grabbed me and pulled me into another kiss. ‘Somepony is feeling happy today.’ She pulled away quickly, saying:

“That was the best Hearth’s Warming gift a mare could wish for.” I smiled a gentle smile, but I then remembered that Zecora was behind me. I spun around to say “thank-you” again, but she was already gone, a nearby window open. ‘What is wrong with ponies using the front door in this town?’ I closed the window, and led Fluttershy to the door. I dropped a hoof-full of bits onto the front desk with my bill, and walked out with Fluttershy into the cold outside.

Within a few minutes, we were back home. I opened the door, and stepped inside behind Fluttershy. I stripped off my armour and tossed it into a corner while she hopped off to the kitchen to prepare dinner. In the center of the room was a large tree, along with several small boxes underneath, wrapped in colourful paper. I realized that these were all presents, and out of the six that were present, three were for me. This, was unacceptable. I noticed that the last three, the largest, were for Angel. That furry little bastard.

“Fluttershy, I just remembered that I needed to get something.”

“Ok! Just be back soon! Dinner will be ready in about thirty minutes, and after we will open presents.” I was already flying out the door, and I had one pony in mind. Within record time (13 seconds) I was at Whitewash’s door, ringing the bell. She stepped to the door, clad in a kinky red lingerie outfit with a pointed red cap.

“Now is not the best time, Red Storm. I kinda have a mare over…”

“Captain! I have a special assignment for you!”

“Sir-yessir!” She stood tall, and looked rather funny saluting me in her outfit.

“I failed to acquire a present for my marefriend, and I need your help to find one!”

“Understood sir! I know many excellent places to get several in less than ten minutes at reasonable prices, sir!”

“Capital! Let us depart A-S-A-P!”

“Yessir!...” she faltered, “Permission to change, sir!”

“Permission granted!” she bolted into the back room and came back several seconds later in her armour and with an orange-haired mare by her side. The yellow mare with the orange mane looked terrified, and her green eyes flicked between us. Still in my “Commander Persona”, I shouted in her direction:

“Civilian! You are DIS-MISSED!” she squeaked and ran away, out the door and as fast as she could. Whitewash sighed.

“Was that really necessary?” she said, her normal personality back.

“ABSOLUTELY! Let’s move out, Captain! We have FIFTEEN minutes to buy a gift and wrap it!”

“SIR YES SIR!” She bolted out down the hall, and I flew alongside her. We had shopping to do.

I returned home with two colourful boxes in my forelegs (one from Whitewash, one from me) just as Fluttershy began to set the table. I slid the boxes under the tree and moved to the kitchen. I admittedly didn’t know what Whitewash got Fluttershy, but I suppose I would know soon enough. I moved behind her silently, and cupped my hooves over her eyes, much to her surprise. She breathed lightly as I gave her a peck on the cheek.

“I’m back, sweetie. What’s for dinner?”

“I made some nice carrot soup for dinner. I had also prepared a cake while you were in the hospital. I hope you like it,” she said quietly as I moved my hooves from her eyes, and holding her in a hug about the waist instead.

“I’m sure it will be absolutely delicious.” And it was. We ate in relative silence, and I thought solemnly about the horrors I had committed within my own mind. If I did those things in what I thought to have been reality, who’s to say I won’t do them in real life as well? Fluttershy broke the silence.

“Red Storm… what happened to you?” I wondered whether or not I should tell her the truth. I decided yes.

“My love, it has come to my attention that my father wishes me dead. He had tortured my sister until she admitted to knowing where I was, and he sent her to kill me. She had cast a spell called ‘Eternal Night’ upon me, which places the afflicted into a comatose-like state while they dream their greatest fears as though they were a reality. As the spell wears on, it will cause the victim so much emotional agony that they will lose the will to live, and die.” Fluttershy just continued to eat her soup in silence, before asking:

“I don’t mean to pry, but what did you dream of?” Truth, or lie? Both.

“I dreamt that you and everypony else I cared for were killed. It had to have been the worst feeling in my life.” ‘Because I did it.’ She put a hoof on mine.

“Don’t worry so much about it, sweetie,” She said, and I almost jumped at ‘sweetie’… great Celestia, it is good to be loved.

“It was all just a dream. Besides, it’s Hearth’s Warming day! Let’s open our presents!” She jumped out of her seat, and trotted over to the tree. I joined her, and she pulled out one of the boxes that I had brought.

“Red Storm… You didn’t have to!”

“Ah, but I did! Go on… open it up!” She did so, and beneath the colourful wrapping was a box with a small gold locket inside. The locket had a single, glimmering Blood Ruby on the outside (Which had cost an astronomical amount to have fitted in.) Inside, there was a picture of myself, and a small hoof-carved sentence:

“To my dearest beloved; the kindest soul I know.” She just looked at it, a small tear forming. I couldn’t happen but add the “Kindest” part after my revelation on the true status of my friends, but more than that, it was due to her being supportive of me since the very beginning; that very day I woke up in her bed. So very kind…

“Red Storm! It’s beautiful! Thank you so much! You really shouldn’t have gone to so much trouble to do this for me!”

“Yes, in fact, I did. I could not possibly allow you to give me any gifts without you receiving any from me. Besides, I needed to show my manliness through wasting an absurd amount of bits on such a gift! Only a true stallion can make such poor financial decisions!” My marefriend giggled at this, before putting on the locket.

“Poor financial decision or not, I love it. Thank you.” She then passed a box to me. I tore it open eagerly: this would be the very first actual present I will have ever received for any occasion. Inside the small box was a vial of red liquid, on a chain. I opened it and sniffed the contents gingerly. The liquid was without a doubt blood, and it smelled of the forest. I re-capped the vial and looked at Fluttershy sideways.

“What, pray tell is this?” She looked slightly crestfallen.

“Its… some of my blood. I thought it might be a fitting gift.” I realized the intention. She wished for a part of her to be with me forever. Where I come from, this is the same as a marriage proposal. I let go of the thought as I put the chain about my neck. After all, how could she possibly have known about…? That’s when I saw a small, red book on the coffee table. From across the room I could clearly see its title: “History and culture of the Sanguine Nation.” My mind went blank, and Fluttershy followed my gaze to the book. She made an “eek” as she sped over to collect the book. The damage, however, was done.

“Dear…” I began, still staring at the book, now in Fluttershy’s forelegs. “Are… are you proposing to me?” She simply stared at me, and I stared back. After what seemed like whole millennia, she finally said:

“Maybe…” I jumped up with such enthusiasm that I hit my head on the ceiling.

“Yes! YES! I ACCEPT! YES!” I cried with joy and glee. “I would LOVE to marry you! Nothing would make me happier!” I took her up in my forelegs in a great, big hug. I swung her about the room before setting her down again.

“I accept your proposal, Fluttershy. I would be honoured to be your husband,” I said flatly (but softly) after brushing back down the mare’s mane. I gave her a quick kiss, and tears were forming in my eyes. A quick glance revealed that tears were forming in her beautiful pools as well. We gathered ourselves and continued to unwrap gifts.

Angel got several items of grand material wealth, but simply shook his head and headed over to the liquor cabinet. I unwrapped my last two gifts: a grand helmet that matched my suit of Bloodsteel armour (but was not made of it, alas); and a simply marvelous night-black suit and matching blood-red tie. I gave my new fiancé my thanks, and we opened the last box together: Whitewash’s gift to Fluttershy. I honestly had no idea what she had gotten for her, so I was just as curious as Fluttershy herself. There was a card attached that read:

“Hope you enjoy it, you two! And, congrats on your engagement!”

That was creepy. How the hell did she foresee our engagement? We took off the wrapping paper and looked into the plain box underneath. What was inside was, to put it simply, unnerving.

Within the box were a latex suit, hoofcuffs, and a whip.

I just stared and then looked at my fiancé. She bore a look of surprise.

"I am terribly sorry about this. I will throw this out, and give Whitewash a good tongue-lashing later-” She placed a hoof to my lips, and revealed a sinful grin.

“Now, now. Don’t jump to conclusions, Red Storm. We may want to use these… later.” My mane stood up on end as she brought the box upstairs to the bedroom, still giving me that look. As soon as she left from my view, my wings unfurled in what Rainbow Dash had called a “Wing-boner” I folded them shut again as Fluttershy returned downstairs.

“Now that the presents are done, would you like some cake?” I nodded slowly, and we both made our way to the kitchen.

‘Employed? Engaged? Things are looking up!’

‘I told you, shut up.’

Author's Notes:

I know, I know. The great and deadly engagement. Hey! It has been several months since they got together, and they have known each other for almost six months. I felt like this story needed to progress, and I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU SAY! Opps. Sorry. I love you all, and I hope you have enjoyed it so far!