Shadow made his way through town as the world drowned around him. The storm was set to be a big one and last for a few days. He knew that because Rainbow had taught him the difference in cloud sizes and colors. He could see the puffy dark gray clouds bunched close together. They were in for a doozy of a storm.

 

Approaching Fluttershy's cottage, a bolt of lightning nearby startled him. The flash doing more to surprise him than the thunder that accompanied it. For a moment, he thought about throwing up a small barrier to keep potential lightning strikes at bay but a shake of his head convinced him that he wouldn't be lucky enough to be struck this day.

 

Finally stopping at Fluttershy's front door, Shadow hesitated for a long minute. He did not know Fluttershy as well as he did Applejack or Rarity and he knew she could be skittish around ponies she didn't know. The last thing he wanted to do would be to discomfort her. Especially if she was still mourning Rainbow Dash as he was.

 

With a heavy sigh, he steeled his resolve and steadied his nerves, knocking gently but loud enough to be heard over the storm.

 

When no answer came he thought perhaps that she wasn't home or did not feel like entertaining visitors. That was until the door opened a small bit and Shadow saw Angel appear through the crack.

 

Shadow had only met Angel once but that once was enough to know he wasn't fond of the bunny. Shadow felt as if Angel only used Fluttershy as a punching bag and food delivery service. When he'd asked Rainbow about the rabbit she'd brushed off the idea of Angel being so terrible. She said that because Angel had gotten used to Fluttershy's kindness that he was able to be more demanding of her, even knowing she wouldn't give in most of the time. But regardless of his somewhat poor attitude, she had assured Shadow that Angel did in fact care for Fluttershy in return. He simply did not show it very often.

 

Today would be the day Shadow saw first hand the extent of the rabbit's commitment to his caregiver.

 

Angel stepped outside the cottage, motioning Shadow forward and into the house, hopping inside with him as Shadow opened and closed the door. Shadow looked around the cottage and everything seemed to be in place. He began to wonder if Fluttershy opted to clean things when over stressed, which would explain the immaculate state of her home.

 

As Shadow looked around he felt a tugging at his hoof, and saw Angel was the one doing the pulling. He was also pointing frantically toward the stairs, clearly wanting Shadow to head that direction.

 

"Alright," Shadow said softly. He extended a hoof to Angel who quickly hopped up onto Shadow's shoulder and kept his eyes locked on the stairs. Shadow felt an uneasiness at the rabbit's insistence, something wasn't right.

 

Climbing the stairs Shadow opened his mouth to call out for Fluttershy but found a small rabbit paw in his mouth instead. Angel motioned for Shadow to stay quiet. Shadow was unsure if this meant not talking at all or simply not shouting. He opted for the former and continued his ascent.

 

Reaching the top of the stairs Shadow could already hear Fluttershy's faint sobs. She was clearly still mourning her friend. He felt like a heel for not thinking of her sooner but she wasn't the only one who had lost.

 

Shadow cursed himself for trying to defend his neglect of Rainbow's friends. They had never been anything but kind to him. He owed them more than he knew, Fluttershy especially. It had been her words of encouragement that lead Rainbow into Shadow's arms. Rainbow had never told Shadow that, and neither had Fluttershy, but without this meek yellow pegasus, Shadow would've never known the love of his life from any other mare in Ponyville.

 

Pushing Fluttershy's already ajar bedroom door open Shadow paused. If he were to just appear next to her and speak, he would scare her to death. Standing stationary in the doorway, Angel seemed to sense his conundrum and hopped down from his shoulder and toward Fluttershy.

 

As he climbed the bed he motioned Shadow forward, though Shadow did not comply. Sighing, and unhappy that he would have to do the work himself, Angel tapped Fluttershy on the shoulder gently.

 

Barely moving the pegasus looked through her pink hair at the direction of the tap, her normally bright blue eyes looking dreadfully pale. Shadow could trace her vision as she looked to Angel and then noticed him standing in the doorway. She raised her head quickly, still hiding behind her long pink locks, and looked between Shadow and Angel.

 

Angel did the same, looking between Shadow and Fluttershy. He felt his work was done but clearly the ponies were going to be difficult. Angel waved at Shadow and then pointed to a plate of food on Fluttershy's bedside table. Shadow thought Angle meant to say he was hungry and frowned at him but Angel quickly shook his head and pointed to Fluttershy, indicating the food was hers.

 

Shadow felt lost for a moment before the wheels in his head began to turn. Fluttershy had not eaten recently and if it had been long enough to make Angel worry then surely it had been some time. Shadow stepped forward and hesitated.

 

"May I come in, Fluttershy?"

 

Shadow could barely see her nod in the darkness but he crossed the room and sat next to her on the bed.

 

Shadow thought for a long time about his words. He had just yelled at Applejack for worrying about him and now here he was worrying about Fluttershy. He told himself this was different. Where he chose to spend his free time was his choice, Fluttershy not eating was a serious issue. A carrot to the side of Shadow's head broke his concentration.

 

Angel seemed intent on getting her to eat sooner rather than later.

 

Shadow picked up the carrot with his magic and held it out in front of him, "Would you like something to eat?"

 

He could see her shake her head slowly and he felt his heart ache for her.

 

"Do you not want to eat because of what happened to Rainbow Dash?" His question had been intentionally blunt and her reaction showed it had had an impact.

 

Fluttershy perked her head up, her eyes meeting his for the first time since he entered the room. Her voice was nearly inaudible over the sound of the rain hitting the windows, "Ever since Rainbow... Since she... I just haven't been hungry. I don't want to eat."

 

Shadow understood all too well. "I know what you're feeling, but you have to eat. If you don't, we could lose you too, Fluttershy," he placed a hoof on hers to emphasize his point. "You know Rainbow wouldn't want you leaving us because of her."

 

Fluttershy nodded, and Shadow could see her tears already welling up. She reached for the carrot and took a small bite before leaning into Shadow. Sobbing gently against him, they sat in silence, save the rain pounding against the glass.

 

After a time, Shadow finally spoke up. "Fluttershy?"

 

"Hmm?"

 

"I miss Rainbow Dash."

 

"Me too." She sighed deeply.

 

"But you know what?"

 

"Hmm?"

 

"I'm going to make sure I live a rich full life before I see her again. Because if we have eternity to spend with each other then I'll need some stories to tell her." Shadow smiled at his own words. They had been sincere enough, and he hoped to did get to spend an eternity with her.

 

Fluttershy pulled away from Shadow and sat upright on her bed, wiping away a few remaining tears, "I don't have any stories to tell her though. She knows me too well."

 

Shadow stroked her cheek and wiped away a final tear, "That's where your friends come in. Go see them. Make sure you're all still having fun so you can tell Rainbow about it one day. I'm going to keep working so I can tell her about all of my cases."

 

At this point Shadow was only half lying. He would have to keep working so he could keep eating but he expected Rainbow would be watching each one closely. Or so he hoped.

 

Fluttershy's eyes wandered down to the half eaten carrot still in her hoof. She nodded slowly before taking a large bite out of it.

 

"Can I ask you something, 'Shy?"

 

"Mhmm."

 

"Do you keep your house this clean?" He hoped a simple topic would calm her.

 

"Usually, yes. I'm just glad I was able to clean up the mess I made."

 

"What mess? The first floor looked spotless."

 

Fluttershy looked embarrassed by her story, "It's spotless now but.. Last week I got kind of.. Angry."

 

"Why did you get so angry?"

 

"It was the weather."

 

Shadow furrowed his brow. "The weather? But the weather last week was beautiful. We even had a rainbow after one of the quick showers."

 

"That's just it. I saw the nice weather and I saw the rainbow and, all at once, I just got angry. Why would it be so nice out this soon after her death? Why would the weather team make a rainbow when they all know what happened? And I just broke some things."

 

Shadow nodded slightly. He'd lost a good chair and a few potted plants to his own anger. He hadn't expected a similar reaction from Fluttershy but he did understand it.

 

"Can I ask you something, Shadow?" She asked, swallowing the last of her carrot.

 

"Anything." Shadow smiled at her.

 

"What would you do to bring her back?" She asked the question with no hesitation and locked her eyes on his own.

 

Shadow's eyes spoke volumes. They were suddenly large and shifted slightly from Fluttershy to the window being pelted with rain.

 

The question had disturbed him more than he thought because he could almost sense the line of questions that would follow his answer. After steadying his resolve, he spoke.

 

"Anything."

 

"What if it took the rest of your life?

 

"Anything."

 

"What if there was only a slim chance it would work?"

 

"It's a chance I would have to take."

 

"What if you had to kill for it?"

 

"I've killed before."

 

"What if you had to kill me?"

 

This was a question Shadow had not expected, and his gaze locked onto hers once more as he pondered the question.

 

Could he really kill her for Rainbow Dash? He'd killed to protect her before but this was different. True, his own pain would be gone, but he would bring his love back only to have her mourn a similar loss. It wouldn't be fair. But she would have him. And he would have her. That would be the difference.

 

The more he tried to justify it, the more he couldn't. He shook his head at her. "No, I couldn't, Fluttershy."

 

"Why not?"

 

Another simple question Shadow found himself struggling to answer.

 

"I just.. couldn't. I miss Dash but I couldn't do that to you. Or to her."

 

Fluttershy nodded as if that was the answer she had expected to hear.

 

"I think I'd like to be alone now, Shadow."

 

Shadow turned gently toward her on the bed, "Are you sure you're okay?"

 

Fluttershy placed a hoof on Shadow's and smiled the smallest smile she ever had before. "Yes, Shadow. I'll be fine. Because I have friends like you to help me through." Without hesitating she leaned in and kissed him on the cheek, bringing a blush to both their faces.

 

Shadow smiled and patted her hoof gently. "No. You have friends like Twilight and Rarity. I'm just the old fool of a stallion that happens to come by when you really need him."

 

Shadow elicited the faintest of giggles from her and knew she would be fine. Perhaps not immediately, but soon enough, she would be back to her old self.