At the End of the Tunnel

The days following my sojourn in Canterlot were not particularly pleasant. Every corner of my life seemed to be off balance. All facets of my being seemed shaky.

My most recent nightmare had affected me more than any one previous. And despite what Luna and Fluttershy had said, my subconscious feasted on the implications. The scenes that had been played before my eyes, and the haunting words which echoed through my soul had cracked my psyche.

At home, I wouldn't let Fluttershy out of my sight. In fact I did as much as possible to not let her leave my grasp, as if every hug, kiss, or nuzzle might be my last. In bed, I would hold her and pet her like I always did, while she would reciprocate with her affections. But beyond that,  I would shower her with words, from 'I love you's' to complimenting every part of her being to sweet nothings whispered in a volume that did not reach beyond her ears. I would go on and on, babbling words with no cadence or reason to them, just to say them in case I never got the chance to say them again.

The first night back in Ponyville, Fluttershy fell asleep to my words and ministrations. But I barely noticed. My mouth ran non-stop until morning. Naturally, my love was worried about my lack of rest, particularly since I was going to return to work.

Going to work was a different monster. The first issue was the act of separating from Fluttershy. Our kiss when I finally did leave lasted twice as long as normal. Even the walk into town was a challenge, as I looked back every few steps to make sure the cottage was still there. Fluttershy, the beautiful soul she is, stood in the open doorway of her house and kept smiling until we lost sight of each other.

Time Turner, for his part, was very happy to see me. Between being injured and my aforementioned trip, we hadn't worked together in nearly a month. At first, I was glad to be back as well, as I figured having something to concentrate on would do me good.

However, it didn't exactly go without a hitch. Turner asked me to continue work on Golden Harvest's clock, so that I didn't need to stress over deadlines or the sort. In my absence, work on the old timepiece had actually gotten quite a bit along. The body was completely put together, as well as the basic cogs. The only difficult part left was setting the face back and making sure everything worked properly.

The work was slow and methodical. This was on purpose, partly because something like this required precision, and partly because I was not in the mood to do anything quickly.

Unfortunately, while one part of my brain was focused on the task, it allowed another part to play games. Every few minutes, and only for a second, my vision would fill with the image of something painful. One time it was Kirsten holding a crowbar, another moment it was of the empty room from my most recent nightmare. With each of these moments, my body would suddenly jerk or spasm, bringing me back to full reality. Time Turner must have seen this happen, but either thought nothing of it, or decided not to ask.

It had only been an hour or so when Ditzy came in with some mail. During her visit, a particularly nasty feeling crossed my psyche. Instead of an image, a sharp pain shot up my spine, as if I had been hit by a baseball bat. This caused me to sit up straight, stiff as a board. Ditzy immediately asked if something was wrong. In reply, I stood up from my workbench and turned toward the couple. It was at this point that I felt a single tear glide down my cheek.

Ditzy immediately moved over to me and threw her forelegs around my waist in a hug. In order to reciprocate properly, I went down to a knee. While the pegasus attempted comfort through her means, Time Turner decided to go with his preferred method: words.

"Guy," he began with slight hesitation as he chose his words, "is something bothering you?"

My vision passed between the pegasus latched around my neck and the Earth pony who was addressing me. Silence fell over the shop as the two of them patiently waited for a reply. I was half-tempted to lie, to tell them that everything was fine. However, if I had learned anything about mental health in the time I had spent in Equestria, it was that keeping my emotions inside was unhealthy.

"Yes," the word escaped my lips as nary more than a whisper, but it was heard nonetheless.

"Tell us what's wrong," Ditzy asked from her position beside my head, "Please?"

It did not take long to acquiesce to her request. The next few minutes were spent summarizing my most recent nightmare scenario to the pair, as well as the painful memory flashes which had plagued my mind all morning.

By the end of my recount, Ditzy has stepped away from me, concern gracing her facial features, while Time Turner looked thoughtful. I had taken a seat on the ground, and must have looked quite glum.

"S-Sorry," I uttered pathetically, my head having buried itself in my knees.

The touch of a hoof on my shoulder finally caused me to look up. It was Time Turner, wearing a determined expression.

"You don't have to apologize," he said, patting my shoulder, "It is not your fault."

"I know," my voice dropping back to a whisper, "But what do I do?"

"For now," my boss continued, "you go home to Fluttershy."

I looked him in the eyes, "But..."

"No buts," he said firmly, "Go home and be with Fluttershy. Don't worry about work. In fact, don't worry about anything. It is unethical to burden you with other concerns when you are injured. This injury is no different than broken ribs, except that you cannot see these wounds. And I don't want to see you working until you are healed. Understood?"

My head turned a bit to meet the stallion's eyes. Meanwhile, I felt a water come to my own. Without warning, I reached out and gave him a hug. While not the hugging type, Time Turner still patted me on the back. It did not take long for Ditzy to come over and make it a three-way hug.

Eventually, I released my pony companions, stood up and made for the door. But not without a 'thank you' to both of them for being so understanding.

For the second time that morning, I made the journey between town and home. For it being as cold as it was, there were many ponies out and about. At one point, I even saw the Crusaders and some of the other school foals playing in the snow.

When I reached the cottage, I entered without fanfare or warning. Fluttershy was not directly in my field of view, but I knew that she was not used to ponies simply entering her home unless they were close friends. The wait was not long, as the pegasus soon descended the stairs and entered the living room.

"Guy," she asked, "What are you doing home so soon?"

Instead of answering immediately, I took the few steps necessary to close the distance between us. In one motion, I picked Fluttershy up and held her against me, laying my face into her mane.

It was a minute or so before I answered her original question and explained what was going on. Fluttershy, of course, was concerned, but she also made it known that she would not deny the mutual comfort that came from holding each other. To that end, I moved to sit on the couch, the pegasus still in my arms.

For a time,  we sat there, enjoying each other's company and body heat. We also discussed the visions I had and what they could mean. Fluttershy was quick to suggest that I seek Luna's opinion on the matter, which I was in agreement with.

The two of us spent the rest of the day together, and I was perfectly fine the entire time. There were no visions, no strange sensations, and no tears. At one point, I even suggested going back to work tomorrow, but Fluttershy was against it. She repeated the exact words Time Turner had used about my health, and she was adamant that we spend the next day out with friends.

When evening rolled around, Fluttershy made it a point to get me to bed early in the hope that I would catch up from what I had missed the previous night. Of course, she settled down as well, and we assumed our usual sleeping positions. However, after a half-hour of cuddling and petting, I was no more tired than I had been.

"Would you like me to sing to you," Fluttershy asked, and while at first, I was tempted to laugh, a look down to my lover showed that she was serious.

"Do you think it would help," I replied, making a special point to scratch her ear.

"Yes, I know a great lullaby. Besides," she whispered, closing her eyes and getting as comfortable as possible, "you like my singing."

That I did. So I smiled and laid my head back to relax my neck, closed my eyes, and waited for an angelic tune to reach my ears. Fortunately, Fluttershy didn't make me wait.

Hush now, quiet now,

It's time to lay your sleepy head.

Hush now, quiet now,

It's time to go to bed.

It was like the Sandman of lore had buried me in his signature material. Within seconds, my mind, body, and soul melted into the bed and I escaped the conscious plane.

Drift, drift, off to sleep.

Exciting day behind you.

Drift, drift off to sleep.

Let you joy of dreamland find you.

Hush now, quiet now,

It's time to lay your sleepy head.

Hush now, quiet now,

It's time to go to bed.

********************************

A simple grassy hill, upon which stood a lone shade tree which I leaned back against to enjoy the dreamscape. However, something was missing. My mind focused on manipulating my subconscious, as I searched and strained in an attempt to bring Fluttershy into my dream. But after several minutes of this, I gave up. Instead, I did something far easier, bringing to life thousands of buttercups all across the hill and field. Their coloration reminded me of her fur.

"'Tis a beautiful scene thou hast painted," a familiar and welcomed voice stated from beside me.

"Thanks, Luna," I turned my head to confirm that the alicorn was indeed present, sitting on her haunches.

"We are glad to see that it is peaceful as well."

I smirked at my companion, "If it's so peaceful, what are you doing here?"

"We were worried about thee," Luna answered honestly, returning my gaze and looking into my soul at the same time, "Since thy nightmare in Canterlot, we have not felt thy subconscious in the dream realm."

"That's because I haven't slept."

"Pray tell, why?"

"Just didn't want to," I answered bluntly, assuming that the response was obvious, "Didn't want to have another nightmare."

"And yet thou slumber now. What has changed?"

I turned my head back to view the setting I had created, "Fluttershy sung me to sleep. She's very worried about me."

"We do not doubt that."

"I'm lucky to have her," I smiled, looking back at Luna, "I wish she could be with me right now."

"Shared dreams are a very difficult state to achieve," Luna mused, "To accomplish it takes either great control or great magic."

"Not enough to just be connected to someone on an emotional level?"

"That never hurts," she glanced in my direction, "Thou does not like being apart from her, do thee?"

"No, I don't. I've barely let her out of my sight since we came home. Almost feels like she would disappear. I know that sounds foolish and illogical, but lately my mind has not been working rationally."

"It is not our place to question thy thought processes. On the contrary, We hope to understand thy emotions. Tell us, does fair Fluttershy improve thy state of being?"

"Of course she does," I answered, again wondering why Luna would ask such an obvious question, "She makes the pain go away. Today did not start out well. I wasn't even able to do my job properly. Then I went home, back to Fluttershy, and she healed me. She cares that I'm hurting and she does everything in her power to make me feel better."

The conversation lulled for a moment after this. However, I soon caught myself chuckling at a new thought.

"Pray tell, what is so humorous," Luna asked, confused.

"I was just thinking," I chuckled again, "Fluttershy is one of the most gentle, docile, shy, timid creatures on this planet, and yet she tries to protect me. She is brave enough to ask me about my problems, and she is kind enough to help me work through them. I can only hope that if the need every arose that I would be able to do the same for her."

"Mentally or physically," Luna smirked.

"Either," I replied, "I've already had my ribs broken defending her, what's a few more?"

"Let us hope it never comes to that."

Immediately after saying that, Luna cocked her head to one side, her expression one of a pony deep in thought.

"Something on your mind, princess?"

She smiled, "We believe that We can once again be of service to thee. As much as We enjoy our duty to banish nightmares, the fewer of them there are, the better."

"What do you have in mind?"

"It will take some time. Hopefully, thy shall receive it before Hearth's Warming. Call it an early wedding present."

"Uh, Luna," I chuckled again, "We're not quite there yet."

"Do not attempt to deny that this is thy dream," Luna responded, trying her best to sound serious, "Besides, We believe it is in thy best interests to make fair Fluttershy's dreams come true as well."

At first, I smiled. And then the implication of what Luna said hit me like a sack of apples.

"Luna, are you insinuating..."

But I never got to finish. Luna lit her horn, and before I knew what was happening, I found myself awake in bed with Fluttershy. My eyes immediately shifted to the peagsus, who was thankfully still sound asleep and curled up in my arms. Noting that it was slightly too early to be awake, I tightened my grip around my love, who cooed in approval. Nestling back into the pillow, I wondered what Fluttershy was dreaming about and what Luna had planned.

**********************

For the time being, I did not tell Fluttershy anything about my dream, simply saying that I had slept well. And sleep well I did, as night after night she soothed me into slumber.

The last day of the week happened to be Hearth's Warming, the Equestrian winter holiday. Thanks to Twilight, I had learned that this was not a winter solstice holiday, but in fact was a celebration of the founding of Equestria. Needless to say, my explanation of Christmas made Twilight ask if I was sure magic didn't exist in my old world, as the idea of a fat man riding in a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer sounded like magic to her.

For Hearth's Warming, there was to be a gathering at Sweet Apple Acres. The guest list consisted of the core Apple family, the Elements, the other two member of the CMC, Spike, and myself.

As it happened, Fluttershy and I arrived to the farm last. After being tackle-hugged by Pinkie and almost knocked down a second time by the CMC, Granny Smith called for dinner.

Dinner was highly informal, as there were not enough chairs for everyone. In the spirit, I took the floor, leaning my back against the leg of the living room couch. The three fillies and Spike took up the majority of the living room rug for themselves. Rarity and Fluttershy laid claim to the couch. Rainbow was content sitting in Granny Smith's rocking chair. Big Mac, Applejack, Granny Smith, and Twilight sat at the normal kitchen table which was still in view of the living room.

Of course, despite it arriving at the same time of year, Hearth's Warming is very different than Christmas. For one, it's not a consumer holiday. People are told on Earth that Christmas is about giving and receiving, mostly of expensive presents. And while there is a gift-giving part of Hearth's Warming, that's not the end-all-be-all, which was good for me as I am terrible at buying gifts.

No, Hearth's Warming is about bringing ponies together in friendship and harmony. And, as Applejack pointed out during her toast, having an alicorn, two unicorns, three pegasi, five Earth ponies, a dragon, and an alien break bread together is quite a show of kinsmanship.

For the record, everyone got a good chuckle out of AJ calling me an "alien", myself included.

The evening flew by. After dinner and dessert, then more dessert, we all gathered to play some games. At this time, we all learned a valuable lesson: Pinkie is the Lord of Charades, and to question her domain is to question whether you value your life. Seriously, it is unfathomable to me how that mare is able to stretch the bounds of physics and anatomy, sometimes at the same time.

All good things must come to an end, however, and after a few hours, the CMC and Spike began to nod off. As the three fillies were going to be spending the night there anyway, AJ and Rarity shuffled them off to bed. Spike tried to fight it off, and even protested for a time, until he basically fell asleep on his feet and would have smacked hardwood if Twilight hadn't caught him.

We all took that as a signal to call it a night, and one by one we bade the Apple family good night. Rarity and Twilight trotted off, Spike snoring on the latter's back. Pinkie bounced away, almost seeming more energetic then at the beginning. Rainbow soared toward her home. Lastly, Fluttershy and I began our trek to our abode.

When we passed the gate to the apple farm, I scooped Fluttershy off the ground and into my arms. My pegasus made an adorable little squeak as I did. As I continued to walk, I looked down upon the mare in my grasp, wondering if she had any comment for my actions. She did not give a vocal reply, but instead used body language, as she blushed and nestled her head into my chest. I smiled and kissed the top of her head, making her blush more.

By the time we reached the familiar cottage, Fluttershy had completely relaxed. She was so relaxed that she barely moved when we came inside out of the cold. For a moment, I thought she had actually fallen asleep, but then she did stir in order to look up and smile at me.

"Ready for bed," she asked sleepily.

"Yeah," I nodded, "You?"

A small yawn escaped her, "Mhmm, you go upstairs, I'll be right there."

I gently placed Fluttershy on the floor and trudged up the stairs to our bedroom. While changing into a pair of sweatpants, I wondered briefly when our new bed would arrive. Pushing the thought aside, I slipped into bed and made myself comfortable under the covers and quilt.

I must have been more tired then I thought, as I nearly fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. However, I fought it off for the time being, at least until my bedmate got there.

Fortunately, I didn't have to wait long as Fluttershy glided into the room and wasted little time burrowing under the covers and cuddling against me in her typical fashion. For a moment, I thought I felt a shiver come from my love, so I instinctively wrapped my arms tighter around her.

"Happy Hearth's Warming," Fluttershy mumbled so quietly I barely made it out, "I love you."

I sighed and held her just a bit tighter, "I love you too. Happy Hearth's Warming."