Fluttershy waved her goodbye's to Twilight and started to head off, her hooves sinking in the snow every step. She trotted through the barren Ponyville as snow gently fell and rose half up her hooves. She hummed happily and tucked Angel into her saddlebag, waving at passing ponies on their ways to the ice rink. She headed the opposite way to Everfree forest to return to her cottage and get the chickens inside.
~~~
Fluttershy grunted as she pushed through the snow that went pass her hooves. She whispered that it was okay to Angel as she pulled her scarf up. She turned back. They were too far to turn around. She shook her head solemnly. Fluttershy listened to the howling wind past her ears.
She opened her saddlebag and whispered, "Are you okay, Angel?"
The rabbit nodded, but looked freezing. She smiled and pushed away a large tree branch. Her hooves stung with cold. She squinted. The animals have the fireplace ready... she thought. Fluttershy felt a tear stream down her face as she felt the bottom of her hooves numb away from her control. She looked up ahead of her. All she saw was a snow frenzy past her face. She reassured herself it was all going to be okay, and shook her head. She can't give up.
~~~
"It's okay, Angel," the yellow pegasus wailed as she scooped him up with her hoof, tears streaming from her face. The snow flowed up to ankles. The sky was just a white flurry. Fluttershy was blinded by the storm of lace. She pushed on through the snow, her scarf pulled tight above her mouth.
She had Angel in her saddlebag. Angel made his chipping noise and tucked his head deep inside. Fluttershy had to get to her cottage more than anything. The snow storm could kill her chickens... Oh, the poor chickens, cold in their coop! She has to get home now! She'll warm up by the fire, and cuddle...
Fluttershy felt her legs start to freeze. Her heart was slowing. No, no. Not now. She collapsed finally and felt the snow reach her sides. Angel hopped out instantly and pushed Fluttershy.
I can't feel my legs... I'm no more.. she thought, as she wept, her tears turning into icicles as they dripped off her face. She looked up to the sky, then back to Angel. Angel's life started to fade. The cold was too much for him. But it didn't matter now, as long as she was with him as she passed.
"Angel," she sighed, as she stared into his black eyes. "If I don't make it-" Angel tucked into her stomach and pushed her up with all his might. Fluttershy dropped her head onto the snow, her chin dry and her body numb.
"Stop.." she whined. Angel averted his eyes to her and pulled away. He tucked into her side, his eyes beady and gleaming with tears. He tucked his head into her cold fur, chirping his sorrow. Fluttershy gently closed her eyes. She sighed in and let the chill flow over her body. Angel finally gave in. He was cold and stiff, his body frozen to death. Fluttershy was officially numbed, but she could still have tears drip. She gradually turned her head to look at Angel, and cleared her throat as she wrapped her forearm around him. Her eyes were now gleaming bright. It was hard to see through tears, but she managed to sing:
"Hush now, quiet now
It's time to lay your sleepy head
Hush now, quiet now
It's time to go to bed."
