Lost and Found

The Morning After

Nopony went without crying that day. News of Twilight's death spread fast, a raging wildfire that could only be stopped by burning itself out. By noon, the entirety of Ponyville knew. By the end of the day, almost all of Equestria. Like Rain's love had left Fluttershy with nothing, this storm of depression, of sadness, left Equestria itself in a state of mourning and loss. Even the regal Princesses were spotted crying, and could barely hold it together as they tried to encourage their subjects that things would be alright. All heard, none believed.

Like Joy had done with Fluttershy, it was now Fluttershy's job to help Spike. For Fluttershy, it was like looking into some twisted mirror. In Spike, she saw herself when she had craved death like a child craves candy. It was horrifying. Spike was lethargic, unwilling to do anything but just sit and fume and cry. It was all any of them (Fluttershy, Joy, and Pinkie) could do to keep Spike away from the knives. Or really from anything that he could severely hurt himself with. It was truly a mess. Twilight was dead. Spike was suicidal. Pinkie had gone silent. Rain was still out there, and Fluttershy knew Twilight wasn't going to be the first. The only pony who kept Fluttershy's hopes up was Joy, but even he had lost his warm smile, his glowing eyes.

And right in the middle of it, Fluttershy sat helpless. Helpless to do anything but watch as her life slowly began to tear apart once more.

One Week After Twilight's Death

"Hello Fluttershy.", Rain said, his voice calm. Fluttershy could only look up at him. "This has been a long time coming, hasn't it?"

"I...just...I don't want anypony else hurt."

"So what happens to your precious little Joy? I fully expect that after this, you will never want to let me go."

"I'll do anything to make sure you don't destroy what I hold sacred, even if it means selling my body to you." Rain's grin grew wider, and he approached Fluttershy. Without warning, she threw herself upon him, and locked their lips. She once again felt that explosion of heat deep in her body. She loathed this feeling. Yet, loathing it did not stop the moan coming out of her mouth as legitimate pleasure swept through her body, something else she loathed. Rain broke the kiss.

"Excited are we now?" His grin became almost sadistic. He moved quickly and methodically. Fluttershy screamed in agony as she became impure.

"You know you like it Fluttershy." Fluttershy only cried out as he shifted. "Can't you talk? Huh, Fluttershy? Don't you have a mouth that is useful for more than just making noise, Fluttershy?"

"Fluttershy? Can you say something, Fluttershy? Fluttershy!?", Rain's voice melting away, changing into Joy's as Fluttershy realized she was dreaming.

Even though she knew the dream was over, that everything was fine, Fluttershy couldn't help but let out another scream when her eyes snapped open. Openly sobbing and choking on tears, she buried her head into Joy's chest. The fact that it was night and Joy was once again hidden by darkness didn't matter. Fluttershy's own eyes were squeezed shut.

"Fluttershy, what's wrong? Are you okay?", Joy asked, worried about his "more than a friend". Fluttershy could barely even shake her head. Joy sighed sadly, and wrapped his hooves tighter around Fluttershy. He slowly ran one of his hooves through her mane and down her neck, caressing her gently and soothingly. "It's alright...shhh...shhh..."

"I don't want him...I don't want him...", Fluttershy whispered.

"It was just a nightmare, Fluttershy. I'm here...it'll be alright..." Slowly, Fluttershy's head moved to look at Joy. Their eyes met, and both of them once again felt the connection that kept them together.

"HE...HE's everywhere Joy...in my dreams, in darkness. I just don't want him to exist."

"Well, I have a feeling that he is going to exist for some time. All we can really do is wait this out."

"I feel like I am stuck."

"What?"

"I feel like I am stuck in place, like a bug in amber. I have all this going on around , but there is nothing I can do. I don't want to die stuck in this mess." Joy couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"Fluttershy, don't think about things like that. Think about now. Understand that there is nothing we can do to stop what has happened, like it or not. Yes, life doesn't always play nice, but think about ourselves. We're not mistake free. We try to cheat our way around the tough things in life. We disrespect others at one point or another, deny it or not. Life is just a game. No matter how fairly you play, life can still cheat away your chances of winning."

"And what would winning be?" Joy was silent as he thought. When he spoke, his voice was quiet.

"Winning would be having friends...growing old...living life to its fullest...falling in love, true love...dying without a regret or a grudge..." Fluttershy knew there was one thing she would regret if she kept holding her self in. Joy seemed to be thinking the same thing. "Fluttershy, you help me everyday win at life. It might be cheating, but I need you more than I would have ever thought I would need anypony else." Fluttershy couldn't help it anymore. Without a second though, her lips met Joy's. They kissed for an eternity, only thinking of each other.

"I love you Joy. There's just no point in denying it anymore." Joy smiled and kissed Fluttershy's forehead, before putting their heads together.

"Fluttershy, I think it is safe to say that I love you too." Fluttershy closed her eyes and let those words sink in. It had been nearly a month since she had heard those words said to her. Now she was hearing them again. She wanted to be scared, scarred forever by Rain, but it took only a second for her to push that all away. Joy was different. Joy was real, true. Joy was hers to keep. She was Joy's to keep. Nothing could break their bond. Nothing.