Broken Butterfly

Chapter 1 – From Under The Covers

The night was beautiful. The inky black sky was alight with twinkling stars to numerous to count. The moon was her favourite feature though. Maybe it was because it had been her home for so many years, it's lonely beauty never ever ceased to amaze Luna every time she made it rise in the sky. She paused in her flight to appreciate her moon and survey her handiwork. Flaring her magic just slightly she made it shine ever brighter, lighting up the cloudless night sky for a moment almost as bright as the day.

"Why shouldn't I indulge myself?"  the Princess of the Night thought to herself with a wry smile.

Presently she had enough of congratulating herself and turned her attention back to the task. There would be plenty of time for lounging around later, right now she had a special job to do. Scanning about the small town below her Luna spied her destination, a small cottage in the very outskirts, a good distance away from other houses. Folding her powerful wings she descended, her thoughts wandering to the soul who called the cottage home. Luna knew her of course, more by reputation and her deeds than anything else, an oversight she was determined to rectify.

Flapping her wings at the last moment, Luna arrested her descent into a perfect landing, standing just outside Fluttershy's modest house. Luna allowed herself a smile as she thought about the sleeping woman inside. A bigger contradiction Luna had still to meet. Fluttershy was at once the shyest, timid, reserved woman in all Equestria while also being one of the most determined, forthright and forceful woman when the situation called for it. Scared of thunder? check. Scared of her own shadow? check. Stare down a dragon? Check. Tame a manticore? Check. Reform Discord? Check, check and triple check. Luna had to admit, Fluttershy was impressive, and not many people ever impressed her. It didn't surprise her in the slightest that she was the bearer of the Element of Kindness. A more fitting role didn't exist in the world.

Now though, it was Luna who would be administering some kindness of her own. It had been three weeks since the death of Rainbow Dash. Fluttershy had been with Dash for just over two years, and it was just over six months ago that Dash had had her accident in the race that left her crippled and which had ultimately lead to her premature death. Fluttershy had married Dash the day before, Luna remembered the wedding was beautiful, simply beautiful. She had been there that day to bear witness, not only to Fluttershy and Rainbow’s happiness but also to her own sense of grief that someone else had beat her to Fluttershy's affections. Since the funeral though Fluttershy was not coping that well. Sure she made a show of being ok to her friends, the other Element bearers, but she couldn't hide in her dreams. And to Luna, dreams were as accessible as an open door to an unguarded room.

Luna alone saw the torment that Fluttershy endured each and every night. The poor woman was so fearful of the recurring nightmares she did everything she could to fend off the inevitable sleep. No matter what though sleep always overcame her, and so to would the nightmares. Every night she relived the race and the crash, blamed herself for making it happen, every night she tortured herself with Rainbows dead form taunting her.

Well no more. Luna would see to that.

Luna recalled that Nightmare Night a couple of years past when a very scared Fluttershy had attempted (and succeeded, to a degree) to teach Luna to speak more softly in an effort to fit in to modern society. Now it was time to repay the favour. Luna may not be able to remove the nightmare altogether but she could enter the dreamscape and make it more bearable. She owed Fluttershy this much.

Standing perfectly still Luna concentrated hard, laying the groundwork for her magic. Reaching out with her mind she sought out Fluttershy's unconscious mind, homing in on it like a shining beacon. With a burst of willpower Luna allowed her astral self to enter the dreamscape. Within a matter of moments she found Fluttershy's nightmare. Prodding slightly as to not be noticed Luna disguised herself as a male Pegasus in the race, one behind Rainbow Dash.

Luna flew along, she could tell the moment was at hand. The Rainboom had erupted from Dash "damn that's impressive" thought Luna, in spite of herself. Now she had lost control, she was crashing to the ground, there was the sickening impact, the shocked silence. Now she saw Fluttershy come gliding down from the VIP box to check on Rainbow. Luna hung back in the crowd around the fallen Pegasus, quietly working her magic. She knew the nightmare would kick in any second, could feel Fluttershy's agitation grow as she subtlety moulded the dreamscape. Shy had landed, scant feet from Rainbow. This was Luna’s moment. Smiling to herself, she released waves of invisible magic over Rainbow’s body.

Fluttershy landed near her fallen love, making her way to Rainbow's immobile body. She stopped suddenly, noticing Rainbow start to move. Familiar terror threatened to overwhelm her as Rainbow slowly stood up, her back to Fluts. Shy found herself unable to move, she knew this bit, knew what was coming next. She mustered the energy for the scream she knew she’d be uttering in a few seconds.

Rainbow turned to face Fluttershy, she was ready for it, she began the long rehearsed scream. It died on her lips almost instantly. Rainbow was whole, it was impossible, Shy couldn't believe it, Rainbow walked over to Fluts, flashing her that cocky grin.

Wait, thought the sun coloured Pegasus, this is wrong……Isn't this wrong? It doesn't feel wrong but, Fluttershy was confused, she should be screaming, but she wasn't, she was smiling at her Dashie.

Dashie. The athletic cyan Pegasus was standing in front of Shy now, whole, unbloodied, as if the crash had never happened. Fluttershy held up her hand and was surprised when Rainbow took it in her own.

“But, Dashie you're dead, aren't you?” The foolish question left Shys lips before she could stop it.

Rainbow didn't answer at first, she simply embraced her girlfriend, wrapping her arms and wings around a totally stunned Fluttershy, pulling her in close as she kissed her full on the mouth, lips meeting with a soft pressure, her tongue pushed slightly at her mouth, asking permission to enter. Shy gave it immediately, surrendering herself to the kiss. After what felt like an eternity Dash released the kiss, gazing intently at Fluttershy.

Luna pumped more of her magic towards the dream couple, further altering the events to her liking.

“Yeah Fluts, you know I’m dead, you helped bury me remember?”

Rainbow held her hands as she started to panic. Calming her with a touch.

“It's ok, really. I meant what I said before I passed, that Sonic Rainboom was just for you sweetheart. You always gave me that extra push I needed, you were always there to support and encourage me.”

“B, but t, that means I killed you!” Shy burst into tears. To her surprise Rainbow laughed gently in her ear.

“No Fluts you didn’t kill me. All you did was love me. That Rainboom, that was me in that instant loving you. With all my heart I loved you when I saw you in the crowd. Hold onto that and remember me, loving you.”

“You don't hate me?” Shy asked in a small voice.

“Fluttershy I love you, I could never hate you, not ever.”  Rainbow kissed her again before continuing, “We’re apart now, you have to be strong for me, for us. We’ll be together again soon, so very soon my love.”

“I don't want you to go………”

“I have to, but I won't leave you. I'll always be with you, and we’ll be together again you’ll see. So very soon, sooner than you think.”

Satisfied with her nights work, Luna left the dreamscape.

Fluttershy woke with a start, the dream fresh in her mind. She was confused at first. Every other night for three weeks she’d awoken from the recurring nightmare bathed in her sweat and quaking in terror. This was different. She remembered seeing the crash, flying down to Dashie lying there in the dirt, and then, and then, things had changed. The dream was different somehow, she tried hard to recall it. Dashie was different. Before she had been a creature born of the darkest horror, this time she was just her Dashie.

Her Dashie. That was it! Her Dashie had found her way back to her, had told her it wasn't her fault, she didn't blame her for what had happened. More importantly Dash had told her she still loved her, and that they'd be together again soon. Her Dashie was waiting for her! For the first time in weeks Shy had a smile on her face as she lay back down on the bed and snuggled herself under her covers and went back to a very peaceful sleep.

Outside the cottage Luna took a moment to collect herself. Entering another's dreams always drained her magic a little, and she’d spent more time and more power in this particular dream than most, it had required significant effort to mould the dreamscape to her will this time. However she was confident it had been worth it. Silently she flapped her wings, raising herself to the level of Fluttershy's bedroom window. Magically she moved the curtains ever so slightly, enough to get a peek at the soundly sleeping woman in her bed, the gorgeous pink hair showing from under the covers. Luna could swear she heard Shy’s gentle snores through the window.

Placing a hand on the glass Luna wished her a peaceful sleep, confident that in time this broken butterfly would mend her wings and fly once more.

Flapping her wings a few times Luna soared skyward leaving the cottage behind her to land cross legged on a cloud. Now she could really enjoy the night, reclining on the cloud she thought about the future, her future to be exact, a future she saw herself sharing with a certain butter yellow Pegasus not a thousand miles away.

"You're being foolish Luna," she told herself, "she’d never go for you." Luna fought back the loneliness in her heart as she took flight once more, sharing elegantly through her night sky back to Canterlot castle. "Maybe Fluttershy wouldn't go for me, doesn't mean I can't make her happy."

Back in her cottage, Fluttershy dreamed a new dream, one where she and Dashie were together again. She held her Dashie in her arms as they both looked down on Fluttershy's own funeral procession, then they both smiled together and flew off to whatever awaited them, sure that whatever it was, they'd face it together.

From under the covers, Fluttershy smiled in her sleep, happy at last.