Fluttershy really wanted to lay down. Her garden looked cozy. Comfy, even. Why not. Why not just lay there and do nothing for an eternity. A comely, pale pair of legs knelt beside her. Fluttergutter stared up at that dollish face. At her features rather reflective of the sun that shined down on them.

"... Miss Li? What are you doing here...?" She whispered, rolling about in the rich soil below.

"... I-I was just bringing you some roses. As thanks for everything, I guess. Lame present, I know. But you should stop lying in the dirt and maybe rest in bed. That's better for your ribs, right?"

Fluttershy blankly darted her eyes about before stumbling to her hooves. She guided her friend by shuffling into the living room and flopping about the nearest sofa. Her impact completely ruined the cushion placement and slid one over her neck. Along the sides of her barren neck were indents on the coat and one, reddened line. How utterly horrifying. Lilith noticed that the gaping hole was still present in her house. She took no time in carrying the pegasus upstairs. Into bed, she flopped. And nowhere did Lilith clop. Instead, her eyes snooped about as she sat on the opposing edge of her host's mattress. The many pillows accounted for a titanic amount of comfort. Along the few, wooden furnishings were topped with portraits of Fluttershy and... no one else. Just her. By herself. And if those peculiar portraits weren't just of her, they included torn spaces where other ponies would be.

Along the walls, pygmy dolls and similar, faceless mannequins were nailed or stapled up. A closer look revealed that the only mirror in Fluttershy's house, which came attached to a table, was painted over with black. Cherry lipstick was smeared against it, reading words that said 'happily ever after.' Those words were also crossed-out.

Lilith felt eyes on the back of her head. Slowly, she turned around.

The lump beneath the blankets was still present. Fluttershy was still asleep. She stepped carefully about the carpeted floor before watching the bed in exit. Finding what she did in that room gave second thoughts about staying. But it also gave her second thoughts about... staying pleasant friends. Fluttershy was not okay. Not by any stretch of the imagination. And that was why, maybe with a little faith and a little time, they could try to be friends.

A stir came from the bed behind her. As much as Lilith wanted to procure some sort of security, she'd have to settle for her belief in kindness. The mare stretched and went prone before yelping at Lilith's presence. Shit. Shit. Shit. Fluttershy trembled as she kicked the sheets away and scrambled out of bed.

"Wait...!" Called her friend, hushed as ever and reaching toward her.

A whine and whimper slipped away from trembling lips.

"Miss Fluttershy... I don't care what's in your room. Or what I should think. All I know is that you're alone. And that's not a good thing to be. So. So let me help. I don't have anywhere to go, either."

The words dug deep and hit home. Her passion struck a nerve no torture could inspire. It made her woozy and feel off-key. Nopony ever knew about who Fluttershy was beneath the smile. Beneath the sad kindness of a quiet mare with no one to come home to. Before she could numb herself again and pretend to be okay, Fluttershy looked up at someone she quite admired. For quite sometime, in fact.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. But I like being around you. Keep me safe... Nopony else will. They're all gone." She said, stumbling forward and falling into a their arms.

"Everyone was so happy... With you. With each other. And they had their family. But no one... no one had time for me."

Author's Note

Commendable romance. But we all know I'm a better match.