A Newly Hooded Road to Walk

"Silvershade, why does it always rain at funerals?"

"I don't know Flutters, the pegasi don't operate out here, so maybe there's something else out there that knows."

"There has to be right? even when it's sunny out, there's always rain at a funeral." A tear ran down Fluttershy's cheek.

"Very true," said Silvershade as he leaned over to hug a teared up Fluttershy, "we'll be alright, he taught us how to survive anything, and that's what we're going to do."

"I know, I know, but that doesn't make me miss him any less."

The assassins mournfully stood over the grave of their recently deceased master, Achillies. The funeral had ended only an hour ago, and everypony had left by now except for Fluttershy and Silvershade. There was a calm and gray sprinkling of rain dropping on the cemetery, making the pair hide under an umbrella.

"Have you read that pamphlet he gave you yet?" asked Silvershade, shifting his gaze from the grave to Fluttershy.

"No... should I read it?" asked Fluttershy, looking up to Silvershade.

"Well yeah, I don't see why not, and I bet Achilles would like to see your reaction. He said it was a gift."

"Yeah, that makes sense," said Fluttershy, her voice wavering from her previous crying.

She reached into her handbag and pulled out the pamphlet, then opened it to find about twenty contract forms.

"Contracts? how are contracts a gift?" asked Fluttershy confused by what Achilles motives might have been.

"I don't know... here let me see one of those," said Silvershade as he plucked a single form from the pamphlet, he then began to read it very closely.

Fluttershy looked to him waiting for an answer, "Well? did you find something yet?" questioned the mare impatiently.

"I think sooo, here! look at this," said Silvershade as he handed the form to Fluttershy, "other than the date, what is the same about all of these contracts?" he asked rhetorically.

"I-I don't know, they're all Templars?"

"No you idiot!" yelled Silvershade frustrated. He then pointed to a single line at the bottom of the page, just above where a signature belonged, "The location. They're all at the same place."

Fluttershy then read it, "Ponyville." She looked up to Silvershade with wide eyes, "Ponyville! I-I'm going back!" she squealed excitedly, however, after a moment of thought she hung her head in realization, "but I'll also be leaving."

Silvershade looked down at Fluttershy surprised, he had thought that this was what she had wanted for years now. However, he could understand her conflicted feelings, considering she's been at the brotherhood for so long. He knew he had to convince her to go, and he knew she wanted to, but the challenge was to make her think for herself for once. The little mare was still wallowing in thought under the umbrella, staring at Achilles' tombstone. Silvershade raised her chin, as he always did when Fluttershy was sad, and looked her in the eye, getting up close to where their muzzles were almost touching.

"If you want to stay because of me, then don't, I'll be alright without you for a while," said Silvershade calmly.

Fluttershy looked away slightly, trying to brake from his powerful gaze. "Well yeah I know, it's just I'm worried I'll be a little lost, and what if one of us gets hurt while we're separated."

"Hey, hey, hey," said Silvershade in a reassuring tone, "nothing's going to happen, to either of us, we've still got the brotherhood behind us and that's what matters. No matter where you go, you've got a family behind you, you'll be safe even without me around."

"I-I know, I just..."

"You're an assassin now Fluttershy, not an apprentice. I trained you to survive, and if I know anything about you, it's that you'll do exactly that," stated the Stallion sternly, looking her straight in the eye. "Can you promise me you'll have a little confidence while alone for once?"

"Y-yes, I can do that," said Fluttershy, giving a slight smile, "I'll miss you though..."

Silvershade simply rolled his eyes, he knew that with Fluttershy like this they were just going to keep going in circles, unless he did something drastic. "Ugh you little... you always do that," said Silvershade, acting frustrated, even though he thought it was kind of cute when she got all awkward and indecisive.

Fluttershy looked up confused, "d-do what? what did I do?"

"Your going make me do this aren't you?"

"No but I-I don't understand."

"Just answer me this: Are you still in doubt about leaving because of me? yes or no," stated Silvershade plainly.

Fluttershy had a conflicted look on her face, "um, uh oh I uh... yes?"

"UGH," sighed Silvershade.

"Well I mean I do want to go but I also don't a-and jus-" Fluttershy's rambling was suddenly interrupted by a deep kissing embrace from Silvershade, as he grabbed and held her tightly. At first Fluttershy was rigged and in shock from the unannounced fair of affection, but she soon realized what was happening and relaxed her body, putting her arms around him and closing her eyes. They held each other for a couple minutes before breaking off, but still held each other tightly. Fluttershy buried her snout in Silvershade's chest.

"Feel better?" asked Silvershade with a grin.

"Mmmhmm."

"Now are you going to go?"

"Mmmhmm, sure," said said Fluttershy calmly with a smile.

"Good."

"But on one condition," said Fluttershy sternly as she looked up.

"What now?"

"You have to come and visit me."

Silvershade gave a little chuckle, "Of course Fluttershy."

Fluttershy smiled and hugged the stallion again as Silvershade rested his chin on her head. They stood there like this for a while under the umbrella as the light drizzling rain petered out. Silvershade then put the umbrella away and shook it out as the dew settled in the grass, then looked to Fluttershy.

"When do you think you'll be leaving?"

Fluttershy looked at him with a surprised and conflicted face, "I-I don't really know, w-when should I?"

"Mmm, I don't know, soon."

"How soon?"

"how about, in couple days."

"What? Why?" asked Fluttershy, confused

"haha, so that you don't have enough time to think about it and change your mind."