Author's Note

This was meant to be longer but it's been forever since I updated this that I decided to make this a shorter chapter meant to serve as a resolution to the previous chapter.

Chapter IV :: Aftermath

☀️

~~~~~
Applejack's House
3:00 AM
~~~~~

“Fluttershy?!” Applejack yelled as she lightly shook her. She looked over her body to see a couple blood splatters on her face, the exposed parts of her breasts, cleavage, and in her hair. “Let’s get you cleaned up,” she said as she helped her almost-limp girlfriend up.

Fluttershy seemed to be able to walk on her own as getting to the bathroom was easy. When they got into the bathroom and AJ helped her sit down on the toilet lid, Flutters slowly wrapped her arms around herself.

Applejack removed her sandals and helped Fluttershy out of hers. AJ then went to turn on the shower, running her hand through the water until it was cool enough.

“Alright,” The muscular woman sighed, reaching her hand out to gently take hold of Fluttershy’s arm. “Come on.”

Fluttershy hesitantly and shakily stood up, trying to reach behind her back to under her top. Seeing that she was having trouble concentrating, Applejack slowly walked up to her.

"Let me," AJ said gently, placing her hand on the woman's arm.

Fluttershy stopped trying and froze for a moment. She then lowered her arms, telling Applejack that it was okay. AJ smiled lightly and move behind. After she undid the top, she let the straps fall down over the girl's shoulders. Fluttershy let the top drop to the floor before she stepped into the shower. Applejack did her best to avert her gaze, but she also wanted to make sure her new girlfriend didn't slip. The shaken up girl kept her back to AJ as she let the water wash over her, before she slowly got to her knees.

Applejack knelt behind her and rested her arms on the edge of the tub. "Are you... better?" Fluttershy didn't reply. She only hugged herself. AJ sighed and reached out, gently rubbing the girl's right shoulder. "I'll be here for you. I'm not goin' anywhere." To her relief, she felt Fluttershy's hand on hers, not in an attempt to remove it but as a form of comfort.

~~~~~
Baltimare
~~~~~

Rainbow Dash and Celestia stood at the city’s entrance as they watched the horizon line.

“Looks clear,” Dash said.

A stallion came running up behind them, waving a piece of paper. “Your highness!”

Celestia quickly turned around to face him and held her hand out. “Word from my sister?”

“Yes,” the stallion answered, sounding concerned.

Celestia didn’t like the sound of that and hesitantly took the note. Reading it carefully, she let out a gasp. “They pushed the attack back, but... Twilight was shot?!”

"What?!" Rainbow exclaimed.

"Continue reading," the stallion suggested.

Celestia returned her gaze to the paper and sighed. "In the shoulder. She fainted from blood loss and is in recovery. A couple of the Royal Guard weren't so lucky."

"Damn..." Rainbow muttered, turning to look at the horizon line again. "We should strike back."

"We do not know where to look, Rainbow," Celestia pointed out. "And, wandering the Dayside without a destination or vehicle is suicide."

"Another update, your highness," the stallion said as he took a step forward. "It is currently 3:30 in the morning and we're due for a scheduled delivery from the border at 10."

Celestia sighed and rubbed her forehead. "Alright. Tell the Guard to get ready."

The stallion nodded and left. Rainbow watched him leave before looking at the worried-looking princess. She slowly reached out and rubbed the woman's shoulder. "I'm sure Twilight's fine. She's a tough one."

The princess smiled lightly and eyed her. "Yes... I am sure she is doing just fine, as well. Now, let us head to bed. We have that delivery to prepare for and we only have six-and-a-half hours."

"Right," the athletic girl agreed and started leaving.

"Rainbow Dash," Celestia suddenly said, making Rainbow screech to a halt and spin around. "Thank you. For today."

Dash smiled and nodded. "Anytime, princess," she said, before continuing her trek towards home.

🌑

~~~~~
Vanhoover
4:00 AM
~~~~~

Twilight's eyes slowly as she tried to sit up, a pain shooting from her side, making her yell in pain and fall back down. She realized she was in a bed and lifted the covers to see that she was in her bra and panties with a bandage wrapped around her waist. She then remembered what happened with the attack as the door to her room burst open.

"Twilight?!" Cadance gasped, closing the door and running over to the bed.

"Cadance?" Twilight asked, trying to sit up again.

The pink-haired woman placed her hand on Twilight's upper chest and gently held her down. "Try not to move. You were shot."

"I-I realize that," Twilight groaned. "But, what about everyone else? Are they okay?"

Cadance hesitated for a few seconds before letting out a sigh. "Well... a couple of our Guard was killed, but... everyone else is safe."

Twilight gasped and went wide-eyed. "Wh-What? So... So, we failed? I failed?"

"No no no," Cadance cooed, reaching her left hand around to rub the injured girl's right cheek. "No, you did outstanding."

"But, the guard..." Twilight began.

"The Guard devote their lives to the safety of the people," Cadance explained. "They would gladly give up their own life to keep us safe. Now, you? You took a bullet to ensure we didn't lose any more of them. If you hadn't helped keep that shield up for as long as you did, we would've lost more lives. Even after you were shot, you persevered. We're all very proud of you."

Twilight's eyes started to water as she sniffled. Nodding, she gave a small smile. "Thank you. But, what about the Guards?"

"We're holding a service for them once you're better," Cadance said with a smile. "We figured you'd want to be there."

Twilight nodded again. "I do."

The older woman leaned in to kiss her on the forehead. "Get some rest. Doctor says you should be good enough to walk tomorrow."

As she walked away, Twilight thought about something before resting her head on the pillow. "I thought about her."

Cadance stopped at the door, hand on the knob as she looked over at Twilight. "Celestia?"

Twilight nodded. "When I was bleeding out. I thought that... that was it. I was gonna die, and... I'd never get to see her. To tell her how I feel about her."

Cadance smiled lightly. "Well, you're alive. And, as soon as you're better, you can hitch a ride to the border."

Twilight smiled and closed her eyes. "Good night, Miss Cadenza."

Cadance stuck her tongue out before leaving.

☀️

~~~~~
Applejack's House
4:30 AM
~~~~~

Applejack and Fluttershy rested in the strong woman’s bed, the smaller girl huddled up to her muscular friend as Applejack held her tightly. Both were wearing a bra and panties from AJ’s closet. Fluttershy’s head rested on the breasts of her embracer, but neither cared.

“How ya feelin’?” AJ asked, breaking the silence. “I-I understand if you still don’t wanna talk, but… you can just nod if you’re…”

“I’m okay,” Fluttershy said softly, barely above a whisper.

Applejack smiled and nuzzled her head. “It’s nice to hear your voice again, sugarcube.”

“W-Was that necessary?” The soft-spoken woman asked. “What I did?”

AJ nodded. “You did what you had to. I’m sorry you had to go that far, but I’m also proud of you for stickin’ up for yerself. If you’d like, I could show you how to fight. So, you’ll be able to easily knock them out.”

Fluttershy lifted her head to look the fighter in the eyes. “I don’t want this. I don’t want to fight. You do what you have to, but I’m not doing that again.” She spoke clearly and firmly, yet her eyes were wet and red.

AJ sighed and reached a hand out to stroke Fluttershy’s cheek. “Sometimes, what we have to do isn’t what we wanna do. In this new world, we have to defend ourselves. I can show you how so you don’t have to kill. Just knock them out.” Fluttershy said nothing. "I just wanna know you'll be fine on yer own, is all."

"I see," Fluttershy said softly as her eyes slightly narrowed. "You don't think I can take care of myself. You think I'm weak, don't you?"

"No, I..." AJ gasped, before sighing. "I know you ain't the best fighter. I mean, if we were attacked again, and you were on your own, could you defend yourself?"

"I killed someone today," the pink-haired woman protested.

"Yeah, you did," AJ agreed. "And, then you froze. If it been another one of them that had come through that door..." She stopped for a moment, the thought of losing Fluttershy suddenly hitting her hard. "I-If I had been too late..." Her eyes started to tear up as she stared the girl in the eyes.

Fluttershy saw this and thought for a moment. "I-I'm sorry," she muttered, nuzzling AJ's cheek. "I've just seen myself as weak for so long, I can't even begin to imagine what being strong is like. A-And, you're right, I... I can't rely on you, or the others, all the time."

"So, you'll..." AJ started, rubbing the girl's back. "at least, think about it?"

Fluttershy placed her hand on AJ's abs, her fingers running along the muscle bumps, tracing them with a small smile. "I'll think about it." She then giggled. "Can you imagine me with muscles like these?"

AJ chuckled and nodded. "I'm sure you'd look very scary."

Fluttershy giggled again as the two hugged tightly. "Thank you, Applejack. For everything."

"You're welcome, sugarcube."