Chapter the Twenty-Sixth: The Eve of Departure

Kai lay down on his mattress in Fluttershy's living room. The excitement of the day had worn him out, and he was quite exhausted. He was looking forward to a long night's rest, though his giddiness threatened to keep him up.

"That was actually quite something, Kai," congratulated Usu, taking his place on the couch. "I can't believe you actually flew today."

"I know," chuckled Kai. His smile had not left his face. "I can hardly believe it myself. After all these years..."

"I hate to spoil the mood, Kai, but are you really going straight to bed?" Fluttershy stood in the archway leading to the dining area. "I mean, you're all covered in sweat, and you haven't washed in quite some time. Shouldn't you have a bath first?"

"It's a little late in the day to visit the spa, isn't it?"

She shook her head. "I have a tub upstairs. I know your wounds are closed by now, so there's no need to shy away from the soap."

Kai sniffed at himself. "I suppose you're right."

"Of course I am. I'll go start it up for you." She turned and made her way up the stairs.

When Kai heard the door shut, he turned back to Usu. "So, now that I've done this, I think it's time for me to leave."

"Leave? Where do you plan to go?"

"Well, Canterlot for starters. After that, I have no idea."

"Come on, Kai. You need to put more thought into it than that. You need to find a spot to be."

"Well, I'll probably go back to the castle. Mayhaps I'll find a job here in Ponyville, or Whinnyapolis. Make enough money to pay back all of the debts I've accrued here in town. Then gather together enough to either travel around and see the world, or just enough to settle down."

"Well, if you do settle down someplace, give me a call. I actually am a licensed locksmith, I can make any house a thief's worst nightmare."

"And how did you obtain the knowledge to do so?"

Usu smiled. "I found flaws in locks. Every time I find an issue that can be exploited, I find a way to keep it from happening."

A door opened upstairs and Fluttershy descended the stairs. "Your bath is ready, Kai."

Kai stood up and bowed to her. "Thank you very much, miss Fluttershy."

She blushed as Kai ascended the stairs. She turned to Usu. "Kai can fly now," she said, sitting in a nearby chair. "If he hadn't already released me, I guess now would be the time."

"Your agreement was that he would release you when he could fly?"

She nodded. "When he first said that, I dreaded that this day would never come. But now it has."

"It certainly has."

"So now that I'm free of his service, he said he would release you into my care. I would be the one to decide your fate."

"Are you going to turn me in? Be rid of me?"

She shook her head. "You can stay until Kai leaves. If you do, I want you to take good care of him on his journey, wherever it takes him. I'll not hold you to that, it's just a request."

"I'll see him as far as Canterlot."

"Canterlot?"

"He promised you that he would go see our mother, yes?"

She nodded.

"He's going to hold to that promise. He plans to leave soon."

She looked up. "How soon?"

"He didn't say. I'd wager tomorrow, though."

Kai dried himself off. He had almost fallen asleep in the bath. The water had been the most comforting temperature. As he started back down the stairs, he was stopped by Fluttershy.

"Are you really planning on leaving tomorrow?"

He nodded. "Tomorrow morning, yes. I'm indebted to you, and I'd be a very poor guest if I were to overstay my welcome."

"I suppose I did tell you to go see your mother when we were finished."

Kai nodded.

"In that case, I have something I wanted to do for you. Come with me."

He followed her to her bedroom. "You don't have to offer me gifts, Fluttershy. You've already given me everything I've ever wanted. I already owe you so very much."

Fluttershy responded by crawling into her bed. "I know you enjoyed sharing a bed with me back in the castle. In truth, I kinda liked it, too. Now, with a proper bed, proper pillows and a proper blanket, I'd like for you to share a bed with me one more time."

She had been putting off this night since they had moved into her cottage. She had hoped that by the time she gathered up the courage, Kai would have better control of his wings. She didn't want him to damage her bedspread with his metal feathers. But she had run out of time. He was leaving tomorrow.

She patted the mattress next to her. "Join me, won't you?"

Kai walked around to the other side of the bed. Pulling back the covers, he slipped in between the sheets. He wrapped his legs around her midsection and settled in. It was quite comfortable.

Her hooves wriggled around his waist and up his back. She gently stroked at the scars where his flesh had mended back together around his new appendages. She pressed her face against his chest. Gone was the musty smell he used to emanate. He now smelled of lilac and sage. "I'll miss you when you're gone," she said, holding him close.

"As I, you," he said, tucking her head under his chin. He hadn't the nose to name the rosemary and lavender scents, but he did enjoy the scent of her hair nonetheless. "I'm so glad to have found you. Do you remember when I first came in here? I was so bitter and full of anger."

"Look at what you've become since," she smiled, nuzzling his neck. "Would the Kai from that night hold me so gently as this?" Her back legs became intertwined with his.

He gently kissed her forehead. "Even if I had never taken flight, I am truly a better pony for having met you." He gazed into her eyes. "You mean the world to me, Fluttershy. If there is ever anything I can do for you, you needn't hesitate to ask."

Grabbing hold of him, she rolled onto her back so that he was straddling her. Her hoof caressed his cheek, guiding his face down close to hers. When they touched, their lips parted, and the two shared a deep, passionate kiss.

Author's Note

The next chapter is sexually explicit. If you don't want to read about Kai's gross, deformed genitals, skip it. You've been warned.