Rainbow Dash flew over the forest, very fast and back and forth, frantically searching for Fluttershy, her mind going even faster, filling her with catastrophic and horrible ideas about what could be happening to Fluttershy, she could feel the tears building up and blurring her vision little by little, brushing them aside with her hooves.
In a moment the pegasus glimpsed movement in her peripheral vision, turning to glimpse the outskirts of the two sisters' castle from above, fleetingly noticing a silhouette crawling through the dirt, it took her a moment to realize that it was Fluttershy, without her bandages and with her fur recovered, the pegasus was so confused that for a second she thought she was hallucinating, but there was no doubt once she saw her friend walking towards the cave of the ancient enclosure of the tree of harmony.

For an instant Rainbow considered the idea of going, flying right then and there and stopping her friend in whatever she was doing, but she surprised herself by running headlong into a wall of fear and uncertainty, not only because of the idea of what she might encounter if she decided to face it alone, but also because she didn't know what Fluttershy would be able to do in her current state.

Faced with this the pegasus decided to turn around and look for the rest of her friends, she already knew where her friend was, so she would bring all the help she could, speeding up so much and so fast that a faint rumble echoed throughout the forest.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Angel was beyond words, he was unable to define what it was he felt, it was as if all his emotions were mixed in a silent typhoon, but he could taste a mixture of deep relief and overwhelming terror, the direct sight of Fluttershy's reflection in front of him both hoped and disturbed him.

It took him an agonizing minute to convince himself that this wasn't just another nightmare, checking his breathing and feeling his heartbeat, it was all real, it was happening, he really was going to be able to fix all of this.

“Flu.....Fluttershy...” he finally said as a hoarse, choked whisper.

“Yes Angel, I'm glad you came...” the smile on Fluttershy's face remained unchanging, her gaze was a mixture of nostalgia and melancholy that Angel could feel it digging into him ”And I also know why you're here...”

“I...I...” He couldn't say anything, no matter how hard he tried, for a second Angel seemed to remember what it was like to be a voiceless rabbit.

“And I see you're bringing your old body...” continued Fluttershy seeing the corpse's head sticking out between the feathers ”That may have been something extreme, but I understand that desperation didn't let you think...”

Angel, not knowing why, began to laugh, at first as a simple hiss to himself but soon found himself laughing out loud uncontrollably, despite this Fluttershy didn't denote any gesture of concern or intrigue, waiting patiently for Angel's neurotic outburst to end.
Oddly enough it was this very outburst that allowed Angel to finally break free from the physical block he was feeling, finally managing to form coherent words.

“HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! sorry HAHAHA!!!.....I'm sorry, it's just...HAHAHA! you're here, I can't believe you're really here...” Angel took a couple of steps forward, letting himself be illuminated by the dim glow given off by the disembodied apparition “I hehe..for a second I thought I had lost my mind haha!...but you're real, not just a delirium brought on by pain..... you don't know the relief I feel...”

At that moment Angel could notice how Fluttershy's smile seemed to wane just for a second, which made him nervous, the fragile relief and joy he felt threatened to shatter like a single piece of glass, which inevitably made him ask hurriedly.

“What...what's wrong...if you're really here aren't you? You came back to help me didn't you...?”

Fluttershy was silent for a moment, increasing Angel's tension, searching for the right words.

“Yes Angel...” she finally answered ”Yes I am here, though not quite me, and yes, I have come to help you, but the quality of that help will depend entirely on you...”

“What?” Angel began to tremble ”What do you mean, what do you mean, what do you mean you're not quite you, what do you mean you can't give me quality help, no! NO! NO! NO!!! you have to help me, that's why you're here, you must help me!”

Fluttershy seemed to ignore the rising desperation in Angel's voice as she resumed her speaking, silencing his frantic ravings.

“I am as bewildered as you are, but, such it seems, when I died that day, part of my spirit was drawn to this place, to the roots that once glowed with the strength of the elements of harmony...”

“But...why, how?” interrupted Angel.

“The element of kindness sensed my fear, my anguish, for leaving everyone behind, for abandoning everything I built, and more importantly, my concern for you...”

Angel began to regain hope, if that was true, then his wish to fix everything could be a reality, everything could go back to how it was before, yes possibly Fluttershy on her return would have some explaining to do, but everything quickly resume its natural course, and more importantly, he would no longer have to endure and face this torment.

“However...” suddenly said Fluttershy, interrupting Angel's thoughts ”There is no magic powerful enough on this earth to preserve the souls of the departed, whatever the remnant of my element did, I only keep an echo, a shadow, the mere memory of a wish too ephemeral and too strong...”

“That...what does that mean?” she asked again, trying to keep her composure.

Fluttershy again took a moment to answer.

“I don't have much time left Angel, I used much of the magic of this place just to be able to bring you here, now my existence on this plane hangs by a thread, it's only a matter of time before I fade away like snow when spring comes...”

“But...but, you said you were going to help me that's why you brought me here isn't it, so you could go back to your body and return me to mine...” Angel stretched his wings forward, holding the rabbit's body right in front of Fluttershy, in a pleading gesture “You can fix this can't you?”

Due to the movement the carcass had already started to fall apart, one of its hind legs had detached and the stomachs had split open revealing half-decomposed guts and entrails, to Angel's horror Fluttershy gently shook her head.

“I'm so sorry Angel, but as I told you, there is no power or magic in this world that can preserve a life already lost...”

“THEN HOW THE FUCK ARE YOU GOING TO HELP ME!” Angel exploded in rage, yet Fluttershy didn't flinch “YOU SAID YOU WOULD HELP ME, YOU WOULD FIX IT!!!”

“What I said, was that I would give you my help, but that help depended entirely on your cooperation...”

“AND WHAT THE FUCK DOES THAT MEAN?!” Angel threw the little corpse angrily against the ground, it burst and scattered everywhere, staining the ground with dried blood ”YOU JUST BROUGHT ME HERE TO MOCK ME!!! YOU JUST WANT TO MOCK MY FUCKING MISERY!!! YOU'RE JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, YOU FUCKING BITCH, YOU'RE NOT EVEN THE REAL FLUTTERSHY!!!”

“ANGEL!”

The voice echoed and made the whole cave shudder, sending an icy pang through Angel's body, he could feel how his blood seemed to turn to ice, for the first time, since he had been trapped in that body, someone stood up to him.

“What are you saying, how dare you even hint at something like that!” Fluttershy's voice was firm, but it didn't reflect any kind of anger or fury behind “After everything you've been through, and the people you've hurt, you still dare to yell at me, as if you can still demand something from me!”

Angel just froze, unable to look away, though for a second he seemed to perceive the illumination of the cave dimming, giving way to the overwhelming darkness, suddenly the cold feeling dissipated and the brightness returned to normal after a moment of silence Fluttershy let out a sigh, closing her eyes for a moment.

“You..you don't even deserve to be helped, even when you had a chance to make things right, you just lied and were cruel to everyone...”

“They...” began Angel as he again felt his voice returning ” They are to blame! They weren't able to see the loss they had suffered, they acted like it was nothing!”

“And how exactly would I know what they had lost if you never told them?” interrupted Fluttershy, making Angel hesitate and stutter in his answer.

“I uh...I didn't.... them They acted like my death didn't matter to them, to them I was just a stupid rabbit, they were more concerned with how you felt than mourning me!”

“They were worried about me because they believed I was still alive, they were worried because they knew you meant a lot to me, again I'm telling you, if you expected a reaction more in line with how you felt why didn't you tell them?”

“I...I.... They wouldn't have believed me!”

“And why not? I'm sure if they went to Zecora she could have clarified what happened...”

“That's another one, the damn zebra, she's to blame for all this, she gave us that fucking potion...!”

“An option we both requested, we were both looking for a better way to understand each other...”

“Yeah but ....She didn't tell us we'd switch bodies!”

“No, she didn't, but she didn't need to, we both understood what had happened instantly, what was left was up to us, and you decided to be irresponsible and selfish...”

“And if you knew that why the hell didn't you stop me!”

“I had your body Angel, I was small, weak, helpless to the world around me, a feeling you were supposed to understand properly How exactly did you want me to stop you?”

“I...I don't know, you, you went to see Zecora why didn't you ask her to fix it?”

“She couldn't understand me Angel, no one could, she was trapped, just like you are now...” Fluttershy paused, her look suddenly reflected a deep distress and a slight touch of helplessness before continuing “I was so scared, I didn't know the limits of my new body and by the time I knew something was wrong, it was too late Do you have any idea, the panic and pain I experienced? I died, Angel, I was torn from this reality abruptly and prematurely, agonizing and unable to scream for help...”

“I...I didn't want that to happen, I...I just wanted to teach you a lesson, I wanted you to see how horrible my life was without your care, without the life of luxury I deserved...” Angel saw an opportunity and was emboldened again, raising his voice “You had forgotten me! You cast me aside for filthy, stupid zoo animals! I accepted you having more pets when it was just your cabin because the wretches used to return to the filthy forest when they no longer needed you, but a sanctuary, those fuckers took advantage and took you away from me!”

“Is that really what you think?”

“Yes I do believe that, and I don't care what crap you say, the mistake was yours not mine, for trusting that zebra for having those stupid friends, for getting involved with a jerk who turns the sky into cotton candy, for having such mediocre parents and leading a life so full of responsibilities when the only thing you should care about was me! ME AND ONLY ME YOU HEAR ME, NOTHING ELSE IN THIS LIFE SHOULD HAVE MATTERED MORE TO YOU THAN ME, BUT YOU WANTED MORE, YOU WANTED TO ASPIRE TO GREATNESS WHEN YOU DIDN'T DESERVE IT, YOU WERE JUST A COWARDLY OPPORTUNIST WHO THOUGHT SHE WAS BETTER JUST FOR HANGING OUT WITH PONIES WHO WERE WORTH IT, YOU WERE MINE, YOU WERE MINE, ONLY MINE AND THEY ALL JUST TOOK YOU AWAY FROM ME!”

There was silence for a long moment, Angel gasped catching his breath at the uneasy look of Fluttershy, who seemed extremely disturbed by the profligate profanity coming from the host of her former body, she let out another sigh and, to Angel's surprise, the faint glimmer of a tear fell down Fluttershy's transparent face, immediately applying Angel's blind fury which changed his face to one of disbelief.

“Angel...I'm sorry...” She paused as he was suddenly extremely confused “I never realized all the damage I was doing to you by spoiling you like that, it's just that, you were my first pet, my first friend, before anyone else, you were there when I barely managed to get out of bed, when I could barely make myself noticed...”

“What?” she asked as a whisper.

“I guess I thought that if I didn't take enough care of you, you'd get away from me...” said Fluttershy, more to herself than to Angel ”I never thought that could make you bad, yes you got a little fussy but I figured that could be changed with time, I thought I could teach you to be better.... but I think I just got used to it...it wasn't until my life and perspective expanded that I realized how unhealthy it was for both of us, I think that's why I distanced myself over time, but you're right, I should have been direct and told you instead of just ignoring it and waiting for you to accept it...”

Angel suddenly felt bewildered, he was expecting something, anything to contradict him, for Fluttershy to give rise to an argument with screaming and yelling, instead, before him he could see the stoic attitude of his caretaker deteriorating, filling with tears and turning her head to cover herself, it took him a long moment to finally pull himself together,take a step closer and speak doubtfully.

“Fluttershy...” he extended a hoof, in an attempt to wipe the tears from the pegasus' face, but it did nothing but pass through as if there was nothing there, only for the next moment the light emitting from the crystal flower to dim just a little.

The projection looked up slightly at the gesture, giving a new look, now of deep sadness.

“Angel...” she said as she stood firmly before him again ”We're running out of time...”

“What, no! No! Wait, there must be a way to fix this, I...I, I can find the princesses or Discord, they can save you! They can bring you back, I don't care if I...”

“Angel...” interrupted Fluttershy ”I'm gone, there's nothing left to save...”

“Then why did you bring me back!!! why did you say you could help me? If you can't come back then how are you going to help me?”

“I brought you here to help you yes, with something you've been struggling with since my death, something that has haunted you day and night, and that, if you don't resolve, will haunt you for the rest of your, now, new life...your guilt.”

Angel felt as if the whole weight of the world was falling on him, he felt his hooves weak and his lungs empty, sweat began to bead on his fur and his eyes widened enormously.

“What, guilt, me?...I, no, I don't, I don't know what you're talking about, none of this is my fault...”

“Angel don't you see? You may have lost me, but that, instead of limiting the time you have left forever has put a wonderful opportunity in front of you...”

“What are you talking about?”

“You have my body Angel, the healthy body of a young mare, you are no longer a helpless rabbit trapped in the constraints of your simple existence, you have the chance to start over, a new life, wherever and however you want...”

“But...but what about your life? your responsibilities? your family and friends?...”

“My life is over Angel, you have no obligation to them...or to me...”

Angel didn't understand anything Why was this happening? Why was Fluttershy doing this to him? Was it all some kind of perverse game? What if it wasn't and he was being serious?

“But...they would have to know...”

“Yes Angel, you'll have some explaining to do, accept that, like me, you're partly to blame for what happened...”

He still refused to accept it, he tried to repeat the same thing over and over again in his mind, that he wasn't to blame, but with every word that came out of Fluttershy's mouth the more that facade fell.

“They will hate me...” he finally said.

“Yes, maybe they do, maybe they won't forgive you, but maybe they understand...”

“But, your body, it doesn't want me, it's been trying to expel me ever since I arrived...”

“Are you sure about that?”

Angel gave a very deep confused and distressed look, at the same time noticing that the twinge in his chest and headache were slowly returning.

“My body has no will of its own Angel, it's just a shell, I think, the reason for your discomfort, is more because you don't feel worthy to inhabit my body, deep down, deep down in your soul, behind all that anger, there is a deep wound, full of sadness and regret...” Fluttershy paused, feeling how the magic that keeps her attached to this world was fading, looking carefully at Angel's confused face and reflecting before continuing “Angel, please don't get confused, it is not my intention to make you feel you have the obligation to live, after all, it is your life and you are free to do with it what you wish, I know you have suffered, and I won't lie to you, if you decide to stay here, the suffering and pain will continue to accompany you, maybe forever, of that I have no doubt.... and yet, I firmly believe that if you try, you can find a way to face it, overcome it and live...”

Angel had begun to shed tears uncontrollably, he wanted to return to the anger, he wanted to let the anger push the sadness away, but it didn't come, there was no relief, just, and after so long, he allowed himself to feel.

“But...but...” he finally said ”Why would I have to live? What would be my purpose?”

“I'm sorry, that's for you to find out, I just hope that when you do...” Fluttershy gave him her beautiful smile again “That purpose will give you reason to smile...”

At that moment, and to Angel's horror, Fluttershy's silhouette began to fade, little by little and even at an accelerated pace.

“What? No, No No! What's wrong?”

“Time's up...” said Fluttershy in a distant, intermittent voice.

“No! No! No! No! Wait!” Angel stretched towards Fluttershy, trying to grab her with his hooves but they, again, went back through the ”Don't go please! Stay with me! It wasn't true all that I said, it WASN'T TRUE! I'm proud of the life you've built, how happy and radiant you've become, the friendships you've made and the love you've found! I'm sorry I was a burden, I'm sorry I was cruel to you, I'm sorry I made you feel like you were nothing! Take this body back, I don't care if I have to die in return, I don't care, you deserve this life more than I do, you deserve to walk again, to fly, to laugh, to smile...!” Angel sobbed uncontrollably, he couldn't breathe properly or do anything, he just watched helplessly as Fluttershy's silhouette became just a dull blur in the air, the crystal flower contracted back to the ground, withering away as the last vestiges of magic disappeared “Please...I need you, it wasn't true what I said, you don't belong to me...I belong to you...”

“Angel...” a muffled whisper was heard ”You are a wonderful creature, go and live a good life...”

And at these last words, the light in the cave went out.

Author's Note

What's left is up to you.