DEPLOY THE SMOOTH JAZZ! *jazz music comes on* Ah much better. Welcome back my dearest friends to another chapter of Nocturne. . This chapter will be more focused on Fluttershy since the last couple of chapters were based around Dusk. Woohoo this story is at 80 reviews hooray! Thank you all so much for reading and it makes me happy that there are still those who enjoy my story ^^. In other news I'm actually updating in less than a week, crazy huh? Well honestly can't think of anything else to say. Ah well still don't own MLP but that's not the priority here is it? Well let's get to it!
Nocturne
Chapter 26: Cloudy Skies
That day on the edge of the Everfree forest was an average one, a cool breeze blowing across the rolling hills that dotted the grassy plane. Fluttershy hummed as she flitted through her yard with a small hummingbird at her side. At the time Fluttershy was alone, Dusk was at the cafe but now that Fluttershy thought about it he said he would have been back around this time. Fluttershy smiled happy to know that Dusk would be home, for a moment she thought back to all the times she had just been content being here alone with the animals. The Pegasus giggled thinking how much falling in love can change somepony her laughter getting even louder while she thought how embarrassing that would have sounded to her only a little less than a year ago. Once her laughter had faded she heard a faint sound in the distance her ears perking up hoping it would have been hoofsteps down the dirt path near her home. However Fluttershy's excitement soon turned to curiosity when the sound was revealed to be the sound of flapping wings getting ever-closer. Fluttershy made her way to the front of the cottage and saw a familiar grey shape flying through the air and smiled. Since Dusk had gotten his job she had come to the cafe much more often and since then she had become acquainted with a certain mail mare. Fluttershy had grown to like Ditzy the grey pegasus was a very nice pony not to mention smarter then others made her out to be. Sure she had some quirks but that didn't make Ditzy any less of a pony.
Ditzy touched down on the ground in front of Fluttershy "Hi Fluttershy got some mail here for you!" she said in a chipper voice.
Fluttershy gave Ditzy an appreciative look "Thank you very much." she said softly taking a carefully folded envelope from Ditzy. But before Fluttershy opened it she remembered something "Oh did you see Dusk on your way here?" she asked a bit anxious to see her coltfriend even if it hadn't been that long of a time since he'd left. Ditzy gave Fluttershy a knowing smile while the cream colored pegasus just blushed.
Ditzy giggled "Don't worry I saw Dusk on the way here I'm sure he'll be by soon." she said in an effort to cheer up Fluttershy. Fluttershy smiled back at Ditzy and gave her a slight hug, Ditzy beamed before once again spreading her wings and lifting off the ground. "Well duty calls and there is mail to be delivered, bye Fluttershy!" Ditzy shouted before flying away accidentally bumping into a tree in the nearby "I meant to do that!" she said loudly before once again flying in the direction of Ponyville. Fluttershy felt a smile on her face at the quirky actions of her new found friend before once again turning her attention to the letter in her hooves. Fluttershy stepped inside the house and took a seat on her couch and turned over the letter. As her eyes scrolled across the writing she couldn't help but feel as if she had seen it before, it was obviously addressed to her but she couldn't put her hoof on who could have written it.
Fluttershy dismissed it and slowly opened the envelope pulling out the letter and began to read it. However as she continued she began to tremble, disbelief registering in her eyes. "No that's impossible." she said shakily, it had been years since she had seen him there was no way he could have just come here out of the blue. Yet as she kept reading she had finally recognized the writing as his after so many years it had stayed relatively the same but part of her still didn't believe it. Fluttershy had begun to cry her sniffles becoming audible in the house as she set the letter down on a table nearby so not to wet the paper. However as tears trickled down Fluttershy's cheeks a knock at the door broke the silence. Fluttershy looked up and panicked, if it was Dusk she would hate for him to worry once he saw her so she tried her best to wipe away her tears and took a deep breath. Fluttershy opened the door with a large smile "Welcome home." she said happily.
At first Dusk returned the expression but with a closer look he noticed Fluttershy's eyes were rimmed red and he could tell almost instantly something was wrong. "Are you okay?" he asked with concern.
Fluttershy shook her head vigorously "Oh I'm fine you don't have to worry." she said with a forced smile. Suddenly Dusk's expression turned from worry to outright sadness and at first Fluttershy didn't understand but she then felt a wet sensation on her cheeks and wiped at them with a hoof to see tears, she had started crying and hadn't even noticed. For a moment neither of the two made a move but Dusk soon wrapped his arms around the slight figured pegasus, Fluttershy soon began to sob and shake holding on tightly as Dusk rocked her back and forth reassuring her and whispering softly that everything would be okay. Dusk slowly led Fluttershy inside and sat down on the couch with her letting her have a moment to calm down and just gather herself.
Dusk sighed and looked at Fluttershy in a well-meaning manner "If you want to you can talk to me about it if that will help." he said hesitantly not wanting to hurt her more by saying too much.
Fluttershy gave Dusk a weak smile before leaning on him "Yeah that would be nice." she said quietly. Dusk wrapped an arm around Fluttershy and let her just rest next to him until she was ready to speak. It was a few minutes before Fluttershy finally gave Dusk a gentle squeeze and stood up walking over to the table where the letter lay. She slowly picked up the folded piece of paper with a trembling hoof losing her semblance of calm just thinking of who had written this letter. Fluttershy once again took a seat next to Dusk taking a breath as she started to shudder. Dusk cringed before pulling her tightly against him once more and as her shaking had begun to cease Dusk wondered what could drive his marefriend into such a state. Fluttershy looked up at Dusk and nuzzled him softly "Thank you." she said in a quiet whisper.
"I'll be right here." Dusk said meaning those words whole-heartedly.
Fluttershy felt truly blessed to have somepony that cared for her so much as to stay with her like this. Fluttershy steadied herself just a little bit before beginning "Well I got a letter today and it was from my... my brother." she whispered a twinge of sadness as she said it.
Dusk looked at Fluttershy in confusion "Brother?" he asked "But I never heard anything about him, Canary never mentioned him and neither have you." Dusk said , surprised by the new development.
Fluttershy sighed and looked out the window wistfully "Mom and Dad Don't like to talk about him much he left home a long time ago. To tell you how I feel I think I'll have to start from the begging, I mean if you want to." she said uncertainly.
Dusk gave Fluttershy a tender kiss on her forehead looking his marefriend in the eyes "I will always listen when you need me to." the seriousness of his statement evident in his voice.
Fluttershy gave Dusk a thankful smile before she began to relay her story "You know I wasn't always shy I was even a bit outgoing when I was growing up, but it was so long ago even before I met Rainbow Dash. The reason I had confidence then was because I was part of a pair. My big brother and I were inseparable he made me feel safe he was the pony who supported me and I thought that would last forever, I was wrong." she paused as sadness swept over her features. "My brother was a happy colt he was always smiling and joking around when I was with him I could act just like that, but that all changed when I was learning to fly. He took it upon himself to teach me, mom and dad always told him to be careful when he was helping me practice but he always blew it off saying he would be fine. One day when he was teaching me he gave me the courage to fly over the edge of Cloudsdale but he forgot to tell me not to look down the first lesson of open air flying. I looked below and was scared beyond belief after that I plummeted, he went after me but didn't catch me in time. I hit a cloud on the way down instead of the ground which practically saved my life. But clouds, as soft as they are, are still partially solid surfaces to us so when I hit it at the wrong angle I sprained a wing and twisted an ankle it was terrible really." Fluttershy trailed off a grimace on her face.
Dusk frowned before wrapping an arm around Fluttershy's shoulder trying to console her, Fluttershy once again looked at Dusk her eyes conveying how much that meant to her "Thank you." she said just resting her head in the crook of Dusk's arm. Fluttershy went silent for a while but Dusk didn't mind he would wait till she was ready to speak up once more, Fluttershy sighed before starting again. "Big brother carried me home as fast as he could panicking all the while. I never told you this but Dad is a doctor so I was in good hooves once we got home. However my parents were beyond furious that my brother hadn't listened, I never blamed him and I tried to make them give him some lenience but they wouldn't listen. After that I was confined to bed rest for weeks and dad waited on me wing and hoof, never once did I see my brother he avoided me at all costs and rarely left his room. A few days into my recovery I had heard something during the night and I hobbled out of my room to see my brother his saddlebag packed and walking towards the door. I asked what he was doing but he didn't say anything, he didn't have to. I figured it out in moments he was going to run away I begged him not to I pleaded and pressed him but he didn't even look at me. Finally when I had begun to cry he glanced over his shoulder at me stopping my cries dead. Something inside him had broken he wasn't the smiling joker that I had known his eyes were dead and lifeless filled with anger and sorrow, all he did was say a quick goodbye and with a beat of his wings he vanished." Fluttershy exclaimed as she gazed out the window wistfully tears brimming in her eyes.
"I started crying again just sitting on the floor of our house in the dark, mom and dad woke up and ran over to see what was wrong. I told them how he had left that he had flown off to Celestia knew where, in the days to come mom and dad looked everywhere asking friends and neighbors if they had seen him but nothing helped. Nopony was the same the house had become gloomy and it went like that for almost three months until suddenly we got a letter. He had written to us simply saying he had gone off somewhere not even giving specifics and saying to stop the search and he would be fine. My brother never said when he would come back or if he would ever that's all the letter said. I guess it was a comfort of sorts but things never truly went back to normal. Mom went off on tours much more often and Dad became much more soft spoken tending to his patients to keep his mind occupied, as for me all my confidence had vanished with my brother leaving me withdrawn and lonely. I had become afraid of flying but I tried my best knowing I would have to learn, I wasn't that good and even now I only use it occasionally. Later on I met Rainbow Dash and the others after a fall I found out about how nice it is down here and later on I would move down here. After that you know the story, but now my brother is back and he wants to meet all of us again and... I-I don't know w-what to think anymore, I'm scared to see him after so long." Fluttershy choked out as she started to shake again.
Dusk pulled the pegasus in for an embrace effectively silencing the mare's sobs as he rocked her back and forth "It's okay I'm right here you don't have to cry anymore." he said in a low voice as Fluttershy gratefully received the contact happy to have somepony listen and hold her. The two remained latched on to each other Dusk offering comfort that Fluttershy was glad to take.
Fluttershy sniffled "I'm scared I'm not even sure I should go." she whispered her eyes still bearing a hint of sadness and fear but they were washed away as Dusk tilted her chin up.
"You don't have to be afraid maybe he does have a reason to see you and I think you should, I'll be right here whenever you need me though." Dusk told Fluttershy softly before giving her a kiss. Fluttershy giggled wiping the tears from her eyes before kissing him back happy for the support he gave and the love they shared.
Fluttershy wiped her face some more clearing the blurry tears from her vision "He'll be here in one week and the meeting is in Cloudsdale, I wish you could come." she said glumly wishing there was a way for Dusk to accompany her.
Dusk touched Fluttershy's forehead with his "Whether I can come or not doesn't mean that I won't give you comfort or spend time with you when we are together." he said simply, smiling as he did. Fluttershy blushed a bit before nuzzling her coltfriend and snuggling closer to him, the day wore on and the two spent it all together. Once the moon graced the land with its pale visage and the two slept Fluttershy looked to the days ahead with fear and uncertainty but also hope, hope that she could meet the brother she had lost years ago and that Dusk would be with her and to support her.
The next week went by fast, faster than Fluttershy had expected them to go bringing the day closer all too soon. In the days that had gone by Dusk was gone most of them busy for a reason Fluttershy didn't know at times she missed him feeling a need for support but once Dusk got home the nights were filled with times of calm, walks through the night air songs flitting in the breeze and time well spent with one another that they would never give away.
In time Fluttershy did leave, she gathered a saddle bag and walked out the door staring into the open blue sky feeling of anxiety and anticipation all at once. Dusk had not been able to see her off still claiming he had his own work to do and wishing he could but it was something important. Fluttershy still wondered what it had been and was discouraged when she could not see him but she steeled herself knowing that what Dusk had been doing must have been important and she was beyond grateful for his company over the days. With a soft beat of her wings she ascended into the air flying in the familiar direction of her childhood home nestled in the clouds. She couldn't help but be reminded of that faithful day so many years ago the fall her brother disappearing and now his return how would this all play out it really was a lot to take in.
Fluttershy finally touched down on the plush white surface of Cloudsdale, the city hadn't changed much its large sprawling white architecture still dominated its area of the sky and rainbows dotted the many towers adding splashes of color and life to it. As Fluttershy looked at her birthplace she didn't notice the soft hoofsteps behind her until she felt a soft tap on her shoulder making her flinch out of surprise and turned around quickly only to find somepony here that she never expected to see in this place. "Dusk?" she said in bewilderment and joy as well before wrapping her arms around him. The pianist beamed hugging Fluttershy back, Fluttershy pulled back looking at him with confusion "But how did you get here?" she asked in wonderment seeing Dusk standing on the clouds with her felt almost surreal.
Dusk smiled softly "The business I've had over the week was me heading over to Twilight's the reason I never told you was because I was waiting to surprise you up here. I wanted to learn how to fly her hot air balloon and have her cast a cloud walking spell on me so I could be here with you when you needed me. It was a lot of hard work learning to fly one of those things and I barely made it up here with trying not to look down and almost making the balloon a huge ball of fire but it was well worth it." Dusk said with a hint of weariness but happiness as well looking at Fluttershy with eyes filled with adoration.
Fluttershy couldn't help herself and pulled Dusk into an even tighter hug far beyond grateful that he would go to these lengths to help her. "Thank you so much." Fluttershy said with an amount immeasurable gratitude and love. Dusk looked at the mare her visage framed in the unfiltered sunlight and now that he was here with her he knew that moments like these were worth anything and everything, he thought this with joy as he returned Fluttershy's affection.
For a time they stayed like this but eventually Fluttershy looked up at Dusk "I guess we should go to the meeting place..." Fluttershy trailed off her eyes still filled with uncertainty.
Dusk sighed, smiling softly before nuzzling his marefriend "Take as long as you like I'm sure your brother can wait, you deserve it." he said with a well-meaning look in his eyes. Fluttershy gave Dusk a light peck on the cheek and giggled making the pianist blush slightly before following Fluttershy to the aforementioned meeting place.
The couple soon made their way to a pavilion of sorts surrounded by cloud pillars with a large open roof that pegasi darted in and out of it a few sparing dusk some glances since it was uncommon to see an earth pony up here but most were too busy to notice themselves. Both Dusk and Fluttershy went 0over to a rainbow fountain that stood in the center of the pavilion and waited. As Fluttershy scanned the wide open sky she noticed a shape headed their way, squinting a bit to get a closer look Fluttershy blanched once she saw who it was.
As Fluttershy's brother got closer she found herself unable to stop herself from smiling sadly, how long had it been now? He looked so familiar to her the same coat and mane and his flying was still as captivating to her as ever. He drifted across the wind currents, it wasn't anything spectacular but it had a certain flair to it one she hadn't seen in some time. Dusk watched on himself as the pegasus touched down on the cloud layer his movements hesitant as if he didn't want to be here that he didn't want his hooves to touch the clouds. However the pegasus soon turned his attention to the fountain and smiled once he saw his sister and slowly made his way over. At first a smile was growing on Fluttershy's face but once her brother came close enough it faded, his eyes were not those of somepony who was happy they were hurting, desperate, and full of loathing and yet he merely kept smiling and in an instant that had become unsettling to Fluttershy.
"Sister it's so nice to see you again!" The pegasus said in a cheerful voice trying to pull in Fluttershy for a hug who merely flinched backwards at the look in his eyes. The pegasus stopped but didn't show any outward signs of emotion besides the bizarre smile still framed on his face just shrugging and turned to see Dusk. "Oh hello there my name is Luster it's a pleasure." he said offering a hoof.
Dusk tentatively took Luster's hoof and shook it, Luster's name fit him well his coat a shining gold his mane a pale silver and his eyes emerald green almost like a cache of treasure and yet Dusk could see the storm brewing in his eyes and why Fluttershy was so scared. "It's nice to meet you too." Dusk said quietly not sure what else to say besides this still glancing at Fluttershy with concern.
"So are you a friend of my sister's? It's quite rare to see an earth pony in a pegasus city." Luster said eyeing Dusk curiously with a fascination and almost a kind of hostility barely detectable but Dusk could feel it and drew back.
Dusk locked eyes with Fluttershy's brother "No, I'm more than her friend I'm her coltfriend to be precise." he said with a measure of confidence that stunned both Fluttershy and Luster. Dusk turned to look at Fluttershy his features softening as he nuzzled her making the mare feel a bit better to have somepony to help support her.
Luster on the other hoof wore a sickly sweet smile his emerald eyes becoming darker than poisoned swamp water and yet that expression refused to leave his face. "That's so sweet it's nice to see my dearest sister happy. So I wonder when our parents will make their way here?" he said trying to steer the coversation in another direction more suitable for his purposes.
While Dusk was watching Fluttershy he saw her hopefulness dim once more replaced by a look of sorrow "Why are you doing that?" she asked her voice beginning to waver.
"Pardon?" Luster exclaimed.
Fluttershy had begun to cry tears running down her face "Why won't you say my name why won't you say mom and dad? What happened to make you like this?" she pleaded seeing her brother after so many years only for him to have changed so much, becoming bitter the loathing pouring out of his emerald eyes. "Can you see yourself now? You keep on smiling acting polite and cheerful but your eyes can't lie we were brother and sister even after years I can still see when you're lying to me. On the inside you're angry and bitter, if you feel this way you didn't have to see me or Mom and Dad, so why did you come here!" her voice finally breaking as her sorrowful sea green eyes peered into ones of emerald filled with noxious feelings of desperation and loathing.
Luster and Dusk were shocked about the outburst but there reactions were as different as night and day. Dusk on one hoof pulled Fluttershy close and tried his best to comfort her, Luster on the other hoof was a different story altogether. It started as a chuckle really but it soon turned into laughter loud and slightly unstable as Luster cackled wildly twirling around a bit. Dusk and Fluttershy watched in horror, Fluttershy felt as if her heart was breaking was this really what her brother had become after his years of absence? However Dusk seethed on the inside, how could anypony put Fluttershy through this just what was going through Luster's head? But none of this would matter as soon Luster broke into a fit of coughing and was soon on the ground, despite earlier Fluttershy couldn't help herself and rushed over to her brother.
Luster covered his mouth with a hoof as he hacked and coughed and Fluttershy tried her best to help him patting his back beginning to distress, Dusk soon rushed over to Fluttershy's side attempting to help. Once Luster's coughing fit had stop he smirked in a twisted manner looking up at the couple "How sweet trying to help little old me. Well dear sister the reason I came here is quite simple, I'm dying." he said in a matter-of-fact voice taking away his from from over his mouth to reveal his golden coat stained red. Fluttershy's eyes were filled with terror mirroring Dusk's expression as well while Luster laughed even more. "Tick tock goes the clock, you better hurry if you want to save me Flutter." Luster said the last word with an ever present grin the nickname he used for his sister so many years ago only served to distress her more. Before falling unconscious Luster turned to his right and noticed the pony he had been waiting for had arrived and just in time his fogged mind filled with even more desperation and his smile for a moment wavered until he fell backward. Fluttershy and dusk noticed where luster had looked and glanced to see Fluttershy's parents, Canary and Zephyr, arrive both with looks of shock as they saw their son for the first time in years who was at the time was sprawled on the clouds in front of them.
Well there you have it a juicy cliff hanger for chapter 26. Honestly another spur of the moment idea and I changed the chapter then this happened, aren't I great at planning! Ah well whatever anyway, hate it liked it? If it's not to much of a bother leave a review it helps keep your unstable writer here keep some sort of pacing and helps me improve it only takes a second. Well that aside hoped you like the chapter and another chapter of the reading came out in my inexcusably long absence (sorry ^^') link as always right here! (/watch?v=H-irZfvAltg) honestly I don't think i'll be able to keep up with all the postings so if you wanna keep up please subscribe to Madgang/Nate Collins he's really a great guy an awesome editor and a helpful reader! Well hope you guys leave a review sorry if I've been bad at acknowledging it but I really appreciate you guys putting in time to read my story it makes me really happy, i never thought people would ever enjoy my writing and yet here I am all thanks to you guys ^^ If you have a song I'll try my best to get to it apologies to those i haven't used really sorry hope I didn't offend you guys you're all great! Well this is me Psychodrome wishing you all happy random day of March! Psychodrome awaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!
P.S Please review I'd be ever so grateful 38(
P.P.S glub glub