Chapter 9: Wings of an Angel

"I can't believe this sort of thing is still happening," Luna murmured from her spot on the couch. She was watching the news report, where a newscaster was describing an attack on an Equestrian neighborhood. "I thought my sister's work was getting somewhere…"

"You and Celestia are doing what you can," Tyr said. "Wish I was more help than just hired muscle…"

"Well, you are quite muscular," Luna murmured.

"Jeez Luna!" Sherry said, making a face.

"Oh, sorry dear."

Tyr smiled. The atmosphere in his home had changed a lot since Luna had moved in. Despite setting up a private room for her, Luna spent the majority of her time and slept in Tyr's room. It was almost like they were newlyweds. On top of that, Sherry was out for Christmas break. So he had both of his girls around almost all the time. "So where was it?" He asked.

"It was further out west. Although they say small things are happening all over…"

"Hopefully nothing like this happens here," Sherry said.

"If it does, do I have permission to let my demon loose?"

"Anyone threatening this town will have made the biggest mistake of their lives," Tyr said.

"I don't doubt that." Luna smiled.

Tyr's phone rang suddenly. He picked it up. "Hello?"

"Eep!" The voice on the other end said. "O-oh, I'm sorry."

"…Fluttershy? What's up?" Tyr hadn't seen much of Fluttershy since the incident between Dash and AJ. After Dash was released, much had gone back to normal. AJ and Twilight were still not on speaking terms, however. Meanwhile, Pinkie was splitting her time between the cake shop and Rarity's Boutique.

"Um… one of the blood work machines is acting up… Marilyn said I should call you since I have your number…"

"I see. I'll head over right now."

"It's no rush…"

"See ya soon, Fluttershy."

"Bye." She hung up.

"That was Fluttershy?" Sherry asked. "What did she want?"

"Some help at the vet. A machine they need fixed." Tyr went and retrieved his tools.

"Well, we'll hang out while you're gone," Sherry said.

"Be safe on the way there," Luna said. "The weather forecast said a large storm was on the way, and that we'll be feeling the edges of it soon.

"That's normal in this area," Tyr said. "We get a lot of blizzards and the like during the winter."

"I see."

"Of course, I'll be sure to be inside if anything does happen." Tyr said. He went out, got on his bike, and drove off. It was lightly snowing, layering the ground with a soft white blanket. Winter was one of his favorite seasons, if only for the fact he loved drinking hot chocolate. The cold didn't bother him much either. As usual, he made it to the vet's in a decent amount of time. He entered and saw Marilyn, the town vet, at the front desk.

"Hello Tyr." She smiled. The tall blonde was pretty, and Tyr used to have a crush on her.

"How are you, Marilyn?"

"I'm doing quite alright. My life has been so much easier since Fluttershy started to work with me."

"Where is she, anyway?"

"In the back with the animals. One of the dogs was throwing a fit so she's calming them down."

"I see. So where's this machine you need looked at?"

Marilyn motioned for him to follow her. He came around the counter and followed Marilyn into a large side room that they used for examining animals. "The blood tester is on the fritz, and I don't know why…"

Tyr quickly pulled the side of the machine off, making sure to set it aside within reach. "The internal motor for this thing is out of place somehow… Did you bump into it roughly or something?"

"One of the bigger dogs hit it when we were trying to calm him down," Fluttershy's voice said softly. "Would that have done it?"

"Yeah, it would have. Hey Fluttershy." Tyr smiled as the shy girl came into the room. She was cradling a little puppy in her arms, stroking it's fur gently.

"He was just scared, that's all…"

"I can fix this, but it's going to take me a while."

"How long?" Marilyn asked.

"Depending on what's messed up in here. May need to order some parts too."

"Well, I've actually got to go. I've got to go get my son from daycare."

"I can handle locking up," Fluttershy offered helpfully.

"Oh would you? That would be a real big help." Marilyn smiled. "You're like an angel, Fluttershy."

"Oh, I wouldn't go that far…"

"I'll hang around to make sure she gets home safe," Tyr said.

Marilyn smiled mischievously. "Trying to get some alone time with the hidden beauty?"

Fluttershy blushed while Tyr simply sighed. "No, Marilyn. I already have a girlfriend."

"Oh really? Oh well." She shrugged. "Well, I'll be going. See you!"

They both waved bye as she left the building. Tyr went back to work while Fluttershy quietly attended to the other animals. It was quiet without Marilyn there, Tyr noticed. Fair enough, since Fluttershy wasn't the type to start conversation. It was a comfortable silence, however, and Tyr found himself being distracted by the quiet girl. She was grooming a large dog, murmuring softly as she did so. It sounded like she was singing, almost. Suddenly, a loud sound smacked up against the windows. The sound sent Fluttershy running for safety. "W-what was that!?" She squeaked.

Tyr set down what he was working with and glanced at the window. "Seems the storm is kicking up out there…" The window was frosting over, and Tyr could feel the cold emanating from it. "Is there heat for the animals?"

"There's a separate heating system for where we keep the animals," Fluttershy replied. "So that we don't have to take them anywhere when it gets cold…" She trailed off as a knock sounded from the front door.

"Who on earth would be out in this kind of weather?" Tyr muttered. "They'd have to be crazy or just plain old stubborn."

"N-Nice ta see you t-too," Applejack stammered as Tyr opened the door. "C-can I come in?"

"Of course!" Tyr let AJ into the building, closing the door securely behind her. "Jeez, AJ, what are you doing here?"

AJ opened her coat to reveal a shivering brown dog. "Winona!" Fluttershy exclaimed, coming over and taking the cold dog. "Whatever happened?"

"She twisted her l-leg in the snow," AJ said. "I c-came running here as fast as I c-could."

"Tyr, could you go into the office?" Fluttershy said, getting a blanket to wrap Winona. "There is a pot of hot cocoa on the small stove that Marilyn made earlier."

"I'll get us all a cup." Tyr went into the small kitchen-like office, finding the pot warm on the stove. He made three cups and took them back into the other room. He passed one to AJ.

"Thank ya kindly," AJ said, sipping at the hot drink. Tyr set one down for Fluttershy before sipping at his own. The warm feeling of the drink slowly flowing through his body was welcome.

Fluttershy quickly splinted and wrapped Winona's leg, comforting the pained dog with a soft voice all the while. After she was finished, the brown dog gave her a loving lick on the cheek. "Oh, you're very welcome, Winona."

"You're always helping out with the animals, Shy," AJ, drinking more of her cocoa.

"It's my destiny," Fluttershy said softly. She left Winona and retrieved another blanket. This one she draped over AJ's shoulders. "Here. This should warm you up."

"And now she's looking after me," AJ chuckled.

"It's the least I could do after you've helped me out so much."

Tyr went back to his work in the side room. He heard Fluttershy and AJ talking quietly for a while, and then there was quiet. He put the machine back together. "I don't have the parts to fix this on hand. I'll have to go by the hardware store…" He looked up to find Fluttershy standing nearby. "What's up?"

"I need to talk to you," She murmured. "AJ is with Winona, and she won't hear us."

"…So what's up?"

Fluttershy sat in a chair across from him. "I… You know about my attraction to Applejack, don't you?"

Tyr grunted. "Dash told me."

"I… figured as much. You don't seem surprised or… upset."

"Expecting me to be disgusted or something?" Tyr smiled softly. "I tore apart a very important relationship to me because of hasty reactions. It is still in the process of mending. I'm not making that mistake again."

Fluttershy's eyes widened. "Tyr… what happened?"

Tyr glanced at her. The pink hair that normally obscured Fluttershy's face had fallen away, and both of her bright blue eyes were looking at him with concern. She was the kindest person Tyr knew, and if anyone would listen… "I have three sisters," Tyr began.

-x-

"Sherry," Luna called softly. The bubblegum haired girl popped up from her place on the couch.

"Yes, Luna?"

"Do you… Do you think Tyr has secrets?"

"Secrets?" Sherry frowned. "I… think so. You mean like his parents being gone?"

Luna nodded. "It just feels like… after the issue with Pinkie and Rarity, he has been… thoughtful."

"Maybe he's worried about the stuff on the news."

"Perhaps. He did promise to protect me…"

"Luna." Sherry's voice was serious. "If my dad has any secrets, it's not because he doesn't trust us, he may not be ready. I know you haven't told him about Nightmare Moon, and I haven't told him… about my parents."

Luna looked at her sharply. "Your parents? I was aware they were no longer with us, but…"

"I… knew a lot of people who didn't survive the Merge," Sherry said with a shaky voice. Luna left the kitchen to sit beside her. "My… family was part of that number."

"Your… family?" Luna blinked. "You were not an only child?"

Sherry shook her head sadly. "I had a little brother. His name was Pepper Spice. We were… playing in the living room when the Merge happened. My parents were in the kitchen and… and…" she started to cry.

Luna felt her stomach tighten. She and Tia had heard the stories. Of ponies being ripped apart or parts of them simply ceasing to exist as the two worlds came together. Most survivors were simply lucky, and ended up in this new world alone. Those who were not were left to bury the dead. And Sherry… She put a comforting hand on the young girl's shoulder. "It's alright Sherry, you don't have to relive this…"

"I have to. If I want to tell Tyr, I have to…" She rubbed at her eyes. "I watched my parents die. My little brother… there was only half of him to bury."

"Oh no…"

Sherry buried her face in her hands. A soft warmness rested over her back. "I…I have kept it to myself for so long. Thank you for listening."

"Just tell Tyr when he comes home."

"I will." Sherry raised her head. Her smile switched to one of shock almost instantly.

-x-

"My wings!" Fluttershy exclaimed. Tyr had felt the unknown appendage rest on his back and had been suitably surprised at its discovery. Fluttershy was busy flapping the golden wings in an effort to make sure they were real.

"What's all the commotion—what in tarnation!?" AJ walked in and blinked in shock. "Shy, you got your wings back!"

"I don't know what happened!" Fluttershy reached out to touch her wings. She folded them back, and they almost vanished against her back. "I was talking to Tyr, since he was… worried about something, and when I tried to comfort him, I was resting my wing on him."

"She was only showing me a bit of kindness…" Tyr said, but trailed off. Kindness? Dash had said Fluttershy was the Element of Kindness… Could that have possibly had anything to do with it?

AJ glanced at the window. The storm was beginning to wane. "We should probably run on outta here," She said.

"Yeah, I gotta buy parts for this thing," Tyr grumbled, sliding the machine's panel back on. "Do you need this thing?"

"I think Marilyn needed it, but I think she can wait…"

"With a storm on the horizon, I doubt she'd mind," AJ joked.

"Do you need me to take you home?" Tyr asked Fluttershy. For the first time since he met her, he saw her smile widely.

"No… I think I'll fly home." She said proudly.

-x-

"And now my girlfriend has wings," Tyr murmured in slight surprise, seeing Luna hovering over the couch.

"Tyr!" Luna dropped down to the ground. "I was talking to Sherry and—"

"Luna," Sherry said quietly, "Can I borrow my dad for a bit?"

Luna paused, then smiled softly. "Go ahead dear. I can wait."

"Dad? I have a lot I need to tell you…"

Luna left the room as Sherry and Tyr sat on the couch. She examined her wings. They were a deep blue color, just like they had been in Equestria. To her surprise, they seemed to shrink in size as they folded down against her back. How useful, she mused. A soft sound caught her attention. Sherry's cell phone was vibrating. As much as she didn't want to interrupt Tyr and his daughter, she didn't have much of a choice. She picked it up and went over to them. "Sherry… your phone."

Sherry rubbed at her eyes. "H-huh?" she took it, glancing at the screen. "That's Bloom's number…"

"Go on and answer it," Tyr said.

Sherry pressed a button and held the phone up to her ear. "Bloom? What's… Applejack?"

"Applejack?" Tyr muttered, confused.

Sherry listened for a bit, then held the phone out to Tyr. "She wants to speak to you," She said, a confused look on her face.

Tyr took the phone. "I'm here AJ, what's up?"

"Do you know where Shy is?" AJ asked immediately.

"Huh…? Didn't she say she was going to fly home?"

"Yeah, she did, but I remembered something. Shy was never a really strong flier. I done called her apartment twice now, with no answer."

AJ was probably assuming the worst, Tyr realized. "I'll go out and look for her. Let the others know she's missing."

Tyr tossed the phone to Sherry and ran to get his coat. Luna followed him. "Whatever is the matter?" She asked.

"Fluttershy didn't make it home," Tyr said shortly. "I'm going out to find her."

"The storm is picking back up!" Luna said. "I'm not letting you go out there alone."

Tyr nodded. "Then we'll work together. How are your wings?"

Luna spread them in a flourish. "Strong. I will be fine, even in this weather."

"I don't care what you think," Tyr snapped, tossing her coat to her. "You head back here immediately if you so much as think you might be overdoing it."

The strength behind Tyr's words left Luna unable to do anything but nod. Tyr was planning to keep her safe no matter what, she remembered. "Will you be okay?" Sherry was asking her father.

"I'll be fine," Tyr assured her. "I'm used to this kind of weather."

"If you say so…"

"Let's go," Tyr said to Luna. She nodded as she finished zipping up her jacket. Her wings burst through it, leaving a pair of holes in the back. "…Oh dear."

"Not much you can do about it," Tyr said with a slight chuckle. "Come on."

They went outside. The snow was starting to rise, and Luna took to the air immediately. There was nothing but white as far as the eye could see. Even as they searched frantically, Luna was slowly losing hope. "How are we supposed to find her in this…?"

"Just look for pink," Tyr said, shielding his eyes from the falling snow. "And pray she's okay."

-x-

"Fluttershy is missing?" Twilight repeated, looking at the freezing farm girl in front of her. Applejack had burst in a minute ago, out of breath and shivering. "How?"

"She got her wings back, and wanted to fly home," AJ explained quickly, rubbing her arms. I completely forgot the girl can't fly real well…"

"She got her wings…? How?"

"I don't rightly know. But Shy is still a weak flier, and she might be lost out there in all that snow!"

"Oh no…! Have you told the others?"

"Tyr's already out there looking. I just came from Rarity's, and Pinkie was there too. Only person I haven't seen is Rainbow Dash."

"Well, we should—" Twilight's phone rang. She picked up. "Hello? Tyr?"

"What is he saying?" AJ asked, but Twilight held up a hand.

"…You found her? Oh thank goodness!" Twilight and AJ both sighed in relief.

"So she's safe," AJ murmured, nodding. Twilight hung up.

"Tyr says he's taking her to his house." Twilight grabbed her coat. "Let's head over there."

AJ nodded, and the two of them rushed over to Tyr's house. With the snow so thick, it actually slowed them a bit. Fighting their way through the snow, they made it to Tyr's home before the storm began to come down in force. Lucky for them, it was warm inside. However, it was warm in more than one way. "I was counting on you to look out for her!" Dash was yelling.

Tyr's eyes narrowed. "I didn't know she was a weak flier. How was I supposed to see this coming?"

"You're the guy here, right? You're supposed to… I dunno, walk her home or something!"

"Dash, darling, you can't expect Tyr to see the future…" Rarity said, coming over.

"Yeah!" Pinkie agreed. "Tyr's cool and all, but he doesn't have any magic or anything!"

"But…" Dash looked around.

"Look Rainbow," Tyr said after a moment. "We all messed up. AJ was there too, and neither of us went with her."

Dash shot a glance at Applejack, who simply nodded. "I… just feel like since I wasn't there, I let her down…"

AJ came over and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It's alright, sugarcube. Wasn't nothing any of us could of done."

Luna came downstairs. "Hello everyone."

Dash was next to her immediately. "Is she okay? How is she?"

Luna paused slightly. "Calm down, Rainbow Dash. She almost froze to death out there. It will take some time for her to recover."

"She'll live, won't she?"

"Her life is in no danger. It was lucky Tyr found her when he did."

"You found her?" Rarity asked, turning to Tyr.

"I saw her hair," He said, rubbing at his nose. "I dug her out of a snowbank."

"I couldn't see from high up," Luna admitted.

"Seems like Tyr is a hero again," Twilight said with a small smile.

"I'm just doing what I can," Tyr said. "Now, I don't know about you all, but I'm freezing, and I need something warm in my body."

"I'll make some hot chocolate!" Sherry said, jumping up and going into the kitchen. Everyone moved into the living room. The TV was on, and the weather seemed to be worsening.

"Well, seems getting home is going to be hard," Rarity murmured. "Good thing Sweetie is with our parents…"

"Hope the farm will be all right," AJ said.

"We'll just have a lot of snow really," Tyr said, sitting on the couch. Luna sat in his lap. Pinkie snuggled up next to Rarity.

"Y'all two are mighty close," AJ said.

"We are?" Rarity blinked. "Oh, Pinkie dear…"

"What's the matter?" Pinkie asked. "Rarity and I are a couple now!"

AJ's eyes opened. "You… you girls too?"

"It's… well, yes, darling. Pinkie is essentially my muse. Without her I can't seem to come up with any good dress designs."

"And whenever I'm with Rare-bear, I always have super-duper fun modeling her dress line! It's almost as good as having a party!" Pinkie said with a grin. Then suddenly she gasped loudly. "Ooh! I-D-E-A~!"

"Hey, that's my thing!" Rarity said with a pout.

"Sorry Rare-bear! But I had a super-duper-big-wig-totally-awesome idea!"

"Pinkie, could you please speak… I don't know, sense?" Twilight asked.

"We should have a party!" She squealed happily, bouncing up and down.

"A party?" Tyr said, surprised. "Here?"

"Yes! I mean, we're all stuck here anyway, and who knows when the snow is going to stop?"

"I suppose that is true… But does this house have enough space if they need to spend the night?" Luna asked Tyr.

He nodded. "Besides the three rooms we're already using, we have two guest rooms."

"Fluttershy is in Luna's room at the moment," Sherry said, coming back in with a tray full of cups. "And since Luna spends all her time in Dad's room…"

Luna blushed. "S-sherry!"

"You guys must be enjoying yourselves," Dash said with a weak smile.

It was obvious she was still worried about Fluttershy. "I'll go check on her," Sherry offered, running upstairs.

"So what should we do?"

Tyr thought for a moment, and then a smile crept across his face. "How about we go up to the game room?"