>You are Butterscotch
>And it's been nearly three and a half years since you first arrived in this world
>At first, you were terrified, torn away from all of your friends before suddenly being saddled with the responsibility of parenthood
>Yet, through it all, Fluttershy gave you the courage to become the stallion you needed to be
>In turn, you gave her the strength to become the mare she is now
>Together, parenthood hasn't been nearly as daunting as you first imagined
>That's not to say it's been a perfectly smooth ride, of course
>You've learned by now that no path is without its bumps
>As you muse to yourself, you keep a careful eye upon a certain pastel-yellow, white-maned Earth filly
>She carries a toy sword with her tail as she runs about upstairs, smiting imaginary changelings left and right
>After a particularly big lunge, however, you see her trip at the top of the stairway
>Without skipping a beat, you take off, flying towards her as she yelps in surprise
>She begins to tumble down the stairs as you do so, letting go of her sword as she smacks her leg upon the topmost step
>Before the filly's head has a chance to connect with the second-highest step, though, you swoop in, catching her in your hooves as the toy sword bounces harmlessly off of you
>You cradle her as you float down the stairs, setting her down gently before coming down to land yourself
"Are you okay, Wildflower?"
>Sniffing, she nods. "Uh-huh," she mumbles, rubbing her foreleg
>You breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that things could have turned out much, much worse
"That's good."
>As you kneel down to get a closer look at your daughter's foreleg, you hear the back door suddenly swing open
 
>A clearly worried Fluttershy enters soon after. "What happened!?"
>Seeing you on the floor with Wildflower, she rapidly trots over
"She's fine, dear. She was just playing upstairs with her sword, and she, um... tripped."
>A small frown appears on Fluttershy's face as you finish explaining, her attention shifting towards Wildflower
>"Now, Wildflower," she asks, "what did I say about playing with the sword inside?"
>Her tone, while far from hostile, is certainly firmer than usual
>Nervously, you look at your wife before leaning in towards her ear
"Wait, she's not supposed to have the sword inside?"
>Fluttershy turns to look back at you, her face remaining stonelike. "No," she whispers back. "She keeps tripping over herself with it."
"Oh. Sorry."
>"It's okay," she assures you, her expression softening. "I should have told you about that earlier."
>Wildflower, meanwhile, has finally managed to put together an answer to her mother's question
>"But," she retorts, "dadda say I-"
"I know, Flower. And I know you said please. But dadda was wrong."
>Wildflower cocks her head in confusion as you continue
"It's not your fault. Just... promise you'll only play with the sword outside from now on."
>Your daughter pouts, unwilling to answer
"Okay?"
>She looks back to you innocently. "Otay."
"Good girl."
>As you and Fluttershy move in to give Wildflower a hug, you hear a knock at the door
"Huh. Wonder who that is?"
>Fluttershy shrugs, walking towards the front entrance. "I'll get it."
"Okay, dear."
>A few seconds later, you hear the door creak open, followed by indistinct murmuring as you put Wildflower on your back
>A moment after that, Fluttershy's voice sounds out
>"It's Twilight," she says. "She needs to see you."
"Be right there!"
 
>Arriving at the front door, your eyes meet those of a familiar purple mare
"Oh, hello, Twilight. How are you?"
>"Fine," she responds. "Thanks. But," she adds, her expression indescernible, "that's not what I'm here for."
>Curious, you raise an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
>"Well..." Twilight's eyes shift uncomfortably. "Fluttershy, do you mind if I speak with Butterscotch alone for a moment?"
"Um..."
>You look over to Fluttershy, who seems hesitant to agree. "Is, um... there any reason you need me to not..."
>Twilight shakes her head. "It's not you that I'm worried about hearing this," she explains, lowering her voice as she leans in. "It's Wildflower."
"...Wildflower?"
>Silently, you and Fluttershy look one-another in the eyes
>After a few moments of total silence, you and your wife exchange simultaneous, serious nods
>She carefully lifts the filly off of your back
>You help her hoist the child onto herself, ensuring she's safe and stable before turning your attention back to your royal guest
"Alright."
>Slowly, you step outside, allowing the door to close behind you
"What's this all about, Twilight?"
>Though you do your best to remain calm, it's clear your voice is beginning to waver
>Twilight's expression turns grim as she gathers her thoughts. "It's the Smooze," she says
"The Smooze?"
 
>You raise an eyebrow in confusion
"But... I thought you and the others defeated the Smooze?"
>The Princess of Friendship shakes her head. "We did, but... the Smooze struck your world too, Butterscotch."
"I-It did?"
>Your blood runs cold as the implications hit you
>You had stayed at home to look after Wildflower when Fluttershy went off with the others to face down the Smooze just a couple of days ago
>Though the legends stated that it had the potential to destroy all of Equestria, your wife and her friends had taken it down when it was barely even halfway through Appleoosa
>Not having been present yourself, you weren't exactly sure on the specifics of how everything went down
>Yet, based on what Fluttershy told you, you knew that the Rainbow Power was involved
>Without you to help Dusk Shine and your other friends back home...
"How... much time...?"
>"According to Dusk," Twilight says, taking a breath before continuing, "ten days."
>Ten days
>In ten days, the world you grew up in would effectively cease to be
>And it'll be all your fault
>Your eyes go wide as you feel your legs going weak
>In shock, you find it difficult to focus on Twilight
>Instead, your gaze seemingly settles upon the horizon behind her
>"...uttersco..."
>You think you hear someone calling for you, though you can't quite make it out
>Suddenly, you're jolted by the sensation of something touching your shoulder
>"Butterscotch!"
 
>Shaking yourself out of your thousand-yard stare, you see Twilight looking worriedly at you
>"It's not too late," she explains. "You can still save them."
"I... I can?"
>Your expression shifts from despair to hope in a heartbeat
"How?"
>"The supermoon," Twilight answers. "There's one next Tuesday."
>Tuesday, less than a week away
>More than enough time between then and the deadline to save the day - assuming Dusk is right in his calculations, that is
>Then again, when has Dusk ever gotten his numbers wrong?
>Maybe you'll even be back in time for dinner with Fluttershy, you muse
"So, um... you're saying I can go back? And then I can help everyone use the Rainbow Power?"
>"Basically, yes," Twilight confirms. "However..."
>You feel uneasy as the Princess's tone shifts to something more sombre
"...however?"
>"The Rainbow Power is a light-based supermagic," she adds, her face turning grim once more. "Thus, it requires the users to be exposed to natural short-wave radiation at the time of use in order to function at full power."
>Confused, you blink a few times
"I'm sorry, but, um..."
>Twilight heaves a sigh. "Sunlight," she clarifies. "You need to use it during daytime, or else it'll be too weak to guarantee it'll work on the Smooze."
>The gears whir in your head as you put two and two together, arriving at a most terrible conclusion
 
"So... I'll be..."
>"Unable to return, at least until the next supermoon. Yes." She takes a step towards you before pulling you in for a hug. "I'm sorry."
>At that moment, every fiber of your body wants nothing more than to scream out in anguish
>Three years ago, you were torn away from your home
>Now, just as you've forged a new home for yourself here, you're being ripped away once more
>Even if everything goes smoothly and you can return next year, could you even stay with a clear conscience?
>You might be able to return to the Arrowverse for the Smooze this time, you figure, but what if Equestria's next great threat hits with a supermoon a whole moon away?
>Or two moons, or even ten?
>You would never be able to forgive yourself if that were to happen
>Then again, could you truly bring yourself to abandon your wife and only child forever?
>Still, even as you feel your heart tearing in two, you manage to overcome your base instincts for the moment
>Summoning up all the courage you can, you maintain some semblance of composure
>Slowly, you return Twilight's gesture, nuzzling her softly in return
>The two of you remain like this for several minutes as your tears silently rain down upon her shoulder
>Eventually, however, you pull away, revealing your tear-stained cheeks and quivering lip to Twilight
"I'll let Fluttershy know."
 
>Of course, letting her know would be the easy part
>She'll likely be at torn up as you are right now, but, yout think, at least she'll understand
>Wildflower, on the other hoof...
>How do you even begin to explain something like this to somepony her age?
>You're glad that Twilight had the foresight to take you aside before dropping all of this on you
>You'd hate for Wildflower to see you this way right now
>As you bid farewell to the Princess and head back towards your front door, this question hangs upon your mind
>Pushing the door open, you see Wildflower playing with her blocks whilst Fluttershy carefully keeps watch
>As you cross the threshold, your wife floats over to you, your daughter not far behind
>"Butterscotch?" She gives you puppy-dog eyes as she approaches. "What did Twilight say? Was it..." She gulps, hesitating. "...bad?"
"It was."
>Solemnly, you nod once, leaning in towards her ear
"I... need to go. Back. Maybe for a long time."
>"Back?"
>Her eyes dart down towards Wildflower for a brief moment before looking back towards you
>She throws a hoof around your shoulder for a hug, letting her mimic your whispering. "What do you mean, Butters?"
"Well, um... My old friends..."
>You frown, pausing as you recalled Twilight's explanations
"They couldn't stop their world's Smooze without me. The next supermoon's in a few days, so..."
 
>You hear Fluttershy gasp in horror. "That's terrible," she murmurs, shuddering. "But, um," she adds, unsure, "why can't you just... come back before morning?"
"Twilight said something about... daylight magic?
>Letting out a sigh, you fidget with your hoof for a moment before continuing
"She thinks I need to stay past sunrise for it to work, and, well... then I'll be stuck."
>"Oh..." Fluttershy strokes your back with a wing as her expression becomes sullen. "But... you'll be back next year. Right, Butters?"
"Um..."
>"Right?" Fluttershy pulls away from you, on the verge of tears as she looks towards your face
>You avert your eyes, hesitant to speak the truth
"I... don't know, dear."
>Your wife's pupils narrow to pinpricks in shock. "W-what do you mean, you don't know?"
>You flinch at her reaction, whimpering slightly
"I, um... just..."
>Grumbling, you hang your head
"It's complicated."
>"Complicated...?"
>You feel Fluttershy's hoof on your chin, pulling your face up to look straight at hers
>"If you can understand, I can too," Fluttershy asserts, her eyes locked onto yours. "Please, Butters..." She blinks away a tear as she speaks. "Tell me."
>You take in a deep breath before unleashing a long sigh, gathering your thoughts
"Well... It's..."
>As you try to articulate yourself, however, you feel something prodding your shoulder
>"Dadda?" Your daughter, reared up on her hindlegs, looks up at you. "Wha' talkin' 'bout? Why fightin'?"
 
>Looking down at Wildflower, you place a hoof upon her head, teasing her mane
"We're not -fighting-. We're just... talking. About, um, something very important."
>"Yes. Don't you worry," Fluttershy adds, her typically-calm demeanor starting to crack as your revelations to her truly start to set in. "Everything's... okay."
>You and her force uncomfortable smiles, masking your true feelings
>Your daughter, however, isn't buying it
>She scrunches her face in frustration. "Wha' talkin' 'bout, momma," Wildflower asks, pouting as she looks from your face to your wife's. "Why cryin'?"
"Um..."
>"Well..."
>After a second of awkward silence blended with frustration and uncertainty, you lean back in towards Fluttershy's ear
"How do we even explain this to her?"
>Becoming increasingly upset, your wife squints at you. "We?" Her tone becomes aggravated as she whispers back. "You haven't even told -me- yet. How am I supposed to help?"
>Taken aback for a brief moment by Fluttershy's sharp-tongued remark, you feel something rather unfamiliar - anger - boiling up within you
"I was -going- to, dear, before Wildflower interrupted!"
>Your voice, escalating to a whisper-shout, forces Fluttershy to take a step back in shock
>For a second, the two of you stare at one-another, your emotions doing everything they can to get the better of you both
>However, just as you're about to cross the line into an all-out shouting match, you see the hurt in Fluttershy's eyes, hiding behind her now-scrunched expression
>Biting remark or no, she did ask you a question
>And you know she deserves a straight answer without you yelling at her
"I-I'm sorry. I... didn't mean to snap like that."
>Fluttershy shakes her head, the look on her face instantly softening. "No, it's my fault," she responds, hanging her head. "I should have been more patient. I'm sorry..."
>Knowing that trying to insist upon blaming yourself again would just start a loop, you decide to accept her apology
"It's okay."
>You take a step forward, looping one of your front hooves behind hers before lifting it up to chest-height
"I love you. And I always will, no matter if I'm here, or... over there."
>You squeeze her hoof affectionately as you smile at her
"Never forget that."
 
>Knowing that trying to insist upon blaming yourself again would just start a loop, you decide to accept her apology
"It's okay."
>You take a step forward, looping one of your front hooves behind hers before lifting it up to chest-height
"I love you. And I always will, no matter if I'm here, or... over there."
>You squeeze her hoof affectionately as you smile at her
"Never forget that."
>Your wife shuts her eyes tight before throwing her free hoof around your neck, hugging you tightly
>"I won't," she answers, stifling a sob. "I love you too, Butters."
>Closing your own eyes as you let her rest her head against your shoulder, you and Fluttershy embrace tenderly
>You manage to get five seconds of cuddling in before you hear the  tapping of hooves on the floor beside you
>"Wha' talkin' 'bout?" Your daughter's tone is becoming increasingly impatient, and understandably so
>Still, you have no idea how to explain this to her
>Not to mention the fact you really need to sit down with Fluttershy and explain things properly to her first, without disruptions
>You rack your brain for ideas, quickly striking one which might work
"The park."
 
>"Wha'? Pawk?" Wildflower blinks at you, nonplussed
>Fluttershy looks towards you with a raised eyebrow, equally confused
>You quietly clear your throat before continuing
"Yes, um. Your momma and I... thought we should go to the park. Um, to... get some fresh air."
>You wink at your wife, hoping she'll play along
>Fortunately, she seems to get the message. "Oh, yes. We, um... should go out. To the park," she confirms, forcing a clearly fake grin with a squee. "To, erm, clear our heads...?"
>Wildflower looks up at Fluttershy, clearly suspicious
>As your eyes shift around the room, you spot your daughter's toy from before, still at the foot of the stairs
"You want to go get your sword, Flower? You can bring it with you if you want."
>Your daughter's face lights up immediately as she beams at you
"Come on."
>With a nod to your wife, you let your hoof slip gently away from hers as you slowly move towards the stairway
"Let's get your sword."
 
===
 
>You arrive at the park a few minutes later, Fluttershy and Wildflower in tow
>As you pass your daughter her toy sword, you notice a familiar pink pony in the distance
>From across the way, she spots you, gasping melodramatically upon doing so
>She rockets towards you and your family immediately afterwards, a young filly and colt struggling to keep pace behind her
>"Hi, Fluttershy! Hi, Scotchie," she says, greeting you enthusiastically. "And hello there, Wildflower!"
>"Aunta Pinkie!" Your child trots over towards Pinkie Pie, rubbing her muzzle affectionately into her foreleg
>"D'aww..." Grinning, the party pony ruffles Wildflower's mane with her hoof. "You're growing so fast, aren't you?"
>Remembering Pinkie's babysitting expertise, you realise this might be the best opportunity to explain things to Fluttershy one-on-one
"Um, Pinkie..."
>Pinkie looks up towards you, eyes wide and curious. "What do you need, Scotchie?"
>You look off to the side for a second before returning your eyes to the mare
"Would it be okay if, well..."
>"Could you look after Wildflower for us for a few minutes?" Fluttershy glances down at the foal in question before looking back at Pinkie, nervous. "It's just, um, Butters and I need some alone time. To talk."
>A wry smile creeps onto Pinkie Pie's face. "Riiiiight. Talk," she answers, shooting you and Fluttershy a wink. "Gotcha. Sure, I can look after her!"
>Normally, you'd want to correct Pinkie's suspicions
>However, you and Fluttershy decide to let it slide, smiling gratefully at her
"Thank you, Pinkie. I hope she isn't too much of a handful for you."
>Your daughter runs up to the Cake twins, giggling happily as she shows them her toy sword
>"Your auntie Pinkie Pie is on the case! You two have fun now~," she adds whimsically, turning her attention to the three foals now energetically chasing one-another about
 
>As the four ponies depart, you begin to scan your surroundings for a suitable resting spot
>Your eyes eventually settle upon a nice, shady tree
>Gesturing for your wife to follow, you trot towards it, sitting down beneath its mighty branches
>Fluttershy does likewise, snuggling up to you as she does so
>"So..." Fluttershy heaves a deep sigh. "You... think you might not be able to come back?"
"Well..."
>You hesitate as you struggle with your words, choosing them carefully
"Not... permanently."
>Fluttershy tilts her head, confused. "What do you mean?"
"Imagine if, well, this thing with the Smooze happens again, but the supermoon isn't just around the corner. I, um, wouldn't be able to..."
>The pieces immediately click in Fluttershy's head as you try explain
>"I understand," she answers, morose
>Exhaling sharply, she hangs her head as you spot a tear beginning to well up in her eye
>You unfold your wing, laying it gently upon her back as you draw her in for a feathery hug
>At first, she flinches at the contact
>She settles down quickly, however, extending her own wing to return the gesture
>Cautiously, she loops it behind yours before letting it settle into place
>You hear a dull clack as the wedding band clasped about the base of her wing knocks yours in the process
 
>Turning your head to look toward's Fluttershy's face, you stroke her chin gently with a hoof
>She looks back up at you in turn, her eyes still glistening
"Fluttershy... I'll try to visit whenever I can. And, I know that doesn't make up for me leaving, but..."
>Suddenly, you're cut off as Fluttershy, eyes shut tight, shifts her face in, her lips sealing against yours
>Though the move catches you off-guard, you quickly overcome your shock, closing your eyes as you start kissing her back
>It's not as deep and intense as the kisses you and her would share in private once Wildflower was put to bed for the night
>Still, the affection behind it is genuine all the same
>After a few more seconds, the two of you break the kiss off
>Cracking her eyes open, Fluttershy gives you a doleful look. "Butterscotch..."
"Yes...?"
>"You're doing the right thing," she assures you, her wing-hug growing tighter as her voice cracks. "Even if... even if it doesn't feel like it."
>You choke up as Fluttershy's words reach your ears, knowing deep down she's right
>Instinctively, you move in for a second kiss, pressing your lips against hers
>She engages you, her lips locking gently with yours
>The two of you hum and moan ever so softly throughout, the kiss going on for what seems like an eternity
>But even eternity isn't long enough, as you soon find yourselves interrupted by a childlike chorus of "ewww!"
>Opening your eyes as you separate, you find Pound, Pumpkin and Wildflower watching you, giggling
 
>The two of you sigh in perfect stereo as you see Pinkie Pie bouncing towards you
>"D'aww... You two are just so -adorable- together!" She giggles briefly as she ceases her bouncing. "I'm so glad you and Fluttershy got together, Scotchie."
>The party pony suddenly has a realisation as her eyes fall upon your and Fluttershy's wedding bands
>"Oh, that's right," she exclaims. "Your wedding anniversary is coming up soon! Exactly... 97 days! I should get started on the planning for that!"
>You and Fluttershy flinch at the mention of the event, becoming uneasy
"Um, Pinkie?"
>"That's... very kind, but..."
>"Oh no, Fluttershy, I insist. Now," she continues, ignoring the two of you, "I know you two like your parties quiet. So maybe only have 20 guests? No, 10! 10 is good."
"Pinkie..."
>"Please, you don't, um, need to-"
>"Oh, and streamers! Can't have too many streamers." Your energetic friend grins as an idea strikes her. "Of course - custom streamers! Each one with writing. Maybe, 'Happy Anniversary'!"
>Strange emotions fill you as you feel your guts twisting and the edges of your eyes beginning to twitch
>Out of the corner of your vision, you can see Fluttershy's lip quivering
>"Pinkie," Fluttershy murmurs, her voice effectively silent against Pinkie's excited ranting, "you don't understand..."
>It's at this moment it hits you
>Going back forever, you're not just going to be missing out on Fluttershy's companionship, or the chance to look after Wildflower
>You'll be missing everything that comes with it, too
>Not just anniversaries, either
>Birthdays, as well
>Not to mention Wildflower's graduation, or seeing her get her first job
>Or the look on her face when she shows you her Cutie Mark for the first time...
>"Ooh, ooh! Or what about 'Butterscotch and Fluttershy Forever'? That'd make a great message!"
 
>Though you try to fight it, you find yourself unable to hold back any longer
>The dam breaks as you bow your head, tears now flowing freely down your muzzle
>"And then we'll need a big cake, maybe red velvet like the one at your wedding, and..." Pinkie trails off as she finally notices you. Her energy fades as she approaches you slowly. "Scotchie? What's wrong?"
>You try to speak, but can't manage anything intelligible between your sobs
>Silently, Fluttershy gestures towards Pinkie, drawing her near before whispering something into her ear
>Her bright, poofy mane immediately droops in response as the last traces of joy and excitement on her face from before fade away
>"Scotchie, you're... leaving?" She swiftly wraps her hooves around both you and Fluttershy, squeezing the three of you together tightly. "I... I can't..."
>"Dadda leavin'...?" Your daughter walks up to the three of you, confused. "Where goin'?"
>Pinkie pulls her head away from you and your wife, raising an eyebrow as she maintains her hold. "You haven't told her yet?"
>You take a deep breath, calming yourself enough to speak
"We... haven't figured out how to, um, explain..."
>"Oh," Pinkie responds, cutting you off as your voice fades. "You should give Wildflower more credit."
>Fluttershy looks at Pinkie, confused. "What do you mean?"
 
>"Don't you see?" Pinkie rolls her eyes before giving a soft, genuine smile. "Kids are waaaaay smarter than you think."
>She casts a nostalgic look over at Pound and Pumpkin Cake before looking back towards you and your family
>"And Flower is like, super-duper smart," she excitedly adds, flailing her right hoof in a series of gestures. "You two should be really proud of her!"
>You look towards your daughter for a second before wrapping your own hooves around Pinkie, drawing her back in as you return her earlier squeeze
>Fluttershy does likewise, burying her head into her pink friend's shoulder
"...thank you, Pinkie."
>"Aw, shucks..." Pinkie stifles a giggle as you and Fluttershy eventually release your grip on her. "But really, just give it to her straight."
"Give it..."
>"...to her straight?" You give Pinkie a raised eyebrow as Fluttershy finishes your sentence for you
>"You know," she explains, shrugging, "just tell her!"
>Pinkie pulls away from you and Fluttershy, giving you both some much-needed space
>"I mean, don't overcomplicate it or anything like what Twilight does sometimes," she continues, "but don't talk down to her either."
>"...Okay," Fluttershy answers, nodding gently. "We'll try that."
>"Great," Pinkie answers, flashing a broad grin at the two of you
>However, a few seconds later, you see her mane and lips sag once more
>"And Scotchie...?"
"Yes, Pinkie?"
>"It's been nice knowing you," she says, her voice gloomy
"You too, Pinkie."
>As you step forward to place your hoof on her shoulder, the pink mare lets out a massive gasp
>"Pound!" Pinkie's voice cuts through the air as she bounces off. "Get down from there!"
"Bye, Pinkie."
>Though you try to project your voice as well as you can manage, you're fairly certain she didn't hear you
>Hanging your head, you look down to see Wildflower pouting at you, irritated at having been ignored for so long
 
>You cast a sideways glance towards Fluttershy, your expression grim
"I'm... gonna try to tell her."
>Your wife nods, equally subdued and serious. "Okay."
"Wildflower."
>You adjust your position carefully, lowering your head near to the level of your daughter's
>Looking her in the eyes, you find yourself frowning slightly
>She blinks once in response, staring innocently back at you with those dinner plate-like eyes of hers. "Yes, dadda?"
"Dadda... I... have to go away for a very long time. To a very far-away place."
>Her eyes immediately well up with tears. "Dadda dyin'?"
"No, Flower."
>You sigh, shaking your head slowly
"Not that kind of going away."
>"Oh..." Wildflower calms down as she raises a hoof to the side of her head, thinking. "So... dadda comin' back?"
"I can't come back to stay. Only... little visits."
>"Like... poppop?"
>You ponder this comparison for a second
>Fluttershy's dad, Sunsetter, had made a habit of dropping by the house every moon or two ever since Wildflower was born
>Hardly a perfect comparison, you think, yet it's probably the best you have to work with
"Yes. Sort of like poppop."
 
>Her lip quivering, Wildflower lets out a long, sad whine. "Bu' why?" Your daughter sniffs, sobbing once before continuing. "Why dadda leavin'?"
>You sigh deeply, closing your eyes
"The place I'm going to... They need my help."
>Opening your eyes once more, you look off to the side, your gaze focusing on a vague point in the distance
"There's a monster there. And there might be more coming. They... need me to help fight them."
>You look back at Wildflower, finding her mouth agape and eyes wide with fear
>"M-monstas?" Her right hoof recoils, defensively hovering near her chest. "But wha' if monstas come here an' you far 'way?"
>You smile softly in response, gently reaching out to touch your own hoof to the one she's holding up
"Momma'll keep you safe."
>Fluttershy nods before shuffling around and lowering her head down to Wildflower's level
>She extends her left wing, wiping a tear away from your daughter's cheek. "I'll, um... keep the monsters away," she says, nervousness giving way to resolve. "Just like... like I did a few days ago."
>"Momma..." Wildflower tilts her head at Fluttershy, surprised. "You... fought a monsta?"
>Suddenly, your wife leans in towards you, her lips near your ear. "You didn't tell her?"
>Anxiously, you pause before answering her
"Well, um, I just told her you were going on a trip."
 
>Quickly, you steal a glance down at Wildflower before continuing
"I just... kind of, sort of left out the part about the Smooze... I didn't want her worrying about you getting swallowed up that... thing."
>Before Fluttershy can react to your confession, Wildflower lets out an excited grunt, leaping forward to hug her mother tightly
>"Momma so stwong," she chimes, nuzzling her leg
>You can't help but chuckle at the sight as Fluttershy runs a hoof through her mane
>Not long after her outburst, however, Wildflower pulls back, trotting away a few yards
>Bending down, she picks up her toy sword from earlier, grasping it firmly with her tail
>She faces you as she canters back, holding the sword in front of you
>"Dadda..." Her voice carries tones of both melancholy and nervousness as she speaks. "You be stwong too, otay?"
>You look at your daughter in shock
>Was she... offering her sword to you?
>Tentatively, you reach out towards the sword with a wing, stopping a few inches short of touching it
>In turn, Wildflower raises the sword up a little further, cracking a weak smile
>Taking this as confirmation, you wrap your wingtip around the blade's handle, slowly drawing the toy blade away from her
"Thank you... Flower."
 
===
 
>It's been six days since Twilight broke the news to you
>And now, you find yourself steadily trotting down the grand hallway of Twilight's castle
>Fluttershy walks by your side, a half-asleep Wildflower resting upon her back
>Silently, you look over to your dozing child
>It's well past her bedtime, yet she insisted on staying up to see you off
>"Momma," she murmurs weakly, her eyes straining, "we dere yet?"
>Fluttershy craned her head around to look at the little filly, her soft smile doing little to mask the sadness in her eyes. "Almost," she whispers. "Just a little longer."
>"Otay, momma..."
>As Wildflower nestles back into position, you sidle up to Fluttershy, mindful of the sword protruding from your saddlebag as you affectionately rub your nose against hers
"I'm gonna miss you."
>"Me too," Fluttershy whispers back, stealing a brief kiss. "Just... be safe."
"I will, dear."
>Your expression resolute, you look deep into her eyes
"I promise."
 
>You complete the rest of the trek to the portal room in a comfortable silence, your bodies pressing against one-another as your half-lidded eyes look forward towards the door
>Pausing before the massive entryway, you reach forward, tapping it sharply with your hoof
"Twilight?"
>"Oh, you're here!" A muffled, seemingly-haggard voice sounds out from behind the door. "Let me get that for you."
>A second later, the grand doors take on a purple glow before slowly opening inwards
>The Princess of Friendship stands before you and your family, her brow sweaty, her eyes clearly showing signs of sleep deprivation
>"Please, come in," she says, gesturing towards the open space behind her. "We don't have much time until-"
>"Thirty seconds, Twi," Spike calls out, interrupting her
>"Oh buck," she murmurs under her breath, turning around. "Be right there, Spike!"
>Suddenly, she teleports into position, furrowing her brow as readies her spell at double-time
>On the floor below her, you can see a massive network of runes chalked out
>They seem to form a
>Wildflower, roused by Spike and Twilight's shouting, stretches her neck to peek around Fluttershy's neck
>She lets out a gasp as she spots the glowing blue Arrowverse rift in the wall
>Though the tear in space-time intimidates her, she can't help but keep staring at it
>Spike stares intently at the stopwatch in his claw as the seconds tick by. "Three... two... one... NOW!"
>As the little dragon finishes his countdown, you watch as Twilight launches her spell into the rift
>Though you've seen her do it dozens of times now, the entire process still leaves you mesmerised
 
>After a few seconds, you find yourself once again blinded by a familiar flash of light
>Your hearing is unscathed, however, as the sound of Wildflower's crying pierces your ears
>Blindly, you extend a hoof to her head, resting it atop her mane
"It's okay... It's okay... Nothing's gonna hurt you..."
>Her wailing subsides as you continue your cooing, sobs and sniffs replacing them
>As your vision returns, you see her eyes still shut tight
>Fluttershy looks around to her back once again, giving a reassuring smile. "Ssh... You can open your eyes again now, Flower," she assures her. "Everything's okay."
>Though the tiny butter-coloured filly is hesitant at first, she slowly cracks open her eyes, cautiously looking around the room
>"See? There's nothing to be afraid of."
>Finally, your daughter relaxes, her sobs trailing off
>However, she now appears to be restless, shuffling about on your wife's back
>You know exactly what this means
"Do you want to get down now, Wildflower?"
>Meekly, she nods. "Uh-huh..."
"Okay."
 
>Gently, you scoop her up with your wings, holding her close to you for a few moments
>Looking at her in your feathery grip, memories begin to flood back
>You remember the first time you held her like this, the night you and Fluttershy came home from the hospital
>Now... really, she was getting a little too big for carrying around and picking up, even on your or Fluttershy's back
>You wonder whether, even if you do return, this will be the last time you ever hold your baby girl in your wings
>"Dadda... is otay," Wildflower squeaks, poking a hoof at a tear now running down your cheek. "Scawy fwash gone now."
>You nod, setting her down on the floor
"I know, darling."
>Hastily, you wipe your face, clearing your tears to reveal a warm smile
"I know."
>"Butterscotch! It's almost time," Twilight calls out, her body now overtaken by the glow of her and Dusk's mind-melding magic. "Are you ready to start?"
>You look back over your shoulder at her, nodding
"Almost. I'll be right there."
>Returning your attention to your daughter, you crouch down, getting onto her level
 
"I have to go now, Wildflower. Be good to momma while I'm gone. Okay?"
>"Otay, dadda," she answers, nodding. "I be good."
>You smile, reaching out to hug her tightly
"That's my girl."
>Getting up, you move to Fluttershy next
>Silently, you lean forward, kissing her
>She returns the kiss immediately, her mouth sucking upon your lower lip
>You do likewise to her upper lip before pulling away, going in for a second kiss
>Then a third, and a fourth
>Eventually, you find it in yourself to pull away properly
"Fluttershy..."
>"Butterscotch..."
"I'm sorry things... couldn't be different."
>"It's not your fault, Butters," she answers, her voice as sweet as ever
"Thank you..."
>Pausing, you swallow down the lump building in your throat
"...for everything."
>You both lean in once more, nuzzling one-another affectionately
 
>Your embrace lasts in silence for a full minute before you speak again
"I love you. And I always will."
>"Y-you too, Butters," Fluttershy stammers in response, her emotions kept barely in check
>You withdraw from the nuzzle after another minute, heaving a massive sigh
"I... guess I should go now. Bye, Flutters. Bye... Wildflower."
>Slowly, you turn around, marching towards Twilight
"What do I need to do?"
>The Princess looks at you with her now-glowing, pupil-less eyes. "Right there," she explains, pointing towards the centre of the runic circle on the ground
>You nod, making your way to the designated spot
"Okay."
>Getting into position, you look forward towards your family
>"Now," Twilight explains, her horn charging up, "the Brizoparticle conversion process is relatively simple, albeit extremely energy-intensive. The true difficulty," she adds, "is in the reassembly process."
"R-reassembly?"
>You shudder as you hear the word, your knees going weak
>If you needed 'reassembly', then that implied...
>"Yes, the conversion and transmission process is... gradual," Twilight explains. "It is, however, entirely painless. You shouldn't feel anything more than a slight pressing sensation."
>You breathe a sigh of relief at these words
>The mental image of being torn apart limb-from-limb had shaken you
>If it's painless, however, you think you can handle it
>"Butterscotch," Twilight asks as she looks at you sternly, her horn flaring with energy. "Are you ready?"
>Looking at her from the corner of your eye, you nod once
"Yes. I'm ready."
>"Well... here goes."
>With those words, the mystic runes traced out upon the floor light up in a bright gold
 
>They then lift themselves off of the ground, levitating as they swirl about you in a spiralling pattern
>Looking over at Twilight, you see her entire body now glowing white
>Through the light she's giving off, you can barely perceive the details on her face, now twisted into an expression of pure focus and exertion
>As the runes around you move faster and faster, you notice a glimmer of golden light coming from below you
>Glancing down, your jaw drops as you see the tips of your hooves have lit up
>Tiny flakes seem to break off and, one by one, float towards the electric blue rift in the wall as you watch
>Though you're not exactly in pain, the sensation is still immensely uncomfortable
>To you, each piece dissolving does so with an intense squeezing sensation, followed by total numbness as it slips through to the Arrowverse
>Steadily, the sensation spreads from your hooves up through to your legs
>You wince and grit your teeth as the  wave of conversion starts to pass over your lower body, your internal organs now undergoing the process
>As you feel yourself continue to be torn apart and converted piece-by-piece, you look towards your wife and daughter
>Distraught and terrified, Wildflower has her head buried into her mother's side, unable to bear looking at you in these final moments
>Fluttershy, meanwhile, looks straight at you through tear-stained eyes, her hoof clutching Wildflower tightly to herself
>With your vision fading, you use your last seconds to draw a deep breath into what's left of your lungs
"I'll be back! I promise! Take care of Wildflo..."
>Your vocal cords dissolve into Brizoparticles before you can finish your sentence, your lips silently forming the final syllables
>"I will," you hear Fluttershy cry out in response. "Be safe!"
>Before you have the chance to even mouth out an answer, your eyesight and hearing fade out completely
>Your thoughts themselves dissolve and fade into oblivion soon after
>Then, nothing
 
===
 
>Blearily, you struggle to crack open your eyes
>You find yourself with a splitting headache, laying upon a strange, hard surface
>A faint, pink glow from the wall illuminates the room, the surfaces of which appear to be crystal
>Above you stands a shadowy figure, indistinct but definitely equine
>Observing you closely, it gasps as you blink to clear your vision
>It turns to the side. "Guys," the pony excitedly calls out. "Guys! He's waking up!"
>That voice
>It sounds familiar to you
"Du... Dusk?"
>Your vision comes back into focus at that moment, confirming your suspicions
>The clip-clop of hooves on the crystal floor heralds the arrival of more familiar faces
>Surrounding you in a ring, all of your old friends, Eris and Barb included, look down at you
>Though clearly tired, they're relieved to see you back and in one piece
>Frankly, you're relieved to be back in one piece as well
>They chatter excitedly, asking you all sorts of questions
>However, your mind, still rattled, can't quite focus on any one speaker in particular
>Instead, you look up at Rainbow Blitz as he offers a hoof to you
>Interlocking your limb with his, you allow your childhood friend to hoist you up onto your hooves
>"Welcome home, Butterscotch," he says, grinning as he throws a hoof around your neck
"Yeah..."
>Nodding at Blitz, you force a smile in return
"Home."