Crystal Fever
Twilight POV

The smell of freshly cooked blueberry pancakes filled the kitchen air. Barb was finishing up the table after getting Moon off to school. I was happy to be home in Ponyville surrounded by books of Golden Oak's Library. I was glad to be safe and sound after a close call a few days ago in the Crystal Empire. Sure it was scary to think I almost saw the Gold Pastures, but I was happy to be alive and safe. I was also glad to have Xavier still alive and kicking even though he looked terrible in the morning after mating Barb. Let's just say he had to take some pain medication for his pelvis. Can't blame him since I knew female dragons become instinctual as they go round after round.

I looked back as Barb smiled and hummed to herself. I was happy to see my sister and assistant glad to be in love. But I knew to make sure that Barb didn't kill him in her need for pleasure. So the next time she mated, I would use a spell to pull down her instinctual behavior for mating to make sure she doesn't put Xavier in the hospital for a broken pelvis because of Barb. But the one thing I had to adjust to was the scars on Xavier's body. They were from when two Freeza attacks that hit him, even though it showed that Xavier put his life on the line to save the Crystal Empire and us, but when I look at them, I see a man willing to lay down his life for us. They were also made him more attractive to me, I guess because of my brother and father being in the army, and they had plenty of scars. I suppose I had a thing for stallions with battle scars, much like dragoness pick their mates with the most battle scars.

So why was I cooking blueberry pancakes, much to the disgust to Flame? He never liked my cooking. But I ignored him when I did cook. Sure I wasn't the best cook, but at least I managed. Barb and Xavier were the best cooks out of the house since all Flame ever made was just a sandwich. He was too lazy to do anything but make a sandwich, stuff his face with it, and then back to sleep. Not mentioning, eating half the stuff in the fridge. I thought Barb had a bad eating habit of gems, but Flame was the worst as he seemed just to want to eat and eat. Thank goodness for Xavier helping out with food and other things around the library. So now back to the reason, I was making pancakes because the harem had a pancake breakfast with Xavier.

Applejack and I decided we didn't spend a lot of time together. So we called this breakfast so that we could spend some time with Xavier. Soon I heard knocking on the door. Barb and I were busy, but lucky for us. A cat was in the main library.

"Flame, get the door," I said

I heard him groan as another knock came. I then heard the door open and close. Soon, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Applejack entered the kitchen.

"Hi, girls," I said

"Hi, Twilight." Said the others

"Just settle down girls, and I'll go get Xavier. Then we can eat," I said

Barb took over as I went up to my room to get Xavier. I had been letting him sleep in because he deserved it. I opened the door and found him, still asleep. But something seemed off with Xavier. I walked up to him and started to shake him awake. But as I did, I found he was burning hot. I flipped him over and placed my hand on his forehead, and it was hot showing Xavier was burning up. I then watched as he coughed and blood came out. My eyes widened as I heard he was having trouble breathing and placed my ear up to his chest and heard his heart struggling to pump blood. I quickly ran the stairs to the get the girls.

I ran into the kitchen and Applejack turned to me.

"Where's the fire Twilight?" She asked

"Xavier, something's wrong with him," I said

Before I could say anything else, Fluttershy zipped by us. The rest of us ran up the stairs, and Fluttershy was checking over Xavier, even though all her medical training was from Veterinarian books. Xavier coughed again, and blood rolled out his mouth. Flame came in and saw his brother.

"What's wrong with him?" Asked Flame

"I don't know, but we should get him to the hospital. The doctors would know what is happening." Said Fluttershy

"Flame, think you can store the food." He nodded, but I got down in his face. "Don't eat it all!" He nodded again.

He ran out the room but turned to us.

"I know Xavier trusts you with his life, so I'll do the same. Just bring him back alive." Said Flame

"We will, Flame," I said

Applejack and Barb got Xavier up, and then I charged my horn, and we disappeared in a flash of white.

***

We sat in the waiting room of the hospital. We just sat nervously waiting for Xavier's problem. Please Celestia please, don't let this be life threatening. I looked at Applejack as she held her Stetson in her hand rubbing the brown leather. Rarity was just holding Fluttershy as Barb sat next to me. An hour had already passed since we arrived in the hospital with Xavier. I knew something was bad if an hour already passed and Red Heart wasn't back yet. That made me nervous about what was wrong with Xavier. Soon Red Heart came back to the room, but her expression told me that I should expect the worst. She walked over to us as we got up from our chairs

"Red Heart darling, please tell us what's wrong with Xavier." Said Rarity

"Yes, please." Said Fluttershy

"Just tell us he'll be ok." Said Barb

"I'm sorry to you all, but I can't say that. I can't give you any good news." Said Red Heart

"What's wrong?" I asked

"Xavier has come down with the worst possible disease know to ponies, Crystal Fever." Said Red Heart

My heart just stopped as I heard the words Crystal Fever. Since I was a book worm, I read books about medical diseases. Crystal Fever happened to be in a book I was reading. It was an incurable disease that killed with twenty-four hours of contracting it. I felt my world shatter around me with those two words spinning in my head.

"What's Crystal Fever?" Asked Applejack

"An incurable disease that takes its host within twenty-four of the host contracting the disease," I said

"I'm sorry, but Twilight's right. If I were you, I would be by his side. There is nothing we can do for him except make sure he isn't in pain. I'm sorry." Said Red Heart

We watched Red Heart leave, and I could have sworn I heard her start to cry. I looked at the girls. I could see their worlds were as broken as mine. Our whole world had just fallen on itself, and there wasn't a thing we could do to change what was happening. Xavier was going to pass away. I started to hear crying as Fluttershy just fell to the ground just crying like no tomorrow. Applejack tipped her hat, but that didn't stop the tears from rolling down her face. Rarity and Barb were also crying as Rarity tried her best to comfort Fluttershy who just couldn't stop her tears.

"Let's go see him," I said

We walked back to his room, with the guidance of Red Heart. We pushed opened the door, and there was our hero only a few days ago, hooked up to machines and wires. We walked in, and that was it for me. I laid my head down on his chest just everything out. I felt Applejack rubbing my back, and I got up and hugged her. My harem stallion who risked his life for us in the Crystal Empire was lying in a hospital bed dying. I grabbed Applejack tight as she tried to calm me down.

"What I'm going to tell Moon and Flame, Applejack? What am I going to say to them?" I asked

"I don't know Twilight. I don't know." Said Applejack

"Xavier, please get up, please get up." Said Fluttershy

"Fluttershy darling, he's not going to get up. We all have to face the fact the stallion we love is going to find the Gold Pastures." Said Rarity

"No, I don't want him to leave." Fluttershy lunged at Xavier's unconscious body and held it tight. "Please stay with us, Xavier. Please don't go. I still want to do so much with you. I still want you to claim my virginity. I still want to do so much with you." Said Fluttershy

"Fluttershy," I said

Fluttershy was just a mess as she hugged Xavier trying to hope for him to wake. I was hoping for his sea blue eyes to open up and smile to be on his face as we look at him. I felt like I was right back when Stray Wolf nearly killed him. But this time, there was no chance for Xavier pulling out of this one, no, Xavier was finally going to meet his end. There wasn't a thing any unicorn or even the princesses could do to stop this. Xavier was going to be no more by the next sunrise.

"Xavier, please, just please wake up." Said Fluttershy

"I think we need to leave and think about what to do next." Said Applejack

"I agree." Said Barb

I nodded and walked over to get Fluttershy up. I was expecting her to fight, but she didn't, she just let go. I helped her up, and we walked out. Red Heart looked at us as we left. I could see she wanted to say something, but didn't. I knew she couldn't figure out anything to say to help us out. Nothing in Equestria could change what was going to happen. We were going to have tobury Xavier.

***

We sat where we all first meet Xavier just enjoying the breeze, or as best as we could. Fluttershy was just curled up looking at the Everfree Forest. She was silent as the wind blew by her. I kept my eye on her as Barb sat next to me. Applejack was next to Rarity as the fashion mare couldn't stop crying. Even tears still fell from my cheeks, because I didn't have any idea how to tell Flame. I saw how Xavier was engulfed in rage when he thought Flame died, but I didn't know how Flame would react to me telling him Xavier was dying. I had no idea even where to start with Moon since she looked up to Xavier as she did me.

I just closed my eyes and wished for a miracle to happen, but I then heard footsteps coming towards us. We all looked, and we couldn't believe our eyes. Stray Wolf and a few Timber Wolves were coming near us. Fluttershy didn't even turn to look at him. She just stayed the way she did. He stopped as the wolves stood behind him. He smiled as he looked at us. I just growled as I got up and wiped my tears from my face.

"What do you want?!" I demanded

"Just coming to see what you were all crying about." Said Stray Wolf

"Like you care." Said Applejack

"Oh, but I do. I know why you cry. You cry over the loss of your worthless human." Said, Stray Wolf

"Shut you worthless trap." Said Rarity

"Oh, so my scouts were right about Xavier kicking the bucket with Crystal Fever. What a shame, I always swore I would be the one to put him down." Said, Stray Wolf

"Be quiet." Said Fluttershy

"Be quiet and not enjoy the death of my foe and the sight of his sobbing lovers. I think you're overstepping your bounds with me, Fluttershy." Said, Stray Wolf

"Shut up, shut the fuck up!" Said Fluttershy

That was the first time I ever heard Fluttershy curse. But I could also tell her voice was different, anger and rage now filled it. Something was completely different about Fluttershy almost like something had taken over her body.

"What words, coming from a Pegasus who can't look me in the eyes. No wonder Xavier never screwed you." Said, Stray Wolf

"Die fucker!" Said Fluttershy

Fluttershy jumped up and sped right at Stray Wolf with rage and anger filling her eyes. Her fist tightly closed. A Timber Wolf jumped at Fluttershy, which surprisingly she dodged and the next thing threw us all off. Fluttershy grabbed the neck of Timber Wolf and snapped it. The Timber Wolf fell over dead at Fluttershy's hooves.

"Shut the fuck up about Xavier. I swear to Celestia if you continue to speak ill of him, I'll snap every one of your worthless Timber Wolves necks and then yours. I swear to it." Said Fluttershy

Fluttershy raised her hoof and crushed the head of the Timber Wolf. We backed off from Fluttershy as we were all thrown off by the amount of rage inside of her. Never once had anyone of us seen Fluttershy like this. We always took her as a shy mare, but this was a different side of Fluttershy all together, a side that scared me.

"My you are surprising. My wolves told me you were nothing but a scared little Pegasus that couldn't assert herself. But here you are threatening to kill my wolves and me. You must be brave or stupid." Said, Stray Wolf

"Would you like to find out, fucker!" Said Fluttershy

"I would love to, but I didn't come here to fight, but to bargain." Said, Stray Wolf

I stepped forward and placed a hand on Fluttershy's shoulder to try and calm her down. She didn't turn to me she kept her eyes fixed on Stray Wolf. Her gaze of anger and rage started to cause the Timber Wolves to back off from their master. Stray Wolf gave a toothy grin as I spoke to answer his question as I also tried to settle down Fluttershy who now hid behind her mane.

"What bargain?" I asked

"How about the bargain for a cure to save Xavier." Said, Stray Wolf

"But that's not possible. Crystal Fever has no cure." Said Applejack

"That you ponies know about, but you see, I have a third party member who doesn't want Xavier to die just yet. So he has a cure to Crystal Fever that will whip Xavier right back into shape. In just a matter of minutes, he'll be waking up and asking why he's in the hospital, instead of ending up in a coffin in the ground." Said, Stray Wolf

Fluttershy gave a feral growl that caused the Timber Wolves to back off even more. I kept my hand on her shoulder to keep her calm.

"But how can we trust you? You wish to kill Xavier. You could easily give us something to that could kill him faster." Said Rarity

"True, you can't trust me, but what other options do you have. Plus, to tell the truth, I still want Xavier to die by my hand instead of Crystal Fever. Sure once he's gone, Pandora can rise and destroy everything in his path, but I think Xavier kicking the bucket by a disease is a cheap way to go." Said, Stray Wolf

"But a bargain always has two sides," I said

"Yes that is true, so here's what I want. I want one pint of Xavier's blood. That's all, a pint of blood in exchange for a cure from my third party. Oh and this a one time deal. You leave or say no, well you better start the funeral arrangements." Said, Stray Wolf

We all looked at each other. Sure we couldn't trust the creature that nearly killed Xavier twice. But we were also out of options. What should we do? Then Fluttershy surprised us all and spoke up.

"I'll get you your pint of blood."

"Fluttershy," I said

"I know we can't trust him, but what choice do we have. I won't accept losing Xavier and if making a deal with Stray Wolf is the only way to bring Xavier back then so be it." Said Fluttershy

I was going to speak back against it, but Fluttershy turned towards me. In the darkness of her mane, I could see one eye, and I would never forget that look. It was red and cat-like and froze me to the core. I shook as I looked at it. Fluttershy, what's happened to you.

"Do we have a deal?" Asked Fluttershy

"Yes, bring the blood back here in one hour, and I'll give you the cure. If you're not back by then, well, sorry no luck." Said, Stray Wolf

Fluttershy nodded as she took off towards in the sky and flew as fast a Rainbow Dash to the hospital. The Timber Wolves just watched the sky as Stray Wolf smiled.

"Remarkable, I have never seen a pony capable of having that much demonic power and not falling too it." Said Stray Wolf

"What do you mean?" I asked

"Your shy little friend happens to be the host to the Cat Demon Cattosis. A demon with incredible powers that once roamed Equestria destroying whole villages. But I sense much more power than she should have. I think if she wanted to. She could have killed me and never blinked an eye. Fascinating." Said Stray Wolf

"But what I read about demons, you can't control their powers." Said Applejack

"Yes, so you have to be lying." Said Rarity

"Stray Wolf isn't lying, girls when Fluttershy turned to me, I saw a cat eye where we normal eye should be," I said

"Yes, you are right Applejack, no mortal can control a demon's powers, well except for two factors. You must meet one of the factors to control demonic powers. The first is if the child is born of demon's blood or in your friend's case, infused with the demon." Said, Stray Wolf

"Infused." Said Barb

"In simple terms, somepony in her past merged her soul and the soul of Cattosis. Normally either method has the host losing control to the demon and becoming the demon themselves. But in your friend's case, she is in complete control. Interesting that it only manifested itself through the sadness of losing Xavier and the rage of my speech." Said Stray Wolf

Soon a Speed Wolf appeared as did Fluttershy. She had a bag of blood. I was going to ask how she got it so fast but decided not to ask. I didn't want to anger her anymore.

"That was fast." Said Stray Wolf

"You asked for a pint of blood. You never mentioned how to get it. But I have it, now the cure." Said Fluttershy

"No I didn't, but I guess using Cattosis's blood magic probably helped. And before you ask Twilight, Cattosis can allow her to use magic without being a unicorn." Stray Wolf

I watched as Stray Wolf took a vial of liquid from the mouth of the Speed Wolf and walked to Fluttershy. He first gave Fluttershy the cure and then Fluttershy gave him the blood. He smiled as she walked back. But Fluttershy stopped him.

"Stray Wolf if you betray us and this cure kills Xavier, I will hunt you down and kill every last worthless fucking Timber Wolf you have, and then I'll personally kill you with my bare hands." Said Fluttershy

Soon two Timber Wolves exploded in a mess of wood and sap. The third one looked at the two lost comrades before snapping in two and being crush before dropped to the ground. Stray Wolf laughed as he looked back at Fluttershy with a toothy smile.

"Truly fascinating, it is truly fascinating." Said, Stray Wolf

He walked away holding Xavier's blood as we watched him enter the Everfree Forest. We all stood speechless and motionless, and we looked at Fluttershy.

"I know you girls have plenty of questions of how I have the demon Cattosis merged with me, but I don't wish to tell that tale. I also ask that you don't bring this up to Xavier. I'll tell him when I feel it is right and that's when you all can know as well." Said Fluttershy

"No problem darling, but please could you go back to normal Fluttershy. I don't like Demonshy at all." Said Rarity

Fluttershy flapped her wings a few times and moved her mane out of the way and smiled. We could all tell it was the Fluttershy we all know and love. We walked up and looked at the vial. The liquid inside was a blue color with a green tint to it.

"Girls, I want us all to promise that we never speak a word to Xavier about how we got him the cure. We take our dark deal with Stray Wolf to our deaths," I said

"Let's Pinkie Promise on it." Said Barb

"Cross our heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in our eye." We all said with the motions.

I took the vial and teleported us back to the hospital when we arrived, we gave the Redheart the cure and told her to give it to Xavier. She wanted to ask how we even had a cure, but she didn't. We ran back to Xavier's room as Redheart administered the treatment and the second it hit Xavier's blood stream, he seemed to start to recover. We all smiled as we saw Xavier open his eyes. We then heard him speak.

"What happened, where am I? Am I, am I in the hospital." He said

We all couldn't control our tears and jumped on him and hugged and kissed him, even though he was apparently confused about what had happened to him. We told him about Crystal Fever and the cure. But we left out the part about dealing with Stray Wolf for the cure and Fluttershy's demonic powers. Sure now when I looked at Fluttershy, all I could see was that cat eye. But I still trusted my friend and harem mate and also the bearer of the Element of Kindness. But as I turned to look out the window, I had a single thought on my mind, What did Stray Wolf want with Xavier's blood and who is this third party?

***
Stray Wolf POV

I stood in waiting in the Everfree Forest. Soon the land filled with darkness and I looked around as the Speed Wolf next to me looked at around as well. Soon a dark laughter filled the air.

"What a show today, I never expected the shy one to have the demon, Cattosis, in her."

"Yes, I found it interesting as well. But I got you your blood as you asked. The ponies probably already administered the cure to Xavier," I said

Soon the pint of blood began to float from my hand into the darkness.

"Excellent, my experiments are right on track. I thank you, Stray Wolf."

"Yes, but I don't see how a pint of blood is worth anything to you," I said

"Oh to me, Stray Wolf, this is more than blood. No, this is the secret to Xavier Young. And when I crack that secret, I'll almost have everything I need to begin the procedure. But first I must finish all my experiments even to get the clues of how to start the proceedings."

"Now you've stricken my curiosity, what exactly are you planning?" I asked

"Oh Stray Wolf, something that will turn the tides of this war, something that will change the course of this timeline. Yes, something to forever haunt Xavier Young."

The dark laughter filled the air as I smiled. The end is coming for you, Xavier, just you wait. I began to laugh as well as everything was going according to plan and soon Pandora would rise again.

Author's Notes:

So I went into the far end of things with this chapter. But I do hope you enjoy it anyway as it leads to a lot of open paths for me to take the story. I will explain how Fluttershy and demon Cattosis are one. But that will be much later, and I seemed to have expanded the mystery of the experiments on Xavier. I wonder where these tests will lead our hero and who is this mystery person pulling this experiments on Xavier. Well, I guess you'll just have to wait and see. So as always: comment, like, follow, share, and tell. See you all the next exciting chapter of The Fabled Warrior.