Twilight looked around at the little team she had been provided, feeling oddly like some sort of college professor leading a study group. One medic and two Scribes were waiting to assist Twilight and take notes, respectively. A power-armored Knight was standing guard in the corner, at Elder Lyons' insistence, and Pinkie was standing behind Twilight, just in case her wheelchair needed moving. Fluttershy, the object of their interest, was sitting on the end of a hospital bed facing the group with a somewhat dazed expression on her face.

It was the first time that Twilight had had a chance to get a good look at Fluttershy since her transformation. Fluttershy’s wings were enormous, large enough to stretch out two feet beyond her outstretched arms on either side. The other visible physical changes were blood-red sclera, elongated talons that replaced her fingernails, and prominent fangs, were just as Twilight had noted earlier, though she was surprised to realize that Fluttershy's ears now tapered to little points, too.

"Are we going to get started soon?" Fluttershy asked.

"We'll get started right away," Twilight replied, making a mental note that Fluttershy was certainly bolder and more abrupt, though whether that was due to psychological stress or the FEV mutation remained to be seen. "First of all, how are you feeling?"

Fluttershy eyed the Brotherhood personnel warily. "Um, surprised that it's not just us, but otherwise okay."

Twilight hardly blamed her, it wasn't pleasant being treated like a lab rat, even at the best of times. "Sorry about them. I wanted it to be just you and me, but Scribe Rothchild wanted a full team of Scribes in here; this was our compromise."

"I understand," Fluttershy sighed. "What do you want to know?"

Twilight hummed as she considered. "How has your perception been affected? Does everything still look the same?"

"My senses are definitely sharper," Fluttershy replied. "I can hear everyone's heartbeat from here and I can smell everything in this room, even the grease that lubricates the joints on that power armor."

Somehow, Twilight wasn't surprised by that. Those changes were just further proof that Fluttershy was adapting to become a predator. Of course, the fact that her friend had mutated into a predator in the first place, and one that preyed upon humans no less, was absolutely terrifying. Still, the more they learned about how Fluttershy had changed the better, and that was precisely what this little session was about.

"Okay, so you've got improved senses, and we've already seen that you've got enhanced strength, too." Twilight frowned. "I imagine that you've probably got increased stamina as well, but we can't really test your physical capabilities until Elder Lyons lets you use the assault course."

"That won't happen until we're sure that she's not going to attack anyone again," the Knight stated from the corner.

Twilight let out a resigned sigh. "Fair enough." She looked uneasily at Fluttershy. "So, Fluttershy, er, do you have any idea if you're going to, uh… do that again?"

Fluttershy absently patted her stomach. "I don't think so? I'm not feeling the same itch I did before when I was… well… hungry."

"Can you remember everything from when you were out of control?" Twilight asked.

Fluttershy nodded. “I was conscious, but… I couldn't control myself, I couldn't even think properly. It was like I was acting on pure instinct. I felt itchy all over my body, and every fiber of my being was consumed with this desperate urge to…" she blushed and looked away, "to get blood as quickly as possible."

The Scribes scribbled everything down furiously. As they wrote, one of them asked, "But you don't feel that way now?"

"No," Fluttershy replied. "I guess I must just be… full."

"We should probably start putting together a stock of spare blood packs, in case you start getting thirsty for blood again," Twilight suggested. "We may want to look into blood substitutes too, just in case."

One of the Scribes raised a hand. "Um, if I may, FEV is known to remove all sexual characteristics when introduced to humans. Have you noticed any changes in that regard?"

Twilight wished her hands were mobile so she could slap a hand to her face. That was a topic she had wanted to broach privately, if only to spare Fluttershy a little embarrassment. Fluttershy did indeed blush, but, to Twilight's immense surprise, she pulled the collar of her top out so she could look down at her own breasts.

"I don't think there've been any changes," Fluttershy said flatly. "I'll, um, check properly later."

"A-anyway," Twilight cut in, "what about your magic? I know we don't have any animals here for you to talk to, but can you still pony up?"

Fluttershy blinked slowly. "I… I don't know." She grabbed her Geode and closed her eyes, then frowned thoughtfully. "That's weird. It almost feels like…" A faint glow wafted from the Geode, spreading until it covered Fluttershy's whole body. When it faded it took her wings and talons with it, her eye color returned to normal, and even her fangs shrank until they were merely larger than average instead of being offensive weapons. Only her ears were unchanged, still tapering to little points where they poked out of her hair.

"Wait, you were ponied up this whole time?!" Twilight cried, ignoring the twinge of pain from her back.

Fluttershy shook her head slowly. "No… I just…" She raised an eyebrow as she stroked her Geode absently. "I… think I can still…" her Geode flashed and suddenly she was ponied up; her hair, clothes and wings all changing exactly as they usually did. She let the magic drain away and returned to normal, then the Geode flashed again and suddenly Fluttershy was once more transformed into a vampiric caricature. "I think I can switch forms at will."

"That's great!" Twilight's back flashed with pain again as she looked over at the Scribes, pausing her and everyone else in the room as they watched her twinge in pain. A few seconds passed before Twilight spoke again, "Let Elder Lyons know that Fluttershy can change at will, she's sa-"

"Wait," Pinkie interrupted. "Fluttershy? Are you okay?"

Twilight blanched as she realized that Fluttershy was grimacing and clutching at her stomach, her breathing coming in rapid gasps.

"I think my magic changed, too," Fluttershy hissed. "I… I'm itchy again."

Before anyone else could respond, a blood pack flew out of nowhere and smacked Fluttershy in the face. She flinched, but nevertheless managed to catch it and sank her fangs into it before drinking deeply. When it was empty she let out a satisfied sigh. "Thanks, Pinkie."

"No problem," Pinkie replied brightly.

Twilight shook her head in resignation. "We're going to need more blood packs." She brightened up as a thought occurred to her. "We might be able to get by with animal blood instead of human; we'll have to try that the next time you need some. I guess we'll have to figure out a more suitable receptacle for the blood than those little packs, too."

"You know, blood can be used as a suitable substitute for eggs when baking," Pinkie put in. "Want me to make some cakes with it?"

"No, Pinkie," Twilight huffed.

Next Chapter: Chapter 71 - Founts of Magic Estimated time remaining: 30 Hours, 13 Minutes