Kickback didn’t see the chaotic spirit after that, perhaps he made it perfectly clear that he was not afraid of Discord.

After the Hearth’s Warming celebration which involved a play based around the founding of Equestria , the elements of harmony did not star this year but they still had seat tickets, Spike was left behind this year but he was still given a choice but he decide to keep the library in check, Kickback was invited… but declined. The festival took place in Canterlot, all those guards and everything made it not a great place to be despite already being there before, the urban exploration was great but it just wasn’t for the crimson stallion. The six mares returned home and regaled their experiences, how it was like to see another do the same performance as you sit in the crowd.

A few days later, apparently Pinkie remembers everything, she threw another party for the viral colt which was confusing until she explained it.

“HAPPY ONE YEAR STAY IN PONYVILLE, KICKBACK!!” she exclaimed as he stepped into the bakery of which the pink mare worked at. Thing was this party was three days before New year’s, Pinkie had work to do. She managed to pull off yet another fantastic party, the ever traditional count down was climatic enough for Equestria to just simply explode. However it was not to Pinkie’s expectations, she invited three times as many ponies as the equines that were actually there, just the other elements and the scarlet stallion showed up but she was still caught up in having fun. That probably wasn’t the strangest thing though, as it got to about the last fifty seconds on the clock, Applejack asked for the viral stallion to step outside for a moment with her, the two trotted outside as Kickback still remaining calm yet was most curious as to what the orange mare wanted…in private. Applejack stopped in road and remained silent, Kickback looked at her with a calm smile, she noticed as she shot up in surprise of the stallion looking at her before her expression softened into her own smile with a hint of honey glow in her cheeks.

“Beautiful, aren’t they?” Kickback said as he looked away from the mare and stared upwards.

“What?” she responded.

“Stars…I never really take notice of them but they really are…beautiful” he said in soothing tone, maybe not intentionally but Applejack felt more at ease at the sound of his slightly accented voice. She looked up as she walked over to the stallion’s side. Kickback looked down at her and realised a slight shivering coursing down her body, an action that forced the stallion’s eyes to wander and explore her orange coat from her gorgeous face to her strong hind legs. She looked up at him, he stared back and smirked. “Ya cold?”

“Y-yeah, a little bit”

“Here” he said as he began to remove the outer layer of his suit, he slipped it off of his body and rested it over the mare, the black jacket was enough to put Applejack’s body heat to ease.

“Why ah haven’t seen ya out of this thing in a while…remember that day where you paid five hundred bits for those apples?”

“Yeah” he said with a chuckle.

“Well ah…ah mighty appreciate you, Kickback” she said in a friendly tone.

“If anything…I should be appreciating you, AJ, you and all your friends…feels like this town has changed me” he said as he began to think deeply.

“TEN” back inside, Pinkie called out to start.

“NINE” Dash was the first to pick it up.

“EIGHT” Twilight joined in.

“S-seven” Fluttershy said.

“SIX” added Rarity.

“Fahve” outside, Applejack carried on as she leaned in closer to the stallion.

“Four” he added as he watched her orange face grow ever closer to his own red muzzle.

“THREE! Hey where‘s-” Pinkie said, now looking around for something.

“Two…” Applejack said, little over a whisper as she began to slowly close her eyes as she leaned into Kickback”

“O-…” was all he could manage before his mouth became slightly too busy for words. Applejack had lunged forward and locked lips with the scarlet colt, he just sat there motionless, allowing her warm tongue to explore his mouth. Within a few seconds she backed away and stared into the darker rimmed eyes of the viral colt. Being that this wasn’t the first time Applejack decide to do that to him, he wasn’t as surprised as before.

“HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!” rang several voices from inside before the clanking of glasses could heard.

“Applejack-…”

“Happy new year, Kickback” she said, Kickback just looked at her before his snout converted into a smile, one that she gladly returned. January’s days weren’t too different from ever other day the stallion had spent in Ponyville, the occasional timberwolf or Manticore attack became less frequent as time drug on. It was clear to him now that the orange mare had a little something for him, he only thought of it like that though, romance was never a priority for him, never really was even considered let alone wanted. Because of that, he remained only friends with the farm pony, good friends and now old friends, Kickback had spent just over a year in Ponyville now and surprisingly was able to keep his secret for this long, the thought of them finding out still was dark corner in the back of his mind. That day may come soon and it will be non other than Kickback himself to reluctantly show them, that’s what he thought anyway, it was a feeling, like something was coming, something that was enough to make him unleash himself in front of his friends. New ponies started moving into town frequently, none buying houses or anything though, you would still see them but they would always be standing together in a group, isolated from everypony else. That secret club, held meetings almost everyday so access to the town hall was virtually non existent to anypony outside of it.

Whenever the stallion would see Lyra, she would always be a little forward, if catch my meaning. She sultry, she was seductive, everything you could think of and that got Kickback thinking about what to do about her, should he just be himself and remain calm? Or should he accept her advances?

“Well see ya around, big guy” she would always say before walking past but not without brushing her two toned green tail under his chin, on the front of his neck. Every now and again, he’d catch of something…no not that. Hey eyes would always briefly glow a emerald green before returning to her natural gold. Before he knew it, Vinyl was acting the same, seductive, saucy, sultry, you pick your adjective. Was it because it was getting close to Hearts and hooves day? Kickback thought, he first noticed it on the DJ when she invited him over one day. Kickback stood atop town hall, wondering what was going on inside, when he got the chance, he’d see the mayor and ask her about all of this meeting scheduling. It was then that he remembered that Vinyl Scratch was expecting him today, he jumped form the tall building and stretched his four legs out wide causing him to glide through the air like Chrissie Haybale in the movie Batmare. Kickback landed atop the home of the DJ and her classy grey friend and leapt off with a back flip to the ground in front of the door. He was open it but somepony had beaten him to it, the white unicorn herself swung the door open and beamed at the scarlet colt, once again that jade colour flickered in her eyes.

“Hey, you, come on in” she said in that same tone, he heard Lyra use.

“Hey Vinyl, what’s up?” Kickback greeted as he walked through the door, he turned to see Vinyl gazing up at him, eyes half lidded and a grin plastered on her muzzle.

“Just thought we could…chillax” she said, little over a whisper as she began to trot over into the next room, maybe it was imagination but as she walked, he could’ve sworn that she was wiggling her rump intentionally to each side, letting Kickback get a good look at her hind quarters. She turned back and looked at him with the same look, he just stared at her, mouth slightly agape.

“Vinyl…are you-..”

“C’mon, big guy” she said, as she turned back and trotted into the lounge room. Kickback shook his head and followed. She plopped herself down on the couch, Kickback stood a moment and looked at her, her beckoning eyes urging him to sit, an action of which he commenced. Kickback sat and faced away from the mare, little did he know that she was rummaging into a position that placed her body closer to his own. Kickback turned back to say something but was surprised at the image, Vinyl’s face was merely a few centimetres away from his own, she stared into his eyes with a grin as he stared back in shock. She moved into him, pressing her muzzle up to his, locking his lips with her own. His eyes widened at the action, her tongue was a hungry predator, desperate for passion, something Kickback just didn’t have. He remained there for a few moments before gently placing his right hoof on her shoulder and gingerly pushing her away, she took notice and stopped briefly before she giggled and lunged forward with force, Kickback fell back slightly at the action. She rested atop of him as she explored his mouth her warm tongue, Kickback didn’t know what to do at the moment, he was always a ‘go with the flow’ kind of pony or at least that’s he was now but he wasn’t sure if he was enjoying this. Vinyl released from his mouth, he gasped slightly which made the mare giggle before placing kisses on his neck.

“V-Vinyl?”

“Mhm”

“S-stop…what are you doing?” he said, changing his speechless tone to a stern one, Vinyl giggled.

“Awww c’mon” she said as she gazed up into his eyes, Kickback stared back into her red rimmed pools that were always beautiful but now that she was doing what she was doing made them even more. She gazed down at his attire and smirked. “C’mon, let’s get these off” she said as she began to slip the sleeves of his jacket off his forelegs. After the first sleeve, Vinyl lunged upwards and locked Kickback in a passionate kiss, she moaned softly in his mouth as the stallion felt a blissful sensation pass through him. That ‘bliss’ was strangely taken away, not so much completely but another feeling joined it, almost merged with it to complete the mix or illusion. Kickback couldn’t quite put his claw on it as he found himself kissing her back slightly, Vinyl giggled as she noticed and pressed on. Slowly, Kickback felt something, something different, a force of some kind, a slight tugging feeling inside him. It made him compelled to carry on with the unicorn mare but also it felt…wrong, slowly he began to feel drowsy, not so much tired as it was just him feeling like energy was being taken from him. Vinyl’s horn started to glow, first it’s original cyan then to a green shade, she tackled into their make out session with lust, moaning and giggling all the while as she felt like this virus riddled pony was putty in her hooves. Kickback opened his eye to find an indescribable sight, a green aura enveloped the two ponies, lighting the room up in an ominous green glow. Kickback knew something was definitely wrong now.

“V-Vi-…Vin-Vinyl…VINYL!! Get off!” he shouted, pulling away from the kiss and trying to push the mare off him. Vinyl’s confused expression turned to one of pure rage, Kickback watched as she leapt off the couch in an unnatural matter at super speeds. She hissed before she let out an animalistic growl, Kickback’s eyebrows lowered as he grew angry and prepared for what was to come, he sat up and hopped off the couch himself and flipped his hood on. Vinyl…or whatever was in the room took on a stance a tiger would before it was to pounce, suddenly green flames rocketed from her hooves up to neck, to her face, she was completely different, if Kickback hadn’t seen worse, he’d probably puke. No longer was it the beautiful and spunky white unicorn mare with her signature electric blue mane and short cut tail but an insect-like pony. It’s eyes, two aqua spheres were all they were, wings not unlike those of a ladybug protruded from a dark blue layer over it‘s back, like the shell of a beetle. No longer was it’s surface a white coat but rather a jet black shade that looked smooth. It had fangs that hung down from it’s top jaw as it gritted it’s teeth, a sharp horn extended from it’s fore head, it’s ears were like fins you would find on a fish, it’s legs were covered in holes, as if somepony took a knife and cut circles into them. This horrible…thing had it’s gazed fixed on the stallion.

“What the buck are you?”

“Gnaaahahaa”

“Don’t speak Equish?…FINE!!!” without warning, Kickback brought his front right foreleg back, crimson and ebony tendrils smarmed along his shoulder, making their way to his hoof, within two seconds, Kickback’s weapon was formed, ready for killing. Kickback wordlessly lunged his claw at the creature, it dash to the side, Kickback looked up at it and swiped his claw in it’s direction. It went airborne, hovering with it’s insect wings, making an annoying buzzing sound as they frantically flapped. Kickback jumped up and caught it’s back left leg, he brought the bastard down, it staggered a bit before it got to it’s hooves.

“C’mon, you son of a bitch!”

Suddenly the beast did what could be called the equivalent of a smile, it’s sharp shined as it grinned maliciously. Another wave of green flames coursed up the monster, Kickback could hardly believe what he was seeing. A dark red coated stallion, a lengthened tail, a long black and white mane, dark green eyes, his right foreleg, morphed into a disgustingly unnatural appendage, he wore hooded apparel and an evil look on his face. Kickback then realised that this thing…this shape changing mother bucker can take on a pony’s appearance and even their voice. “C’mon, you son of a bitch” it said in the same tone that was earlier phrased. Kickback took a step back as he stared in rage and horror at the being before him, it wasn’t himself, no but nevertheless what he was seeing horrified him, the fact that this creature took on his form and the fact that he was looking at himself when he was that way made him cringe. What Kickback did next was something he expect him to nor did the copy of himself could predict it. He laughed, Kickback was audibly chuckling to himself as he bowed his head enough to cover his eyes, his shoulders buckled as his chuckling became louder and more sinister.

“hehehehahahHahahHAHAHA, Alright then, let’s see how well you can adapt!!” he shouted, Kickback suddenly changed again, his left hoof spun around and soon manifested into a long whip-like appendage. He lunged it at the copy, catching it off guard, it wrapped around the creature, it was pulled closer to the stallion as Kickback brought his whip-fist back violently, causing the monster to frantically spin around, trying to get back it’s balance. Kickback continued to chuckle as he unleashed his onslaught, he slashed the mirror image’s face with his claw, it cried in pain in it’s original voice as it held it’s bleeding face with his hoof and own claw. Kickback manifested his forelegs into three pronged limbs, he stepped up to the creature and grabbed both of it’s front legs, he looked up at it’s scared face, a barrage of flames covered it’s body and it was soon back to it’s original hideous form, Kickback smiled under his hood at the thing, his eye glowed an eerie red-orange before he looked down at his hands grasping the limbs of the creature.

“hehehehehehehe” he let out to himself as he began to tug on it’s front limbs, he stood up on his hind legs and hoisted the being to it’s own and violently pulled at the sockets.

“Hahahaha Hahah” he continued as the creature began to whelp in fear and pain. Crackling noises could be heard as the skin and bone of this bastard was about give way. Kickback relieved himself of his laughing and gritted teeth as he pulled on it’s legs. One. More. Time. It screeched in pain as it flailed about, it collapsed on it’s chin and began to cry out, Kickback look down at his work and threw it’s legs to the side, hardly any blood. Kickback morphed his right leg back into a hoof and trotted closer to the monstrosity and looked down at it, he picked it up by the back of the neck with his left limb. He stared at it, green eyes to bug eyes. Without warning or words, Kickback held the creature as he continuously beat it with his bare hoof like a punching/bucking bag. Within moments, the creature was enveloped by the ‘mercer-less’ stallion in a smarm of red and black bio-mass. Kickback felt pain in his head as he shone images blinded by a white light, bits and pieces only, nothing was clear, much an animal’s memory. There was one thing though that intrigued him, an image of an alicorn-like creature but with same design of the monster he consumed, female by the looks of it, it was, eyes of a normal pony and a long web-like mane. It wasn’t what she was though but rather where she was, Kickback saw Canterlot and his friends then a desert of some kind, the image of a hive was seen next, a dark cave, green and slimy eggs hung from the ceiling holding what appeared to be their spawn. The next image made Kickback cringed in horror…mating. What was next was confusing and shocking, inside town hall, ponies of all kinds in the crowd, the mayor on the stage then the same insect-mare could be seen on the balcony entering, being displayed as red curtains revealed her. Before anything else, the flashback faded, leaving Kickback confused, shocked and…afraid. Next Chapter: Hunting The Love Eaters Estimated time remaining: 3 Hours, 54 Minutes