Chapter Three: Predatory Behavior

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Big Macintosh had gone straight back to Sweet Apple Acres after leaving the doctor’s office. The thought of a party after watching Applebloom have some kind of seizure, not once, but twice in the same day had brought his mind to much darker pastures. The sun was on its way to the horizon, but there were still a few hours to go before twilight by the time he finally pushed passed the front door of the Apple family’s humble dwelling. His mind lingered in the open doorway.

Should Ah have stayed with ‘em? He looked back down the path, Ponyville only faintly visible in the distance. AJ an Rainbow Dash are tough girls, but… Dammit… Ain’t much Ah can do ‘bout it now, ‘cept maybe meet em half way here…

The red stallion turned from the door and bucked it closed. A tremble ran down his spine as his thoughts drifted back to Applebloom.

Whatever the hell attacked mah lil’ sis; it comes round here again, Ahm gonna make damn sure it takes a long dirt nap.

While exceedingly uncommon in the ordinarily peaceful land of Equestria, firearms were certainly a reality. Big Macintosh happened to be the owner of one of them. On the highest shelf in his closet, locked away within its case, there rested a well polished double barreled shotgun. Macintosh had acquired it not long after watching his home and barn devoured by parasprites. The threat of diamond dogs, while very remote, was also a contributing factor in the purchase. He had not purchased it from another pony, however. Firearms of any sort, beyond fully fledged cannons, were entirely of griffon design. Such being the case, Big Macintosh had become the proud owner of a 12 gauge shotgun only as the result of a chance encounter with a griffon merchant passing through Equestria.

Admittedly, he could count the number of times he had actually fired it on his hooves, but he had been proficient enough blasting apples on a fallen tree at the time. Slowly, he looked over the weapon as it sat snugly in its opened case, a box of shells settled in a recession in the corner. Handling it was extremely awkward, given his lack of fingers, and he had found it necessary to remove the trigger guard in order to nudge the trigger with his forehoof. The only practical way to use it was to rear up, cradling it in his forelegs, effectively firing from the hip.

’s hurtin’ Applebloom. Mac placed a hoof on the stock, admiring the exotic instrument of destruction before him. Whatever it is, Ah gotta kill it ‘fore it can hurt her again. ‘fore it can hurt anypony again.

Macintosh shut and locked the case, sliding it under his bed rather than lifting it back to the closet shelf.

Feeling exhausted from a combination of sleeplessness and the stress of time spent bedside with Applebloom, Mac decided to rest his eyes, lying back on his bed while he waited for his sisters and Rainbow Dash to return home.

He felt as though he had only just closed his eyes when Wynona started barking furiously in the next room. The click of the front door brought him back to his hooves. Outside, he could see the sun dipping below the tree line, painting the sky a rich pink.

Guess Ah musta dozed off there…

“Anypony there?” The silence stretched on for several moments. “Hello?”

A familiar, scratchy, feminine voice replied. “Hey Mac. Just me.”

Rainbow Dash, apparently.

“Oh, alright… Where’s AJ an’ Applebloom?”

He could hear her coming down the hall, the sound of her hoofsteps getting louder the closer she got.

“They’ll be here soon. I’m just scouting ahead to make sure everything is safe. You find anything out of the ordinary?”

“Nope. Well… Ah kinda took a nap, actually. Never got ‘round to checkin’ the place fer… Whatever it is been causin’ all this trouble.”

She was right outside his door now. Big Macintosh had closed the door so that Granny Smith didn’t stumble in on him checking on his shotgun. Applejack was the only other pony that knew he had bought it, as well as where he kept it hidden and where he hid the key. Considering the circumstances, he decided it couldn’t hurt if Rainbow Dash knew as well.

“Yeah? Don’t worry about it. The party ended up going south anyway. Pinkie is a little upset about it, but, you know. Oh, and AJ is kinda drunk, just a heads up.” There was an awkward pause. “You uh… Mind if I come in?”

“Sure, Ah was fixin’ on showin’ ya somethin’ anyway. Ya can’t tell Granny Smith or Applebloom or anyone else ‘bout this though, okay?”

The door opened just enough to allow the blue pegasus to slip inside. Mac glanced back to the bed as Dash came up beside him. Something immediately felt wrong. Without turning his head, the red stallion did his best to get a look at Rainbow Dash, doing everything in his power to suppress the chills working their way through his body.

“What’s up? You’re bristling and stuff.”

Emerald green. He quickly averted his eyes, directing them back to the foot of his bed.

“Ahm jus’ on edge ‘s all. This whole thing ‘s jus’ givin’ me the jitters. Anyway, Ah betcha didn’t know Ah owned a gun, didja?”

“Woah, what? Where? When did you get a gun?”

Slowly, Big Macintosh pulled the case from under the bed. Dash stayed put, but he felt as if she were looking right through him, her presence sucking the warmth out of the room, trying to pull him in too.

“Well, ya remember when that bandit broke in an’ stole the profits from our harvest a few months back, dontcha? Got it not long after that.” Lying didn’t sit well with him, but he felt it a necessary evil given his situation. “A griffin decided ta take a rest from his travels here on the farm. Traded it fer food an’ water.”

He took a deep breath, trying to slow his heartbeat, trying to calm himself as he turned the key, nudged back the cover. Polished steel and maple stock glistened in soft glow of the setting sun. As he extended his hoof to the case again, intent on removing the shotgun, he felt a warm breath against the side of his neck, followed by something wet.

A tongue. A blue forehoof flipped the lid closed before he could touch the felt lining, shoving the case back under the bed.

“You don’t really think I’m that stupid, do you?”

The red stallion snorted. “What gave me away?”

“Do you mean your lie about the bandit or the way you were telegraphing your motives to me through your body language? I’m sorry to say that subtlety isn’t your strongsuit.”

“Eeyep…”

A short burst of laughter drifted from the mare’s lips to Macintosh’s ears. “And what gave me away, then?”

“Ah talked to Twilight this mornin’ when she came round the doctor’s office. Mentioned somethin’ ‘bout how there might be some connection ‘tween the creature behind the attacks an’ the color a her eyes. Right ‘bout now Ah’d say she’s onta somethin’.”

Despite the situation, Big Macintosh found himself grinning. “An’ Rainbow Dash may well be attached at tha hip to Applejack. Dash showin’ up here by herself ain’t exactly ordinary.”

He turned, as slowly as he could, to face the creature posing as the blue pegasus. His gaze was met with brilliant green irises and vertical slits for pupils. Twilight was definitely onto something.

“So what’re ya gonna do to me?”

“My original plan was to seduce you, but I guess I came at the wrong time.”

“Any time ya picked woulda been a bad time. Rainbow Dash ain’t mah mare.”

Macintosh shifted his weight to his fore hooves, twisting away from the imposter as his back end lifted into the air, hind legs drawing in for a strike. With a grunt, he bucked with all his might. A wet crack split the air as his hooves made contact with blue furred flesh, a dry gasp given in startled response. The imposter was thrown against the door with such force that it splintered, wooden fragments projecting from her sides like acupuncture needles.

“An ya’ll sure as hell ain’t Rainbow Dash.”

He had landed half the kick on her breast while the other hoof had struck her left shoulder, and though her flesh was visibly torn from impact, even though he had heard her bones crack, she was rolling back to her hooves, her eyes narrowed, ears drawn back. Rivulets of blood trickled slowly from her wounds, standing out against the soft blue of her coat.

“Yes, we’ve established that, I think.”

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Ponies gradually filtered through the doorway as Fluttershy left Sugarcube Corner in her wake, the sound of drunken celebration continuing as feverishly outside as it had within the shop and home of the Cakes. Somewhere in the ruckus was Pinkie-Pie trying her best to calm everypony down, her shouts and pleads barely audible. The sun had begun flirting with the horizon, thick, rosy clouds drifting lazily through the skies over Ponyville. Several birds swooped passed the timid pegasus, bidding her goodnight on their way to their respective nests. They were specks in the distance before she could ask them if they had seen Mahara, though she knew that small animals of all sorts seemed to avoid the red mare like a plague.

The pegasus swiveled an ear at the sound of approaching hooves. Fluttershy turned to find Rarity not more than a few paces away. Already, she felt a sinking feeling, preparing for another round of thinly veiled insults. She cast her gaze downward, focusing on Rarity’s hooves.

“That was certainly one of her more interesting parties, though I think it’s for the best that it came to an end when it did, even if it was rather abrupt.” Rarity paused, glancing around the pegasus. “I don’t suppose you’ve caught up to Mahara?”

“No… I um… I’m worried that she may have left town after being embarrassed like that…”

“Poor dear… Well, I should hope she didn’t. After all, I never even got to finish her dress.” The purple maned unicorn tapped the ground with a forehoof. “Fluttershy, I… Well, maybe it will be better left unsaid until tomorrow. You are still interested in going to the spa with me, aren’t you?”

The sinking feeling inverted immediately, a feeling of optimism blooming in Fluttershy as she raised her head, looking Rarity in the eyes.

“Of course.” The timid pegasus smiled delicately. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“I’ll admit I’ve been acting a bit brashly toward you as of late. I hadn’t really considered it until I watched Twilight Sparkle dig into Mahara, but… I’m sorry. I’m very sorry for the way I’ve been treating you.” She paused again, turning her gaze down the street, toward her shop. “You’ll forgive me for leaving it at that for the time being, I hope. I need to return home and take care of Sweetie Belle.”

Before Fluttershy could respond, she found herself between Rarity’s forelegs on the receiving end of a squeeze.

“Don’t stay out too late now. I’d hate to have to cancel our reservation!”

The pale unicorn parted ways with Fluttershy, vanishing around a bend, but Fluttershy felt a wave of happiness come over her. A warm tear rolled down her cheek. Her best friend, it would seem, didn’t hate her after all.

Of course she doesn’t hate me. The pegasus told herself. She’s been acting this way because she’s been worried about me. Even if being kind of mean was… Well… Mean, it was her way of showing her concern. That’s… That’s okay though. I understand and I forgive her! Maybe I’ll try jogging with her again. I’ll just tell her that I need to take it slow. She’ll understand that, won’t she?

Crickets filled the air with their dry song, replacing the chatter of birds, supplemented with the occasional shrill, distant cry of a bat or fox. The party had apparently dispersed, considering the quiet that had come over Ponyville. Fireflies floated dreamily through the air, blinking a shade of green that reminded her of the red mare’s eyes.

In Mahara’s absence, the pegasus took another look at Twilight Sparkle’s fanatical claims. The creature that had bitten Applebloom and Scootaloo, possibly the same creature that impersonated Rainbow Dash at the library, was reported to have eyes strikingly similar to Mahara’s.

But if the creature can impersonate other ponies, what would stop it from mimicking Mahara’s eyes to use her as a scapegoat?

There was also Mahara’s aversion to entering a new place without permission. Twilight had suggested this was also a quality of the creature. Fluttershy again found herself pondering the reverse. It would be so easy for some kind of intelligent monster to get everypony to single out Mahara based on her differences in behavior, especially considering how recently she had arrived.

But what about her fangs? More importantly, if Mahara is the one behind all this, why hasn’t she tried to hurt me yet? There is the possibility that Mahara is just using me… Maybe if she avoids hurting me, she thinks I’ll defend her, like I did earlier… The pegasus felt her blood run cold at that thought. What if she’s the monster after all and I defended her? What will everyone think of me then?

The buildings thinned out the closer the pegasus came to the edge of town. A soft glow of light flickered on a distant hill, just above the trees. Angel was waiting for her back home and Mahara as well, she hoped. In the last remaining rays of sunlight, the pegasus fell victim to mixed emotions, gleeful that Rarity had invited her to spend time at the spa while maintaining concern for her yet to be located companion.

A twig snapped underhoof, made her jump. Taking Rarity’s advice to heart, Fluttershy picked up the pace, trotting down the path just shy of a gallop. The shadows stretched for her, the mouth of darkness yawning wider as the sun became a sliver of light on the horizon. Something raced through the sky above, little more than a blur out of the corner of her eye.

Cautiously, Fluttershy slowed to a stop, scanning her surroundings for any sign of movement. She suddenly, strangely, found herself hoping that Mahara was the pony behind the attacks.

If it is her, maybe I can reason with her. If it isn’t her… Well, hopefully I can still reason with whatever it is… It hasn’t killed anypony… Yet…

The cottage lay just ahead, placid as always. With a soft tremble, the pegasus approached, putting a hoof to the door and pushing it open.

Replacing her anxiety was a sudden, overwhelming feeling of joy at the sight of the red mare sitting neatly on the couch.

“Are you… Um… I mean… I’m so sorry! I’m sorry about what happened!” Mahara’s eyes widened as Fluttershy swiftly crossed the room, coming to a stop with a hug. “I’m so glad you didn’t leave…”

“Why would I do that? Twilight has every right to be suspicious of me.”

The timid pegasus froze in place, then slowly retracted her forelegs. “She… She does?”

An icy chill found root in her chest, spreading through her body.

“I’m new, and it’s easiest to blame the newcomers whenever something goes wrong. She’s not behaving any differently than I would expect any pony to behave if they’re afraid.”

Fluttershy heaved a silent sigh of relief, her blood thawing. As carefully as she could, the pudgy pegasus lifted herself onto the couch to join her companion. She received a nuzzle for her effort.

“You um… You don’t understand, though.” continued Fluttershy. “Twilight is usually one of the more level headed ponies that I know of. There was this one time where everyone was afraid of this zebra, including me, and Twilight was the one to try and talk sense into all of us.”

The pegasus sighed, resting her head against the side of Mahara’s neck.

“But no one was being hurt when everypony was still afraid of Zecora… I guess that’s the big difference here.”

“Do you think she would stop being so aggressive toward me if Applebloom and Scootaloo weren’t being attacked?” The red mare’s voice seemed swollen with hope.

“I… Well, I hope so. She isn’t one to dislike a pony, or any creature, just based on appearance. She must really think you’re the one responsible if she’s acting this way… And I… Um…” The pegasus began to blush, lightly pawing Mahara’s breast with a forehoof. “I’ll admit, I thought… That is… A few times, I wondered if you were the one behind the attacks, too… And I’m sorry for thinking that…”

Fluttershy looked to find the red mare sad and distant, avoiding her gaze for several moments.

“It’s alright… No harm done in thinking. You didn’t act on your suspicions, at least.”

The pegasus nodded, nuzzling in close to deliver a little kiss. “Oh, I talked to Rarity before I came home…”

“The pale unicorn with the curly purple mane and the diamond marks, yes?”

Giggling softly, Fluttershy confirmed with another nod. “That’s Rarity. She wanted to go to the spa with me tomorrow. She um… She hasn’t wanted to do that in a while. It used to be a kind of weekly ritual we had, before um… Well, you know… Before I…”

“Ah… Yes, I noticed a bit of that while we spent time with her.” Mahara shifted, as if uncomfortable. “Now I’m the one who needs to apologize. I should have said something. I guess… That makes us even?”

“I guess… And I’m not mad at her or anything… I know she only does it because she cares… Anyway, she apologized to me about the way she’s been acting. At least, I think that’s what she apologized about. She wants to talk to me about it tomorrow.”

“That’s good. I hope everything works out between you and her. If you don’t mind my asking, though…” Fluttershy lifted her head, bring her gaze to meet Mahara’s. “How did you get like this?”

The pegasus blushed again, much more intensely this time. “I… Well… It’s… Okay, um… I guess I’ll start from the beginning.

“I told you that I’ve been in a relationship before… Well, that relationship was my first...” The pegasus took a deep breath, a slight tremble building as she continued. “His name was Lucky, but he liked it when I called him my Clover… And…”

She paused again, inhaling slowly through her nose. “I liked it when he called me his Butterfly… I um… I got to know him during last year’s Winter Wrap-Up. I had met him before, and I kind of got the feeling that he was interested in me, but I was always too shy to say anything. Well… That was the day I finally decided to speak up. He was almost a little startled that I was talking to him, but, well… One thing led to another, and we decided to try and spend more time together.

“Rarity was so excited about it, and so was everyone else. I think Twilight and Rarity were a little jealous that I got a coltfriend before either of them, but, they were happy for me just the same.” She laughed a little, closing her eyes.

“Pinkie wanted to throw a party, but I told her that she didn’t have to. Anyway… He and I, we went on a few dates, and then a few more… We started visiting each other a lot more often at home… Spending whole days together… Spending nights together looking up at the stars… Sometimes… Sometimes I… Um… I felt like I was going too slow for him, like he wanted more from me, but… My first kiss…”

Fluttershy laughed again as she lost herself in a memory, shifting a bit to get more comfortable. The red mare nudged her gently, bringing her back to reality, smiling as she met Mahara’s curious gaze.

“Sorry… Just, I was so awkward… I had never kissed anypony before. I kept asking if I was doing it right, and he just smiled, shook his head, and asked me to let him show me. That… That was when I knew I loved him. I decided then and there that he was the one for me. I know that sounds cliché, but… At the time, that was how I felt. The months went by… I got better at kissing…”

She paused, blushing slightly, then continued.  “Part of me dreaded what was coming, but… I trusted Lucky. I really did. So, one starry night, while we were laying on the hill looking up at the night sky… He um… He decided to take our relationship to the next step. Maybe I wasn’t ready… Maybe I should have told him to wait… But I just couldn’t say no to those blue eyes of his. I was in love, and I told myself, this is what mares and stallions do when they’re in love…”

Mahara’s expression hardened, brow furrowing. “Did he… Force you?”

“No… Goodness no, he would never do that… As much as I was afraid, there was an even bigger part of me that wanted it. So… Um… I let him show me how it was done… I’m not going to lie, I liked it. I really liked it, but… Things changed after that. We made love a few more times, but it felt different, at least for me. Then um…”

The pegasus inhaled sharply, her voice beginning to waver. “He stopped seeing me as often… We didn’t go out on dates anymore… It felt like I was just there, waiting for when he wanted me around. And then one day, Rarity told me she saw him talking to another mare. Kissing another mare. I… I just didn’t understand.”

A few tears rolled down her cheeks as she struggled to keep herself from sobbing.

“I asked him, why, and he had this look, like I was a total stranger. He didn’t apologize… He just said, it was fun while it lasted, and… He… He left... Never looked back… He was done with me and that was all there was to it…”

A shuddered gasp escaped her throat, pressing in tightly to Mahara as the red mare wrapped her forelegs around the pegasus. Fluttershy had not finished her story, however.

Choking back the quiet sobs, she took a deep breath and continued.

“After that, I just stopped caring about… Everything. I barely made the effort to feed the birds, Angel had to feed the rabbits and the other animals himself… I just sat in bed all day, crying, watching the shadows on my wall... I thought maybe I had done something wrong, maybe it was my fault somehow… I wanted to understand why he had cheated on me… I loved him, even after what he had done, but… He just didn’t love me anymore, I guess… My friends would come by almost every day to try and cheer me up… Pinkie would bake cakes, Twilight would read to me, Applejack and Rainbow Dash would tell me stories about when they were younger, or their most recent adventures…

“Rarity, though… Poor Rarity… She practically moved in, trying to keep me company, asking me to go into town with her, or help her with dress designs… Seeing me like that, it really scared her, but… I just didn’t care anymore. I had finally come out of my shell, and what did I have to show for it? So, I just sat there, barely moving, staring at my wall, or shuffling around like a zombie when I made the effort to leave my bedroom… And that’s how things got even worse…

“A pegasus is supposed to fly around a lot and burn lots of energy, but… I’ve never really been a strong flier, so if I could walk to where I wanted to go, I would. That has never really been an issue before because I tended to eat light… But um… Once I stopped leaving my house… Not even getting out of bed some days… The weight started piling on really quickly… I noticed it, of course… But I was too miserable to really do anything about it until it was too late…

“At first, Rarity didn’t really say anything about it. Everypony’s weight goes up and down fairly often, so maybe she figured I would drop the extra weight once I was back to normal… When I didn’t, though, she started to um… She started looking at me differently. She understood that I was going through a rough time, but, after months of trying to help me, I could see that her patience was wearing thin… I could tell just in the way she started acting. She stopped visiting me as often… She started jogging every morning and would always ask if I wanted to join her… She convinced me one day to leave my house and go to the spa with her… That was the last time we went to the spa together…”

Now shaking noticably, Fluttershy’s voice began to waver again, closing her eyes tightly for a moment to fight back the tears and the echoes of past sadness. She felt a hoof slide along her back, finding the touch soothing enough for her to continue.

“Rarity did most of the talking, and… I just sat there, not saying much of anything. Then she um… She just glared at me, then she got up and left me there… I was stunned, too stunned to cry at first, because she had never done that to me before. Then I realized that it was happening again… First Lucky, and now Rarity… I followed her out, and she was toweling off, ready to just leave me at the spa. She said that unless I was willing to do something about my weight problem… Unless I was willing to actually let her help me… She wouldn’t be spending time with me anymore.

“I had started crying by then… That was when everything kind of clicked… I realized I was in danger of losing another pony that I really cared about, so I agreed to try and lose the weight, but… Well, you can see how that went. When we finally did go jogging together, I think I lasted for about fifteen minutes before I was done. I just gave up and went home… And Rarity went on without me.”

The pegasus paused, heaving a deep breath as a few more tears rolled from the corners of her eyes. Mahara opened her mouth to speak, but Fluttershy shook her head, exhaling slowly.

“Rarity never really stopped talking to me… I would still see her around town, but… Things were um… Things were different after that. She became distant, and at times, I think she has been cruel towards me on purpose… But what else could she do? She wanted… She tried to help me… And I failed her… I was still a little depressed for a while after that, but… What happened with Rarity was kind of a wakeup call. I didn’t want to lose anymore friends, so I started forcing myself to leave the house. It got easier over time, and… Eventually things kind of went back to the way they were… Excluding my friendship with Rarity…

“Instead of asking me to exercise, Twilight offered me a few books she had on weight management, and that helped me a lot. She never really stopped offering me books, though. She kept finding newer medical studies or books about overcoming depression, and every time she would see me, she would have saddle bags of books for me to take home, even if I only needed the first few she gave me. And… That’s pretty much the way things have been recently… I’m too heavy to fly now, and I don’t really have the endurance for exercise, so all I can hope to do is watch what I eat… I’m pretty good about that, usually. All of the books told me that starving myself is the worst thing I could do, so… I have little snacks every now and then…”

Without realizing it, the pegasus had fully leaned herself against Mahara, but the red mare supported her without a complaint. Mahara was mostly quiet, still rubbing Fluttershy’s back with a forehoof. Outside, a velvet blanket of darkness had fallen over the landscape. Stars twinkled against the milky black emptiness and the moon glowed softly just out of sight from the window frame.

After a few minutes, Mahara gently lifted the veil of silence. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry about what happened, with Lucky and Rarity, but…” The ghost of a smile found its way to her lips. “You’re very fortunate to have such good friends, even if some of their efforts to help you hurt a bit in the process. Sometimes your friends do things for you that you never asked for to begin with… And… Sometimes love can be painful…”

The red mare’s expression became grave and distant, gazing out the window, the pale orb of the moon reflected in her eyes.

“Have you…” Fluttershy let her words fade, but found the resolve to continue her question. “Have you ever loved anyone?”

Mahara returned her attention to the pegasus. “Yes and no… It was a long time ago and my story, like yours, does not have a happy ending. I would prefer to tell it another time, if that’s alright with you.”

“I understand…” Taking a deep breath, Fluttershy prepared her next question. “Do um… Do you love… Me?”

“You’re very silly for asking a question like that. We just met the other day.” The red mare smiled, gently nibbling a yellow furred ear. “We’ll just have to see where this goes for now.”

The pegasus found relief in Mahara’s statement, smiling, nodding in agreement. Love was a four letter word with as much potency as an expletive, after all. All she could do for the moment was enjoy that moment.

Fluttershy lost track of time after that, closing her eyes, enjoying the warmth and the feel of her companion, listening to the beat of her heart and the swell of her lungs. Her thoughts drifted during that indeterminate span, imagining how life would be different with another pony around for the long term of things. More importantly, another mare. While not a subject of persecution, the idea and practice of same sex relationships was treated cautiously in Equestria. Lyra and Bonbon had made their love for one another publicly known not long after they had decided to be together, or so she had heard. While most ponies were supportive, there were ponies that viewed the pair in a different light afterwards. The idea that a stallion or mare may secretly harbor feelings for friends of the same gender made some ponies uncomfortable.

But I can’t blame them for that, she mused. If Rainbow Dash suddenly told me that she was attracted to me… Well, maybe I wouldn’t be so uncomfortable about it now, and she’s… Nice… Just, not my type…

Rarity was one of those ponies, unfortunately. Her faux pas with Prince Blue Blood had not made her any less determined to find a stallion to call her own. The idea of mares being with other mares and stallions being with other stallions seemed to confuse Rarity, possibly because of how unorthodox it was considering the otherwise mostly heterosexual population of Ponyville. The irony, in Fluttershy’s opinion, lay in the fact that both Photo Finish and Hoity Toity, ponies that Rarity had so badly wanted approval from, were clearly in favor of relationships with ponies of their own respective genders.

If there would be any dissent over Fluttershy’s mutual feelings for Mahara, it would come from Rarity. If the rumors about Applejack and Rainbow Dash were true, however, she could expect support from both of them. Or at least Rainbow Dash, considering Applejack’s apparent apprehension toward Mahara.

The red mare stirred softly, bringing the timid pegasus out of her thoughts.

“It’s getting late,” Mahara began. “If it’s alright with you, I’m going to get some sleep.”

An impulse to keep an eye on the red mare found purchase in her mind. With as much guilt as resolve, she decided that it was in everypony’s best interest that she make sure Mahara spent the night under her watch. At the very least, it would quell any doubt that her companion wasn’t the one responsible for the recent string of attacks.

“It… Um…” Fluttershy kicked herself, mentally. This was something that had to be done. “Is it alright… If I um… If we… I’d like to sleep with you, tonight…”

The pegasus could feel her face radiating fiercely, but Mahara simply quirked a brow.

“I thought we agreed to take this slow. That’s kind of inappropriate given what we just discussed, I think…”

Does she think that… I want to… The pegasus felt her breath catch in her throat. Oh! Oh goodness!

“No! Not that I… Um… You’re very… Just want to… Sleep next to you… If um… If that’s alright…”

“Yes, it’s more than alright.” Mahara smiled, nuzzling Fluttershy between the ears before slipping over the edge of the couch. “Just sleeping next to me, then.”

The pegasus, still blushing, followed the red mare to the mattress. Angel turned off the lights for them, then went off to bed himself. As she lay there, wrapped in a gentle embrace, she smiled and rested her head against Mahara’s breast. A steady heartbeat lulled her to sleep.

\/ /\ /\ \/

Rainbow Dash was sober enough to see Applejack and Applebloom home without any assistance, and Pinkie Pie had set to work trailing Fluttershy not long after she had successfully dealt with the remaining drunken partygoers. This left left Twilight Sparkle with little more to do than return to the library and defend the book that she assumed the creature had every intention of obtaining. And if the creature wanted it so badly, then Twilight had every intention of learning why. Preparations needed to be made beforehoof, however.

Directly overhead, dark clouds blotted out the evening sky, while the horizon appeared mostly clear. While leaving Sugarcube Corner, Pinkie Pie had likened them to floating cotton candy, to which Rainbow Dash replied that Pinkie was so random. Twilight had more pressing issues on her mind.

“Spike?” she called at the door of the library. “Spike, I’m coming in now…”

“Okay Twilight!” the dragon shouted from within.

Sighing, she unlocked the door and stepped inside.

The unicorn was pleased to find the library as she had left it, locking the door behind her. Everything was in proper order, all her notes were carefully filed, and the book sat ominously on her table.

She heard Spike from the kitchen.

“Twilight! I… Rats, I forgot what I was going to tell you. It was something important, I think. Maybe it was about Owlowiscious.” The pint sized dragon peered out around the corner. “You know he killed another mouse today? Don’t tell Fluttershy, though. I don’t think she would like to hear that.”

“You were supposed to check my eyes before I came inside, remember? Is that what you forgot?”

The sound of a clattering pan rung out from the kitchen doorway. “Oh! Sorry, it slipped my mind. Won’t happen again, I promise! That’s not what I was going to tell you though. I’m pretty sure it was about Owlowiscious…”

Through gritted teeth, Twilight shouted, “Spike!”

The dragon cringed slightly, abandoning whatever he was doing in the kitchen to give the unicorn his full attention.

Rubbing the side of her head with a forehoof, she started again. “Sorry, sorry… Owlowiscious is an owl. That’s just what owls do. Asking him not to hunt would be like asking you not to eat gems.”

The shock on Spike’s face brought a smile to hers. “Not that I would ever ask that of you.”

“Oh, phew… Okay… Thinking… Oh! Fluttershy did stop by today, before the whole mouse thing. She was looking for you and I told her you were at Redheart’s clinic.”

“I still need to get those quills from her,” Twilight remarked as she floated a piece of parchment out of a stack.

“She had a friend with her too.” Twilight dropped the parchment and a bottle of ink while Spike continued, oblivious. “She seemed nice at first, but the longer I looked at her… You know that twisty feeling you get in your stomach when you eat something you shouldn’t?”

“You didn’t invite her in, did you?!”

“What? No, of course not! She gave me the creeps.” Spike shuddered before continuing. “Also you told me not to let anyone in without your permission. Ha! See, I did remember! I just forgot that I remembered is all.”

For the first time in what may have been one of the longest days of Twilight’s life, second only to her first day in Ponyville, the unicorn felt as though she could relax. She thought back on that.

Has it only been one day? No, three… I just barely slept for two days… Three days, and two fillies have already had to get medical attention because my curiosity got the better of me…

Even if she could relax, the unicorn had lost any real desire to do so. Every moment she didn’t spend toward resolving the situation at hoof was a moment another pony might be injured. The attacks hadn’t been particularly violent, but Twilight was certain that wouldn’t last.

Sighing softly, Twilight took a seat, propping herself up on her knees. An overwhelming sensation of exhaustion came without warning, her eyelids growing heavy. Spike had come to her side sometime after she had entered her hazy stupor. The feel of his claw against her side helped shake it off.

“Twilight, you’re not looking too good. You should really get some sleep.”

The unicorn gave a sleepy smile. “What would I do without you, Spike?”

“Write your own letters?”

“Oh, you know what I mean” she giggled, shaking her head. “Since you’re such an excellent assistant, though, how about you help me with one more letter before we go to bed?”

The dragon went rigid, struck with an epiphany. “That’s what I was trying to remember! The Princess responded to your letter!”

Twilight felt her second wind come with news of a reply. Spike hastily retrieved the scroll, only to have the unicorn snatch it from his grasp and zip it to herself via magic before the dragon could deliver it by claw.

“Sorry,” she mumbled as she opened the seal.

“To my faithful student, Twilight Sparkle,

“I should begin by saying that I’m very sorry for having taken so long to respond. It would appear that the weather around Equestria has been acting strangely for the past few days, and so I’ve been very busy with the pegasi of Cloudsdale in an effort to find a solution to the situation. We’re making progress, if a bit slowly. I’m giving a great deal of consideration into recruiting you for the task force we’ve assembled in response to the issue, as I’m almost certain that a unicorn of your skill and potential could comprehend cloud focused magic in no time.

“As for your own cause of distress, I can only suggest that you stay vigilant. It’s true that concealment spells can be used to hide objects in places that should not normally be large or sound enough to contain them, such as within a book. Unfortunately, if you’re unsure of what you’re dealing with, there isn’t much that I can do to help. As long as no pony is being harmed, perhaps your worry is for nothing. As you put it yourself, it may have been your imagination.”

Twilight set the letter down, then glanced across the room. The book was inanimate, dead weight resting on the table, but she could feel it beckoning, sucking the life and warmth out of the space around it. Spike watched with concern and curiosity as she got to her hooves and crossed the room, never once taking her eyes off of it.

“It’s forbidden knowledge, Spike. An apple laced with poison.”

“Twilight?” The dragon followed slowly in her wake, brow furrowing as his concerned turned to fear with her words.

“I should never have opened this book, but now that I have… I’m going to have to open it again if I want to have any chance at ending this nightmare.”

The unicorn froze in place, eyes wide as a memory flashed in her subconscious like lightning, then vanished again before she could comprehend it. She reared up, both forehoves on her face as she gritted her teeth, a breath away from screaming with frustration. Again, Twilight felt her draconic familiar’s touch, releasing the sides of her head and returning to all fours.

“Twilight, please, I know you feel responsible for what’s happening but you’re not going to be helping anyone if you keep doing this to yourself.” Spike turned his gaze to the floor, where he evidently found the words he needed to continue. “It’s already getting late. Get plenty of rest, and tomorrow, we can attack this thing together. Okay?”

She responded first with a hug, cradling the dragon with a foreleg, and then with gentle words.

“Okay Spike. You’re right. If we’re going to beat this monster, I need to be at my best.”

The book continued to beckon, but Twilight found it much easier to ignore. She indulged one last look before following Spike up the stairs. Her hooves felt so heavy, and her bed couldn’t have looked more inviting. The dragon was still climbing into his bed as Twilight gracelessly flopped down, letting out little more than a grunt.

“We have a lot of things… to do tomorrow, Spike…” the unicorn mumbled. “Zecora might… know more… reply to… princess… read…”

And for the first time in a long time, Twilight was fast asleep before Spike had even touched his pillow.

\/ /\ /\ \/

Everypony slept peacefully that night. Everypony except for Pinkie Pie. Ever watchful, covered from head to hoof in leaves and sticks, she kept an eye on Fluttershy as she was asked. Excluding a few tosses and turns from either mare, neither Fluttershy nor Mahara left the bed. The sight of the red mare wrapping her forelegs around Fluttershy in her sleep was almost too cute for Pinkie to handle. Almost.

That pegasus must be like a big teddy bear, all soft and squishy. I wish I was in there. Well, maybe not. Mahara probably wouldn’t like that. I’m glad she and Fluttershy are such close friends already, though. I wish I had a friend like that. Well, maybe not exactly like that. Kissing another mare would be weiiiird! Kissing a stallion would be just as weird though! All those tongues rolling around and mushing against each other. But, maybe it’s more like a super secret hoofshake that you only do with your absolute closest friends. I’m kinda jealous now, actually! I wish I had somepony to do super secret tongueshakes with! Somepony to hug when I’m asleep! Maybe I should get on that. I wonder if there’s a way to throw a party about wanting to have a super best friend to tongueshake and sleep hug.

A cool wind blew by, chilling the pink mare and rustling her disguise. A warm bed was more than appealing, but, as with all favors she agreed to, she had Pinkie Pie sworn that she would make sure she did what was asked of her. But, Pinkie reasoned that if Fluttershy was asleep, she could at least rest her eyes for a few minutes. It wasn’t until she was letting her eyelids droop that the pink pony realized just how tired she really was.

Pinkie’s bedroom was full of gifts and balloons.

And I, Pinkie Pie, will throw the greatest party Equestria- No, the whole world, has ever seen! A party fit for a king! Or a queen! Or both Princesses! A party that will never end!

She spoke into a mirror.

That will show you. You’ll never have any reason to doubt my friends ever again after I throw that party. I’ll have so many friends, and the friends I had before will love me even more afterwards!

Her reflection glared back.

Yes, I see you in there. I’m sick of you putting all those mean, nasty thoughts in my head. You have no place in my parties, or in my life! I’m going to get rid of you, just you wait and see!

The mirror cracked.

Everything was bathed in a soft, pale glow when Pinkie finally opened her eyes again. The moon hung bright and full in the sky, illuminating the countryside for miles around. A few bats swirled over a nearby pond, but the air was still and silent otherwise.

Despite having fallen asleep with her face pressed against the glass, it wasn’t until Pinkie remembered that she was wearing a disguise that she also remembered she was supposed to be watching Fluttershy. Peeling herself off the glass, she was met with her reflection. Her other reflection.

Ha! Ha! Ha! You’re. Not. Real.

With a huff of satisfaction, the mane of her reflection sprung back to its usual curly nature. There was still a squishy pegasus to check on. Despite having fallen asleep against the window pane for possibly hours, she made no hesitation to press up against it again. Pinkie scanned the room for any sign of disturbances or changes that didn’t coincide with her memory before nodding off. Of course, Fluttershy hadn’t moved an inch. On the other hoof, Mahara was nowhere to be seen.

A chill ran down Pinkie’s spine, reminding her how badly she wanted to be back home and in bed. Without warning, as her Pinkie Sense was wont to be, a combo came in clear and strong. The side of her neck felt as though two particularly large mosquitoes had decided to leave their nastiest bites, while her chest felt as though it had become host to a swarm of butterflies.

There’s that combo again! It’s really strong now, too! What does it mean?! Am I going to get bitten by something? Oh! Maybe that monster is going to bite me! Oh no! I’m outside and it’s dark out and- I have to get somewhere safe! I hope I can laugh it away. Maybe. Maybe I can! Maybe I can distract it with a joke and sneak away while it’s laughing. I hope it likes jokes. Oh! What was that?! I heard something moving! Was it outside? Wait, I’m wearing a disguise. It probably won’t even notice me. But… What if the monster goes after Fluttershy and Mahara?! What if it’s in there right now?!

Something moved behind the glass again, causing her pink coat to bristle with anxiety. A pair of bright green eyes suddenly slid into view. The scream working its way up Pinkie’s throat petered out before it could reach her lips when she realized it was Mahara on the other side of the window, staring back at her with increasingly narrowed eyes.

Grinning widely, Pinkie waved.

Mahara tugged a cord dangling to her left and drew the curtains closed.

Pheeeew. It’s not the monster, it’s just Mahara. I guess that’s what the new combo means, too! Somepony is about to close the curtains in my face!

No less motivated to do as she was asked, Pinkie Pie made her way around the cottage, checking each window she could reach, only to find that the red mare had gone and pulled the curtains on every single one.

“Fine!” she shouted at the front door. “I’m just going to sit here and stand guard then. Twilight asked me to make sure Fluttershy stays safe, and that’s what I’m gonna do!”

To her surprise, the door opened. A soft green glow was visible at eye level.

“Please stop shouting. Anyway, you’re welcome to stand guard inside if you want. Just… You should probably leave before Fluttershy wakes up. I don’t think she would be thrilled about spontaneous sleepovers.”

No sooner had Mahara opened the door did Pinkie scramble inside. For the briefest of moments, Pinkie was startled by the appearance of Mahara’s finger like appendages, fanned out from her back as if they were wings. The longer she looked, however, the more her shock became curiosity.

“Okie-Dokie-Loki,” she whispered. “Mahara, some of the other pony folk may think you’re a bad apple, but you know what? You’re alright.”

The red mare leaned against the wall, rubbing her eye with one of the long, fleshy limbs sprouting from her back. She smiled, tiredly.

“Thank you, Pinkie Pie. I’m sorry for ruining your party. It was very nice until… Well, you know.”

“Oh no no no, not at all. If you had stayed I would have got a bath going for you and everything. Totally not your fault. It was silly of me to think that putting a bit of whiskey in the punch would be a good way to help everyone relax.”

Pinkie sighed, looking over at the peacefully slumbering pegasus. “It just made everyone act dopey, but I figured it would have been the good kind of dopey and not the let’s lynch the new mare kind of dopey.”

“Oh well. I’m going back to bed. Remember, you should get going before she wakes up.”

“Mmhmm, I will.”

Very quietly, the pink mare climbed onto the couch, curling up and resting her head on a pillow. Mahara gave her a half conscious glance, then closed her eyes, cuddling back up to Fluttershy.

Secret tongueshakes and sleep hugs would be nice…

\/ /\ /\ \/

“Why are there leaves and twigs all over the room?”

Fluttershy glanced back and forth between Mahara and the trail of loose foliage and sticks that now cluttered the floor from the front door to the couch. The red mare had been in the process of sweeping them up when she was awoken by the choir of hungry birds outside.

“Angel.” Mahara pointed a hoof at the rabbit. “Angel did it. I’m just cleaning it up.”

Outraged, Angel began to thump his foot, making all kinds of obscene gestures at Mahara before wordlessly pleading his innocence to Fluttershy.

“Oh… Oh my… Angel, you know you’re not supposed to bring branches inside unless we’re gathering materials for bird nests. Please wait for me to help you next time.”

With a silent but exasperated sigh, the rabbit threw his forepaws into the air and vanished into the next room, glaring at Mahara every step of the way.

“I’ll watch the cabin while you’re out,” the red mare mused as she finished tidying up. “And feed the animals as well. I’ve helped you enough that I think I can handle it myself.”

With a soft grunt, Fluttershy rolled onto her belly, inching her way to the edge of the bed with her forelegs.  “Are you sure? You don’t have to. It’s not your responsibility. But I… Um… Thank you. You’ve done so much for me already. I really appreciate it.”

“And you’ve given me a beautiful home to share with you, not to mention… Well, let’s just say we’re even and stop keeping track of the favors. Isn’t that what couples do?”

Fluttershy felt a warmth, but not in her cheeks. It came from within. She smiled, letting her head rest on her outstretched forelegs, basking in the serenity of the moment.

“Yes… I… I guess it is.”

The pegasus lazily followed Mahara with her eyes as she returned the broom to its rightful place, then ensnared a few bags of bird seed and heaved them over her back. Through the window, which had a strange smear in the lower left pane, she could see birds taking to the air in droves. Fluttershy had never really noticed it before, but Mahara hugged the outside of the cottage as tightly as she could while she spread bird feed over the path out front. Mahara also spent a great deal less time feeding the birds than the pegasus would have had she done it herself.

Fluttershy could spend hours singing and playing with the animals. Mahara dumped the contents of the feed sacks and was done with it.

Well, as long as they’re getting fed, she thought as the red mare nudged the door open and deposited the empty bags by the entrance.

Only then did it occur to her just how pale Mahara looked. Rays of sunlight were filtering into the cottage, but nowhere near enough to drain the color from her to such a degree, even with her skin condition. Mahara had looked like this before, the first day she spent alone at the cottage. The red mare’s words reflected in her mind’s eye, planting fresh seeds of doubt.

I had a snack while you were away, she had said. But Fluttershy had never seen her actually eat anything. Her diet seemed to consist entirely of fluids.

Sleeping next to Mahara had failed to prove anything other than the fact that the red mare could silently slip out of bed to do some housekeeping.

I’m a light, light sleeper… And if she could do that without waking me up, what else could she do?

“Are you alright, Fluttershy? Did you sleep well?”

Her nightmare flashed before her eyes. She was a light sleeper, and the creature had known this, visiting her in her sleep, keeping her there until morning.

Mahara had looked so beautiful that morning… Applebloom and Scootaloo were attacked the night before…

Is there something you’re not telling me?

Twilight has every right to be suspicious of me.

“Fluttershy?” The red mare nuzzled the side of Fluttershy’s neck. She felt her skin crawl.

“I’m alright. I might head into town a bit earlier than I thought, if um… If that’s okay with you.”

Mahara had settled on the bed, kneeling across from the pegasus, lightly nudging the back and side of Fluttershy’s neck with her nose. When she pulled back, Fluttershy read her expression as concerned. Perhaps even hurt.

I don’t want it to be true. I don’t want Mahara to be a monster. Maybe that’s what’s keeping me from seeing what Twilight is seeing. I can understand why. I’m coming to the same conclusions myself… But… Mahara isn’t a bad pony. She has had every opportunity to hurt me, and she hasn’t. I don’t think she would ever hurt me.

She said she would protect me. Maybe even from herself?

Slowly, Fluttershy slipped her hooves over the side of the mattress, crossing the room. Her appetite was the last thing on her mind for the moment. The flock had gathered outside, hopping and fluttering about as they ate their fill of seeds. The pegasus paused in the doorway, looking back at Mahara.

“We need to have a talk when I get back.”

“What about?”

“I… I think you know.”

She closed the door behind her and heaved a weary sigh.

Dark clouds gathered overhead, rolling clumsily into one another. The weather team had given up on trying to control them, falling into argument instead.

Fluttershy could faintly hear Rainbow Dash shouting amongst them.

Sweet Apple Acres was a bit of a hike from door to door, but Fluttershy felt as though she would have more than enough time to check up on Applebloom before her appointment at the spa, provided it didn’t rain.

\/ /\ /\ \/

A thick swath of homemade bandages held tightly to the side of Zecora’s neck.

Where she was bitten, Twilight assumed.

“She visited me the other day, and drank my blood, I am sorry to say…”

A pile of burning welcome masks had greeted Twilight Sparkle when she approached Zecora’s hut. The smoke curled slowly toward the forest canopy, leaves swaying around the hot air rising off the crackling flames. She had smelled the smoke before even catching sight of Zecora’s dwelling, assuming it was the result of the zebra’s cooking. Instead, she found the striped mare tossing her exotic masks onto a roaring inferno.

“And she was disguised as me?”

Zecora had nearly thrust a sharpened stick into Twilight’s throat when the unicorn first approached, relenting when she looked Twilight in the eyes.

“Your form, indeed, was what she took, but foolish am I for being mistook.” The zebra paused, possibly reflecting on her encounter. “The Child of Darkness depends on lies, but truth may be found within its eyes.”

Twilight watched the paint curl and bubble away from charred wood, licked by dancing flames. “Why do you call the creature a Child of Darkness?”

“It would seem the stories untold by pony-folk are those which bear the most warning…” Zecora’s sudden break in rhyme shocked Twilight momentarily. “Perhaps ponies simply wished to forget, and allowed the tale to fall into the shadow of its more famous sister. Were it still a part of your traditions, I believe that we would not be facing this darkness once again.”

The purple unicorn opened her mouth to question Zecora, but the zebra smiled, beating her to it. “What I am about to tell you will be spoken plainly, so that there are no misunderstandings.” Her smile faded. “This situation is much more dire than wandering through a patch of poison-joke, and it will require more than a simple bath to remedy it.”

The zebra heaved her final mask into the pyre, then rested on her haunches. She beckoned with a forehoof for Twilight to join her. Before Twilight could seat herself, Zecora leaned toward the fire, grabbing a stick by her teeth, the free end crowded with glowing embers. With grace and speed, the striped mare began to weave and jerk her head, chanting under her breath, using the smoke rising from the end of the stick as a means for calligraphy.

 “I shall tell the tale to you as it was once told to me, so many seasons ago…”

The smoke remained, hanging in the air like a ghost.

This must be zebra magic…

Fascinated, Twilight gracelessly flopped down on her side to watch.

“We call them Children of Darkness because they are creatures which dwell in shadow. They fear the persecution of the sun, and so they prefer to perform their evils when Celestia’s eye is not upon them. There is… Another reason for the name, and also another name for the creature of which we speak.”

The smoke swirled, ghostly white lines stretching and bending into the form of an alicorn, accompanied by a written language Twilight didn’t recognize.

“They are also known as Children of Nightmare by my kind, for they are her creation. In her desperation to prevail against Celestia, Nightmare Moon transformed innocent ponies into lesser forms of herself. Beings that could survive the darkness which she brought with her.”

The smoke swirled again, showing unicorns, pegasi and earth ponies bowing before Nightmare Moon.

The memory Twilight had failed to grasp the night before suddenly came in clear as day.

It was the eyes. 

It was always the eyes. Mahara had eyes like Nightmare Moon. It was so obvious now that she felt like smacking herself. She returned all attention to Zecora as the zebra continued.

“But Nightmare Moon made them intentionally flawed, for fear that they too might rise against her. The sisters draw their power from the heavens themselves, but these transformed ponies could neither contain nor control such a force. Instead, they must draw their power from other ponies. As you have seen, they do so by drinking blood untainted by the evil magic of Nightmare Moon.”

The zebra paused, staring at her drawing of Nightmare before driving her hoof through it, making it vanish in a swirl of smoke.

“How can I stop her...? Them?”

Zecora’s grave expression softened briefly as she began to rhyme again.

“It is good fortune that today you have come, it is not too late that something can be done…” She paused, snickering to herself. “Apologies, habits such as this are difficult to curb. The Children of Darkness draw their strength from blood untainted, but like Nightmare Moon herself, they are not invincible. To destroy one completely, you must either drain them of their blood, or mortally wound them in direct sunlight, preferably both.

“To wound a Child as you would a moral pony is to invite them to rise again, and so you must exercise caution when attempting to remove one such creature from their cursed existence. Celestia’s sun will be your greatest ally, as sunlight is their most notable weakness. Images of the sun and its Princess will serve as effective tools for warding off the Children of Darkness as well.”

The smoke dissipated completely, and Zecora rose to her hooves. An expression came over the zebra that struck Twilight as one of embarrassment.

“But now, my friend, I fear I must ask, if I am to assist you in such a task; my home is no longer safe to me, as my masks bid welcome before I could decree. You said that your library has not been invaded, and this is news which leaves me elated. May I endeavor to stay there until this crisis has reached a successful standstill?”

A moment passed before Twilight realized what was being asked of her. The unicorn’s expression immediately brightened.

“Of course you can, Zecora.” The zebra smiled, turning toward her hut as Twilight followed her. “If this thing attacked you once already, I don’t want you getting attacked again. And I could certainly use the extra help organizing a way to deal with this situation. You clearly know a lot more about this than anyone else. Your help will be invaluable.”

From the doorway, Twilight watched Zecora loading her possessions into an enormous trunk. The trunk never seemed to get full, however. Bottles and vials clinked softly as she lowered them in, one at a time. A thought occurred to the unicorn.

“I need to write back to Princess Celestia. I had planned on responding after talking with you on the oft chance that you would know more about the creature we’ll be dealing with.”

“What little I know is what has been passed down. You will learn much more from the one bearing the crown.” The striped mare lowered a foreleg-full of ingredients into the trunk, then another.

Zecora looked up from the trunk, bringing the ornate lid down with a click. “I am troubled, however, by your finding of the book. So many centuries where no one else thought to look…”

“I know what you mean… Well, hopefully, we can put all this behind us soon.” The unicorn paused, looking at the trunk, and then Zecora. “How do you plan on moving that, exactly?”

It was easily three times the size of the zebra.

“My lack of a horn, my dear friend, does not mean my magic cannot contend.”

The striped mare placed a hoof in the center of a likeness of her glyph mark, painted onto the surface of the trunk, and closed her eyes, chanting. The purple glow swirled out from her hoof, tracing the outlines of the marking, illuminating the intricately painted patterns on all four sides of the wooden vessel.

The trunk lurched.

With wide eyes, Twilight watched the trunk tilt to one side, then the other, finally lifting itself off the ground. Not by a spell of levitation, however. Dozens of ghost-like legs sprouted from the wood itself, supporting the trunk, occasionally shifting or bending as they awaited instruction. Taking notice of the unicorn’s shock and awe, Zecora grinned.

“Unless you would prefer to use your own four hooves,” The striped mare leaped onto the lid of the trunk, settling on her haunches but supporting herself proudly. “I think you‘ll be pleased with the speed this trunk moves.”

Nodding slowly, still dumbfounded, Twilight pulled herself up beside the zebra.

In her native tongue, Zecora belted out a command to the enchanted trunk. It lurched again, then crawled out of the hut with incredible haste, the unicorn nearly tumbling backwards at the sudden motion.

After several minutes of whipping through the Everfree forest at a frenzied pace, Twilight finally found her voice. “Can… Can you teach me how to use this kind of magic?”

“While I find it worrying, Twilight Sparkle,” Zecora laughed, “Your thirst for knowledge is most admirable.”

The unicorn’s eyes widened as a thought struck her. “Zecora, you know where Fluttershy’s cottage is, right?” The zebra gave a nod, already giving the command for the trunk to change its destination.

Let’s settle this right now if we can…

\/ /\ /\ \/

This stinks… I want to go outside… Owlowiscious gets to be outside… He’s not even awake out there; he’s just sleeping on a branch! So not fair!

Spike propped himself up by his elbows as he gazed out onto the street, watching ponies go about their daily business. Ditzy Doo drifted passed the window, pausing to wave cheerfully at the dragon. He knew it wasn’t an act of antagonism, but still felt a bit of spite welling up within. Of course, Spike had little interest in the errands of the citizens of Ponyville, with one exception. The only exception that kept him at the window, hopeful that she would pass by.

Oh! There she is!

The pint sized dragon felt weightless, his heart thumping with excitement as he caught sight of the most beautiful mare in Equestria. With a dreamy gaze, he traced the regal purple curls of her hair, admired the snow-furred curves of her flanks, bathed in the tranquil blue of her eyes. Lady Rarity was completely oblivious to the dragon watching her from behind glass, of course.

I wish she would notice me… Please notice me… Wave, or smile, or something… Anything!

Accustomed to disappointment as the result of being ignored by the sole object of his affection, Spike merely sighed as Rarity passed the window in ignorance. She had a wide brimmed hat on, complimented by a light jacket, apparently expecting a downpour.

The dragon slipped into a daydream, imagining himself as the one of the spa employees, gently trailing his claws through her coat, massaging her with utmost care.  Rarity grinned back at him, whispering something that made him blush. The other employees left the room as the pale unicorn rolled onto her back, silken mane falling away from her face in glossy ringlets. Slowly, she batted her eyelids, sliding a forehoof from her throat to…

Spike came out of the fantasy with a pleasant shudder, before realizing that he was biting the windowsill. The marks left by his teeth disrupted the polished surface. Several other similar depressions pockmarked the wood as well.

Twilight is going to notice if I keep that up… Maybe I can blame Owlowiscious.

He scowled at the owl again. The library was in pristine condition, all the books were organized; there was simply nothing to do inside. With Twilight Sparkle’s study on friendship interrupted, the dragon had found himself with surprisingly little work to keep himself occupied.

Nothing to do but daydream and wait for Twilight to come home. Well… Maybe I could practice my penmanship.

A thought occurred to the dragon as he made his way to the table. He would try writing down one of his fantasies. Not to show anyone, but merely for the satisfaction of having it on paper. Just to make sure no one would see, Spike glanced around the room. Satisfied with the vacancy, he dipped the quill in an ink well and then put it to parchment.

“Spike the Brave kicked down the front door of the dark castle, bolts of lightning flashing behind him. Before him was the grand hall of a once opulent castle, reduced to little more than a glorified kennel now that it was occupied by throngs of flea bitten diamond dogs. They raised their weapons, nervously looking at one another. Even lowly mutts such as themselves had heard the legends of the dragon warrior.

“Release Lady Rarity at once, vile curs, or I shall be forced to slay the lot of you!”

“We would die before surrendering her to the likes of you!” spat the leader of the dogs.

Spike the Brave drew his sword, forged in the most sacred of dragon kilns. “So be it!”

“The dragon charged fearlessly into battle, untouchable as his sword stained crimson, splitting and slicing his way through the ranks of the diamond dog army. The remaining dogs cowered after watching their comrades fall, throwing down their weapons and dropping to their knees, begging for their lives. As merciful as he was brave, the dragon warrior spared them, making them swear an oath never to harm another pony so long as they lived.

“Death before dishonor!” shouted their leader, charging Spike the Brave with a dagger the moment he turned his back.

“Without so much as looking, the dragon warrior twisted away and swung, splitting the dog right down the middle.

“How could we lose?” the dog’s leader gurgled, blood running from the thin red line that stretched from head to groin.

“Because you are a coward,” growled Spike, stepping away from the diamond dog as he erupted in a spray of crimson gore, his halves falling wetly to either side.

“The dogs hastily opened the cage in which they had imprisoned Lady Rarity, standing aside as she stepped into the open. Her eyes glimmered with blissful tears as she gazed at her savior, galloping up to him and embracing him with her forelegs.

“What can I ever do to repay you?” Lady Rarity asked between”

A sudden knocking caused Spike to throw the quill across the room. Frantically, Spike curled up the parchment, sealing it with a red ribbon by sheer force of habit. The knock repeated, followed this time with a voice that stopped the dragon dead in his tracks, heart in his throat.

“Spike?” Rarity inquired from beyond the door. “Spike, is Twilight Sparkle at home presently?”

The dragon left the scroll on the table, practically floating to the door. Just talking to her was more than he could have hoped for on a day like this.

“Sorry Rarity, she’s visiting Zecora. I’m not sure when she’ll be getting back.”

There were several moments of silence before Rarity said another word.

“Oh, well, that’s quite alright dear, I actually wanted to talk to you instead.”

She wants to talk to me? Oh my gosh… I hope my spines look okay! What is she going to talk to me about? Maybe she wants me to help her find gems again, or clean up around her shop, or…

“I have a favor I need to ask of you, if that isn’t too presumptions of me. I know that Twilight has you guarding the library, but I just realized I have no one to watch Sweetie Belle while I’m at the spa. I don’t suppose you could-”

“Oh absolutely! I’ll be out in two shakes of a dragon’s tail!”

Spike opened the door to find Rarity facing away from him, getting an eyeful of her backside instead. His eyes lingered on her delicate curves, the soft pink under her tail.

“Yes, well, let’s be off then, shall we?”

The dragon closed and locked the door behind him before realizing that Rarity was now without her outfit. Of course, it was very much like her to change clothes several times throughout the day in the interest of testing the latest fashions, but the sky was still very much overcast. A pegasus zipped by, the backdraft carrying news papers and bits of trash.

“No you listen, asshole!” Rainbow Dash shouted, evidently giving chase as she tore through the streets.

The two of them curved back into the sky, vanishing into the clouds.

“Good heavens…” The pale unicorn raised a forehoof to her muzzle. “She should really watch her mouth, so un-ladylike… Oh well. Come along, my dear.”

“Okay.” Spike mumbled, followed in her wake, mesmerized by the sway of her rump.

For the briefest of instants when the dragon’s gaze was not transfixed on the pale unicorn’s hindquarters, he wondered why Rarity was wearing sun glasses. The sun was completely hidden behind the clouds. Occasionally, she would glance back at him to make sure he was still following, flashing the smallest hint of a smile. Spike could feel himself melt each time.

Carousel Boutique came into view not long after they had set out. Another pony stopped Rarity a few buildings from her shop, however.

“Didn’t I just see you at The Feedbag?” The smell of food drifted out of Lyra’s saddle bags.

“Oh, yes, I suppose you did. I realized that I needed someone to watch Sweetie Belle while I’m away.” Rarity smiled, but it looked forced. Lyra didn’t seem to notice.

The pudgy, mint coated unicorn snickered a bit. “For a girl your size, you’re pretty quick with your food!”

“Haste is often a necessity. I do have appointments to keep. On that note…” She smiled again, nodded, and turned back toward the boutique.

“So you just want me to watch over your sister? You don’t want me to clean or anything?” The dragon looked up at her hopefully as she opened the door, a bell jingling softly beside the frame. “I’ll do anything for you, Lady Rarity- I mean Rarity! Just Rarity!”

Once Spike had followed her in, the pale unicorn smiled, kneeling down to eye level with him. “I feel like I should be asking you if there’s anything you’d like in return. I half expected you wouldn’t come.”

Spike tried to hide his face as he began to blush. He had dreamed about this moment countless times, telling himself he would be suave should the situation actually occur. Instead, he was behaving like a foal on the receiving end of a love note.

“Rarity… I… I’ve wanted to tell you this for a while…”

“Oh? I’m listening, Spike.”

Several moments passed as Spike mentally prepared himself for what he was about to say. He heaved a deep breath, looking Rarity in the eyes. Sunglasses. Looking through her sunglasses into her eyes.

“Okay… Here goes. Rarity, you’re the most beautiful mare I’ve ever laid eyes on. I… I don’t know if this is what love feels like or what, but every time I see you, I just go to pieces!” He chuckled nervously as the unicorn pursed her lips, possibly with curiosity. “I don’t expect you to feel the same way toward me, we’re not even the same kind of animal, but… That’s it, I guess.”

The dragon cast his gaze to the floor, fidgeting nervously as he braced for the worst, half expecting her to laugh.

“You’re a very brave little dragon, Spike. Not just anyone could confess something like that to the person they admire so deeply.” He felt her warmth against his chin, lifting his head with a silken furred foreleg. “I don’t want you to tell anyone about this, alright? What I’m about to do is not to be mentioned again, even to me. This is your moment, and you should cherish it for yourself.”

Before Spike could ask what she meant, what she was going to do, he felt her lips against his. His limbs turned to butter, eyes closed against a flood of emotion as his dream came true. Only part of his dream, but more than he could have ever hoped for.

And just like that, the kiss ended. He stood there, swaying, lightheaded as he tried to return to reality. Out of the corner of his eye, for an instant, he thought he saw Sweetie Belle, gone in the blink of an eye.

Did she hear that? Was she watching?

“Now, remember what I said. I have to go, and Sweetie Belle is your responsibility until I return. Feel free to nibble on a few gems as well, just… Don’t eat my whole stock, dear.”

She turned toward the door, looking back at the dragon one more time, flashing a smile that filled his chest with butterflies. The door closed gently behind her. Wasting no time to make good on the pale unicorn’s offer, Spike tossed a nearby ruby into his toothy maw, grinning with satisfaction.

\/ /\ /\ \/

The skies churned angrily in the distance. A few flashes of lightning bridged mountains, their peaks swallowed up in dark, puffy clouds. Applejack sat on the front porch, leaning against a support beam, watching the clouds anxiously. Occasionally, she would lift a pair of binoculars to her eyes, scanning the skyline for sign of her pegasus.

“Dash said it ain’t a storm they planned…” She set the binoculars down, looking across the porch to her brother. “Whole damn kingdoms got weather problems alla the sudden, an we’re right in the middle of it.”

Nearby, Big Macintosh rested in a chair, occasionally raising a forehoof to the collection of gauze held fast against the side of his neck. Only the faintest pink hinted to the puncture marks now concealed by the bandages. While he seemed concerned about the growing storm over Ponyville, his thoughts were probably elsewhere.

“Eeyep… Ah jus hope they get it under control ‘fore ‘s time ta harvest…”

The blond mare nodded, turning her attention to Macintosh. “How’re ya feelin’, big guy?”

“Still sore ‘bout tha whole thing… Mind an’ body… Really figured Ah hadda chance, ya know?” He heaved a deep sigh, then chuckled, nervously. “What’re we gonna do, sis? Is it even safe here anymore?”

“Ah dunno Mac…” Applejack looked to the stormy horizon, brow heavy with worry. “Ah jus’ don’t know…”

Having heard enough, Applebloom stepped away from the screen door, trotting slowly back to her room. Even though Big Magintosh had been bitten the previous night, just before Applebloom and her sister arrived, the unfairness of it all made her blood boil.

How could she visit mah brother an’ not me? Ah thought she was mah friend…

Wynona had been barking viciously just outside of Mac’s door when they stepped inside. Applejack bristled up and told her sister to wait while she checked it out, but as soon as the blond mare looked away, Applebloom bolted down the hallway ahead of her, opening the door first.

An she just stared at me… Like she was sad, like she was afraid.

Big Macintosh whispered for help, pinned to the ground, struggling weakly. Thick rivers of crimson bubbled up from the wounds in his neck, pouring over his flesh and coat without the presence of a mouth to drink it in. Applejack stood behind her younger sister, frozen with terror.

An she said, Ah’m sorry, an’ then she jus’ vanished, turned inta mist…

Applebloom came out of her thoughts, gazing forlornly on the spot where she had first met her mysterious friend. They spent hours together that night, playing in the orchard until the sun was about to rise. She brushed the side of her neck with a forehoof, feeling the circular scabs marring the smoothness of her coat.

A crack of thunder made the filly cringe. Following that was a bit of muffled laughter.

Applebloom poked her head into the hallway, looking down to the screen door. Applejack was talking to somepony, but definitely not Big Macintosh.

“Oh my…” Came a timid voice just out of sight. “And you didn’t even try to go to the clinic?”

“Naw, Ah’m tougher ‘en that.” The pride in Macintosh’s voice quickly deflated. “But uh… Ah guess Ah ain’t tough enough ta take down one o’ them monsters…”

“Well um… I’m very glad that you’re safe, but I um… That is, if it’s alright with both of you, I’d like to talk to Applebloom. A-Alone…”

Several seconds of silence passed, during which Applejack leaned closer to who Applebloom assumed was Fluttershy. Evidently, she passed inspection.

“Alright…” The blond mare said cautiously. “Be gentle, though. Mac an Ah still think she’s actin’ a li’l strange.”

The screen door swung open, Fluttershy stepping into view. “Thank you both. I won’t be long.” She smiled almost bashfully. “Rarity wanted to go to the spa with me today.”

“Good fer you! Ah’m glad ta hear it. ‘Bout time that snooty mare came down ta earth.” Applejack snickered before adding “A li’l extra meat on yer bones ain’t tha end a tha world.”

Now that she really was blushing, Fluttershy gave a meek nod and made her way down the hall. A few beads of sweat rolled down the shy mare’s forehead, her right flank brushing the wall occasionally as she moved.

“Howdy, Fluttershy,” the filly said with a wave.

Applebloom assumed the timid pegasus had simply failed to notice her, but to her surprise, she motioned for the filly to step into her room.

Once inside, Fluttershy closed the door behind her.

“I need to know,” the pegasus began before Applebloom could get a word in. “Is Mahara the creature going around biting everyone? She hasn’t killed anypony, but what she’s doing is wrong. I want to help her if I can, so that she doesn’t have to keep doing what she’s doing, but first, I need to know…”

The seriousness of Fluttershy’s expression, stance and words caught Applebloom completely off guard. She had heard of this side of the normally timid pegasus from Applejack, but never thought she would see it herself, much less be on the receiving end. Intimidated did not begin to describe the sinking feeling she was experiencing.

“Please…” Fluttershy added, possibly aware of the fear she was inspiring.

“Ah… Ah don’t know…” The filly tried to look away, but found herself rooted to the spot. Paralyzed.

The Stare! She’s usin’ her Stare!

Fluttershy persisted, glaring now. “Tell. Me.”

“Ah don’t know fer sure!” There was mumbling beyond the door, accompanied by approaching hoofsteps. “Ah jus’ get this feelin’… Same feelin’ Ah got when Ah was with Seafare, an when Ah saw Rainbow Dash on toppa Big Macintosh. Seafare never said she was Mahara, an Mahara don’t seem to want anything to do with me, but… Ah… Ah jus’…”

The filly paused, a few tears welling up in her eyes. “Don’t tell her Ah said nothin’, okay? Ah don’t want her ta be mad at me…”

“It’ll be our little secret.” Fluttershy whispered. “Pinkie Pie swear.”

Thunder rumbled again outside, making the pegasus flinch. The door opened behind her. Rain began to batter the roof, cascading over the sides in a clear, continuous sheet.

“Oh no… Um… I’m sorry but I really need to be going.”

Applejack’s eyes went wide. “Yer not thinkin’ of goin’ to tha spa in this, are ya? Hon, Ah know ya ain’t spent time with Rarity inna while, but you should really wait it out!”

Fluttershy was already pushing passed her, making for the front door. “I can’t stay. I’m very sorry but this is important to me!”

The Apple sisters followed the pegasus, but she was not to be deterred.

Fluttershy vanished into the rain, a blur of yellow and pink in a sea of grey.

A voice from seemingly nowhere broke the rain saturated silence. “Aw man, am I gonna hafta get wet too?”

Applebloom and Applejack exchanged looks of confusion, glancing around.

“Did you…” Applejack stopped, staring out into the rain. A pink blur zipped into the distance. “Was that Pinkie Pie?”

\/ /\ /\ \/