Chapter Six: In All Honesty

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“She’s stable, for now.” Redheart looked up from her work, smeared with blood from her face to her forehooves. “If you had been just a minute later, I don’t think I would have been able to save her.”

Rainbow Dash gave a slow, solemn nod, still trembling softly as she lay beside Applejack.

The tranquility of Whitetail Woods had been replaced with various degrees of weeping and frightened shouting. The cyan pegasus considered herself beyond fortunate that Nurse Redheart had grabbed medical supplies from the clinic before evacuating. The pegasus choked back a whimper as she imagined what would have happened if the medical pony had lacked such foresight. Redheart gave Applejack’s freshly covered wound one last inspection before stepping away from the pair to deal with other injuries.

They were far from alone, but to Dash, everypony else might as well be miles away. All she could do was watch the slow, steady motion of Applejack’s breast as she lay on her back, or stare at the pink stained bandages where Applejack’s left hock used to be. Leafy shadows and blotches of sunlight floated lazily across the blond mare’s unconscious form as the surrounding trees swayed in the breeze. The sky had cleared not long after Dash had arrived, but the shining sun and chirping birds contrasted the emotional storm brewing within the residents of Ponyville.

Rainbow Dash curled up against her unconscious love, fighting and failing to contain her sobs.

If only I had been faster… Why wasn’t I faster? Why couldn’t the damn hydra have bitten my leg off instead?

Applejack stirred, eyelids fluttering, and the pegasus felt her heart fill with hope. Instead of opening her eyes, the blond mare weakly lashed out with a bandaged forehoof, going still again after her foreleg fell limply back to her side.

“You get em’, AJ…” whispered Rainbow, “Don’t you ever stop fighting…”

A sad smile found its way to her lips, gently resting an ear against Applejack’s chest, listening to her heartbeat.

She’s alive. Even if she’s been maimed, even if I wasn’t fast enough, even if that fucking hydra is destroying the rest of Ponyville right now, she’s… She’s alive… But… What about…

Only then did Rainbow Dash realize that she had abandoned her friends in the heat of battle. An entirely new paranoia swept over her as she imagined the consequences of her actions, the potential destruction and death that her departure may have caused.

What will AJ think of me if… If I let everypony else die… Just to save her? Would she… Could she still love me? What if she had wanted me to leave her so that I could keep fighting? The troubled pegasus looked to Applejack, but found no relief in her vacant expression. Please don’t be mad at me, AJ… I… I did this because I love you… You’re more than just a friend… They don’t know that… I don’t expect them to understand… Several tears splashed against Applejack’s neck as the pegasus leaned closer to her face. But you mean more to me than anything… If saving your life means I had to be disloyal to everypony else, then that’s the way it’s gonna have to be… I just… I hope you can forgive me, for choosing you over them…

She was about to start weeping anew when a shout brought her out of her mournful trance. A small group of ponies had just penetrated the tree line, doing their best to get everypony’s attention.

“The hydra is dead! It’s safe to return home!” A cheer went up from those in earshot, other ponies wandering closer to try and understand the cause for commotion as the stallion continued to shout. “Spread the word! The hydra is dead!”

The pegasus looked to her unconscious companion, then back to the steadily gathering crowd. “AJ, I’ll be right back…”

The onslaught of questions melted into a jarring buzz of interrupted sentences and barely understandable fragments, but the general focus seemed to be who and how. The overwhelmed stallion recoiled a few steps from the gathering ponies, then began to stomp until they had quieted down.

“Okay, okay everypony, I don’t know who else has been eaten, or what property was destroyed.” The stallion looked around at the growing number of faces, barely making eye contact with Dash in his pause. “All I know is that the hydra is as dead as can be, and that monster Twilight Sparkle was telling us about is the one that killed it. I didn’t see it myself, I was in my basement, but I came up when everything went quiet, and that’s what everypony seemed to be saying.”

The chatter started right up again as Dash hovered just above the crowd. She found it hard to believe that the mare responsible for the recent string of attacks had actually done something beneficial for Ponyville. Ponies had died, and Applejack would never fully recover from her injury. Hearing that Mahara had stepped in only after irreparable damage had been done filled her with more rage than relief. At least half of the crowd shared her sentiments, but there seemed to be just as many ponies singing the red mare’s praises. The stallion went on his way as the crowd began to bicker, leaving Dash uncertain of the next course of action. A fair number of ponies broke off from the larger group, talking amongst themselves as they took to the road leading home.

Is it even safe to move Applejack? She… She lost a lot of blood… Maybe… No, definitely… I need to find Redheart and ask her what to do.

An orange pegasus filly approached Rainbow Dash as she began her search. The cyan pegasus barely noticed her until she realized she was being followed.

“Hey, kid, have you seen Redheart around?”

“N-no… But… I… I need to talk to you…”

Dash glanced back at the filly, recognizing her after a moment as Scootaloo. “Not right now, kid. I’ve got more important things to take care of right now.”

“Please, I don’t know who else to talk to!”

“It’s going to have to wait, okay?! My marefriend almost died a little while ago!” Dash froze in the air as she realized what she had blurted out. Scootaloo seemed similarly shocked. “Yes! My marefriend! I love Applejack and I don’t care who knows it anymore! Now will you please leave me alone?!”

The filly sniffled and ran off, but Dash couldn’t be bothered. She spotted the nurse wrapping bandages around a mare’s torso. As she got closer, she realized that Bonbon was one of the ponies who had been trampled in the chaos.

“I don’t suppose you’ve seen Lyra around? I-” The cream colored mare gasped in pain as she tried to sit up, causing Redheart to put a hoof to her shoulder. “Sorry, I know you told me not to move like that.” Bonbon eased herself back to the ground, turning her attention back to Rainbow. “I lost her in the commotion. If you see her, tell her I’m okay, would you?”

“If I see her, sure.” The pegasus turned her attention to Redheart, who had her snout in a medicine bag. “Is it safe to move Applejack? I mean, with her injury and all?”

Redheart lifted her head out of the bag, a roll of medical tape in her teeth. She shifted her weight to her hind legs, dropping the tape into her forehooves.

“Moving her to my clinic is definitely better than tending to her out here.” The nurse tugged at the roll until she had torn off a strip. “I’ll go with you when you bring her there, but after that, I’m going to need you to help move other patients. Can you handle that?”

“Definitely. How soon do we start?”

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Sadness was not an alien emotion to Pinkie Pie. However, the frequency with which she felt true sorrow was very low. It was a sensation she had not truly experienced since attempting to help Fluttershy overcome her depression. In some ways, the circumstances with which she now felt herself gripped with sadness were identical. Rarity had given up on trying to console Fluttershy, and the pegasus wept quietly as she kept a slow, mournful pace alongside the cart. Whenever Pinkie glanced back at her, she found Fluttershy’s gaze fixed on the body of her fallen friend. Her hair wavered, threatening to go limp.

It must be like… Waiting for someone to wake up, even though you know that they’re going to be asleep forever… Poor Fluttershy… Maybe a song will cheer her up! Maybe… Maybe not right now… I’d need to think up the words anyway. I… I want to be positive! I really do! But… I can’t… Would that even be right? I was so happy after watching Mahara defeat that nasty hydra, but… I… I didn’t expect her to die… I didn’t expect anypony to die! I know it’s silly, but it feels like nobody ever died before today, and now… We’re up to our necks in it, trying not to drown…

Angel stood just outside the cottage, watching the three of them from the top of the hill. When he cringed, Pinkie guessed it was because of the cart. Fluttershy had plucked a sheet right off of somepony’s laundry line before leaving town, draping it over Mahara’s body to stop the sun from cooking her, or at least what Pinkie assumed was the sun cooking her. Shortly before being covered, she had seen the red mare’s flesh seared where it had been exposed to direct sunlight. The sight made her think back to sun burns and times when she had ruined baked goods before becoming skilled in the kitchen.

The sun isn’t an oven, though… And I haven’t sizzled up when I get cuts or scrapes outside… Maybe it’s because she’s a monster. Was a monster… A really nice monster that made Fluttershy happy… Maybe monsters aren’t supposed to come out during the day? That makes sense, I think. Mahara sure is brave, then, visiting us when she knew one little accident might have her smoking like a chimney. Well… She was brave… I don’t think she can be brave anymore… A few strands of pink hair fell against the side of her face. No no! Stay positive, Pinkie! Your friends need you to stay positive! I need me to stay positive! I… I can plan a party to help take everyone’s mind off of this! Yeah! That will work, right?

Fluttershy unhitched Pinkie from the cart when they reached her front door. Rarity opened her mouth to say something, but Fluttershy just shook her head, pointing back toward town, never once looking up at them.

“I… I need to be alone…” The pegasus shuddered, a half choked sob dying on her lips. “Th-thank you for walking home with me, b-but… I jus-just want to be alone, o-okay?”

Rarity took a step toward Fluttershy, but the pegasus only pointed again, her forehoof shaking.

“I’ll b-be alright… I just w-want to… to…” Fluttershy met Rarity’s concerned gaze with a look that made Pinkie’s heart feel like breaking. “Please… J-just for today…”

“Very well, dear… But, I’ll be back first thing tomorrow.” The unicorn wavered, as if unsure that she should leave. “Please don’t do anything rash…”

“I’ve u-used up all my suicidal urges for a good long while,” Fluttershy forced a smile, but her pain bled right through the expression. “Don’t you w-worry about me.”

“Pinkie Pie, let’s head back to town, shall we?”

“Yeah…” Pinkie nodded, keeping her eyes on her weeping friend. “I hope you feel better soon, Fluttershy.”

The pegasus gave Pinkie a strange, distant look, and it felt as though Fluttershy were looking right through her. She immediately regretted saying anything at all.

“Sorry,” she whispered, turning toward Rarity and following her down the path.

Only when they were well away from the cottage did Rarity attempt to start a conversation.

“I was just putting the finishing touches on her dress last night. Pity that she’ll never get to see it completed…”

“Well…” The opportunity to be positive surfaced. It was much easier without Fluttershy’s weeping to dampen her thoughts. “She doesn’t have to see it to wear it! I mean, even though she’s a monster and she’s all dead, that doesn’t mean she won’t have a funeral, right? I’ve never planned a funeral reception party before! This will be a challenge!”

Rarity cocked her head, watching as Pinkie regained the slightest bit of the spring in her step. “I don’t believe that a funeral reception is the same sort of party as, say, a birthday party.”

“Well of course not! It’s not a party that celebrates one measly birthday! It’s a party that celebrates a pony’s entire life! How is that not a good reason to plan the biggest, best party possible?” The unicorn appeared increasingly disturbed as she noted the wide grin plastered across Pinkie’s face. Pinkie continued anyway. “I know that, when I die, I want everyone to celebrate! I want it to be a huuuuge party, and I want everyone to be invited! That way, no one will be sad that I’m dead, because they’ll be too busy celebrating!”

“Yes, well… I suppose focusing on happy memories is better than becoming consumed with grief… I would think that it’s easier said than done, however.” Carousel Boutique came into view, and Rarity began to diverge from the bouncing pink mare. “You’re quite welcome to come with me when I go to check up on Fluttershy in the morning. You certainly have a better grasp on being positive than I.”

“Seeya later then… Oh! Good work with that hydra, too!”

The unicorn grinned back at Pinkie as she pushed open her door. “Oh, hardly dear. I missed my mark as often as I hit it. Thank you just the same. Take care!”

Pinkie bounced in place as she waited for the door to shut, but as soon as she heard the click, the pink mare whipped around and began a mad dash back to Fluttershy’s cottage.

I promised to Twilight, after all! Even if she’s mourning and the monster is dead, I need to make sure nothing bad happens to her! I mean… She wouldn’t hurt herself because she’s really sad, right? But then, she’s not really the same Fluttershy anymore, is she? She’s been through so much this year. She still talks like the Fluttershy I know, but… She’s different now. I can’t blame her, either. I’m sure I’d be different too if I went through all that. I wonder if she’d be happier if she were still with Lucky… If he hadn’t gone and had tongueshakes with some other mare… You know, I’ve never tried talking to him. I should give that a shot and see if I can learn anything that might help Fluttershy! I bet she’d really like that! It might help her take her mind off of Mahara! Okay, slow down, you can’t spy on her if she knows you’re here.

Pinkie got as low to the ground as she could, crawling along the outside of Fluttershy’s cottage. She could hear the pegasus inside, still crying, but she sounded tired now. Her being in the living room, not to mention all the curtains being drawn, meant that the downstairs windows were right out. The bedroom window seemed like a viable option.

It’s gonna be a jump, but I think I can manage it! Just need something to give me a boost! Uhhhh… Oh! This tree here! Okay, easy now… Bend it back… Just a little more! Aaaaaand… Ha-ha! Ooof! Okay, quiet down now. You’re on the roof. Just gotta… Nudge this window open… There! I’m in! Okay Pinkie, quiet as you can! This is a sneaking mission! European Extreme: Game over if discovered! Getting closer… I can see her! This is far enough then. Just gotta stay out of sight and make sure nothing bad happens to her. Angel might be a problem, but he’s busy trying to calm her down for now. Maybe I can bribe him if he sees me. Ooh, what’s she doing?

Through the stairway banister, Pinkie watched as the pegasus got up from Mahara’s lifeless side and made her way over to a cabinet by the front door. She returned to the red mare with an enormous bag. As soon as Fluttershy had set it down, she began to remove all kinds of surgical supplies from within, laying them out in front of Mahara. The pegasus was completely silent as she went to work, save for a few quiet sniffles.

What is she going to do with those scissors…? Oh! Oh gosh, she’s cutting off those tentacle things! Well, two of them anyway. And she’s cutting them open? What, is she making a coat? Wait… Wait no, I get it! She’s patching up the hole that the hydra left in Mahara’s tummy! Well… Her whole torso, really. That thing nearly bit her in half… Yeah, she’s sewing the skin into place over the bite. Well that’s nice of you, Fluttershy, fixing up your friend like that. But… I don’t think that’s going to make her come back to life… Maybe that isn’t the point. Maybe she just wants Mahara to look pretty when they bury her. Wouldn’t make sense to have her in a coffin with all her guts hanging out…

The pegasus sat back when she had finished, looking over the post-mortem skin graft. The red mare lay on her back, a peaceful smile on her unmoving lips. The distant chirping of birds and the low rustle of leaves filled the room; it was a beautiful, sunny day outside.

Fluttershy had stopped crying, but Pinkie could see the strain.

I wish there were some way for me to make this better… But… I can’t… I can’t help you… Does that make me a bad friend?

She felt a tear roll down the side of her face.

I’m so sorry, Fluttershy…

Her pink curls went limp, swaying gently as she looked on in silence.

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“Part of me felt like I would never fall in love again, after what happened.” Her gaze drifted tiredly over Mahara’s tranquil face. “So much for that, Fluttershy, you’re going to be a single mare for the rest of your life. And… And then you came along… I’m not even sure what it was that first night. It almost felt forced, but… I didn’t care. After knowing what it was like to be in love, and then losing it… I just wanted something to fill the void. Does that mean I’ve just been using you?”

Angel sat beside the pegasus, watching her with a face full of anxiety as Fluttershy held a one sided conversation with a corpse. A few minutes passed before she continued.

“I suppose I should be asking you if you’ve been using me, though. I know that you need to drink blood now, but… You never even tried to drink mine.” A flock of birds swirled outside the window, beckoning the pegasus to join them. The temptation wasn’t even there. “That night… Were you going to? Were you about to bite me, and then you stopped? Why?”

The numbness she had experienced upon realizing that Mahara had passed on was slowly beginning to wear off. A shallow wave of sensation came over her. She was exhausted, she was hungry, her head ached, and her right rear hoof throbbed where she had stepped on the blade of a knife. The bleeding from her shoulder had slowed to trickle, the edges of the stab wound slowly scabbing over.

I should probably disinfect this and cover it…

Fluttershy took a white rag from the medical supplies, dousing a corner with alcohol. Very carefully, the pegasus brought the rag to her shoulder, disrupting the coagulation process. Her blood began to run, welling up in the pinpricks of her capillaries, pooling together into a single rivulet. Her eyes traced the slowly rolling path down her foreleg, holding that leg horizontally to stop the motion. Mahara remained motionless as the pegasus looked from her blood to the red mare and back again.

This isn’t a fairy tale, Fluttershy… But… There’s no harm in dreaming…

“I don’t care if you were really a monster… I don’t even care that you lied about being a monster… You shared something with me…”

She brought her mouth to the crimson stream, gathering it up with her tongue, spreading it over her lips.

“I would have gladly shared something with you in return…”

Fluttershy leaned forward, nose to nose with Mahara, eyes to eyelids and curly lashes.

“All you had to do was ask…”

The red mare’s lips were cold against her own, made sticky with a bloody kiss.

“So, this is goodbye…”

Before the pegasus could even pull away, she felt a shudder. Not her own, but from the lifeless form before her. She wrote it off as her imagination, until she felt it again. Fluttershy uttered a dry scream, stumbling back, looking Mahara over as the red mare began to twitch.

The blood on Mahara’s lips had vanished. Her breast came to life with a sharp, sudden gasp. Her eyelids fluttered. Just as suddenly as she had begun to convulse, she became still once again.

A full minute passed as Fluttershy watched, wide eyed and speechless, trembling with shock and fear. Angel stood defensively between the pegasus and the earth pony. Slowly, Mahara turned her head toward Fluttershy, looking as surprised to see the pegasus as the pegasus was to see her.

“Hey…” Mahara’s brow relaxed, and she gave a tired smile. “The two of you look like you’ve seen a ghost…”

Fluttershy sputtered, trying to organize her thoughts. “I- What- You- How?! I don’t understand!” She glanced down to Angel, who seemed similarly confused, offering up a shrug.

“I was dead, and now I’m not.” The red mare rolled onto her side, wincing slightly. “That’s pretty cut and dry if you ask me.”

“But…” The pegasus was lost for words, her mouth agape. “How?”

“Your blood, Fluttershy.” The red mare brought a hoof to her lips, smiling. “You’re the reason I’m alive right now. I suppose that makes us even.”

“Am I… Is… Is this a dream?” The pegasus tightly closed her eyes, brow furrowing, blinking several times when she opened them again. “Is this really happening? How can this be real? I… I watched you… die…”

“While there are some major drawbacks to being like me, the rules of life and death are a little more flexible.”

While witnessing Mahara come back from the dead was initially stunning, the shock of seeing Mahara alive again quickly began to wear off. Fluttershy flung her forearms around the red mare’s neck, hugging her tightly as a few happy tears streamed down her cheeks. The pegasus saw Angel in the corner of her vision, smiling back at her; he gave a single nod, then made his way to the kitchen.

“I was so scared!” Her voice and her happy sobs were muffled as she buried her face in the side of Mahara’s neck. “I… I thought I’d never see you again!”

The pegasus felt a hoof against the back of her neck, gently stroking. “I know… And I’m sorry about that, but there wasn’t much I could do until you gave me some of your blood.”

Fluttershy shuddered, her happiness not quite crashing, but suddenly plummeting as she remembered all the unanswered questions that had been brimming on the tip of her tongue.

“So… Um… About that… Why didn’t… That is… You…” The pegasus pulled back, looking Mahara in the eyes. “You kept it a secret… From me… Why?”

The red mare looked away, her hoof falling back to the floor. “I was afraid you would look at me differently… That it would change what was developing between us…”  She brought her gaze back to Fluttershy’s, a sad smile on her lips. “Of course, with me galloping around after sundown, sucking everypony’s blood, it was only a matter of time until things went wrong…”

“I… I need to know the truth… All of it… I talked to Rarity before the hydra attacked, and she um… She said you would explain things…” The pegasus held her gaze, trying to dig up the confidence she needed to continue.

“Yes, that was part of our agreement… What would you like to talk about?”

“The very first night we met… You um…” She hesitated for several seconds. “You told me a lot of things… I’m guessing most of those things weren’t true.”

The red mare heaved a sigh, slowly rolling onto her hooves, but remaining on the floor. “The first night, when we had just met, I presented myself in a way that I felt would guarantee getting behind your defenses. The bandages, the story about being an orphan and about the griffons attacking my wings… all fabrication designed specifically to make you open up to me.”

The pegasus gave a slow nod, waiting for more.

“I’m not an orphan, and I never had wings to begin with. These things growing out of my back; I can make them come and go as I please. I keep them for convenience most of the time. At the party, I could have easily just absorbed them back into my body, but playing victim gave me just a bit more of an edge with you, on top of the fact that you would question me later if they were suddenly gone.”

“How much of this was just an act, then?” The pegasus glanced away, a bitter sadness welling up inside her. “Did you only pretend to be interested in me?”

“The kiss we shared that morning... The fondness I felt spending time with you… That was all genuine.” Fluttershy felt Mahara’s forehoof against the side of her face, half brushing, half tilting her head back toward the red mare. “I hid all my dark secrets from you because I didn’t want you to be afraid of me. I assumed that lying to you was better than you knowing the truth…”

“Rarity told me that you need blood to survive. You couldn’t have tried to explain that to me? I would have been a little uncomfortable at first, but I wouldn’t have turned you away! You…” Fluttershy leaned forward, glaring. “You almost killed Applebloom! How could you think that was better than just telling me the truth?!”

Mahara froze, her expression softening, her gaze becoming distant. “I… Applebloom and I… Spending time with her reminded me of what my life was like, before Luna, before all the changes… I thought, what if she could stay like that forever?”

“What do you mean?”

The red mare’s gaze swept the room, making eye contact with Fluttershy for a few fleeting moments. “I don’t age, Fluttershy. I look exactly the same now as I did back then. I can change my appearance, of course, but my true self isn’t a day older than when I became what I am now. I told Applebloom that she could be like me… Stay a filly for as long as she wanted, and… She seemed to like the idea. The same night I met you, I met her. I hypnotized her, just a little bit, but…”

Mahara closed her eyes, her brow furrowing. “Younger ponies are a lot more susceptible to hypnotic suggestion… Even that little bit of hypnosis may have made her a little crazy… She was friendly enough before I messed around with her emotions, so doing that just amplified what she already felt, even if she didn’t know she felt it…

“So… The following night, she invited Scootaloo to the clubhouse as I had requested. I was going to teach her how to feed, just to be sure that she really wanted to go through with it… Well, I paralyzed Scootaloo, and then I started to feed from her when Applebloom bit the other side of her neck. I wasn’t expecting her to do that, so I stopped. Then Applebloom started saying how she didn’t want me biting anyone but her.”

The red mare took a deep breath, a small tremor running through her. “I could still taste and smell Scootaloo’s blood, see the look of terror on her face as she looked back at me. I started having second thoughts. I didn’t have much of a choice when this happened to me, and… I realized that she was too young to really think it through…

“Applebloom kept insisting, though, so… I bit her… And I lost control. She just kept telling me to bite harder, and… I couldn’t stop drinking.”

Mahara opened her eyes, but was unable or unwilling to meet the pegasus’s gaze. “I didn’t stop until she passed out.”

The silence stretched on for an uncomfortable length of time as Fluttershy struggled to find the words she wanted. Her gaze drifted over the darkened room, searching for the right phrasing. A gentle breeze came in through the broken window, bringing the smell of grass and lightly blowing her mane.

“Is… Is that um… What you were going to do to me?” She tilted her head to the side, meeting Mahara’s reluctant eyes. “You were going to feed off of me? Turn me into a creature like yourself?”

“I never wanted to turn you into... This… Never once did that cross my mind. I did come very close to drinking your blood, though… And…” The red mare glanced away again, desperately trying to avoid eye contact with Fluttershy. “That night, the stirring in your chest? Or that dreamy feeling you got every time you looked into my eyes?”

“So you did hypnotize me…”

“Only a little!” Mahara fell silent for a moment after her outburst. “I… I wasn’t sure how much time I would have… I wanted to make the most of it while I could, and then at the last minute, I got cold hooves and decided to let this run its course without any further supernatural influence. The effect of hypnosis on adults is much more subtle and much less enduring. By the following morning, you were probably only feeling lingering effects.”

“It… It felt real, though… Are you telling me that you planted those feelings in my mind?”

“Not in the least. The emotions you experienced were all your own. I only intensified them. You are the one who decided whether or not they were worth exploring.” The red mare gently put her forehoof on Fluttershy’s, withdrawing it as the pegasus narrowed her eyes. “The morning we kissed? That was all you… Whatever you felt for me then is no less real than what you feel for me now.”

Fluttershy cocked an eyebrow, giving that some thought as she carefully judged Mahara’s expression. The red mare attempted a timid smile, leaning in to nuzzle the pegasus, but Fluttershy shifted away from the attempted gesture. On top of all the confusion and sadness in her heart, she could feel anger slowly bubbling to the surface.

“I… I’m upset… I’m upset that you didn’t even try to explain all this sooner… And I’m still not entirely sure if I can even trust you…” The red mare shrank back, looking down at the floor, but Fluttershy continued uninterrupted. “How can I, after what you’ve done? You lied to my face! You’ve been lying to me since you came here!”

“I know… I know that what I’ve done is wrong…” Mahara slowly looked up, meeting the pegasus’s angry glare. “And that’s why I brought something back here while you were in town. Proof that you can trust me.”

Fluttershy did a quick visual sweep of the room, looking for anything new or out of place. “What do you mean by that?” Her search came up empty. “You… You brought me something?”

“I hid it under the couch cushion.” The red mare lifted a forehoof off the floor, pointing to the furniture behind Fluttershy.

The pegasus glanced behind her, eyes narrowed with uncertainty. “Hid what?”

“See for yourself.”

Fluttershy turned to the couch, lifting up the cushion with a forehoof. She was greeted to the sight of a single book. She looked back at Mahara, who simply smiled and nodded. Carefully, the pegasus removed the book from the couch, turning it over in her hooves. The stitch work on the cover was atrocious. It was extremely dirty, on top of that.

“I don’t understand.”

“Really?” The red mare’s eyes widened, brows elevated. “Somehow I thought Twilight would have been a lot more vocal about possessing the key to sealing me up again.”

“How is this the key to… Why does that matter? I don’t want to put you back wherever you were!”

“You’re missing the point… I’m giving you the option. I’m letting you decide where we go from here. After everything you’ve been through, before and after me, I think you deserve that much.”

Fluttershy looked down at the book again, sliding a hoof along the binding.

“What is it?”

“My diary.”

“Your…” She looked up, discomfort finding its way into her expression in the form of an anxious frown. “Where um… Where was… I mean… Where did you get this?”

“I snuck into the library right after Twilight and Zecora left for the meeting. They tried to rub sunflower seeds on the door and windows, but…” The red mare grinned, waving a forehoof dismissively. “I found a way in through a mouse hole.”

“Where were you when the hydra attacked the town?”

“I… I thought that everypony would be able to handle it without me… So when I saw the hydra on the edge of town, before it started eating ponies... I just ignored it and came back here.”

“You just ignored it?”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been around. I assumed maybe Ponyville would be prepared for an attack like that, being so close to the edge of the Everfree forest.” Mahara looked down at her forehooves, ears splayed. “I hadn’t expected you to involve yourself so directly, though… When I got back to town, and I saw you jumping out of the window; that’s when I darkened the sky enough to transform. Even if you hadn’t cut yourself or stumbled, I still would have intervened when I did… I had no idea…”

Fluttershy’s lips parted with disbelief, eyes narrowed with scrutiny. “But… How could you? You just…”

The red mare squirmed uncomfortably, avoiding her furious stare.

“That monster killed three ponies, Mahara!” Fluttershy thumped the floor with a forehoof, wings unfolding. “Applejack is lucky to have gotten away at all! You should have stepped in much sooner if you knew that you could help!”

“Would you have wanted me to destroy the hydra before it had drawn innocent blood? Would the inhabitants of Ponyville have cared if I had spared three of their own with a display of my true nature?” She met Fluttershy’s look of outrage with a stare of her own. “Even if I had jumped in and saved the day before the hydra could cross the river, they would still look at me with disgust.”

The pegasus shook her head vigorously as she got to her hooves, glaring down at Mahara. “You don’t know that! They’re good ponies! They could have learned to accept you for what you are! They still can!”

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned, Fluttershy, it’s that ponies are stubborn. They were when my age matched my appearance, and they haven’t changed one bit since then. And…” The red mare looked away again, hesitating. “There is a more urgent issue we need to address, I’m afraid.”

“Don’t try and change the subject!”

“Fluttershy…” Mahara reached out, brushing a forehoof against the pegasus’s hind leg. “This concerns you…”

The red mare slowly traced the countour of Fluttershy’s leg, and the pegasus’s gaze followed, sparing a few quick glances to Mahara in the process. Her forehoof came to a stop along the freshly scabbed gash in the back of Fluttershy’s rear hoof. Mahara looked up, slowly, sadly. Fluttershy recognized the worry in the red mare’s expression, a nervous chill running down her back.

“I wanted it to be your decision, whether or not you would follow me where I go from here, but fate has not been so kind to us…”

“Wha… What are you telling me, Mahara?”

“You haven’t realized it yet, but… You’re already undergoing the changes. It won’t be long before you’re just like me…”

\/ /\ /\ \/

Rainbow Dash stood out against the blinding white glare like an angel. A hydra loomed behind her, thousands of heads undulating, writhing, eyes glowing green with unholy fire. Applejack cocked her foreleg back, then released an earth shattering strike. The hydra resonated from the blow, shrieking as it dissolved. The blond mare fell back into darkness, Rainbow and the inviting glow surrounding her growing increasingly distant, and then vanishing entirely.

“Don’t you ever stop fighting…”

“Sugarcube?! Is that you?” Applejack stumbled around in the darkness, the ground wet and cold against her hooves. She shivered in the frigid void. “Where are you?! Ah… Ah can’t see! ‘s too dark!”

She brushed against something abrasive; tree bark. It felt sickly and distorted as she reached out to touch it. A light pulsed overhead, illuminating her surroundings in short bursts. The trees surrounding her were dead and warped, stretching their gnarled limbs toward her, but forever out of reach.

The earth trembled beneath her, and then she couldn’t feel it any more. Applejack was flying, but without wings. She felt forelegs around her breast, holding her tightly. The darkness of her vision was replaced with a blur of moving colors. She tried to turn her head, but couldn’t find the strength. Her left hind leg felt numb and alien.

“Just hold on a little longer…”

“Ah ain’t got nothin’ ta hold onto… Ah’m scared, Dash… Everythin’s changin’ so fast…” The colors began to fade, replaced with an empty, quiet darkness once again. “Ah don’t wanna lose you! Please don’t go!”

Applejack felt herself falling, slowing, stopping. Something soft cushioned her. A gentle glow illuminated the puffy edge. It occurred to her that she was laying on a cloud. She crawled to meet the light, and found herself staring down at Sweet Apple Acres.

It was fall. Two ponies galloped side by side down the rows of the orchard, shaking the leaves from the trees. Their laughter drifted to her ears.

This… This was the day when she…

“All I’m saying is; if I was with you girls when that hydra started chasing you, I would have taken care of it lickety-split!” Rainbow Dash grinned, holding her head proudly. “No doubt about it!”

“’s that a fact?” Applejack rolled her eyes, shooting the pegasus a grin of her own. “Well hot shot, next time we see that hydra, ah’ll show ya how we do things down on tha farm!”

“You’re gonna bore it to death talking about your family history? Puh-lease!”

“Ah was thinkin’ somethin’more like this!” Applejack heaved herself sideways, colliding with the cyan pegasus and sending her stumbling, causing her to fall behind. “Wassa matter? Ain’t you supposta be tha fastest pegasus in Equestria?!”

The blond mare laughed over her shoulder, downgrading to a giggle as Rainbow Dash spread her wings and attempted to close the gap between them.

“Oh you think you’re funny, huh?!”

“Sugarcube, Ah’m a riot!” Applejack pushed herself, galloping as fast as she could, but the pegasus was catching up with every powerful stroke of her wings.

Their chase had taken them down the last row of the orchard, back toward the enormous pile of leaves in the center. Big Macintosh had been raking, but was nowhere to be seen. Applejack glanced back, gleeful and panicked to see that Rainbow Dash was only a nose or two behind her, and in the blink of an eye, not even that.

“Gotcha!”

Dash tackled Applejack into the leaves with a rush of dry crushing and a fit of laughter. Applejack lay on her back, still giggling, breast heaving as she caught her breath. The pegasus lay on top of her, smiling back, but a shyness in her expression gave rise to mild confusion.

“Somethin’ wrong, Dash?”

Rainbow looked away, starting to blush. “Nah… It-it’s nothing.”

Applejack sat up, leaning a bit closer. “Hey now, ya know you can talk ta me ‘bout perty much anythin’!”

“I’m just…” The pegasus gave Applejack a reluctant glance, quickly looking away again as her blush intensified. “What if this is something… Something that I can’t talk to you about?”

“Horseapples, ‘twas a figure a speech!” The blond mare put a hoof on Rainbow’s shoulder, rubbing gently. “Anythin’ ya need ta talk about, Ah’m ready ta listen.”

“I… I dunno…” The cyan pegasus tried to hide her face behind a forehoof. “I don’t want you to get mad at me…”

“Well ya gotta tell me now!” Applejack smiled, still rubbing Dash’s shoulder. The pegasus’s bit her lower lip, eyes darting nervously. “Ah won’t get mad, Ah promise. Whatever it is, Ah’m sure you’ll feel better once ya git it off yer chest.”

“Okay… Here goes… AJ… I… I like… I have a crush on…” The pegasus stopped, her face less cyan and more beet red.

“Big Macintosh? Ah knew it!” Applejack giggled, nodding. “Ah figured that was tha reason you were spendin’ so much time round tha farm!”

“N-no! Applejack… I… I think I like you!”

Oh no… Here it comes…

Applejack went quiet, looking at Rainbow Dash as her jaw gradually went slack. Her hoof had frozen on the pegasus’s shoulder.

“You… You have a crush on… Me?” The pegasus nodded, wide eyed and trembling. Applejack recoiled. “What the hell, Dash?!”

A rush of light and warmth erased the pegasus and the orchard, replaced with blurry, porous white tiles. A dull beep sounded off in a steady rhythm to Applejack’s left. Her entire body ached, and a searing pain began to shoot through her left leg. She lifted her forehooves to her eyes, finding them wrapped in bandages. With the exception of the agony and the wrappings, the entire setting came across as very familiar to the blond mare.

Ah’m in Redheart’s clinic… But last thing Ah remember… Rainbow Dash was carryin’ me away from… Where’s Dash? Did she go back ta fight that thing?! Please, please don’t be that crazy… You don’t always have ta be tha bravest one, Dash… ‘s okay ta be scared sometimes…

The blond mare turned her head as she looked around the room. An antique looking device sat on a cart to her left, steadily beeping, and connected to her by a series of wires. A red pouch hung from a small metal pole, also connected to her, but by a thin plastic tube. A powder blue curtain hung behind that, likely separating her from another patient in another bed. She could faintly hear Redheart and Tenderheart somewhere in the distance, possibly in another room. When the blond mare looked right, her heart did a backflip. Dash lay beside her in the bed, curled up and sleeping soundly.

Applejack smiled, reaching out to brush the back of her neck. Ah shoulda known better… Ah’m sorry ah doubted you, Dashie… Ah know it must’a been hard fer you… Ah hope everyone else is okay, an’ Ah hope they understand… But thank you fer stayin’ with me…

Applejack flopped back against the bed as a wave of dizziness came over her, but she refused to look away from Rainbow Dash, even as her eyelids grew heavy with sleep.

\/ /\ /\ \/

Dear Princess Celestia,

A lot of things have happened since I tried and failed to get my last message to you, all of which involve the monster which I wrote to you about the other day. I regret not informing you sooner, but I assumed that learning more about the situation before asking for your assistance was the appropriate course of action.

I realize now that I was horribly wrong to do so.

In the time between the message I sent then and this message that will (hopefully) reach you today, know that several ponies around town have been attacked by the monster, who I now know to identify as Mahara. She has expressed interest in and awareness of you, but has made it abundantly clear that she does not yet desire an audience with you. I’m unsure of what to make of her desires, and while she is most certainly dangerous, it would seem that I do not fully understand her motives.

Through treachery, and after several attempts, she has managed to gain access to the library and stolen the book that she was sealed within until I accidentally released her. Today, however, a hydra found its way to Ponyville. After a short period of conflict in which we suffered three casualties and many more sustained injuries, including my friend Applejack, it was not us, but Mahara who dealt the final blow. She demonstrated a dark and lethal form of magic which until today I have never seen. She could have easily turned that destructive force on Ponyville and its residents, but she has refrained from doing so.

I expressed this already to most of the town, but I do not believe that she is entirely evil. While she explained that it is necessary for her to drink the blood of others, she has not committed any wanton or unprovoked acts of violence. In my previous letter, which I will also send as a matter of documentation, I noted that Zecora, another friend of mine of zebra origin, identified Mahara as a Child of Darkness, or a Child of Nightmare. While I am not suggesting Luna’s direct involvement in the events that have taken place here, I advise that you exercise caution, as Nightmare Moon is, according to Zecora, the direct source of Mahara and her kind.

While it would appear that she died from the injuries she sustained defeating the hydra, I cannot be entirely sure that she was alive to begin with. When I last saw Mahara, Fluttershy was carrying her remains to her cottage, where she had been staying since being released. I’m unsure of what has become of her since. I hope that you will know more now that I have given a name and a face to this creature.

I’m going to send this as soon as Spike returns to the library. Please respond as soon as possible.

Your faithful student,

Twilight Sparkle

The soft glow of Twilight’s horn faded as she set her quill back in the ink well. Once again, the library was a complete mess. There was no doubt in Twilight’s mind that Mahara had come and gone while everypony was at the meeting. An Egghead’s Guide to Running lay on the desk with a note pinned to the front cover. Two words, written in what Twilight hoped was red ink.

Nice try.

Twilight assumed that Mahara had realized the true nature of the book she had taken not long after flying off into the night. The fact that the red mare had not returned upon making that discovery was likely her way of proving that she wanted to avoid confrontation. The unicorn had to admit, for a monster, Mahara was very civil. Messy, but civil.

Her thoughts began to wander as she waited for Spike.

Zecora is another issue altogether. The fact that she had stabbed Fluttershy in trying to get to Mahara still came across as shocking every time she replayed the scene in her mind. Zecora expressed the urgency of her actions, claiming Mahara to be a threat of top priority, but from what I’ve seen, Mahara was more than willing to reason and be reasoned with. If anything, Zecora has shown herself to be more violent than Mahara.

Fluttershy was determined to keep at bay the the ponies and zebra that were prepared to do do further harm to Mahara, even if she had already passed away. Very infrequently have I seen determination of that magnitude in her. It seemed strange to Twilight that in just a few days, she had become so close with Mahara. On the other hoof, Twilight had only known Fluttershy and the others for all of one day when they had confronted Nightmare Moon. Time is just a variable as far as relationships are concerned, I guess.

It’s comforting to know that Rarity and Fluttershy have mended their friendship, as far as I can tell, but it’s strange to watch Pinkie Pie hovering around Fluttershy knowing that I had instructed her to do so. Then again, Pinkie Pie had shown the most interest in making Fluttershy well again, second only to Rarity until Rarity decided to give up. Twilight wondered if Pinkie’s persistence may have done more harm than good. Maybe sometimes a pony did need time alone. Come to think of it, maybe Pinkie has just been lonely, as well.

Since Rainbow Dash has been spending the majority of her time exclusively with Applejack, it makes sense for Pinkie to try and adopt a new best friend. Oh gosh, Applejack! I hope she’s alright… Twilight felt a twinge of guilt about finding Applejack last in her line of thoughts considering that the blond mare had sustained what would undoubtedly be a life changing injury. Well, as long as Dash is with her, I’m sure Applejack will be fine.

Their friendship seemed to encompass something greater than what Twilight was familiar with. She had intended to ask them about it in hopes of learning something worthy of a letter to the princess.

A small, familiar knocking brought her back to reality. Moments later, the door unlocked and opened just enough for Spike to peer inside.

“Oh jeeze…” The dragon stepped inside, backing up against the door to close it. “Twilight I’m really sorry. I should never have left the library like that.”

“We’ll worry about that later.” The unicorn waved Spike closer, levitating a sealed letter off of the desk, along with the one she had just finished writing. “Get over here and send these. Princess Celestia needs to know what’s happening.”

“I’m on it!”

The dragon scurried across the room, coming to a stop infront of Twilight. He took a deep breath, releasing with a bright green flame that doused both letters as they floated in the unicorn’s field of levitation. An enormous surge of relief came from watching the letters disappear with a burst of magical fire. Twilight sighed softly, smiling down at her draconic familiar, gently rubbing his spines with a forehoof.

“The princess will know what to do. I’m sure of it.”

Spike nodded in agreement, idly shuffling his feet as they awaited a response. A silent, awkward few minutes passed before his eyes widened, following the expression with a belch of fire that produced a sealed roll of parchment. Twilight immediately snatched it out of the air with her magic, yanking off the ribbon. The unicorn’s eyes darted across the page, brow furrowing in the process.

“Well?” Spike stood on the tips of his claws, as though that would give him a better look.

“To my faithful student, Twilight Sparkle,

“I’ll be arriving in town square within the hour, along with a detachment of the royal guard. Be prepared to meet me there so that you may guide me to the residence of Fluttershy. While I understand why you have waited this long to update me on the situation, this is a matter that must be handled immediately.

“P.S. I don’t know why you’re choosing this moment to have me critique your narrative, but your choice of characters is interesting, to say the least. Your plot structure could also use work. Do Spike and Rarity know that you’re writing about them?”

Twilight looked up from the letter, brow cocked, eyes narrowed. “What does that last part mean?”

Spike didn’t answer, but immediately went red in the face. “Twilight, I’m gonna go lie down for a while, if that’s alright with you.”

\/ /\ /\ \/

“I’m… I’m going to turn into a… a…” The pegasus looked down at her trembling forehooves, as if she might find the answer written across them. The room spun as she fought to remain standing. “How is that possible?!”

“To become a creature like myself, my blood must enter your body and come into contact with your blood.”

“There was blood everywhere!” Fluttershy looked up with an angry, frightened glare. “How do you know that I’m changing?!”

“I can sense it. Your heartbeat is the biggest tell: stronger, more efficient.” Fluttershy shook her head, trying to convince herself otherwise as Mahara continued. “And also, even if we were quite literally standing in the remains of the hydra, you were standing right over me with an open wound in your hoof as I was bleeding out.” The pegasus briefly felt Mahara’s forehoof on her own. Fluttershy was too stunned to pull away. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want this to happen, but… In direct sunlight, there was nothing I could do.”

“There has to be a cure! I…” Mahara shook her head slowly, sadly. “I was going to help you! I was going to make you better!” The pegasus doubled over, pounding her hoof against the floor. “There has to be a way to fix this!”

“If there were a remedy for this curse, do you really think I would still be the way I am? Celestia… She tried everything. It wasn’t until she realized that I could not be cured that she decided an alternative solution was needed.” Mahara glanced to the side, her stare becoming vacant. “Of course… that only made things worse for me, in retrospect…”

Fluttershy swallowed, her vision blurring with tears. After a few minutes she lifted her head and whispered, “W-What’s going to happen to me?”

“As we speak, my blood is becoming your blood.” Mahara reached for her own hind leg, tracing the limb to her hip, and then following the contour of her abdomen. “Black magic is consuming the blood in your veins, familiarizing itself with your body, and becoming a part of you. Were my blood introduced to your body in, say, your neck or around your breast, the change would take considerably less time. As it is now, you likely have until sundown before the conversion is complete. The only thing that could cause the conversion to progress even more slowly is if my blood were in aerosol form when it came into contact with an open wound. Obviously, that was not the case.”

“I’m scared… I… I don’t want to hurt anypony…” Fluttershy hesitated, the words stumbling over her lips. “I… I d-don’t want to be like you!”

The red mare offered a sad smile, offering the underside of her forehoof. “You don’t have to be like me. You have a luxury that I did not. You have friends, and ponies that care about you. From what I’ve seen, there’s no doubt that they’ll be willing to help you.”

Fluttershy heaved a shuddering gasp, blinking away a few anxious tears. “Maybe… Maybe you’re right…” Another uncomfortable minute passed before she asked, “Will it hurt?”

“No. But as you get closer and closer to the end of the conversion, you’ll begin to feel numb and thirsty. When that happens, it will be absolutely necessary for you to feed. If you don’t…” Mahara looked briefly to the floor, meeting Fluttershy’s gaze with concern on her frowning lips. “You’re not as experienced as I am. It’s likely that you’ll lose control. I’d like to avoid that at all costs.”

The pegasus nodded, feeling defeated, as though she were hearing her death sentence read aloud. “And… What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to be with you every step of the way. This is my fault, and I’m going to make sure you stay safe while you’re adjusting. And beyond that, if you still want me around...”

The pegasus nodded, letting the tranquility of late afternoon overtake the conversation. Mahara remained on the floor, waiting patiently for Fluttershy to organize her thoughts. Fluttershy’s silent demeanor was contrasted by the jumble of fear, anger and confusion within, conflicted over her next course of action, if she should take any sort of action at all. She looked around the room, following the moving shadows that yawned inward from the windowsill, cast by the gently swaying trees outside. On top of the very real possibility that she would be drinking the blood of other ponies in the near future, just looking at the red mare made her emotions twist in all sorts of uncomfortable ways.

Mahara lied to me… But… She did it because she didn’t want me to be afraid… Or so she says. And now she’s telling me the truth… The whole, awful truth… I want to be angry. I want to tell her to leave me alone, but… She saved my life. She could have let me die today, but she didn’t… Even though it’s her fault that I’m going to… change… she’s going to keep me safe and help me adjust? I’m terrified… I haven’t been more terrified of anything in my entire life… But knowing that she’s going to be there for me… She… she cares about me. In her own weird and complicated way, she cares about me. Do I still care about her, though?

The red mare looked up at Fluttershy as she made a soft sound, attempting to speak and giving up just as quickly. Mahara reached out for the pegasus, silently pleading for her to speak her mind.

“The things that you’ve done, they’re um… There’s really no way around it, they’re inexcusable, but… Mahara, I… I feel crazy for this … I think I want to… I want to try this again… Give you another chance.”

Mahara seemed genuinely shocked. “Why?” she asked with a brow arched.

“I was defending your body when you died today. I was ready to give my life to keep Zecora and a whole angry mob from desecrating you. It felt right to me then and it still feels right to me now. There was no fluttering heart, there was no dreamlike feeling. That was a decision I made of my own free will.”

Fluttershy leaned forward, looking deep into Mahara’s eyes.

“I… I like spending time with you, even if we’re just talking. You were right when you told me that it was too soon to say if this is love or not, and now I understand why… But… I’m not going to give up on this just yet, and I want to find out what this is and where it will take us. I want to know the real you.”

Mahara held the pegasus’s gaze. “This hasn’t been an act. You already know the real me.”

“I want… What I mean is; I’d like you to tell me the truth, like I did for you… About where you come from, about what happened to you. The real you. That’s um… I’d like that.”

The red mare nodded slowly. “Of course.”

“And…” Fluttershy knelt down, nearly touching noses with the Mahara. “Maybe it’s just a little exciting to know that the mare I have feelings for can take down a hydra.”

Mahara grinned, seemingly bashful as she glanced to the side. “Well, not to brag, but…”

As they exchanged laughs, the pegasus felt a bit of her anxiety subside. A very small, drop-in-the-bucket bit, but a bit all the same. It felt stange for her to laugh, considering everything she had been through and everything she had learned before that moment, but that small, brief spark of joy brought her a welcomed sense of relief. Sighing softly and making an effort not to think about what lay ahead, she set herself back down beside Mahara. The red mare looked as though she were about to speak, lips parting, tongue hovering for syllables that never came. Fluttershy cocked her head.

“There is… One more thing I need to ask of you. I lost a lot of blood today. Practically all of it. If I don’t drink soon, I’m going to die again, and if I’m going to be of any use to you when it comes time for you to take your first drink…” Mahara looked away, biting her lower lip. “I’m going to need to feed from you now, before the blood in your veins is entirely consumed with black magic.”

“Oh… Um…” Her attempt at putting the thought of transforming out of her mind collapsed immediately. “Well, I guess this will be um… This will be a good way to show me how um… Demonstrate how to…” The pegasus paused before saying “Feed…” at a near inaudible whisper.

Their eyes met again. “I’ll be honest; this is going to pinch a bit. Just a little bit, though. I’ll take it nice and slow.”

Angel came through the kitchen doorway at that moment, looking over the pair of them and freezing on the spot as the pegasus offered up the side of her neck to Mahara.

“It’s okay. I um…” The pegasus swallowed heavily as she tried to work up the nerve. As she reassured Angel, she closed her eyes. “I need to learn… And she needs this too… Everything is going to be just fine.”

Just keep telling yourself that, Fluttershy. Just keep telling yourself what she said when she was saving you from the hydra.

Everything is going to be fine.

Everything is going to be fine.

Everything is going to be- Oh! Oh goodness!

She flinched slightly as she felt the earth pony’s touch, her eyes snapping open. A red furred forehoof slid along her back, guiding her closer, the fanged mare wordlessly instructing her to roll onto her side. Mahara’s flesh felt almost cold against her own, but considering that she was flirting with death, that wasn’t so surprising. The stitches holding the red mare’s insides inside felt alien, standing out against the smoothness of her coat as the pegasus settled. The feel of Mahara’s breath against her neck triggered deja vu. Fluttershy shuddered. Mahara paused.

“No, it’s… It’s okay. I want to help you while I still can.”

“Do you want me to warn you before I bite down?”

Fluttershy nodded, feeling her mane brush against Mahara’s. Angel came closer, watching nervously from behind the couch as the pegasus felt lips against her neck. They parted slowly, the softness replaced with four sharp points pressing gently into her skin.

“Okay,” the red mare whispered around a mouthful of pegasus.

She cringed, but felt nothing beyond a tingling pressure over a very vague sense of pain. She had been pricked with thorns and needles that hurt more than having Mahara sink fangs into her flesh. Fluttershy felt the red mare wrap her forelegs around the pegasus’s shoulders, squeezing gently, giving a soft snort of an exhale. She had been unsure of what to expect, but the fact that she was enjoying the sensation took her completely by surprise. A delicate, half formed sound rolled up from her throat, ears folding back as she closed her eyes.

Once more, Fluttershy shuddered.

She could feel her blood flowing out through the holes in her flesh, lapped up by the slow rolling of Mahara’s tongue, suckling all the while. The blood couldn’t pool, nor could it run down her neck. Fluttershy reached back, caressing the side of Mahara’s face. She couldn’t see it, but she could feel the red mare’s lips curling into a smile. The suction imploded. A single stream of blood tickled the side of her neck as it rolled with the flow of gravity. Warmth returned to Mahara, growing more intense with every swallow.

Fluttershy lost track of time. The room began to spin.

The red mare pulled away with a sharp inhale.

Wow… That was… Oh…

She felt cloth against the side of her neck. Mahara was covering the wound.

“You’ll want to keep pressure on that until the blood begins to clot. Well, you’re familiar with medicine. You know how this works.”

As she turned toward the sound of Mahara’s voice, Fluttershy felt incredibly light headed. The red mare had already gotten to her hooves, examining the stitches holding strips of flesh to her middle as she made her way to the darkest corner of the room.

“Well,” the red mare looked up from herself, smiling at Fluttershy. “I appreciate the gesture, but this won’t be necessary.”

Mahara brought her teeth to the lines of pink stained thread and bit down. In one smooth motion, she ripped it out of herself, doing the same with the second set of stitches. The skin graft fell away, revealing a strange mesh of glistening strands. Muscle and skin spanned the wound almost like spiderwebs, becoming denser as they were joined by similar strands of tissue. The organs that hung free from her middle were swallowed up again by her body cavity. In less than a minute, what had been a fatal wound was gone without a trace, her coat quickly regrowing across freshly mended hide.

Fluttershy was, for a small stretch of time, speechless. “Just um… Just like that? All better?”

“Mm-hmm.” Mahara smiled, returning to the middle of the room. “I’m very, very durable. And when I’m not, I can usually patch myself up again. It has to be dark enough and I have to have enough fresh blood, though.”

“That sounds very um… Very convenient.” The pegasus tried to get to her hooves, but the floor shifted under her, and she slumped forward. “What do we do now, though?”

“I suggest you get some rest while you can. I can help you go to sleep if you’d like.”

“Does that involve turning into a… whatever that was, and looming over me?”

Mahara clenched her teeth, looking down at the floor. “I’m really sorry about that.”

“How many times did you um… How often did you do that to me?”

“How many times have you fallen asleep since meeting me?” Fluttershy furrowed her brow, but Mahara continued before she could get a word in. “Yes, terrible, I know. The only reason I changed my form is because you started to wake up. I didn’t want you to recognize me. A diamond dog was the first thing that popped into my mind, so, that’s what I turned into.”

“You didn’t want me waking up in the middle of the night and coming to check on you, I guess?”

“Essentially… Then you would have questions, and I would have to lie even more… It seemed more practical to just put you in a deeper sleep.”

The pegasus sighed, rubbing a forehoof against her forehead. “Mahara… Well, there’s not really much I can do about it now… When will… Um… How long until I start to… Change…”

“You’re not going to suddenly transform, if that’s what you’re imagining. In all honesty, you started to change the moment my blood entered your body.” The red mare knelt beside Fluttershy, examining the bite marks in her neck. “But, my drinking your blood has certainly accelerated the process to a degree. I could taste a bit of… me… in you, while I was drinking. And now, there’s less blood in your body for the magical reaction to consume, which means it will move on to saturating your flesh just a bit sooner.”

“So… I suppose getting some rest is better than um… Waiting around for it to finish… Doing whatever it um… Does…” Still lightheaded, the pegasus rolled onto her side as she tried to stand again. She giggled tiredly. “Will… Um… Will you be joining me?”

“I don’t sleep,” Mahara flatly replied.

“You… You don’t um… Sleep?”

The red mare sighed. “No, I don’t. I haven’t slept in a very, very long time. Trust me, sleep while you still can.”

\/ /\ /\ \/

There was no royal chariot for this visit.

Through her telescope, Twilight followed Princess Celestia and about sixteen armored pegasi as they tore through the open air between Cloudsdale and Ponyville. The princess was shouting back to them as they held formation behind her. At that moment, Twilight wished that she had learned how to read lips.

“Alright Spike, she’s on her way. Let’s head out to meet her.”

“Twilight, is it okay if I sit this one out? I uh… I really don’t feel safe with this whole plan. What if Mahara tries to fight Princess Celestia?” Spike held the sides of his head, and then ran his claws over his spines. “I don’t want you to get hurt!”

“I’ll be fine.” Twilight placed a forehoof on Spike’s shoulder. “I know you’re nervous, but the princess will be able to handle anything Mahara can throw at her. I’m sure of it.”

The unicorn pulled herself away from the telescope, glancing around the room. “I won’t force you to come along, though. Keep an eye on the library until I return. And ask Zecora to wait here if she stops by. I need to have a talk with her.”

Twilight was already halfway down the stairs as Spike agreed to her requests. The library was once again occupied by a maze of stacked books, some of which swayed as the purple mare slipped between them. Leaving her precious books in such a state was agonizing, but there were much higher priorities to be attended to. The moment she caught a glimpse of her saddlebag, she wrapped it in the soft glow of her levitation. It felt light across her back, but then, she had only bothered packing sunflower heads and several bags’ worth of crushed sunflower seeds.

Spike waved from the second floor as Twilight took one last look around the library. She nodded to him before she stepped out into the haze of late afternoon. The streets were nearly empty. Ponyville seemed to be giving its best impression of a ghost town. Considering the chaos that had played out in town square just a few hours prior, however, that was understandable. As a mare and stallion dressed in black passed by, she realized that many ponies were likely mourning. Twilight’s thoughts gravitated to Applejack, and a chill rolled down her spine.

Am I a bad friend? Should I have tried to find out if she’s alright as soon as the hydra was taken care of? There were so many things on my mind… I had responsibilities… But… Should Applejack have been more important?

Twilight set out from her doorstep, determined to check on Applejack as soon as Princess Celestia released her from her duties. The guilt remained, however.

My friends are important, but… The safety of Equestria should come first... Right? Maybe the princess will have a better answer.

The unicorn became lost in her internal conflict as she followed the road to the town square. After a short walk, the rows of quaint houses and shops fell away, replaced with an open space meant for public gathering, but that had so recently been a battleground. There were several ponies working on clearing the remains of the hydra, and a slightly larger group watching from a respectful distance. Twilight watched idly as some of the exposed ribs began to glow, twisting from side to side until they were wrenched free from the carcass. It occurred to her that there were several ponies inside the hydra’s corpse as well. Two of those ponies emerged, their tools and the ponies themselves completely soaked with blood. Her stomach turned. She followed the glowing bones to the unicorn manipulating them.

Rarity seemed to be leading the effort.

Rarity?!

Twilight snapped to attention, her jaw dropping as she watched her fashionista friend carefully examining the hydra bones drifting in her magical grasp. A mound of bones was piled to her left, while folded lengths of hydra scale sat to her right. Rarity set most of the ribs down in the pile with the rest, placing the more damaged ones in a heap of fractured bone, torn flesh and damaged scale. As the glow of her levitation faded, the pale unicorn looked up at the approaching Twilight and smiled.

“Have you come to help us with salvaging, dear?”

“Sal- What? What are you going to do with all of this? This is horrific!”

“Twilight, it would be appalling to waste all these resources. Do you know how valuable the bones and scales of a hydra are?” Twilight continued to gawk, but Rarity just brushed her mane from her eyes, grinning. “I don’t have much use for the bones, myself, but think of all the dresses I can make with hydra scales! If you’re wearing something made of hydra scales, you may as well be wearing a suit of armor, and they’re absolutely gorgeous when they’re properly polished, on top of that!”

“Oh gosh… This… This is too much. Look, Princess Celestia will be here soon. Is there any way you could, I dunno, try and speed this up a bit?” Twilight rolled her forehoof, then waved off toward the edge of town. “Maybe move it somewhere else where she won’t see it?”

“The princess? Good heavens, this won’t do at all.” Rarity quickly scanned her surroundings. The pale unicorn set her sights in the direction of her shop. “Do you think you could move it to my boutique from here?”

Without a word in response, Twilight wrapped the mutilated body of the hydra in her levitation and heaved it across the square. Even at a distance, the meaty sound it made as she dropped it made her gag. The ponies that had been picking through the remains made their way to the new worksite, but Rarity stayed put. The hydra’s blood had soaked into the earth, leaving a nearly black pit of mud. Together, the unicorns looked over the stain left by the battle.

“Aloe was a close friend of mine.” Twilight turned toward her, nodding slowly. “We met through her spa business, but in the last few years, I had come to enjoy her company even when she wasn’t working her rejuvenating magic on my body.” The pale unicorn inhaled slowly, the softest whimper held under her breath. “She would want us to make the most of this. I’m going to donate whatever profits I make off of the hydra’s remains to rebuilding Ponyville. We all are.”

The purple unicorn raised a hoof to Rarity’s back. “I understand. I’m sorry for judging you.”

Rarity smiled, blinking away any trace of brimming tears. “Oh no, not at all dear. You’re from Canterlot. What we’re doing must seem absolutely barbaric. The least we can do to honor the lives lost today is to make sure that the creature responsible is put to good use.” The pale unicorn took a few steps forward, pausing to look back at Twilight. Rarity’s gaze was distant, looking less at Twilight and more at the space around her.

“I wish that she had stepped in sooner.” Twilight attempted to question, but Rarity shook her head. “I wish that we hadn’t lost any ponies today. She was afraid, though, Twilight. She was afraid she would do more harm than good. She’s been afraid since she got here. Can you imagine what it must be like to wield that sort of power?”

“Are you saying she was afraid of the responsibilities that go along with it?”

“Perhaps… But I think, more than that, she’s afraid of being alone.” Rarity directed her focus to town hall. “I could hear her as I was coming down the stairs. She didn’t want Fluttershy to be afraid of her, Twilight. She wanted Fluttershy to close her eyes, to hide herself from the truth.” The pale unicorn turned her gaze skyward. “Your guest has arrived. I’ll leave you to her.”

Twilight watched as Rarity left without saying anything further, trotting off toward the crumpled hydra in front of her shop. The not so distant sound of feathers against air turned her attention to the sky. Princess Celestia flew at the head of the formation, her presence made even more formidable by the armored guards to either side of her.

The princess was adorned in armor as well, regal even when looking out at the world from beneath a helmet. Celestia’s armor was more intricately designed than that of her guards: platemail covered the back and sides of her neck reaching all the way back to the base of her tail, while chainmail spanned her throat and underside. The breast plate fully covered her front, more chainmail protecting the gaps necessary for articulated joint motion, as her fore and hind legs were fully enclosed. From the ground, Twilight saw that her armor was adorned with a crest in the shape of the sun.

In one smooth motion, Celestia and all sixteen of her guards touched down a few trots from where Twilight stood. Immediately, a crowd began to gather. The guards took up defensive positions around the princess, and then around Twilight as well. A glimmer in their wings caught her eye. All of them, the princess included, had thin strips of serrated metal dispersed through their feathers. The scholarly unicorn mare noticed a strap clinging low on Celestia’s neck. An enormous metal sheath bobbed against her back with every movement she made, a jewel encrusted handle projecting from one end. Similarly, the guards were strapped with bladed weapons, although much smaller than Celestia’s.

Twilight knelt down as the princess lifted her head, looking around the square and the many ponies bowing before her, her armor not so much clattering as pleasantly chiming with her motions. After a few moments, she turned to Twilight and smiled. “Hello Twilight. I understand that you’re having a bit of monster trouble. Let’s attend to that, shall we?”

“Princess Celestia, I already mentioned this in my letter, but I’m fairly certain that she died of her injuries shortly after defeating the hydra. It…” The purple unicorn rose to her hooves, cringing as she recalled the scene. “It tore her open. I could see inside of her.”

The princess took a few steps forward, her guards adjusting their positions accordingly. “I’m afraid that more extensive measures are needed to ensure that she doesn’t pose any further threat to Equestria. We’ll worry about that when the time is right, however.” The princess turned her attention to the crowd, slowly scanning the many faces bobbing to try and get a better look at her.

“Today, you have been witness to a tragedy. Good ponies lost their lives to the threat you faced, but you overcame the fear and despair, and you are all stronger because of it. You have my deepest condolences, and I will be taking the time to visit the families of the hydra’s victims before my business in Ponyville is concluded. However,” she paused, glancing back at Twilight until the unicorn came to her side. “There is a matter that requires my immediate attention. You have my word that as soon as the issue is resolved, I will begin preparations for a relief effort.”

Celestia passed Twilight, and the procession began a slow trot across the square. “I recall that the monster is staying with your friend Fluttershy? It doesn’t surprise me that she has gotten herself wrapped up in all of this, I’m afraid.”

Twilight tilted her head marginally, giving the princess her full attention. “Why is that?”

“One does not bear the Element of Kindness if they are selective about whom they extend that kindness to.” Celestia held her head high, occasionally glancing down at Twilight without turning her head. “But, I’m sure that she is otherwise innocent. I doubt that she’s intentionally harboring a threat to our kingdom.”

The purple unicorn mare nodded, but her imagination began to fabricate the wildest scenarios. All kinds of what ifs began to fill her mind. “What if she does know what Mahara is?” she finally asked, barely at a whisper. The possibility that her questions might hold truth gave her chills. “What if she knows what Mahara has been doing?”

The guards at the rear of the group were working hard to dispel the crowd of curious ponies, stating that the matter was of utmost importance and could not be interrupted by civilians. They were passing through the last row of houses when Twilight had made her delicate inquiry, and the crowd had all but dispersed, realizing that Celestia was off limits.

The regal alicorn was silent for almost a minute, during which time Twilight could feel her heart sinking. After the uncomfortable lull in conversation, Celestia regarded the purple unicorn, a sadness in her expression.

“If she has been willingly sheltering this creature, I’m sorry to say that there will be consequences.” Celestia turned back to the road ahead, scanning the tree line as they put Ponyville behind them. “The last time this monster was among us, Equestria nearly crumbled. She is an agent of Nightmare Moon and must be dealt with accordingly.” The princess sighed softly. “If she knew that her guest was really a monster, she had better have a very good reason for letting that monster stay with her.”

“I understand…” Twilight cast her gaze downward, watching her forehooves and the ground slowly rolling by beneath them. “How will you punish her?”

“That all depends… Offering her a place to stay is one thing, but if she let the monster drink her blood, or… I shudder to think about it, but if your friend allowed the monster to make her into a monster too… There is no place in my kingdom for such a creature to exist.”

Twilight felt her heart ache.

Had she known on the night of the party? Was she playing along with Mahara to keep her secret safe? Is there another reason that she brought Mahara back to her cottage? Princess Celestia said more extensive measures were needed, so… Does that mean Fluttershy could have revived Mahara?

Fluttershy’s cottage was as peaceful as ever; the surrounding trees swayed gently, birds chattering excitedly and darting from branch to branch. Like a scar, the broken window served as a reminder to the previous day’s encounter.

“Can I… Can I talk to her first, Princess?”

“Yes, I suppose so. I know she is your friend, but please try and keep it brief. This is a matter of public security.”

Twilight nodded, breaking away from the group and climbing the hill herself. As every step brought her closer to the door, a feeling of dread built up within, unsure of what she would find inside. She put her hoof on the doorknob and hesitsted, looking back down at Celestia and her entourage. The princess nodded, instilling a small degree of confidence in Twilight. The unicorn nodded back, took a deep breath, and opened the door.

\/ /\ /\ \/

A book slowly opened infront of Fluttershy, suspended by an unseen force. She could hear the songs of hundreds of birds calling her away, pleading that she ignore the book and return to them.

The pegasus looked at the page to which the book had opened. It was blank.

Somewhere around her, perhaps even from the book itself, Mahara’s voice reached her ears. Words began to appear on the page as the red mare spoke.

It feels almost like you’re dreaming, but you have no concept of a physical presence. You’re just there, disembodied, floating in the darkness. Now imagine that after what seems like a lifetime of floating in the abyss, you see a glow in the distance. You focus on that glow, and it starts to get brighter. Then you realize that there are things moving inside of it.

A swirl of color revealed itself to Fluttershy, just behind the book; churning, almost seeming to reach out to her.

The glow is alive; absolutely teeming with living, breathing, moving creatures. You’re estatic. You think that you won’t have to spend eternity by yourself. You immerse yourself in the glow, let it swallow you up.

And then you realize that you’re still alone.

The glow faded, replaced with a moving image. Fluttershy stood on the edge of the windowsill, glaring down at the hydra. The scene fractured into symertical shards. While each shard showed the pegasus, they were all in some way different. In some of the shards, she lost her nerve, while in others, she jumped out of the window.

What you’re seeing is… It’s like a kaleidoscope. But every fragment of what you see is a branch; a choice that was made any number of ways. There are seemingly infinite choices, an unfathomable number of realities unfolding endlessly before you. It’s too much to concentrate on. You can’t control what you see. You catch glimpses. Moments. Anything you can.

The shards continued to fracture, growing smaller and harder to see. She lost count. Her eyes began to burn.

The longer you watch any given possibility, though... It becomes painful after a while, like staring into the sun...

The shards vanished, replaced with a fragmented view of the moon.

At first, I tried to look for Luna. Sometimes I would see a reality where she defeated her sister, and forced the world to live in darkness.

A snowy field, glowing with moonlight.

It’s a miserable existence. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.

There were possible realities where they’ve killed one another, and the sun and moon move on their own. You may think that an impossibility, but I’ve seen it.

A tall, white building with a sigil of the sun at the very top of its bell tower.

It’s… interesting. Religion is much easier to found when the deity of choice is no longer walking amongst the living.

That’s irrelevant, though. While I much preferred the worlds where everyone made peace and lived happily ever after, the realities where Luna was punished for her actions seemed to be more frequently occurring. It was a bit painful to watch, knowing what had become of her, but I’ve got to give Celestia credit; a thousand years of peace is quite the accomplishment.

The moon came into view again, a dark silhouette of Nightmare against the pale white sphere.

And would you believe that when Nightmare Moon finally escaped, my dearest friend Luna free at last, I was horrified.

She had learned nothing. She wanted to repeat history.

Six ponies stood before Nightmare Moon. Fluttershy immediately realized what she was witnessing. The image fractured as Twilight attempted to harness the Elements of Harmony.

I think that was the first time I saw you. Sometimes you and your friends would fail. Sometimes Twilight would be so cold that she wouldn’t even befriend any of you before her moment of truth, and she would face Luna alone. That’s beside the point, though. It’s a lot harder to go back than it is to go forward, so, I tried to find you whenever I could.

She looked out at herself, the world around her shifting and twisting, and the pegasus along with it. A great deal of it she recognized. Snapshots from her past.

I would catch glimpses of you as you lived your life. Sometimes as a filly, sometimes as you pranced around anxiously because you were being dragged along on adventures, sometimes as you lay sleeping, safe and sound in your bed. I’ll admit that I was a little infatuated with you. Well, more than a little.

The images of herself became unfamiliar. Older. Thinner. Heavier. Regal. Scarred. Her hair in different styles and different colors.

Right before Twilight let me out, as I followed as many of your winding paths as I could, I started seeing the strangest things. Some of those things I wish I could strike from my memory.

Bleeding. Crying. Screaming. Laughing.

I can’t decide if it’s worse to watch you bring about the end of the world or die at the hooves of your friends.

Burning. Killing. Writhing. Dying.

And then sometimes I’d see you doing unspeakable things to those same friends, but… Well maybe I rooted for you a little bit when that would happen.

The onslaught came to a halt in a blood spattered kitchen. An expression of psychotic pleasure across lips rusted with blood and pupils retracted to pin points. The pegasus held a scalpel between her teeth, standing over a mutilated body.

Still, terrible.

The image faded, replaced with a lonely road and a red mare sitting beneath a tree. Fluttershy approached from the forest. The scene fractured.

I wanted to meet you, at least once. I was fortunate enough to be given much more than that. I had been unprepared for the possibilities of this reality, however. Right from the start, it became apparent to me that in this existence, some very nasty things had happened to you. I set my fantasies aside and I decided to try and help. I hope that I haven’t been a burden to you in the process, but I know that isn’t true... And I’m sorry for that. It’s complicated, though.

The world flattened, trees becoming props against a painted backdrop.

I guess the simplest way to explain this is that you, and everyone living in this reality, are like performers on a stage, and I’m just wandering onto the set.

The red pony and yellow pegasus stopped talking, turning to look back at her, cocking their heads.

Now that I’m here though, the script has been rewritten, and I have my own part to play even if I haven’t been given time to rehearse. I don’t know what will happen from here. I’ve seen realities where I’m released much, much sooner than this and it usually doesn’t end well for me and the individuals that get involved.

The book closed.

I’m hoping this will be different.

\/ /\ /\ \/

Rarity casually stepped into her shop, glanced around the darkened room, and took about two and a half steps further before the hydra scales she was levitating fell to the floor with a wet slap.

“Mahara?!” Rarity made an effort to recollect herself, clearing her throat. The red mare was just barely visible. “Goodness, you gave me quite a start. I… I thought you had passed on. What are you doing here? How are you here at all, in fact?”

Rarity felt Sweetie Belle bump into her left flank. “What’s wrong?” the filly inquired. “Who are you talking to? Oh! Who’s that?”

“Sweetie, I’d like you to go to your room and stay there until I tell you otherwise.” The sternness in the pale unicorn’s voice apparently quelled any further questions. Sweetie Belle did not move, however. “Okay?”

“Okay, okay…” The filly stumbled through the darkness, trying to get a good look at Mahara in passing. The click of her closing door echoed through the shop.

Mahara stood before a couch, looking apologetic as she kept her gaze low. “Sorry for startling you. The hows and whys of me being here are kind of a long story, but if you really want to know, I’ll indulge you later.” The red mare met Rarity’s curious gaze as the unicorn drew nearer. Mahara took a deep breath and looked away again. It occurred to Rarity that she had something more to say. “I know you just helped me out yesterday, but… I’m going to need to ask you for another favor.”

The pale unicorn’s interest immediately fell as flat as her expression. “Oh, this again. I’m afraid that I am not a blood bank, dear. Why don’t you try asking Flutter…” The rest of her sentence died on the tip of her tongue.

Fluttershy lay across the couch, occasionally twitching. While her eyes were closed, the frequent wrinkling of her brow and twisting of her mouth made it obvious that the slumber was not a pleasant one. Rarity looked to Mahara, and then back to the pegasus. Something about her friend gave the pale unicorn a sudden chill.

“It’s not for you this time,” she lifted her head slowly, but kept her eyes glued to Fluttershy. “Is it?”

“I’m afraid it isn’t. When Fluttershy was standing over me… She had an open wound that came in contact with my blood, and… Well… That’s all it takes…”

The needles in Rarity’s shop began to dance, the curtains flung open to let sunlight pour over the room. Mahara recoiled, covering her eyes with her forehooves, and then froze.

“Was this really an accident? Or are you lying to me, Mahara?” The pale unicorn’s horn glowed gently, holding hundreds of various needles to the red mare’s body. The largest two, intended for knitting, hovered an eyelash from Mahara’s pupils. “Because if you are, so help me I’m going to break the third term of our agreement.”

“Killing me won’t undo what has been done.” Mahara met Rarity’s icy stare. “If it were that simple, I would have already handled this business myself. So, no, I’m not lying to you.”

The needles receeded, a few red beads welling up across Mahara’s coat. “And while I admire your aggression, direct sunlight is what you’re after. Perforating me while I’m behind glass will just make me… Irritable. Now, time is short, so can we please focus on the task at hoof?”

Rarity nodded, swiftly stepping around Mahara to get a better look at her fitfully sleeping friend.

The pegasus was drenched with sweat, tossing and turning as her eyelids flickered, seemingly on the verge of waking up. Rarity could see the fresh scabs in the side of her neck, still glistening with diminishing moisture. Her chest heaved irregularly, breath coming in fits.

I shouldn’t have left you at your cottage…

“Is she in pain?” Rarity lifted a hoof to Fluttershy’s forehead. No fever.

“No pain. It’s working through the last roots of her nervous system now. She’s nearly saturated with the same magic that keeps me…” Mahara paused for an uncomfortable few seconds. “As I am.”

I should have insisted…

“Will she still be Fluttershy?” The unicorn looked back at Mahara, trying to reign in her skepticism.

“As Fluttershy as can be,” Mahara nodded, “I assure you.”

But this had already started the moment her blood entered your body, hadn’t it?

The unicorn put an ear to Fluttershy’s chest, listening closely to the frantic noise within. “When do you think she’ll wake up?”

“When are you ready to give blood? No pressure, but the longer you wait, the worse this will be for her.”

Rarity sighed. “There’s no time like the present…” She lifted her hair with her magic, tying it back into a bun. “Shall I just let her bite me anywhere, or…?”

“This will be her first time, so I’d say it might be best to let her tap into the same artery I punctured last night.” Mahara held up a foreleg for emphasis, motioning along the back of it with her muzzle.

“Well, this wouldn’t be the first time I’ve re-opened an old wound for her.” The unicorn took a deep breath, attempting to compose herself. Organizing her thoughts proved to be a daunting task.

If Mahara thinks she's just going to use me as a blood bank and then traipse off into the night to teach Fluttershy how to be a monster, she's got another thing coming! I'm going to- I don't know what I’m going to do… Tell Twilight and Celestia? What can I do without making this situation even worse? At the very least, I'm certainly not going to just sit by quietly while this happens!

The unicorn scowled at Mahara, who didn’t seem to notice.

The list of problems this mare has caused just keeps growing! It seems like everything she does has some kind of negative backlash. I’ll have a word with Fluttershy once the blood donor issue has been resolved. Something needs to be done, even if I don’t know what that something is. Clearly somepony needs to keep Mahara out of trouble since she can’t be trusted to do so herself. But… What about Fluttershy? How is she going to handle such a drastic change? The poor dear, she just can’t catch a break… Well, Fluttershy, don’t you worry. I’ll be here for you this time. I promise.

The red mare tilted her head as Rarity nodded to herself.

Oh, right…

“I’m ready. Do… Whatever it is that needs doing.”

Mahara nodded, leaning closer to Fluttershy. The red mare intended her words to be whispered, but Rarity could faintly hear them; “Like the mosquito, a butterfly must also drink nectar.”

Mosquitoes drink blood… Not… Oh.

There was a soft gasp before Fluttershy began to stir. She blinked several times, then rolled over, burying her face in the cushion.

“Too bright…” Her voice was tired, strained. “I… I can’t see…”

“Light sensitivity,” Mahara offered. “If you would…?” She waved a forehoof at the curtains.

Rarity nodded, reaching out for the curtains with her magic and drawing them closed. She noted that the sun was just beginning to flirt with the horizon before it vanished behind fine silk. The pegasus peered out from the cushion as the room was cast into near darkness once again. The glow in her eyes was faint, but a delicate cyan radiated from her irises. Her pupils weren’t quite slits, but they were certainly on their way there. She sat up slowly, looking first to Mahara, who nodded as if to an unspoken question before stepping away.

Slowly, Fluttershy surveyed her surroundings, occasionally looking down at her forehooves. Rarity couldn’t be certain, but something in her expression registered as excitement. Her eyelids descended as she fixed her gaze on the unicorn.

“Um… H-hello, Rarity…” The pegasus shuddered, looking down at the floor, and then to Mahara. “We’re… We’re at Carousel Boutique? How long have I been asleep?”

The fact that Fluttershy was surprised to wake up in her shop brought a touch of confusion to the forefront of the unicorn’s thoughts. She glanced between the two of them, following their conversation as she waited patiently in the dark.

“We had some unexpected company, and considering the circumstances, I felt it best to avoid confrontation and move you here.” Mahara slowly approached the unicorn mare as she spoke. “You’ve been asleep for a little over two hours now.”

Yes, I suppose that makes sense… Princess Celestia was on her way out to Fluttershy’s cabin. Mahara moved her while she was asleep, though? Did anyone in town notice?

“Is um… Is it time for me to… What I mean is… Do you think I should…” Fluttershy winced as she whispered, “drink?”

“You tell me… How are you feeling?”

“Very tired… My um… My hooves and ears are a little tingly… Like… Like I’ve been out in the cold for too long.” The pegasus looked down at her forehooves again, rolling her fetlocks. “Is that um… Is that what I’m supposed to feel like?”

“You can wait a little while longer if you’d like, but my advice is to feed now and get it out of the way.” Mahara stood side by side with Rarity, briefly making eye contact before returning her attention to Fluttershy. “Have your fangs grown in yet?”

The pegasus looked down again, her jaw tilting to one side, then the other. “I… I think so…”

“Alright…” Mahara stepped away from the unicorn, crossing the room, nearly vanishing into the shadows. “This isn’t something I can hold your hoof through. I’ll be watching to make sure it doesn’t get out of control, but this is between you and Rarity now.”

The emerald glow of her eyes bobbed for an instant. A nod. Rarity returned the gesture and slowly approached her trembling friend. Fluttershy scarcely looked up at her, trying to hide behind her mane as the soft cyan of her eyes shimmered across pink locks.

Rarity giggled softly as she set herself down beside the pegasus. Fluttershy’s gaze followed her. “Isn’t this supposed to be the other way around?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re the one biting me.” She offered a delicate smile, trying to reassure the winged mare. “I’m not going to be doing much beyond sitting here and playing donor.”

“I… That’s just it, Rarity. I don’t want to hurt you… You’re my friend…” She paused, swallowing. “I mean… Mahara bit me earlier… And I kinda liked… Um… It wasn’t so bad. But…”

Rarity ran a hoof along Fluttershy’s back, feeling a bit of the tension disperse at her touch. “I’m sure you’ll do just fine, dear. Now be a good girl and show me that smile of yours.”

Fluttershy slowly, reluctantly, held up her muzzle, lips just barely pursed. “Wider…” The pegasus’s brow furrowed as she spread her lips a bit more. The very points of four new teeth were just barely visible. “This is for your own good, dear… Please be brave, for me at least.” The pegasus nodded, displaying her teeth.

By that point, Rarity’s eyes had adjusted enough that vision wasn’t much of an issue. As she carefully inspected Fluttershy’s new fangs, Fluttershy gradually shrank away. The unicorn cocked her brow.

“Okay, Okay… Um…” Fluttershy slid off the couch. Rarity followed, taking a step closer. “I um… Where do you… want me to… bite you?”

The pale mare glanced briefly to the emerald glow in the darkness, recalling their earlier conversation. “I believe she has already done the hard part for you.” Gracefully, she lifted and turned her foreleg, exposing the small, circular scabs to her friend. “Just follow her example.”

Fluttershy shifted away, looking down at the floor once again. Before Rarity could levy more encouragement, however, she heaved a deep sigh and turned back toward the unicorn. “I’m ready… I think… I…” Her voice trailed into an unintelligible squeak as the unicorn extended her foreleg. Rarity grinned, shaking her head. “Sorry… Okay… Here goes…”

Out of the corner of her eye, Rarity saw Opalescence perch on the arm of the couch, watching with disinterest. The warmth of Fluttershy’s breath against her coat brought her attention back to the pegasus. She was caught between looking at the scabs, lowering her muzzle to them, and then drawing back to examine them again.

“I… I can’t believe I’m actually about to do this…”

“It’s alright. Please remember that time is of the essence, however.”

“I know… Sorry…”

Fluttershy took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and slathered her tongue over Rarity’s flesh. The unicorn scowled. Mahara had been a bit more elegant. She maintained her composure as Fluttershy gasped softly, pursing her lips to the spot, giving a gentle shudder as she worked up the nerve. The points of her fangs found purchase in the hardened dots of coagulated blood. Fluttershy paused, glancing up from Rarity’s foreleg. The unicorn simply cocked her head, brows arched. The pegasus closed her eyes and resigned herself to the task at hoof.

A sharpness bore down on her flesh, accompanied by the piercing sensation she had felt the night before. Fluttershy was not nearly as refined as Mahara had been, but that much was expected. Her fangs jerked slightly in the incisions, sending a short spike of pain through the unicorn’s limb. Something warm rolled down the side of her foreleg. Rarity looked down just in time to see and hear a single drop of blood spatter against her floor. The urge to groan was present, but she kept quiet. Fluttershy suckled clumsily, and Rarity could see stray rivulets of blood trickling from the corners of her lips. The perfect white of her coat took a tint of pink around shallow streams of blood, crimson droplets glimmering as they caught what little light managed to slip into the room.

With every swallow, the pegasus seemed to become more confident. Her lips pressed more tightly, and her tongue rolled across the flesh between them. Fluttershy began to pant softly through her nose. Her ear flicked, and then her tail followed suit. Her wings unfolded, ruffling slightly. The unicorn detected movement in the darkness; Mahara took a few cautious steps toward the pair, but Rarity shook her head and the motion halted. A muffled groan found its way to her ears.

“Fluttershy…” The pegasus continued to feed, another shudder passing through her. “Fluttershy.” Rarity’s brow knitted with concern. Mahara took a few steps closer, but stopped as the unicorn made eye contact.

“Fluttershy.”

The pegasus opened her eyes, a fierce glow backlighting her mane. Her pupils had completed their transformation, dialating horizontally as she looked up at Rarity.

“You’re getting blood all over my coat, dear.”

With Rarity’s foreleg still in her mouth, the pegasus mumbled apologetically.

\/ /\ /\ \/

“I was not expecting to see you here…” Zecora slowly pushed herself away from the wall, staggering across Fluttershy’s living room. “For I am not myself, I fear…”

Zecora began to salivate. She could hear the steady, rhythmic contraction of Twilight’s heart, growing faster with every step the zebra took. She could smell the blood pulsing through Twilight’s body. She cast her gaze to the floor, trying to stop herself from fixating on the unicorn.

“Zecora? What are you doing here? Where’s Mahara? Or Fluttershy?” The unicorn paused, her silhouette  leaning forward. “Is… is something wrong?”

“I should have expected she’d spread her curse… To be left alive was ultimately worse…” She struggled to restrain herself, visibly shaking out of a mixture of unrelenting thirst and the knowledge that each step she took brought her closer to tearing open Twilight’s throat. The glare of light behind the purple mare nearly blinded her.

“I don’t understand… What’s happening?” Zecora’s head and neck shuddred as she fought to keep herself from looking up. The battle was quickly lost. Twilight recoiled, eyes widening with shock. “Oh my gosh… Your eyes!”

“My soul has been defiled and stained. This monster is inside me now; run before it becomes unchained.”

“I… We can help you! Celestia is right outside! She must know how to fix this!” Twilight took a cautious step forward, into the darkened cottage. “Mahara had to have been lying! There has to be a way to reverse this!”

“Twilight, my friend… I am losing control…” Zecora felt a trail of drool slip over her lower lip. Every inch of her body cried out for blood in a singular, endless plea. Her vision began to cloud red, the unicorn replaced with a white hot, vaguely pony shaped glow. “Please…! Run…! Now is… no time… to be a foal!”

The world melted away to a red haze, leaving only a searing imprint of Twilight. The zebra groaned, whipping her head to the side as her jaw snapped open, strings of saliva stretching across her fangs as she dragged herself closer with decreasing resistance.

“Run… Twilight…”

She could sense the fear in the unicorn’s voice, even if her words were reduced to an unintelligible static. Twilight’s white glow shifted against the crimson sea, turning to run. Zecora let out a shrill cry, launching after her. She felt heavy as she passed through the doorway, the sudden wash of sunset nearly knocking the wind out of her. A larger gathering of glowing forms began to stir at the base of the hill. The thought of more blood sent a shiver of excitement down the zebra’s spine. She perceived shouting. Half of them took to the air, the largest among them standing its ground.

Somewhere, under the screaming desire for sustenance, she realized that she was chasing Twilight right to Celestia and her guards. Her jaw clenched against her desire to speak. Her words were nearly lost in the fog of lust filling her mind. Only two gargled syllables found the way to her lips.

“Kill…! Me…!”

As she charged the princess and her entourage, one of the guards swooped toward her, the cold steel of a sword clenched between his teeth. Though Zecora couldn’t understand Celestia’s words, something in the alicorn’s voice sounded hesitant. She crouched mid stride, propelling herself through the air, weaving around the blade as the guard slashed at her. Zecora felt the feathers of his left wing against one forehoof, cocking back the other. His muffled cry of pain rang through her ears as she splintered the bone, bending his wing back with a wet snap. The guard’s momentum carried, dragging the zebra along with him as he plowed into the grass. Her fangs sheered through his flesh, then his artery. Celestia cried out amidst the overwhelming static as the heat of his blood gushed against Zecora’s tongue and down her throat, inside and out. Her skin tingled as her coat soaked through, white stripes stained with gore. Her next plea escaped amid a groan of delight.

“Please…!”

Two guards rushed her from either side, shouting unintelligibly. Celestia was a statue amongst the others, evidently stunned. The zebra left her first victim on the grass, convulsing from shock as the life bled out of him. One slipped by, a line of pain etched across her cheek as she rolled a second too late. Zecora hissed as her blood percolated in the wound, red burned bubbling black as it rolled down the side of her face. The blade which the fallen guard had carried bore an insignia of the sun. It burned her tongue and lips as she clasped it between her teeth. She met the next charge halfway, metal clashing against metal, grinding as she tried to swing her hind legs toward the pegasus’s underside. His silhouette  pulsed as he pumped his wings backwards, skimming her flank with the shimmering razors spread throughout his feathers. The stallion whinneyed as her rear hooves made contact with his belly.

There is nothing left of me in this shell… End this and free me from this hell…

Zecora jerked forward, knocking the sword from his teeth, twisting her neck back to drive her stolen blade through the underside of his jaw, leaving it jutting just below his cheek bone. Her forelegs intertwined, riding his body to the ground as she tore him open, feeding ravenously. Her chin dripped with crimson droplets, canvassed from her face to her breast. She felt a magical embrace around her body, attempting to hold her in place. She didn’t have to look to know that the glow was Celestia’s. She didn’t have to look to know that the other guard had closed in behind her, either. She could hear him. Smell him. Feel him. The zebra twisted, sharpened steel hovering hair lengths from her flesh. The pegasus drifted a few fatal inches after his failed strike, but before she could reach for him, he began to drift away. Around the searing white silhouette of his body, a radiant glow, which he struggled against.

The world rolled under Zecora’s hooves as she floated away from the ground. More shouting, this time in Twilight’s voice, miles away. The guards had circled defensively around Twilight and the princess, melding into a single fluorescent figure. Those not tasked with protection circled the zebra, watching her closely as the princess held her in the air. She could feel her faculties slowly returning as fresh blood coursed through her, the screaming in her mind slowly dying down. Her body feebly continued to resist the will to surrender, gnashing impulsively, even though the guards were out of reach. Color slowly pooled under her eyelids as the red haze subsided. The static thinned out until she could make out distinct words.

As the sun dipped below the tree line, it became easier for Zecora to see. She was completely surrounded, but the guards made no further effort to attack. “Why do you all hesitate?!” Knowing that in less than a minute, she had murdered two ponies, the return of her vision brought only a gruesome reminder of what she had done. “Kill me now before it’s too late!”

Celestia boldly stepped out from her circle of guards. Zecora expected the princess to attack, but instead, her gaze slowly passed over the pegsus lying dead on the grass, focusing on the zebra’s first victim moments later. The striped mare could hear the weakened, strained throbbing of his heart, slowing with every pulse. Celestia’s eyes widened, and she moved swiftly to his side as he clutched a glistening red hoof to his torn throat.

His voice was less that a whisper, but in her altered state, the zebra could hear his dying words clearly. She wanted nothing more than to trade her life for his as he forced out his words. “W-wasn’t... strong... enough… so sorry...”

Celestia smiled, giving a single, subtle shake of her head. Even at a distance, the princess radiated with compassion. She knelt down, putting her face to his. “Kick-Off,” Celestia said softly. “You and Stormy Skies... You have stood up to a threat unlike any seen in the lifetime of anypony, save myself. You fought bravely, braver than anypony could be expected to fight in the face of such terror. In all my years to come, I shall never forget either of you.” Celestia slowly leaned forward to plant a kiss atop Kick-Off’s forelock. “You have performed your duty admirably, and I thank you for your service.” The alicorn lifted her head gracefully, still looking into his eyes, her gaze unwavering. “You’ve earned your rest.”

Zecora heard his desperate heart grow calm. “Thank... you... my...”  The last word died with him, becoming a rustle in his throat as his heart finally went still.  

Celestia closed her eyes, took several slow deep breaths. Though her eyes glistened as she opened them again, it was all the time she could allow herself to mourn.  She stood up, a glow from her magic forming on the hilt of her sword as she unsheathed it. With long strides, she stepped past the guards circling the zebra. “Have you chosen to betray your kind, Zecora?” Celestia continued forward, the enormous broadsword poised in her field of levitation. “Or is this the result of treachery?”

“This was not a choice I willingly made... But for my weakness, I know a price must be paid.” The fight was becoming easier as her body soaked up the blood. With strain, she lowered her head, bowing to the princess as she hovered above the ground, exposing the back of her neck. “Destroy me before I can do further harm… The rage has subsided… I am disarmed…”

An eternity passed as Zecora awaited her end, staring down at the grass. Instead of metal rending her flesh, she felt ropes. Her first thought was a noose, but looking up, she realized they had bound her by the neck, four guards pulling tightly to keep her in place as her weight settled back on her hooves.

“There is indeed a toll to be levied,” The princess took another step forward, her presence nearly sucking the life out of Zecora, completely sapping her strength “but your life is not the payment I desire. The threat we face is, as I’m sure you’re quite aware, one that will not be easily quelled. If you truly desire that I take your life… While I am not exactly eager to spill innocent blood, I will grant your request so that you may die with honor and dignity. I ask you however; will you postpone your death wish and aid us in bringing the mare responsible to justice?”

Zecora snorted, barely able to meet princess’s gaze. She could feel her skin crawling, trying to escape however it could. Her blood churned sluggishly, trying to avoid the capillaries nearest to Celestia. Every nerve in her body told her to run, but she resisted. The alicorn smiled, not out of spite, but in a sad, compassionate way as she craned her neck down to reach eye level with the zebra. Slowly, the striped mare nodded.  Celestia extended her foreleg and rested her hoof gently on Zecora’s shoulder. It burned.

“You have my undying gratitude. I am certain that you will be quite useful to-”

Where Celsetia’s hoof touched Zecora, her flesh began to smolder.

\/ /\ /\ \/