“Scootaloo,” Al said, and I looked up at him. The last few days had been nothing but him explaining spreadsheets, bills, laws, trades, and so on and so on. I had already blown through all the information that would allow me to understand all of Master’s business. Short of a few details, I had everything pretty well down and done.

“I know, sorry.”

“You’re becoming distracted.”

“I already have most of this down, I understand how the notes are maturing and will need to be reapplied in nineteen months or sold.”

“And the property in Canterlot, why is it important to receive new permissions every single year?”

“So the tax breaks don’t fall off.” Thirty more questions followed that just made me groan. Master’s business was complex, but it was basically just memorizing a bunch of numbers, contracts and knowing faces with names. “You’re a great teacher Al, but I’m just not into learning today.”

“Very well, do you need me for anything else Ms. High Blood?”

“Don’t be mad please.”

“I’m not, you appear to actually have most if not all this just fine. We would just need to go meet your business managers across the world to let them know who you are and to keep up their work. We would have to go onto the trip we planned for.”

“Oh yeah, that trip Master planned.”

“Yes, however that trip was very condense, the late Master intended to visit all of his holdings day after day, which would have taken barely less than a year. However, doing that would probably not be the smartest choice considering you’re pregnant. It would more likely take around five years if we add in bad weather, free time, and rest days into it among sightseeing and contract restructuring. Let us not forget tasks given to us by Celestia. Those will take some time, so it’ll take a while.”

“I guess taking that trip wouldn’t be a bad idea. So long as we’re back before my foal is born. I want it to be a citizen of Equestria.”

“Since both you and Jerard were from Equestria, and the airship is a diplomatic airship, your foal is already a citizen.”

“Oh.”

“Everything is ready. We would just need to have the flight captain ready the airship for the trip.”

“Sure.”

“I’ll adjust the schedule, you should have Kila take you to say your farewells. I know your mother would want one as well as everypony else.”

“Yeah, and I have to talk to Applejack about killing Apple Bloom and Big Mac. Actually, I need to talk to a lot of pony families.”

“That might be wise.”

“When I’m done, I’m going to need this trip if I’m not killed first.”

“Kila will protect you.”

“I hope so.” I got off my chair and went into the hallway. Kila was already waiting for me, his arm was no longer broken.

“Al informed me, are you ready?”

“I have to be.” We went out and a carriage was pulled around. After we got inside, I stared out the window watching the buildings pass. What was I going to say to Applejack? I’m sorry I killed your siblings and tore out their hearts? There was nothing I could possibly say or do to make up for that, but I’d try.

A reflection of Master sitting behind me smiling made me snap around to see nothing inside the carriage but Kila which was looking out the other window. My heart sped up a bit. I was going to find Master, I just needed a bit of time to start searching. Saying goodbye would be quick, then I could rush to go on my trip. Just a few bumps left.

“Where to first?” Kila asked.

“The Apple farm.” We arrived at Ponyville a short time later and at the Apple’s farm. I stared at the ground for a moment.

“Is everything alright?”

“Not for Applejack.” I got out of the carriage and started walking. This walk wasn’t a quick one, I knew this talk was going to be uncomfortable in so many ways. She was going to hate me and I was fine with that. Getting to the front door I stopped. I needed to do this, I had to say sorry. My hoof made loud bangs.

“One second,” Applejack called, I looked down as she came to the door and opened it. She paused seeing me. Her body was so well built, a warrior’s body if I ever saw one. It made my mouth start to water for a single moment before I looked down remembering why I was standing here. “Scootaloo,” she said with a smile. A smile was the last thing I thought I’d see. I opened my mouth but no words came out. “I’ll go grab Apple Bloom, she wants to see you.” Applejack turned and disappeared down the hallway.

What? Much to my disbelief Apple Bloom came running out and tackling me to the ground with a mad hug, crying. My arms wrapped around her tightly. I didn’t feel happiness that she was alive, all I felt was relief, now I didn’t have to explain to Applejack, but did that mean killing all those ponies wasn’t real? I’d have to check. Though I knew my dad was gone, but that was it.

“Scootaloo, it’s good to see ya!”

“Apple Bloom.” I buried my muzzle into her neck taking in a long breath of her, and she eyed me. “I’m so happy you’re alive.”

“Alive? What’cha mean by that?”

“I don’t.” I stopped and stood up setting her in front of me. “Nothing, I’ve been gone for so long.”

“It’s only been like two months Scoots. What happen? Ah haven’t been told anything about you, I’ve been so worried.”

“Thanks, but I actually came to say bye, I’m going to be going on a trip for a few years and won’t be back to Equestria until I finish.”

“Oh, whoa.”

“Yeah.”

“Where ya going’?”

“A lot of places. When I come back we can have some fun.”

“Can ah come on yer trip?” she asked.

“Sorry, no, anyway, I need to go see other ponies and tell them about me leaving. It’s so good to see you.” I turned and she hugged me tight not wanting to let go of me before finally letting me go a good minute later. As I left I smiled at her watching me on the front porch, I went back to the carriage, and got inside.

“I see it went well,” Kila said.

“Better than I could’ve dreamed.” I checked on all my classmates next to see if they were alive and they were just fine, even Cheerilee was alright. I didn’t bother talking to them, I didn’t need to.

The carriage was stopped outside of Rarity’s boutique. I didn’t know if Sweetie Belle was even still here or what had happened after she left. I let out a breath before getting out. I went to the door and knocked.

“Just a moment!” Rarity sang coming and opening the door, she stopped cold, her happy expression gone in an instant. “Can I help you?” she asked cold.

“I just wanted to say goodbye to Sweetie Belle, I’m going on a trip for a few years and I won’t be back to Equestria until I finish it.”

“I’ll give her the message, but I don’t think after what happened it’ll be a good idea to see her again.”

“Thanks.” I turned and left going back to the carriage.

“She wasn’t friendly.”

“I expected as much after what I did to Sweetie Belle. She’s always been gentle, I have only one place left, take me to my old home.” It didn’t take long for us to reach my mom’s house, I got out and went to the front door, knocking.

The door opened a moment later showing my mom. She scooped me up into a tight hug, smiling widely, tears running down her face. “Scootaloo, you’re home!”

“I love you mom.” She took me inside to the sofa, laying me on her belly and snuggling with me.

“I love you so much Scootaloo, I’m glad you’re alive.”

“Mom, I need to tell you something.”

“Yes?” she asked, holding me up so she could see my face.

“I’m leaving on a trip for a few years.”

“What?! No, you’re not going anywhere. I’m not letting you leave me ever again, you’re staying here with me forever.” She hugged me tight once again

“Mom, you know I killed dad.”

“That monster made you do it!”

I stopped, I guess it would be easier to blame it on Master so I didn’t have to deal with that from my mom again. “Yeah, I suppose he did, but I’m leaving on my trip soon, and I have to go alone.” She held me with her iron grip. “I love you mom, I always will. I know this is hard, but I have to go.”

“You can wait a few days.”

“I can’t mom, you need to let me leave.” She sighed and let go of me, letting us sit back up. “I love you mom, I’ll see you again.”

“How long?”

“Around five years.”

“FIVE YEARS!”

“Yes, I have to go visit all of Master’s holdings, it’s going to take a long time for me to do that and come back. I also don’t want to be in Equestria right now. After everything that happened, I need to leave and I can’t take you.” Forcing tears, I choked myself up. “Because every time I see you I see dad.” I needed to put on a convincing act, or she won’t let me leave this house.

“I’m so sorry.” She hugged me again, tears pouring down our faces.

“After what I’ve done, the ponies I’ve killed, tortured and so much more. I can’t stay here, I just can’t do it.”

“If that’s how you feel, then I’ll let you go.”

“Thank you.” I got off my mom, going to the floor. “When I get back, you’ll be the first pony I visit mom.”

“I’ll be waiting,” she said as she got up.

“Goodbye.” I left going out to the carriage, and getting inside. “Let’s go home, I need to prepare for the trip.” Kila gave me a cloth to wipe my tears away.

“Is there nopony else you want to say goodbye to?” Kila asked.

“No, let’s go.” The carriage started to move and we reached Master’s home. I got out and went inside. The second I entered through, something felt wrong, misplaced. Kila walked in after me, closing the door. “Something feels wrong.”

“What do you mean?” Kila asked.

Time slowed down as Sethi seemed to appear next to the door. “Watch out!” I shouted, he turned a moment too late as Sethi’s glowing green hoof punched him in his side sending him rocketing through the room and smacking into the wall getting knocked out cold.

“I hate using that spell,” Sethi said, breathing hard.

“You were the one that suggested you attack him,” Filthy Rich said coming out from behind a corner.

“Shut up both of you!” Spoiled rich snapped. The three of them surrounded me. “We don’t have much time before the guards get here after breaking Sethi free.”

“We weren’t followed, I told you,” Filthy Rich growled.

“This was foolish of you Sethi,” I said, and turned to her. “I thought you were smarter than that.”

“With Al gone, and Kila now knocked out, this is our only chance and you don’t stand a chance against us,” Sethi said.

“And you think Celestia will just allow you to foalnap me?” I asked.

“We already have everything ready, we’re leaving tonight with you,” Filthy Rich said, smiling.

“Oh? And what exactly are you expecting to get by taking me?”

“We’ll get you to pull plenty from the vault,” Sethi said finally catching her breath. “In that vault there are mountains of valuables. Enough for us to go and live anywhere for generations to come, and with your foal, we’ll be able to do more than just sit back. We will be able to control nations.”

“Dad, Mom!” Diamond called, making them turn to her. She was in a maid outfit, and dirty from cleaning I assumed.

“Shut up you worthless brat!” Spoiled Rich shouted, and Diamond flinched. “You couldn’t even do one thing right!” she growled with venom in her voice. “We sent you here not to play maid, but to help get information. Instead you laid around doing nothing but act like a worthless piece of trash!”

“But-but mom.”

“Your mother is right, it was pointless to have sent you, and when your mother and I leave, we’ll leave you here to fulfill your contract,” Filthy Rich said.

“Leave? I don’t understand!”

“Our goal is to take Scootaloo and live the rest of our lives in luxury. You were going to be brought along, but now it’d be a pointless waste of money. You can’t even be married off now.” Tears started down Diamond’s face.

“Actually, she’s a loose end,” Sethi said and they all looked at her. “If Al finds out that we were here, he’d be able to track us in the hour. We need a day head start before we leave, or we’ll get caught. We need to kill her.”

Diamond backed up as Sethi started to move toward her. “Wait, you can’t, Dad, help,” Diamond said scared, backing up.

“No, I’ll kill her, you take care of Scootaloo,” Filthy Rich said and Sethi smirked as she turned back to me.

“Please, no daddy!” Diamond shouted crying, backing up into the wall.

“And here I thought I was messed up,” I said chuckling darkly. Spoiled Rich and Sethi backed up scared for some reason. “But I think I’m going to have some delicious hearts to eat for dinner.”

“Wh—” Sethi couldn’t finish her sentence as I jumped, using one of my wings to push myself through the air and slam my hooves into her chest crushing her rib cage. Her body twisted through the air like a ragdoll smashing into the wall.

Spoiled Rich backed up scared as I launched forward punching her head so hard she was knocked out instantly as her body tumbled to the ground. I started to breathe hard as my muscles quivered from extreme use so quickly.

Filthy Rich backed up. “Get back!” He held a knife to Diamond’s neck cutting into it enough to cause her to start to bleed. “If you care about her at all, you’ll—” I could feel my muscles scream from the pressure of my jump as landed on the wall behind him, I aimed right for his spine crushing it like a piece of glass as I launched forward punching it. Filthy’s body jolted forward and fell to the ground unable to move, just breathe and cry from the pain. It was funny watching his limbs twitch, no longer able to follow his brain’s commands.

The air felt delicious, making me take in a deep breath and turn to Sethi which was coughing out blood. “Still alive?” I asked. This was thrilling, these ponies were such wonderful treats. I bet Sethi’s heart would taste wonderful.

Sethi tried to crawl toward the door as I walked over to her, and stomped on her hind leg, snapping it. “Augh!” she screamed.

“~Trying to kill my servant, that was a mistake~” I sang, grinning as I snapped her other hind leg. “You’re going to be wonderful on my tongue.”

“Wait, no!” she cried as I turned her over and slashed with my teeth ripping open her chest easily. Her body started to convulse as she went into shock. Moving a few bits around, I grinned seeing her heart still beating.

Reaching down, I ripped out her hot heart and started to eat it, letting the flavor fill me in swirls of pleasure. It was wonderful. This was perfect, just the feel of her life sliding into my belly and filling me up. Oh I needed this feeling so badly.

Diamond was shaking and crying by the wall, watching me. “Enjoying the show?” I asked, walking over to her, licking blood from my hoof. She started to cry harder rolling into a ball. “I had a dream once.” She looked up at me, and I laid down in front of her. “I met a future me. Do you know what she told me?”

“N-no?”

“Show my kindness, especially to that precious pony. I’m going to do that, I’m going to give you the choice. Do you want to kill your parents or have me turn them over? It will make things difficult, but I want to show you kindness. I want to show you that I’ll never be a monster to you, I’ll be a friend.”

“Friend?” She sat up, wiping tears away.

“Yes, my friend, the last friend I have. The only friend I have.” I looked down. “I love you Diamond. I mean that from the bottom of my heart. You are the only pony in the whole world that I want to take with me on my trip. I need you so badly. Please, tell me. What do you want?”

Diamond looked at her parents and then at me. “K-kill them.” Tears started to fall down her face.

“Let’s head to the red door room.” I dragged her parents to the room, and managed to pull them onto the tables with a small crane from the side of the room, strapping them down very tightly. Diamond looked at her dad, staring down at him. He couldn’t even speak; his jaw wouldn’t move.

“How, how are you going to kill them?” she asked, looking at me.

“I’ll help you, but we’ll do it together.” She looked down at her father once again. “We can make it quick, but I don’t think your mother is going to wake up, and your father, I don’t think he’ll be able to feel it if you want to make it last.”

“I need a knife.” I jumped over to the bench and picked up a knife going over to her. I held it out, and she took it. She put it over Filthy’s eye, and she stabbed down, but it wasn’t nearly hard enough. He started to scream without any sound.

“I’ll help,” I whispered into her ear and she nodded as I helped her push the knife into his brain, killing him. Her body went limp and I hugged her. “I know, I know, I had to kill my father as well, but at least he won’t be in misery anymore.”

“I know, but I still loved him.”

“I know.” I picked her up and jumped over to the next table and this time she had no problem with pushing the knife into her mother’s brain. “I love you so much Diamond, I’m so proud of you,” I said, and kissed her neck. “You are truly my friend, I want you to know that I’ll never betray you. You’re mine and I’m yours forever.” She turned around crying as she hugged me. While I wanted to dig into these bodies and eat their hearts, I knew Diamond wouldn’t want that, I needed to fight this urge.

“Let’s go get ready.” She nodded.

We went out of the room and I walked over to Kila, kicking his side, making him groan and look up at me. His eyes went wide. “Wake up, I need you to clean up Sethi’s body and the two in the torture room.

“Um, alright.” He got up and went to cleaning up.

“We should clean up to,” Diamond said, and I looked at myself, I was covered in Sethi’s blood.

“Sure.” We went to Master’s bathroom and got into one of the baths. I took off my gifts and set them to the side, I’d need to clean those later. Diamond kissed me as I turned. I smiled, and she backed off spitting out a bit of blood.

“Ugh.”

I giggled. “I haven’t washed off yet.” She smiled and started to laugh with me as we started to wash off the blood first before she kissed me again. “Better?” I asked as we broke the kiss once again, her tears were still brimming.

“Yes.”

“Good.” We stared at each other and she buried her face into my shoulder. “I’m here, everything is alright.” She started to cry again. I had nothing comforting to say to her, but I’d need her as much as she’d need me now.

“Scootaloo,” Diamond said, looking up at me. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” We enjoyed our bath before getting out. Two maids were waiting with towels. “Where is Sig?” I asked, as we got out and started to dry off, my eyes wandered over to Diamond’s flank for a moment.

“She is currently with Al, I believe they have come back.”

“Did Kila clean up by the entrance?”

“Yes,” she said.

“Good.” Once dry I went over and started to clean up my gifts, making them shine and put them back on. “Diamond, come.” She followed me and we went to the entrance to see it spotless. “Al, are you home!” I called.

“Yes Ms. High Blood,” Al said, appearing next to me.

“Is everything ready?”

“Almost, the ship needs to be resupplied and the manifest needs to be updated. We will be leaving in a few days. That will give us enough time to sort out Equestria. I will have those you need to meet come tomorrow. Once all of that is sorted, we will leave. I assume you’ve said your goodbyes.”

“Yes, I have. I guess it can’t be helped if we have to wait a few days.”

“Would you like me to prepare you dinner?” Al asked.

“Yes, and set a plate for Diamond as well please, she’ll be eating with me normally from now on.”

“Understood.” Al walked away, and I sighed.

“Looks like you’ll be busy starting tomorrow,” Diamond said, frowning a bit.

Diamond’s ear perked up as I went to it and whispered softly. “Don’t fret, we can have some fun tonight.” Her tail flickered a small bit as I bit her ear lightly. “I love you, and I meant that. Let’s go have some dinner.”

“Sure,” she said happily, following me to the dining room.

Sitting down the maids brought out food. Just a few more days, I couldn’t wait. But first, I needed to make Diamond mine. For this trip, I need her to be loyal to me no matter the situation, and I needed her to be strong.

“Al,” I said, and he appeared.

“Yes?”

“I want Diamond to have tutors and be taught how to fight, myself included. Please have them readied for the trip.”

“I’ll have them brought along.”

“Make sure they are strong, not just intelligent please.”

“I know a few that will be perfect.”

“Bring a few doctors, with Sethi dead, I need a doctor or doctors of comparable skill and willingness to do what is questionable if not wrong.”

“I have a list ready.”

“Actually, give me some paper, I need to write out a list of things we’ll be needing for the trip to come.” He floated down a quill and paper to me allowing me to write down my items and ponies I’d need. I held it up and he took it glancing down the long list. “Please have all of those things ready.”

“I’ll have them ready shortly, and some of these I will have ready by the time we leave for the trip.”

“Thank you.” Al left and I looked at my food. It didn’t look very good. I picked up a spoon and took a bite of mash potato making me cringe a small bit. This tasted like sawdust in some kind of mud. “This is disgusting!” I said, moving the plate away and spitting the food into my napkin quickly.

“What’s wrong?” Sig asked, coming over.

“These mash potatoes are disgusting!”

Sig sniffed them for a moment and licked a small bit. “They smell and taste fine to me, maybe you don’t like the seasoning. I’ll go make something for you quickly.” Sig turned and left going into the kitchen.

“They taste fine to me,” Diamond said, and she held out a spoon to me. I sniffed the potatoes, and the stench of rotten food made me cringe. “Wait, let’s try something else.” She held up a buttered carrot. “You can’t not like this. I’ve seen you eat carrots plenty of times, you like them.”

I sniffed the carrot, and retracted a small bit. It smelled like it had gone and rotted weeks ago. “It smells really bad to me.”

“Try it.”

Taking a bite nearly made me throw up, moving back quickly. “I can’t even bring myself to swallow that.”

“Maybe Sig will have something you can eat.” She set down her fork and we waited as Sig came out a few minutes later. Sig pushed a cart of food over setting down a dozen different foods, cake included.

Hesitantly I attempted to eat the food, I knew some of it I liked even if it tasted like rot and foul fruit, but I couldn’t eat any of it! If I couldn’t hold my stomach back, I would have thrown up a few times.

“I can’t eat any of this!” I protested.

“I know none of this has been poisoned,” Sig said.

“She needs meat,” Kila said walking up from behind Diamond.

“Meat?” Sig asked.

“She ate a pony heart, I don’t think pony food will work for her anymore. If it’s still alive, it’ll probably be best.”

“How do you know,” Diamond asked.

“I know because I’m the same. I’ve eaten meat for years now. Use some from my dry stash.” Sig nodded and left the room.

“So that’s why you smell like blood and death,” I said, smiling a bit. “You smell pretty good actually.”

“In a few years, you’ll start to notice new abilities, such as seeing pony aura, and other such things. It takes time, but once you do, a whole new world will open up. There is a reason why I’m a killer.”

“I can already see auras, what else?”

“You’ll bleed slower, sunlight will burn you unless you’ve eaten or drunken blood which you’ll lose over time. Your vision will increase to the point of bright light hurting, and you’ll become faster and stronger than most pony. You’ll heal very fast and it’ll take a lot longer for you to age if you’re eating ponies.”

“So like a vampony?” Diamond asked, chuckling.

“No, vamponies only drink blood, ponies that eat flesh of others are something else entirely.”

“But you get knocked out so easily,” I commented.

“That punch should have ripped me in half, not that it matters right now. You’ll manage it on your own. That hunger will need to be quelled once in awhile or you’ll become annoyed easily and violent.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Sig brought out a plate of dried meat. Diamond frowned a bit looking at it. I smelled the pieces. THEY WERE WONDERFUL!!! I gobbled them up in seconds licking my lips. “I love this, what is it?”

“Pig meat, some call it bacon. I’ll have Al stock food for you,” Kila answered.

“Please do, and is everything cleaned up?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you. It looks like we’ll be leaving in a few days. Please be ready to come along with us.”

“I have other contracts I have to fulfill. I’m not going to be able to come with you on your trip. I’ll make sure Al knows. Have a good life Scootaloo, hopefully we’ll never meet each other again unless for business.”

“Have a good one Kila.” Kila left closing the door softly behind him.

“I guess we’ll have to find a new bodyguard,” Diamond said.

“Yes we will, I’m sure Kila is an expert assassin, but he sucks as a bodyguard. I’m glad I found something I can eat. I think we should go and have a bit of fun.” I smiled and Diamond blushed a bit. Her emotions were all over the place, and lust was actually the last thing in her aura. “You’re not feeling up to, it are you?”

Diamond paused, and looked down. “No, not today, I hope that’s alright.”

Killing her parents was still heavy on her heart, and I could see that. She hadn’t gotten over it, but she was good at hiding it. “Of course, why rush that? I mean later, we don’t need to do that now. So just bed, or what?”

“I’m good for whatever you want to do.”

“Bed it is, I’m tired after today.”

“Yeah, me to.” She followed me and we went to bed. I felt the bed sheets with my hoof for a second. Master’s side still seemed warm. I laid down taking in a breath of his pillows for a minute. Oh, I missed Master. “Can I come on?”

“Yes.” I padded the bed next to me. “I want to snuggle.” She got onto the bed and I pulled her into a hug. We snuggled a bit before having the lights turn off and go to sleep. I had a black dream, there was simply nothing.

Author's Note

Editing done by wubsy mcwubsington