The Spectrum Of Blood

Several months pass uneventfully. Rainbow and Bon-Bon continue their work with hunting the evil of Ponyville. They eventually are separated and sent off as lone agents. Rainbow’s first mission is tonight.

The sky was a dreary gray from the light rain that had begun but a few minutes before. Ponyville was as quiet as ever- no one around save a few ponies dashing through the rain. Rainbow watched the rain pouring down, her enhanced sight giving her a greater range of sight to see. The raindrops dropped slowly and glistened like crystals as they fell, and the sight of all of them at once was glorious. But she had to focus on the mission.

Rainbow’s target for today was a bright green unicorn stallion known only as “Player”. He had been charged with nine accounts of murder. He had a particular talent of hiding in plain sight- he was even once reported to have attended a meeting with the police about his capture. He was spotted everywhere; ponies claimed to see him at his house at the same time others saw him bowling. But today, one story was right- he was inside Sugar Cube Corner, having a conversation with a strange mare with a dark trench coat covering most of her body. She seemed anxious, but still fully engrossed in his conversation. Rainbow started to listen to their conversation.

“You really shouldn’t be out in the open like this,” the mare said, “what if the police surround the building? There’s only two ways out of here.”

“Don’t worry your pretty little head.” Player said reassuringly. “I have my ways of getting out of places.”

“But...” The mare protested.

“I notice things others might never notice.” Player said matter-of-factly. “I know the stallion at the table next to us is waiting to pop the question, but he doesn’t how to do it.”

“What?” The mare at the table next to Player said, bewildered. “Is that true?” Her coltfriend nodded sheepishly. “Oh my Celestia yes!” she jumped excitedly across the table and kissed the colt enthusiastically.

“I also noticed that the Cakes are smuggling magically enhanced sugar into the store.” Player said. “Don’t eat any sweets for a while.”

“I’ll try,” The mare said with a tone implying she still would. “is there anything else?”

“Oh yes.” Player said. “These tables haven’t been cleaned, and that blue mare over there is listening to our conversation.”

Shit. Rainbow’s cover had been blown. She casually looked away, hoping to bring the attention on her away. She was never the best at listening in on conversations, and she was dealing with a professional. She looked around at the things Player had noticed. The couple were still making out on the table, and it was a little but sickening. The Cakes were duping their sugar in different bags, but she could see the strange coloring to the sugar. Her table was quite dirty.

“Just ignore her.” The hooded mare said dismissively. “You can always disappear if she tries something.”

Rainbow sighed in relief. She watched Player lean in to whisper something in the mare’s ear. The mare giggled and blushed, then looked away from Player.

“Oh you,” The mare said playfully. “I’m flattered, but I’m guessing there’s a reason you’re called ‘Player’. So no.”

Oh geez. Rainbow got up and went outside to wait. She flew around the building in loops so she would see Player leaving. She thought back on these past months with fond remembrance. It was simple and yet complex. She no longer needed to sleep, so her constant routine of weather control in the day and hunting at night wasn’t difficult. She enjoyed her life, and all the blood that came with it. She realized she hadn’t been home most of that time, and she’d have to clean up after her mission.

Player left out the back at that exact moment, and Rainbow landed around the building. Player gave the hooded mare a kiss, and then they walked separate ways. Now’s my chance. Rainbow snuck up behind  Player and readied for a pounce.

“Really?” Player said without turning around. “You’re going to stop me with nothing but your bare hooves? This won’t end well for you.” Player pulled a knife out of his saddlebags and threw it at Rainbow’s face. Rainbow stared the knife down.

“Well, that was easy.” Player said as he turned around. “Most ponies would at least try to dodge.” Player walked away down the abandoned street and laughed silently to himself. He was sad for himself, deep down. He never wanted this life, but things had just turned out this way. He felt as if he was meant for something greater.

“I’m still here you know.” A muffled voice said from behind Player. He jerked around to see the blue mare still there, holding his thrown knife between her teeth. She spit out the knife and gave Player a look of pure malice.

“Excellent trick.” Player said, trying to hide his surprise. He was a professional knife thrower- his knives were thrown hard enough to break concrete. “However, you’re still unarmed.”

“Not as much as you might think.” The mare faded into the darkness, leaving Player blind. The darkness seemed to be creeping up on him, and a cold air arose around him. He felt fear deep within him. He looked around, and saw the mare’s red eyes in the distance. Player took out another knife and threw it at the mare, but the eyes seemed to disappear. Player looked around for the mare, but couldn’t find her.

“Behind you.” A bone- chilling voice said in Player’s ear, causing him to jump.

“What the Hell ARE you?” Player yelled in fear.

“The one thing you should have seen coming.” The mare said maniacally. “Your demise.”

Player felt a swift, burning pain in his neck, then fell to the floor. Rainbow managed to drain his body in ten seconds flat. She took off and left his body for the cleanup crew. She felt great- she hadn’t attracted any attention. She had completed a mission against a true murderer and succeeded with no injury to herself.

“Player?” The hooded mare said from the distance. “I heard you yelling, what was…” The mare then saw Player’s body lying in the road. “No… it can’t be.” The mare stared at his already cold body, tears filling her eyes. “You were just… there. You were fine.” The mare stood up and looked to the sky. “I will avenge you, Player. This debt will not be unpaid.”

“I will kill you, Rainbow Dash.”

Rainbow entered her house for the first time in months, and it was awful. Her house was dusty, and clouds don’t even get dusty. Trash laid everywhere, and she was almost willing to walk out and ignore the problem. But she realized that it would only get worse. She started with the kitchen- she did all the dishes and threw out her old food. She sent a few hours on that, and then moved to the living room.

But Rainbow froze.

Rainbow saw it- the bag of blood she was given by Fluttershy. It reminded Rainbow of that day- the last true day she hated vamponies. But now look at me. I killed Player today without even a second thought. I was even toying with him. Rainbow realized she had become who she had once feared. She was now a murderer, and she liked it. She was no different than Player or Bottle Mixer, aside from her weapon of choice.

KNOCK KNOCK

Rainbow slammed the bag to the bottom of her trashcan and ran to the door. She opened it to see Pinkie Pie at the door.

“Hey Pinkie!” Rainbow said, feigning enthusiasm. “How and why are you up here?”

“Well that’s easy!” Pinkie said in her usual gleeful voice. “Twilight gave me a spell, and I thought you would need some help cleaning up! Your house is SUUUUUUPER messy! It’s like you’re never home!”

“Oh. Well thanks.” Rainbow said. “Uh, I guess you can help me with the living room.”

Pinkie started to pick up the trash lying about. Rainbow felt Pinkie’s gaze on her the entire time.

“Soooooo…” Pinkie began. “What’ve you been up to Dashie? I haven’t seen you in months!”

“Mostly work.” Rainbow said. “I’ve been very busy lately.”

“Really?” Pinkie said. “That stinks. Oh yeah! Did you hear about that criminal guy? Player or something? He apparently died last night. They think he had a heart attack from stress.”

“I haven’t heard a thing about him.” Rainbow said, with a chill coming over her. “I haven’t heard much about him lately.”

“YOU LIAR!!!” Pinkie screamed and shoved Rainbow out the door and down to the street below. Pinkie jumped down and landed on Rainbow, shattering several of Rainbow’s ribs. “I saw you yesterday at Sugar Cube Corner! I know it was you! I've been watching you Dash, and I know what you are!”

“You weren't at Sugar Cube!” Rainbow said. “And besides, even if you've been watching me, you’ll know I've only been killing the scum of the city.”

“LIES!!!” Pinkie screamed and slammed into Rainbow’s ribs again, snapping a few more ribs. “I was the mare with Player! And Player was a good pony! Yes, he killed ponies. But he was an adventurer! He killed those ponies in defense!”

Rainbow shoved Pinkie off her body, and backed away. Rainbow returned with a charge, but Pinkie was fast, and dodged Rainbow’s blow. Pinkie went in for a leg sweep, but Rainbow enhanced body jumped. The combat continued in this fashion- Rainbow’s enhanced strength and reaction time making up for Pinkie’s speed, and vice versa. It was a battle to see who would outlast the other.

“STOP!” A voice yelled and flung back the two combatants. Fluttershy appeared and gave them pleading looks. “Stop fighting! I’m sure we can figure this out! There’s no need for this needless fighting!”

“ NO!” Pinkie yelled. She then slapped Fluttershy and Fluttershy flew back and crumpled into a ball. “You aren’t involved in this, Fluttershy. Just…”

Pinkie would never finish that thought, however. Rainbow’s rage had flared in that moment. Fluttershy was her oldest and best friend. In her rage, Rainbow lunged at Pinkie with al her might. Rainbow slammed into Pinkie and then moments later into a wall. Pinkies head exploded from sheer force, killing her instantly.

Dear Celestia. I just… just… well, shit. Rainbow felt a horrible guilt come over her. She’d killed Pinkie in one blow. Rainbow had become a true murderer. But it had to be done. Pinkie knew the truth- she would’ve been killed within a few days anyway. Rainbow turned away so the thought wouldn’t haunt her. She walked over to Fluttershy to help her.

“No, no.” Fluttershy said urgently. “I’m fine! Just go to base and report your actions.”

“Come on, I’ll help you up.” Rainbow said, walking towards Fluttershy. She suddenly stepped on a piece of glass and cringed in pain. She lifted her hoof to see a piece of thin, sky blue glass wedged in her hoof.

“I guess this had to happen sometime.” Fluttershy said despairingly. “Yes, I wear contacts. If I don’t, it would scare animals, and certain ponies.”

“‘Certain ponies’?” Rainbow asked. “What do you…”

Rainbow looked at Fluttershy’s eyes and noticed something that shocked her. Fluttershy’s eye’s weren’t their iconic sky blue. They were red. Blood red.

Fluttershy had killed Rainbow’s parents.