The Spectrum Of Blood

“It was you?” Rainbow said, frozen in shock. “You’re the pony who killed my parents?”

“Yes. It was me.” Fluttershy admitted. “I’ve been a vampony nearly my entire life. I was bitten at the age of three. At that time, I wasn’t focused on being good or obeying rules. I just needed to live. I killed people left and right with little care. You turned me around- your sad little eyes made me see the error of my ways.”

“And you never thought to tell me?” Rainbow said, holding back her anger. “I’ve known you for years, and only now I know the truth?”

Fluttershy sighed. “I wanted to tell you later, when you and I were better friends. Secretly, I had hoped you would give up the search.”

Rainbow’s anger was rising faster and faster, and she had to hold herself back. She felt as if she was staring evil itself in the face, and she wanted to stamp out Fluttershy forever. But Rainbow stopped. She was looking at her best friend- a person who cared for animals and people with a kindness that couldn’t be surpassed. Fluttershy wasn’t evil itself. She was the Element of Kindness, and Rainbow’s best friend.

“See?” Fluttershy said suddenly, breaking the silence. “I’m your friend, and you know it. I would never want to hurt you. It was just a mistake I made at a young age. I’m truly sorry for everything.”

Rainbow felt stuck. Here was the pony she had been searching for her entire life. Here was the pony that had ruined her life and killed her parents. But at the same, she also saw the one person who had made life livable and kept her going. What do I do?

Set me free. Fluttershy’s voice said in Rainbow’s head. I truly am sorry. I never wanted to hurt you.

Rainbow flew up to her house to mull things over. Her conflicting emotions left her with a feeling of sickness to her stomach. She sat down on her cloud couch and looked around her home, in hopes to draw her mind away. Unfortunately, her first sight was a picture of her and Fluttershy. Rainbow thought back to the day she met Fluttershy at the orphanage.

Laughter spread around the playground. It wasn’t laughter of joy, but of mockery. Rainbow saw a group of ponies standing in a ring around what appeared to be another pony. She came closer to see what the laughter was about.

“Look at you!” One of the colts said. “You’re weak, spineless, and you can’t even fly! You aren’t worthy to be in Cloudsdale.”

“Yeah!” The others agreed.

“I… I’m sorry…” A quiet voice said from within the group.

“You ought to be!” The colt said. “Just leave, no one likes you anyway.”

“Hey!” Rainbow yelled, trying to sound more intimidating than she was. “Leave her alone!”

“Oh no, it’s the freak!” The colt said mockingly. “Why don’t you go back to Transylvania and see your vampony friends?”

“Why don’t you go and get facial reconstruction?” Rainbow countered. “Your face looks like plot.”

The colt raised a hoof to strike Rainbow, but then put it down. “You’re not worth the trouble. C’mon, let’s go guys.” All the ponies left save Rainbow and the bullied filly.

“You alright?” Rainbow asked. “Don’t listen to them. What’s your name?”

“I’m… Fluttershy.” The filly said quietly.

“You’re lucky I hear well, you really need to speak up.” Rainbow said. “So Fluttershy, it’s nice to meet you. My name is Rainbow Dash…” Fluttershy looked up suddenly and stared Rainbow in the eyes. “And uh… I’m new here. Want to be friends?”

Fluttershy began to cry even harder. “I’m so sorry.”

Rainbow was suddenly confused. “For what? Nothing happened to me, and you haven’t done anything wrong.”

Fluttershy stared deeper into Rainbow’s eyes with an emotion Rainbow could only explain as guilt. “I’m so, so sorry.”

“You’re alright!” Rainbow said with a laugh. “You have nothing to apologize for.”

Rainbow realized now that Fluttershy had been apologizing about Rainbow’s parents. She had seen who Rainbow was right from the beginning. Fluttershy always had that look of guilt around Rainbow, and Rainbow hadn’t seen Fluttershy’s pain until now.

Rainbow knew what she had to do.

Rainbow saw as her clock struck 11. She snuck out of her house and did her best to blend in with the dark clouds above, but suddenly she noticed something. A pair of police ponies were approaching her house with a large box. Rainbow landed to see what was happening.

“Listen, we have to do this.” The first officer said. “Ms. Dash has killed dozens of people, including the bearer of the Element of Laughter.”

“Yes, but do we really…” The other officer began.

“Yes.” The first officer said. “The chief said we had to, and with her record, she’s bound to be asleep right now. Open the box.”

The other officer sighed and opened the box, which contained a ball of magical light. The ball flew upwards and hit the bottom of Rainbow’s house, then promptly exploded. Everything in her house vanished in a burst of flame instantly.

Well, I guess I don’t have to clean anymore. But they wanted to kill me? This is madness!

Rainbow flew quickly and quietly to the clan base. She ran to Fluttershy’s office without knocking and promptly slammed into Fluttershy, who happened to be leaving right then.

“Hello Rainbow.” Fluttershy said cautiously. “What brings you here?”

“I just wanted to say…” Rainbow said, adding a pause for dramatic effect. “I forgive you.”

Fluttershy suddenly looked relieved and gave Rainbow a hug. “Oh thank you Rainbow! You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to hear those words.”

Rainbow hugged Fluttershy back and looked around her office. The master office was painted to the leader’s request, and Fluttershy had had it painted to look like nature. Her floor was a bright green to look like grass. The walls we painted green in spikes up from the floor, and there were drawings of animals everywhere. It was soothing to look at.

“I never noticed how pained and guilty you were until I heard the truth.” Rainbow said.

Fluttershy sighed. “Yes, I was. I couldn’t stand having my best friend be so pained by my actions. I’ll still feel guilty, however.”

“I’m sure I can help your pain go away.” Rainbow said soothingly. “I just hope you’ll forgive me.”

“Wait, what?” Fluttershy said, alarmed.

Rainbow pulled her knife out from under her wing. She grabbed the handle and plunged it into the back of Fluttershy’s skull. Fluttershy went limp and fell to the floor.

“Now, you will feel no pain.” Rainbow said. “I made things right. You will no longer feel pain, and my parents are avenged.” Rainbow started towards the door when a voice stopped her.

“Maybe so,” Fluttershy said. “But now you will feel my pain.  The guilt of killing your friends will last forever, and you will eternally be an outcast.”

Rainbow turned around to see Fluttershy still clinging to life. Her head was bleeding, but the injury wasn't fatal. The knife stuck out of the back of her head. Rainbow picked up Fluttershy and slammed the back of her head onto the table, shoving the knife further into her skull. Fluttershy finally fell down, truly dead. Rainbow sighed and exited the office.

What she didn’t expect was to be rewarded.

Rainbow was given a round gold necklace with wings on it almost immediately after she left the office. Bon-Bon approached her and gave her a hoofshake.

“Well, well, well.” Bon-Bon said, sounding impressed. “I didn’t think anyone had the guts to take out Fluttershy. Guess that makes you the new leader.”

Leader? Oh yeah, that’s right. Rule of Dominance, or whatever. Not only was Rainbow now happy, she was the leader of the Ponyville vamponies. Life was better than ever before.