First steps for a normal life

Crimson woke up, the loud noise, cheer from outside did it's job. Quickly stretched out, joints popping as the stiffness left her body. She slept in Trixies bed, after she assured it shouldn't be a problem, though she expected the bed be neatly done. A quick look confirmed for Crimson the sun is still up, but judging by the colors it's had to be later afternoon, all the while more she heard more cheering from outside.

'Well, seams Trixie got her show going, and they like it.'

Smirked Crimson, knowing her friend giving an amazing show to the ponies outside. She hopped off the bed, and quickly changed the sheets, packed her own away and got Trixies out. It was truly surprising how generous the mare was with her, of course not in public, she still was Trixie, but she sure have learned her lessons after the hardship gone through.

'Well, surely this Trixie is far better off than the one I knew, no Cult influence, well... as far I can tell.'

Crimson felt optimistic, but she did still learn to be careful, especially now that stuck in an alternative universe. As she finished with the bed something got her attention on the small night stand, and her smile got bigger. It was an orange shade, just the right size, magically enchanted. The type like Vinyl had in her world, and the Vinyl in this would likely have as well. She had one from Twilight at the start, when they took her in and she began to recover from her rough train ride to freedom.

She picked it up and also took the note left beside it.

Good morning Crimson or evening.

Hah! Trixie got your shades, so no more slacking during daytime, as for sleeping, we figure out something.

The Greatest and utmost Powerful Trixie!

Crimson shake her head, Trixie antics sure had an impact, even if you supposed to be used to her. She got out of the cart to enjoy the afternoon, deeply inhale the fresh air of Ponyville. Crimson began to make her way now towards the hospital, she still had to get a proper meal. But now that she wasn't on the verge lose her mind due to starvation, she could use her tricks, but carefully, as they do tax her energy reserves.

Then she was suddenly interrupted, by non other than the resident party animal, alas Pinkie Pie. The Pink Mare did manage to knock Crimson down, which is quite impressive as she been a slightly larger Mare, near the size of an average stallion, and she was full of muscles under neat her white coat, and add to this her metal wings, which was anything but a feather weight. Pinkie stood on her looking down with her typical crazed skull cracking smile with the ultimate sugar rush behind it. The vampony gave a genuine surprised look, not one that held fear, but she never thought this would happen.

“HAI! I'M PINKIE PIE!”

'My ears, oh Faust, please, make her stop shouting.'

Pinkies elevated voice did hit it's mark though, in the form of a tidal wave of pain. And the response was simple and clear, both front hooves cover her ringing ears.

“..ouch.. A bit quieter please.”

“Oh!Okiedokiloki!You'renewIknow,andifyou'renewyouneedawelcometPonyvillie!Webethebestof bestfriendsWeeee!OHMYGOSHIGOTTOSETUPTHEPARTY,upppsss,sorryforbeingloudBUTMUSTPARTY!”

After a minute she got up, and dusted herself off.

'Well, this going to be a busy night then, but hey, if it's Pinkie, plus party, equals Vinyl Scratch.'

With this promising though she trotted for the hospital. Ponies were around and about on her way, doing their daily errands. They did shoot her a quick look as she passed by, being a 'new pony' in town, but otherwise they not been bothered. Soon the big building came into view, which was the hospital of this decent sized town. Crimson quickly found the back side of the place, and she did her gambling, as so far most things matched up to the world she known. With ease, she opened the ground floor window of a dimmed room and she swiftly entered.

The room was a simple storage room, but not to far down on the corridor lay the emergency treatment room, where they had, all the time, medical blood prepared in case of emergency, and usually more then they needed. Crimson began focus to the other ponies in the building, their heartbeats, recognizing a few, and thankfully none were nearby. She opened the door and at a rapid phase made her way to the destination in mind.

The room was filled with disinfectant, and in the utmost cleanliness which was on pair with an actual operating room. After she laid her eyes on the cabinet she has been looking for, made her approach. It was filled medical blood bags, shelf after shelf. It was mesmerizing for the vampony, as she licks her lips. With care she opened the cabinet and took twelve bags out, 3 of each type, and still leave several dozen of each type in the cabinet. She focused again quick, with no-one near to her at that moment she made her retreat to the small storage room.

Once in there she quickly began to consume the medical blood. At this time was much easier to get through as during night they had magical ward alarms on to alert any activity, plus her hunger induced state the other day would made her unpredictable and her hunch was right. Firstly, she forgot about the wards, then she got 'distracted' by Bon Bon on the way to this place, though she was glad she was, otherwise the cream earth pony would be dead by her own hooves.

Once she finished with all the twelve bags she rolled on her back and just lay there in utter bliss that is a full tummy. The amount of blood she downed did make up what she missed out in the past days, and far more, to last days to come. Crimson however forced herself to listen to her surroundings, even she didn't want to move after so much blood. She got a decent tummy ache truth be told, but she just giggled.

Then she heard something, something she didn't think of, but then realization hit her. They activated the magic wards for the night, and effectively trapped her. She would have facehoofed but moving was a true chore. The vampony quickly took a few calming breaths and run through a mental list.

'Great... way to go mare. Okey, Emergency room cabinet closed back, door closed back, storage room door closed back, empty blood bags well hidden and disposed, storage room window closed back, also no one near this section of the hospital now. If lucky and it is a quiet night then no one come to this section, especially this room.'

Then Crimson noticed something in the corner, which sound the alarms in her head. It was a sleeping bag and pillow in the corner of somepony. She just groaned as began massage her templates. Now she forced herself up to a sitting position and looked around carefully, not to get any more surprises, as well, if possible a spot where she could hide in this storage room if the owner of the sleeping bag returns Sadly she saw nothing that could be helpful to hide her in the room. This left her with two options, she quickly breaks out from the storage room through the window and set off the alarms, or once the door opens, she tries to sneak out behind the pony who comes to sleep, eventually.

She didn't have to wait for to long, as she could feel one pony approach the very room she hide in. And she had mixed feelings about this one, the heartbeat she recognized. Red Heart. She quickly got up to her hooves and moved to the darkest corner of the room against the all the protest of her body. The door open halfway, lean into it was the white earth pony nurse, exhausted from a long day at the hospital, her eyes were barely open. After a minute standing there she troted in, close the door behind her. But then she stopped midway to her sleeping bags, taking deep sniffs, and her eyes open up, confusion in them.

'Tonight gonna be perfect...YAY!'

Was all Crimson thoughts as the nurse looked around the storage room and her eyes stop, staring right at her. At this point Crimson predatory instincts kicked in and she rushed forward, muffle the mouth of the stunned earth pony mare and hold her in an iron grip from behind. The pony tried to scream with all her might, all in vain. The moment passed and Crimson composed herself, ignoring the struggle of the nurse.

'I can not be seen, not yet at least, I need to gain their trust... Who am I kidding, I doing a wonderful job now doing the opposite of it.'

Scold herself mentally as Red Heart gave up her struggle as she couldn't even bulge the vampony a single inch. The poor mare's heart wanted to tear her ribcage open and run, it pounded so heavily. After a minute stand still Crimson spoke up, in a quiet but authoritative manner.

“Remain calm and don't do anything stupid and you will be fine.”

Red Heart tried to nod, but couldn't in the strong grip but Crimson felt she meant to do that motion as she felt the right muscles tense up for it.

“Good... now I didn't plan to have this situation, I’m sure neither you. I need you to open the window for me, I know about the magical ward around the hospital, and you are one of the hospital nurses you can open it without setting off the alarm. And again nothing stupid, I know the hoof sign used to set off a silent alarm, as both hoofs up, then down on the window and two rapid pushes.”

Crimson guessed again this, and indeed it was a match, as her heart rate spike again just as she told the exact moves. She gave a minute to the white nurse who was even whiter now than it should be possible. She picked her up, as she stood on her hind legs, Red Heart dangled off the ground by a few inches, tremble. They stopped before the window and Red Heart opened it wide as she been instructed without any struggle.

“Thank you. Now I am going to put you sleep, which is surely was your original idea when come here, you gonna feel a tingling feeling on your chest and your heart will begin slowing down. I won't stop it but slow it down to 30 beats per minute for a while, the adrenaline will drain from your body and you will pass out, and you'll wake up in the morning. Sorry for the scare and distressed I causing now but no other way around it.”

With no further delays, the vampony sat down on her haunches, and interlocked her hind legs with the earth pony to have a firm grip. Red Heart was a mess, drenched from sweat and terror. Crimson tapped her chest reassuringly before she started to use her blood magic.

“Just take in deep and slow breaths.”

And with this she planted her left fore hoof on her chest and reached out with her magic aura, she could feel the nurse heart beat in her hoof almost. She began to slow it down, little by little. This had it's effect on the nurse who tremble, hyperventilate at the start, but slowly and surely calmed her down.

“Think of it as a sedative, just without the medication itself. Now I gonna slow your heart beat down more, you should feel sleep as I do so. Just let go and relax and you are off to dreamland.”

The earth pony hooves cling onto Crimson's one that had it's hold on her heart, a slight, barely visible red glow oozing into her chest. The nurse now calmed down, intently took in all the details and sensation she could see, feel, hear and smell. And true to her words the rhythm of her ever ticking clock slow, yet she remained aware of her surroundings, she has done loads of mediation before. She could feel her body get heavy.

Crimson removed her hoof from her mouth at long last, with a quick wipe into a canvas cover on the side she began to caress her light pink mane as she spoke quietly, without knowing the white mare still aware and hear her.

“..way to go Crimson... urgh.. hope she won't hold a grudge... okey, it's time to tuck you in bed... why are you here and not at your home Red...”

With care the vampony set her down on her sleeping bag, tuck her in properly before quietly troted to the window and hopped through it with ease and made her way back into the town.

As Crimson made her way through the town, some ponies still been around here and there, it was late but not to late yet. She head towards one specific house to meet one pony who she had a promise to fulfil. The home in question soon came to her view, lights still on and she could sense both occupants in there. Her trot ended as she stopped right before the door and knocked twice on the oak wood surface. A muffled response came from inside, it was Lyra.

“Coming!”

She opened the door swiftly and was taken aback slightly by the mare standing before her, seeing her own reflection in the orange shades the white pony wore.

“Hiya, my name is Crimson Blaze, I came to visit Bon Bon.”

Lyra strained a smile on her face as she reply to her, her pulse sky rocketed, and didn't take a diploma to figure it out why, yet the Mint green unicorn stood aside and let her in. Crimson walk inside and looked around.

“I hope it's not a trouble at this late.”

A loud gulp and a nervous laughter came first from behind.

“N-no of course n-not hehe, we are just about to eat hehe.. yeah.”

Crimson shook her head inwardly, starting everything from square one wasn't fun, but she had to deal with it. She made her way to the dinning room, leaving Lyra surprised, and more jittery how in Tartalus she knew her way around the house.

“Good evening Bon Bon.”

Crimson gave her an apologetic smile as she did so. Bon Bon was a bit tense but nothing compared to her friend Lyra, she had plenty of time to reflect on the events of the last night.

“Good evening Crimson, I see you are a mare of your word.”

“That I am Bonny, and good to see you doing well enough, well after the last night.”

Bon Bon rubbed her fore hoof where Crimson bite her, gave an awkward smile and chuckled a little.

“Well, it's not that bad. It's just like you said i'd feel afterwards you feed on me, but you forgot the mighty itching part.”

Crimson chuckled as well and rubbed the back of her head, then took a deep sigh. All the while Lyra stood there mouth agape, she had a hard time believe all truely, it was like out of a fantasy novel, and she was part of it.

“...I'm sorry again I feed on you Bonny.. That's the issue being a vampony, if you reach a certain point of starvation, instincts take over..”

“Hey, don't worry about it to much, you did stop me doing something incredibly stupid at the end and thanks to it could work a few things out with Lyra. But please, have a seat..umm do you.. well.. eat anything else?”

Crimson obligated to the confectionist request and sat down.

“Well, I can consume liquid egg for example or other liquids, but solid food is out of the question, and these are quite weak, they good to tickle my taste buds but nothing more.”

“Oh..”

Lyra snapped out of her trance and made her way to the table and sat down. Bon Bon gave her a reassuring smile.

“So.. um.. Hello.. I'm Lyra... sorry for.. being jumpy..eheheh.”

Crimson gave her a friendly smile and shook her head.

“Hey, no problem, I kind of use to it, though I have already befriended you two... Well your counterparts from my world, that is.”

“So.. are you an Alien?”

Crimson chuckled to this question made by the musician of the house.

“Well, in a sense could say that.”

“Crimson are you, you know, hungry?”

Bon Bon asked her, and Crimson shook her head in response, gently patting her belly which was quite round still. Bon Bon's eyes grew as she saw this.

“I took care of it not that long ago.. ehehe, I kind of sneak into the hospital and drowned 12 medical blood bags down.”

Both mare's eyes were big now, after a short moment they blinked and shook it off, Lyra was the most relived for sure, as not being on the menu for the night.

“So.. as I see you could pop like a balloon.”

“Yeah that’s about right, but yes, that was my original intention last night but my head was all but clear..”

She trailed off at the end, but Bonny gave her a reassuring smile.

“Let's forget about it, really I am not going to hold it against you.”

“Thanks.”

The vampony now took off her shades, and put it to the side of the table, but quickly realized the odd looks she received from the pair, then it hit her, her eyes were glowing.

“Oh yes, that's how my eyes look like if I’m full of energy.”

She gave a sheepish smile to this. Lyra just watched and listened intently as the two talked for now.

“So when they are quite dim, you are starving I take.”

“Yes that's correct.”

“Guess then we know when we gonna have an itchy hoof haha.”

Bon Bon laugh at this whole heartily, surprise Crimson as how well the earth pony take things.

“Don't worry, I’m fine to donate some blood for you time to time, but need to ask nicely.”

Bonny waved her forehoof at her with a sly smile, still had some trace of tension in her but a lot calmer than before.

“Yes my Queen!”

Crimson gave a bow to her, the atmosphere lighten up considerably as they laugh, and Lyra began to relax as well. And so she approached the vampony with her own series of questions.

“So.. um, what was your world like? I mean you know your way around here like you live your life at these parts, to borrow some words from the Apples.”

“Oh yes, Apple Jack and the others.. and guess best way to put it, my world almost like this one, I saw some differences but as far I can tell it matches up quite well with my own. Now, do you have vamponies here? Or only myth?”

“Well they are only a myth, though can't be quite sure. I doubt your kind would wander around in the open like you do.”

Answered Lyra, who was quite interested about myths and other supernatural stories, but this strange meeting put other stories in a new light as more feasible.

“Speaking of walking around, isn't the sun hurt you?”

“Oh no, it doesn’t hurt me, if you refer to the silly belief vamponies burst into flames if sun light touch them. Though my eyes are quite sensitive to strong light. These candles strong too, but still in the bearable level, I’ve kind of got used to them while I was staying in Canterlot castle back at home, but sun light hurt.”

As Crimson explained this, Lyra curtly moved the candles to the side with her magic so they would light the room from the sides. The gesture earned a sincere smile from the vampony.

“Thank you for that Lyra.”

“No prob!”

Smiled the lyrist. Then she continued on, all the while Bon Bon eat her food, she was hungry.

“That's do explains the shades, by the way they look amazing.”

“Thanks, and it's from Trixie, we run into each other in the forest as she made her way to town.”

Realization hit Lyra.

“Oh! Then I saw you yesterday as you pulled her cart near to the market. You wore Trixies hat back then. It was a bit strange now I think about it.”

“Well yeah, you see I didn't have this lovely shade then, Trixie got it for me today, she is kind of my boss now.”

Chuckled Crimson, and sure the curiosity of the present mares peeked. Now Bonny chipped in.

“So she knows your dietary needs, why didn't she try to help.”

“Uhh, about that... You see, she kind of don't know. I told her I am a bat pony you see... Which is technically still true as I did born as one, until I been turned into a vampony..”

“I see... But you have to tell her at some point, more so... Come clean before the town about your strange condition.. Speaking of turning, will I be a vampony now?”

With these thoughts surfacing Bon Bon began panicking. Crimson quickly hold both her forehoof up in the air in a calming manner.”

“No no, you won't turn into a vampony just because I bite you, that's also a false belief, partly that is... You see, we have magic, blood magic. And to turn some one I do need to bite them, but instead of focus on suck their blood, I would need to pump my magical aura into their blood stream, a lot of it, and for that I must have a lot of energy to spare. Plus, it is an ungodly painful for the receiving party.”

Bon Bon nod in understanding, and she calmed down, Lyra relaxed as well hearing all this.

“You see.. Now I could turn one of you into a vampony.. And not much would change visibly, but inside the changes are severe. Your physical strength increase ten fold as well durability and stamina, and your natural talents.. Like for you Lyra magic, would be boosted as well. Your eyes, the iris would turn crimson red, and would follow the intensity changes as mine based on how much energy you have. Also you would grow a pair of fangs, smaller than mine but still good enough to bite.”

The pair listened intently to the detailed explanation of Crimson. It was fascinating, and a bit scary too.

“And yes, as your eyes change, you would become sensitive to strong light, same for your hearing, it's become much sharper and sensitive.”

“Heh, then I guess you would avoid Vinyl Scratch by a mile.”

Smiled Lyra as Bon Bon shook her head with a slight smile on.

“Well, I sure to pull the plug from her rig and smack her on top of her head, and you have no idea how many times I've done that. You see she is a dear friend in my world, we technically grew up together with Octavia, in an orphanage.”

Crimson smile as she drifted away to the sweet old memories, before all changed.

“Ohhh, maybe you can give us some good gossip or hints of the pair.”

Lyra was giggling mischievously, until Bon Bon smack her on the head, Lyra gave the 'why I get this for' look to her friend. Crimson just laugh at the antics of the pair.

“I know you'd love that Lyra, numero uno Human fan.”

Teased the vampony the now blushing unicorn, Bonny had a sly smile on her face as she look at the minty unicorn.

“But no, I won't spoil such secrets, nor will spoil your secrets, well, which I asume you likely have. But I am surprised you aren't together, you see the Bon Bon and Lyra I know are mare friends. Then again not everything same in this world.”

Lyra had a dreamy look in her eyes which Crimson did catch, Bon Bon had quite a bitter look now though, and it did occurred to her why the earth pony wanted to end her life just the other night.

“Um... sorry Bonny..”

“That's fine.. It's just hard... Guess I tell you the story.”

There was quiet in the dinning room as they wait for the candy maker gather her thoughts.

“I meet with this stallion few years back, his name was Woods Slicer.. He was a simple earth pony with a big heart. Then 4 years ago her run away for no apparent reason, leave me on my own. I was... devastated, but thanks to my friends I got over it. But I end up not wish for any relationships what so ever.”

Lyra was nodding to this knowingly, she already her the story.

“Then last week I received a letter, it was from his sister who live in Manehatten... In the letter she told me why he run off... They diagnosed him with cancer... And he run away to spare me...”

Tears were running down on the light cream coat of Bon Bon.

“He suffered four long years in the hospital... trying to overcome the cancer eating him alive the inside... He loved me, but could not put me through the stress and misery to watch him die slowly... As he and his sister watched their own mother claimed by the same wrenched thing...”

“I'm so sorry Bon Bon.”

Crimson got up and walk over to the shaken earth pony and give her a strong reassuring hug. She calm down quicker now. It was over, but old wounds heal like this slow. Then Lyra troth over, her golden eyes carried deep emotions, it was clear how she felt for Bon Bon, concern, but uncertainty lingering there. That did melt away somewhat when Bon Bon embraced her. Crimson stood back and sat on her haunches and let Lyra comfort her crush.

After ten or so minutes they decided to go to the living room and sat down there, Lyra carried her food, she was starving at that point, and had to silence the bottomless pit which was her stomach, earn some good laughs from the others as it gave loud voice of it's discomfort. The rest of the night they spent chatting away about various themes, and Crimson were glad she had two ponies who could call friends who also accepted her true nature. All the while she knew two others to make up for, Trixie for her kindness, and Red Heart for her intrusion. She leaned back and closed her eyes, just listen to the fire crackling, enjoy the normality of the moment.

Author's Note

One long new chapter, hope you enjoy it, and Crimson will have some surprises soon due Red Heart ;)