When Shadows Bleed

Scootaloo felt the warmth of the light on her back, saw the ring around her body, saw the shadow cast below her, but saw nothing else. The rest was darkness, foreboding and infinite. She didn't want to enter this darkness, but she felt that she had to to. Taking a deep breath, she tentatively stepped out of the ring of light that originated somewhere above her. The light did not follow her, and within a few steps, she was consumed by darkness. She looked back, looked back at the welcoming light, but pushed on.

"So, you decided to be brave this time?", asked a voice that floated out of the darkness. "This is a pleasant surprise."

"I won't let you get to me.", Scootaloo growled at the darkness.

"Do you really believe that? Or are you just trying to make me get my hopes down?" The voice seemed to be circling Scootaloo, and it unnerved her, but she didn't let this show.

"It is useless, Discord. Your mind games are petty, stupid, amateur." Discord's mock astonishment grated against Scootaloo.

"Ohhoho! You really think you can stop me? You really think that you are impervious to me? HA!"

"I have help. I have somepony who can keep me strong."

"Hmm...is that so? This is a dream, Scootaloo. Your "somepony" can't help you here."

"Well...if he sees that I am in trouble, he will wake me up. I know he will."

"How have you slept in the past few days?" Scootaloo was caught off guard by the question, and she felt hope drain out of her by the bucketful.

"N-Not well..."

"So do you think you are going to awake from this sleep? Admit defeat. I have kept you up for four days. You aren't waking up."

"And what if I avoid you until I can be awoken?"

"That, my dear, will not happen. I will catch you, and I will torment you until your screams are all that this wretched darkness hears."

"Torment? You are not capable. You just cause disorder."

"Ah, then you have highly underestimated me, Scootaloo." At this point, Scootaloo had begun to back up to the light. Discord had sounded fierce, intent. It scared her to the core.

"Don't get yourself all hyped up." Scootaloo became bathed in light as she entered the circle. She looked up, finding the small dot from where the light originated.

"Afraid I already have. Let's stop this ridiculous game of stalling.", Discord spat, and Scootaloo grew tense. She just barely ducked away from his form hurting at her, throwing herself to the ground as his serpentine body flew past her. She felt herself being tugged upward, and looked up to see Discord's crazed face above her. "Don't think that your silly tricks are going to fool me."

"Nghh...", Scootaloo choked out as his grip on her tightened. He took his free hand, and clawed her belly slowly. The pain was immense, for what Discord was doing was similar to taking a needle and piercing her with it, and then slowly tearing the skin with it. Scootaloo attempted to struggle, but could do nothing. Then, another upward tug, and she was flying upwards, away from Discord, and toward the light. He let out an angry yell, and flew after her.

"GET BACK HERE!"

"Goodbye Discord." Scootaloo closed her eyes, and let the light envelop her.

Bright sunlight burned through Scootaloo's eyelids, making her flinch and seek shade. She felt hooves around her, and knowing which way to turn, found her shade in the pelt of that somepony.

"I told you it would work.", she said, her voice muffled by her sompony's pelt.

"Ya still had me worried.", came the reply.

"It's okay. I am here now. As long as I have you, I can feel safe." Scootaloo looked up into her somepony's eyes, her purplish eyes locking with the green of her partner's. She smiled. "You still trust me, right? I know this whole Discord deal has set you on edge..."

"Eeyup.", said Scootaloo's very certain somepony. Scootaloo kissed his chin, and buried herself in his muscular body again. Compared to Big Mac, Scootaloo was actually not that much smaller. Despite her relatively diminutive size as a filly, she had grown to be much larger as a teen mare. Her and her friends were on the cusp of adulthood, all three being nearly seventeen. Scootaloo had outgrown her friends, and now possessed a fit, trim body. She had let her mane grow out more than from her childhood, and it hung over her head almost like that of Fluttershy's, giving her a soft and caring look to her eyes. Her legs were long and skinny, with a body that drew much attention from stallions. Of course, she turned down all of them, because she already had somepony.

"No matter what anypony says, I love you Big Mac.", Scootaloo said. In response, Big Mac kissed her head, and pulled her closer. She sighed contentedly, and snuggled into his chest. There they lay for a few minutes, until a voice called out. The sound trailed through the apple orchard, and both ponies became dead still.

"Big Mac!? Ya still out here!? Ah need some help! I can't find Applebloom anywhere.", Applejack called out. Close to the lovers. No chance of escape. She came out behind a tree, and then halted in her tracks. Big Mac and Scootaloo got up quickly, and then proceeded to look ashamedly at the ground. "Wha...what in tarnation were you two doin'?" Both ponies stayed silent. "Well?" Applejack was scowling at them, her hoof tapping as she waited for an explanation as to what she just saw.

"Applejack...Ah...", Big Mac started, but Scootaloo cut him off.

"Nothing, Applejack. I blacked out, and he found me."

"Bullcrap. You were nuzzling into his chest."

"Maybe you saw wrong."

"Don't give me that. I know what I saw." Scootaloo sighed, and her shame was very obviously visible.

"Can you promise not to judge?"

"Well...yes? But abou..." Scootaloo cut her off.

"Words can't explain what you saw. Love and feelings can."

"Wait, hold up a minute. Are ya sayin' that...you and mah brother...?"

"Eeyup.", Big Mac replied. Applejack felt her breath leave her. She had to sit as the realization hit her. Mah brother and Scootaloo, in love? How...how does that even work? Applejack's head spun with questions, thoughts, words to say, it was making her dizzy.

"How...?"

"The story is weird and confusing. I don't even fully understand how this came to be. Though..." Scootaloo blushed half out of shame, half out of embarrassment. "it was my attraction to him that got this started."

"Attracted to mah brother? But you're-you're so young."

"I know, and that is why the story is weird. I don't know what got into me, but every time I saw him..."

'Big Mac, is there any reason you let this young mare into your life?"

"Bad dreams.", Big Mac replied. This was cryptic to AJ, but Scootaloo understood and took the wheel.

"I have been having bad dreams. Nightmares. Nightmares about Discord." AJ's attention was fully focused on Scootaloo when Discord was mentioned.

"LIke what?"

"He wants to kill me slowly. He wants to torment me and torture me and lavish in my screams and agony." Applejack was taken aback by this. It all seemed so dark. "The dreams started a few weeks ago. I handled them well enough for some time, but things started getting desperate, and I knew I needed somepony who could help me through this. That's when Big Mac and I stumbled into each other. I formed a bond with him, and grew close to him. Never could I shake the thought of him being handsome and attractive, however. I tried so hard, I really did, I admit that I even punished myself for thinking things like that. It just wouldn't go away. As soon as I felt that we had developed a close enough bond to each other, I revealed my embarrassing thoughts to him. He...well...it tuned out that as soon as I said this, it let him speak more freely, and he told me how..." Scootaloo used the second where her blush formed to catch her breath. "He told me he thought I was beautiful...it all felt so strange. Despite all of this, we kind of sunk into a warm, welcoming relationship. Things just escalated from there." AJ looked at the ground, and sighed.

"Though ah don't necessarily approve of this...are both of you happy?" Scootaloo and Big Mac agreed in unison. AJ nodded her head, and looked at the two once more. "Then ah will tolerate this. Ah know ah have no room to separate you two in the first place, but knowing that you two are happy together, ah sure as hell won't try." Scootaloo smiled, but then swayed on her hooves. Big Mac caught her.

"I need to sleep more...I still feel exhausted...", she said breathlessly, and her eyes closed. Within a minute, she was asleep standing upright, and Big Mac lay her down back in the shade. He lay down wordlessly by her side, and AJ left, knowing that no more conversation would be had.

The Next Morning

Scootaloo walked through the streets of Ponyville, smiling at ponies she knew, greeting those she didn't. She passed Spike, who turned and caught up to her. She smiled at him.

"Hey Spike. What are you up too?" Spike rolled his eyes.

"Early morning errands for Twilight. I have a lot of time though. Might as well chat a little bit, you know?" Scootaloo nodded.

"I guess there's no harm in that." Scootaloo pitied the poor dragon. Working tirelessly for Twilight, and all the while, coping with an attraction to mares that he couldn't even fully begin to explain. Everypony knew of his heartbreak when he learned that Rarity and Soarin were together, but he had long since overcome that.

"Uh...Scootaloo...can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Actually, let's get somewhere more private first."

"Okay." They walked until they found themselves just outside of town. Finding a tree that offered shade on top of a hill, they settled down and looked over the town.

"So...I...I wanted to ask you...well...ask you how I could get a girl. You are beautiful, everypony admits that, and I am sure you have had a few suitors. Is there anything you know that you could tell me that could help me? I have been meaning to ask this certain mare what her feelings are for me for some time now, but I just can't think of a proper situation in which to ask. Every time I come up with something, I see a way that it could go wrong." Scootaloo scowled and looked at Spike.

"Um...a stallion would be the better choice to ask, but I guess I have a few things. First, just be straight forward and to the point. Mares like having sugar coated, mushy words sent their way, but what they love most is when a stallion admits straight up that they like them, that they have feelings. After you let the mare know that you have eyes for them, then you can compliment them, make yourself stand out."

"I see."

"Every young stallion that has ever courted me has crashed and burned, but only because I am already in a relationship. If you are polite and truly make the mare know you have feelings for them, then you can get her."

"You said straight up, right? To just say it?"

"Yeah. It lets them know what the conversation you are about to have is about."

"Well then...I wanted to say that I like you. Just looking at you makes me think of you all day.", Discord said, and Scootaloo let out a muffled shriek as a clawed hand wrapped around her, and another covered her mouth. Then, she was moving, and then they were in a place completely hidden from outside view. Scootaloo was dropped on the soft grass, and Discord towered above her. He leaned down a placed a hand on her chest, forcing her to stay laying down on her back, her legs in the air. Discord smiled sardonically, making Scootaloo feel very uncomfortable.

"Urg. Get your hand off me.", she growled, and struggled. It was no use.

"Hmm, you're body is beautiful...", Discord murmured, and he placed small kisses on her. She shrieked and struggled more.

"NO! STOP!", she cried out. Discord disregarded her, and continued to trail kisses over her body, kissing her neck, her chest, her small teats, her thigh. "You disgust me."

"I do, do I?" Discord began to kiss her marehood, eliciting panicked cries of surprise from her.

"Stop it!" Scootaloo found a drive to escape inside her, and she twisted methodically out of Discord's grip, and began to dash towards civilization, hoping to make it to the town before Discord could catch her. Unfortunately, her hopes were short lived, for Discord dug his claws into her, and dragged her back. Blood began to trickled down he back as the claws dug deeper, and Scootaloo cried out in pain.

"You're not running this time.", he hissed her ear, and he threw her to the ground. Scootaloo wailed when one of her legs struck the ground, and an unnerving snap resounded from it. Discord smiled sardonically again. "It seems that you have no choice but to stay." He lowered his head, and slipped his serpent tongue inside Scootaloo. She found the pleasure to be more welcoming than the pain, but refused to think of it as pleasure. Instead, she thought of it as another version of pain, and the strategy worked. She felt a whole new world of agony sweep through her body, but she smiled as she no longer felt the pleasure. Discord looked up at the smiling Scootaloo. "So you do like this."

"You bet I do. It feels so good..." Hopelessly fooled, Discord launched into another attack on Scootaloo's marehood, his tongue flicking in and out, and tasting inside. Scootaloo was upset to find that pleasure was once more finding its way past the pain. Discord pulled his head away, and then moved forward. Scootaloo quickly realized his intentions, and began to once more panic. He doesn't dare put that thing inside me. He wouldn't dare. He'll tear me apart!"

"I hope you are ready, because they say the first time hurts.", Discord said, and laughed. Before Scootaloo could grasp the situation, she choked on a scream of pain as Discord shoved himself inside of her. Finding her voice, she let out the choked scream, and tried to pull Discord's length out of her, trying to run. "Oh no you don't." Discord reached down, and held Scootaloo in place as he shoved deeper.

"AHHHHHH! IT HURTS! PULL OUT, PULL OUT! AAHHHHHHH CELESTIA MAKE IT STOP!", Scootaloo screamed, tears flowing out of her eyes in waterfalls.

"No stopping now." Discord began to thrust at an agonizingly fast pace, throwing blood everywhere every time he pulled back. Scootaloo couldn't do anything but choke on her own tears as her body was violated. Finally, warm liquid sprayed inside her, and Discord. She twitched and let out sounds comparable to choking. Discord looked down at her. "This is just the beginning. You didn't think you could actually escape me, even in your waking moments? I almost take pity on your stupid mind. Nothing can save you. Not now, not ever. I have you where I want you, and that is the way it is going to stay."

"No...can't...."

"Hush now, my dear Scootaloo. Rest yourself. We have a lifetime together, and I plan to make good use of it."

"No...." Scootaloo felt herself slipping away, slipping into darkness and peace...

Scootaloo shot up in a bed, breathing heavily and drenched in cold sweat. Something stirred beside her, and for a second she panicked, and then hooves wrapped around her, and Big Mac pulled her close. Scootaloo pressed herself against her lover, trembling and breathing harshly.

"Shh...it was just a dream. Everything will be alright.", Big Mac soothed.

"He...he f-" Scootaloo felt the word slip out, and realized it felt good. The release that the swear provided was surprising. "fucked me." She felt Big Mac shudder, and she cursed herself for swearing.

"..."

"Big Mac, I just don't see the point of anything anymore. I don't even think I will get peace from him in death, but it's worth a shot."

"No..."

"I am so sorry my love. I just don't see a future for us with HIM in the way..." Scootaloo pulled out a sharp hair-pin and aimed for her throat.

"No you don't you little bitch!", Discord growled. He came out of the darkness like a bullet, and ripped Scootaloo right out of Big Mac's hooves. She put up a small struggle, which made him falter, but he recovered, and sped out of the open window, just barely fitting. Big Mac launched himself out of bed, and ran to the window. Discord's form was already speeding into the darkness, and disappeared not long after. Big Mac sat down, and a tear rolled down his cheek. He had just had his heart ripped out from him. In is depressed state, he actually hallucinated a bleeding heart flying away into the distance, and he collapsed, sobbing.

"Ah will fahnd you, my dearest Scootaloo..." His body tremored, and he forced himself downstairs and out the door. He looked at the stars, glinting their white beauty and promise of paradise, and cursed them for being so beautiful and bright in a time like this. Without Scootaloo, he felt that nothing could be beautiful. "Ah promise..."