Flutter's Night

Jackalope corpses were all around them, every step they took wet with the blood coating the floor. Yet, they did not leave, for vampires could not enter the clubhouse without an invitation. They weren't sure how long they would wait there, for they would not speak to each other about it, but the smell was becoming unbearable. At least there was a first aid kit from when the fillies were Cutie Mark Crusader Emergency Medical Situation Response Ponies, and Applejack helped Sweetie Belle put a split on Scootaloo's damaged leg in the relative quiet, Applebloom fiddling with the sawed-off shotgun idly. Babs was recollecting the stakes from the corpses, her grunts of effort and the splat of falling bodies filling the ears of the other fillies. At that moment a thought struck Applebloom, and she gasped with sudden realization. "Hay, Ah think Ah--" There was a resounding cracking sound and their entire world shook as the clubhouse toppled with the tree it was built on.

When Applebloom came back to her senses the first thing she noticed was the three dead jackalopes on top of her. The second thing she noticed upon removing said jackalopes was the cannibal wraith changeling standing beside the tree he'd just bisected. Immediately afterward she heard the gurgled scream of terror coming from her sister as Jury Dambridge bit into her neck with vicious finality. By the time he'd retracted his fangs, bathed in the light of several UV lamps, Applebloom had found the sawed-off shotgun under the rubble. "You might not understand why yet, but you've caused me quite a bit of trouble, little Apple." Her friends were groaning in pain, slowly lifting themselves from the grog in their minds and the debris scattered throughout the field. "You see, Petal Vestment has always been a bit too inquisitive for his own good, but he also knew he was only chasing made-up monsters… that is, until he met you. You've piqued his interest, and it's only a matter of time before he starts hunting for us, and since he certainly knows enough about us to be a major problem… well, let's just say you and your friends had better bring him to the Castle of the Two Sisters tomorrow night if you ever want to see your sisters alive again." Applebloom zeroed in on what she needed to see, diverting her attention from it only when she was positive of the meaning behind the sight. She had identified the location of a strange glow under Jury's skin over his left rib-cage.

"So, you've got Rarity too." The filly spoke with a grim tone one wouldn't expect from a pony so young.

"Indeed we do. Did you catch that, Sweetie?" The filly in question had recomposed herself by then, staring at Jury with contempt while Babs and Scootaloo kept their eyes on Billet Coal.

"Leave," She stated coldly. "We don't need any more of you right now." Just as Jury was laughing off Sweetie's declaration, the little unicorn used her magic to thrust one of Applebloom's Celestial Marks directly into his face. There came the expected hissed screaming, followed shortly by Jury's hasty retreat, Sweetie smirking at a job well done. Unfortunately, Jury had managed to carry a near comatose Applejack with him. The entirety of the Cutie Mark Crusaders turned to face Billet Coal, brandishing stakes and one shotgun menacingly. The abominable thing gave a toothy changeling grin before hurrying to follow his master, wholly uneager to face-off against the fillies at that point. "The sun will be up soon," Sweetie observed.

"I say we head to the library," Scootaloo proclaimed. "Petal is staying there and there's safety in numbers. We'll need him later anyway, and no place would be safer since Fluttershy and Jury have both been invited to pretty much everywhere." The other three of their party nodded in agreement, Babs speaking up next.

"Let's not forget about Spike. He is a dragon, afterall."

"We can't involve Twilight," Applebloom resolved. "She'll try to explain what we've seen with psychological theories before stopping us from going to the castle on account of how dangerous the forest is. We'd never get her on our side in time to save everyone."

"So it's just us then? We have to fight the vampires on our own?" Scootaloo asked.

"Unless youze count Spike and Petal Vestment."

"Come on," Sweetie encouraged. "We're wasting time. We need to get moving."

"We should stop at the farmhouse to grab some fresh stakes and other supplies. Ah've got everything from silver-trimmed mirrors to rose petals in my bedroom."

"When we're in a fight we don't want to be snatching that stuff from a bunch of bags; it's a bit cumbersome that way." They could guess Sweetie's suggestion long before it was verbalized. "We need coats our sizes with lot's of big pockets."

"Ah'm glad we finally have a plan." She could feel the charm heat slightly as it strained to repel Twilight's powerful magic. Jury had been bathed in UV light when something had glowed with heat. "Also, Ah think Ah know where Jury keeps his Blueblood charm."

--

"Hay, Petal." Spike slouched his way into the library with a hunched back, carrying the latest in a long line of emptied resource bags. He'd spent the whole night fortifying the entire town, using the excuse that the elaborate and particular precautions were decorations for an obscure cult holiday that Twilight Sparkle was reviving to avoid putting the townsponies into a panic. "I'm exhausted, man. See you in the morning."

"Yes, yes, of course. Sleep well, noble dragon." Petal was a bit distracted by the book he was reading, a first addition of Bram Stoker's Dracula. He'd read it before; quite obvious considering his career. However, he felt the need to read it again after the detestable sham of a vampirism test he'd put on earlier. There was something about Applebloom's conviction that was striking, motivating, galvanizing. "Yes, galvanizing."

Before Spike had taken three full steps there were that many knocks on the library door. The little dragon made a quick, disgruntled turnabout and swung open the door. Standing before him were four young fillies, each of them wearing faux-leather jackets filled to their brims with vampire-fighting materials and silver horseshoes. Applebloom even had a sawed-off shotgun strapped to her shoulders, giving Spike an appraising look. "Are ya'll up fer killin' some vampires?"

"Well I'm a little tired right now. Could we get to vampire killing tomorrow?"

"It has to be tomorrow night," Sweetie said as if Spike were completely cognizant and serious. He wasn't. "They have our sisters, so we have to abide by their terms."

"Well, just to set me at ease…" The Crusaders knew what he meant, stepping inside without an invitation.

"That wouldn't have worked anyway, Spike." Scootaloo attempted to educate the little dragon on the magic governing vampires. "We've been invited here before, and it's a public library."

Petal watched this exchange with an open muzzle, not quite believing what he was perceiving. "Eh- Excuse me, um… what exactly are you saying?"

"The Bloomster has been right the whole time. Fluttershy is a vampire, so is Jury, and the latter of them two has Rarity and Applejack."

"In that case, shouldn't we inform the authorities?" The fillies were joined by Spike in their collective face-hoof from Petal's babbling. "I don't see why that would be such a bad idea. Isn't it the job of the royal enforcers to take care of this sort of thing? To maintain order?"

"Did youze not hear the part where Ahz told ya that Jury has Rarity and Applejack?" Babs's face shown with the exasperation that could be heard in her voice, Petal snapping his book shut at the conclusion of her criticism.

"Fine. What are the monster's terms?"

"You have to come with us to the Castle of the Two Sisters tomorrow night." Applebloom explained.

"Likely so we can all be killed." Scootaloo continued.

"We aren't going down without a fight, though." Petal and Spike took a moment to look over the Crusaders more carefully, glancing at each other after they did so.

"You four are serious, aren't you?" Petal set his book aside, leaning forward with a steely look of determination. "I'll help you then. In a way, I've been preparing for this my whole life."

"And, you know, I'm a dragon, so… yeah."

"Awesome!" Scootaloo declared with buzzing wings, chipper despite the circumstances and her damaged leg.

"Looks like the Sun is comin' up. Any of youze want some coffee as much as Ah do?"

"Eh, why not?" spike asked sarcastically. "I didn't want to sleep at all anyway." Then there was another triplet of knocks at the door, five ponies and a dragon exchanging confused looks before Sweetie Belle cautiously answered the door. There before them stood their schoolyard pals, each wearing home-made Celestial Mark bracelets. It was as if there was a meeting for slightly extroverted and awkward children at the library that morning. Dinky, Twist, Snips, Snails, Rumble, Button Mash, and even the quiet and quick Featherweight all stood there, smiling awkwardly.

"So…" Snips began, observing the intimidating outfits and weapons the Crusaders wore. "Is it vampire killing time?"

"It will be tonight," Sweetie answered. "You guys want to skip school and drink some coffee?"

"Yeah, sure."

"Sounds fun to me!"

--

"…So we spent less than a half-hour frantically soaping out all the jackalope gore, snagged the jackets and booked it to the library."

"Sounds like you girls had a rough night." Rumble provided the gross understatement of the day.

"Tell me about it. The whole thing was a nightmare and it ain't even over." Applebloom sipped her black coffee, not feeling the desire to cringe at the bitterness as she had before. Things were different now, especially for her. She was tougher now. "Ah'd have thought Granny Smith had slept right through it all, but she wasn't at the house when we got there."

"We checked the whole place," Babs added, "top to bottom. No sign of her anywhere."

"Do you think they got her?" Button and Twist asked at the same time, Button pointing a hoof and yelling: "Jinx! You owe me candy!"

"The rule ith that I owe you a thoda." Twist corrected him with indignation.

"Bleh! No way, soda is gross. It's nothing but chemicals and stuff."

"Tho ith candy! Everything ith chemicalth!"

"Ahem," Spike interrupted. "I believe we have more important things to talk about."

"Right."

"Thorry, Thpike."

"Hoo." The young ponies gave a collective double-take, noticing the owl on his perch for the first time.

"Me, Sp-- wait, no. I'm not getting sucked into this today."

"Hoo."

"Owl antics and candy debates aside, I'd like to express my opinion on the matter at hoof, if I may." The children all nodded simultaneously in response to the only adult pony in the building. "I do believe that the idea of a large group of children such as yourselves walking into a trap set by real vampires with only one, admittedly fake professional vampire killer in the middle of the night after a long stretch of time with no sleep for many of you is quite inane, if not downright insane."

"So…" Dinky tentatively began. "We get another adult?"

"Yes, but not just any adult." Applebloom smirked knowingly, sipping at her nearly emptied coffee mug as she leaned back into the couch. "We need another professional. We'll get Zecora."

--

After yet another stop at the farmhouse to get more supplies, these encumbering the newest additions to the ragtag vampire killing team, the group edged their way toward the edge of the Everfree, keeping as far away from Fluttershy's cottage as possible. "Hello, little ones." Apparently their efforts had been in vain; Fluttershy had come to them. She was alone and in the daylight, obviously not in possession of enough Blueblood charms to have an entourage following her about at such an hour. "I hear that Jury has kidnapped your sisters. It's so unfair, the responsibility that has been thrust upon you these past few days."

"We can manage," Rumble asserted boldly.

"You haven't attacked us yet, Fluttershy." Sweetie Belle mocked, twirling a stake in her magic. "I wonder why that is?"

"You won't be confused for long," Fluttershy proceeded as if the little unicorn had spoken without sarcasm. "Aggression isn't my style. Look at your friend Applebloom." Sweetie did, and the others too. Applebloom had a conflicted expression, but longing was definitely the most prevalent of emotions there, her legs twitching with a desire to trot right into Fluttershy's soft embrace. "Giving in is more peaceful than fighting."

"Ah… Ah'm still gonna save mah sister, Fluttershy. Don't make me go through you to do it." There was a long and intense silence as the two stared at each other, Applebloom trembling occasionally, and her friends shifting uncomfortably.

Then, Fluttershy smiled sweetly. "Alright, I won't. You take care of your business with Jury, then come see me when it's over. Just… don't let him win. I like you much better, Applebloom." Did Applebloom just moan? Scootaloo wondered. "In fact, I can't say I like him much at all. Good luck, little ones; Petal too." With that she waved serenely and took to the skies at a leisure pace, as if she didn't plan on killing them all later. The general consensus was that she did actually plan on doing just that.

"Is this the kind of weird, psycho bunk you've been dealing with the past few days, Applebloom?" In an attempt to become cognizant enough to answer Dinky's question, Applebloom shook her head violently.

"Yeah, somethin' like that. Come on, let's go." They walked in silence for a few short moments, the soft sounds of the forest belying the dangers within. Finally, Petal's curiosity got the better of him.

"Applebloom, if Fluttershy is indeed a vampire, how did she touch the Celestial Mark without coming to harm?" The silence lasted quite a bit longer that time, and Petal had almost given up on even getting an answer when Applebloom finally spoke up.

"…Ah have no idea." With her senses functioning properly again Applebloom chastised herself for not searching for the glow of Fluttershy's Blueblood charm, but in all fairness she'd been distracted by the enticing glow of Fluttershy's powerful eyes at the time.

The tension of recent events could only inflict melancholy on the children for so long, and soon they were deep into heavily animated conversations, discussing strategy and stories related to vampires and other monsters. Spike was quite uneasy about the antics of the young ponies, darting his eyes back and forth in search of timberwolves or cragadillies, not to mention the countless other dangers of the Everfree. A cacophony of sounds reached the many ears of the travelling party, everyone ceasing their chit-chat at once. "Those are chimera mating calls," Spike recited from memory. A particular, disturbing memory at that. "They have annoyingly violent mating customs. It sounds like they're just ahead of us, so we'll have to leave the path to skirt around them through the bushes."

"Alright everyone," Petal stated to the group. "Keep yourselves alert for predators. There are plenty of them out there."

"If the CMC can handle fifty jackalopes alone, I think all of us together can take care of a manticore or two just fine."

"Yeah!" Snails loudly voiced his agreement with Snips, practically daring some sort of beast to attack and be repelled. He was unexpectedly answered by a loud roar, followed by several more. A pack of timberwolves barreled over and around the ponies, yelping and cowering in terror. Behind them came something much larger with countless heads, a massive, clawed foot slamming down inches in front of Petal and propelling the monster forward toward the retreating wolves. The party had avoided detection, but they shook in their silver horseshoes regardless.

"That… was an elder hydra. Let's hope we don't encounter a younger one with sharper senses." When he'd finished speaking, Petal stoically trot on, the young ones following his example. "Are we almost past the chimeras, Spike?"

"The elder hydra was headed right for them. They'll be fighting each other now. We should hightail it back to the path and double-time it to Zecora's while they're distracted."

"Don't let Scootaloo fall behind, ya'll; she's got a splint to worry about."

"Next level, here we come." They ran with the greatest haste they could muster, panting quietly with effort and staying in a tight group with the injured Scootaloo in the center. By the time they reached their destination there was no shortage of sweat to be wiped away. Petal pounded on the door, Applebloom stepping forward to speak through the window.

"Zecora? Ya in there somewhere? We need your help." The zebra emerged from behind a curtain near the back of the hut, garbed in a ceremonial robe and jewelry with archaic and unclear purposes. She looked directly into Applebloom's eyes with a mournful but steely expression, making a clear declaration in rhyme as she was often wont to do.

"You cannot enter this place,

The curse can be seen in your face.

You and you," she pointed out Petal and Spike.

"First face down a vampire's might on this dark night,

Then return to me here when the time is right.

For the rest of you I can only hope,

The shadow's threats fall short of their scope."

Another curtain fell over the portal of the window from the inside, opaque and blocking the party's view. As Applebloom stared at it with a slack jaw, Snips stepped forward to shake an angry hoof. "That's not very helpful, ya know!"

"Yeah, riddles are dumb!" Snails added, a groan emanating from behind the curtain.

"A riddle I did fail to tell,

Making known the outcome of a dark spell.

I am of the mind that my speech was quite clear.

I have made it known for you what it is that I fear."

"Right…" Button Mash rolled his eyes, speaking sarcastically. "Because that rhyme wasn't forced at all." He waited a moment, but no response was forthcoming. "Fine! I guess we'll just go then, and fight the evil vampires without your help."

"Miss Zecora, if I may," Petal began, speaking clearly through the curtain. "Equipping ourselves to fight these vampires took many hours and the trek here added another. We have had very little sleep and it would prudent for us to rest at this point, and we have nowhere to go but here. If we went back to town we would lose too much time. Might we stay with you until night falls?" There was a long moment of silence before he was given a tentative answer.

"I suppose you cannot be stopped,

And it would be best for you to rest.

Still, my guard will not be dropped."

The door was opened, Applebloom studying Zecora carefully, attempting to determine what her first verse meant. Zecora returned the gaze with a wary expression.

"The eldest beast holds sway over thee,

It may persuade you to end me."

"Do you not have a potion to help prevent that outcome?"

"I fear not a single brew

Would be strong enough to aide you."

"Even so, we should at least try. You can't give up this early, nor condemn us all to the wilds out of pure fear." The other children nodded to signify their agreement, Sweetie Belle speaking next.

"I don't want to lose my friend to those things, Zecora." Before she could finish her thought, Button Mash eagerly backed her up.

"Yeah, help her, damn it!" Zecora did not look amused as she turned her attention to Button with disdain. "Uh, I mean… Please help our friend, nice zebra lady, hehe…" A mournful howl echoed through the woods, Timberwolves verbalizing their remembrance of packmates lost to the elder hydra.

"The hydra is likely returning to Froggy Bottom Bog," Petal declared. "That is some relief, I suppose." Zecora sighed, stepping aside to allow them entrance.

"I can concoct something to take the edge from the hypnosis,

Though, I doubt a permanent solution will come of this."

"Sounds better than nothing," Scootaloo said with a bit of annoyance, stepping in ahead of the others.

"Awake I will stay, vigil as you lay.

Worry not during your stay."

"Thank you, miss Zecora. Perhaps I can help you with the potion?"

"No need, Petal,

Strong is my mettle."

Sure, Applebloom thought. That's why you won't help us fight Jury Dambridge.

--

Several peaceful hours passed as the children got some much needed rest, but Petal found himself unable to sleep, uncertainty and anxiety clouding his thoughts. Eventually he gave up, tossing aside the blanket he'd been given and standing on his four hooves. To avoid fighting over the only bed in the hut, Applebloom decreed that they would all sleep on the floor as equals; she had taken a position of leadership and command, unquestioned due to her obvious determination and expertise. Small silver earrings in the shapes of Celestia's and Luna's Cutie Marks pierced the nape of her black jacket, dangling in front of her left shoulder even as she slumbered. It had taken much of Petal's recently earned bits to pay for the thick silver horseshoes that each pony wore, including himself, but the idea was all Applebloom's. She had insisted that everypony wear the unique weapons as they slept, just so they would be ready to fight hoof-to-hoof in the event of a surprise attack. Spike had followed her example, forcing Petal to buy yet more silver in the form of claws which only fit because his age made his fingers as thick as those of a young griffon. It was funny to the minor celebrity that all of the recently purchased silver was meant to be a part of an authentic looking vampire hunter costume. "They've really been here all this time, haven't they?" Zecora sat at the back of her abode's main room, watching over the young with grim doubt, her intimidating robes of ceremonial purpose giving her a mystical appearance.

"Indeed.

It was only a matter of time,

Their discovery inevitable.

Would you enjoy some thyme?

It is quite delectable."

"Tea with thyme sounds lovely, thank you." Zecora held an empty cup in front of Petal with an elegant flourish.

"Where once was ignorance," She waved her hoof over the lip of the cup, steaming tea filling it instantly as she did.

"There is now knowledge." As she passed him the hot beverage he sipped of it to test its temperature and temperament.

"It's good," he mentioned weakly, sensing she wasn't finished.

"Just as you slowly empty that cup of its contents,

So too will your belief in these horrors fade and hedge.

To assure yourself that you are not mad,

Corrupting your memory will make you glad."

"Not me. I will face the monsters."

"You say that now--"

"No," he declared forcefully, cutting short her next verse. "I could hardly prevent myself obsessing over these things when I thought they were fictitious. They are my past life and future death rolled into one race of beasts. They will never allude me again, miss Zecora. As for you, you choose to cower here alone while these children fight for the lives of those they love. They are too young for this burden and you know it."

"With or without my help the Apple's Bloom cannot resist the beast.

Her blood shall inevitably be the Great Shadow's feast."

"Be that as it may, you must put more faith in us than in these archaic divinations of yours. With your help we stand with a much better chance of victory." Zecora was silent then, Petal sipping his tea to calm his nerves. "Applebloom was the one to recommend we seek out your assistance. Is she not your friend, miss Zecora?"

"Yes, she is." Zecora sighed in defeat, looking directly into Petal's eyes, judging him.

"It will be worse than you expect,

Will these fillies you protect?"

"You know," he began with a smirk. "You don't have to stretch Equestrian grammar just to force a rhyme. You could just talk to me like a normal pony. It's just between us; I swear not to tell anypony."

"I am not a pony, sir Vestment,

My native tongue is far more poetic.

I rhyme for personal betterment,

My reason for it quite tragic."

"Do you mind if I ask for a deeper explanation?" Zecora frowned deeply, giving him a none-too-friendly stare.

"Yes, pony, I certainly do;

Regardless, I will help you.

These younglings should not have to fight this fight.

Protect them I must, for I admit you were right."

"Well…" They both turned to see Applebloom and her friends fully awake, watching them with eerily neutral expressions. "I'm glad you finally came to your senses, Zecora. How about you hit me with another dose of your anti-hypnosis potion so we can get going. It's almost dark out."