Have Friendship, Will Travel

As Rarity gracefully galloped to the library, she couldn’t help but wretch at the horrible condition Ponyville was in. This town is in unacceptable condition... Unacceptable!

On their way they passed by the blood-soaked area where Alphonse had decimated the hydra; remembering what Twilight had said about him, her curiosity began to build.

Turning her attention to the dragon on her back, she cleared her throat audibly to get his attention. “Say, Spike, have you met this Alphonse character?”

Spike looked at her for a moment before answering. Why? You don’t like him or anything, do you?

“Yeah, I met him back before the hydra attacked. We were introduced, but I haven’t had a chance to speak with him yet or anything... His glowy blue eyes are pretty cool though, right?”

Rarity replied flatly -- her attention was elsewhere. “Yes dear, his eyes are wonderful.”

When Twilight said “Exactly like him”, did she mean like him? When he left so abruptly, we never got a chance to say goodbye...

“Oh, and Spike, do you remember that travelling mage who came through Ponyville years ago? I think five or six years ago now?”

Enjoying this rare one-on-one interaction with Rarity, Spike answered a little too enthusiastically: “Yeah! I remember him. He was really kind and kept talking about going back to and help his friend... what about him?”

“Oh nothing, this whole ordeal just brought back some... memories...” When are you coming back, dear? Fluttershy was heartbroken when you left; she misses you. You never truly knew just how much she cared about you... I hope you’re coming back too.

She felt her emotions begin to pool around her eyes, but shook the thought immediately; they had arrived at the library, and they had a Rainbow to find.

Fluttershy looked up into Rainbow’s eyes; she had landed on top of her in the fall. “I’m so sorry Rainbow, are you hurt?” She saw the blood on Rainbow’s head, not realizing it was hers. “Oh my... please let me help you.”

The scent of Fluttershy’s blood was overwhelming; Rainbow’s eyes began to glow sanguine as she licked the blood off of her hoof. The taste, combined with her intense thirst replaced any control Rainbow had over herself; she turned her gaze onto the pegasus before her.

“Do you have any bandages here, we need to get you...” she stopped as she realized the blood was dripping from her own head.

“Oh my, it looks like I need bandages instead!” She looked up at Rainbow, hoping to share a smile over the mishap; her smile was cut short by the look on Rainbow’s face. Noticing Rainbow’s fangs and mindless stare, she fell back as Rainbow advanced towards her.

Oh no... no please wait!  “Uh-- wait, Rainbow... please wait... stop!”

Fluttershy gasped as cyan pegasus jumped at her, landing on top of her. Before Rainbow could bite down, she was interrupted by Fluttershy’s screaming. “Please Rainbow, stop it! Stop! No!” The sound of her friend sobbing broke her out of her vampiric frenzy. Jumping back off of Fluttershy, she backed up to the wall, tears streaming down her face.

“I’m so sorry Fluttershy, I didn’t mean to. I really didn’t... please forgive me... I’m so sorry!”

Fluttershy trembled fiercely as she tried to get up; she was obviously terrified, but still made an effort to look at Rainbow Dash. “Rainbow... I-uh...” she squeaked, before she pushed off her body’s natural urge to petrify and continued in a quiet yet serious tone. “W-When I heard about what you had turned into, I really wanted to help you. At first I was really afraid of you, and I still kind of really am afraid of you... I mean... just looking at those... those fangs... b-but you’re my friend and I can’t run away from you.”

Rainbow Dash was shocked by her friend’s kind words; She had expected the shy pegasus to flee for her life, and never return. Remembering what she had just done to her kindest friend, she placed her head down in her hooves and wept aloud. “I’m so sorry, Fluttershy...”

Fluttershy walked over and sat down beside Rainbow, still trembling. “It’s okay... it’s okay...” The trembling pegasus held Rainbow as the vampire wept in her arms. After a short time had passed, Fluttershy looked down at Rainbow: “Um, Rainbow?”

Wiping the tears from her eyes, she looked up at her friend. “Yeah?”

“Well, I uh... I know that you’re different now and you need... blood to live. Which is why I’ve been thinking; As long as you don’t get too... crazy... I’d uh--” she blushed before continuing, her voice growing much quieter, “I’d like to help you with... with your thirst.”

Rainbow looked up at Fluttershy. She must have heard that wrong. “Wh-what?”

“I-I don’t know how it works or anything at all, but I’d say you must be pretty thirsty if you’d attack me like that; if I can help you feel better by giving some blood, I’d love to...”

Rainbow thought the offer over, shaking her head. “No, I can’t. I mean, what if it hurts you? What I take too much? What if you die? What if you become a vampire too?”

“Um, I guess I hadn’t really thought of that...b-but that doesn’t matter now... I don’t care if it hurts; some pain isn’t as bad as watching a friend suffer. And if I become like you, y-you’d have someone to relate to...” her last words had caused her to blush. “Um, Rainbow... please, even if it’s just this once.”

Rainbow looked at Fluttershy, considering the pros and the cons. She got up and looked Fluttershy in the eyes. “Are you sure about this? I don’t know if I can control myself after I’ve started drinking.”

Fluttershy smiled warmly, still trembling. She must be fighting so hard to be brave. “Just stop as soon as you feel better, okay? I’d like to be able to offer this to you again one day.”

Rainbow couldn’t help but shed another tear over how kind her friend was. “Alright, Fluttershy. This is my first time too, so please understand I might be a bit messy.”

Fluttershy blushed harder as she turned her head, exposing her neck. “Oh, no; it’s okay! Just please go easy on me...”

As the cyan pegasus walked up to the trembling mare, she couldn’t help but shiver. This was oddly intimate; something she’d never done with a mare before, or anypony for that matter. Dash certainly wasn’t a fillyfooler by any means of the word; despite popular belief, she was actually still a virgin. Getting this close to Fluttershy was a new experience in and of itself, and Rainbow felt oddly out of place.

Rainbow Dash exposed her fangs before instinctually biting directly into the trembling mare’s carotid artery. Fluttershy gasped as she felt her life essence escape her; it was very new and uncomfortable to her, but Rainbow’s grunts and moans of what sounded like pleasure made Fluttershy happy she could be of some relief.

As Rainbow continued her extremely messy first meal, Fluttershy realized she was becoming faint. She was going to try to say something, but Rainbow sat back before she could say anything.

“That was amazing! I feel great!” Rainbow smiled at Fluttershy, blood all over her face. She reached over to a tissue box and pulled a handful out, applying it to Fluttershy’s neck.

Still lightheaded, Fluttershy smiled. “I’m really happy for you, Rainbow. Do you mind if I take a nap, though?”

Realizing that she may have taken too much blood, she began to panic. “Oh my gosh, are you okay Fluttershy? Did I take too much! Say something!”

“I’m alright, just really tired.”

“It’s okay, you can rest in my bed. I’ll wait until you feel better.” Rainbow guided her drained friend to the bed, laid her down and covered her with the sheets. Fluttershy fell into a deep sleep almost instantly; Rainbow couldn’t help but smile. “Thank-you Fluttershy... I owe you big time.”

As Rainbow Dash sat there looking down at her kindest friend, she noticed she was whispering something under her breath. Curious as ever, Rainbow leaned in to try to make out the words... It sounds like she’s saying...

“Leo! You’re alive! You wouldn’t believe where I’ve been.”

Not saying anything, the apparition of Leonidas smiled with a knowing look.

“Wait... your eyes are glowing... like mine. No...” Alphonse reeled as he felt his chest twist inside him. “NO! The Lich King didn’t corrupt you too, did he?”

The apparition’s reaction was non-existent, almost as if he hadn’t heard the question.

“Wait... why am I here? Did he pull me back?”

The apparition shook its head, before it shifted its attention to the frozen bodies of Alphonse and Leonidas, still standing fervently over their latest victims.

“They look just like us... is this some kind of dream, or memory?”

The apparition shook its head as it began to fade out. “I’m so glad you like it there, Alphonse. I never got a chance to thank you...”

As Leonidas continued to fade out, Alphonse ran over to try and do something to go with him. Anything to stay with his closest friend. “Wait, Leo! What’s going on here? Don’t go!”

Leo’s last words, “thank you”, echoed through his dream as the world crumbled around him...

“LEO, COME BACK!” Alphonse sprung up in his reacquired consciousness, sweating and breathing heavily.

Twilight was looking at him in the eyes, with an acute sense of concern in her eyes. “Alphonse, what happened?”

“I had a dream... I saw Leonidas...”

Twilight’s expression turned into an unexpected expression of hope. “What was Leonidas doing, Alphonse. What did you see?”

“Well, I was in my human body again; Leonidas and I charged a small town and... we.. we did horrible things...” Twilight pursed her lips as her face twisted. “He was like me Twilight... he had my eyes, he wore similar armor. I think the Lich King turned him into a Death Knight.”

Twilight’s reeled as those last words rolled off of his tongue; her expression turning to sadness as tears streamed down her eyes. You had to stay and help everyone, didn’t you...

Alphonse shifted his gaze to the ground beneath him. “I just hope it was a dream... I’d rather Leo be dead than have to go through this hell.”

Twilight looked up into the sky, a single tear falling from her face. I don’t that was a dream, Alphonse... we both know you don’t sleep. If you don’t sleep, how can you possibly dream?

Applejack galloped around Sweet Apple Acres as she looked for Rainbow. Please be okay, sugarcube!

It was dark out now and searching for anypony at this hour was nearly impossible. The element of honesty wasn’t going to lie to herself; her chances of finding Dash like this were low, especially if she was up in the trees. Despite her efforts to call out to her, the only response was the wind and the occasional sound of Big Macintosh calling for Rainbow out from somewhere else in the fields.

Realizing it was almost time to meet at the rendezvous point, she met up with her older brother and called off the search. Considering that the rendezvous point was right in front of the acreage, she didn’t have a long way to walk.

As she started her walk to the point, she began to process her thoughts.

While Ah’m grateful that pony brought Rainbow back, Ah still can’t believe he’d say that t’me. It’s downright rude. He’s right lucky he had his fancy shmancy magimatics to stop me from buckin’ his skull in.

She thought that last sentence; a wave of regret waved over her. While we may have started off on tha wrong hoof, he did bring her back... if it weren’t for him, Ahd’ve lost Rainbow fer good...

The thought of losing her again brought tears to her eyes. While Ah may not like him, Ah should still apologize fer my actions... Ah don’t want the tension between us to make this harder on Rainbow.

When she reached the rendezvous point, she leant against the fencepost and began to reminisce on her past times with her best friend and greatest rival.

Pinkie Pie didn’t bother looking around the city for Rainbow Dash; her Pinkie sense give her Rainbow’s exact coordinates when she wanted to find her, and she knew she was at home in the clouds; Fluttershy would find her. So, instead she decided to sit down at the bakery and think about this Alphonse character, while eating her fill of sweet treats.

So, who is this Alphonse guy? I’ve sensed a weird aura around him, almost like he’s not from here. Kinda like that other guy... but different.

He’s not a wall-breaker; I would have sensed that energy as soon as I hopped on him. And he’s not like that weird earth pony who disappears in that blue box all the time. Actually, I should get inside that box one day... Anyways, where is this guy from? If I had to describe him in a nutshell, I’d say it’s like he’s connected to something else...

She tried to visualize her thoughts; the vision was that of Alphonse being chained from his chest to an object shrouded by mist. Among the mist was two blue glowing dots. They’re like his eyes!

Realizing it was time to meet make her way back to Sweet Apple Acres, she gingerly made her way out the door.

An awkward silence carried itself between Alphonse and Twilight as they made their way back to Sweet Apple Acres. Twilight was used to awkward situations, but given the circumstance she was very sad and felt like she needed a shoulder to cry on.

Alphonse wasn’t that great with picking up on emotional queues, but even he could tell Twilight was having trouble; deciding to try to take her mind off of whatever was bothering her, he spoke up:

“So, uh, Twilight. I just wanted to thank you for showing me around Ponyville and not treating me like a monster after all you’ve heard and seen.”

She looked at him, her eyes still on the verge of tears. “You’re welcome, Alphonse. I’m just glad to see you made it here safely...”

Her statement confused him, but thinking fast he decided to push past it and moved onto the next thing that came to his mind.

“Y’know, I don’t think I’ve told you this, but you’re a lot like Leonidas. You’re kind, you care, and you seem to be there to lead and support your friends, no matter what the situation is. I think you two would have gotten along well.”

Twilight stopped walking, still looking in his eyes; tears were now flowing openly and she began to weep.

Alphonse had no idea why she was crying, but for the second time since his Death Knight conversion, he felt sympathy; acting on it, he walked over to Twilight and embraced her in a hug. It felt very odd to him, but it felt like the right thing to do. In response, Twilight squeezed him in the hug while weeping aloud.

A few moments later, once her sobbing had died down to an intermittent cry with a constant flow of tears, Twilight removed herself from the embrace and looked into Alphonse’ eyes.

“Don’t you miss him too, Alphonse?”

As Rarity looked through the library, she noticed a purple book left open on top of Twilight’s nightstand; she recognized it as Twilight’s private journal. Looking around to make sure Spike was still down in the kitchen, she walked over and began to read the page that was open. Oh, it’s dated a while back...

“Well, he’s finally decided to do it. Despite my sincerest efforts to have him stay here in Equestria, he said he can’t leave Amschel behind. As per his request, I’m going to help him open a portal back to Azeroth.

I’m truly afraid I may never see him again... as much as Fluttershy is in love with him, and he in her, I can’t help but feel guilty;I think I’ve developed feelings for him as well, although I could never take him away from her.

Whatever you do Leo, please come back to us.”

Rarity felt a tear roll down her face as she heard Spike calling to her on his way up the stairs. Thinking fast, she closed the book and turned inconspicuously to the window beside her, making it look like she was looking for Dash outside.

“Hey, uh, Rarity? I think it’s safe to say she’s not here.”

Nodding in agreement, the unicorn made her way to the door. “Are you sure you’ll be alright alone, Spike?”

Spike looked over into her eyes. She cares about me! “Yeah, I’ll be okay. While I’d love your company, I’m really worried about Rainbow...”

“Me too Spike... me too.”

And with that, the fashionista made her way to the rendezvous point.

A/N:

I have to say, I felt like I was writing a clopfic as I wrote the Rainbow and Fluttershy blood scene. In all honesty, I didn’t intend for it to be sensual; I was just trying to vividly paint the emotional experience Fluttershy and Rainbow shared together. (Oh my, even that sounds bad.)

The Molestia is strong in this one.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter.

• Taktician