Chapters A fanged, red eyed, bat winged, pink haired, yellow colored pony looked down on the hardwood floor, unable to think of her current situation. It had been two weeks since she turned into this thing. She had hoped that after Twilight fixed her with the spell that it would be the end of it, but every night since then she would turn back into this horrible beast, and have an appetite for fruit.
She was glad that she was self-conscious when she turned into this form, but that still didn’t help her mind to quiet getting a knack for sucking on her friends fruit from the trees on her farm. Twilight had tried everything in her power to help, but it seemed that magic wasn’t going to fix it, and none of her other friends knew how to help either.
Except one, she looked up at the window to see that the storm outside wasn’t getting any better. She was glad to be in this tree than out there, she just wished that their was some fruit growing in here. Ones that she could easily sink her teeth into and suck the juice right out of its-.
She shook her head and cleared her thoughts, not wanting to think about that. Instead she looked away from the window and glanced at Applejack, the friend that had an idea on how to help her, she was sitting on the floor, facing away from her and thinking to herself. “You think he’s okay out there?”
Applejack, with her back still to her, said. “To tell you the truth Shy,” she turned around and looked at the bat pony. “ah hope he gets struck by lightning.” She finished coldly.
Fluttershy gasped. “How could you say something like that Applejack?”
“Yeah AJ.” Fluttershy and Applejack looked up to see Twilight coming downstairs from her room with books in her magical grip. “Why would you want that to happen to him?”
Applejack looked at Twilight, anger plastered on her face “Well, seeing as how we no longer like each other anymore might be a reason.”
Twilight felt concerned.“Thats still no reason for you to say that-.” AJ ran up to twilight, poking her in the chest.
“No!" AJ yelled. "I have every reason to say that. You have no idea what he’s like Twi, he is an ignorant, low down, self centered, third-pony talkin’-”
“If you hate him so much, then why did you tell me to write a letter to him.”
“You know the answer to that Twi” Applejack said “And you know that I’d give anything to help a friend, even if it meant-”
“Even if it meant dealing with that so called ‘colt-friend’ of yours again.” Twilight said with a grin.
AJ just looked away and blushed. “Ah told you guys that were not dating anymore.”
“Well, how long were you guys together?” Twilight said. Applejack looked over her shoulder, glaring at her.
“We were together for about a year.”
“A year?” Twilight and Fluttershy said in unison.
“Eeyup.”
“What made you guys break up?” Twilight said.
AJ looked down at the floor. “I’d rather not talk about it, he was just...just a jerk okay.”
“AJ...” Twilight walked up to her and rested a hoof on her shoulder. “If you hated him so much, then why did you mention him when you, me and the girls were trying to figure out ways to help Fluttershy?”
Applejack pushed Twilights hoof off of her. “Because he was the only other pony ah could think of at the time.”
“But why him?” Fluttershy spoke up “Don’t you know anyone else?”
AJ sighed. “He’s the only pony ah know who has dealt with this kind of thing before.”
“Dealt with vamponies?” Twilight questioned.
Applejack started walking towards Fluttershy, staring into her red eyes, seeing her own angry reflection in them. “Yeah,” Applejack answered. “He talked about it in one of his many stories that he wouldn’t shut up about.”
Fluttershy looked away from AJ, unable to bear the cold stare she was giving her. “Did he ever say how he...uh...’dealt’ with them?”
“He said his ‘elders’” AJ raised her hooves and gave a quoting sign while saying elders. “dealt with em’”
“But he never said that he dealt with them did he?” Twilight said, giving a look of concern. “Did he ever actually face one of them?”
“Ah don’t know, but he always said how he dealt with many other creatures. All of which he would not stop showin’ off about.”
Futtershy moved closer to AJ. “B-but he knows how to fix this, right?”
Applejack looked down, not quite sure how to answer that question. “Shy, I really don’t know.” She looked at Twilight again. “But unless anypony else has any ideas on how to help you Fluttershy, then I’d like to hear about it now before he gets here.”
Twilight stared back at Applejack, “You know full well that I’ve tried everything.” Twilight levitated the books toward her. “I looked in every book, tried every single spell, created every potion, but not one of them gave me any information, or any changes in her from or behavior.”
“Well,” Fluttershy said, scratching the back of her neck “That one potion almost worked.”
Twilight stacked the books and set them down. “It did work, your eye’s and ears were back to normal and your fangs went away” Then she sighed “except the side effect was your heart stopping, I was just glad that there was an antidote to it.”
*KNOCK* *KNOCK*
Applejack, Fluttershy, and Twilight turned toward the door. AJ turned back to Twilight. “Looks like he’s here” AJ grumbled and sat down next to the bat pony.
Fluttershy looked at Applejack “A-aren't you gonna...you know...let him in?” Applejack just looked at Twilight blankly.
“Alright, fine." Twilight said "I’ll get it.” Using her magic, Twilight opened the door.
Standing right outside on the porch stood a shadowy figure in a black overcoat with a wide brimmed hat on him that was blocking his face. Twilight took a step back while Fluttershy stood behind AJ and cowered in fear. Applejack just gave another sigh. “Hello Rolf.” She said blankly.
The figure looked up to reveal his grinning brown face. He took off his hat, revealing his blue mane. “Rolf is happy to see you again farm mare. May the son of a shepherd come in?”
Twilight walked cautiously toward the overcoated pony. “So...you must be...?”
The pony instantly threw the his hat at a nearby coat hanger, making everyone yelp in surprise. He put a hoof to his chest and held his head high. “I am Rolf! Son of a shepherd, here to help with...um...” He rummaged through his coat and pulled out a piece of parchment, reading it out loud. “‘To help with the Shy ones condition of being turned into a vampony?”
Applejack groaned. “Rolf, shes not entirely ah-”
Rolf crumpled the paper, turned around, put the tip of his hoof to his mouth and whistled, causing everyone in the room to shield their ears. “VICTOR!” he yelled “Come to Rolf!” Within seconds a white goat came in, carrying an assortment of supplies on his back.
Fluttershy gasped. “Why do you have that poor goat carry all of those things?”
With his back still toward them, Rolf said, “Well, Rolf would've used Willfred, but Rolf has learned not to trust that swine with his things.” He walked up to Victor and shoved the paper into his mouth. “Besides, Rolf knows Victor is one of his most reliable and trustworthy animals. Yes Victor?” Victor swallowed the paper and said a baah in response.
Twilight walked towards Applejack. “Does the way he talk kind of remind you of somepony?” She whispered.
Applejack knew exactly who she was referring to. “Yeah, that's why ah didn’t like Trixie the moment I saw her. The way she talked in a thirdpony perspective made me think of….him .” Applejack pointed to Rolf.
Rolf turned around and faced Applejack “So, is the tree bucker happy to see her once true love again?” He said with a smirk.
“Ah don’t like you anymore Rolf!” She yelled. She didn’t want any of this to come up. She just wanted Rolf to help with Fluttershy, and then leave . “Now will you just-”
“Ahh yes.” Rolf walked up to Applejack and wrapped an arm around her. “Rolf remembers the days of our youth, how we use to spend our time out in the fields.”
“And how you never shut up about those stories about you and your family?” Applejack said in annoyance.
Rolf pushed AJ, causing her to crash into Twilight. “Not just that.” He said “But also having Rolf talk about him and his family.”
AJ groaned “Thats what I-”
“Rolf can even remember where we first met.”
Twilight started getting curious. “Where did you guys first meet?” She asked. Applejack immediately put a hoof in her mouth.
“Twilight, don’t-”
“Let Rolf show you.” Rolf took hold of the right side of the screen and moved it to the left. Transitioning it to a new scene of the story.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“So, how long is your family of apples wanting to stay in Rolf’s village?” A young brown coated pony with a blue mane asked.
“Long enough tah sell the cider, ah suppose.” A blonde maned, stetson wearing, orange mare answered. “Your village doesn’t seem tah want that much.” She sighed and slouched on top of her cider stand. Thinking this trip would be all for nothing.
The brown stallion chuckled “That is because the villagers prefer a much stronger drink, not none of this apple cider.”
The mare stood up and pointed at him “Hey now, don’t knock it, till ya tried it.”
The stallion raised an eyebrow “Very well then orange one, show Rolf this miracle elixir.”
The mare smiled. She ducked down under the table and came back up with a mug full of cider in her hoof. “Go ahead, give it a taste.”
The stallion took hold of the mug. “The farm mare is certain that this mixture of apples has a great flavor.”
“Eeyup.”
The stallion shrugged and took a sip, which turned into a couple gulp, which then turned into him chugging the entire glass. In the middle of it he took a few short breaths and continued drinking, all the while the mare looked at him in complete bewilderment. As soon as he finished he smacked his lips. “Rolf must say, this is a tasty beverage.”
“Told ya. So, now that you’re done with that..” The mare took hold of the mug and pulled the stallion with it. “How about you taste something else.” She ended with a smile.
The stallion smiled back. “Rolf thinks he knows what the farm mare is talking about.” he closed his eyes and moved in for the ki-
The stallion then felt a smack across the face.
“That ain’t how it happened!”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rolf shook his head and came back into the present, he felt pain on the right side of his face, and there stood before him was of the same orange mare, but her smile was replaced by a hateful glare.
“What do you mean farm mare?” Rolf questioned. “Is that not how it happened?”
Applejack was ready to give him another smack across the face, but Twilight came in between them before she could get the chance. “Rolf,” Twilight said. “how does drinking cider lead to a kiss?”
“It don’t!” Applejack yelled “After he took ah swig of that entire mug, he went on talkin’ about how his family made even better drinks.”
“But they do.” Rolf stated, making Applejack furious enough to charge at him. Luckily Twilight was able to hold her back with her magic.
“Applejack! This isn’t helping Fluttershy.” Twilight said.
“Yes Applejack, we must stop this reminiscing.” Rolf walked over to Victor and rummaged through his belongings until he pulled out a box. He looked back at the still steamed up mare “So, where is this vampony?”
Applejack had enough. She broke the magical grip Twilight had on her closed the gap between Rolf’s face and her’s. “Listen here ya little-”
“Rolf is listening.” He interrupted, making AJ lose her patience even more.
“Ah didn’t bring ya here just so you could embarrass me.”
“It isn’t Rolf's fault that the mare is embarrassed.”
“Yes it...UGH...Will you just help out with Fluttershy!?”
“Who?” Rolf said with a confused look on his face.
Applejack goaned and grabbed the sides of her hat pulled them down to hide her face. Not wanting others to see the expression of pure anger that was plastered all over it. Meanwhile, Twilight started to get worried. She glanced over at Fluttershy who was hiding behind her hairs throughout the entire scene.
Then she looked over at the arguing ex-lovers. This stallion was acting like a jerk, but he was the only thing that could help with Fluttershy's condition. If this won’t work, then maybe nothing else will. Taking a deep breath she walked over to the still arguing ponies. “Ahem!” Twilight said out loud.
Both of them turned around and said, “What is it!” with Applejack saying it louder.
“Rolf, listen. We really do need your help. You are practically our only chance at turning Fluttershy back to normal. If you don’t help, then she might stay like this forever. So can we just stop all of this and start helping.”
Rolf and Applejack stared at Twilight. Then at each other. Rolf wondered if he should say something. After all, that is how Rolf’s family talked. Applejack just shook her head and walked away before Rolf could say anything. She crossed her arms and looked away, not even wanting to look her ex-coltfriend. Rolf frowned and looked at Twilight. “Very well, alicorn girl, where is this Fluttershy you speak of.”
“O-over here” Rolf and Twilight glanced over at the vampony, hiding behind her hairs throughout the entire scene. Rolf gave a broad smile and walked toward her. Causing Fluttershy to laying down on the floor in fear.
“So you are the one who has been turned into a horrible beast, yes?” Rolf asked. Fluttershy noded in response. “Rolf would like to see the mares face if he is to know how serious this condition is.”
“Wait, how serious it is?” Twilight questioned. “She’s looked like this for two weeks. Nothing else has changed.”
Rolf turned around and looked at Twilight. “Does the horned and winged one not understand. A vampony goes through many changes until she reaches her final form.”
“Final form?” Twilight said.
“Probably just somthin’ he made up.” Applejack sneered.
Rolf turned to AJ. “You don’t understand blond haired one, there are many stages that a pony goes through until they become a vampony.” Rolf looked at Fluttershy. “If she was at an advance stage then she-AAIIIEEE!” Rolf shrieked at the sight of her. He could see her red eyes, fangs, teeth. All of this made him fall to the floor.
“I-is it really that bad?” Fluttershy said. Applejack and Twilight ran over to her. “Do I...really look like a-a…” She was on the verge of tears.
Applejack glared at Rolf “Rolf! will you not-” Before she could get a word out, Rolf grabbed her and Twilight and pulled them to the box he had gotten out.
Rolf rushed toward them and opened the box. “Are you mares mad! Do you not know how far she is into becoming the nasty blood sucking creature!” Twilight and AJ stared back at in complete bewilderment.
“Rolf.” Twilight said. “You’re over reacting. She isn't that-”
“AH HA, Rolf has found it!” Rolf pulled out an object and hoisted it into the air, making everyone in the room freeze. It was a wooden stake.
Before anyone could react. Rolf lunged toward Fluttershy and pinned her to the ground. Everyone looked at him in horror. Fluttershy looked up to see Rolf towering over him. Stake at hoof.
“May your soul…” He put a tight grip on the stake and raised it into the air. “BE RIPPED CLEAN FROM THIS WORLD!”
“Release Rolf from your grip of sorcery winged one!”
“Not until you drop the stake!” Twilight yelled
Rolf continued to struggle from Twilight magical aura around him while Applejack helped calm Fluttershy down “You alright sugarcube?” Applejack asked.
“I-I-I’m Ok-kay.” Fluttershy managed to speak.
Rolf continued to flail around in the air. “Rolf will indeed release this stake,” He said calmly, then craned his neck to Fluttershy and yelled. “Into the heart of that monster mare that has-!”
“Rolf!” Applejack yelled “She’s not a monster!”
“What makes the apple seller think that she isn’t one?"
Twilight walked over to Fluttershy, who had been whimpering the entire time, and wrapped a wing around her. “Do you really think a monster would act like this.”
Rolf narrowed his eyes and said. “Rolf knows of the ways of the vamponies, they release their rage when their victims are most unsuspected.”
Applejack grinded her teeth. “Let him go Twi.”
“You sure, he still has the stake.” Applejack just nodded as she looked at the foreign pony. She walked up to Rolf, who was now at ground level, and looked deep into his eyes.
“Rolf, I’m gonna make this nice and clear for ya’ll. If you so much as lay another hoof on her,” Applejack grabbed the stake out of his hooves and held it inches away from him. “I’ll be sure to use this on you first, before ya even think about usin’ it on her.”
Twilight gasped while Fluttershy gave a squeak of fear. Rolf took a long look at Applejack, Twilight’s grip on him had went away and now he was face to face with the farm mare, he could see a fire in her eyes. He looked over at Twilight, whom was comforting Fluttershy. “The farm mare seems to really care about this vampony.” Rolf said in a confusing tone of voice. "Why is that?"
Applejack threw the Stake near the pile of things Victor was carrying. “That cause she’s a friend.” Applejack looked away. “You wouldn’t understand.”
“Rolf understands, it may be clear as papa’s stew, but Rolf thinks he knows what you mean.” He turned around and ran over to Victor, rummaging through the belongings on his back. “But Rolf knows if he said it, the farm mare would buck Rolf to next week.”
“Ah could do that right now if ya want.” Applejack threatened, making Rolf give a nervous laugh.
“In all honesty AJ,” Rolf put on a pair of strangely made magnification goggles. “Rolf apologizes for his actions, if Rolf had known that you had feelings for the shy one, Rolf would have went with plan B.”
“What’s plan B.” Twilight asked.
Applejack held up a hoof. “Wait a sec Twilight, I need to know somethin’” She turned to Rolf. “What kind of feelings did you think I ment?”
Rolf grabbed a stethoscope and a pair gloves. “Well, Rolf would like to say that he now truly understands why you don’t like Rolf anymore.” He leaned toward Applejack “It is because you seem to have fallen in love with Flutter-”
“NO!” both Fluttershy and Applejack yelled with AJ’s voice being louder, making Rolf raise his goggles to his head and Twilight flinch. Applejack glared at Rolf. “Were just friends, nothin’ more, nothin’ less.”
Rolf adjusted his goggles to go over his eyes. “Very well then, farm mare, Rolf now truly understands what you mean. Now, may Rolf have the privilege to examine the Flutter mare.” He put on a rubber glove and snapped it into place, making Fluttershy yelp.
Twilight looked at Rolf with worry. “What do you mean by ‘examine,’ and are the gloves really necessary?”
“Rolf simply wants to see what stage the pink haired one is at in order to see what actions Rolf should take to help.” Rolf smiled, making Fluttershy feel even more uncomfortable than before. “And yes, these gloves are necessary. Now will the shy one approach Rolf so he can begin.” He snapped the other glove in place.
Fluttershy looked over at Twilight, hoping that she would just tell Rolf she shouldn’t take part in this, but Twilight just nodded toward her to move. Fluttershy glanced at Applejack who just did the same, thought she rolled her eyes while doing it and said, “You sure you ain’t gonna try tah kill her this time?”
Rolf held his hoof to his heart. “Rolf gives a shepherd's promise, now come come, cowardly mare.”
Fluttershy gulped. “O-okay.” she whispered.
She stood in front of the son of a shepherd. He was towering over her with his goggles and had an expressionless face. Fluttershy was trying her best not to sink to the floor.
Rolf coughed “Rolf would like to know if he can lay a hoof on the mare?” He raised his brow over to AJ, who just glared at him in return. “Rolf will take that as a yes.” He reached toward Fluttershy and placed a hoof to her head. The coldness of the gloves was wanting Fluttershy to run upstairs, shut the door and never come out, but she stood her ground. This stallion was her only chance at becoming normal again, she couldn’t quit now.
Rolf continued feeling other places and inspecting them with his goggles, her face, her arms, her back, her hair and tail. The entire time Rolf was mumbling to himself and Fluttershy was trying her best to stay still. Twilight watched the entire scene in confusion, and Applejack pulled her hat down, not wanting to see any of it. Rolf’s hooves made their way over to her chest, making him freeze. “W-what’s wrong?” Fluttershy said.
Rolf shook his head and cleared his mind. “Sssshhhhh.” He whispered. “Rolf must double check.” He pulled out his stethoscope and placed in where her heart was. He stood there motionless, and listened.
“What in the hay are ya doing now rolfie?” Applejack said.
Rolf threw the Stethoscope near his pile of items and grabbed Fluttershy by the arms, placing his ear to her chest. “Why must the fanged one confused Rolf to no end?” Rolf said, pressing his ear closer to her. Fluttershy tried to get out, but he had too strong of a grip.
Twilight tilted her head. “What are you doing Rolf?”
Applejack rolled her eyes. “Probably just some mumbo jumbo trick he learned from his family.’”
“They're called rituals cow mare,” Rolf said, glaring at her. “And no, Rolf is not doing that. He is trying to see if his ears aren't deceiving him.”
“Why?” Twilight asked. “What do you hear?”
Rolf let go of Fluttershy backed away from her. He looked at the other two mares, an expression of worry on his face. “Nothing.” He said blankly.
Applejack shook her head. “Then why are you so worried?”
“Are your ears deceiving you as well?.” He ran to AJ. “When Rolf’s head was toward the heart of the bat pony,” He looked both ways and whispered. “It didn’t make a sound.”
Twilight looked at Rolf in bewilderment. “That's imposible, how can she...ya know...live without a beating heart?” Twilight questioned.
Fluttershy hid behind her hairs again, wanting all of this to be over. Rolf went over to his pile of trinkets again. “Why not listen for yourself one of four powerful ones, while Rolf finds his next test.” Twilight leaned her ear to Fluttershy’s chest to hear the same thing Rolf heard. Nothing.
“What do ya hear?” Applejack asked.
“H-how?” Twilight said, looking up at the now shaking bat pony. “I thought that antidote fixed your heart from stopping.”
Fluttershy looked down. “Well, it didn’t really cause it. You see, my heart stopped beating a week ago.”
Twilight and Applejack stared back at her in complete shock. “Why didn’t you tell us?” Twilight said. Making Fluttershy squeaked a little.
“Well, I-I thought it would worry you guys too much.”
Twilight sighed. “If I knew that then I wouldn't of given you that antidote.
Rolf walked away from victor and held a small mirror in his mouth. “mhhtehou?” He mumbled. Knowing he couldn't talk like this, he spat it out to his hoof. “You didn’t tell Rolf about the purple one experimenting on the bat mare.”
Applejack steeped in “Well, ya weren't our first choice when it came to tryin’ ta fix her. Twilight tried allot of spells and potions. The rest of us tried to help to, though standing upside down and coutn’ to ten, suck thing’s that ain’t fruit, and throwin’ a party in the dark weren’t the best ways to fix this.”
“Plus.” Twilight said. “If a spell caused it, I thought that-.”
“A spell turned the mare into this!?” Rolf yelled. “Rolf thought she was bitten by those cursed winged ones.”
“No.” Twilight said, hanging her head shamefully “It was my fault.”
Fluttershy looked at Twilight in sympathy. “It wasn’t your fault at all, you were just trying to help, besides, we fixed it. Didn’t we?”
Rolf scratched his head with the mirror. “Rolf has never been so confused. How is the she bat not a she bat if she is still a she bat?”
“What?” Applejack said. “Now you're confusn’ us Rolfie boy. Listen, she still is one, but only at night, and she has more control over her actions than before, she just still looks like this is all.”
Rolf tapped the bottom of his chin. “She just looks like one?” He whispered to himself. “Then how is she-”
Twilight held up a hoof “Wait,” She pointed it at Fluttershy and continued. “If that potion made you look normal again, can’t we just try that?” She looked around, hoping for approval from the others.
Rolf shook his head. “The mystical water may have changed the fanged one’s looks,” He held the mirror up to Fluttershy and Twilight. “but Rolf does not think it has helped the inside of the mare.”
Twilight and Fluttershy looked at the mirror and gasped in horror, making Applejack flinch “What is it?” She ran up to the mirror. “What’s wro- oh mah…”
Applejack looked at the mirror in complete disbelief. Her and Twilights reflections were showing, but Fluttershy’s was no where to be found. Twilight leaned her hoof over Fluttershy’s back, but on the mirror it only looked like it was over air. “H-how?” Applejack asked.
Rolf dramatically brought the mirror down and looked at the mares with the straightest of faces. “Do the mares now understand what is wrong with their bat friend?”
All the mares, especially Fluttershy, in the room started to panic. Twilight spoke first “But...but..When we were changing her back to normal, she had a reflection.”
Rolf placed the mirror on the ground. “Then it seems her soul has been released from this world.”
Fluttershy darted her red eyes around while Applejack looked at Rolf in anger. “What are you talkn’ about? How is her soul gone?”
Rolf raised his hoof in the air. "Her soul has been ripped from this world." He then slammed his hoof on the ground. "and now it must be taken BA-"
*CRACK*
Rolf froze, he felt like he should be doing something right now, but his brain was too busy trying to figure out where that pain was coming from..wait...pain? Rolf looked down to see that he was indeed in pain, he had smashed his hoof on the mirror. The shards of glass were buried in his hoof and the pressure he was putting into it was making it worse.
Everyone in the room was dead silent. Applejack decided to break the silence “R-rolf? You okay?” she asked.
“N-No... He said with a tear in his eye.
“How can a small reflection doohickey do this? I ask you.”
“You mean ah mirror.”
“Is that not what Rolf said?”
Applejack just looked down and shook her head. She didn’t even want to attempt to talk to Rolf about what a mirror should be called. Twilight magically took hold of Rolf’s hoof. “Lets see if there's anything I can-”
Rolf immediately yanked his hoof away from her grip and tucked it in his overcoat. “Rolf does not want the magic mare to touch Rolf wounds! The mare understands yes?” Twilight was reluctant, but she nodded, knowing Rolf would probably prefer that he do it himself.
Rolf looked over at Fluttershy. “Is the shy ones eyes still closed?”
“Y-yes.” Fluttershy said. As soon as Rolf had yelled in pain at how his hoof got embedded with shards of glass, he told Fluttershy to shield her eyes and not look at him. So she covered her eyes with her hooves and her bat wings.
Applejack looked over at Fluttershy, then at Rolf. “And why are you making her cover her eyes”
Rolf glared at her. “Does the Farm pony not understand.” He walked up to her, with his hoof still in his coat, and whispered. “If the vampony looks at Rolf’s hoof, even for a second, she will pounce on Rolf faster than the small Ed boy pouncing on pretty pennies.”
“Ed boy?” Applejack pushed Rolf away “Look Rolf, why would she try tah get ya if she saw your hoof?” Rolf pulled his hoof out of his coat and held it between them. His hoof was a mangled mess of glass pieces that were covering the bottom of it, and some parts of it were so embedded they were starting to bleed. “Doesn’t that hurt?” AJ asked.
“That doesn’t matter farm girl, because If she” He pointed his better hoof at Fluttershy, whose eyes were still covered. “were to look at Rolf’s hoof, she would lose all control and-”
Applejack grabbed Rolf's coat and pulled it towards her. “Rolf, she sucks fruit, not bl-”
Rolf wrapped an arm around her neck and looked at her. “She will be sucking the red liquid sustenance cow mare. It only takes a matter of time until she finally snaps and comes charging toward-”
“Ah don’t wanna hear it!” Applejack pushed Rolf away again, this time making him crash into his pile of trinkets. Victor looked over his shoulder and baahed.
Twilight gasped. “Applejack, do you have to be so rough?”
Before AJ could explain, Rolf popped his head out of his things and said. “Yes AJ, why must you treat Rolf like nana treats her big toe?” He pulled himself out and got to the floor. He didn’t notice, but the glass in his hoof was starting to cut deeper, and the blood was starting to drip, and with every drop, it made Fluttershy's ears twitched.
“Why, WHY!? Let me tell ya why” She stormed up to Rolf and grabbed his hurt hoof. “I’ll even help ya with your hoof while i’m at it.” Applejack was beginning to lose it, she had had enough of this, with Rolf acting like this, reminded her of when they first met, and she hated it.
Rolf looked at her in confusion. “Rolf would rather-GAH”
Applejack yanked on his hoof, bringing it up to his mouth, where she took a bite into one of the shards of glass and yanked it out. Rolf yelped in pain as she spit the piece out. “Well, number one, Rolfie boy. You do things that ah don’t like, and even when I tell ya not to do em’, ya do it anyway.” She bit into his hoof again and pulled out another piece, causing another cry of pain from Rolf.
Rolf started panting “C-can the farm mare please-” Rolf was interrupted by a set of teeth sinking into the skin of his hoof and pulling out another shard of glass.
“Number two.” Applejack yelled. “You and the rest of your family wouldn’t stop showin’ off at how much better ya are than us.” She digged her teeth into another piece of glass, making sure to cause as much pain as possible for this ‘colt of a shepherd.’ Meanwhile Twilight was conflicted on how to help, and Fluttershy was starting to cover her ears to stop them from twitching, and to drown out the noise, then her nose was starting to twitch.
Fluttershy stopped shaking and concentrated on that smell. She took another sniff, she wanted to look around but she was too afraid to open her eyes, so she took another whiff. That time she got the scent. She had never smelt something so...so…
So amazing.
It was a scent of great pleasure, it was better than flowers, or the smell from the spa, or even apples. Now she was starting to get curious. What was this strange smell. Her mind slowly went back into reality as the noises of a shrieking Rolf and a yelling Applejack came into her ears. She knew you couldn't hear where the smell was coming from, but you could see it. Yeah, she’ll just open her eyes for just a sec, no one would notice.
Carefully she pulled her wings back and lowered her hooves to take a look around her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“*pleh* And number five.”
“Stop stop STOP! Release Rolf from your grip of pain and let him-”
“Not until you-hu?”
Applejack felt a bit dazed, wondering what happened. She looked up to see a purple alicorn giving her a look of disappointment. “What is wrong with you Applejack!” Twilight screamed. She had teleported AJ over to her as to not get involved with trying to come between them physically. “Why are you torturing Rolf?”
Applejack crossed her hooves and looked away. “You wouldn’t understand, you weren’t around when we were-”
“It seems the alicorn has some sense in her head.” Rolf cradled his hoof while trying to hold in any tears. “You remind Rolf of the sock head wearing Ed boy.”
Twilight and Applejack weren’t too sure how to respond to that. “What does a sock have to do with anything?” Twilight asked. “You know what, nevermind, a better question would be why you two hate each other so much?”
Rolf couldn’t stop shaking from the pain. “Rolf does not hate the brown hatted one. All he wants is for her support.”
“What?” Applejack said. “By making me look like an idiot with your stories.”
Twilight looked at Applejack. “Uh...AJ. He only told us one story.”
“Which was a complete lie!” Applejack yelled, she glared at Rolf. “And i’m not talking about that story, i’m talkin’ about other stories that he would tell by his family.”
Rolf raised his eyebrow. “How does the mare kno-”
“Because I could hear ya laugh it up with your folks.” She started giving bad imitations of his family. “‘boy howdy, let me tell you about this here farm mare, how she can't get apples out of her head.’ Or how about this. ‘That farm mare of yours, Rolf sure does know how to buck a tree, to bad that's all she knows how to buck.”
Rolf was starting to grow a bit nervous. He had to admit, his family did in fact talk about her like this, but Rolf was only trying to look tough, in reality he-
“Or how about this. ‘That soft mare looks like she couldn’t go a day without tending to her baby trees.’ How about that one Rolfie?” Everyone was speechless. Applejack was breathing heavily and Twilight was looking at her in shock. Rolf was trying his best to figure out what to say. How to you apologize to a mare you have been making fun of behind her back for most of you life? Rolf looked to the ground in shame, it seems he had hurt this this mare. He looked at her with deep sorrow.
Which turned into complete fear as he looked past her. “A-Applej-j-jack?”
Applejack regained her composure and looked at the stallion. “What is it Rolf?”
Rolf started backing up. “L-listen to Rolf, you must-” Before he could get another word out he backed up into Victor and fell over him, landing on his head, and Victor giving another baah.
Twilight came to her senses and looked at the accident. “Are you alright Rolf.”
Rolf raised his hoof above and pointed it at them. “What about us?” Applejack asked. Rolf pointed his hoof twice. Hoping they would understand.
Twilight shrugged and looked at Applejack. “I guess he wants us to look be..hi..n..d.” As she looked past AJ she started to stutter.
“What is it Twilight?” Applejack turned around. “What are ya lo…ok...ing at...”
Twilight and Applejack couldn't look away from it. Fluttershy was staring at them with her eyes being more red, her wings spread, and her mouth hung wide open, drooling a little. She took a step forward. Making them step back. “Um...Fluttershy...ya’ll alright?” Applejack said with a fake smile.
Fluttershy just kept walking. Her eyes looked like they were looking into their souls. “Um...Fluttershy.” Twilight said with a nervous laugh. “Don’t you look at us like that.”
Fluttershy continued making her way toward the mares, that was until she stopped dead in her tracks once her hoof hit a pool of blood. It was Rolf's blood from the 'treatment' Applejack was giving him earlier. Twilight and Applejack looked down in horror as Fluttershy inspected it, running her hooves in it and taking a small sniff, which turned into a big sniff a few seconds later. “Is….I..Is she?” Applejack wasn't sure how to ask herself this.
Suddenly Rolf came in between them and whispered. “Now would be the time the mares and the son of a shepherd make a run to the woods.”
“Woods?” Applejack whispered back. “Why the woods?”
As they talked. Twilight continued looking at Fluttershy, she was now just looking at her hoof. staring at it as if it was communicating with it. Then her tongue made a viscous lash her entire hoof. Licking up every spot of the red liquid off. Twilight flinched, not knowing what to do. She gave a few more good licks and looked up at the ponies. Her pupils dilated. Twilight followed where her eyes were looking at and saw that she was looking straight at Rolf's bloody hoof.
“Uh...Rolf.” Twilight gulped.
“And then we must...What is it crowned one?”
Twilight pointed at Fluttershy, as Rolf and Applejack looked up, they saw the same sight. Her body was becoming ruffled, as was her hair and tail, her wings remained extended, and her eyes started glowing red, and they continued giving a look of hunger, and her fangs were drooling with an attempt to sink them into something that had the same wonderful taste of whatever that red stuff was, and right in front of her were three perfect providers.
“I hope you don’t mind if I FeEd on you against your will FoReVeR! Until you die that is, and I hope that's okay with you.”
Run Mares! Run Like the Wind
“Click to your heels Victor!”
Victor baahed and continued to gallop across the town, luckily everyone was asleep at the time, so no one could see a stallion and two mares on a cart full of trinkets being pulled by a goat while being chased by a vampony.
“Victor! To the woods!” Rolf yelled yanking on the rope that was connected to his horns.
AJ held on to her hat. “Ah don’t think the woods are ah good idea Rolf.”
“Hasn’t Rolf already explained this to the cow mare?” Rolf leaned in on Applejack. “The vampony’s tunnel vision will surely make her crash into the trees. Unlike bats, the batpony doesn't have sonar.”
Twilight poked her head out of the pile of objects. When Fluttershy was about to attack at her house, Rolf threw the mares into the wagon and yelled at Victor to run. Making their body's get buried beneath all of the things Rolf brought. “What makes you think she’ll crash into them?” She asked.
Rolf turned around and said. “Rolf knows the beast will concentrate more on her food then the obstacles that the trees will provide, it was a trick that Rolf used to take care of many-”
Applejack grabbed Rolf by the scruff of his overcoat. “Enough of your stories Rolf! We need tah-”
A loud screech interrupted the conversation. Everyone on the cart shielded their ears from the noise. Twilight looked behind them to see that Fluttershy was catching up. Her wings seemed longer than before. “JuSt SlOw DoWn! If that's okay with you.” The vampony screamed.
Rolf narrowed his eyes. “Applebucker, take the rope.” Before Applejack could react, Rolf tossed the rope to her hooves and, almost immediately, Victor went off course and started making his way out of town instead of the forest. Applejack started doing her best to steer, meanwhile, Rolf was too busy rummaging through his stuff to realize this. He was up to his torso of trash, looking for the right tool to deal with this over sized bat.
Twilight looked back and forth at Rolf and her vampony friend. “Rolf, what are you-”
“AH HA!” Rolf pulled out the exact thing he was looking for. It made Twilight gasp and Fluttershy only get more enraged than she already was.
A crossbow.
“Rolf! Don't-” Twilight tried to stop him, but Rolf shoved his hoof in her mouth.
“Do not stop Rolf all powerful one.” He held the crossbow and took aim. “Rolf must make this shot-”
Twilight grabbed the deadly device with her magic and pulled. “She’s still our friend Rolf.” Another screech came from Fluttershy, her red eyes were starting to glow, and she was getting closer then before. Twilight gave a weak smile. “Well...she’s somewhere in there.”
Rolf yanked his crossbow from Twilight magical grip. “When will the magic mare and the ten gallon hat wearer understand. The Fluttershy that you once knew is no longer with us!” He took aim at beast again, but before he could fire, a huge crash messed up his aim. making the arrow shoot into the air.
Applejack had steered victor through a fence and into an orchard. Her apple tree orchard. “What is this goats problem? Rolf will you take the...What the hay are ya doin’ with that!?” AJ immediately let go of the rope and tackled Rolf, making them land on the edge of the cart, with Rolf’s head hanging from it.
Twilight was about to help, but she realized the goat was without a driver, so, she took the rope and started steering. Applejack held the crossbow on Rolf throat, slightly choking him, and stared straight into his eyes. “Don’t tell me you’re gonna try to kill her now!”
“You will...doom us all...if you do not...let...Rolf….” Rolf started pulling the crossbow away from his throat and away from Applejack’s grip, but she started pulling it into the air.
“Let grrrh, go...of it, Rolf.” She yelled, her body started standing straight up, towering over Rolf. “She’s still….mah friend!”
Rolf continued not letting up. He pulled back, he then realized the more he did this, the closer his head was coming in contact with the dirt path. “Release the arrow launcher Applejack!”
AJ’s head was getting higher and higher into the air, while Rolf’s head was getting closer and closer to the ground, he was beginning to feel his blue mane skidding across the dirt. “Rolf!...I swear to Celestia….if you even try it...so help me….ah will-”
*WHAM*
The crossbow immediately smacked Rolf in the face, making him and a few of his things tumble into the dirt road, leaving the cart to go on driving. He groaned and started getting up on all fours, shaking his head and dusting his coat. He adjusted the collar of his coat to cover his neck and looked around. “ooooh...What in nana's grave happened?" He said to himself. "And what is with that mare and her misunderstanding of her friend? Does she not realize she is gone?” He walked over to his weapon and picked it up. “Either this mare’s brain has gone bad like nana’s six week old stew, or she really cares about that shy one.”
He then noticed that, out of all the things that he brought with him, his lantern fell out when he made his spill. He grabbed it and turned the switch, bringing it to life and brightening up the dark night. “Why can she not accept it?” He sat down and laid the lantern on the ground, holding the crossbow in his hooves. He knew that he was alone, and that the vampony would be coming, so, instead of coming for her, he waited for the bat mare to come to him. “I know your prey snatching ways vampony, you strike on the weak and helpless, well come on bat mare!” He held the crossbow tighter to his chest. “Rolf is very helpless…” He looked around, trying to find a hint of a batwing or a long pink ruffled tail. He grabbed hold of the lantern and held it in the air, trying to get a good look. “Come now fanged one! Let us end this so Rolf can get home!”
“Is that what you care about?”
Rolf turned around and shined the lantern at a familiar orange mare, though she had no hat on. She covered the light with her arm. “Will ya put that out Rolfie boy.” She said.
Rolf turned the lanterns light down and placed it back on the ground. “Where did you come from farm mare?” Rolf asked.
“Ah regained my senses after ah got hit by that branch in the back of the head while we were fightin’.” She walked up to Rolf and narrowed her eyes “I lost a hat because of you, and ah may lose somthin’ else thats even more important because of you too.”
“Rolf does not see what is so important about a hat. Even he left his own hat at-”
“Ah could care less about mah hat Rolf!” Applejack yelled. Rolf flinch and held his weapon tighter to his chest. “What I’m talkin’ about is how you were tryin’ to kill mah friend.”
“The bat pony is not your-”
Rolf felt the sting of a slap to the face, he then fell to the ground and looked up at the now infuriated mare. Rolf saw the fire in her eyes. “Can’t ya just understand that thats not true! She is still mah friend no matter what she is!” Rolf wanted to look away, but it was as if AJ’s eyes were making him look at how serious she was being. “Ah don’t care what she is or what she did, she is still a friend, and I ain’t gonna hurt her no matter what happens, the least ah would do is make sure she won’t hurt anyone else.”
Rolf started getting on all fours. “What if she hurts you AJ. Will you try to put an end to her-”
Rolf then felt a sting of pain in his nose, this time the force of the punch made him land on his back. He held his nose and started feeling the blood pour from it. He weakly looked up to see that Applejack was now towering over him. She looked deep into his eyes. “Ah will never. Lay a hoof. On. That. Mare. The least that ah would do is defend mah self, but ah know that she would never-”
*CRASH*
Rolf could only catch a glimpse of what happened at that moment. Applejack was no longer towering over him, and in her place was a large, pink haired, vampony, but she wasn’t looking at him, she was looking at Applejack. Rolf craned his neck to see that AJ had crashed into a tree, and her back didn’t look to good. Fluttershy walked over Rolf and started making her way to the wounded mare. “Don't worry My MeAl I promise I won’t hurt you i’Ll JuSt KiLl YoU iNsTeAd.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Guys! You out there!” Twilight was able to get Victor trotting instead of galloping, but she couldn’t find Applejack or Rolf. She wasn’t sure when they got off, or why they did either, but she knew that it wasn’t good. “Where are they…”
Victor then came to a complete stop, causing Twilight to fall on his back and have her head get hit by one of Rolf’s things. Victor then Baahed and continued looking crossed eyed.
“Ugh...Victor...Why did you do that?” Twilight got off of Victor and looked at him, his eyes started turning to the side. “Rolf really needs to get your eyes checked. What are you even looking at?” She followed his eyes to see that there was a bottle on the ground. “Was that what hit me?” She picked it up with her magical grip and inspected it, turning it around, looking for some sort of label. Then on the side, in big bold letters, it said-
“Holy Water?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Applejack groaned in pain as she leaned on the tree, though that just made her back worse, she could swear it felt like it was broken. She tried looking up but her vision was blurred. What was it that hit her? If felt like she got hit by a dozen cattle. He eyes started to get clearer as she got a picture of what was in front of her. She started to panic. She realized it was Fluttershy who knocked her into the tree, and she put so much force into her tackle that she practically broke AJ's back, or at least it felt like her back broke, it hit the tree hard enough to make her immobile.
Applejack weakly held up a hoof. “Shy...Come on now girl….” Fluttershy started coming closer and closer to her, it was like she was taking her time with AJ. “Shy….I know….you won’t do this….you...you can't do this…” Fluttershy just continued walking to her, her mouth was watering and Applejack could swear that a smile was starting to spread across her.
“Oh AJ. Don’t you know that I CaN dO tHiS!” Fluttershy’s shadow was starting to loom over Applejack.
“Fluttershy….listen to me….we're...friends….don’t you remember?” Applejack was doing her best to give a smile, but Fluttershy’s smile was making hers start to diminish.
“Don’t worry My MeAl, I know we're FrIeNdS, which makes it all the better.” Fluttershy’s body was now hovering over Applejack’s.
AJ was so scared at that point that she tried to make a run for it, only for her to fall and land on her side. She tried crawling but Fluttershy pounced on her. She shrieked and tried to struggle, but it was as if Fluttershy’s new form was making her stronger as well.
Fluttershy had a hoof on Applejack's face and another on her shoulder. Her mouth was starting to drool and her fangs were getting closer and closer to Applejack’s neck, and Applejack could see the entire thing. “Fluttershy! Don’t do this! W-we're friends….and friends don’t-”
Fluttershy glided her tongue across her teeth. “What makes you think FrIeNdS don’t do this AJ? We’re fRiEnDs and we’re doing this right now...ArEn't We?” Applejack could only look in horror as her friend was staring down on her with glowing red eyes and a face that told her that there was no hope for her to get out of this.
“Now just relax tHiSWiLl OnLy HuRt A lOt.” Fluttershy opened her mouth and plunged her teeth to Applejack's neck. AJ closed her eyes, not wanting to see her own friend kill her. She just wanted it to be ov-
"SLAHORN!"
Author's Note
After getting messaged by someone telling me to finish this fic,
Rolf goes now
“Quickly, where is your hay and apple cellar storage, farm mare?”
“Wh-what?” Applejack was having a hard time understanding what Rolf was saying, the pain in her back had finally hit her and she couldn’t move.
Rolf grabbed AJ by her shoulders and shook her. “The barn, cow mare! Where is it?” Rolf looked behind him to see that Fluttershy was starting to get up after getting a face full of fish that Rolf gave her. He was just thankful that he had a slapfish on him.
“W-where?” Applejack’s eyes were starting to wander around, as was her mind. Rolf had enough of this. He dove his head under her belly and hoisted her onto his back. He looked over at the crossbow that laid on the ground, knowing that was the least important thing to get to right now.
“We shall talk later!” Rolf put his back legs into it and started running away from the bat mare, who had now just spat the dead fish from her mouth. “I’m sure I can find it myself before-”
“And where do you think YoU’rE GoInG!” She yelled.
“Away from you, she who feeds off the flesh!” Yelled back, zipping past every tree and dodging every branch.
Despite what Rolf said about Fluttershy’s vision, she managed to dodge every tree as well. Before Rolf noticed it, she was just feet away from him. “You’re only DeLaYiNg ThE iNeViTaBlE !”
Rolf ignored every word and jumped out into a clearing, seeing a red building close by. “Ah HO! The housing of the hay!” Rearing his front legs, he made a mad dash for the doors, Fluttershy close on his tail.
Fluttershy was now inches away from sinking her teeth into him.“You’re going to be aLl Mi-”
*SLAM*
Rolf ran into the barn and slammed the doors shut. Making Fluttershy’s face smack right into the wood. Rolf then grabbed a nearby wooden plank and placed it in between the handles of the doors, making sure it wouldn’t open. “Try getting in now, bat mare!” Rolf yelled, knowing he and Applejack were safe here...for now.
Rolf then realized the mare was still on his back. He took a breath and lowered AJ to the floor. “Now let us see, what tools does Rolf still have at his disposal.” He looked around the barn not seeing much that could help, only seeing stacks of hay and a nearby workbench.
As he looked around, Applejack started fluttering her eyes open. “R-Rolf?” She groaned.
Rolf turned to her and smiled. “Ah, so the farm mare has finally decided to wake up, and here Rolf thought he would have to tell the magic one that her friend would end up like papa’s excess flaps.”
“Excess wah- You know what, forget it, just...help me up here, would ya?”
“Rolf suggests lying where she is, lest the farm mare would like to have a back sorer than Rolf’s after laying on a bed crafted by the bit pinching ed boy.”
Applejack didn't even want to ask. “C-Can you please give me a hoof or somethin’?”
“Very well, farm mare, but don’t tell Rolf he didn’t warn you about pain.” Rolf trotted over to her and wrapped his hooves around her torso, she flinched a bit, but didn’t feel too much pain, it was only when he started dragging her to a support beam that she felt the pain.
“Aaah...Do ya have to be so hard?” She asked as Rolf laid her against the wooden beam.
“Sorry, AJ, but Rolf-”
“No...no...It’s okay. I’m good.” AJ adjusted herself and continued, knowing she had to say this after what happened. “Rolf...I wanna...well, thank ya for...savin’ me back there...I-I really thought you would-”
“Leaving the apple seller is the last thing Rolf wants to happen.” Rolf sat in front of her. “For if he did, she’d be proving Rolf that she was right.”
“Right? About what?”
Rolf scooted closer. “AJ. Rolf knows he wasn’t the greatest pal for you that long ago, even Rolf was surprised to hear you say you wanted my help in all of this.”
Applejack shrugged. “There wasn’t really any other options, I was pretty much scrappin’ the barrel, to be honest.”
“And Rolf can understand why you feel angry at him. At first, he thought it was only because of the month of mares, but Rolf now understands it’s his fault.”
“Oh, please, Rolf, it’s not...well, It’s not...I’m just...” Applejack didn’t know how to say it, he was acting like a jerk, but she felt like she was acting the same way.
Rolf sighed. “Farm mare, Rolf remembers all too well what he said to his folks, about how your family isn’t the best, about how your cider isn’t that great, about how...uh…” Rolf would’ve gone on, but the look AJ was giving him made him stop. “B-But the point Rolf’s trying to make is that he’s...he’s sorry for the way he acted to the farm mare at the beginning.”
Applejack sighed. “And I guess ahm sorry for the way I acted too...i-it’s just that rememberin’ what you said-”
“Rolf promises he will never say anything hurtful toward the apple family, a shepherd's promise.”
“Thanks, Rolfie...but, can you promise somethin’ else, ya know, about shy and her condition .”
Rolf scratched the back of his neck, knowing what she was about to ask. “Rolf really had no idea you and the shy one were so close.”
“Me and her have been friends for a long time, Rolf, and I would never have anything bad happen to her, I mean, what if one of your family members was like this, what would you do?”
Normally, Rolf would say he’d not take a risk and stop them before it was too late, but he thought that wouldn’t be the right thing to say at a time like this. “Rolf would...most likely do what the farm mare is doing; stop the reckless stallion from trying to do the job the way he wants to.”
Applejack had to smile at that. She never thought she’d get him to say something like this, and, knowing that he did, he might actually help fix Fluttershy the way she wants to. “Glad you understand, Rolfie.”
Admittedly, Rolf still didn’t understand the relationship between the two mares, but he figured it was like his friends from the colt-de-sac, only a little bit closer. “Rolf does, and, once more, he apologizes for his actions against the fanged one, and promises not to harm her in anyway the next time he-”
*SMASH*
Both ponies looked up, seeing Fluttershy smash through the roof and landing right next to them, Applejack was the first to react by jumping and falling behind a bale of hay while Rolf backed right into a work bench, the contents of it falling on the floor.
“YoU’rE mInE!” The bat mare yelled, running right at Rolf.
Rolf yelped and reached for whatever would help him stop the mare, only to feel dirt and hay scattered on the floor. He thought he was hopeless until he reached behind him, feeling one of the tools that fell.
Knowing that he had a weapon, he grabbed it, closed his eyes, and held it right to his neck, making Fluttershy bite into it instead of him. After he heard a clank, he opened his eyes to see her mouth was on a wrench, only inches away from his face.. “Release Rolf’s tool of defence and repair, horrid creature!”
Fluttershy didn’t listen and instead pulled the wrench away from him. He gripped it even harder, but he found out that was a mistake when she used her full strength to throw him to the barn doors, flinging them open and making him land into the dirt outside. “I warned you! Now your DeAtH will be slow and PaInFuL!” She lunged right into the stallion, only to have the metal object in her mouth again.
Rolf tried his best to get her face and fangs as far away from his neck as possible, but the strength and weight bearing down on him was almost too much for him to handle. “Grh...G-Get off, you beast of the eternal night!”
As they struggled, Applejack managed to get on all fours and see what was going on outside. “Rolf!” She screamed as she started trotting out, only to fall on her stomach from the pain in her back.
Rolf turned to her and was about to yell out, but Fluttershy sat up and knocked the wrench out of his grip with her hoof, almost hitting Applejack.in the process. Rolf looked back up at her and helded his hooves up to her neck as she tried plunging her teeth into his own. “Grrah! Release Rolf!” He yelled, the mare’s fangs getting closer and closer.
Applejack didn’t know what to do. He only options were to try and get her off, but that would only lead to her death, her other option was to try and find help, but it didn’t look like Rolf could hold out for long. All she could do was watch
Rolf was starting to lose his strength with every second of thrashing this mare was doing. He turned to Applejack, knowing this was it, that not even the collar of his overcoat could protect him from those teeth, so. With no strength left, he let go and closed his eyes, prepared for-
*THUNK*
Rolf managed to open his eyes just in time to see an arrow going right through her, missing Applejack by mere inches and pinning the barn door. Fluttershy stood still with wide eyes for a few seconds before closing them and start collapsing right next to Rolf
“FLUTTERSHY!” Applejack screamed as she ran toward her, managing to catch her right before she fell on the ground. “Fluttershy, speak to me.”
Rolf slowly stood up and adjusted his sight, He leaned over to his left to see something he’d never thought possible. “Magic mare?”
Applejack looked up to see that Twilight was a few yards away, still aiming down the sight of a crossbow. “T-Twilight?” AJ stuttered.
Twilight lowered the crossbow, still trying to comprehend what she just did to her friend. “D-D-D...Did I...j-just…”
Rolf dusted his overcoat off and started panting. “Heugh...V-Very nice work, Purple mare, you managed to save Rolf’s life in a way he only thought Rolf himself would do.”
“B-But I...I-I thought that...that…” Twilight dropped the bow and ran up to her unconscious friend.
“I-I-Is she...she...y-ya know…” Applejack was afraid of the answer, but the more she looked at her friend, the more she noticed that she was in a strange state.
As the two mares looked at her, Rolf turned to the arrow that was pinned to the barn door, seeing it drop, not red liquid, but clear, glowing blue liquid that he could instantly recognize. He looked at Fluttershy again and rubbed his chin. “Hmmm...Sparkle, what did you put on Rolf’s arrow?”
Twilight looked up at him. “I-I thought that...t-that holy water would help...a-and when I saw the crossbow on the ground and seeing Fluttershy almost end your life...I-I didn’t know what else to do, I-I couldn’t just let somepony die by a friend’s hooves!”
Applejack then noticed something she should’ve seen from the start. “Uh...guys...now. I’m not one to ask about injuries, but...shouldn’t there be a wound or open hole right where she was shot?”
Rolf stood over Fluttershy, seeing that the arrow did pass right through her, but no damage was made, not even a scratch was on her. “It seems putting water on the arrow has done its trick, very smart thinking, she whose flank mark resembles the night sky.”
“Um...thanks?” Twilight continued inspecting Fluttershy, seeing that her wings were starting to turn back to normal and her cutie mark was back to butterflies. “I-It is working...I-I was right! Or...y-you were right, or...m-my plan worked!”
“Plan?” Applejack said with a tilt of her head. “What plan?”
Rolf turned Shy on her back, still seeing no damage. “Hmmmm…” he pulled out his pair of rubber gloves and put them over his hooves. He flipped her on her back again and opened her mouth wide enough for him to see her teeth, which were now all flat. “Seems the fanged one is no longer fanged.”
Twilight smiled. “I knew coating that arrow with that stuff would work! I-It had to work. I-It did work, right?”
Rolf knew what she meant and leaned his ear on her chest, hearing a beat he hadn’t heard from earlier. “It sounds as though that the shy one’s heart is working better than the sock headed Ed boy’s contraptions.”
AJ raised an eye. “So, she’s still kickin’.”
Rolf nodded. “The shy mare lives to fly another day, Rolf must admit, that was very clever thinking on your part, she who sparkles in the twilight.”
Twilight was starting to get sick of the way he was describing her. “Just call me Twilight.”
“B-But how did that work?” Applejack asked.
Rolf walked over to the crossbow and picked it up. “Well, papa’s crossbow has been known to travel at high speeds, though it’s not known for going through mares without a scratch on them, as for the water, it seems that it did it’s job just like nana said it would do.”
Applejack’s jaw dropped. “A-Are you sayin’ you could’ve cured her from the start with that water!? W-Why didn’t you just-”
“You didn’t ask Rolf to use the holy water on her. Rolf didn’t even remember that he brought it.”
Twilight nudged Applejack. “Be thankful it worked, AJ.”
“Ah am thankful.” Applejack pointed at him. “I just wish Rolf woulda told us his other methods of dealing with this besides tryin’ ta kill her.”
Rolf turned around to see that Victor was close by with his things. “Victor! Glad to see the fl- er, Twilight has brought you here unharmed.”
Twilight laughed nervously, knowing it was really hard to steer that goat. As for Applejack, she decided that now would be a good time to talk to him about all of this. “Look, Rolf...t-there’s some things that need sayin’.”
Rolf put the crossbow back in with the rest of the pile. “Do not worry, AJ. Rolf understands that you don’t need him in your life anymore, and Rolf couldn’t help but agree.”
“But Rolf, I don’t wanna….agree?” AJ cocked her head. “Wha’s that supposta mean?”
“Rolf know’s his job is done here, that the fanged one is de-fanged and that she is completely cured, so, your lives are ready to proceed to a new road now that he’s done.” Rolf chuckled. “and let’s just say that Rolf has his own life to look at as well, along with his marefriend.”
Even Twilight was surprised to hear that. “Wait, you have a marefriend?”
Rolf nodded as he patted Victor. “Yes, for she truly understands Rolf’s words, she even speaks the way Rolf speaks, and, no offence, but her hat’s better than the stetson you wear, AJ.”
“H-Hat?” Applejack was starting to put the pieces together. “W-Wait a sec, don’t tell me you’re-”
“Come, Victor! The mare full of power and greatness awaits us!” He turned around and started walking away, waving behind him. “Good bye, mares, may the shy one be blessed!”
As the son of a shepherd finally left, Applejack and Twilight decided to not even question it and help Fluttershy up. As she was hoisted on their backs, Applejack couldn’t hold her question anymore. “Hey...y-you don’t think?”
Twilight shook her head. “Nah, she wouldn’t go for a stallion like him.” She craned her head to Fluttershy, still seeing she was out cold. “We better bring her to your place while she rests, does that sound like a good idea? Applejack?”
Applejack didn’t listen, she only continued looking behind them, seeing the track Rolf left behind in the dirt, hoping he’d never-
“Applejack!”
“Wuh...h-huh...u-uh yeah, yeah, o-of course she can stay at mah place...n-no harm done.” She laughed it off, only for Twilight to raise an eye at her.
“You okay, AJ?”
Applejack sighed. “Ah will be once I get home, it’s been a crazy night, from old friends commin’ in to gettin’ mah back sore, ta seein’ mah friend turn back into a pony, ah think the only thing I need right now is what Shy right here is doin’ right now...nice rhyme, by the way.” She took one last look at where Rolf was and shook her head.
“What a stupid, crazy, lovable, strange son of a shepherd…”
