New guy in town

Chapters

Chp1. Arrival
Chp2. Redemption
Chp 3. The chase is on
Chp 4. Catch me if you can

Chp1. Arrival

It was a very dark day in Ponyville. Rain was pouring from the heavens, followed by the wrath of lightning and thunder. It was a storm that the local weather team set up to make up for lost rainfall. But not a pony was outside, avoiding the downpour and lightning. But even with heavy rain, all the local businesses were still going, but it was a slow day with no customers. That was apparent in Sugarcube corner café, all the seats where empty, not a pony in sight. In the kitchen however was a different story.

Two old ponies were rushing around place to place trying to bake, while a younger pink coated mare was trying to keep two fillies occupied with laughter. The air was filled with the dust of flour and the scent of fresh baked goods.

"Pinkie? Be a dear and take Pound cake and Pumpkin cake upstairs for there nap could you?" One of the elderly pony's asked.

"Okie dokie lokie!" Said Pinkie pie, the pink mare smiled. She gathered up the two fillies blowing raspberries at them as she placed them on her back. The now loaded pink mare stepped out of the kitchen, into the serving area, still talking to her passengers to keep them giggling. It was dark since the Cake's did not think a single customer was coming in today, hence why they were working in the kitchen. The darkness did not bother pinkie as she had seen the café in the dark before on similar occasions.

"Now you two need to go sleepy time, so I can help mommy and daddy with Vinyl's big party order!" This made the cake twins frown from their once happy faces, to ones that were eyes started to swell and their lips tremble. Pinkie sensing what was about to happen intervened, she grabbed an open bag of flour and poured the contents over her head. sticking her tongue out as she did so making the babies giggle with delight. With her mission complete, the pink pony carried on taking the twins off to bed.

As she was walking up the stairs she heard the door slam open behind her. She turned around to see who it was, but no one was in the doorway. She shrugged and assumed it was down to the storm opening the door. she went back down and closed the door, while trying to battle the resistance from the wind trying to keep it open. She eventually won shutting the door shut. She did wonder how the wind managed to open the heavy door, but she then noticed all the leaves on the floor so she would have to brush all of them up later. Pinkie went back to what she was doing, taking the fillies to sleep. She carried on her escapade and eventually got them both to sleep after singing them a very silly, yet effective lullaby that her sister used to sing to her when she was young.

Once finished she made her way downstairs to start to brush up all the leaves blown in by the door. If one of those leaves got into the cupcakes, who knows what may of happened. Then again a leaf flavoured cupcake would be a new kind of cake for Sugarcube corner.
She went over behind the counter and picked up a broom in her mouth. Just as she made her way around the counter something caught her eye. As one of the lightning flashes hit nearby, light poured in through the window revealing a hooded figure sitting at one of the dark booths across the room. She jumped at the sight of the single figure, just sat there with a menu in its hooves. She could not pick out any detail of the pony in question, only that it was a pony from the hooves. It sat perfectly still, with its cloak still soaking from its time out in the rain. Pinkie came to assume it was just a pony sheltering from the rain.

"Ill just be with you in a minute!" Pinkie shouted when she spat out the broom. She then started to brush up the scattered leaves from the wooden floor. Once she was pleased with the leaf free floor she brought her attention to their unusual guest. Bouncing over cheerfully as she normally did, as she got closer she could see more about the hooded guest. At the base of where he was sitting where two saddlebags, which looked like the type Pegasus uses. She could still not however see from under his cloak, she could however see his dark grey fur from the hooves that still clung to the menu.

"So what brings you to Sugarcube corner on a gloomy, dark, miserable, wet, boring day like today?" Pinkie quirked. But her question was not answered, The figure just stood still, It was like a statue, sat there still gazing at the menu. Eventually though the figure seemed to move under his cloak. It looked up from the dark showdown of its hood. Pinkie could tell it was now paying attention to her. Without looking the dark pony began to close and put down his menu. Pinkie now felt cold and a little scared in the way this pony moved. She started to shiver out of fear or pinkie sense, she did not know.

The pony then raised both his hooves slowly and reached for his hood. It gripped on the sides, pinkie was now shivering uncontrollably. I one fluid motion the hood was swept back and the face of the dark unknown pony was reviled.

Pinkie stared at the face of the pony in question. It was a stallion with a grey coat and a blue mane, but it was not the scruffy hair that made the pony look odd. It was his eyes, they were not like pony eyes they were like that of a cat. with slits for irises. Pinkie did not know what kind of pony would have such eyes. The only pony she had met in the past to have these eyes was, nightmare moon.
The creature stared at her and smiled, revealing his pointed canines. Canines that could be used to eat meat, or ponies.

"Hello, I'm Light Bite. Can I place an order please?" The canine pony said in a friendly manner. Pinkie stared at the pony for a second unable to react to such an unusual pony. Her light or flight response screamed at her to react, but she stayed still waiting for something to happen.

"Are you okay?" The pony across her asked, outreaching a hoof to check if she was not having a complex seizure. Pinkie saw the hoof reach out for her, but her ears did not hear the words the male pony said before. Her mind was too preoccupied processing what she was seeing. Was this another nightmare? No they defeated the nightmare long ago. Her mind then screamed at her to run as the hoof edged closer slowly. Her mind came finally to one thought that added all of it up, just as the hoof made contact with her shoulder she jumped up and took in one large gulp of air and shouted "Vampire pony!"

The 'vampire pony' winced at her sudden and extreme outburst, slamming back into his seat. Seeing the pony some how hold in mid jump and wave her hooves around, her limbs finally got a bearing and began to gallop away from the grey pony. She ran for the doors leading towards the kitchen. She burst through the doors now hitting hard on the breaks, she skidded across the floor heading towards a large sack of flour. She collided with the sack, sending out a cloud of flour that covered all over the kitchen.
Mr and Mrs Cake looked in awe as a flour now covered all of their work, all those cakes now ruined thanks to Pinkies antics.

"Pinkie!" Shouted Mr Cake. They have been used to Pinkies moments but this, crossed the line. They now had nothing to give to Vinyl's order, now they were going to lose profit.

Mrs Cake then decided to have her say in the incident "Pinkie what has got into you!? I know you have your moments but this is way out of line! Even for you! what has caused you to act in such a way?"

Pinkie emerged from the flour cloud, still frantic from her encounter "There is a vampire pony in the café!" She shouted.

"What?" Both Cakes shouted in unison.

"There is a vampire pony in the café!" Pinkie screamed, waving her hooves in the air sending more flour everywhere. The Cakes frowned at each other. They had not seen Pinkie this frantic before and she was the most strangest pony in all of Ponyville.

"Pinkie there is no such thing as a vampire pony. You of all ponies should know that." Sighed Mr Cake, face hoofing himself at all of this inconvenience.

"I saw him! I did I did I did!" Protested Pinkie "He is right there, in the café! He has fangs and evil eyes, like nightmare moon! We need garlic, crosses and wooden stakes, maybe silver no wait that's ware..."

"Pinkie!" Interrupted Mrs cake "For the last time we are fed up of your Pinkie moments, there is no such thing as vampire-"

Ding

"-Ponies" The sound of the bell on the front counter broke Mrs Cake mid speech. The married ponies turned around to the swing doors that lead into the café. That was odd, a pony visiting in this weather. Maybe Pinkie did see a pony but just got a fright at the sight of the pony in the dark. Mrs Cake accepted the explanation in her head and proceeded to trot to the door when pinkie ran in front of her blocking her path to the door.

"You can't go out there! He is there he will suck your blood and turn you into one of them! The pink mare blurted at a thousand miles an hour. The elderly earth pony placed a hoof on Pinkies side and swept her gently out of the way. Mr cake stepped in to contain Pinkie by holding her back. Mrs Cake resumed her trot and left Pinkie hooves in mouth, chattering away.

Pinkie gasped when Mrs cake went through the doors. Mrs cake closed her eyes and put on a cheerful welcoming smile like she did to all the customers. "Hello and welcome to Sugar cube corner, how can I help you?" She cheerfully said. She did not open her eyes to see the pony she only did that when the unknown pony spoke.

"Hello, can I have a apple tart and erm... an apple juice please?" The pony spoke. Mrs cake finally opened her eyes and finally looked at the pony. Soon as she got a good look at his fangs from his mellow smile, the slits in his eyes and the scruffy mane. She put all the features together and concluded in the same way as Pinkie did, that there was indeed a vampire pony in the café. Which also followed on with the exact same reaction as Pinkie.

"Your a... your a..." Mrs Cake stuttered.

"Bat pony, I-" started the pony.

"Vampire pony!" Mrs cake then made a dash for the door barging through, making an awful racket. She slumped against the doors sealing them and was left gasping for air from her immediate physical exertion. She still had the shock running through her mind, there was a real vampire in her café! She allowed her mind to organise itself, looking now at Mr Cake who looked terrified at her wife's reaction. while Pinkie was sat down calmly smiling in victory.

"See I told you so" Pinkie mused.

Meanwhile in the main part of the café Light Bite the bat pony, was now slumped against the counter. This was the exact response he got from other towns. All the other ponies terrified of him, all the way from Vanhoover to Manehattan. Ponyville was the last place for his chance for his hopes and dreams. But no, all the ponies in Equestria minus his hometown, where all scared of bat ponies. Light wanted to scream there on the spot, but he could not. All the sorrow in him was so much he could not even cry, all he could do was lay there with his head on the wooden counter and let the tears roll down his cheeks. His dream of setting up a fruit salad bar was in pieces.
He came from a dark place where only bat ponies could be found, Hollow shades. He grew up there with his parents and as soon as he got his cutie mark from making his triple mango volcano fruit salad, his dream had always been to start his own business. Once he was old enough he set out from home to set up his new business, but all the other bat ponies in his area warned him what may happen if he left the safety of the town. However like any young mind, he ignored their advice and set off through the forest, in search of his dream. Whenever he got to a town though all the ponies ran from him or ignored him, he search around Equestria looking for the best place to start his business without being persecuted but to no success.

One day however he had overheard ponies talk of Ponyville and how friendly everypony was. It was his last chance to make a dream reality, so he set off walking day and night all the way to Ponyville. Only when he got there it was just the same as all the others, fear and loneliness.

So Light Bite slumped there, crying confused what to do next. He had no purpose now. He slowly got up and went back to where he was sat before. Put on his still wet cloak and saddle bags letting tears drip a small wet path behind him. He made his way to the door outside, he opened the door. He was not welcome here, he was welcome no where. Now it was just time to go home, quest over. Just as he was about to step outside, a pink head popped out of the double doors of the kitchen.

Pinkie had been sneakily watching the pony for a few minutes now and saw how sad he was. Even she had felt sad, she knew no pony
should be sad. After all she was the element of laughter, so it was her duty to make everypony happy but now she may of made this pony sad, even if he was a vampire pony. He did not deserve to be unhappy or sad. Pinkie's mane deflated slightly and she frowned at what she may of done. She returned to the kitchen once she saw the sad pony step out into the pouring rain and shut the door behind him. She had shattered a pony's dream.

Chp2. Redemption

Pinkie was slumped on her bed on the second floor, her mane was deflated form its usual puffy state. She was sad, and that was obviously apparent. She had spent all night helping the cakes to get half the order back after she had destroyed the rest with flour. The Cakes were relieved to see the 'Vampire pony' go away, much to Mrs Cake especially. They would have to tell Twilight sparkle the next day once the storm had died down, it was a little dangerous for anypony to go outside tonight.

She had been sat there for the last hour, completely still, thinking about her over reaction. Yes, Pinkie was still unsure about whether that pony was indeed a vampire pony, but she also had doubt in that theory. She assumed that if he was a vampire pony, he would not of cried walking out of the café. This just made her confused and sad at the same time.

The feeling of hurting a pony and the frustration of curiosity was not doing her brain cells any good. So much so that it was causing a migraine. She would not be getting any sleep tonight. She fell down onto the bed letting out a very loud sigh. She wondered where the pony had gone now? Was he safe from the storm? That question just made her feel even worse, to the point to tears in fact. She just laid in her bed trying to think of someway to redeem herself. She just felt terrible from it all.

On that spot she decided to find that vampire pony and make him smile again. She would get up tomorrow and make it her mission to find him and throw a party for him. This would be her sole mission, nothing would stop her, but she would still have to say to twilight that there was another vampire pony in town. The last incident involved Fluttershy causing chaos in Sweet apple acres.

"I don't know who you are, or where you are from. But I have a very particular set of skills, skills that can make anypony like you, smile. I will look for you Mr vampire and I will find you and I will make you party." she whispered quietly before shutting her eyes.

Light Bite walked through the downpour. His cloak was still soaked through and so was his coat making him shiver. If he did not find shelter soon he would suffer from hypothermia. He still had some bits left, so maybe he could find an Inn. But he would have to keep his face concealed he would not like another incident like the one earlier. He trotted along the streets looking for anypony for directions, but the rain stopped anyone from being out. He could not knock for anyone for risk of panic. It was tough being a bat pony, everypony was afraid of you.
He then walked into a square where a huge circular building was. He looked at it and saw a sign 'town hall' but what said underneath gave him some hope 'and inn'.

Finally he could shelter from this downpour. He walked up the steps to the front door and opened the doors inward. It was quiet and no pony around, perfect. He slowly made his way in and gently shut the door. He looked around seeing a small reception, it was alone after all from the huge hall that was in the middle. He walked up and rung a bell that was sat on the desk. Soon as he did so a head popped round from the curtain of the stage. Quill, an earth pony was a young intern at the town hall working as the mayors aid. He was lively and active with his blue dark blue mane and brown coat. He smiled as he walked back to the reception, happy that he had some work to do from this slow uneventful day.

"Good evening, how may I help you today?" he quirked.

Light bite looked up, but still kept it low enough to hide his face "Yes I would like a room for tonight please"

"Sure it is 5 bits a night here"

Light handed the intern 10 bits for 2 nights, Quill gladly accepted and gave him a key and directions to the rooms on the second floor. Light climbed the stairs relieved he did not have to reveal himself to the pony. At least he had a bed for the night, tomorrow he can get supplies then go back home the following day.

He came to his room, the corresponding number 9 on the door and key. He opened it to find a wooden bed with red covers on and a small en suite bathroom to the left. He was glad, now he could have a nice warm shower to get rid of the cold. Right now he was trying to distract himself from his broken dreams. He threw off his cloak and took off his bags and headed straight into the shower turning it to warm. He took a long shower thinking of what to do next. Right now he was unsure and still a bit emotional so making any decisions right now would be unwise.

He got out and dried off using the towels provided. He slumped on the bed thinking of what to do. He went into his saddle bags and took out his remaining bits and counted 50 to use and 700 in savings. He then took out a picture of his parents and looked right into it. It gave him memories of the time his parents were proud of their son getting his mark. There he was in-between the two of them giving his toothy grin. His dad was looking down at him smiling, radiating pride. As was his mother smiling with joy. A tear ran down Lights cheek as he realised he was crying, crying that all his work was just gone. He did not what to tell his parents about what happened, but he would have to eventually. He did not know how his father would react, he was the one who was most proud of him. Plus he would have to live through the torture of all the other bat ponies saying 'I told you so'.

He let out a groan in frustration and fell on his bed. What to do? His head was swimming in ideas thoughts and emotion. He then decided maybe he could figure it out tomorrow. No rush to try anything. He got into the bed and shut his eyes trying to sleep but he could not drift off. His mind was just too active, even if he tried to blank his mind. So he just laid there, awake confused and frustrated.

The next day was a lot better than the last. The usual sun was shining in the sky, evaporating the water from the ground. But some was still soaked into the ground making it muddy. This did not stop all the residents of Ponyville though, they were out as they would on a normal day. Running errands, going to work or just doing household chores, it was all back to normal. But in the window of the town hall, Light bite slumped on the window sill, looking out at all the ponies getting on with the beautiful day. He was trying to build up the courage to go outside again, but the thoughts of last night still haunted him. He could see himself tripping in his cloak and revealing his identity. Making everypony panic and run away, leaving him in the dirt, alone.

After a few minutes his stomach rumbled loudly, he realised he had not eaten since yesterday and for a bat pony low blood sugar was not good. He then knew he would have to go out. So he grabbed his now dry cloak and bags put them on and looked in the mirror behind the door. Making sure his face or body was obscure from view. With one deep breath he opened the door and proceeded to go outside. With each step his mind told him to stop, but right now his stomach was guiding him straight to food. Right now he craved an apple, just something with sugar for his high metabolism.

He walked up and squinted at the bright day. The downside with being a bat pony is that you are sensitive to sunlight. He walked through the town, trying to act casual. Not trying to draw attention to himself but the cloak did not really help. Every so often a pony would stare at him but he just kept his head down trying to look for something to eat. He eventually came across a large courtyard full of market stalls, jackpot.

Meanwhile on the other side of town Pinkie was up and also being stealthy. She was hid behind a large plant pot, that was still being watered by Rose luck. She leapt out before the water hit her and commando rolled to a sign trying to match its shape. Slowly she moved cover to cover, closer to Twilights house. The cakes already told her to go there and explain what happened, but she was going to tell her of what she saw.
Twilight was one of her best friends, a lavender unicorn pony that came to Ponyville to learn friendship. Over time they bonded and went on adventure also occasionally saving all of Equestria. Twilight was the bookworm type, always reading and learning. Finally she reached to door to Twilights house, a library no matter for a bookworm it was heaven. She sat in a bush next to the stable door, peering out making sure she was not being watched. A pink hoof raised out of the bush and gently knocked on the door before darting back into the shrub.
A moment later the door opened to reveal Twilight Sparkle, her friend. The purple straight manned unicorn looked around to find no pony about. Twilight assumed it was the CMC or rainbow playing another prank, she took a step out to look up to see if anypony was above her with a bucket of water like last time. When suddenly she was attacked by, what appeared to her to be a tree monster.

The green monster pushed Twilight back into the library and kept hold rolling the two of them back. The door slammed shut behind them from the force created from the collision. Finally they came to a stop and pinkies head popped out of the bush smiling, looking down at twilight face to face.

"Hi Twilight!" Pinkie greeted.

"Pinkie pie!? What in Luna? You could of just knocked like a normal pony" the unicorn replied.

"Well duh, I did silly billy!"

Pinkie then bounced off Twilight and kept bouncing on the spot, eager to tell her the story.

"Pinkie, what are you doing here? Don't you have to work today at Sugarcube?" Twilight asked getting up from the floor.

"Well," Pinkie stopped bouncing and slumped on the floor, her ears went back and mane deflated. Suddenly she looked up into twilight's face and began to ramble

"LastnightwegotagueastwhowasavampireponyIranbackintotheki-" Pinkie was cut off by a hoof being placed in her mouth by Twilight.

"Pinkie slow down. What happened?" Twilight then removed her hoof, and began to listen to her frantic friend.

Pinkie began to tell her tale more slowly, but with no less drama as expected. From the part where she sent the fillies to sleep to the point where she saw the vampire pony leave. Twilight listened to her every word, she was concerned when she described the pony thinking it was another flutter bat incident. But what she was hearing was this was nothing like that. "And that's when I came here to tell you!" Pinkie finished with a smile "Please tell me you can help?"
"Pinkie from what you have said, I don't think its a vampire pony"

"But it had fangs and bat wings!" Pinkie replied somehow making a cloak appear, pretending to be Dracula.

"Pinkie, Its a bat pony that came to you, a very rare type of pony. A bat pony," Pinkie then put down the cape and listened to twilight. "They make up half of Luna's personal guard and there is only one known place they all exist. Ponies are scared of them because they look different and with fangs they all run away in fright. That's why they all converged in one place."
"So I upset a normal pony?" Pinkie's suspicions were correct, it was just a normal pony. She now felt like crying all over again. Twilight noticed this and put a hoof around her friend for reassurance.

"Pinkie, if there is any pony that can make a pony smile, its you. We should go find this pony if we can, it would be interesting to learn of his type." Pinkie picked up and grabbed Twilight in a bear hug. "Thank you Twilight, you're the best pony ever!"

"We should get going now. He may still be in Ponyville, did you see where he went?"
Pinkie let go eventually "No I didn't" It was just getting tougher and tougher for her.

"Well lets just have a look, maybe somepony saw him." Twilight then went to the door, pinkie in pursuit. They where going to hunt down the bat pony and find out why he is here and to make amends for last night.

Twilight and Pinkie made there way around the edges of Ponyville. Asking around if they saw any odd looking ponies, or anypony in a cloak. They had been searching all morning, even recruited the help of the CMC in the search. But no pony saw anything that they described.
They were just making their way into the centre to see if there was any luck there. Twilight said it would be good to start in the centre and work out. She suspected that he could of stayed in the inn section of the town hall. Its what she would do if you were a foreign pony.
They made their way in and looked for they mayor pony but she was not around. No pony was insight so twilight rang the bell,

Leaving Pinkie to hop around shouting 'hello'. AN earth pony popped out from under the desk scaring Twilight and himself.

"Ah!" screamed twilight.

"Ah!" scream quill. "Sorry you scared me, can I help you?"

"Yes have you seen an unusual pony? Maybe he was wearing a cloak?"

Quill looked up for a second before remembering last night "Yes! we did he paid for 2 nights he's staying in room 7. He set out this morning I think he went to the market." Twilight then realised she may of hit the jackpot.

"If he comes back can you tell him to come to the library please?"

"Sure"

"Pinkie! He went to the market c'mon if we hurry we can catch him!" Shouted Twilight to her pink friend who was still hopping. They both galloped for the door slamming it open in hot pursuit of their unknown pony.

Author's Note

I am doing this story before Twilight becomes a princess. It makes it easier, I think anyway.

Chp 3. The chase is on

'I'm a normal pony, I am just a normal pony doing normal things'

That was what Light Bite kept thinking as he slowly moved through the crowds of ponies. For a large village it had a thriving market, ponies were everywhere some selling and plenty more buying. Too bad Light Bite could not be a part of it. He watched the days deals going on. He saw a variety of stands from food and drink to lamps and quills.

He stepped through carefully keeping his head low just enough so he could see where he was going. His stomach started to hurt from not being fed. He hadn't eaten for a few days now since he ran out of supplies coming here, hence him coming to sugarcube corner the day before. It was a problem being a bat pony with high metabolism, sugar was a basic requirement. Unlike most other ponies whose diet was 70% carbohydrates for a bat pony it was 70% sugar. And one thing Light bite loved more than anything was apples. His mouth drooled over the thought of the sweet succulent fruit being in his mouth. All the sweet tingle and the smooth aftertaste of the juice lingering in his mouth. This just made the hunger pains more worse.

He took a quick glance up revealing some of his face to look around. He looked in the distance trying to look for some sort of fruit stand, In particular apples.

He carried on deeper into the market till his eyes locked onto what he was looking for. Just a few hoof steps away was a stall with bright red apples. His mind became clouded and a heavenly aura blurred out all that was around the apples. All he could see was the apples all neatly placed, calling to him 'eat me bite, eat us!' he heard.

"I'm coming my darlings!" He shouted out loud deluded from the vision.

Back in reality he simply bounded up to the apples breaking his cover. Grabbing the attention of a few ponies around him who now stared at him confused. He took out a hoof and grabbed one of the apples from the stand admiring it for two seconds before it vanished into the shadow of his hood and appeared a moment later, remaining the core of the apple. He felt the juice in his mouth and savoured the flavour before taking another apple. But just as he was about to a voice caught his attention.

"Hey ya gonna pay for those, or are ya just gonna keep scoffing them?" He heard in his ears,
he noted the southern accent and looked to the source of the voice.

Before him stood a orange mare with a brown Stetson hat. She looked at him with green emerald eyes. He didn't really notice that she looked a little angry at him. In his mind all he saw was an angel.

Her orange coat and blond mane that was the stuff of stallion dreams. He noticed her mane that was held together with cute red bands that just made her even more attractive. But the best thing he noticed on her where her green, emerald eyes. How the sparkled in the light and freckles on the sides just made her stunning. Those eyes he could stare all day at and never get bored.

He didn't feel hunger for the apples no more, instead he felt a different sensation, one that he had no idea what it was. His heart started to race and his body temperature shot up. Even his wings were starting to ruffle under his cloak from the sudden feeling. Just as he was about to say something she reached a hoof out for him. 'Oh Celestia she's going to touch me! he shouted in his head, this was all going to fast for him to comprehend. As the hoof reached up, his heart picked up an extra beat now he was on the verge of a heart attack. His mind tried to understand what was going on, but his heart was moving too fast for him to understand.
'Shes moving in to kiss me!'.Out of reaction to the hoof he leaned forward and stretched out his neck. His lips puckered expecting the next move of the mare to kiss him in response. He closed his eyes and stayed in the same position expecting to feel her lips on his.

But instead of feeling the soft touch of angel lips on his he felt a nudge to his shoulder.
"Hey, Mister are you okay?" He heard, he quickly came out of his own little world to acknowledge what he had just heard.

"Wha...wait, what?" Was all he said. Still stuck in state of shock.

"Ah said 'mister are you okay?'" The orange mare repeated.

"Erm, ya I am, wait what?" His mind started to catch up now, taking back control of his body from his heart. He was confused at what just happened to him. Lucky for him his cloak hid his Now he was thinking straight he could finally see the look of worry in the orange mare's face. "Sorry I am fine, just erm... really good apple! Yes! Just a little shocked at the taste that's all! Best apple I have ever eaten!" He tried to give a toothy smile under his coat, even if his face was still concealed.

The mare stared at him suspiciously for a while before responding "Well ah know we sell the best apples this side of Equestria, but that still doesn't answer my original question"

"What was the original question?" Light queried.

"Are ya gonna pay for that?" The mare now pointed to the apple core discarded on the ground. Light saw the core and realised what he had just done, he had just taken the apple and ate it, without paying a single bit.

"Oh right! Sorry!" He chuckled nervously and turned to reach for his bag of bits in his saddle bags. "Here, take 6 bits, I got bit hungry and ate before I paid. I am sorry, I really am."
the mare took the bits from his hoof and placed the on the counter beside her. "Well that's mighty kind of ya! Even if it is just 2 bits and apple." She laughed at the irony of it all and grabbed 5 apples from the stand. "Here, take 5 more if ya that hungry mister. Maybe some apples from apple acres will set your mind straight."

Light bite took the apples and started to place them into his other saddle bags. "Thank you, your very kind miss....?"

"Applejack!" She perked.

"Thank you, Miss applejack," Applejack smiled back at the pony from the mention of her name. She wasn't sure what this pony was up to, and she was curious as to why a pony would need to wear a cloak. "I'm light bite. You don't mind if I buy some more for my journey do you?" He asked with a blush, than Celestia his hood was up.

"Sure thang!" Apple jack went to put some apples in a paper bag for her new customer. "So where is it your heading? If ya don't mind mah askin?"

"Just home" Was his reply.

"Why you came here on vacation or sommin?"

"No I was just, well on a business trip I suppose"

"What is it ya do?"

Light bite was then caught off guard again, unsure of what to say he said the first thing that came to his mind "Oh, I'm just a food critic. Yep just a food critic. Ben traveling all around Equestria, trying all varieties of food." He let out a nervous laugh, he was still unsure what happened with himself earlier. But he could still feel the after affects, his stomach was now churning not of hunger now but of something else and he still had a blush on his face.

"Well then, Mister Bite hope these apples will help you in your next review, don't forget to mention our farm," She could tell there was a slight lie in his voice but couldn't see it in him since his face was hidden from her, so she decided to question him on it "One last thing though, why are ya wearing that cloak and hiding ya face? It is mighty rude of a pony not to see who they're talking to."

Thrown back by the question Light tried to come up with an answer "Well... urm.. its cold! Really cold."

"It's 75 degrees," She pointed at the thermometer on the stall, as Applejack said it was indeed 75 degrees Fahrenheit "Now why would a pony want to keep that cloak on?" She started to take a step forward, making Light back off a little. Applejack could tell a liar when she heard one after all she was the element of honesty, which meant she could detect a lie easily.

"Well urm..." The bat pony was still being pushed back as she kept moving forward. She gave him a steely eyed look, expecting the truth to come out. But if light revealed himself who knows what kind of chaos he would cause.

"C'mon. Spit it out" She kept pressing. Light felt something behind him preventing his slow escape, she had him now. She started to lift her hoof to reach for the hood of the cloak, but she did it slow to let the unknown pony answer.

"Well I..." closer the hoof came.

"Tell me!" closer.

"I should..."

"Stop avoiding me," closer

"Please don't!"

"What in tarnation do you have to hide!?" The hoof finally made contact with the fabric and she began to pull back the hood. Light closed his eyes expecting a scream from her and for another scene of Frankenstein's pony to play out. But just as his identity was about to come to light, and almighty crash was heard from behind.

"Cutie mark crusaders! Bounty hunters yay!"

"Applebloom what did Twilight say exactly we are looking for?" Whined Scootaloo, as the
three fillies rode through town on the CMC mobile.

The CMC mobile consisted of Scootaloo at the front riding on her scooter, while attached to the scooter was a red trailer carrying Applebloom and Sweetiebell.

"She said we ah looking for a hooded, suspicious pony and should capture him!" quirked Applebloom the earth pony.

"Are you sure that's what miss twilight said?" Responded the other passenger, Sweetiebell, the unicorn of the group.

Together all 3 fillies made up the CMC, the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Scootaloo the orange coated and purple manned pegasi, Applebloom the pale yellow and cherry and Sweetiebell white with 2 shades of pink in her mane. Together they were all best friends from their school but outside the where the CMC. All united in their quest to find their cutie marks. Every day they tried all sorts of antics just to get their marks. Everyone else in their school had them why not them?

So with every spare hour they spent, they tried a variety of tasks to see if a cutie mark appeared on one of them. But now they were on a mission.

"Hey maybe we could get our mark for this!" Explained sweetie bell.

"Don't be daft sweetie, how do you get a mark in fugitive hunting?" Replied Scootaloo.

"Well... like a bounty hunter!"

"Bounty hunter?" Questioned Applebloom.

"Yeah, my sister explained that when a pony escapes jail, or 'skips bail'. They send another pony to hunt them down and bring them back. They get paid for it, and get honoured by the princesses!" Sweetie belle tried to explain to her friends. Scootaloo picked up on this at the front on their convoy.

"So, now we are bounty hunters? I thought we were trying fitness instructors for today!?"

"We can do that tomorrow. For now imagine if one of us got our mark being a bounty hunter? I wonder what it would look like."

Scootaloo thought about what her friend just said. It did all sound fun, plus with the attempt to get a possible cutie mark. Who could deny trying at least. "Okay we'll do it, but we are doing fitness tomorrow!"

And with a unanimous agreement the CMC set out on their next adventure. "Cutie mark crusader bounty hunters, yay!".

CRASH!

All in a second all Light bite saw was sky ground, sky ground, sky ground and more, sky ground. Until the ground stayed being ground with an almighty impact. The CMC convoy had smashed straight into him. After the trio of fillies had spotted their desired target, Scootaloo set off at full speed. She could get up to speed easily, just that it was the stopping part she had trouble with.

Light bite Landed luckily in another stand full of vegetables a good 15 meters away from where he originally was.

All Applejack could do was watch in awe as the red trailer hit the pony that WAS in front of her. The pony somehow took most of the impact and somehow went upwards spinning, rather than flying across Equestria. The rest of the impact just sent the CMC out of their convoy all of them just lying a few feet away from the initial collision.

Applejack came to her senses and put two and two together "What in lan sakes are ya'll doing!? You just knocked that poor pony across the street! What have ya'll been told ahbout goin too fast!? Especially you Applebloom! Ah told you to be the responsible filly!" AJ said in her stern sister tone.

The three fillies just let out a groan in response. All of them splayed across the place. The cowpony let out a huff of frustration and then remembered the pony that she was just talking to. She looked around frantically to try and spot the mysterious pony. Her emerald eyes locked onto a load of broken wood and vegetable in a pony sized pile just across from her stand.
She trotted up to the pile and proceeded to peer in. All she could see was bits of wood, obscuring the odd limb of pony that she could see. She heard a groan from under all of the wood. So she began to peel away the woods slowly trying to cause an injury just by removing some wood. As she removed more timber she started to see the details of the pony. His grey coat, then his blue scruffy tail along with his lighter grey hooves. It was only till she got to his wings did she stop.

'What are those?' She questioned herself.

But as she was removing debris, Light bite started to come to. When Applejack removed the wood from his wing it was then that he came back. He tried to sit up, but found a massive weight on his chest so he fell back again.

"Hey, mister ah you okay!?" He heard from the cowpony.

He immediately responded naturally "Yeah, I'm fine. Just can't move with all this wood on me."

"Hold on, ah got ya!"

With an almighty pull, Applejack had removed a heavy piece from Light bite. which left the bat pony now free to move. Slowly he began to sit up, holding himself with his hooves. He coughed from a some of the dust and started to check himself, while also thanking Applejack.
"Thanks cough, I really was stuck there. All I remember was feeling this massive pain in my side then I was in the air. What in Luna was that anyway?" He looked over to the orange mare and saw her, gnawing at him.

"What?" He asked.

"Your..." Was all applejack could say.

"Your, what?" He repeated.

Applejack just kept her gaze on him, ignoring his repeated question. Light bite saw this and wondered why she was looking at him like that. He looked at himself and thought he seemed normal. Tail, hooves, wings, the odd cut and bruise on him, but other than that seemed normal.

Then it hit him. He wasn't wearing a cloak anymore. There it was lying on the ground a few feet away, now he was exposed, compromised.

He looked back at the pony in front of him. Seeing some fear in her face, He immediately started to have flashbacks from his previous encounters. His worst was running from a mob of ponies thinking he was some nightmare pony or something. He wasn't quite sure but all he remembered was the fear and the constant running and flying.

Both ponies stood still, as if somepony stopped the clocks from moving, motionless in time. Other ponies started to gather around them out of curiosity from the crash. Light bite saw them all starting to gather. and looked round, his fear building and his heart starting to race. His fight or flight response started to kick in. But he was just too scared to move in case anymore ponies saw him or might cause another mob. Applejack on the other hoof was trying to find something to say.

Even she was scared but could not take her eyes off the scary looking pony. She had read books and seen films of something like this pony. But all of them portrayed them being evil or dangerous to anypony. She never thought she would see an actual one like this in real life, a vampire pony. In a desperate attempt to gain control and normality her mind simple asked aloud "Are you... Are you a vampire pony?" She said in a stutter.

Those words tore into Light bites ears. Just as he had feared those words 'vampire pony'. That stigma had been the bane of his journey, and now it was back again to cause more pain. In a desperate plea he tried to reason with the orange mare, just as other ponies came around staring, wide eyed at the so called 'vampire pony'.

"No! I'm not, please just..." He tried to say as he got up heading straight for Applejack. Other ponies now saw the strange alien pony move towards AJ and jumped to a conclusion.
From out of no where a pony shouted "Look out he's going for Applejack everypony RUN!"
In an explosion of coloured ponies, the crowd all ran in every direction, stumbling over each other to get away from the apparent danger. AJ in her sister instinct, ran towards the CMC to get them to some safety.

Light bite now stood in the eye of the carnage, wondering what to do. He was now in serious trouble and had to move NOW. But he could not move anywhere, not with a storm of panicking ponies circling around him. So he did one quick move. He opened up his wings, took on massive flap, and took the sky. From above he could see the carnage unfold below him, but he had to get out of there. He dived bombed and picked up his bags from the floor next to his cloak and headed straight for out of town. 'Time to leave before the pitchforks and torches are out' he thought to himself.

He flew as hard as he could, the beauty of bat ponies was they could not fly as fast as a Pegasus but could accelerate faster due to having more power in their wings. So quickly he was at top his top speed but just as he was reaching the outskirts of the town a he felt something wrap around his left hoof, he looked to see a rope in a purple aura tighten around him and drag him straight back down to the ground.

CRASH

Author's Note

Hey readers
Firstly I would like to apologise for my absence for a while, I had been working on other projects and forgot about this. Sorry :ajsleepy:

But I am now back and with a new chapter. Let me know what you think, I did used some new writing techniques for this. But this was THE HARDEST CHAPTER I HAVE WRITTEN SO FAR! Trying to get the falling in love part was hard. Anyway hope you enjoy, more chapters to come!

Darkshadow out.

Chp 4. Catch me if you can

Twilight and Pinkie had pretty much given up at this stage.

They where both stood in the middle of town, with both frowns upon their faces. Not once did they see, hear or smell (that was Pinkies idea) of a cloaked pony around town. All seemed lost.

"Pinkie... I think we lost him. I'm sorry" Twilight admitted.

Pinkie looked towards the ground sadden that all her effort was for nothing. Worse still was the feeling that she didn't make a pony laugh, but did in fact make a pony cry. She began to walk back to the café, twilight right behind her. Twilight thought of trying of cheering her friend up. But then thought against it, it just might make it worse. Not a word was said on that long walk back.

They reached the door to the café and walked inside. Pinkie made her way for the stairs leaving Twilight downstairs to figure out what to do next. It didn't help her that she too felt sad and in some way to blame for her friends suffering. She was an element bearer, and so was Pinkie so anything that affected one of the bearers did have a nock on affect on the others. Right now she felt it, worst of all there was just nothing to do. She sat down at one of the tables and just let her head drop onto the table. It let out a loud thud , but no pony around really took notice.

What am I going to do?,' she thought to herself. 'Pinkie is one of my best friends, and I've let her down. What kind of pony am I, if I cant even help my best friend?'. She let out a huff on the table. Her mind trying to find a way to search for the pony.

A simple scribing spell wont work, she doesn't even know the pony's name. She tried expanding her search using the CMC which also didn't work. Using wanted posters would be too slow. She would just have to hope that this all blows over, problem is pinkie tends to hang onto things. For the next 20 minutes she tried to come up with a plan, playing them out then deciding they wont work. As time went on ponies came and went, while the lavender unicorn just sat there frozen in time. But all of that was going to change, right now in fact.

From the door a group of ponies rushed in slamming the door wide open, then closing it immediately after. Twilight came out of her mind and looked at the group in awe. All of them seemed to be scared and jumpy, like they had all just saw a Ursa Major in town. One of them an earth yellow coat and white mane stallion, saw twilight and practically leapt over to her. Now twilight was just as frightened at what was going to happen next.

"Twilight, thank Celestia your here!" The frantic pony shouted, which pretty much made Twilight deaf. "There is a vampire pony, here! In Ponyville!"

Twilight only registered the words 'Vampire' and 'Pony' before a whole flashback of a plan came to her. In a split second she flipped the table they where sat at and launched herself at the pony. Pinning him to the chair.

"Just tell me where, when and which direction did he go!?" She demanded. The pony now was scared of her, never mind the vampire in town.

"Erm..."

"WHERE IS HE!?"

"That way... please don't hurt me" He let hoof shakily point in the rough direction he went.

Twilight let go of her hostage and made a mad dash for the door. She burst through it but immediately skidded to a halt. Sat in front of her was Pinkie, who had some how got out the café. Was sat amongst the running ponies, waiting for Twilight.

"Pinkie? Wha-How?" Twilight began to ask, but instead of an answer she just got;

"No time to explain, silly billy. C'mon we have a pony to rustle!" Pinkie said, brining a rodeo hat out very similar to AJ's and a rope.

CRASH

Light fell straight from the sky and had landed in another stall full of carrots. Luckily it didn't hurt that much but he couldn't say much for the stall he had landed in, that was a complete write off. He looked down to his hoof to find the rope still tied around him. He put two and two together and let his eyes follow the rope to the other end. At the other end he saw who had taken him from the sky. Before him stood a very determined purple unicorn and a springy pink earth pony. Fear shook through him when he saw the pink pony, he recognised her instantly even with the new hat on.

"Woo! Nice throw Twilight!" She praised to her friend, who he now knew her name was Twilight.

Twilight didn't take no notice of her friend but merely put down the rope that was in her magic. She had a look of worry on her face when she looked at Light Bite. After all he had just dragged a pony from the sky who had just destroyed Carrot tops stall and still looked petrified.
In one quick move The downed pony scrambled to his hooves in terror and galloped down a side street still with the rope attached to him.

Light wasn't sure what to even do now. He just got up and started running. Never had he came across a unicorn like this before. Yes of course he had dealt with unicorns, but none like this Twilight before. She had managed to take him out of the sky with a good level of accuracy and with some strength. Most unicorns cant even do that level, plus the looks she gave did not help.

Now he was running for his life, not even realising the rope was still attached to him. As he was running he felt the same hoof give under him. He fell and tumbled forward into a mess. When he looked at what had happened he saw the same ponies running after him. He only had a few seconds to react, he bit off the rope with his fangs and got up to keep running.

He just kept going and going, turn after turn but he could not shake off his pursuers. He had no Idea where he was going as he could see where each street lead with all the buildings around. That's when it hit him, he had wings. huh, Forgot I had those He chuckled in his mind. He could easily make an escape with these wings.

He spread out his wings but just as he flapped downwards to get some lift. A huge pain Went straight through his wings. He howled in pain even tumbled as he ran, which just caused more pain on his wing. He realised what he had done in the crash'Dammit! I've busted my wing!'. But he had no choice but to keep running and pray that he find the outside of the town. If he could get into that forest he saw when he came here he would be safe.

Mean while, behind chasing after him where Twilight and Pinkie running after the bat winged pony. Well Twilight was galloping while pinkie seemed to be skipping at a very fast pace.

They had just passed the centre of Ponyville, next to the water fountain. When Twilight saw the bat pony howl out in pain. Clearly she had damaged his wing when she had brought him down from the sky. She winced at the scream but ahead she saw him get up and just keep on going. 'Thank Celestia, she thought 'I thought I seriously hurt him then'. She could probably help heal him wing with a simple healing spell if not the hospital would be able to. But first, she would have to catch him.

Ahead of the chase Light managed to get back onto the main street back at the marketplace. Somehow he had managed to do a complete circle and was back where this all started. He stopped for a second to think, he did have a good lead on them but now the pair behind where closing in, fast.

"Think Bite, think!" He looked around for anything that might help. He spotted a sign that read 'lake' and decided to use that. Maybe the lake would lead to the forest but the very least it would get him out of the streets. He dashed for the stalls using them as obstacles to slow his pursuers down and gain back the lead. As a filly he lived in a forest so galloping and leaping through trees was easy, so this was no different to him.

Behind him his pursuers saw which direction where he was going. They had gained some ground when he halted at the sign, but that just gave away his intentions.

"He's heading...for the...lake Pinkie!" Twilight shouted between pants. She may of done the running of the leaves but not at this speed.

Before pinkie could even confirm what she heard another voice cropped up beside her. "What in tarnation are y'all doing chasing that creepy pony!?" Applejack shouted. She had a feeling she would be needed with this incident so as soon as she made sure the fillies where safe at the farm, she galloped all the way back to find Twilight and Pinkie tailing the said pony.

"He's not creepy meany," replied the pink mare "He's a bat pony, a rare type according to twilight! Am I right Twilight?"

"Uh... yeah, Applejack that pony is not a monster but a rare type of pony called a thestrial, also known as a bat pony"

"A what now?" Applejack questioned "Please don't tell me this is one of your spells gone bad again Twi? Ah really don't want another Flutterbat incident"

"No, no! That was different Urgh!, Ill explain later jets help us!"

With a extra burst of speed Applejack accelerated closer towards her target. She leaped and dodged all the stalls that he had left the other two still stuck in but she had lived on her farm and done the iron pony challenge too many times.

Light Bite took another look behind him only to see in his whole horror the pony that he had just tried to kiss was now running towards him. He even almost fell over with shock, at this rate shell be on top of him in no time. He started to make his hooves work overtime but he knew at this pace it wont be long till he ran out of energy, if only his wings where working now.

The cow pony behind him saw her opportunity to end this quickly. She grabbed a rope that was hanging off one of the stalls and began to swing it in her mouth. But before she could let the rope fly true a sudden blue flash flew past her. "I got this!" Was all she could get out. She knew who it was, Rainbow dash. 'Bout time girl!' she said to herself, with Rainbow dash and Applejack in pursuit there was no was no way Light could get away now.

Up ahead Light kept o running but just beside him a blue Pegasus seemed to slowly pull up beside him. At first he thought it was just normal and continued running but then realised how in tarterus she was there? The she was a light blue mare with rainbow mane doing the back flight "Hey slow poke," She spoke in her tomboy tone "How about you slow down a little and we can all do this the easy way?" His response was pretty clear, he made a immediate turn back towards the town.

"Good, hard way it is then"

She set off in tail of him, but he had a plan. All he had to do was get to the spot and he would surely loose her. He took turn after turn making it harder for her to catch up with him again. Through alleyways and tight bends, Rainbow had to slow herself down in order to turn. She could of just flew up and followed him from above, but where is the fun in that? Rainbow loved a challenge anyway to show she was the best flyer.

After a few more turns Light saw exactly what he was looking for, the town hall. Specifically the streamers that where high in the air. Not a risk at all to any earth pony or unicorn, but to a low flying Pegasus? He made a mad dash forward keeping her behind him fixated only on him. Rainbow made the turn behind him and was getting real mad now. "Time to finish this!" Famous last words.

In one massive surge she raced towards the pony in front, in complete tunnel vision she didn't notice her mistake. A massive tug came to her wing, like some pony had grabbed her mid flight. This sent her off course slightly but into the path of other streamers. In a massive reaction, she was caught up in a web of streamers and couldn't move her wings to adjust her course. She went hurtling towards the ground into some of the stalls like a confetti meteor.

Light, heard the impact behind him, knowing his plan had work. But he did have the decency to slow down and check his pursuer was okay. It was a nasty fall after all. He saw a hoof emerge from the wreckage and she dragged herself out coughing from all the kicked up dust. She seemed okay and alive, so he carried on running at full speed. He wasn't out of the woods yet, Applejack was still on to him.

Behind him the farmpony kept Light in her sights. To her it was just like herding cows, you just got to keep your distance before you can go in for the strike. So she kept all of her energy for when they where out in the open, then she would make her move. Light bite was well aware through that she was behind him. 'Why of all ponies did it have to be her? Why did I have to go and try to kiss her? what have I done now!?' he said in his mind. His fear for his life started to turn to anger at himself at how stupid he could of been and now he was doing just the same thing as he had done in the other towns. Fillydelphia, Balimare even Horseshoe bay, he had to make his quick escape when ponies found out what he was. Seeing and opening leading to outside the town, Light shook out of his autopilot and headed straight for the woods. He heard of the dreaded stories of the Everfree forest, if he could make it there he would surely loo...

"Hey! Bat colt!" He suddenly heard from behind him. Before he could even turn his head he felt a massive impact to his right flank. Sending him off balance and tumbling to the ground. Applejack saw her opportunity and took all her energy to close the gap and then use her body to knock him off his hooves. Light Bite screamed in pain as he landed.

SNAP

Hitting his damaged wing on the ground then all his weight fell on it. If it was just a minor injury then, it sure was a serious one now.

He stopped tumbling and instinctively tried to hold his injured wing, he felt pain all over him, but the wing was the worst. Applejack now stood in front of him once the dust had settled. Staring at him in victory, but when she saw him in pain she felt sympathy for him. She didn't say anything just felt... guilt.

Light gritted his teeth and just growled at the pain. He was no doctor but he knew this was bad. He was seriously injured and vulnerable. And all but injured by the earth pony he just fell in love with in a few minutes ago.

He looked up to see her just staring at him, but she had no emotion on her face. What now? Was she going to beat him, take him to the local police? He could not tell, no answer was in those emerald eyes of hers.

"Are you..." before Applejack could finish light leapt to his hooves and tried to barge past her. But the earth pony was too strong for him and she merely pushed back, sending him to the ground again. "Hey! What y'all tryin to run away for!?" She demanded. Light just merely sat in the dirt trying to get back on his hooves, but he was struggling. He had used up his sugar and was starting to go into shock thanks to his wing. He felt weak, instinct however told him he had to get away, NOW.

"Hey, you stay right there. Your hurt, I don't know exactly what you are, but you need to stay down... Hold on wait!"

But that was it. He had finally passed out.