fLuTtEr

Author: Annonymouse
MLP:FiM is property of Hasbro. This is a free fan-fiction, not to be sold or traded for any money, goods or services.
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WARNING: GRIMDARK. Contains graphic writing. Please do not read if you do not like gory violent stories concerning MLP. Contains murder, slaughter, vore and swearing (like this last one really matters, lol).
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fLuTtEr
sIx
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Nigel staggered along, hiccoughing a couple times, then giggling like a drunkard, which he was.

Hold on a sec, Nigel you say? What kind of pony name was that? Well, to be fair, it was his middle name. Crash N. Burn was his full name, and he tended to live up to it quite sadly. Heck, his cutie mark was a flaming wing after all.

Now that's been cleared up, back to the incoming brutality.

One moment Nigel was walking along the forested path to his cottage, outside the town proper, and the next he was slammed by something heavy, or strong, or fast... or all of the above perhaps.

The air was knocked from his lungs and he rolled, but somehow managed to roll to his hooves. If there was one thing Nigel could do well, that was fight. He liked to fight and would often pick fights at the pub.

Not fights to beat the brains out of some other pony, but more along the lines of drunken boxing, the looser being the first to fall and stay down for a three count.

Nigel shook his head and looked around. Even though his vision was a little blurry, he couldn't see his attacker.

Then from the side, he was hit again, the impact brutally hard. He felt the bones in his wing crunch from the impact, which sent him flying hard into a thick tree.

His other wing and chest exploded with pain. He hit the ground, falling at least three lengths to the uneven ground below. He felt his left hind leg twist as it landed poorly on an exposed root.

Still, he had experienced worse pain before.

Struggling to his hooves he looked around. The booze no longer blurring his vision or hampering his senses.

A small flap in the darkness, a tiny change in air pressure.

His attacker was airborne, flying on feathered wings.

Nigel tuned and spotted the silhouette of his attacker. It was a Pegasus, but three things were off.

The wings were shaped wrong. These were not the wide wings of any Pegasai he knew, but longer and slender, meaning this was a fast flier.

The eyes seemed to almost glow, flickering red in the dim, overcast night. They looked like something a predator would have.

And finally the feature that actually frightened Nigel... the smile. What little moonlight that seemed to peak through the clouds seemed to focus on that smile... that cruel, evil smile, and the fangs.

A break in the clouds lit up a feral looking pony, with a dark red mane and tail, both long and dragging on the ground.

Then it moved, the wings folding and half unfolding as it moved with a strange feline grace. It looked unnatural to see a pony move like that.

He then became aware that her hooves were not making any sound on the rocky ground.

“Hey... you somepony I beat in a match?” He coughed a little, tasting a little blood in his mouth. It was a taste he was familiar with.

The pony said nothing, but kept staring at its prey.

The shape of the body and face. This was a mare. She may have been a bit small, but she looked lean, with lean and sexy muscles flowing beneath her coat. Were it not for that smile, and maybe the eyes, she was very beautiful.

He felt almost captivated by this dark beauty, and only remembered he was in danger when he bumped his limp wing against the tree.

“Oh fuck...” He turned and bolted, just in time to evade a pounce. He heard the sound of a piece of tree being ripped apart. A glance back, and he saw a sizable chunk had been removed from the tree, right where his head would have been.

Town was too far, and he was limping as fast as he could on three legs. Even if he screamed, by the time anypony heard him and responded, this mare... this Nightmare, just might have him by then.

But if he could reach home, he had some tools he could use as weapons, mainly his cooking knives. Almost on instinct, he scrambled to the side, his broken wing being caught in the mare's jaws.

He screamed as he was yanked off his hooves, the pain of the mare snapping bone and tearing flesh nearly blinding.

Nigel lashed out with his good leg, catching the nightmare in the ribs and kicking her flying into the darkness between the trees.

There was no sound of the mare crashing, or even the slightest flutter of wings.

Not wasting a moment, Nigel scrambled toward the light ahead. His cottage, the window lit by a small magic light he had purchased by that travelling sales-mare... What was her name? Trixie? Yea, whatever, that didn't matter right now.

He burst through the front door, blood streaming from the stump where his wing had been.

He grabbed the sharpest knife he owned from the counter and turned toward the door.

The mare was standing there, lit by the pale light from outside and the magic stone inside. Her form was indeed slender, strong, beautiful... terrifying.

In her mouth was his dismembered wing, still twitching.

She gently set the wing down and spoke in a most angelic voice. “I do hope you are enjoying my little game.”

Nigel gripped the knife in his teeth and stepped back. “Don't wanna hurt ya... just go away an' leave my wing. I don't wanna cut you up.”

The mare licked her bloody lips and turned her head slightly. “Do you think you have what it takes?”

He watched as a red line flowed from under her eye, down her beautiful, frightening face. Was she was crying tears of blood? “What are you?”

“A mother.” She stepped forward, not making a sound on the creaky floorboards. “And my baby must eat.”

Nigel gulped. This was no Pegasus Pony. He watched those red eyes, the pupils narrowing to slits as she stepped into the light. “Why? Why would you do something like... attack me? Your baby can surely eat animals in the forest, can't it?”

“He used too, but then, he tasted pony flesh.” She licked her lips, her wings fluttering in anticipation. “And I have to say, he really does enjoy it more than anything else. When my baby is happy, I'm happy.”

“Fuck you. I'm not going to become your freak child's next meal.” He lunged forward, slashing with the knife.

But the mare moved to his left. The knife was to his right. He couldn't turn his head or body fast enough to compensate. The mare's tail flew into his eyes, blinding him momentarily. The best he had manged was to cut a few errant strands of tail hair.

He suddenly felt a hoof to his lower jaw, his world blossoming into pain as he felt it bruise. The sound of the knife falling to the floor with a thunk didn't even register.

He landed on his bloody and raw wing stump, more pain tearing through him.

“Come on now. You're a big stallion. I'm a little mare.” Flutter's honeyed voice taunting Nigel's ears.

He had heard that voice before.

He knew this pony, somehow.

Then Nigel saw the cutie mark.

“I... I know you... Fluttershy? From Ponyville? You mended my broken wing a few years back...” Nigel struggled to rise.

“Oh?” She looked... surprised? “You know me?”

“You're kind... gentle. You're not like this.” He didn't want to beg for his life. He tried to reason with her. This was not the pony he had met before. “You'd never even hurt a fly.”

Flutter giggled cutely, making Nigel's blood run cold. “Yes, that's me. But I am also a mother who would do anything for her baby.” She glanced down at the knife. “Very nice knife. Made out of Damascus Steel, isn't it? Very expensive, strong and sharp.” She gripped the handle in her teeth and pulled it from the floor with no effort.

“Please... Fluttershy. You don't have to do this... Please!” He cried, his back to the wall as Flutter advanced, her eyes reflecting off the knife.

Crash N. Burn saw those eyes... They were not the eyes of this pony, but something else, cold, ruthless, evil, and hungry.

He didn't get chance to scream as the blade flashed, piercing his eye and being buried to the hilt into his brain.
...

The voiceless whispers and never clearly seen shadows taunted Twilight as she opened her first book.

The pages were made of the treated skin of some unknown creature, and scribed in blood.

The first diagram of some bipedal creature told her this was not the book she wanted. She closed the Necronomicon and floated it back to its place on the shelf.

Book after book, she would open and quickly examine, choosing only the books that seemed relevant to her research or those that caught her attention. Those she placed on the stone floor near the table.

“Ugh... Who knew Necromancy was this creepy... and WOULD YOU SHUT UP!!!” She screamed at the voiceless whispers, her voice echoing with power through the hall.

Silence...

Then the voiceless whispering returned.
...

Flutter had drank her fill, once again becoming nearly intoxicated by the blood. It tasted so wonderful, and she felt stronger than before. She pulled her long, sharp fangs from Nigel's jugular. There was very little blood left in the body.

She dragged the remains from the cottage. She paused and looked back. There was evidence in that cottage. Evidence that could lead to her.

Flutter entered the hut and opened the few kegs of lamp oil, knocking them over and allowing their contests to pour all over the floors. She took the only lit lamp to the door and stepped outside.

She could hear voices in the distance.

Somepony had heard the screams and was coming to investigate.

Flutter threw the lamp back inside the cottage, the now exposed flame catching the oil on the floor.

Flames spread quickly though the structure.

Flutter grabbed the corpse and took to the air, flying low to avoid being seen, and into the dark forest. Somehow, her eyes adjusted instantly to the darkness, allowing her to see as though it were a clear, full moonlit night.

She grinned and flew deeper into the forest. It was time for her baby to find a new home. The current cave was just too close to Ponyville for her liking.
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Princess Luna looked out over Equestria. The clouds blocked out her beautiful night sky, but knew weather like this was needed sometimes. Rain started to fall, just a drizzle at first, but it increased to a comfortable slow rain.

She stepped out into the rain and let it drench her. Her mane and tail, usually flowing from her magic was allowed to soak and become plastered to her sides and legs. Rarely did she indulge in such an activity, but it served a most important function.

It his her tears.

(Why would thou allow thine most beloved student to become a Necromancer? Dost thou WANT her to become... Like us?) Luna shivered slightly.
...

Unbeknown to Luna, Princess Celestia was awake, and standing outside the sealed doors to the Forsaken Halls.

Her eyes were closed, but she could see clearly through Twilight's eyes. She said nothing, but would guide her beloved student with flashes of 'insight'. She brought Twilight's attention to each and every book she would be needing for the task she had requested to learn about, as well as other powerful and ancient magics from ages long past, and eras long forgotten and lost in time.

Celestia hated herself for this, but also loved Twilight far too much. She did not want Twilight to grow old and die. She hoped that Twilight would take the magic she learned and would use it to become an immortal Alicorn, regardless of the cost.

After all, the laws of the universe clearly stated that one cannot 'live' forever.

Celestia knew there were ways around that silly law.
...

Two weeks into her time in the Forsaken Halls, Twilight had YET to get those whispers to either silence themselves, or to start making more sense, other than the occasional hushed words. The shadows she had learned quickly to ignore. She just wore a pair of goggles with clear lenses to block out her peripheral vision.

Earplugs and silence spells had no effect on the whispering, which did disturb Twilight slightly.

So she just endured and continued.

She had to wonder though... She had found the spell to animate the dead on the first day. Why did she have to stay in here for three months?

Twilight glanced at her assistant, a skeleton she had put together and animated from the bones she had been provided. It possessed the build of a Pegasus, including wings, which still were feathered, and the skull of a Unicorn, horn included. A ghostly violet ball of light flickered within the ribcage, occasionally flickering like a flame across the bones or wings.

The mindless undead 'Alicorn' was no larger than herself, but could use simple levitation magic to bring her whatever books she wanted.

The 'eyes' of the skeleton were amethyst spheres, linked to a pair of small round glasses that she always had on her person. She would wear them and be able to see through her servant's 'eyes' when sending him to search for various boots throughout the hall.

This saved her time, allowing her to read and study and write notes in her books, including spells and VERY detailed anatomical diagrams of all three kinds of ponies.

Her servant would fly along, allowing Twilight to scan the shelves as she worked, and the magic of the Unicorn's horn allowed it to bring her the books she required.

She suddenly paused and looked at her servant. “You need a name. How about... Silence Grave? Yea, that sounds good.” Twilight turned back to her studies, a faint violet flicker of light flashing across her eyes.
...

Fluttershy was spending the day with her ever energetic friend Pinkie Pie, helping her to set up a special birthday party for Scribe Scrolls, more commonly known as Miss Mayor, and only by her closest friends as 'Scribble'. Thankfully 'Scribble' was NOT on the banner.

The butter yellow Pegasus was glancing around and noticed some strangers walking into town, coming from the same direction as Trottingham. She just kept on helping Pinkie, who had stopped to watch then travelers.

They both looked a little wary of these ponies, and looked suspicious under their thick hooded cloaks.

“Hey Fluttershy? Who are they?”

Fluttershy poked her head out from behind the beverage table. “I don't know. Isn't Trottingham up that way?”

Pinkie Pie nodded. “I think so. I'm going to go say hi.”

Fluttershy place a hoof on Pinkie's shoulder. “They don't look happy about something.”

“I know. I must have forgotten to invite them... but I also don't know them so how could I have invited them in the first place.”

“That is... possible.” Fluttershy giggled.

The pair of grim looking strangers pushed past the ponies who were helping set up the outdoor party.

The large Earth Pony bellowed loudly, receiving stares from everypony. “WHERE IS THE MAYOR OF PONYVILLE!!!”

The other Earth Pony did not yell, but spoke. “Please tell us where we can find her.”

Pinkie Pie pointed at the town hall. “Maybe in her office? Duh.”

The larger pony glared at Pinkie Pie, who smiled cutely back.

“Thank you.” He spoke softly in his deep voice, then joined his companion. The smaller of the pair headed into the hall while the larger one stood guard outside. A short sword was now visible under his travel cloak.

Nopony wanted to risk angering the pony who was even larger than the local friendly giant, Big Mac.

Fluttershy got back to helping Pinkie Pie, who kept glancing toward Town Hall.

“I wonder what's going on in there.” Pinkie asked as she set up a lamp on a post.

Fluttershy just stayed quiet. She had a pretty good idea what was going on behind those closed doors.
...

“A pony went missing two weeks ago?” Miss. Mayor gasped. “A month ago a young colt vanished at the edge of the forest... We never found him. I'm sorry we can't help you Mr. Mayor.” She felt sorry for her old friend, Walker Stride, who was the mayor of Trottingham.

“Have you learned anything? We have gathered only a couple pieces of evidence.”

“Well... When we were searching for Puddle Jumper, that's the colt who disappeared, our Pegasai found a ravine willed with animal skeletons. I have the report around here someplace...” She opened a desk drawer and pulled out a file.

She opened it and read out some of the details. “There were no skulls found, so Tracker, one of the Pegasai on the scene, figures that whatever killed and ate all those animals collected the skulls.” She flipped the page. “Of course... that was not all they found.”

“What else?”

“The bones of a Unicorn Pony.”

Walker paled. “Was there... a Skull? Was the horn intact?”

“There was no skull, and obviously no horn.” Scribe Scrolls closed the book. “I'd like to show you the remains, but there is a royal decree that they are not to be disturbed or shown to anypony until Twilight Sparkle returns from Canterlot.”

“Who is this Twilight Sparkle?”

Scribble smiled a little. “Have you heard of the Elements of Harmony?”

“Yes I have. You mean she is one of them?” He looked amazed.

“She is also Princess Celestia's personal student and protégé.” She pulled out a thick folder. “She's protected Ponyville on quite a few occasions and even saved all of Equestria from Nightmare Moon. Her and the other Elements are doing what they can. They cannot really do anything until Twilight Sparkle returns.” She looked at a letter she had received, “The Princess sent me a letter telling me that she would be back in three months. That was two weeks ago. I just hope she returns and can find out what is going on.”

“We have an old legend up in Trottingham.” Walker sat down and looked out the window. “A long time ago, an evil monster came out of the Everfree forest. It was not interested in hurting ponies. It was interested in hunting and eating them. Every week it would come into town, in the dark of the night, and hunt.”

“It was too powerful. Fast as lightening. Stronger than a bull. And smart. Too smart for just a wild animal. To make matters worse, it possessed magical powers, strong enough to allow it to defeat any lone unicorn with frightening ease.”

“After nearly five months, so many had either been killed, or had left town. Those who remained set a trap, one that would require a sacrifice.” He paused and steadied himself. “An old stallion offered to be the bait. So the rest of the ponies hid and waited.”

“After a few nights, the monster appeared. It was described as something from a nightmare. Half panther, half dragon. It was twice as large as my friend outside. It was fast and strong and killed the poor stallion with a single bite.”

“But the trap was sprung. Every Unicorn Pony in town, all twenty who had come to help, wrapped him in magically strengthened chains. He fought back with his intense magic, killing five more Unicorns with ease.”

“Earth Ponies and Pegasus Ponies attacked with long spears tipped with steel blades stabbed into him. It was a brutal battle, with half of those fighting horribly injured and ten more killed, but finally a spear pierced his heart.”

“Finally the monster was killed and they got a very good look at it. The thing was built to kill. It had great leathery wings, even a twisted and cruel horn where a Unicorn would have one. It was mostly black,, but with a blood red mane, claws, tear stains and black teeth.”

“The monster was burned. It took a week for the body to be burned to nothing but ashes. Oil and wood and even coal being thrown into the fire to make it burn as hot as possible. Finally, with nothing but ashes left. They were gathered up and scattered all over the Everfree Forest.”

“Till two weeks ago... We know that story is a part of Trottingham's history, a dark part of it, but we never imagined we would experience anything like that again.”

Scribe Scrolls held up a hoof. “What makes you think the monster is back?”

Walker placed a lock of old hair on the desk. It was a blood red and ran to a coal black at the tips. “This was the only part of the monster that was not burned. It was cut from the corpse and placed into the archives, to show that this story was truth...”

Then he placed a few loose strands of the same hair on the desk. “This hair was recovered from inside a cottage that was nearly burned to the ground last night. If not for the rain, we would not have recovered any evidence at all.”

“Then... your monster is back? Could that be what killed the Unicorn and collected the skull?”

“Most likely. This monster would always take the skulls. The lair was never found, so it might be in the Everdeep Woods.”

“The Everdeep woods?” Scribe Scrolls went white. “I've only heard legends and stories about that place, so deep inside the Everfree that nopony has ever seen it before.” She looked at the strands of shiny hair. They were not the same as the older ones. “Does it even really exist?”

“I believe the Everdeep Wood does exist, and we believe that is where the monster came from. This might be of the same species, or an offspring, or even...”

“Even?” Scribe Scroll gulped.

“The same one.”

“Same one? But you burned it to ashes. You scattered it all over the forest. There's no way it can be the same one.”

Walker chuckled. “It's a monster. It could be the same one for all we know. It might have such powerful magic that it cannot be killed forever. It might be like a Phoenix, capable of being reborn.”

“If that is true... How can we hope to defeat something like that?”

Walker shook his head. “I don't know. The ponies nowadays don't have the same fighting spirit as they did hundreds of years ago. All we've know for centuries was peace and prosperity.” He put away his evidence. “Pardon my tongue when I say, we are royally rutted...”

“You're pardoned.” Scribe Scrolls stepped out from behind the desk. “I think we should let Princess Celestia know about this new evidence. She might be able to help us.”

Walker nodded. “I really hope so, and I'm sorry I had to come ruin your birthday with news like this.”

“Don't worry. My birthday was yesterday.” She replied, chuckling. Scribe Scrolls walked to the window and watched the ponies as they continued to set up her party.

“Let's wait till tomorrow. There's no need to worry the town's folk just yet with this news.”

“I hope you're right... It just fed, so we should be safe for a week, maybe two.” Walker stood next to his old friend. (I really hope the Princess can help...)
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To Be Continued...
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A/N: I always struggle with Luna's dialogue and monologue...