The grass green mare walked through the park, the light of the half moon lighting her path as she headed toward home. She hummed to herself as she skipped down the path. A rustling from the bushes made her slow and look around her. She started to skip again, but the rustling came again and she could hear it from her left. She turned to look at the bushes and gasped as a pair of red eyes shone from the darkness. She heard the rustling of what sounded like skin and she took a step backward. The bushes were pushed aside, but the moonlight didn't reach the creature.
“What are you?” the mare asked, but it was at that moment that she wished she hadn't opened her mouth. The creature shot forward, faster than any Pegasus, and slammed the mare into the ground. She closed her eyes and tried to shake away the pain as well as her attacker, but they were too strong. Their hooves went to her neck and brushed aside her mane, exposing one side of her neck.
“Mmm,” the creature purred, leaning forward and the mare caught the sight of two fangs glinting in the moonlight. The mare opened her mouth in a silent scream as she felt the creature bite into her neck. She struggled, trying to throw the creature off her, but it only seemed to fuel the creature's feast. Her struggling weakened as she felt her blood sucked out of her to sate the creature's hunger, finally ceasing all together as the light faded from her eyes and her body fell limp.
The creature pulled away, leaving a single drop of blood next to the two bite marks on the mare's neck. She raised her head to the sky and hissed, then spread her leathery wings and took off.
----------*----------*----------*----------
Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Equestria and Bearer of the Element of Magic, had a headache. She rubbed her temples with her hooves in a hopeless effort to rid herself of it. She was boggled by the string of murders that had been happening in Ponyville over the past few weeks. Each pony had died the same way: having their blood drained through two bite marks in their neck. She slammed her head into the table in front of her, causing the six drinks on it to jump into the air and almost fall over, if it weren't for the five mares that shared her table.
“Goodness, darling,” her friend Rarity stated in surprise, “what's wrong?”
Twilight rolled her head to one side to look at her. “It's this string of murders that's been happening,” she said, “it's all happening in my ruling and there's nothing I can do about it.”
“Well,” piped up Applejack, another of her friends who sat across from Rarity, “tell us about it. Granny always likes talkin' about her troubles. She says it helps her.”
Twilight raised her head up and took a long pull from her drink. The cool juice helped clear her head, then she turned to the table, clearing her throat.
“Over the past three weeks, six ponies have been found dead,” she said formally, “they have all died by the same way: their blood has been drained through two bite marks in their necks. Each one has been found in the morning, alone. There are no signs of the assailant, just struggle marks on the ground. There's no sign of any abuse, just the complete removal of their blood.” She looked at her five friends. Rarity was turning green and glancing around in case she needed to relieve her stomach of its contents. Fluttershy looked like she'd lost some of her color, her normally butter yellow coat and soft pink mane slightly off color. The rest of them had pushed their drinks away, intending not to finish them. Twilight looked at each of them, concern on her face. “I want you all to be safe,” she said, “please don't go outside after dark alone. It's hard enough to deal with murders, I don't want to deal with my friends' murders.”
All five mares nodded, though Fluttershy a bit slower than the rest. Twilight stood up from the table, quickly downing the rest of her drink, then left the table and headed for her library. She needed to find out who had done these things, and fast.
Back at Sugarcube Corner, the five mares glanced at each other then, one by one, they each left the bakery and headed off to try and enjoy their day. Though the prospect of a murderer within the town dampened their joy at a bright new day.
Fluttershy headed back to her cottage, glancing around more than she usually did, staring at each pony that walked by. She wondered which one of them was the murderer, and she hoped that she'd never find out. She was scared enough of the dark, though less so now because of the new friend she'd made. Actually, Twilight introduced her. It happened back when they had dealt with Applejack's vampire fruit bat issue. Ever since Twilight had cast the spell that had promised to return her to normal, Fluttershy had a friend that went everywhere she went.
She arrived at her cottage and she pushed the door open. She glanced around and smiled at the various animals that came out to meet her. She then looked at the mirror that was positioned straight ahead of her, so that she could see herself as soon as she walked in the door. She smiled at her reflection, who only scowled.
Her reflection had tiny scruffs of fur at the tips of her ears, making them seem more pointed than they were. Her coat wasn't as smooth as Fluttershy's was, it had a few patches that stuck out, making her seem more rugged than Fluttershy. Her wings were leathery, replacing the familiar feathers of a Pegasus. But it was her eyes that were the biggest change. Instead of Fluttershy's kind, soft, sky blue eyes, her reflection's were the deep red of a ripe apple, mixed with the beating red of fresh blood. Two, long fangs poked out from her reflection's bottom lip as she sat there and stared at Fluttershy.
Fluttershy didn't know why everypony else didn't see her reflection the same way she did, she'd even asked her friends to tell her what they saw when they looked at her through a mirror. Each one had looked at her weird, then told her that they saw her. There was no change in the way that everypony saw her, but whenever she looked in the mirror, Flutterbat looked back at her.
“What's wrong?” Flutterbat asked as Fluttershy moved into the kitchen and opened a small basket set behind a few containers. She pulled out a bag of red liquid and smiled at it. “Ah!” Bat said, “good, I was getting hungry. And you don't look too good yourself.” Fluttershy smiled back at the mirror, then opened her mouth and sank her small fangs into the bag, easily piercing the thin plastic that kept it contained. She sat there, a look of contentment on her face and small moans leaking around the bag as she drank, until she'd finished off the bag. She gasped for breath as she slumped onto the ground, the bag slipping out of her hooves and falling beside her. Angel bunny ran into the room and grabbed the bag, running off with it to dispose of it.
“Thanks, Angel bunny,” Shy said softly before curling up and falling asleep.
Flutterbat smiled, then stood their body up. “Now, what is wrong with Ponyville today?” she said as she moved about to feed Fluttershy's animals. She dug through Fluttershy's memories of the day, finally stopping at the meeting at Sugarcube Corner with their friends. She listened as the memory played back, growling as the Princess related the cause of death. “I knew this day would come,” she said to herself, “I'd just hoped it would be farther down the road. I told Fluttershy she needed to dispose of the corpse. But there's no use worrying about it now.” She finished with the chores, then grabbed another bag of blood. They were really lucky that Fluttershy had been able to convince the Princess to enchant a basket with a cooling and preserving spell. They'd given her some kind of drivel about how it would help them keep food healthy when they had a surplus of it, in case of random famines. It was partly true, it was used for food, but not for their animals.
She bit down on the bag, feeling the blood squirt into her mouth and she moaned in ecstasy. It was just so good! There was nothing next to the coppery taste of blood. It was just delicious! And it always brought a smile to the Vampony's face. She sighed into the couch, curling her hind legs to cradle her precious bag of nutrients and keep it steady as she embraced it with her forelegs like it was a tender lover. She sighed as she felt the cool bag press into her dim yellow coat. She finished with it, draining every drop, but still clung to it, hoping it would refill. She lay there, her eyes closed in pleasure at the feeling of a full stomach, until she fell asleep.
When they awoke, it was nighttime, Luna's moon breaching the cracks between the curtains. Flutterbat stretched, dropping the empty bag. She stood up and shook herself, getting out the snarls that had caught themselves in her mane as she'd slept. She stretched her wings, the tips vibrating as the muscles strained. She turned to the mirror, seeing Fluttershy standing there with her wings outstretched.
“What are you going to do?” Fluttershy said, seeing the look of determination in Flutterbat's eyes.
“Something we should have done a long time ago,” she replied, turning around and pulling open the door. They'd had to reinforce the door after they'd had torn it off it's hinges several times. The cottage wasn't quite made to deal with their increased strength. She walked out into the moonlit night and took a deep breath. The cool air flowed into her lungs, filling her with energy. Then she stared ahead, her red eyes reflecting the moon, before spreading her wings and leaped into the air. She glided along the diminishing thermals and into the night air. She headed toward one part of town, reaching it after a few minutes of flight. She landed and trotted toward an unmarked stone grave, one that bore a large stone on top. She looked closer to examine the rock then, not noticing anything peculiar, she raised a hoof and slammed it into the top of the rock as hard as she could. Spiderweb cracks blossomed from the strike and she raised her hoof again, slamming it into the rock again. This time the rock cracked into three pieces. She nodded to herself, then slid her hooves under one piece, easily larger than her barrel, and pulled upward. She grunted in the effort, the rock rising little by little until she threw it aside. She repeated the ordeal with the other two pieces, revealing a stone coffin. She raised both hooves and slammed them down into the lid of the coffin, severing it in two. She roughly shoved each slab aside, then looked down at the coffin.
There, staring back at her, was an empty coffin. An imprint showed where a body had been laying, but any indication of the body was gone. It was as if somepony had taken a nap there, then risen after they were done. Flutterbat growled. “If the body isn't here, then where is it?” she wondered out loud. She didn't have to think for very long when a shout rent the air. She snapped her head up and toward the sound. “That was Rainbow!” she said, then shot off into the sky, arching toward the sound.
She stared ahead, spying a large lump that she could see in the moonlit night as two ponies on the ground. She narrowed her eyes and skimmed along the ground. She drew closer at a breakneck speed and could see that one of them, Rainbow, was restrained by another pony who was bent over her neck. She threw caution to the wind and funneled more power and magic into her wings, finally colliding with the strange pony, wrenching her off Rainbow. They rolled for several hooves, finally ending up with Flutterbat on top. She growled at the mare, but was met with a hoof to the side of the face. She was thrown off and rolled. She propelled herself up onto her hooves, then dove toward the mare, slamming her hoof into the mare's stomach, who grunted. Flutterbat blew past her, only to have her speed arrested as the mare grabbed her hind legs and twisted, throwing Flutterbat into a tree, breaking it and sending it collapsing alongside her. She grunted, then barreled toward the mare by skimming the ground.
She tackled the mare and dragged her along the ground as she flew, finally slamming the mare into another tree, which buckled under the impact. She pinned the mare against the trunk, pummeling her with her other hoof. Her hoof stopped as the mare reached up and grabbed it, thrusting back into Flutterbat and throwing her off balance. The mare tackled her to the ground and pinned her wings. Flutterbat hissed at the mare, who hissed back, then the mare slammed hoof after hoof into Flutterbat, hitting her head, her side, her stomach, even attacking her wings as she tried to break them. Flutterbat rolled to one side and threw a hind hoof at the mare, throwing her several hooves. The mare spread her legs, ready to launch herself at Flutterbat, but was met with a branch to the face as Flutterbat wrenched a tree branch around to bat the mare away. She blew through another tree and ground a trench in the dirt. She struggled to her hooves as Flutterbat took the opportunity to catch her breath.
Then she was interrupted by a soft moaning and she turned her attention to Rainbow, who still lay on her back. She could smell the scent of blood coming from the mare and could only hope she didn't die. She turned back to the mare, only to spy her shooting off into the sky. She was tempted to go after her, she was sure that mare was the reason for the murders and she wanted to stop them, but then Fluttershy interjected.
Save Rainbow! Fluttershy shouted in their mind. Flutterbat nodded then, walking over to the fallen mare, and began to study her. Rainbow wasn't dead, she could tell that by the way her chest rose and fell, but it did so weakly. She needed to get Rainbow to the hospital, and soon. She lifted the wounded mare into her hooves, then spread her wings and flapped them. She winced as pain lanced through her joints and they barely got her off the ground. She sighed in frustration, then flapped as hard as she dared, lifting the two mares off the ground, and she started for the hospital. Her wings couldn't take her all the way and so she had to fly low enough that she could use her hind legs to run, while using her wings to keep her upright.
They finally made it to the hospital and she threw herself through the automatic doors, which opened barely fast enough. She collapsed on the floor as Nurse Redheart ran around from behind the desk and over to her.
“Fluttershy!” she said, worry in her voice, “what happened?”
“Fluttershy's fine,” Flutterbat replied, “Rainbow needs help. She was attacked. I barely managed to fight the mare off.”
Nurse Redheart nodded, then ran through a set of double doors and returned with a stretcher. She hefted Rainbow onto the stretcher, then wheeled it back through the doors. Flutterbat lay there on the ground, trying to catch her breath and ease her wounds. Her side and head ached and she was sure that she wouldn't be flying anywhere soon with the way she'd used her wings. She pulled herself along the ground until her hoof was met by the wood of a chair leg. She pulled herself into the chair and slumped down into it. She sat there, huffing and groaning, for some time before Nurse Redheart returned. The mare headed toward the resting Vampony, concern on her face.
“What happened? Is Rainbow going to be okay?” Flutterbat gasped, then sighed with joy as the nurse nodded.
“She's lost a lot of blood. Almost too much,” Redheart said, “but I think she may live.”
Flutterbat had a thought cross her mind and she struggled to her hooves. Redheart raised her hooves and tried to force her back into the chair.
“Please, you're hurt and you need to rest,” she said. Flutterbat shook her head.
“I need to get to Rainbow,” she said, “she won't die, but she will hope she did if I don't get to her now.”
“What's going to happen to her?” Redheart asked, more concern etching itself into her face.
“Get me to her, and I'll explain on the way,” Flutterbat grunted, pushing past the mare and toward the doors Rainbow had vanished behind.
“Fine, but do it my way,” Redheart walked behind the desk again and wheeled a wheelchair out into the open. Flutterbat nodded in thanks, then plopped down into it. Nurse Redheart wheeled her through the doors, then down the hallway beyond.
“Anytime a pony is bitten by a second generation Vampony and doesn't die from it runs the risk of turning into a thrall under the command of the Vampony,” Flutterbat stated, “but, if a first generation Vampony can bite the pony before that happens, they will instead turn into a second generation Vampony.”
“So, there's no way of stopping her from becoming a Vampony?” Nurse Redheart asked and Flutterbat shook her head.
“No,” she said sadly, “Vamponies inject a small bit of venom into their victims when they bite. There is no known cure for Vampirism. Once you have it, you can only hope to never spread it. That's why I have to bite Rainbow, and soon.”
“Because you're a first generation Vampony.” The nod Flutterbat gave wasn't necessary for Nurse Redheart, but it was nice for the confirmation.
They stopped outside a room, then Flutterbat lifted herself out of the chair and through the open door. Nurse Redheart followed her into the room, then shut the door
when Flutterbat motioned to do so. They both turned to the bedridden mare. Rainbow sat there in a hospital gown, a blood pressure cuff on one leg and a heart monitor beeping away beside her bed. A bandage covered the bite mark and Flutterbat moved closer until she rested next to the mare. She reached up and peeled off the bandage, letting a small rivet of blood drip from the wound. Nurse Redheart moved to stop her as Flutterbat wiped the blood away with a hoof, but stopped. Flutterbat raised the blood droplets to her mouth and licked her hoof, smiling in the sweet taste of sweat and blood mix. She turned to look at the nurse.
“Don't worry,” she said slyly, “the packets of blood you've been giving me has been more than enough to keep me sated. I won't be killing anypony, thanks to you. Fluttershy also has quite a few animals that are too hurt for her to help. I give them a painless passing.” Nurse Redheart nodded, a smile on her face.
“We don't have many disasters, so the extra blood just kind of sits there in the fridge,” she said, “glad to see it going to some good.”
Flutterbat then leaned over Rainbow, her mouth slightly open to show her sharp fangs. “I'm sorry for the fate that awaits you,” she said, “but if I don't do this, your fate will be worse.” She closed her mouth around Rainbow's throat and punctured the mare's jugular with her fangs. She didn't even think twice about rejecting the taste of Rainbow's blood, or what was left of it, and merely did what she came to do. She pushed a dose of venom into the mare, causing Rainbow to twitch and squirm, then fall still. Flutterbat pulled back and smiled as she watched the first puncture wounds seal up and scab over. She stood up and turned to Nurse Redheart. “I'm going to need you to move her to Fluttershy's cottage,” she said, surprising the mare. She started to protest, but stopped when she raised a hoof, then continued, “it's because Rainbow's transformation will not go easy. She first has to fight off the venom of the inferior Vampony, then she can start changing. It will not be pleasant or painless. But you don't have the required equipment to restrain a turning Vampony. I can stop her from hurting other ponies, and keep other ponies from being near her. I will also need more blood packets, she will be hungry after she turns, and I don't need anypony else dying.”
Nurse Redheart nodded, then left to fill out the necessary paperwork. She returned a few minutes later and helped Flutterbat disconnect Rainbow from the various machines, then place her into the wheelchair. They both wheeled the unconscious mare out into the hall, then out into the emergency entrance where an ambulance waited with two stallions and a stretcher. They laid Rainbow onto the stretcher, then the two stallions lifted it into the back then, after Flutterbat climbed in beside her, they closed the doors. Flutterbat heard them climb into the front then the engine started and they left the hospital. She turned her attention back to Rainbow and she rested a hoof on the mare. Already her body temperature was dropping. It wasn't like Vamponies were icicles, but their body temps were lower than the average pony.
It didn't take long before she felt the vehicle stop and doors open, then close. The two stallions popped open the back and helped her out, then got Rainbow out. They wheeled her into the cottage and laid her on the couch as Flutterbat directed. Then they left, taking the stretcher with them. Flutterbat waited until she heard the rumble of the engine fade into the background before she closed the door, then curled up next to Rainbow on the couch and falling asleep, not looking forward to tomorrow.
----------*----------*----------*----------
Fluttershy awoke the next morning, not because of some of her animals interrupting her sleep, or even the sunrise peeking through her curtains. No, she awoke because there was something on the bed next to her that was twitching. She moaned, wishing for sleep to return, and rolled over. Only, because she was sleeping on the couch, she rolled off and onto the floor, eliciting a squeal of surprise. She quickly stood up and glanced around. She saw that she was home, though the last place she did fall asleep was on the kitchen floor so it made sense. But why she was on the couch was a different story.
“Flutterbat?” she asked out loud and within her head, hearing the replying groan at the sunlight. “Oh my,” she said, then hurried over to the curtains and closed off any sunlight that bled through, “better?” She felt Flutterbat nod, then she turned her attention to the mare lying on the couch. She easily recognized the rainbow mane and she darted over to the unconscious mare. She reached out a hoof and tapped Rainbow on the shoulder, only to have the mare moan in pain. She glanced over Rainbow's body and spied the familiar tufts of fur that poked up from her ears, but she also caught sight of two puncture wounds that were recently healed. Her ears twitched as they picked up the slightest of noises coming from Rainbow. “What was that, Rainbow?” she asked.
“Why?” The word came out with a breath, hissed out as Rainbow curled up into a fetal position. “Why,” she repeated, “why does it hurt?” Each word was followed with a hiss of pain.
“Fluttershy.” Fluttershy looked over at the mirror to see Flutterbat standing there, looking concerned, “Let me take over. I know what happened and if anything does happen, you won't be strong enough to stop her.” Fluttershy nodded, and Flutterbat stepped toward Rainbow, placing a hoof on the trembling mare. “Why?” she asked the question, “Why does it hurt? It's because your body is undergoing a transformation, one that I would not wish on you for anything.” She would have continued, but she was interrupted by a knock at the door. She walked over to it and opened the top half.
On the other side, looking worried, was Princess Twilight. Her mane was a mess and it looked like she'd tore through the sky to get over there, if her wings were any indication. They were totally disheveled, feathers poking out at odd angles and from everywhere.
“Good morning, Princess,” Flutterbat said, staying away from the beam of sunlight that poked through the partly cloudy sky outside.
“Good morning, Fluttershy,” Twilight said, “is Rainbow over here? I visited the hospital and Nurse Redheart told me that you were taking care of her. She also told me that Rainbow had been attacked. Is she alright?” A moan echoed from behind Flutterbat made Twilight's eyebrows raise in concern and surprise. She moved forward to push open the door, but Flutterbat stuck a hoof in front of it. Twilight grunted in effort as she pushed harder. “Fluttershy,” she said, strained, “let me see her.”
“I'm sorry, Princess,” Flutterbat said calmly, her voice steady. She casually leaned against the door jam, despite the Alicorn Princess that was trying to her best abilities to get into the cottage, “I'm afraid you can't see her, at least not for the next few days. Please do leave us alone. Any damages you sustain will not be my fault.”
Twilight gave one more push then, thinking that the door was just jammed, she sighed and gave up. “Fine,” she said, “but when she gets better, let her know that I want to see her as soon as possible. It's about the murderer. We think we've got him and we want her to identify him.”
“Alright, I'll let her know when she's ready,” Flutterbat agreed, then shut the door. She shook her head. “I know you've got the wrong pony,” she said as she walked back to Rainbow, “first, you couldn't catch her, she's too fast. Second, its a She, not a He. And third, she'll be holed away for a bit, probably somewhere dark and dank, while she heals. Seconds don't heal as fast as Firsts.”
“You mentioned a transformation?” Rainbow said, pulling her attention back to the mare.
“Yes, I did,” Flutterbat said, “You are becoming a Vampony, just like me.”
“WHAT!?” Rainbow turned over in a flash, her rose eyes now a dark red, mirroring Flutterbat's. Her hoof shot out and slammed Flutterbat in the neck, throwing her backward. She stood up and towered over the fallen mare. “You mean to say that I'm turning into a monster?” she shouted.
“Yes,” Flutterbat said, standing up. She didn't get back on her hooves for more than a split second before Rainbow slammed another hoof into the side of her head, throwing her against a bookshelf and breaking several of the shelves as she slid down it. “Good,” she grunted as she pulled a large piece of wood from her side as it began to heal, “You're strong, I need that. Ponyville needs that.”
Rainbow stomped over to her, then grabbed her by her throat. Despite the position she found herself in, Flutterbat was calm. “You mean, that I'm turning into a Vampony?” Rainbow hissed, her fangs starting to grow, “a monster that feeds on the blood of other ponies? Why?”
“Because I bit you.” This declaration was met by Rainbow throwing Flutterbat into the wall across the room.
“And why would you bite me?” Rainbow growled, “wanting to turn me into a monster? Or did you not have the guts to kill me?”
“Neither,” Flutterbat said, standing up and dusting off the shards of wood and paint that had embedded themselves in her coat, then turned to look at the Vampony stalking toward her, “I didn't bite you first, She did. And if I didn't bite you, you would now be under her control, forever a slave. Forced to kill those you love as she watched. Not a pleasant experience, I would think. I bit you to give you back your freedom. She's a second generation, I'm a first. That means that if I bite any of her victims before they turn, my venom overrides her's, turning them into Seconds, like her. But this means that you can do whatever you want, without needing or having to follow anypony's orders. That's why I bit you.”
Rainbow stopped moving as Flutterbat explained, rolling it around in her head. “So you mean that I'm just like she is?” she whispered, “a monster? A murderer?”
“On the contrary,” Flutterbat said, shaking her head, “I'm not a murderer, though a monster I may be.” She trotted over to the basket in the corner and pulled out two bags of blood. She tossed one to Rainbow who caught it in a flash, then stared down at it. “Eat it,” Flutterbat said, puncturing the bag with her fangs and drinking. Rainbow looked up at Flutterbat, then opened her mouth and bit down on the bag. Her new fangs punctured easily through the plastic and the cool, coppery taste of blood flowed into her mouth. She moaned at the taste, sucking harder and draining the bag in a matter of seconds. She released the bag with a pop and sank onto the floor, sighing in relief. She glanced over to Flutterbat who smiled at her. “This,” she said, raising her now empty bag of blood, “is why I'm not a murderer. Nurse Redheart gives me packets of blood from the hospital, mostly old ones. She keeps the new ones for a few months before they get thrown out. Instead of wasting them, she gives them to me. It keeps my appetite healthy and me happy.”
“It's so good,” Rainbow sighed, and Flutterbat nodded. Flutterbat slumped against the wall, her eyes closing. Rainbow found herself growing tired, despite the fact she'd just woken up. She leaned back against the couch and let sleep take a hold of her and guide her away from her cares.
----------*----------*----------*----------
Rainbow crept through the night, under the guiding light of the half moon. She stepped lightly, careful not to crush any of the leaves under her hooves. Her eyes darted from side to side, hunting for her prey. Shadows shifted through the trees, but she didn't have to worry about any creature trying to take a bite out of her. She was a Vampony, a creature of the night. One that was revered through legend and myth, stories and hauntings. Even manticores steered clear of her as she prowled.
She froze as she heard a twig snap, then she crouched down into an attack position, turning her ears this way and that. Her prey wasn't foolish enough to step on a twig, so she must be somewhere else.
Before she could think more about it, she was bowled over by a creature. The sounds of leathery wings reached her ears and she reflexively reached out and grabbed anything she could get her hooves on. They found purchase on a leg and she pulled downward, dragging the creature into the dirt. She smirked, then raised a hoof and slammed it down into the creature, who gave a grunt. The creature smacked Rainbow with her wing, throwing her off balance and giving the creature an opening. Rainbow looked to the side, only to have her view filled with a dim yellow hoof slamming into the side of her face. She rolled off the creature and crashed into a tree, splintering it and leaving a pony sized dent in it. She rolled onto her hooves and glared at the creature, ready to go again.
Flutterbat stood there in the clearing, watching Rainbow as she sat on her haunches, a smirk on her face.
“Attacks can come from any direction,” she said.
“I know,” growled Rainbow, stomping the ground. They'd been at this all night, since they'd both awoken, and her body held the proof of her losses. Bruises, many of them small or almost healed, adorned her body. She stretched, then sat down on the ground. Even though she'd been up for almost ten hours and had undergone training that lasted almost as long she wasn't the least bit tired.
She saw a bag of red liquid fly toward her and she snatched it out of the air without a second thought. She brought the bag to her mouth and bit down. Of course, her energy could be because she was getting used to blood. She loved the copper taste as it flowed over her tongue. She loved the warmth it gave her, despite the fact that it was chilled. She loved the power it filled her with as she absorbed the blood into her body, fueling her muscles and heightening her senses.
Flutterbat flapped her wings once, shooting above the treetops and sending down a rain of leaves, only to reappear a second later. “It's dawn,” she said, turning away and walking out of the clearing, “stay here. You're not used to changing and you're newborn. You're much more sensitive to Celestia's charge than I am. I'll be back tonight.”
Rainbow nodded, even though Flutterbat was already gone, then she stood up and stretched again. “Well,” she said, “since I'm in the Everfree Forest, and nopony's going to disturb me, I'd better explore a bit. Who wouldn't take this opportunity? No creatures are going to attack me, so why not?” She turned and strode off, deeper into the forest.
----------*----------*----------*----------
Flutterbat emerged from the shadow of the forest, her coat and ears smoothing out and her eyes brightened to the sky blue of Fluttershy. She smiled up at the sun as her fangs shrank, then she headed toward the town. She wanted to see how Twilight had slept, knowing that there had been no attacks last night.
A few minutes later she was regretting that last thought. The five girls were sitting around a table in Sugarcube Corner as Twilight had her head down on the table, moans emitting from the downed princess.
“Another attack?” Rarity said, and Fluttershy sat there, stunned. Twilight only nodded her head.
“It's getting ridiculous!” Twilight said, raising her head to look at the other four mares, “I mean, the last attacks happened a few days apart. This one happened last night! I thought I'd gotten down their patterns, but then this happened!”
“And you don't even know who's killing them?” Pinkie Pie said.
Twilight shook her head. “All we know is that they die from having their blood drained,” she said, “I've looked in every medical and criminal book I can get my hands on, but none of them explain why, or even what the attacker would need with so much blood.”
“Maybe she's a Vampony,” Fluttershy said softly.
Twilight turned to look at her friend. “I don't think so,” she said, “Vamponies are only old mares' tales.”
“So was Nightmare Moon,” Applejack said, “but tha' ain't true. Maybe it migh' be worth lookin' inta.”
“Yes, but Vamponies can only be created when somepony dies by an existing Vampony's bite,” Twilight stated, falling into lecture mode, “and, as far as I know, nopony has died before a few weeks ago. If it was a Vampony, all of their victims would be rising as Vamponies.”
“Unless they were a second,” Fluttershy said to herself.
“What was that, darling?” Rarity said, leaning closer.
Fluttershy eeped, then shook her head. “Oh, it was nothing,” she said.
“How do you know about Vamponies?” Twilight asked.
“Oh, it's because I was interested to see if they existed,” Fluttershy said quickly, “after the vampire fruit bat incident I wanted to read more on Vamponies and fruit bats.” She caught Twilight's flinch at the mention of her most recent magical failure.
“Oh,” Twilight said, her head falling to the table again.
“Well, I hope that the murderer can be caught soon, she's becoming quite troublesome,” Fluttershy said, standing up, “then you can get more sleep. It doesn't do good to see our Princess tired all the time.” she turned and strode out of the bakery.
Twilight watched her go, then something clicked in her head. She turned to look at the other mares. “What does she mean, 'she'?” she asked, “we don't know the gender of the attacker.”
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Fluttershy trotted down the street and into the hospital. She smiled as she caught sight of Nurse Redheart at the desk, who smiled back at her.
“Here to pick more up?” Redheart asked her. Fluttershy nodded and Nurse Redheart led her back to the fridge, pulling out a dozen or so bags of blood. Fluttershy slid them into her saddlebags, evening out the weight. She nodded her thanks to the nurse, then turned to head out, but was stopped by a hoof on her shoulder. She turned to look at the concerned look on Nurse Redheart's face.
“How's Rainbow doing?” she asked.
“She's doing alright,” Fluttershy said, “she's recovering well. She's resting right now.” She glanced at her saddlebags. “I'd better get these home,” she stated, turning to the door, “don't want these to spoil.”
Nurse Redheart smiled and nodded. “Fluttershy?” she asked, and Fluttershy turned around as the doors opened to the outside, “please stop whoever is doing this.”
Fluttershy's eyes flashed blood red. “I plan on it,” Flutterbat replied.
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Fluttershy strode out of the hospital and headed to her cottage. They sky was partly cloudy. She was lucky, the past few days it'd been warmer than usual so transporting the blood herself was tricky. It wasn't too bad. Fluttershy was known to avoid the busier parts of town, and ponies in general, so sneaking blood home wasn't too hard when there weren't anypony around to ask questions.
She almost made it home when she heard the familiar hum of a Unicorn's magic. She turned to the source of the noise and found a bush in front of her. She sighed, then walked farther down the street. The humming didn't go away, but it stayed at a steady distance. She sighed again then, as the road curved around a tree, she ducked behind it. She waited for a few seconds, listening as the hum grew closer. Then, when the bush came into view, she shot out from behind the tree and tackled the bush. It vanished with a pop, revealing Twilight sprawled underneath her, surprised.
“How did you-?” Twilight asked, shocked.
“What are you doing here?” Flutterbat asked, stepping in to handle the situation.
Twilight squirmed from under her and stood up, still stunned. “How did you see me?” she asked, “I had a silence spell on, along with my disguise spell.”
“That's your problem,” Flutterbat stated, “You had spells. They give off a distinct hum with no way of silencing it.”
Twilight thought about the problem for a second before snapping back to the present and the reason she'd followed the butter colored Pegasus. “How do you know so much about Vamponies?” she asked, giving Flutterbat a hard stare. The red eyed Pegasus smirked, unfazed.
“Well, it's because--” she started to say but was interrupted by something crashing into the ground, making the earth beneath their hooves tremble. She spun around to see one of the trees in the Everfree Forest gone from the familiar skyline. “Rainbow!” she shouted, then took off toward the clearing where she'd left the newborn Vampony.
“Hey! Wait a minute!” Twilight shouted, but Flutterbat was already far beyond hearing her. She grunted in frustration, then ran after her, the sun touching the horizon.
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Flutterbat shot into the forest, darting around trees and over bushes as she focused on reaching the clearing. She burst into the clearing, a funnel of leaves and twigs following her, then flared her wings and slowed to a hover. She glanced around, only to see the clearing empty. She growled, then froze. The wind had changed and she'd
caught a whiff of the familiar scent of Rainbow, as well as another familiar scent. She smiled to herself, then ran through the brush, following the scent.
It wasn't long before she found a smaller clearing, this one held two mares standing at opposite ends of the space, their attention on the other. One was Rainbow Dash, her leathery wings flared and her fangs bared. The other mare was Flutterbat's target and the reason for all the murders. Flutterbat stepped out from the bushes, causing the two mares to turn their attention to her.
“Hello, Fluttershy,” the mare stated. She was cream colored, with a ragged mane of light pink and green. Her flank bore two lollipops, each one with a bat in the center of the candy. Her leathery wings folded to her sides, while the small lump of her broken horn sparked.
“Well, if it isn't Tasty Treats,” Flutterbat stated, walking over to stand next to Rainbow and resting a wing across the cyan pony's back.
“You know her?” Rainbow said, her eyes wide.
“Yes, she was my mistake,” Flutterbat replied, “one that I plan on correcting tonight.”
“Oh do you?” Tasty said, smiling at the two mares, “I'm sorry, but once I get rid of you two, I'll have the entire town of Ponyville as my banquet.”
Rainbow growled and fell into an attack position. “Not if we have anything to say about it!” she shouted. With that, she leaped at the mare, the sound barrier shattering at the take off. The area behind Rainbow rippled with the shockwave and Flutterbat could hear branches snapping behind her.
Flutterbat watched as Tasty seized Rainbow by a forehoof, then twisted and threw her into a tree. Rainbow slumped to the ground then stood up, only to receive a hoof to the face. The blow threw her into another tree, but she rolled up the trunk and braced her hind hooves on the firm wood. She launched herself at Tasty, spinning in the air and slamming into Tasty's barrel. Tasty grunted and was carried backward, finally stopping as Rainbow slammed her into a tree, the tree itself cracking from the blow.
Tasty reached up and grabbed a branch, swinging up out of Rainbow's next blow. It hit the tree, denting it, and Rainbow looked up to see Tasty snap off the branch, then raise it above her head like a spear and drop down on Rainbow, the branch's broken end pointed right at Rainbow's barrel.
A rock came at her and collided with her hoof holding the branch, making her lose hold of the branch. She hissed as she fell on Rainbow, then was catapulted behind Rainbow as she bucked her hind legs. Tasty landed, then glared at Flutterbat who wielded a second rock in a hoof. She dodged out of the way as Flutterbat launched it at her, the stone embedding into the tree behind her and throwing up splinters. Her head snapped around as Rainbow's hoof collided with her cheek and she was thrown into the embedded tree, causing it to crack. Rainbow raised her hoof and slammed it into Tasty, driving her further into the tree. She slammed another hoof into her, then spun around and bucked the mare. She heard something crack, then felt the tree give way behind her kick. She darted away, to see the tree topple over on top of Tasty.
Flutterbat darted toward the fallen tree, even before Rainbow saw it move, as Tasty hefted the tree in both hooves. She swung the tree at Flutterbat, who nimbly leaped onto the tree and ran down the trunk toward her. Tasty dropped the tree and dodged away from Flutterbat's blow. Flutterbat spun around and threw blow after blow at Tasty, who could only block with her hooves or dodge out of the way. Rainbow watched as Flutterbat snapped a hoof to one side and Tasty dodged it, only to meet another hoof on the other side that threw her into the ground. Tasty stood up, only to be met with a wall of wood as Flutterbat swung the splintered tree at the Vampony. Flutterbat smirked to herself as she felt and heard the satisfying crack as it struck her, throwing Tasty dozens of hooves away. She rolled and finally stopped as she slammed into another tree.
Flutterbat gasped for breath and studied Tasty as the mare stood up, bracing against the tree behind her. She clutched at her side and Flutterbat could see her wince as she breathed. Second Generations couldn't take the same beatings as Firsts, but they were definitely resilient.
Suddenly the three mares heard the bushes rustle next to Tasty and Flutterbat spotted a familiar mane style, the purple and magenta stripes shimmering in the moonlight. She stepped forward, only to have Tasty tackle Twilight to the ground, then stand up with the princess in a stranglehold.
“Now then, since we have a new playtoy, how about you let me go?” Tasty said, glaring daggers at the other two mares. Twilight raised a hoof to her throat and tried to pull off Tasty's grasp, but even an Alicorn wasn't strong enough to force a Vampony off them.
“Put her down, Tasty!” Flutterbat shouted.
“But why? She's come so willingly into our midst,” Tasty replied, then nuzzled Twilight's neck with her muzzle, inhaling her scent, “and she has such a delectable scent. I promise to share. It's not everyday I get to have Alicorn. I'm sure it will be....heavenly.”
Flutterbat growled, then reached down to grab a rock, only to stop as Tasty tightened her grip on Twilight and tilt her head to one side, exposing Twilight's throat.
“Ah ah ah, I wouldn't do that if I were you,” Tasty said, leaning down and bearing her fangs. Flutterbat dropped the rock and growled in frustration. Tasty turned to Rainbow and smirked. “I wouldn't try anything either. You don't want to let your friend get hurt, now do you?”
Rainbow hung her head, then plopped down on the ground as a tear fell from her eyes. “I''m sorry,” she said, burying her head in her hooves.
Tasty turned back to Flutterbat, who watched Rainbow, her face fallen. She hated to see Fluttershy's friends get hurt, or be sad.
“Now then, I'm going to leave with Twilight here, and you two are not going to follow me. Then we can go back to how we were,” Tasty said, taking a step backward and dragging the struggling Twilight with her.
“I'm sorry, Twilight,” Rainbow stood up, tears running down her face.
“Ah yes, how pathetic friendship is,” Tasty said, shaking her head.
Rainbow raised a hoof to wipe away her tears, then she snapped her hoof forward and Flutterbat saw the grey streak of a stone shooting toward Tasty. Tasty had only the time to gasp before the stone slammed into Twilight, piercing her neck. Tasty's eyes grew wide as she felt the stone embed itself in her neck and she fell backward, throwing Twilight to one side. Rainbow darted forward and scooped up Twilight, before shooting into the sky and away from the clearing. Flutterbat moved before Rainbow had left her standing position, gliding along the ground until she stopped right in front of Tasty.
Tasty gasped for air, a hole in her throat, and Flutterbat could see the stone embedded into her spine through the wound. Tasty looked up at her with wide eyes, her breath coming in rasps. “Please,” she said, and Flutterbat watched as blood bubbled up and around the wound, “help me.” She raised a hoof, begging, pleading for help.
Flutterbat gently pushed the hoof aside before leaning closer. “I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do to help you,” she said, “but there is something I can do. I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused, and the pain I've caused you. I'm sorry you had to go through this. I didn't want this. Everything you've done has been my fault. I'll take full responsibility for it.” She raised a hoof and rested it on Tasty's forehead, below her horn stub, and stared into her eyes. Tasty gasped as blood poured from her wound and she coughed, sending a spray of blood into Flutterbat's coat. Flutterbat pressed down on Tasty, a tear falling from her eyes and into Tasty's wound. The more she pressed down, the more tears ran from her eyes until a sickening crunch echoed through the clearing and surrounding area. Tasty's raspy breathing had ceased, having been replaced with quiet sobbing.
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The morning found Flutterbat sobbing over Tasty's body, a large blotch on the cream coat. She gasped in surprise as she felt a hoof on her shoulder and she spun around to see Twilight standing there beside her, sorrow in her eyes.
“I'm sorry,” Twilight said, only to have her breath squeezed out of her as Flutterbat wrapped her hooves around the Alicorn as she cried more. Twilight looked down at Tasty's body, quickly looking away at the sight. She rubbed Flutterbat's back, hoping to calm her down.
A few minutes later Flutterbat sniffed a few times before looking up at Twilight. Her eyes brightened from the blood red to the familiar sky blue of Fluttershy. “I'm sorry,” she whispered, “it's all my fault.”
“How so? I don't see how this is your fault,” Twilight said, raising Fluttershy's head to look into her eyes.
“It's my fault because I'm the reason she was a Vampony,” Fluttershy said, tears running down her cheeks.
“Why would that be your fault?”
“Because I'm the one that bit her,” Fluttershy replied, “it was after you changed me back from being part vampire fruit bat. I lost control that night because I was starving and nothing was satisfying. I eventually took flight, hoping that it would take my mind of my hunger. That was when I spotted Tasty Treats. I could smell her from where I was flying and it was just so intoxicating. Before I knew it, I had swooped down and pinned her to the ground, my fangs buried in her neck. I tried to stop, but from the first taste of her blood, I knew that this was what I wanted. This is what I needed. I just gave in. And when I was done, she was cold and lifeless. I didn't want anypony to find out what I'd done, so I buried her myself. I dug up an old grave and threw her into the coffin, then replaced the dirt. I went to check on her last night only to find the coffin empty. I knew what had happened because of several books I'd read at the library, and I knew that I had to do something to fix this. It's my fault ponies have died. If I hadn't bitten her, if I hadn't lost control of my instincts, this wouldn't have happened.”
“Oh Fluttershy, it's alright,” Twilight said, but was interrupted by the Pegasus.
“No, it's not alright!” Fluttershy stomped her hoof on the ground, making a crater below her hooves, “it's my fault and I'm going to pay the consequences. Even if I have to die, I will put things right.”
Twilight's mouth fell open. Fluttershy, the one pony that wouldn't hurt a fly, was willing to die for something that had been out of her hooves for the past few weeks. “Fluttershy,” she started to say, but was silenced as Fluttershy glared at her.
“No, it's only fair. I need to fulfill justice, just like the families of the killed ponies would want,” she said.
“Very well,” Twilight said, raising herself up to her full stature as a princess. Fluttershy nodded, a small smile on her face. She followed her friend back to Ponyville, where her justice awaited.
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The afternoon found Fluttershy huddled among her friends, excepting Twilight. Twilight was gone to deal with the media and courts, while the rest of their friends comforted the shy mare. Fluttershy was sweating, she didn't know what would happen, but she did know that whatever it was had to happen. Tasty Treats was her fault. The deaths she'd caused was due to Fluttershy's lax attitude. The justice that was to be dealt out to Tasty, would be dealt out to her. It was only fair.
The room doors swung open and two guards, wearing purple armor, entered. They glared down at Fluttershy as she stepped away from her friends.
“Miss Fluttershy?” one guard asked, and she nodded, “you are to come with us.”
Fluttershy turned back to look at the four mares, each one looking hopeful but worried. She caught Rainbow's eyes and smiled at the familiar rose color. Rainbow's wings
twitched and she looked tense, like she was ready to tackle the guards to the floor in order to save her friend.
“Whatever happens,” Fluttershy whispered loud enough for the four mares to hear, “I'm glad you have all been my friends. I love you all and I'll miss you dearly.” The four mares nodded silently, Pinkie's hair flat, as tears ran down their faces and dripped onto the crystal floor. Fluttershy smiled, carving her friends into her memory forever, then turned and followed the guards out the doors as they closed the crystal doors behind her. Fluttershy walked down the hall, a tear falling from her cheek as she heard the wails from her friends, echoing through the edifice.
“I love you girls,” Fluttershy whispered, “just don't forget about me.” She walked to the end of the corridor, emerging out into the sunlight, where Princess Twilight, Celestia, and Luna stood waiting. She took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. Justice will be served but friendship will live on, forever.
Author's Note
Hope you all enjoy this little story. I thought it up after searching for Flutterbat tributes and finding several good ones. I don't really have any real plans for this, just wanted something small for Halloween. Enjoy and have a great Nightmare Night, everypony!
