Crimson Night

“Hello Fluttershy.” Twilight said, seeing Fluttershy sitting outside of her door.

“Oh...um...Hello Twilight, thank you for coming. I wanted you to...um...try something, if that's alright with you.” Fluttersy said, inviting her into the house.

“Of course, What is it?” Twilight asked as she looked at the small cup of pink liquid.

“It's um...a new medicine I made...I want to test it but...um...I don't know if it'll work...it's...um...supposed to give a pony energy.” Fluttershy explained.

“I see. Oh Fluttershy what happened?” Twilight asked, seeing some bandages on Fluttershy's foreleg.

“Oh, it's nothing...I was clumsy while cutting vegetables, it's perfectly fine now.” Fluttershy said.

“Ok...so just drink it?” Twilight asked. Fluttershy nodded. She drank the strange brew in three gulps. She smacked her lips a bit, it tasted really good.

“What was in that? I taste berries...and a little Ginseng...and...wait...is that?” Twilight started. Fluttershy nodded. Twilight tasted the now familiar taste of blood.

“Oh I'm so sorry I was spying! I went to go visit Zecora earlier, she was going to help me with the recipe for this energy Medicine and I got there right after you did and I heard everything but I would have been too scared to offer my blood like that so I just ran and then I accidentally cut myself and it gave me the idea so I asked Pinkie to tell you.” Fluttershy explained quickly and softly.

Twilight just smiled and hugged the shy Pegasus.

“It's alright Fluttershy, I'm not mad...I'm actually glad you heard it like that so I didn't have to explain it all over again.” Twilight said.

“R-really?”

“Really.”

“S-so...um...what kind of power do you think you'll get from me?” Fluttershy asked curiously.

“I don't know...maybe I'll be much better with Animals or something?...what's wrong?” Twilight said, finishing with the question as Fluttershy's eyes began to widen. She didn't answer, she just reached her hoof forward and felt around, as if making sure she was still there.

“What's wrong Fluttershy?” Twilight asked.

“U-um...Twilight? I can feel y-you...but...you j-just look like mist...” Fluttershy said. Twilight's eyes widened.

“That's weird...Fluttershy you said I looked like mist?” Twilight asked. Fluttershy again didn't answer. Twilight realized the 'mist' must be suppressing her sounds as well. Thinking a moment, her instinct showed her how to drop it and it did.

“Oh! Twilight. You startled me. Could you hear me?” Fluttershy asked.

“Yes, but you couldn't hear me...that's so weird...I wonder why you would give a power like that...” Twilight said.

“U-um...I remember reading a um...Vampirism history. The book said it was fictional, but I don't think so anymore...um...it said Shy Vamponies could conceal their appearance in mist and...um...their sound also.” Fluttershy said.

“Really? Where was this book?” Twilight asked.

“Um...in the Palace library in um...the restricted section...I got clearance one time to um...find recipes for medicine that haven't been used in centuries...this energy potion was one of them.” Fluttershy explained.

“Oh I see. Fluttershy...thank you so much for being so understandings...but now I'm afraid everypony will think I'm using them for their strengths...” Twilight said solemnly.

“Nonsense...if anypony does, we'll make sure they see that you're not asking for any of it.” Fluttershy said. Before Twilight could respond, she was interrupted by knocking on the door and her own large yawn.

“Zecora?” Fluttershy said, surprised to see the Zebra.

“Fluttershy I apologize. I gave you the wrong Recipe, it will not grant extra Energy. Instead, the one who tries to test will instead find a forced rest.” she said.

“Great a sleeping potion...just...what I...need...” Twilight trailed off, falling asleep.

“Oh my gosh! Will she be alright?!” Fluttershy exclaimed.

“She will be fine, though she will not wake until Nine. Once again I apologize, I did not intend such a sinister surprise.” Zecora said.

“Don't worry, it's alright...Twilight will forgive you...I'll take care of her for now.” Fluttershy said and put a pillow under Twilight's head. Zecora said her farewell and left.

“Alright you stupid course...you won't get me so good this time!” Twilight exclaimed as she looked at the mental course. She blazed through the pillars just as easily as Luna had. Luna...

And now she was lying on the ground. The thoughts of Luna had distracted her and she ran right into a pillar. Luckily her nose wasn't bleeding, but it hurt like hell. While she was lying there, and not in the damn course, she really thought about Luna. All of their encounters and how she felt about the one sided love.

She couldn't think for some reason, so she just did the course. She got hit a few times, gaining a few bruises, but eventually she was able to pas through the second stage while her mind was busy thinking. She didn't even realize her passing into the third stage until she realized she was going through the first stage again. She was happy, but she wasn't done thinking.

Hours later, she was panting. She had mastered the course and had finally come to a conclusion that, like before, she didn't love Luna. But what was different was that she really wanted to. Before she could formulate how to tell her this however, she felt herself waking up.

“Twilight...I-I-I'm scared.” Fluttershy said when Twilight awoke to see her huddled next to her, shaking. She was about to ask why, but heard the howls of Timber wolves. It was rare to see them aside from Zap Apple season, but it wasn't unheard of.

“Fluttershy, you're amazing with animals. Even Manticores. We can try and talk to them.” Twilight suggested.

“i-I-I don't know...w-what if they d-don't listen?” Fluttershy asked.

“Then I'll protect you.” Twilight said solidly. Fluttershy looked at her for a few moments, flinched at another howl, but nodded. They got up and opened the door.

They saw the glowing yellow eyes turn to them. There were five total. They growled and creaked as their wooden bodies moved towards them.

“Look at this one...she is familiar.”

“The other one smells of night.”

“What to do?”

“Let them act first.” she heard from the growls. Twilight gasped.

“W-what is it?” Fluttershy whispered.

“I can understand them...Hello! Can you understand me?” Twilight called to them.

“Foolish pony thinks it matters. Why do we not attack?” one said, looking at what appeared to be the leader.

“the winged one is familiar, she helps the creatures of night and day alike. She is potential friend...other smells of night, only princess and scary zebra smells of night.” it said, not taking it's eyes off of her own. Twilight's fangs extended and she took a step forward.

“I can understand you.” Twilight said.

“Why are you so close to Ponyville?” she continued.

“...Revenge.” the leader growled.

“Revenge for what?”

“a few nights ago...Ursa major rampaging through our den. Ponies come to to track it. Ponies at fault. Only nearby ponies in Ponyville. It said.

“Then it's me you want, I sent the Ursa away after it attacked the village.” Twilight said, taking another step forward.

“This is acceptable.” the leader said and lunged at her. But he slashed at nothing but air. Twilight landed on him, breaking one of the branches growing off it's back. It howled in pain, but the others knew not to get involved with a one on one fight.

It rolled over and pinned Twilight under it's left foreleg and reared it's right back to swipe at her throat, but she bit at his arm, making him flinch and miss. He ripped his arm away, causing the chunk Twilight had a grasp of to rip off and spew dark yellow blood on her face. She spit it out as he prepared another swipe, but she used her hind legs to kick him off. He smashed into a tree, but was far from done. She was gone though, the only thing in her place was a strange mist.

“Magic Witch! Teleportation not work!” he howled, but found his sense of smell was useless. Suddenly he found himself pinned to the ground, a sharp pain at the back of his neck.

“Leave now or this will not end well for you.” he heard growled into his ear.

“No.” he huffed.

“Is that your final answer?” Twilight asked threateningly. She was answered by a growl and an attempt to knock her off, but she just stomped on his head. While he was dazed, the sharp pain on the back of his neck came back. But this time it didn't go away, instead his eyes went black and he was lifeless.

Fluttershy looked in horror as her friend fought the wolf. She couldn't help but stare at Twilight when she threatened, and was horrified by the wolf's answer. She gasped when Twilight grabbed it's neck and jerked her head, breaking his neck.

“Argh, his blood tastes like a rotten pepper.” Twilight said, spitting. She didn't notice the other four walking up to her, and Twilight yelped. But they both froze when they nuzzled her neck.

“We thank you. Pack leader was evil leader. Only good thing he brought was forced peace. Timberwolf pack in your debt.” one of them said.

“Um...glad to help? Do you still want revenge?” Twilight asked.

“We didn't want revenge...he did...threatened our lives if we didn't come...rest of pack understand...though how are you so strong? Are you like the Zebra of the night?” the other said.

“Yes, I have the Vampirism. I am glad you see reason, but for now I only ask you don't cause trouble in Ponyville, we are still rebuilding and they can't take another scare.” Twilight said solemnly.

“We will stay away, we will listen to Pack Savior.” the third said. They howled to the moon and dashed off back into the forest.

“Twilight what's wrong?” Fluttershy asked, Twilight had began rubbing at her nose.

“I think I swallowed some of his blood, I can suddenly smell him and it's terrible.” Twilight said as her horn lit up and the corpse disintegrated with a small controlled ball of intense fire. She buried the ashes near the edge of the forest and collapsed in front of the Cottage.

“Twilight are you alright?!” Fluttershy exclaimed.

“Yeah...I just feel drained now...I killed him...I'm not feeling guilty or anything, he was threatening my home...it's just, I did it without trying to negotiate...Fluttershy...am I turning into a monster?” Twilight asked.

“No no no of course not Twilight. When you're protecting something you love, in this case your home and friends, you don't have time to think. You gave him a chance and he refused it. Even I've done something like that...remember with that dragon?” Fluttershy asked.

“...I guess so...thanks...Fluttershy.” Twilight said.

“of course. Now I can't make you go home when you're so drained. You're going to sleep here.” Fluttershy said.

“..Alright Fluttershy, thank you. But I refuse to take your bed.” Twilight started, she had a feeling that argument was going to go on for a few minutes at least.