Love is Life

The pure white pegasus glared at the only place on the map she hasn't started taking lives from yet: Equestria.

She didn't want to travel. First of all, her hometown will bring too many memories in return, holding back her so-called "career" after all this time of success. The smallest mistake can't ever be safe to touch on now. Not yet, at least. She already has all her trust on a mundane heart-tailed pony. Then there was the chance of being caught in her schemes. The most powerful leaders in the world will catch on to her since she lived in Canterlot as a foal, they probably still have a record of her somewhere. Besides, would Equestria have any caves that make surprisingly amazing hiding spots like this one?

Diamond Lust jumped as her best friend opened the entrance in the ground and chirps, "Hi!"

Irritated, she jerks her head to Bright Heart. "For Celestia's sake, don't scare me like that! I thought you were the dumb police, we could've been done for! Why were you out for so long?"

A giggle rippled through the hide-out. "Sorry, Lusty. But after I bought all our stuff at the market, I decided to go down a different path to explore a bit to find some strawberries, because we never get to do that, you know? Plus they are only the best food ever! I found these delicious looking ones, and they have been the best ones I've seen in my entire life! So red and juicy, I was going to make an offer." The earth pony's red-orange eyes looked dreamily at nowhere in particular, obviously thinking about the fruit she has seen earlier today.

The pegasus raised an eyebrow. "Why didn't you, then?"

"Well, next to the strawberry stand was this little stand was this little stand that sold the hugest, reddest cherries there were! I knew you love cherries more than anything else, so I bought you those instead. Here!" Bright Heart rummaged her heart-tail through the bag and took out very scrumptious looking cherries. Diamond stared in awe at the gift. "What do you think? Like it?"

She shook her head. "This? For me? What about those strawberries?"

"Your my best friend, silly willy! Besides I owe you a lot more than this. So, ya like it?"

The white mare stared at her companion a bit more, then sighed. "Well, I guess I appreciate it. Thank you, Bright Heart."

The earth pony grinned more than ever before. "I knew you would like it! I'll be making dinner tonight, fresh lettuce and tomato salad!" With that, she trotted away, the heart connected to her tail shined crimson to the point it couldn't become any more crimson. Diamond Lust refocused her attention back to the map, yet her mind was distracted. Bright kinda does owe her more, but...

~ * ~

It was unusually stormy in the normally sunny kingdom ruled by griffons. Most of the time the purple-maned pony would take advantage of this by using the darkness as a cloak of invisibility when murduring her victims. Despite having a bright coat, her aura is especially dark and vague. Today wasn't the day, the storm was too strong to fight against, so Diamond made the choice to stay at her shelter deep in the forest and wait it out.

Hours went by. The weather showed no sign of changing. The mare was distraught, she was planning to treat a passerby and poison him or her, but who in their right mind would take a single step outside? It takes a prideful or desperate idiot to be exposed to this time of day.

And, apparently, that idiot is a blue-coated earth pony with a heart tail, red-orange eyes, and baseball hat. Shivering in the extreme cold with a brown messenger bag hanging on her neck, she looked so helpless and vulnerable. The individual safe under a leanto smiled viciously. It was about time.

"Oh my goodness, you poor, poor thing!" she said concerned. The victim's orbs widened and turned it's attention to the talker. "Are you alright? What in the world are you doing out here in the middle of a gigantic storm?"

She sneezed and replied, "I-I was supposed to deliver a m-message to the ruler of this kingdom...I thought I was gonna make it b-before the weather got worse..."

"Well, honey, come with me to shelter. I'll give you all you need: Food, water, shelter. Don't be afraid to ask for anything! Come, come!" The unsuspecting messenger had a look of hope and followed without question. Diamond Lust smirked silently, but for some bizarre reason, deep down somewhere, she had a feeling of...guilt?

No. She mentally slapped herself. She is a serial killer, there has been no mercy for any type of prey. Not now. Not ever. Insanity shows no emotion but insanity.

"Wow, you made this?" the blue pony gaped as she entered the leanto made of branches and leaves. She laid her hoof on everything in eye's reach. The host did everything in her power not to strangle her host for acting extremely childish and rude.

"Why, yes, I did. I can't live out here without being able to make myself a temporary home. Oh," she realized, "I never got your name. I am Diamond Lust."

"Cool name, it sounds really familiar! I wonder where I've heard it before? I'm Bright Heart!" Saying her name lit up the heart tail with a warm red. "You are sooo nice, did you know that? I've never had anypony invite me to their home before, much less in a middle of the griffons' first disaster in the decade!"

"...disaster?"

"Yeah! you haven't heard?"

"I honestly do not go out in public much."

"Why not? You get to make a lot of friends and eat great food and get invited to special events! Who doesn't like being social? Of course I know introverts don't become part of these kind of things, but I don't think you're an introvert. Are you? I don't think so, why would you be so nice to me then? If you got some fresh air every once in a while I'm sure everyone would love you! Hey, we should do that sometime, just you and me! Hey, are those strawberries!? I love them so much! Can I eat them? Please please please?"

For Luna's sake, she has to stop talking so much. "Here are your fruit."

"Nom nom, these are so juicy! Why can't you go outside?"

She ignored the question. "So, how is your job?"

"I don't really like it that much. I have to travel all day and travel all night since getting mail to travel anywhere not in Equestria with a spell is super hard, I'm lucky to get even a day's worth of sleep! Sometimes the messages are pretty important, but mostly it's just boring conversations that aren't even worth the time! But I had to take the job back then, it was the only one I could find available that could support my sick mom" - she grimaced - "but she passed away anyway. I tried to quit but I couldn't, so here I am now."

What was this feeling of pity doing inside? What monstrosity of an emotion is this? "Oh, I'm very sorry about what happened! I hope my hospitality was able to help you at least the tiniest bit."

"It actually did more than you think! A thousand thank yous for this, ma'am! Can I ask you a question in return?"

"Ask away, my dear."

"Well, I don't know if this is personal since you didn't answer it the first time, so you don't have to answer it, but back to the public thing..."

"I'm afraid I can't ever be able to go outside, my friend."

"Hm? Why not?"

Diamond slyly turned around and faced Bright Heart. "Because, sweetheart," her poison-honey voice hissed, "I am a wanted murderer."

The heart-tail pony stopped chewing and looked up in horror. "W-What?"

"You must stop asking so many questions, it's goddamn frustrating to answer them all." She kicked something and instantly a thick heavy sheet covered the shelter. It was so dark any light failed to creep in. She could sense the radiating fear, there was no need to use her eyes for this job.

A gasp crawled out of the victim's throat. "I remember you from the newspapers! The one who killed a whole family of seven zebras? That was you!?"

"Why are you surprised? You're so naïve a dragon could let you in and there would be not a speck of hesitation! Be more careful next time. Oops, I forgot, there will be no next time for you!" Hysterical laughter. The noise of bottles clinking each other seemed to echo, a few even dropped onto the ground and broke. "Didn't your mother tell you not to talk to strangers? Was she not enough of a good parent?"

"Don't talk about my mom like that!" But the voice was shaky, soaked with more terror than bravery. It only satisfied the killer more.

"I don't see why not, you should't have taken what you have for granted, idiot!" The purple-maned mare opened the bottle of acid and her muzzle was just a few inches away from the other. "Just stand there and let me put you out of this stupid, pointless misery that existence will only ever give you!"

"No!"

"No what? Does it hurt to be any more specific?"

Crying. "Can't you see? There are living things who want to stay in this planet even if it has been cruel to them! Why don't you respect that choice?"

"What idiocy are you speaking of? Do you not think that unconsciousness from dying is a much better choice than going through the trouble to stay breathing? I would much rather do that, but all the simepletons in the world don't agree for whatever reason, so Destiny chose me to help them open their eyes, or rather close them. Destiny is the cause, Fate gives no choice! You must embrace both if you want to survive!"

"I - "

"Shut your yap!" She shoved the bottle in her victim's mouth. "Save it for the last words you will say! No more suffering, no more pain, no more tears to let out as everything is taken away one by one! Say goodbye to this hell and greet the real heaven!"

Sneering, she was about to tip in all the contents inside. One life will be erased off this universe forever. Nothing will be taken, nothing will be left. The fool will finally stop suffering under Fate's rule and be placed among all the spirits, rejoicing with everyone who was lost, including her mother.

Then she stopped.

Diamond Lust didn't know why she stopped, she was extremely angry at herself for doing so. The only thing that was happening is the sound of sobbing...

"I-I don't want to die, if I ever meet my mom again she'll be so mad at me...I don't want to disappoint her. I want to make her happy, know that her daughter is happy and positive with her living style. O-Otherwise I don't have a purpose anymore..."

That's it. She isn't getting the targeted reaction. Usually her victims will scream, begging for mercy, offering to do anything in the world if she just let them be. This time, though...

The white-coated mare tugged the bottle out a bit harshly and growled. "Stupid crybabies," she mumbled. "Fine then. Tick me off. Be that way." She walked toward one side of the sheet covering the leanto and kicked it off. Light has returned again.

Bright Heart looked at the pony who tried to kill her. "What...why...how...?"

Diamond jerked her head around and hissed. "Don't think you are still safe. Now you know my voice and appearance, and that won't benefit me on my part."

She cowarded in fear. "What are you gonna do?"

"I have no choice but to keep you in hostage."

"What?"

"Stop asking questions, you brat. I will lay out some rules first so you remember who is in control around here. Nod if you understand."

There was a nod.

"First of all, do not reveal me. I'm already in enough trouble trying to let you live. If I could I would take your voice away. Secondly, you will not whine, bash, etc. about my intentions of killing others. And finally, never go outside without my permission, because you will be joining me in my plans."

"...that's it?"

"What did you expect? I hate long and dragged out rules."

She thought the rules were clear and straightforward, but the little blue mare just stared ahead filled with fright, with the slightest tint of relief. It was somewhat agitating to see such emotion, but as long as keeping her hostage will shut her up, it was nothing.

"Uh, so..." Bright Heart fidgeted with her mane. "Do I have to do whatever you say now?"

"Yes."

"Are you gonna make me do anything?"

"How about stop asking so many questions for once?"

She bit her lower lip, but trotted away and sat down wherever seemed comfortable. Diamond would yell at her for just sitting anywhere, but that would be hypocritical, since the white mare herself demanded for no more inquiring. She just laid out her map on the table nearby and studied it. Why did I spare her at all? A quick slash would have done it. Now I'm putting myself at bigger risk than ever. Now I'm the naïve idiot. There's no turning back, however. The killer will have to struggle to control the simpleton from now on.

It's not like there was any other choice.

~ * ~

"We should fit in with the public."

After many weeks of rowing the rather well-structured boat, they finally reached the shore of the west side in Equestria where it was planned to stay underground where there was an abandoned station. While unpacking the supplies and putting them in a red wagon, Diamond Lust scoffed, "Don't be crazy. We can't throw ourselves in danger like it is the easiest act in the world."

"Yeah, well, we could just disguise ourselves so nopony can recognize us, right?"

"How will that work? We don't anything to cover our identities with. If I get seen by the public eye again, they might draw a connection the next time news about me comes around." She finished taking out the last canteen of water and pulled the wagon, while Bright Heart pushed from behind.

"I can help with that! My mom and I used to play dress-up all the time," - Diamond cringed, but Bright kept going - "and now I'm practically a master of disguise! I don't need any super special tools or anything! I just really, really want to make pony contact with society, since I haven't in a long time. Getting stuff from the market isn't enough, either, I mean real social actions, you know what I mean?"

"Keep pushing."

"Will you at least think about it? Please?"

"Why in the world should I do something stupid like that?"

"Everything isn't about you." It was quieter than a whisper, yet it was still audible.

"You agreed to our deal, didn't you? This is for our benefit."

"Our benefit?" she was shouted slightly. "What the hell? If you're so clever, Ms. Smartypants, why not get away with exploring this place without drawing an conclusions by others? If you made it this far and the police haven't got even close to getting the answer, why not take a frickin' risk?"

"Because I can't risk anything more now that I have you, someone with experience in society. I don't beed you spilling anything, hear?"

"For Celestia's sake, why don't you trust me?"

Diamond whipped her head around and glared. "I don't want you hurt! I can't get through this mission without you, alright!?"

Silence.

It was just a breeze or so, then a few seconds, then a expression of embarrassment flooded the white pegasus. "Uh, I mean, we are both wanted criminals now after all, and if one of us gets caught then the other will too and..." Red flooded her face.

The heart-tail pony's gaze softened significantly. "Oh." Instead of a look of exasperation, it was one of thoughtfulness. "I didn't know you cared."

"N-No I don't! Haven't you heard my correction?" She continued pulling.

"But I can take care of myself just fine! You don't need to watch over me, over us. I don't want you stressed."

"I'm as stressed enough already."

"Please?"

For a half hour or two, it was just walking, pulling, and pushing. They are leaving the shore, entering the road to Ponyville. Winds sing sweetly between the grasses, then sweeping the words into the mare's ears as she speaks them out loud.

"Don't screw up for the love of Celestia, do you hear me?"

~ * ~

After finding an underground tunnel to drop off the goods, it was time to transform. There was no doubt about it, the blue mare was a master of disguise. In just ten minutes, Bright Heart's mane was tied back in pigtails with washable pink dye, her hat off and added yellow contacts. It was so simple with such few changes, yet it was like looking at a completely different body, even if the fur color was the same. Diamond Lust had peach "paint" (whatever it was) over her coat, and her mane is down, dyed black. The cyan markings were gone, and purple eyes never existed, at least, they were brown. Even when no relationship could be made between the fake and real thing, it still made her wary about being caught. What was she doing agreeing to this? It's not like there will be anything good to come out of this obstacle of saying yes.

Civilization was just a few meters away. It excited Bright Heart incredibly, not having been part of it for two years. Finally, her hometown is laid out before her. Diamond Lust despised going at all, but at least it wasn't Canterlot, the place she was born in. Everything would be over for them.

"Where do you want to go first?" the pegasus asked.

"Hm, I was hoping that we could visit my favorite café first, they have the best coffee you ever imagined!"

"Is it nearby? The people there aren't very suspicious, right?"

"Now you're the one asking too many questions." She chuckled. "If the workers are the same as before, you have nothing to worry about, they're very friendly. And it's located at the edge of Ponyville open to all tourists!"

Diamond relaxed slightly. It sounds like the safest destination for two wanted ponies.

The café mentioned was coming into view now. With a big sign on the roof that said "PONYVILLE CAFÉ FOR ALL" and cozy atmosphere, it seemed pretty classic. Bright Heart trotted faster, and the other had trouble keeping up with her speed. When they finally stepped inside, a blast of cool air surrounded Diamond's face. Griffons and kirins sit on tables chatting and laughing, camels standing in line waiting to order maybe a cup of tea, pony workers of all races rushing to treat their customers as well as they could.

The blue mare immediately stood in line. "I'll buy! Is there anything you want?"

The fake pair of brown eyes traveled across the menu. "The raspberry tea sounds nice. I'll wait in the seats outside, I don't like it inside." With that she left the setting.

A few hours passed before Bright had came out as well. "Sorry I took so long!" She gave the raspberry tea and settled her capuccino and donut on the table. "There are a lot of travelers today, aren't there?"

"Seems like it." They peacefully drank from their cup for a few minutes until Diamond started to ask something that has been bugging her forever, "If you don't mind me asking...how did your mother die?"

At first she just kept stared at her cup, sipping from it often. "Well, I came home from college one day and I called her name. There was no reply, so I just ate some cereal assuming she will come down later. She didn't. After eating, I went through a bunch of unread messages on the telephone, and one of the most recent ones said that my mom had neiveragin."

"Neiveragin? Isn't that the extremely rare disease that you supposedly get from misuse of powerful spell?"

There was a nod in reply. "She is a unicorn, but she didn't have much knowledge about magic to know about it. That's what the message said, at least. So I ran to the hospital as fast as I can. One of the doctors, Sleet Fleece, said that she could only survive through a life-sustaining machine. Everyday I came to visit her, hoping that they'll find a cure. Mom couldn't talk, but I read everything she had left in her eyes. There was no need for words. I wanted to make the best out of our days, but then..." she trailed off.

"You don't have to continue, that's enough."

She shook her head. "Anyway, time passed by. I don't remember how much, but I bet it was maybe moons until the worst thing happened. There was a blackout. At first I didn't pay much attention to it, just waited for the lights to come back on. Then I realized...the machine that kept her alive was run by electricity. When I reached the hospital, she was already...already..."

For a moment it looked like she was about to cry, but Diamond Lust pushes back her chair. "I'm done with my tea. How about you?" Without waiting for an answer, she added, "Let's go somewhere else. What would you like to do?"

"Let's go to the hospital."

She winced. "Are you sure? It could bring back a lot of bad memories..."

"I never got to thank Sleet Fleece for all he has done. He was the one who did almost all the work just to make her last longer." Immediately, she stood up and walked toward the interier of Ponyville. Diamond Lust followed closely behind.

~ * ~

They entered the hospital.

Surprisingly, is was almost exactly the same as it was when Diamond visited Ponyville last time as a filly, except it was cleaner. She thought it would change drastically over the years away from Equestria, but that apparently didn't happen. A twinge of nolstalgia flickered, but she desperately tried to stuff it away.

The pony at the counter turned around and smiled. "Hello! How may I help you?"

Bright Heart grinned back. "My friend and I have an appointment with Sleet Fleece."

"Names, please?"

"Um, Rising Dawn and Puma Jacket?"

Diamond was about to grab her friend and run for it after the clerk glanced at her clipboard.

"Alright, you may go ahead. You are an hour early, but he doesn't have anything important to do at the moment."

Was that even possible? The duo went down the hallways and "Puma Jacket" turned to the other. "How did you...?"

"I anticipated the names. Got an old party-friend to thank for that." "Rising Dawn" winked.

Wow, she actually has some useful wit after all, even if it's from that annoying-sounding pink mare she used to talk about.

The walk to the doctor's office seemed to take forever. Each step took longer and longer. The disguises pegasus caught herself staring at her partner for long periods of time. She tried to look away, but always ended up looking again shortly after. What is this madness? She felt her heart drumming. What am I feeling? Is it...

No. Of course not. I'm a serial killer for goodness sake. She tried to focus on the negative qualities of Bright, but for every flaw she found something endearing about it. Asking too many questions? But it felt intelligent to answer each one. Too vulnerable? It was honestly a bit cute. Weak? But it's nice to have someone lean on her, depend on her, help her. Diamond Lust was losing her mind, and not into insanity like usual.

"We're here!" sang Bright Heart, racing to the door entitled "SLEET FLEECE" with gold letters. She knocked on the office door, and it opened. The inhabitant was a light gray stallion unicorn with a somewhat transparent beard, black mane and tail with light yellow streaks, and startlingly bright green eyes that stand out, maybe a bit too much. He gave her a mellow gaze at first, but them smiled widely. "Why hello! I mist have forgotten about our meeting, I apologize. Come in, come in!"

The office was uncomfortably bland. The walls were completely white with not abother speck of color, the counters are very unoriginal and simple. There was only one window. The only thing that stood out were three chairs, and they were wooden brown, that's it. Diamond wasn't all for creativity, but even she had a bit of taste in decoration. This was flat-out nothing.

"Sit down now, please tell me about your concerns. Is it your health? Don't be so worried, you'll be fine, Rising and Puma."

"Rising Dawn" shifted her position in the seat. "I have a friend, Bright Heart. She's been, uh, missing for a while now..."

He nodded. "I understand. She has been gone for quite some time now, hasn't she?"

"Yes, and she wanted to tell you that she is very grateful for working hard to sustain her mother's life. She admires you so much."

"Ah yes, her mother Fire Heart. There mast have been so much grief, those two have been very close."

"Puma Jacket" wasn't listening to very much of the conversation anymore. It seemed to have been the word "admire" that set her off. The feeling if jealousy creeped into her, but she managed to hold back from making any snide remarks.

"Is that it?" Sleet Fleece asked when their lengthy discussion was over. "No worries about anything else?"

"Well..." she hesitated.

"Go ahead."

"Well, I was wondering if you know anything else about the machine that kept her mother alive."

There was a pause. It was an odd one, somehow mixed with a sprinkle of tension. It went on for an unpleasantly long moment, and a smirk formed on his face. "Why, it is run by magic."

Another unpleasant pause. "Magic? But I thought - "

A sudden hysterical laugh erupted. "Did you really think so much precious electricity would be wasted on that little thing? And don't contradict me," - Bright Heart was going to protest - "I was the one who made that stupid gadget! I just lied and stayed away from the truth, buisness, y'know? Nopony wants  to work for something to work! Everyday I used my magic to let it work longer, and you know how much money I get for making it? Only a thousand bits! When they gave it to me, I decided to give up, activated a black-out spell, and stopped feeding that machine. It was using up all of my energy anyway! Fire Heart was such a useless mare, she couldn't do anything at all, who misses her anyway?"

Bright's expression wasn't so bright anymore. Now it was full of shock, hurt, and at the verge of tears. "W-What? Why would you do such a thing?"

"Oh quiet, you bitch, you don't understand anything. Wittle Shining Dwawn saaaad? Too bad, foal, 'cause my world centers around me! Now stop whining or else I'll - "

"SHUT THE HELL UP!" Diamond Lust slammed the stallion to the ground. "Have you lost your mind!? You've driven an innocent filly into sadness and despair! Everyone depends on you, yet you take advantage of that trust and got away with it! What kind of doctor are you!?"

"Great, another one who doesn't understand, how convi - "

"I said shut UP!" She bit his shoulder and he screamed. The liquid tasted delicious as he suffers. She punched his cheek, then did the same with the other. "How could you!? How could you hurt her!? Die you bastard, go to hell, die, die, di - "

A hoof held her back. It was Bright Heart. Tears streamed down her eyes. "Diamond Lust?"

She kept staring at her.

"Diamond Lust, please, don't do this..." she sobbed.

"This stupid bastard let your mother go dead! He doesn't need frickin' mercy, okay!? Just let me...just let me..." Her words ceased as she stared at the streams of water trickling down her friends face as she continues to mutter "please, please".

Diamond realized what happened. "Oh crap, we have to get out of here." She lifted her friend on her back and jumped out the window, trotting away as fast as she could. Bright Heart continued sobbing, washing away the peach paint on the white coat. They distanced themselves as far away as they could to the truth, the reason of a mare's death, the one who gave up because he didn't get enough.

~ * ~

Beautiful sunset. Grassy hill. Far, far away from any other contact with anyone. No more sobbing, just an occasional sniffle. No more disguises, just their real selves. Quiet.

"I'm sorry."

"No, don't be. He deserved it, I guess."

"I didn't think about how much it would hurt you."

"Did you do it for me?"

"Your mother and for you. She sounds like such a nice mare."

"After you insulted her when we first met?"

Giggles.

"It's been some time since then."

"I know, right? I still don't like you trying to kill others, though."

"Oh, I'll be stopping."

"Wait, what?"

"By having you here, I'm not just putting myself on the line, you're forced in there, too. I don't want that, but I didn't know it back then. My consciousness did, I guess. Maybe that's why I didn't poison you back then. I mean, I could've done it, but I held back."

"Do you know why now?"

"Yes."

"...well?"

"I..."

"Weeeell?"

"I-I..."

"Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeell?"

"God, why do you do that?"

"I want to know!"

"...Bright Heart?"

"Diamond Lust?"

"I...I love you."

Silence.

"..."

"..."

"...I love you, too."

She only ever gave a peck on her mother's or father's cheek. She looked up to them as role models. They were the only ponies who she truly liked. But to feel it with another...it was better. Amazing. Beautiful. Just like the heart-tailed pony sitting before her, kissing. Together. Forever.

This feeling will never be shared with anyone else ever. This feeling will only be with the two of them. The attachment, the pull, everything around them is nothing.

Remember me as your own, Bright Heart.

Remember me as your own.