Eternal Night

I stared up at the sky, my wings hanging limply at my sides. “It’s… gone.”

I heard a sniffle, and glanced to my left, seeing my friend Sweetie Belle. I curled my wings around her, and looked over at Scootaloo, who was comforting Apple Bloom.

Sweetie Belle cried into my shoulder and I nuzzled her in comfort. She and Apple Bloom were taking it harder since their sisters had been part of the team that had lost to Nightmare. Scootaloo was depressed herself since she had always seen Rainbow Dash as a sister as well.

And I? I didn’t feel anything. I never had. Ever since the accident, I taught myself to not feel. It made things harder.

My red mane fell into my eyes when I looked down at Sweetie Belle. I smiled gently at her, but it had no meaning. No happiness shone through my smile, not anymore. Not since-

“-Ruby?” Sweetie’s voice broke through my thoughts, and I glanced at her.

“Yeah?”

“Where… Where will we all sleep? My parents are in Manehatten, Apple Bloom’s brother and Grandmother are in Coltifornia visiting relatives, and you…” She trailed off, with a sigh.

I sat down. “We have the clubhouse, remember. Scootaloo and I have been living there for a year now. We have a heating system and some spare sleeping bags. It’s gonna be alright.” I assured her, glancing around. We didn’t really know anyone else besides our little group. And we… I mean, I can’t go back to the orphanage. Not ever.

We walked closely together. Shadows seemed to leap out at us and we screamed at every little rustle of the leaves. I suppose everything is scarier after dark and it was all I could do to not run away. I haven’t felt scared like this in forever.

The road was illuminated slightly by the oil lantern Sweetie carried with her. The trees seemed to twist and writhe in the shadows as the little fire attracted several moths. We traveled closely together, seeking out the comfort of each other. We could see the clubhouse in the distance, lit up by the light Scootaloo had accidentally left on.

Hearing a hiss, I flared my wings and glanced warily around me; Scootaloo did the same when she saw my alarmed expression.

There was a rustle, louder than the ones we had heard before. The bushes trembled before a figure tumbled out of it revealing a bright rainbow mane that was illuminated in the light.

“Rainbow Dash?” Scootaloo helped her up, eyes wide with concern.

“Hey Squirt,” Dash rasped, nuzzling her slightly. She stumbled; a red stream of blood dripping out of her neck from two puncture marks.

“We need to get her to the clubhouse.” I helped keep Dash upright, wincing at the slight trickle of blood that ran down my neck. Dash was slumped up against us passed out as we half galloped, half dragged Rainbow Dash to the clubhouse. “Hold on Rainbow!” I shouted as the wind picked up.

I spread my wings, feeling the feathers tremble in the wind. Seeing the gesture, Scootaloo mimicked me, helping the both of us speed up as we flapped in unison..

We burst into the clubhouse, gently laying Dash down on the floor gently. Sweetie Belle had the first aid kit hovering in her magic, and I took out the bandages. “Hold on, Rainbow…” I began wrapping the bandage around her neck; firm, but not too firm.

Dash stopped the bandage with a hoof. “I’m afraid that won’t be necessary…” Dash sneered, her eyes wide open now. She stood up, flaring her wings.

“Dash?” I whispered nervously, watching her feathers slowly  fall off of her wings.

She merely grinned and stretched her wings out even more, her feathers falling faster. By now, I could see that her wings weren’t normal- they resembled bat wings. I watched in horror as two of sharpened, extending further out of her mouth. Her eyes turned a darker red, the pupils narrowed into slits, and her ears became pointed and the tips a darker blue.

I stepped backwards, acting as a shield for the younger fillies. “You’re not Rainbow Dash.” I growled, my wings extended.

She laughed, “No, I am Rainbow Dash. Just twenty-percent cooler.” She bared her fangs at me, grinning crookedly. “And tonight, I’ve gotta recruit new guards for the mistress.” She stepped forward, and I stepped backwards, shielding the little fillies. “And you’re first on my list.”

I growled low, “We won’t work for you, or anypony else like you, you monster.” I spat at her, the spit landing squarely in her eye.

Rainbow Dash yelped, covering the eye. She snarled at me, eyes narrow. “You little…” She lunged at me and I threw my hooves out, catching her in the jaw. She glared coldly. “So, you want to play it that way, eh?”

“Come at me,” I sneered, my red eyes narrow. “I dare you.”

She charged with a scream of fury, moving faster than a usual pony. I barely had time to step to the side, (but after I managed to get out of the way,) she slammed into the wall leaving a giant hole. I looked through it to see her laying on the ground, eyes closed. I sighed and slumped to the floor, leaning my head against the wall. I curled my wings around Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo with a tired groan.

Scootaloo looked up at me with large eyes. “What… What happened?”

I moaned in response, feeling something wet slide down my neck. I looked up to see large red eyes staring at me.

I screamed, before slumping to the floor, barely aware of the pain on my neck.

I sat up, my sides heaving. Moonlight streamed through the window of the clubhouse, and I could see a puddle of red on the floor, right where the fillies had been. Oh, no… I stumbled backwards, my eyes darted around the clubhouse frantically. “Sweetie? Applebloom? Scootaloo?” I tried to call out, but my throat was dry. My hoof reached up to my throat, and I felt two small marks on the side of my neck. My eyes widened and I glanced at my wings, which were now a leathery grey instead of a feathery blue.

I walked over to a shard of glass and gasped.

Narrow pupils.

Pointed ears.

Dark red eyes.

I’m… I’m just like her! I turned around, disgusted.

I’m thirsty.

I could feel my teeth pierce my tongue as blood welled up inside of my mouth.

I didn’t spit it out. I didn’t cry out in disgust.

I swallowed it, wanting more.

I’m a monster… I thought numbly as I walked to the puddle of blood on the floor. I lowered my head to it, cringing, and I lapped some up, letting the salty liquid flow down my throat. It’s cold and stale. It must have been laying there for some time now…

I screamed in disgust, realizing what I had been doing. I scrambled away, breathing heavily. What if that had been the Crusader’s blood?

My stomach rumbled and I cringed. I cannot drink that stuff.

I realized that I was a predator now. I spread my wings, and the urge to hunt overpowered my disgust. I glided out of the clubhouse silently.

I smelled something warm. No matter what I did, my hunger drove me forward. I found myself hunting a small mouse. I bit my bottom lip nervously, and I crept closer. What would Fluttershy say? I couldn’t help but think of the kind and shy pegasus as I crept closer to the mouse. Please find me, Fluttershy, and stop me… I thought as I got nearer. I couldn’t bear it, but who knows how long I had been asleep. It could’ve been days! I might be able to keep myself under control after I have satisfied my hunger…

I crept closer. What’s wrong with me? This goes against everything ponies stand for!

Closer. I couldn’t stop this… Why? Why me?

I could smell the fear of the mouse as it stood frozen in front of me. I lunged forward, my teeth connecting with the mouse’s neck, and I drank.

A monster. I could feel the poor mouse’s life draining away as those two words echoed throughout my head.

A monster.

Monster.

Monster.

I scooped some earth away from the ground and placed the dead mouse gingerly there. I had satisfied my hunger for now and I was once again in control of my actions. I piled the dirt over the body and placed a stone, in which I carved a name- Layla. I had named her Layla, for the poor thing deserved a name.

I turned away, a tear falling on the ground. I had ended the life of an innocent soul. I picked a flower up off of the ground and turned around, ready to place the flower on the grave.

Instead, I dropped the flower in amazement. Layla stood next to her stone while a slim paw rested on it. Her fur was now white and her eyes were red and glowing. “Layla,” She commented, as her eyes scanned the stone. “That’s a nice name.”

I blinked. “You can speak?”

Layla glanced up. “I’m just as surprised as you are, Thestral.” She stretched, her mouth opened wide. I saw two mini fangs in her mouth as they glistened in the moonlight. “I didn’t know Thestrals could turn other species into vampiric animals.”