Eternal Night

I stared at the mouse dumfounded. “You can talk?”

The mouse let out an exasperated sigh while she pinched the bridge of her nose. “I just rose from the grave, gave you crucial information about your kind and what you are, and you are surprised that I can talk?”

“Erm… sorry?” I offered, smiling sheepishly.

Layla waved her paw. “S’all right. Just pay attention next time, kay?” She sat down, wiping excess dirt off of her whiskers.

I watched her for a moment before I realized something. “Hey, why aren’t you all thirsty and crazy for blood or whatever?” I sat next to Layla and it sent up a little cloud of dirt.

Layla shrugged. “Dunno. I’ve only seen ponies turn Thestral, which isn’t a pretty sight by the way.” She layed down on the ground, arms behind her head. “The one time I saw one wake up though, it was scary.” Her eyes grew distant. “I had been gathering nuts and berries for my family by myself for the first time. I heard a scream and instead of running like I had been taught, I ran towards the noise.” She paused, and closed her eyes. “It was a newly turned Thestral who was in great pain. I couldn’t get close enough to help though, since it was thrashing wildly, unable to feed.” Layla bit her lip, and opened her eyes. “It was just a little foal with a pale grey coat and a dark purple mane.

She died within the hour.”

She cleared her throat. “But that isn’t important now. We ought to get some rest.”

I noded in agreement and closed my eyes with a sigh.

I woke to the sounds of screams.

I cracked my eyes open to a dim orange glow. The air around me was hazy with smoke. My throat felt scratchy while I coughed hard, the scent of smoke filled my nose and entered my lungs. I saw the still body of Layla lying limp on the ground, her white coat tainted with the grey smoke.

I picked her up and lifted up my wings, preparing to fly before I realized I couldn’t fly yet. I grittted my teeth with an non-pony snarl, looking around wildly.

I couldn’t see a way out of the smoke. In fact, it was getting thicker with every minute.

I coughed, dropping Layla on the ground. I fell, the smoke stinging my eyes and blurring my vision with tears.

“He-help…” I moaned weakly, clutching Layla close. I could feel her breathing slow down ever so slightly.

“We’ve got somepony over here!” A deep voice called out followed by many hoofsteps.

I saw a large red stallion and a small yellow pegasus before I close my eyes.

I cracked open an eye with some difficulty, and I felt the remains of the smoke coating my eyes. I coughed hard, and curled up.

“Ruby?” I heard the soft voice. My gaze shifted over to a butter yellow pegasus with a light pink mane. She smiled kindly with her teal eyes, though her mouth stayed in a straight line. I tried to smile back, but I yelped in pain as my fangs slid out, and pierced my lips. I attempted to slide my fangs back in, but I felt a strong thirst which kept my fangs out.

“Oh dear.” The pegasus peered at my fangs. She nodded with approval and picked up a red liquid inside of a glass milk bottle. I parted open my mouth eagerly as she poured the blood into my mouth. It tasted stale, probably a few days old, but it was still delicious.

“Is that better?” The pegasus put the bottle down and took the bandages off of my chest revealing large burns that had burnt some of my fur away. I winced as she applied a stinging balm upon the burns. I watched in silence as the fur grew back, which stung worse than the balm.

“I’m Fluttershy.” The pegasus helped me up, leading me away from the bed. “And you’re Ruby, right?”

I nodded, leaning on her when I started to cough hard once more. She offered a tight smile and lead me to a small sofa to catch my breath. “Wh, where is Layla?” I whispered hoarsely, my throat screaming with pain.

“Ah,” Fluttershy helped me up again and we started to move downstairs. “She’s with Big Mac. I’m afraid she’s in worse shape than you, considering her small size.”

I leaned against the railing, coughing. “How, *cough* how is she?”

Fluttershy set me down on a lime green couch and pointed with her muzzle at a small lump in a basket. “If it wasn’t for the fact that you are both Thestrals, you’d be dead.” Fluttershy closed her eyes briefly. “Many ponies didn’t make it out of Ponyville in time.”

“What happened?” I exclaimed, my lungs screaming in protest. I sat up, only to be pushed down again by a yellow hoof.

Fluttershy was silent for a few more minutes before speaking, “Princess Nightmare Moon burned our village down in order to give an example of what will happen if one disobeys her. Only a few survived, including your mother.”

I let go of the breath I had been holding. “Has Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, or Sweetie Belle turned up yet?”

“I’m afraid not. Why?”

“Well… They’ve disappeared. You see, after Rainbow Dash attacked us-”

“Rainbow Dash attacked you? Why?”

“I don’t know. It definitely looked like Rainbow Dash, but I’m unsure as to whether or not it was her.”

“I see. Go on.”

“Well, after she attacked us, I blacked out. And when I awoke, they were gone and I was alone… and like this.”

I fell silent, fully realizing the situation. I wasn’t a normal filly anymore, thanks to Rainbow Dash…

Rainbow Dash…

Rainbow had disappeared for several 'days', within the Everfree forest, only to have reappeared in Sweet Apple Acres while we were on our way to the clubhouse. She was 'weaker' than one'd think, but she wasn’t complaining of hunger or thirst and she looked perfectly fine. When we got to the clubhouse, she revealed herself as the monster.

However, she acted exactly like Rainbow Dash did. No creature could’ve learned the exact mannerisms of Rainbow Miriam Dash within a few days.

I gasped and sat up. "It was Dash!"

Fluttershy looked at me confused.

It had to be. I got up and began pacing, explaining my thoughts to Fluttershy. With every word, her eyes grew darker and she began to pace as well.

I closed my eyes and let go of the breath I had been holding. It hurt to know that Dash would willingly do something like this, especially to me and the girls. She was loyal to everypony, for pete's sake! Why?

Why?