The night air tickled her leathery wings, she felt stronger and faster as she was never was before. She bounded from building to building with a single beat of her wings and her heart. She was a predator, these were her hunting grounds. Her nostrils flared as she breathed it all in. The world was red and her vision was a narrow cone. It was a haze where she found focus, her desires of the day, would be the pursuits of the evening. Her mouth salivated as she stalked her prey.
The unsuspecting farmer trotted along carrying his cart. He sighed with relief at the day’s end.
How innocent and simple was he. Crimson fur hiding mighty muscles, his strength though would yield to her passion. Long had she coveted and wanted. She licked her fangs in anticipation of the delectable treat. Her legs coiled for the pounce. She would dominate and devour him. He would be hers. The world was hers!
Smiling, she lunged with her fangs bared and mouth agape.
He cried as he spotted her in last seconds. “Flutter-”
Boom! Pleasure somehow gave way to a sharp pain. Fluttershy awoke as she felt her head. Her wings were still spasming. She looked upwards at the new dent in her ceiling to accompany the other ones. She felt her body and the cold sweat that covered her.
She opened her mouth letting the pillow drop from it. “Oh my…”
Looking at the devastation wrought upon her poor pillow, she cried. Why was she burdened with such dreams? Ever since the magical mishap that had turned her in vampire fruit bat, she’d be haunted by such visions that made her shudder now. The pony she was in those dreams so clashed with her nature, it threatened to tear her in two. She feared most all what he would do… to him.
She had stolen a glance or two at the big red farmer upon occasion where she visited the Apple farmstead. In her most daring moment their eyes had even locked to split second later. She beat a hasty retreat that day to her home. She wasn’t obsessed or anything. She didn’t take a lock of his glorious mane when the Apple family was getting haircuts. She didn’t put that lock of that hair into a box under bed. No, she was sane. It was better they be apart.
She told herself she didn’t want to know him; it would ruin the fantasy in her head about their life together. The walks under the moonlight and him sweeping her off her hooves to carry them to their wedding carriage: those were just fantasies, never to be real or revealed. As of late her personal journal had more of a novel for the exciting love life she envisioned versus the real boring banality of her real daily existence.
Such were the lies she used to soothe herself to sleep when the heat in her body kept her tossing and turning in her sheets. She struggled greatly against such thoughts and feelings. What was happening to her? In her waking moments she was timid and subdued yet in her dreams or nightmares, she was bestial and free. It was a frightful freedom, anarchy, without control she was a body of urges. In thoughts she dared not think, she wonder if that was what she really wanted.
There came knock on her door.
Fluttershy opened a crack of her door to see a familiar face. She sighed as she opened her door to her friend clad in blue robes.
“Twilight?”
Twilight smiled. “Fluttershy, I’m sorry I didn’t make an appointment.” She gestured to the owl perched on her shoulders. “But, Owlicious isn’t feeling too well.”
Fluttershy stepped out of the way and invited them in. “Oh my, no problem Twilight.”
They sat on the couch of her living room as the little owl walked about on her coffee table. Fluttershy calmed herself as she inspected Owlicious. Half of the tiny bird was now metal; on his left was lidless scarlet mechanical eye and metallic mythril wings. The cyborg owl, hooted in delight as Fluttershy scratched the feathers of his non-mechanical side. She was reminded that at his heart, the owl was still a living creature.
“Oh my, Twilight what seems to be the problem? I’m a veterinarian, not a mechanic.”
Twilight placed her hoof on her chin as she thought. “Well Owlicious is a cyborg, still half natural. I figured we get a second opinion. He’s has been flying lopsided lately by several degrees.”
Fluttershy took her hooves and stretched out both the owl’s wings. She gauged with the gentlest touch the weight of the wings. “Twilight, Owlicious’ wings, the mechanical side is just a feather or two too light.”
Twilight nodded. “I see. I guess I was right coming to you. I didn’t account for the imbalance it would cause when I made upgrades to the frame.”
She examined Twilight’s dark blue robes of her office. “So Twilight, how’s ummm your work?” Fluttershy sensed the veterinarian visit was an excuse to talk. Her friend was entirely too meticulous to miss even a gram of difference, especially when they had together planned out the mechanical prosthetic wing for her pet.
Twilight sprawled herself out on the couch as she exhaled. “I’m Mage Commander now. I lead a division of elite Sorcerer Soldiers. On my order, I could rain, fire, ice, or lightning on a city.” She laughed. “Or I could order a coup tomorrow and seize the total control or the Republic!”
Fluttershy feigned laughter along with Twilight. It was only polite and she didn’t want to let it slip how her friend’s new position and power scared her.
Twilight slumped over. “I could do all that…yet I’m not happy.” Twilight hugged Fluttershy as she cried. “I have everything, yet I have nothing…what am I missing?”
Fluttershy patted her friend on the back. “There there.” It was a gesture she used to comfort one or two of her animals, she didn’t mean to condescend. Her friend had achieved so much, in light of her own modest gains.
All her friends had achieved their dreams and seemed to have left her behind. Sure there was an occasional visitation, however, it was often to relieve their own stress. Fluttershy seemed to the perfect pillow for them to sob about their petty problems. They only asked how she was as a courtesy before they went on about their issues. Did they care for her concerns?
“Fluttershy?” Twilight gasped as she was squeezed by Fluttershy.
“Oh my.” Fluttershy noticed how hard she was hugging and relaxed her hold. She bit back her slight bitterness, right now Twilight needed a friend and Fluttershy cradled her.
After moments Twilight broke the embrace. “Thank you, Fluttershy.”
It was a sore subject, but Fluttershy swallowed and asked. “Ummm… how about Rainbow?”
Twilight looked off to the side. “I don’t know… we’re fundamentally different ponies. I guess both of us were naïve.”
Fluttershy sighed, internally. She herself was worse off. She didn’t even know her romantic interest, save for the daring day dreams and fantasies she held. Perhaps hearing the reality of relationships from her friends had made her too cynical to try.
“I guess it isn’t all sunshine and rainbows?”
Twilight laughed. “I guess not.” She turned to Fluttershy. “How’s the Veterinary Practice? Have you considered expanding and hiring help?”
Fluttershy was startled by the question directed at her. “… Good… I haven’t yet.”
Twilight gave a soft smile. “It’s okay, take your time.
The rest of the day for Fluttershy continued as her usual. She fed her animals, saw to their treatments, and closed her shop. There was relief in the routine, yet Twilight’s visit occupied her mind. She found herself overfilling several animal food bowls. She almost dropped the whole bag of pellets into the koi pond. She chuckled, the fish would be having a large dinner.
Fluttershy stared at her reflection in water. It wasn’t as if she couldn’t be bolder. She had times where she was even outgoing to the point of being outright aggressive. Taking an assertive seminar from a Minotaur, Iron Will, she had swung to the opposite extreme. It took help from her friends for her to find balance to be best. Yet it was all too quickly she fell into the same pattern. She was stuck in a loop, learning the same lesson again and again. It perpetuated her cycle of self-loathing and filled her with rage.
She swirled the water around her reflection. “Oh Fluttershy… why do you have to be so… umm shy?”
Flutter-‘shy’: it was in her very name the cause for her constant consternation. She would never be a social butterfly, but instead a meager moth flying around the light of life. Where others found love, would she be lonely forever. Was what awaited her a life of quiet desperation? A voice inside her was compelled to say… no scream ‘Nay!’.
The eyes of her reflection flashed red.
“Ahh!” Fluttershy fell back in fear. After she had calmed her heart she peered back into the liquid pool. Her eyes were clear blue as they always were and Fluttershy let loose a sigh of relief. Scared of her own reflection she might as well fear her own shadow, was she so weak willed?
She looked up stream to find the ferrets that lived under the bridge. The pair of the ferret family was nuzzling one another before turning into their home. Where fond feelings had once been came only sadness and longing. She then heard the clattering of wooden wheels against the cobblestone road.
Crossing the bridge and was he… her heart thumped against the cage of her chest. Big Macintosh was plodding along on his regular return from the market. His head hung low and she saw the cause behind him. A full apple cart meant a poor day’s sales. His gentle weary lonely eyes were focused only on the road. He sighed and look upwards towards the horizon and the sinking sun. As he did he noticed her and turned his head stopping his trek.
Fluttershy’s heart was now beating the rib cage of her chest like a raving prisoner would beat the bars of their cell. She opened her mouth to greet him but closed it again when no words came. In her head she imagined inviting him into her home for some tea to lift his spirits. She would finally introduce herself to him and they would begin a slow passionate courtship.
It was not to be. The moment had long past in her daydream she didn’t see him break his gaze. The clattering sound of the wooden wheels of his cart had become distant. He was now plodding far down the road, further and further away from her. She reached out with a hoof at the disappearing speck on the horizon.
She wanted to cry. She wanted die. How many times would this torture repeat? Perhaps the fantasy was enough?
At days end she tucked herself into her sheets again. It was a cold night, and she shivered slight even with her sheets. She hoped that she could skip her nightmare. Maybe this time she’d have an uneventful rest.
Again she found herself in the realm of the sensate. She was all feeling, there was little thinking. It was familiar sensation, yet this in dream it felt ever more real than the last. Maybe she wouldn’t fight the feeling this time…
There came hazy visions, she was a predator on the prowl.
A warm flow between her lips,
the night air against her wings,
the thrill of the hunt,
she was herself!
Leaping up Fluttershy avoided the ceiling this time as she calmed her wings.
Quivering, she held herself, cradling her body. It was all just another dream after all. She laughed lightly to herself. The morning rays dancing through her bedroom curtains seemed to sting her sensitive eyes. She sighed, another day awaited.
There came a knock upon her door.
Fluttershy widened her eyes as she saw them. Several bat pony guards had their lances affixed to their war saddles and pointed in her face. Stepping forward their captain: had piercing crimson eyes. Fluttershy averted her gaze from those eyes; they were too intense.
Another thestral or bat pony guard saluted to his captain, he whispered but somehow Fluttershy’s ears heard every word. “Captain Nightshade, the back entrances are secured. Squad two and three are ready. I don’t see the necessity of such measures though.”
Nightshade whispered back. “Sergeant Fang, she took down several full grown stallions, our best too. No mistakes. Exercise extreme caution.”
Fang saluted. “Yes ma’am.”
Nightshade turned back to Fluttershy. “Are you or are you not Fluttershy?”
Fluttershy squeaked. “No?”
The thestral tilted her head while lifting an ear. “Oh, is that so?”
Fluttershy gave several small nods. “Yes, Fluttershy isn’t here.”
Captain Nightshade nodded back. “Of course.” The thestral then glared at Fluttershy with her crimson eyes. They gleamed like red rubies. Try as she might Fluttershy couldn’t look away. She was transfixed, it was like the very stare she used with her animals this time she was the target. Nightshade’s voice was low and sweet like honey in her ears.
“Fluttershy isn’t here because the beast is.”
“You hunger. You desire to quench the fire.”
“You are awaken, an acolyte of the darkest night…”
Fluttershy found herself nodding to the words that echoed in her mind.
Nightshade spoke with particular relish. “-a Vampire!”
Fluttershy was shocked out of her trance by the last word. She shouted. “No! I’m-” She caught herself and placed a hoof in her mouth. There she felt fangs wet with her saliva. When she flapped her wings she felt the raw nakedness of leather. She then saw her reflection upon Nightshade’s gleaming lance. Her nightmare self had entered the waking world.
“She’s the one! Seize her!”
Glass shattered as a yellow blur burst through the window. Nightshade’s guards deployed their wings to protect her from the shrapnel. The Captain sighed.
Captain Nightshade smacked hoof on her head. “I told you to secure all exits.”
Sergeant Fang tugged. “My apologies, commander.”
Nightshade scowled. “I don’t like this day op. We must limit our exposure. Other interested parties may take notice.”
“They won’t have time to mobilize. We’re swifter.”
Nightshade smirked. “Well Sergeant, I’ll hold you to that. Move out!”
A passing pony raised her brow as she noticed the strange gathering around Fluttershy’s cottage. The many thestrals in their ebony armor clashed against the light of the day. Buffeted by gust a large leaf landed on her face obscuring her vision. When she removed the offending foliage she blinked her eyes to find the strangers gone.
She weaved passed the rows trees of the orchard. Fluttershy was glad to be familiar with the terrain. She needed to hide, she needed some place safe. She knew not what carried her there, but she found herself upon Applejack’s doorstep. She knocked furiously.
“What the hay?” The orange coated farm mare’s door swung open.
Fluttershy cried. “Applejack! You have to hide me!”
Applejack recoiled as she saw Fluttershy’s form. “Fluttershy, it ain’t Nightmare Night why are ya?”
Fluttershy pleaded again. “Please, hide me!”
“Sure thing, partner.” Applejack nodded to her friend’s request. She held onto her hat as Fluttershy created gust by rushing through the crack of her open door.
Inside Applejack’s home Fluttershy nervously paced about the living.
Fluttershy bit her hooves, chewing them like a chipmunk. “They’re after me!”
Applejack placed both her hooves on Fluttershy’s shoulders. “Calm down, sugar-cube. We ain’t gonna let them get ya.” She called upstairs. “Ain’t that right, Big Mac?”
Fluttershy lifted her head from out of her hooves and spied him atop the stairs. He seemed to have just awoken but gave a light nod then his eyes opened wide when he saw her.
“Big Mac, Ah want ya to protect her. Some bad ponies seem to be afta her. Ya keep her safe, hear?”
“…Eeeyup.”
Beads of cold sweat trickled down Fluttershy’s head. There he was. There she was. There in that small room. She tried to ignore the male musk by pouring her eyes over the furnishing in the room. To her disappointment, it was rather Spartan and utilitarian. A simple bed, bookstand with a lamp, and bookcase filled with tomes. She was surprised as she noticed the large volume of texts.
Big Mac stepped in front of the book. He blushed. “Ah… don’t think them books… would interest ya.”
Fluttershy noticed the title of one the text. The book was well worn, from what appeared to be many re-readings. It was her favorite. It involved an intrigue, espionage, and…forlorn romance. “Casabronco?”
Big Mac’s eyes widened and he blushed harder even through his red fur. “Eeeyup.”
Fluttershy squeaked. “It’s my favorite…”
“Mine too.” Big Mac gave a gentle smile.
In the awkward silence, Fluttershy was reminded of the inescapable fact she was in his room. It was reversal of all her fantasies where he would be the one to intrude upon her domain. Here she was closer than she was ever was and wanted to be with him. Part of her wanted to explode out of the room, the other part wanted to explode onto him her feelings. She held back. Saying she ‘loved’ him without knowing him, would no doubt scare him away and label her as a psychotic.
Big Mac rubbed his hooves. “Miss Shy, pardon me fer askin, why are ya like that? Ya don’t normally have them bat wings.”
Fluttershy was more curious at how he would have known how she looked normally. “Normally?”
Big Mac choked, slightly. “Ah may have…ummm noticed ya once or twice…. ya visited the farm.”
She swelled with feeling to near bursting. This level of interaction seemed unthinkable to her prior to it happening. The suggestion he may have looked at her, made Fluttershy lick her lips. “Go on.”
Big Mac gritted his teeth. “Ah…Ah’m sorry… It weren’t proper… to say.”
Fluttershy cooled, slightly. Big Mac wasn’t free, he had other obligations. “I know you… and… Cheerilee…”
Big Mac lowered his head. “Ah… we… didn’t work out…”
“So you’re single?” He was available and vulnerable; Fluttershy narrowed her gaze and salivated.
Big Mac sat down on his bed gave a sad “Eeeeyup.”
A voice screamed inside of her. “No!” Another cried a resounding. “Eeeeyup!”.
Applejack nodded with uneasy smile as the bat pony guards raised their brows. She had opened her door but blocked it with body.
“I told ya, I ain’t seen her.”
Sergeant Fang sighed. “It’s imperative that she be found.”
“Eenope. Not nowhere, I ain’t seen Fluttershy.” Applejack tried again to lie, but only heightened the guards’ suspicions.
Big Mac lifted his head and noticed the outward signs of the conflict inside her. She was sweating profusely and was stalking to him on his bed. He crawled backwards to hit his bed post. With nowhere to escape he asked, nervously. “Ms. Shy? Are you alright?”
She giggled, licking her extended fangs. “Shy is the lie.”
Applejack leaned on her front doorway, and placed a hoof on her hips. “So ya fellas are here to help her? What else?”
Sergeant Fang nodded. “A newly awakened one is highly impulsive. She will target those she loves or desires.”
She pounced upon him, her hooves against his chest and her muzzle to his ear. “Oh Big Mac, I’ve noticed you as well.”
Big Mac gave a nervous grin. “Ya have?”
She rubbed his chest with a foreleg making a heart. “Oh I have!”
Applejack’s eyes widened as Sergeant Fang continued explaining.
“In addition to super senses, she will be possessed of enhanced strength to overpower even the most red blooded stallions.”
Big Mac gulped as Fluttershy held his hooves with hers and sprawled him out on the bed. He struggle only slightly to no avail. The once demure pony had freakish strength.
Fluttershy’s breath tickled his neck.
Applejack despite her best efforts could not avert her eyes looking back behind her and upstairs. “Ya don’t say?”
Sergeant Fang gave an impatient huff. “Yes, she will also crave for blood, failing to find that: anything red.”
Fluttershy licked his neck feeling the warm pulse beneath his crimson fur and the hot blood that awaited. “Oh I had dreams of this, it usually went the other way… but you don’t mind do you?”
Big Mac was frozen in place by her glowing eyes. In those eyes he felt fear… and something else that befuddled and muddle all else. “Eeeyupp? Nope?”
Applejack shook her head, while biting her lip. “Nope, Ah ain’t seen her, but Ah’ll tell ya fellas if Ah do.”
Sergeant Fang snorted. “You won’t mind we inspect your farmstead then?”
The farmer remained firm. “Ya got a warrant there, soldier boy?”
Fang gestured to the other guards to move in. “We’re the Guard, I was asking only out of politeness.”
Applejack smiled placing her hoof and blocking his way. She was for once glad her family had a history of bootlegging alcoholic cider during the era of prohibition. She now had to remember that story Granny Smith told her. “No you ain’t, if you don’t got form 27B stroke umm 6. It’ll be an unlawful entry.”
Fang rolled his eyes. “You’re really doing this?”
Applejack chuckled flicking his muzzle slight with her hoof. “Yeah ya fellas, don’t you also need an invitation like those vampire myths?”
Fang hissed. “Used by outsiders, vampire is a slur!”
Applejack motioned to close her door. “Now if you boys will move on, I gotta get to ummm…. my umm pie in the oven.”
Fang grumbled. “A high Captain of Equestria can override that. I’ll get my Commander…” He turned to find her already there.
Nightshade hovered overhead and called down below. “Soldier, what’s thedelay? We’ve got to comb these farms for her.”
Fang saluted. “27B-6, we have a farmer here with a law degree.”
Captain Nightshade landed behind him and spoke to Applejack directly. Her words carried urgency. “You want to protect your friend, I sympathize. Believe then we hold the same goals. Your Fluttershy shall be an unstoppable unnatural machine given to the insatiable need to devour and dominate. Hunger, lust, and whatever urges she has will blend.”
There came a scream upstairs. “Ahhhhhhhh!”
“Big Mac!” Applejack cried.
