Apprentices

by Hazel_Hester777

Rating: mature
Tags: Gore, Babs Seed, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Alternate Universe, Original Character, Spike, Science Fiction, Cutie Mark Crusaders, Horror, Random
Length: 7744

My take on how The Cutie Mark Crusaders, Spike, and Bunny had gone mad.

Things haven't been the same for the CMC, Spike, or Bunny since the Mane Six left. They carry on their usual routines, but it just doesn't feel the same without them. Spike, now the leader of their group, takes it upon himself to go and find their friends. But when they themselves get into trouble, it's hard to tell whether or not they will make it out sane or not.

Published 2016-08-21 05:10:01 UTC
Last updated 2016-08-28 03:33:04 UTC

Prologue

It had been two months since Spike, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, and Bunny last saw the Mane Six. Things haven’t been going well. Applebloom and Babs Seed have just been living at the farm Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Bunny had moved in with Spike. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle had just been living there in Twilight’s Castle, just waiting for their sisters. Bunny just kept looking at the path which Fluttershy took since she left, waiting for any signs of her Mistress returning. Spike watched over the two fillies and the alien, also waiting for Twilight. The Cakes, Big Macintosh, Granny Smith, and sometimes even Mr. and Mrs. Shy would drop by every now and then to check on them.

One day, when all of them were in Twilight’s Castle, Spike had enough of waiting. Even though with Twilight gone, he was free to do as he wanted; it wasn’t the same without Twilight. He remembered that since Bunny was able to sniff Fluttershy’s scent, they could use that to find her and the others. Bunny agreed to do so, although she had a bad feeling of something ahead.

Bunny caught Fluttershy’s scent after taking a whiff from her pillow. The Crusaders and Spike followed her as she went. It was a pretty strange path about where they went. First, they headed to Town Square, then to a road that lead out of Ponyville, then down the Everfree Forest, down a small rabbit hole, until they finally came across some sort of hidden subway. Bunny was about to go further, Spike stopped her before she went down the path.

Bunny was about to speak, but Spike stopped her with a whisper. “Trust me”

“So, what do you think?” a voice rang out. “We need more apprentices?”

Spike and the others huddled together in a corner to keep hidden. Spike looked outside to see what was going on. The first thing he found was two earth ponies: a mare and a stallion. He couldn’t really make out how they looked because they were wearing armor. What was surprising though was their eyes. The irises were black, and they appeared to be crying blood.

“We have to just in case the Alpha orders us” the mare said.

“Still, where are we gonna get enough candidates before we leave for the train?” the stallion asked.

“Well, we could always get any blank flanks in the nearby neighborhood. You know how desperate they are”

“Or probably some other younger foals since there are those who already have a cutie mark. Let’s not forget: when they turn into their Apprentice form, their cutie marks change”

Bunny sent Spike a mental message: We have to get out of here!

Sweetie Belle was trying her best not to sneeze since Scootaloo’s wings were by her nose. But, as the group tried to get out of the corner quietly, Sweetie Belle couldn’t take it anymore.

“AACHOO!”

“Bless you” the mare and stallion said together. The moment they noticed it wasn’t from either of them, they turned around to Spike’s direction.

“Who’s there?” the stallion called out.

Spike and the others tried to huddle again in an attempt to hide. The mare and stallion walked towards their direction. The group prayed that they wouldn’t be found as the mare came closer. All efforts proved futile when the mare found them.

“Thorn, I found spies!” she called out.

________________________________________

Things happened really fast for Spike, Bunny, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders. The mare and stallion found them, captured them, and made them go on a strange train along with a few other foals after locking them all in a cage. Bunny didn’t want them to find out what she really was so she acted with her cover. Scootaloo kept blaming Sweetie Belle for giving them away, but Sweetie kept arguing that Scootaloo’s wings were up her nose. Applebloom and Babs Seed just kept thinking about what Applejack would do if she was here. Spike just tried his best to keep them all calm.

“Our Queen, you must see what we found down here before we left” the mare’s voice rang out.

The mare and stallion entered the booth again, this time with another mare with them. At first sight, the group already recognized her. Black skin, long horn, bat-like wings, mist-like mane and tail, cat-like eyes, sharp teeth. She looked like Nightmare Moon, save for a few slight changes. Her mane was blood red rather than deep blue; her eyes were red while her pupils became black.

“Well, look what we have here” she said as she approached Spike and Bunny. “The baby dragon of Twilight Sparkle and the rabbit of Fluttershy”

“How are you alive?” Spike demanded as Bunny whimpered.

“My apologies, I haven’t introduced myself” she said sarcastically. “My name is Nightmare, Queen Alpha of Murderers and Apprentices and the new Leader of the Organization”

“Organization?” Bunny asked, fear in her voice.

“Yes, the Organization where we keep all Murderers and Apprentices in training. It’s pretty much where you all are going”

“You’re gonna use us as training practices, aren’t you?” Babs Seed spoke up.

Nightmare shook her head. “I’d rather have you all alive than dead. Besides, we need more Apprentices”

“You’re gonna make us kill?!” Spike fumed.

Nightmare turned about face. “Put their Tracking Collars on”

________________________________________

Tracking Collars were a type of collar that, when strapped on, it will track down everything the wearer does. It can’t be removed by the wearer, and it can give electric shocks whenever the one with the remote wants to. It was easy to strap them on to Spike, the Crusaders, and the other foals that were captured. The moment they were collared, when they tried to attack Nightmare, the collar gave them a shock.

It was surprising about what Bunny did when she was about to be collared. Rather than waiting, she stopped them and said, “Please! Allow me!” before she grabbed the collar and strapped it on herself.

Nightmare was confused for a moment, but smirked. “You’re putting the collar on voluntarily rather than waiting for me to do so, I like that”

Bunny hopped immediately to Spike and the rest of the group. They were confused at why she did that.

“Alright, listen up!” Nightmare called out as the last foal ran to meet with the others. “I’m Nightmare, your Alpha and Queen. You’re all here because you were captured to make into Apprentices for our Murderers. But to make sure that you’re worthy enough, you’re all gonna go through your training. If any of you try to escape this Organization and tell on us, I’ll make sure you die a slow and painful death. We will show you around the Organization, including where you will be sleeping, and the rooms with your punishments”

“What punishments?” a filly asked from the crowd.

“Like the Hall of Whispers, it’s one of the worst. It will make you tormented like you were being killed by our best Murderers ten times”

Whimpers were heard from the crowd.

“Anyway, you will also be given each a small vile of what we call Victim’s Blood. This will turn you into a full Apprentice and make you like us. But, for now, don’t take it as it will probably overwhelm you and maybe even kill you at the first drop. You also have to get yourselves a codename like all of us. If you get hurt, we have a clinic since you’re better off alive than dead. But you must learn to ignore pain while in training. If you ask questions, I will give you direct answers. If you need a shoulder to cry on, use a pillow!”

Everypony giggled.

“I’M NOT JOKING!” Nightmare’s yell scared them all into cringing. "And lastly, if you hurt your colleagues, it’s the Hall of Whispers! AM I CLEAR?!”

Everypony saluted in fear. “Ma’am, yes, ma’am!”

New Routine

Every foal was introduced to the area in the Organization where they will stay. It’s called the Neighborhood, filled with stone houses where each candidate will stay in separately. Nightmare gave them all enough time to get settled into their new homes. Each house had the codenames of each candidate. While inside, they each found a kitchen, a bathroom, a bedroom with a small single bed complete with cover and pillow. There was also a basement in each one, but only some were able to find them.

Later on, after an hour since they were allowed to see their houses, everypony felt a small buzz on their collars. They realized that meant that they were being summoned. They all stood at the doorway of each house, waiting for Nightmare’s orders.

“Candidates, attention!” Nightmare’s voice rang out. “You have been put into the warrior state. Your task is to protect this Organization, kill, and when you’re ready, Turn yourself and others. Show no mercy once you’re one of us. Do us proud. As for the collars, don’t even ask when you can take them off. I’ll remove them myself when I feel like it. You’ll have many lessons before deciding you’re worthy and ready to become a full Apprentice. If you fail, you’re good as dead” Nightmare then threw a knife at Babs Seed, cutting her.

“Oww” she groaned in pain as she held her cut hoof.

Nightmare just glared. “Lesson Number 1: Ignore Pain”

________________________________________

Scootaloo cried out in pain as she got cut in the wing. Apparently, Nightmare teleported all candidates into a Training Room after the declaration of the lesson. Nightmare and her helpers had been testing each one for them all to ignore pain. It had been an hour since they started, and many foals were already crying. Nightmare was beginning to lose her patience.

“I said IGNORE IT!” she yelled as Bunny was thrown to the wall. Even though she could barely feel any pain, she was faking it so as to avoid them finding out about her.

Spike screamed as a bucket of cold water was poured all over him. He was shivering from the cold, but he could still notice how everypony else was doing. When he looked to Nightmare, he noticed that she was already about to explode in frustration. He had to think of something, anything! If one of them doesn’t progress soon, Nightmare may kill them all. He looked around to see how the rest of the gang was doing.

Scootaloo was groaning in pain as her trainer stabbed her in the foreleg.

Sweetie Belle was already getting scalds from being dipped in hot water for so long.

Applebloom was trying her best to run away as she was being choked.

Babs Seed was scared about how she was about to be crushed.

Bunny faked a flinch as she was electrocuted.

Bunny, of course! Spike thought as the trainer got ready for another test on Bunny.

As Bunny was dragged to be thrown to the wall again, she looked to Spike’s direction. The dragon pointed to Nightmare. The alien turned to the side to see Nightmare about to lose her temper. She looked back at Spike, as though asking for permission. Spike nodded; they had to make Nightmare happy.

Bunny was thrown to the wall, but she barely made any sound of pain. She just shut her eyes tightly, before opening them again. The trainer was surprised to see the progress.

“Our Queen, one of them seems to be having progress!” he called out to Nightmare.

Nightmare’s expression softened a bit. She walked over to the area of where Bunny was.

“I threw her to the wall, and she didn’t even cry” the trainer said. He and Nightmare then watched as Bunny helped herself get up. Sure, she was on all fours, but that was progress.

Nightmare smiled and nodded. “Finally, a candidate that’s doing better. Nice job”

Bunny took a deep breath before looking back at Spike. The dragon nodded with a smile.

Bunny turned her attention back to Nightmare when she was tapped on the shoulder. “What do you call yourself?”

“Brazy, I’m called Brazy” Bunny said her codename.

“Brazy, good choice. Well, Brazy, you’ve changed my mind. I was about to go nuts and kill everypony here, but when you finally got the hang of it, I decided to let them live. I haven’t seen something like this since Pinkamena, or Butchershy, or the rest of their group”

Bunny’s expression changed. “Butchershy?”

“Her name was originally Fluttershy, and she was one of the best”

Bunny already was concerned for her Mistress. “Where is she?”

“Anyway, I wouldn’t be surprised if you were actually related to her or something like that. If you keep this up, I may consider removing your Tracking Collar. Who knows? Maybe you may be one of the first to Turn. Keep up the good work”

Bunny looked back to Spike, then to the rest of the gang. They all nodded because they knew what they were to do. They have to survive this Organization, and find their friends.

Crazybloom, Fear

“You’re gonna go through your worst fears, Crazybloom” Applebloom’s trainer called her by her codename. “Master them, and you’re gonna be getting the hang of it”

“And what if I don’t?” Applebloom asked in fear as she was strapped to the contraption.

The trainer glared at her. “Face them”

Applebloom tried to protest, but the trainer already pressed the button to activate the system. The last thing Applebloom saw was the glare of the trainer, and a vial of Victim’s Blood.

________________________________________

Applebloom found herself in, not the Organization, but in a forest. She wasn’t really sure where she was, but it was a comfort to feel she was no longer in a painful Organization that would teach her to kill. It was quite scary that none of her friends were there to keep her company. Or so she thought.

“Applebloom!” a familiar voice rang out.

“Applejack?” the filly was surprised to see her older sister out here, but relieved that she had some company.

“No time to explain! We have to get out of here!” Applejack yelped as she helped her sister get up.

“Why?”

She didn’t even get an answer as a dagger was thrown, nearly cutting them. They turned around to see something that just gave them a shock of a lifetime. There, just behind them, a knife in her muzzle, was Sweetie Belle. She was covered in blood, a cold glare in her eyes. Her eyes were bloodshot red, and a cold smirk played across her face.

“Sweetie Belle?” Applebloom stared in disbelief.

“She isn’t Sweetie Belle anymore” Applejack carried her sister.

The next thing they saw was even worse than Sweetie Belle, something zipped past them many times. When it finally went away, Applejack was all tied up with rope. It wasn’t until the figure finally stopped moving was when Applebloom really saw who it was. Scootaloo looked like how Sweetie Belle did, save for a wing sticking out at an odd angle. How she was able to fly around with it like that was not known, nor did she want to know.

Applebloom began to hyperventilate as she imagined her worst fears creeping up on her. She tried to calm down and think it was all a dream, but her efforts proved futile when Spike showed up. He looked like the other two, but there were chains on his body, and bleeding whip markings all over. Without warning, the three held the ropes tight enough to make Applejack fall down. Applebloom tried running away, but Sweetie Belle levitated her in air.

“Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Spike, why are you all doing this?!” Applebloom cried out in fear.

“Survival of the Fittest” Scootaloo said, her tone dark.

“What?!”

“You didn’t say anything when we took down Blood Seed” Sweetie Belle growled.

“You mean Babs?”

Spike then held up something that will forever be stuck in Applebloom’s head. It was Babs’ head, the blood still dripping, her eyes had no signs of life, and her tongue was lolling out. Applebloom held the urge to puke as she began to hyperventilate.

“Oh, NOW you care? Where were you when you betrayed Brazy?” Spike jeered.

“Brazy?”

Then, without warning, there was a rustle in the bushes. They all turned to face a shadow hiding there, before it came to the light to reveal themselves. It was just something that she never imagined. Bunny was there, her eyes black and stitches were all over her. She wore a black collar made out of unicorn horns. Her fangs were sticking out, longer than what they used to be. In one of her paws, she held a bowie knife dripping with blood.

Applebloom tried to struggle, but she could only watch as the alien came up to Applejack and began to cut at the earth pony. Applejack screamed in pain for as long as she could. Bunny stabbed her in the thighs, then the front hooves, before she moved upwards. She began to stab the earth pony in the muzzle, and she cut out her tongue. Blood leaked out from all cuts. Applejack wanted to scream, but Bunny just used the knife to pull the eyes out. All that remained was a mass of flesh that used to be Applejack.

Applebloom’s worst fear was always abandonment and the death of her sister, but she never thought she would see it to be this brutal. She felt the last remnants of her sanity snap. She wanted revenge.

________________________________________

Applebloom woke up from the simulation, roaring like a predatory animal. She immediately broke out of her bonds and ran wild. Wasting no effort, she ran to where Bunny was, before she pinned her to a wall. Bunny was confused, even frightened at the look Applebloom had in her eyes. Bunny’s eyes widened when she saw what Applebloom had in a hoof, a vial of Victim’s Blood. Applebloom then popped the cork off the top before downing it. She watched in utter shock as her friend had the first markings of an Apprentice appear on her: black irises and darker hue in the eyes. Bunny wanted to scream as Applebloom held a knife to her throat. Luckily, their trainers grabbed the filly right off of her.

“Crazybloom, snap out of it!” her trainer yelled as she poured water all over the filly.

“Applebloom, what’s wrong with you?!” Babs Seed yelled as she ran to her cousin.

At that moment, Applebloom’s head sapped back to reality. She looked to see the damage she caused. Bunny was right where she left her, cowering in fear as Spike ran to her. The filly looked to see she had a knife in her hoof.

“Did I just…?”

“Attack a colleague?” Nightmare’s voice rang out. “Seems so”

“Oh no! Bunny, I’m sorry! I was in a sim, and I…”

“You took the vial, and wanted to kill Brazy. You know what that means”

Applebloom looked down. “The Hall of Whispers?”

Nightmare nodded. “You may have Turned, but you were gonna attack a colleague. Everypony else gets a day off while you stay in punishment”

“Shh, it’s okay, Bunny” Spike whispered to her. “You’ll be alright”

Applebloom just let herself get dragged off. All she saw was Bunny cowering in fear as Spike tried to comfort her. Applebloom turned that day.

Blood Seed, for Her Cousin

“Okay, Crazybloom, you’re free to go” Nightmare said as she opened the door to let the filly out. “I hope this whole day in the Hall of Whispers has taught you to never hurt a colleague ever again”

Applebloom stumbled out, traumatized from the effects of being inside the room. She wobbled from fear before she finally regained her ability to walk properly again. When she finally was able to re-adjust herself, she found that Babs Seed was just there, waiting for her. Her cousin knew she was still disoriented by the punishment, so she ran over to her and gave her a hug. When Applebloom finally regained her hooves, she hugged back.

“Are you okay?” Babs asked as she pulled away.

“If by scared out of my horseshoes is okay” Applebloom replied.

They both shared a hearty giggle for a moment. “How’s Bunny?”

“Shaky, she’s at her house with the gang. Spike’s comforting her”

Applebloom nodded, looking down. She knew that she attacked Bunny out of illusion. She Turned herself and could’ve hurt her if it weren’t for the trainers. She knew that Bunny feared almost nothing, but the look in Bunny’s state was no acting. Maybe she saw the terror in her eyes and that was what dazed her.

“Listen, it wasn’t your fault” Babs Seed said. “You were in a sim, and she saw what you did”

“I don’t think she’ll ever forgive me”

“Don’t say that”

“I know she practically hates me”

“She’s a Servant, she’ll forgive you”

“I’m a monster! I Turned myself in an attempt to kill her, and Servants hate anything evil! SHE HATES ME! WHY DO YOU EVEN BOTHER?!”

Babs Seed knew her cousin would act like this. She took the blame for Bunny after a fiasco. She knew that Bunny always hated evil and Apprentices may be one of them. She knew that, in their group, Applebloom was now the only one who was an Apprentice. She didn’t want her cousin to be alone.

“I don’t want that you would feel alone to that” Babs said, before pulling out a vial of red.

Applebloom looked in utter shock. “What’s that?”

“Victim’s Blood, particularly the one I was given like the others”

“What are you doing?”

Babs tipped off the cap. “You’re my cousin; I don’t want you to feel lonely”

“Babs, put that down!”

“So long as we’re cousins”

“NO! DON’T!”

But it was too late. Babs Seed drank down the vial of Victim’s Blood before Applebloom could stop her. She then displayed the first signs of being an Apprentice: the black eyes. They only stayed for a few seconds, and went back to normal.

“Why?”

“Because you’re my cousin, and you always will be”

Applebloom nodded, smiling. “Now we’re the same”

“Let’s go and see Bunny”

________________________________________

“Hush now, quiet now, it’s time to go to bed” Spike whispered into Bunny’s ear as he pet her. The young alien had already fallen asleep on his lap. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were in the living room with them, just talking about how their sisters would react. Well, Sweetie Belle was just talking about getting through with the fact that Applebloom was the first and was now worrying about who would be next. Scootaloo kept thinking about the colt she met back at training, named Orion. They didn’t bother to ask Spike how their friend was doing, he just sang Fluttershy’s lullaby to calm her.

“How do you think she is?” Sweetie asked.

Scootaloo was caught up in a daydream. “Hmm? Oh, right!”

“Shh! You’ll wake her up!”

“Sorry”

“How can you think of somepony you met when one of your friends is in punishment, the other is scared to death, and another is MIA?”

“I’m sorry, it’s just…Orion is just so…”

“Dreamy?”

Scootaloo nodded.

“Flu…Flutters…where are you?” Bunny mumbled in her sleep.

“Shh, it’s alright, Bunny” Spike whispered to her as he pet her. “We’ll find Fluttershy”

Suddenly, they heard somepony knock on the door. Spike gestured for either Scootaloo or Sweetie Belle to go as he tried to keep Bunny calm.

“I’ll get it” Scootaloo whispered as she left for the front door, leaving Sweetie Belle with Spike.

“Yes?” Scootaloo called out as she opened the door. Her expression was shocked when she saw Applebloom and Babs Seed.

“Hey, Scootaloo, is Bunny here?” Babs asked.

“Yeah, this is her house afterall. In fact, Spike and Sweetie Belle are here too”

“Great, can we?” Babs asked, only to be blocked by Scootaloo.

“She’s asleep, and I don’t think she wants to see Applebloom right now”

“Why?” Applebloom asked.

“You’re an Apprentice now, her Servant Gene might trigger around you”

“Would she still do that if there was another one accompanying her?” Babs asked.

Scootaloo looked over to Babs. “What did you do?”

Babs then pulled out the empty vial. “My cousin and I are in this together”

Scootaloo hesitated for a bit. As if one Apprentice wasn’t enough, now there’s two? Her day just got a whole lot worse, but a try was better than nothing. She backed up to let the fillies in.

________________________________________

“It’s really sweet of you to sing Fluttershy’s lullaby to soothe her” Sweetie Belle commented as Bunny slept in Spike’s lap.

“She’s my best friend”

“Are you hers too?”

“Yep”

The two were interrupted when they heard hoofsteps enter the living room. They looked to see that it was Scootaloo, with Babs and Applebloom. Applebloom had a look of remorse in her eyes. When the filly saw the alien sleeping, she felt like she was about to cry.

“I assume you want to talk to her?” Spike asked.

Applebloom nodded. “Please?”

Spike nodded before shaking Bunny gently. “Bunny? Wake up. Somepony wants to see you”

The alien began to stir as she opened her eyes. When she finally regained her sight, she looked up to see the face of the baby dragon. “Yes, Spike?”

“Applebloom wants to talk to you, is that okay?”

Bunny nodded without hesitation. She immediately got off and stood infront of Applebloom.

“Bunny, I’m sorry about yesterday. I was just…” the filly got cut off when the alien hugged her.

“They said to forgive you” Bunny whispered.

“But, aren’t Apprentices evil?”

“Some are exemptions”

Applebloom smiled as she hugged back. “Thank you”

Bunny then sniffed the air. “Is somepony else Turned?”

Babs scratched her head. “Yeah, I had to make sure she didn’t feel insecure”

Brazy, Finding Her Mistress

Bunny had just arrived back at her house from another grueling training day. She was pretty exhausted from the entire time of being taught to ignore pain. She had been faking pain, but dropped it when needed. Her friends were having different things going on as soon as training was over. Spike was struggling to keep the gang from falling apart. Scootaloo was looking for information about the Mane Six’s life here, as well as dating a colt named Orion. Sweetie, Babs and Applebloom were trying to keep themselves from going crazy with the Victim’s Blood.

Taking a seat on her chair, Bunny decided to take a breath of relief and relax. As much as she tried to control her natural urge to destroy Apprentices, she had to keep it under control since three of her friends already Turned themselves. Applebloom did when she came out of a fear-induced hallucination, Babs Seed to make her cousin feel needed, and Sweetie Belle because her sister did the same for her. Now, she was worrying about who would be next. For all she knows, it could be her!

“There’s the crazy rabbit!” a voice rang out. Before Bunny could react, she was pinned to the wall. Her attacker held her by the throat, and she faked choking. When she finally got a good look of who it was, her eyes widened in shock. It was a colt who had a brown coat and green mane. He was a Pegasus, but it looked like he just Turned himself. It was Orion, Scootaloo’s new coltfriend.

“Orion? What are you doing?” Bunny pretended to choke.

“Just a little thing to make sure that your friend is all mine, besides, I always wanted a pet”

“Let me go! Nightmare will kill you!”

“We’ll see about that once you’re nothing but a pair of lucky rabbit’s feet”

Bunny felt fear in herself. She could also clearly see that Orion had gone mad, that he was an Apprentice for years. She felt her instincts kick in. The Servant Gene was beginning to take its hold on her. She tried to keep herself controlled, but her instincts were more powerful. She just closed her eyes as she felt it control her.

Orion was about to stab Bunny with a knife, when he was stopped by a paw. He tried to break free from Bunny’s grasp, but she proved to be stronger. When he looked to see her face, he found that her eyes turned into a darker hue. Her teeth were now sharper than normal as she bared them in a growl. Orion tried to stab her, but her claws sank deep into his flesh as he screamed in pain.

“WHAT ARE YOU?!” he screamed.

Bunny just responded by grabbing a knife and stared at Orion coldly. “An Apprentice’s Hunter”

Bunny then relentlessly stabbed Orion in the chest, before she moved on to the wings, yanking them off. Orion fell to the ground with a thud. He was still alive, but barely. He tried to crawl away, but Bunny levitated him in the air. She then, somehow turned him into a cow, must be for her liking. Then, without mercy, she pulled his eyes out with her bare paws. The last thing she did as a finale was slit his throat. She dropped his bloody body with a thud. She breathed heavily as she began to calm down. When she opened her eyes, they were back to normal. She seemed clueless at what happened at first, but when she looked down, she got the shock of her life.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!”

Bunny screamed at the top of her lungs, loud enough to wake up the whole Neighborhood if it weren’t for the sound-proof force field.

“I killed him…I killed him…I killed Orion!” she freaked out as she rocked herself. “What is wrong with me?!”

It’s alright, dear. It was for the greater good.

A voice rang in her head, it sounded like hers, but a little raspy. “Hello? Who are you?”

Don’t worry, my dear. I’m just you’re little friend.

“Friend?”

The voice of your little head.

“What do you mean I killed him for the greater good?”

He was too far gone, no hope left. What you did was alright. You freed him from the darkness that lurks in this twisted Organization.

“But, what about Scootaloo?”

She should’ve seen it, but you can keep the body at bay. In fact, why not make yourself a little doll to practice on? Why not do the same thing on the other Apprentices and Murderess with no hope?

“But, I don’t want to think of it as killing ponies”

Then don’t kill ponies.

“What?”

Turn them into cows before killing, now you can even eat them. Who knows? Maybe you can even discover from each one where your friend Fluttershy is.

“You think it’s alright?”

Of course, cows are meant for food anyway. Besides, isn’t that your nickname? Kibo Suru? Be a glimmer of hope to stopping the madness, it may be even your cutie mark.

Bunny thought about it for a bit, then sighed. “Okay, I’ll do it”

Good, now, do you see that vial of Victim’s blood on the table?

Bunny picked that vial up. “Yes, why?”

Drink it down. Don’t worry; we made sure it was a formula with a bit of a twist to it.

Bunny finished the vial and asked, “Why?”

This makes you crave Murderers and Apprentices rather than innocents

Bunny then began to show the first sign of the effect, her darker hue pupils and black irises. She felt some sort of new and different craving, Apprentices and Murderesses. And with that, Brazy was born.

Suicidaloo, to Protect Brazy

Scootaloo just returned to her home after another grueling training day. She was resting from the whole ordeal. And it had been two weeks since Orion was found having committed suicide. His body was found hanging on a pole. Scootaloo had cried for a week. Her friends had different ways, but most had already Turned. They all had their own reasons why. Applebloom did it because she a had a sim, Babs Seed to make sure she wasn’t lonely, Sweetie Belle because her sister did it for her, and now Bunny because of Fluttershy. Scootaloo knew that, as she and Spike are the only ones left, they have to do whatever they can to keep their friends from going crazy.

Maybe Nightmare may know what happened to Fluttershy. Scootaloo thought.

It made sense; Nightmare did mention Fluttershy and the other were here. Maybe if she got information about the yellow Pegasus, she could find what happened to the others. Taking a deep breath, Scootaloo walked out of her house and to Nightmare’s office.

________________________________________

“So, it’s all here in this computer?” Scootaloo asked as she sat on the seat and clicked the file that read “Butchershy”.

“Yes, and it’s nice to see candidates doing a little research on one of our best Murderesses. Well, I’ll be leaving to take care of some documents, just call me if you need anything” Nightmare smiled as she walked out of the room.

Scootaloo nodded as she turned her attention back to the screen. She looked through the files, until she found the last one, “Final Battle”. She had no idea what that meant, but it was worth a shot. Opening the file, she found the video footage of what happened that day.

And it all made her throw up.

What she found gave her the shock of her life. In it, it showed footage of Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash fighting in Single Combat. Rainbow then sliced Fluttershy in the chest, making her collapse in a pool of blood. The video ended with the sight of Rainbow crying at the corpse of Fluttershy.

Scootaloo knew this was bad. Not just because since she was related to Dash and that Bunny cared for Fluttershy, but because it was really bad. If Bunny finds out that her sister killed her Mistress, she’d snap. This would cause doom in her entire gang. Bunny would kill them all if she found out she Turned for nothing. Scootaloo had to think of something, anything, to protect the alien.

Then it hit her, the vial of Victim’s Blood she had with her. If Bunny used the victim’s Blood to help her find Fluttershy, then Scootaloo could do the same to protect Bunny. Without any more hesitation, she drank down the vial. Scootaloo’s eyes showed their first sign of Apprenticeship, the darker hue in pupils and black irises. They turned back to normal after a split second.

Strike, to Control the Group

“Thank you all for coming today, it means very much to me that you all got here on time…and sane” Spike announced to his friends as they took a seat in a circle. He was currently aware of what his group was now in. Scootaloo just turned two weeks ago, making him the only one left who still didn’t take the Victim’s Blood. This was a very dangerous situation, if one snapped and turned off their emotions, this would spell disaster for all of them. Apprentices and Murderers and Murderesses had the ability to turn off their emotions, thereby making them unable to feel remorse or sadness and kill as much as ever.

“Does anypony hear that?” Scootaloo asked as her ears twitched.

Bunny’s ears zoomed in on the sound. “An Apprentice is here”

Spike then noticed something about his alien friend. “Bunny, are you okay?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” her eye twitched.

“Your pupils, they’re smaller than normal”

“My eyes are fine, Spike” Bunny began to feel agitated.

Right then, they heard the sound of a lightbulb break. The entire room was flooded with darkness as the fillies screamed in fear.

All that stopped when Spike lit a candle. He saw that the fillies were all huddled up together. “Okay, you can let go of each other now”

Scootaloo let go of Sweetie Belle as Babs did with Applebloom. They began to calm down when Spike noticed something. “Wait, I only count four fillies. Where’s the alien?”

Babs looked to see that Bunny’s seat was empty, like she disappeared. “Where’s Brazy?”

Thump

“What was that?” Spike asked as he approached his group.

“Sounds like it came from downstairs” Scootaloo said.

“Bunny has a basement in her house, nice. Just gotta find it” Sweetie Belle said.

Spike then looked around as he tapped the floor, finding a hallow sound in a weird area: beneath the couch. “Don’t need to, it’s right here” he said as he tried to push against the couch. The other Crusaders helped him. It was heavy, but they could hear screams coming from down. If whoever got inside kills Bunny, she may live but will have to fake her death. Finally, they moved the couch off the floor area, revealing a cellar door underneath. They didn’t waste a second to open it and hurry down.

“Bunny, don’t worry! Help is on the way!” Scootaloo called out as they looked around.

They heard something rather disturbing: the sound of a stab in the stomach. Spike made the lamp go to where they heard that sound. Did the intruder stab Bunny? The light illuminated and showed the scene. There was a stabbed victim, all right, but it wasn’t Bunny. It was the intruder.

There, at the wall, was Bunny. The intruder was on a wall, but they looked like a cow now. Their insides were spilled out on the ground. It was unknown if it was either a filly or a colt since the distinguishing features were sliced off. Bunny was infront of them, a knife in her paw. The weapon was still embedded in the victim’s stomach as blood dripped off it. Bunny’s eyes were now like that of an Apprentice after a fresh kill. What used to be like those eyes of a cute rabbit-like creature were now a glare that shot shivers down anypony’s spine.

“Bunny?” Applebloom called out to the alien.

The alien just glared and growled at her. In a swift glide, Bunny pinned Applebloom to the wall. It was now a turn of events; the tables have turned. But, unlike when Applebloom needed to have her name called out, Bunny just snapped out of it simultaneously. Her irises returned to their normal white as her cerulean eyes peeked out. When she saw the scene she and Applebloom were in, she backed up and let go.

“Oops! Sorry, Applebloom! I got crazy!” she apologized.

“Bunny, you killed somepony” Spike called out as he saw the corpse.

Bunny looked down on her now-blood stained paws. “I didn’t mean to! They wanted to kill me!”

“Okay, Bunny calm down. We’ll figure a way out of this…” Sweetie Belle said.

“She just told me that I had to do it to defend myself and find Fluttershy” Bunny looked down.

Spike stopped. “Who told you that?”

“Little Voice, my voice of instincts”

“WHAT?!”

“I know! It’s just…I miss Fluttershy so much! I just did this to find her! This was why I Turned! I just want to find Fluttershy!”

Suicidaloo bit her lip. She knew the truth would have to come out, but she never expected that it would be like this. “Fluttershy’s dead, Bunny”

Bunny’s eyes widened at that. That couldn’t be true. “What?”

“I looked up on her information here at the Organization. The last file said that she died because she was killed by Rainbow Dash. I didn’t want to tell you because I know you would take it hard. I’m so sorry!”

Bunny looked down as the tears streamed down her face. She felt like her entire world was crashing down on her. It was just like her former Master dying all over again, except for one thing.

“I never got to say goodbye” she choked out.

“Bunny, please. I’m sorry” Scootaloo tried to reach out for the alien.

“No! I don’t deserve your comfort!” Bunny cried as she pushed the filly off her.

“Why do you say that?”

Bunny paused for a bit. “I killed Orion”

Scootaloo’s eyes widened in shock. “You what?!”

“It wasn’t suicide! Orion wanted to kill me so I killed him before he got the chance! My instincts took over and I turned him into a cow before I stabbed him to death! So go ahead! Hate me! Your boyfriend was my first victim!” Bunny confessed as tears flooded her eyes.

Scootaloo shook off the pain. She was over Orion and he just wanted her for her friends anyway. “Nevermind Orion! What I need to do now is help you!”

“Help me?! My friend’s dead! How does that help?!”

“Bunny, please, calm down”

“I can’t!” Bunny broke down in tears as she fell to the floor on her knees. “I can’t! I can’t! I can’t!” she sobbed. “It hurts too much!”

Scootaloo and the others could only look on as the alien cried her eyes out. Applebloom approached the alien, putting a hoof over her. “Shh, it’s alright. I can help you”

“How? Nopony can help me”

Applebloom paused for a bit. It was risky, but worth a shot. “Turn it off”

“WHAT?!” the others cried in confusion.

Turn off her emotions? That’s crazy on a normal pony, but if it’s on somepony like Bunny, that’s pure insanity!

“Just turn it off, and it will all go away” Applebloom said.

“Bunny, don’t!” Scootaloo tried to reason with the alien.

Bunny thought about it. This would be risky. If she did that, she wouldn’t feel any more pain. She could also terminate Apprentices without trouble anymore. Besides, a Murderess killed her Mistress. And her Mistress’ Murderess’ sister was infront of her. All in all total, she decided to go with it.

Bunny took a deep breath before she closed her eyes. Everypony else hoped for the best she wasn’t doing what they think she was doing. All that hope was shattered when Bunny opened her eyes again, making them a bit like a blank stare.

________________________________________

“Her emotions, Applebloom” Scootaloo reprimanded the filly. “That was all she had left”

“Emotions mean nothing to us Apprentices if we don’t have anypony to care about, Scootaloo”

“She has us!” Sweetie Belle tried.

“She lost her close friend” Babs Seed looked down. “We’re not enough”

Spike looked at what became of his group. He then looked down to what he held in his claws: a vial of Victim’s Blood. This would come with its own price. If he didn’t do something now, his gang would drift apart. They needed him.

“You know what, gang?” Spike got their attention.

“Spike, you’re not gonna, are you?”

“The Wonderbolts have Spitfire, Mane Six has Twilight, now we need a leader of our own” Spike then downed the vial infront as all of them watched. His eyes then shown deeper green with the irises in black. It went back to normal after. “Every group needs a leader. As I have lead you as a normal, I will lead you as an Apprentice!”

________________________________________

Bunny finally finished sewing together the horn of the intruder to a stich of black fabric. She had always been good with taxidermy. The rest of the body became a doll for her to practice on. Her doll done, she took her new bowie knife. She swayed it infront of her, testing it.

Avenge her, Brazy.

Bunny nodded to the voice in her head. She was gonna perform a spell that would make a weapon that only she could operate and it would turn into anything she wanted it to be, standard form would be a bowie knife. All she needed to do this would be the bodies of foals to represent the three tribes: Earth Pony, Pegasus, and Unicorn. She set the first three to their positions in the circle and placed her bowie knife in the center. She breathed and chanted,

Ave ferrum , cogitavi ut frustra
Become a telo usus ad iustitiam

As she did, white auras came from the three bodies and went to her bowie knife. She picked it up to see it now had a small red stone on it. She looked through the stone to see the aura inside beginning to manifest. She swung her new weapon to test it. Murderers killed her Mistress; she will make sure they won’t go unpunished.

Pockets full of posies

Nuttie Belle, For Her Sister

“IGNORE THE PAIN!” Sweetie Belle’s trainer yelled as he threw hot boiling water at her. The filly screamed in pain as it began to scald her. This had been going on for hours now, she felt like she was gonna die.

“I’m so disappointed in you, Nuttie Belle” the trainer used Sweetie’s codename. “Personally, I think Crazity would think you’re worse”

“Crazity?” Sweetie choked.

“She was once called Rarity, and was such a drama queen back then. But, then, when we threatened to kill her, all she kept talking about was her family, mostly her little sister”

Sweetie was taken back, her sister thought of her?

“She said that if she has to become a Murderess just to be with her sister again, she will gladly Turn. She must really love her family so much to the point of losing her own sanity for them”

Sweetie was touched; her sister gave up her sanity just to see her again. Now, she wanted to return to favor. As much as she would hate to be another crazy killer in training, she just wanted to be like her sister.

“But, enough talk, let’s back to…hang on, where’d you go?” the trainer then realized that Sweetie Belle was no longer where she left her. She looked around to room until she saw the filly. She was holding a small vial of Victim’s Blood, just staring at it.

“What are you doing?”

Sweetie was lost in thought. “You said Crazity had a sister, right?”

“Yes, and what are you doing with that?”

“You want to know something?”

“What?”

“That sister was me” Sweetie said before downing the vial.

“WHAT?! NO!”

But it was already too late; Sweetie Belle had finished the vial. Her eyes were then revealed to have the same black irises and darker hue in pupils. She was grinning from ear to ear, and then returned to look back to normal.

“Crazity Turned for her little sister, Nuttie Belle Turned to return the favor”

Author's Note

If Nightsoul is reading this, he better finish his story fast!