Episode 7: Awakenings

Thirst, hunger, fear, anger. These were what she knew. Nothing else mattered. She would hunt. She would feed.

====================================

Chaos reigned outside the warehouse. The police had surrounded it and were trying to keep curious onlookers away.

"Dad!" Rainbow shouted when she saw her father. He was leaning against his patrol car listening to his radio holding a shotgun.

"Huh, Rainbow, girls you shouldn't be here its dangerous. I thought you knew better." Bo Hothoof said looking at his daughter and her friends.

"Dad, listen, Fluttershy is in there." Rainbow insisted. He looked at his daughter and then each of her friends and knew what they were saying was true.

"You're positive. Ok," he said turing to the person next to him who happened to be his wife, "Windy, get the girls to safety, I need to go find Magnus."

Rainbow watched her father walk away. She looked at the warehouse then at her friends then back at the warehouse and she instantly knew what she had do. She reached for her geode.

"Rainbow, no don't!" Sunset said when she saw the look ok her friends face, but it was too late, Rainbow was already sprinting toward the warehouse. Sunset looked at the rest of her friends. She could see it in their eyes, they were determined to go after Rainbow and find Fluttershy.

"Look, if we are going to do this, we need a plan. You heard what they said there is a monster in there." Sunset said, "Who knows what has escaped from Equestria now."

"WhatifthemonsterisreallyFluttershybecauseshewasturnedintoademonfriendbyrenegadescience." Pinkie Pie said all at once in one breath. Her friends just stared at her, "What?"

"Ok, no more pixie sticks tonight for Pinkie. Applejack said at last.

"Ahh." Pinkie replied.

==================================

Once inside the warehouse Rainbow had to move cautiously, the power seemed to be out and only red emergency lights provided light if any.

"Fluttershy, are you in here?" Rainbow asked at a volume just above a whisper. She wouldn't admit it to anyone else but she was scared. Suddenly she lost her footing and fell. Her hand landed in something warm and sticky.

"Is that blood?" she asked no one in particular. She heard movement and saw several shadows moving towards her.

"Stay back, I'm warning you!" Rainbow said.

"I reckon that you don't want a hand up then." Applejack said holding out her hand. Rainbow wiped her hand on her blue t-shirt before giving her hand to Applejack.

"Man, am I glad to see you guys." Rainbow said. Suddenly they all heard an animal-like hiss echo around the warehouse.

==================================

Fresh prey, prey with more vitality was near. She had to have it. This prey was different. Their auras shone brightly in the dark, a silver essence. They were unaware of her presence. She remained at distance. Isolate one of their number then strike.

==================================

"Guys, this isn't fun anymore." Rainbow said wishing that she had a flashlight.

"This was never fun." Rarity said. Sometimes, Rainbow's sense of humor really got on her nerves.

Sunset tried to peer through the darkness, she thought that she had seen movement in a corner but in the dim light she couldn't be sure.

"Uh, do y'all smell that?" Applejack asked. Smoke, now that Applejack had said something they could all smell it.

"We need to hurry!" Twilight said with some urgency.

Rainbow looked around and saw her. Crouched along the wall was Fluttershy, or something that resembled Fluttershy. She was watching them with a predatory grin.

"Look there!" Rainbow nearly shouted as she pointed at Fluttershy. All the girls looked.

Fluttershy looked different, her hair was unkempt, her ears were pointed. Both her hands and feet were claw-like. However the most unsettling thing were the bloodstained fangs that protruded from her mouth.

"Ok, now we are in a horror film!" Pinkie Pie said. Sunset rolled her eyes.

"Fluttershy, its ok, we're... we're your friends." Rainbow said calmly as she took a step forward. Fluttershy just hissed at her. Rainbow hesitated and then reached out her hand toward her friend, "Take my hand Fluttershy, we are gonna take you home."

In a sudden flurry of movement Fluttershy made an attempt to grab Rainbow's arm but Rainbow was faster.

"We need a distraction." Twilight said. That gave Rainbow an idea.

"Be right back" she said, before using her super speed to leave the warehouse. She wasn't gone for more than a minute when she returned holding a small white bunny.

"I hope this works, little monster tried to bite me." Rainbow said.

"Fluttershy, here hold Angel. Holding a Bunny always makes you feel better." Rainbow said holding Angel out in her outstretched arms. At first there was no response from Fluttershy and it looked like she was going to attack but suddenly they all saw recognition in her eyes. Fluttershy collapsed to the floor weeping.

"I've become a monster," she cried, "you should all leave me here before I hurt you next."

Rainbow crouched down beside her best friend and placed a hand on her back.

"You're not a monster Fluttershy, you are our friend and nothing will change that." Rainbow said. Suddenly Fluttershy stood up lifting Rainbow up off the ground with a strength that rivaled Applejack. She was laughing.

"You pathetic creature. You fell for my trap, now you shall be the first to satisfy my thirst." Fluttershy said. Rainbow then noticed a blue glow being reflected in her eyes and realized that it was her geode. Using her free hand she reached into her pocket and wrapped her hand around the stone found there. Pulling her hand out of her pocket she slapped her hand against Fluttershy's chest.

The sudden force hitting her caused Fluttershy to drop Rainbow and clutch her chest. She felt something in her hand looked. A small pink stone was glowing in her hand. She looked down at feet at Rainbow, but she wasn't there. She was hovering in front of Fluttershy. She had sprouted wings, pony ears and a long pony tail. That's when Fluttershy collapsed and the last thing she felt before she passed out was cleansing pain.

"We need to get out of here now! I don't think that this building is going to stand much longer." Twilight said.

"We aren't going to make it. Rarity do you think you could make a force shield?" Sunset said. Rarity nodded and used her magic to create a bubble around them and Twilight then added her magic to it to relieve some of the strain.

==================================

The fire department had managed to quickly get the fire under control and then the police had begun looking for the girls. They had found Rarity's shield. And had been able to get the girls out.

Rainbow had called Fluttershy's parents and had ridden to the hospital in the ambulance with Fluttershy. There was no sign of Sombra.