“Twilight, I'm rather concerned about Fluttershy. I reckon she's been acting rather odd around me lately.” began Applejack, as she sat on her hindquarters in the library with Twilight. She knew if any pony knew what to do, it was Twilight.

Twilight dug through her library collection, book after book until she found the one she wanted. “Everything, you’ve ever wanted to know about vampire bats. And vampire lore, filly tale or reality?” She brought her nose up from the pages, to address Applejack.

“Could you clarify what sort of odd behavior? It says here in this book that vampires often have lust. Oh, isn't that fascinating?” replied Twilight clapping her hooves together, before she coughed against her hooves. “Though I guess it's kind of scary too.”

“Um...Sugarcube do you even know what that means?” questioned Applejack raising a brow softly. Her eyes darted back and forth, as a beat of sweat rolled down her cheeks, her face reddening.

“Well, it says here in this book that...” began Twilight face reddening from what she was reading. “Oh….” Twilight paused, hesitantly lifting her muzzle out of the pages of the book, looking straight at Applejack with a soft blush.

“Listen, Twilight I understand ya rely on your books for just about anything, but a book ain't about to solve our problem. We need to tackle this head-on. As much as I hate to say it, I'm going to have to be straight with Fluttershy. And I'd rather not hurt a friend. That's why I came here, to get help.” explained Applejack. She furrowed her nose a bit, sighing.

“Hmm...I suppose you are right. We need to tackle this problem head-on. But what are you going to do if Fluttershy goes crazy and attacks you?” questioned Twilight Sparkle, a slight twitch in her eyes.

“Hopefully it doesn't come to that, but if it does, I'll defend myself. I love Fluttershy dearly, but I want her to be in her proper state of mind y'know?”

“Alright. Spike! Watch the library, for now, I'm heading out with Applejack, and well I'm not sure when I'll be back.”

“Have fun.” replied Spike, a slight sigh as his claws held onto the broom as he swept the library’s frontier. The dragon couldn’t help but scoff and take a long breath.

Applejack and Twilight hurried back to the farm, the two trotting rather quickly to speak with Fluttershy.

“Do you think you’ll know what to do once we get there?” questioned Applejack, dashing towards Apple Acres.

“I’ll know more once I see Fluttershy in person. Right now, all I know is what you’ve told me, and that’s not much to work off of.” responded Twilight, a slight drop of sweat dripping down her face, flushed a bit from keeping pace with Applejack.

“There she is.” shouted Applejack, halting her hooves to a stop in front of Fluttershy.

“Fluttershy, how good it is to see you. How are you? And are the bats adjusting well?” questioned Twilight. She had to observe her behavior, and then she’d know what needed to be done.

Fluttershy was sitting calmly, speaking with the bats from what Applejack could tell. Perhaps she had just been worried over nothing and everything would be back to normal. Fluttershy turned her head towards the two mares, and flashed a grin, and Applejack found herself coming to a dead stop.

“Fluttershy...is that you?” questioned Applejack, a slight drop of sweat running down her brow before she approached her friend cautiously, one hoof step at a time, as Twilight nervously shifted her weight from side to side.

“Of course it's me. Why wouldn't it be?” questioned Fluttershy, tilting her head towards Applejack.

Applejack sighed heavily. “Fluttershy, I reckon it's just ya'll seem different. And the way you've been acting towards me has been rather concerning. We both don't want to hurt any pony. So just tell us....is Flutterbat gone?”

Fluttershy whimpered a bit, ears drooping. She knew. Of course, she knew. She was Applejack, how wouldn't she notice her odd behavior?

“I don't want to hurt any pony, and it's just these feelings within me are strange. I simply don't know to be honest what I am or who.”

Applejack approached her cautiously. She wrapped a forehoof around the yellow pegasus. “It's obvious who you are, you've always been our friend. And nothing will ever change that. If there's something wrong, maybe we can fix it.”

“No magic!” spoke Fluttershy, quickly covering her lips with her hooves, her head kept tilted towards the ground. “Sorry, I didn't mean to sound upset, it's just that magic sorta caused this whole mess. I'd rather figure this out on my own.”

“Okay...no magic. We know you’ve been through a lot Fluttershy. That’s all the more reason we want to help you.” replied Twilight, extending a forehoof towards her.

Fluttershy sighed, ears drooping a bit, whimpering. “But...what if I end up hurting some pony again. I’d never be able to forgive myself.”

“It wasn’t your fault. I was the one that messed up. Let’s work together. Okay?” smiled Twilight, nuzzling against her.

“Um...okay. But I don’t know what’s happening to me. All I know is when I look at Applejack, something stirs within me. It’s such a strange feeling. Nothing like anything I’ve ever felt before.” Fluttershy explained.

“Sugarcube, it’s okay. Just take your time. We’re here for you.” smiled Applejack going up and sitting down on her haunches beside Fluttershy.

The three gathered together, all of them simply admiring the sanctuary that wouldn’t have been possible if not for Fluttershy. The bats swirled around the trees, making little cute bat noises, causing Fluttershy’s ears to itch.

Fluttershy took a deep breath in before finally, she managed to speak. “I think I want to do things to Applejack. When I look at her I feel like I’m starving for a taste.”

“A taste? Oh my…” replied Twilight, a deep blush spreading across her cheeks. She gestured Applejack closer with a forehoof.

“Fluttershy, I hate to ask, but could you be more clear?” questioned Applejack, eyes darting back and forth, a drop of sweat running down her face.

“When I look at you, especially your flank where the apples are and… I want to bite into them, to taste you. To feel you and caress you in ways I’d never imagine doing to any pony.”

“Seems the book is right about the lust part.... Do you think it affects the vampire bats?” questioned Twilight, reading over the notes from her book.

“I don’t want to hurt any pony, especially not Applejack. I’ve been fighting it for a few days actually. This strange urge inside of me.” explained Fluttershy as she nervously twiddled her hooves together, a blush plain on her cheeks.

Twilight held a forehoof against her chin. There was no real methods on what to do about the problem at hoof. She needed to do more research.

“You girls just hold on, I’m going to go do more research!” spoke Twilight, hurrying off back towards her castle.

After Twilight was gone, Fluttershy looked towards Applejack, at first that same feeling of lust was starting to overwhelm her, licking her chops at merely looking at her flank. She quickly shook that thought out of her head. How do I really feel about Applejack? She's always been such a good friend to me, but do I love her or is this haze just controlling me?

“Sugarcube, is everything alright?” questioned Applejack, raising her eyebrow a bit, in concern for her dear friend. This has to be hard on her...if only she'd tell me.

Fluttershy glanced back and forth, and then looked down again, digging her hoof into the dirt. She stomped her hoof and raised her head up to look Applejack right in the eyes.

“No! Everything is not alright! I don't know what's wrong with me. Part of me wants you, but the other part doesn't want to ruin our friendship.” admitted Fluttershy meekly, her yellow face covered with a soft pink blush that matched her soft pink locks.

“Wants me? Fluttershy, I reckon I don't quite understand what ya mean.” replied Applejack softly, trying to address this whole situation in a calm and mature tone. Though what did this have to do with Flutterbat?

Fluttershy hesitated, fidgeting her forehoof into the dirt beneath her. These feelings, how was she supposed to explain them? To get her friend to understand her most inner fears? She didn't want to cause any trouble. Fluttershy tilted her head to the side, her mane falling over one side of her eyes.

“Um...it's... It's just...I think Flutterbat is still a part of me, and she wants to eat you.”

“Eat me? Wait...hold up Sugarcube. When you say eat do you mean like we eat hay?”

“No...not like that at all. It's more intimate.” replied Fluttershy softly, further averting her gaze from her friend. How could she possibly face her after this? What would she say? Her muzzled drifted downwards, eyes focusing on the dirt beneath her hooves. Her heart sped rapidly when she was with her, but how did she feel about her?

Applejack furrowed her brow, scratching at her golden mane with her front left forehoof, struggling a bit. A slight sweatdrop running down her cheek. She took a deep breath, sighed, and began to reassure her dearest friend.

“Listen, Fluttershy I realize you may not have really noticed it, or maybe I didn't show it enough, but I do care for you. More than I might've wanted to admit. I didn't want you to get the wrong idea either. But...I don't want Flutterbat to consume you, it's Fluttershy that I love.”

“Oh...you really mean that?” replied Fluttershy, nervously managing to look Applejack right in the eyes.

“Of course I do. I'm the element of Honesty after all.” chuckled Applejack, making a slight jab at her element. Though it wasn't that she couldn't lie, just she preferred telling the truth, but she had learned early on in life how bad lying was.

“What if Flutterbat comes back, what then?” questioned Fluttershy, looking at Applejack with sincere concern in her eyes.

“We'll deal with that as it comes. Now, how are those bats doing?” questioned Applejack, putting a hoof around her dearest friend and sitting down beside her. She sat down on her haunches and admired the sanctuary. Sure, things were likely to change from here, but at least now she had an idea of how to help her friend.

Fluttershy couldn't help but whimper a bit. She bit her lip, covering her face in her hooves. “What if I can't change back, what if I stay Flutterbat?” Fluttershy asked as she kept her head down, staring at the ground, senses of shame welling up in her heart. What is wrong with me?

“Fluttershy...whatever happens, we'll get through this together. Listen to me, you don't have to fight this alone. After all, isn't that what friends are for?” questioned Applejack, lightly pushing her pink mane out of her eyes, and leaning in to kiss her on the forehead.

Fluttershy blushed a bit, smiling softly, she leaned up towards Applejack's lips. She pressed her lips against hers and began to softly brush her muzzle against hers.

Applejack was a bit surprised to see Fluttershy making the first move, but then noticed a slight difference in her appearance. She could see her ears, they weren't pony ears..., and she could feel fangs grazing at her upper lip, begging for entrance. Applejack pulled away ever so slightly. She had to be sure it was Fluttershy still in control, otherwise, she couldn't consent to this. She wouldn’t consent to Flutterbat taking her friend from her.

“Fluttershy...is that still you?” questioned Applejack, a genuine look of concern spreading across her face. A slight drop of sweat running down her cheeks, as she took a deep gulp. Closing her eyes for a brief second, hoping for the best outcome.

“Of course it is. Why wouldn't it be?” replied Fluttershy, not fully realizing what had happened just yet, then she felt her fang graze her bottom lip, and she backed off a bit.

“Oh dear...”

Applejack pulled Fluttershy back towards her into a strong embrace, holding her dearest friend close, her chin resting atop her head. She kissed the top of Fluttershy's mane softly, whispering.

“It's okay...as long as it's you and not some sex-crazed bat pony, I want this too.” she admitted, her own blush deepening a bit. “We'd best take this inside though. Who knows who might be watching us.”

Fluttershy blushed even more upon hearing that. She couldn't help but glance around to see if Big Mac or even Apple Bloom were nearby. Or Granny Smith for that matter. It might be really awkward to explain this whole situation to them.

“Okay...where then?” asked Fluttershy with a whimper. Her ears drooping a bit, as she spoke. Fluttershy kept her eyes focused on Applejack’s to show her she wasn’t afraid, that she was in control and could keep this other side from taking her over for good.

“I reckon the barn might be a good place, lots of hay there to surround us.” replied Applejack, boldly picking Fluttershy up onto her four hooves, taking her by the hoof and leading her towards the barn. Things were about to get interesting. She wasn't quite sure what to think of this whole ordeal, but at the very least it seemed like her friend was herself, which reassured her all the more.

Fluttershy trotted into the barn, a soft pink blush spreading across her cheeks, as she dared to nuzzle against her friend.

“I have to know Applejack, do you love me?” questioned Fluttershy, her blue eyes widening, lip pouting a bit, ears drooped ever so slightly, nervous fidgeting on her hooves.

Author's Note

Hello every pony. I'm sure some of you thought this story was dead, and I admit after losing my notes for this story when I lost my old laptop, it was hard to remember exactly what I had planned, but thanks to encouragement from my editor Skyward Sword, and knowing I couldn't let this story die, chapter 3 is finally here. I hope you enjoy it. Please let me know what you might think will happen now! <3