Corruption: Third Editionby KittyPawChaptersPart 18: Dinner for 1; Dessert for 2Part 19: Dread and BreakfastPart 20: Honesty IIPart 17: Honesty IPart 18: Dinner for 1; Dessert for 2Author's Note I hope all of you [3] readers enjoy the newest chapter, it features a cute date! I think? Gosh, if only I left my basement, I'd know. Thanks as always to Epsilon-Delta and PixelMoon for a brilliant story foundation! Check out their stuff, it's good! Part 18: Dinner for 1; Dessert for 2 Twilight and Rarity walked through the everfree slowly, enjoying the night air. Twilight glowed with happiness- she was finally going on a date! With Rarity no less! She had wanted this more than she cared to admit. Rarity seemed rather calm about this, but, to be fair, Twilight had melted before her the previous night. Did that make this weird for Rarity? “Mm, are you wondering about last night, my Twilight?” “H-how did you?” Twilight stuttered “I didn’t,” Rarity teased “but that just confirmed it. Don’t worry about such things, Twilight. Think back before, you still thought I was pretty then, did you not?” She had. She had thought Rarity’s beautiful eyes and soft hair were pretty, she had thought her lips looked soft, and her flank- Twilight blushed and shook her head, dismissing the thoughts. “Oh? Did you not think I was pretty?” asked Rarity in mock surprise. “I- I did think you were pretty, Rarity, I’ve always thought so…” she mumbled. Rarity laughed, and nuzzled Twi. “I wasn’t looking for a serious answer dear, but thank you. And you should know that you yourself are quite beautiful.” Twilight wasn’t sure how to react to that, as always. “Thank you? That’s what you say in response to that, right? I’ve ne-” Rarity shushed Twilight, and stroked her mane gently. They walked a little closer together for the rest of the way, in near silence, enjoying the silent company of one another. They were just about in ponyville when Twilight asked “So, where are we going, anyway? Somewhere fancy, like, what the buck does that mean?” “Well, dear, it means that the food will cost more than you could earn in a month, and will taste better than anything you’ve eaten before.” Rarity said matter-of-factly. Twilight stopped, and her mouth dropped open “But- is- why-” Rarity turned back to face her, and smiled. “What is money for, if not to indulge in the finer things?” To that, Twilight had no response, and so Rarity continued “and, since you asked, we’re going to ‘La Botte De Foin’. How is your Prench, by the way?” “It’s... “ Twilight briefly considered lying in a vain attempt to impress her- and she positively glowed at the thought -new marefriend “Yeah, it’s pretty bucking awful” she said, laughing. “Ah, mon chere…” Rarity whispered softly, sending tingles down Twilight’s spine “I will have to order for you then, non?” They arrived shortly after, and Twilight was surprised to see a bouncer at the door. “Table for two, please.” said Rarity “There is no table, for you at least.” he said with a rough Prench accent, scowling at the two mares. Did he know they were on a date? Was he one of those ponies? It was true that Twilight had never considered the social consequences of being a lesbian, not that she wasn’t already a pariah. But it dampened her mood somewhat to consider that it might be like this any time she and Rarity were on a date, and gave her a new appreciation for Rarity and the others. Almost sensing Twilight’s mood, Rarity spoke. “Now, now. Call the manager if you must. Tell him it’s the LandLady.” she said, losing no composure. The bouncer scowled again, but went inside. “I think Gaston’s quality control may be going down hill if he thinks this is any way to treat his favourite customer.” rarity muttered. “Do you come here often?” asked Twilight “you said LandLady…?” Rarity grinned a shark-like grin. “I won this establishment a long while ago in a game of poker against the current manager’s great-grandfather. I’ve been leasing them the place ever since. One of the many benefits of eternal life, you understand.” Twilight did a double take, and looked at the building more closely. It wasn’t ornate, but looked immaculate “YOU own this place? And you play poker?!” Rarity burst out laughing. “Ah, I will never cease to be entertained by you, darling. Go on, do tell me why gambling is wrong.” “Because it’s lame and, um, my parents told me that in las pegasus people can lose thousands of bits in a single night!” Clearly amused, Rarity said “oh? So how is that any different from what we’re doing now? Spending a few thousand bits to have a good time?” “How many bits!?” Twilight squeaked, but Rarity didn’t have time to reply, as a sheepish looking bouncer, and a very angry looking chef emerged from the building. “Very sorry, miss…” said the bouncer, looking at the floor shamefully. “My apologies too, miss. Today is on the house.” said Gaston apologetically. Rarity’s smile melted away the two’s tension. “It is no problem, Gaston, and I’m sure he won’t make that mistake ever again.” Presumably choosing to ignore the thinly veiled threat, Gaston lead them inside, and Twilight was amazed by the decor. It was red velvet and chandeliers, mahogany tables and gold leaf. She absorbed all of this while following Gaston and Rarity to a little booth in the back. It was closed off from the rest of the restaurant, and was set with rather genuine-looking silverware, and a rose scented candle. He motioned for them to sit, and they did so. Rarity took the menu in her magic, and after a brief glance, said: “I will be having a double cherry pie, and my Twilight will be having a salad. Thank you Gaston.” Gaston bowed and began to walk away. “Wait a minute,” said Twilight, confused “I thought you said we needed to speak Prench here?” “Hmm? I said no such thing,” Rarity said softly “I just asked how well you could speak it. Gaston’s family hasn’t spoken Prench themselves for a few generations. I named this place myself. What do you think of the place, by the way…” she slipped into a whisper to add “...mon chere?” The candles around the room sent flickering shadows across Rarity’s beautiful face, and reflected hypnotizingly in her eyes. “It’s beautiful…” Twilight whispered. “You’re beautiful, Rarity…” Rarity leaned forwards, as if to kiss Twilight, before whispering seductively in her ear “perhaps after the meal, dear?” Twilight made a whining noise for a second, but nodded, face bright red. There was a cough from behind Twilight, and she was embarrassed to see that Gaston was still standing there. “I was going to ask if you two would like something to drink…..?” he said, and Twilight cringed a little. Buck buck buck buck buck he’d seen that whole thing hadn’t he! Unfazed, Rarity ordered them a glass of something in Prench, and Gaston left again, Twilight watching his exit this time. “Don’t worry about Gaston, his family has been… turning a blind eye, let’s say, to my particular condition, and to my choice of company.” Rarity said, petting Twilight, who groaned, the most embarrassed she had been in her life. “You take the others here?” Twilight asked, feeling a Twinge of jealousy, which Rarity must have picked up on, because she merely smirked in reply. Gaston came back silently with two wine glasses and a bottle, before bowing, and returning to the kitchens. Rarity took the bottle in her magic, and poured a glass of the red liquid for each of them. “A toast,” Rarity proposed, lifting her glass, and Twilight followed suit “to love, new and old” “Cheers!” said Twilight happily, and the glasses klinked lightly together. She took a gulp of the liquid, it was sweet and dry, and burned her throat on the way down. She took another big gulp, and looked over at Rarity, who was sipping at her own drink. “Pace yourself, dear.” she said “If you were drunk, who knows how I’d take advantage of you…” After a while of ignoring Rarity’s advice, and drinking at her own thirsty pace, there was a fire in her belly, and she felt hot and flush. This buzz was similar to something she had felt before, but she couldn’t quite put her hoof on what it was. Gaston had arrived a few minutes ago with their food, a large cherry pie, which Rarity was tucking in to, and a salad that Twilight was picking at absentmindedly between mouthfuls of her drink. She had to admit, it was delicious, but it was lacking a certain something. Or was that just her? And why had the room started to wobble? Twilight was about to ask Rarity when she felt a bop on the head. “Twilight, dear, while I think you’re quite a cute drunk, I think it’s best we headed home now, hmm?” Twilight giggled, and booped Rarity on the nose “but we’re having lotsa fun!” Rarity sighed exasperatedly “You’re a lightweight, Miss Sparkle. Come on, let’s get you to bed.” Twilight stood up, and was hit with vertigo. “I wanna take you to bed too, Rarityyyyy…..” she whined, being lead to the door by her escort. Despite the younger unicorn’s protests, they were on the trail to the everfree in no time at all. Twilight swayed back and forth, giggling, until she fell over. “Uwahhh, everything’s sideways-y Rarity, wha’s up with that?” Rarity tried, and failed, to help Twilight up, and decided instead to pick her up in her magic. Twilight groaned at this, and Rarity shushed her softly, and started the walk back to their house. “Oh, Twilight,” Rarity whispered to herself. “I want you to be mine forever…” Twilight mumbled something unintelligible to herself, and, looking back, Rarity found that the mare was softly sleeping. Shaking her head, and chucking, Rarity walked the way home, her Twilight in tow. Part 19: Dread and BreakfastTwilight woke up, and sat herself up. She immediately regretted this as she was hit with a wave of nausea, and a pounding headache. “Ughhhh...” she groaned “Rarity… I feel awful…” she looked around, and saw she was in the second bedroom, and that the others were nowhere to be found. Begrudgingly, she made her way to the kitchen, regretting moving with every step. Was this how a hangover felt? She couldn’t remember drinking that much, but- wait, come to think of it, her memories were pretty fuzzy from the dinner onwards. She vaguely remembered throwing up, and Rarity saying something about… something. Shrugging, Twi walked into the kitchen to find the three vampires eating breakfast, or maybe dinner? Eating pancakes, with a generous helping of syrup, in silence. “Morning, dork. Sun’s gonna be up in a few.” said Rainbow Dash, yawning. “What time is it...” mumbled Twilight, taking a seat, and giving herself a pancake. “You’ve been out for hoooooours, TwiTwi!” said Pinkie cheerfully. “Rarity said you got super duper drunk on that sweet wine. I love sweet wine, but gosh, I never have that much!” “Pinkie dear, you can’t metabolise alcohol, it wouldn’t matter how much you had.” said Rarity, tiredly. “Uhm,” said Twilight “what’s up, everyone? You seem kinda on edge.” The atmosphere in the room changed, as if everyone shrank away from Twilight at that. Twilight began to seriously worry. “What’s wrong?” she queried. “Twilight, darling…” Rarity began, grimacing “Do you know the mare that controls dangerous creatures?” “Yeah, Fluttershy, I met her on the train here.” Twilight was puzzled “why do you ask?” “Well…” Rarity said, slowly. “Ugh, let’s just tell her already!” said Dash exasperatedly. “Twilight, the dreastalker got Thunderlane.” Twilight went pale. There was a moment of silence as she processed this. How could Thunderlane be dead? He did normal boring things and led a normal boring life, how could he have- She had hated him, but she had also liked dancing with him, and- and- Twilight started to sob. Rarity stroked Twilight’s mane. “He didn’t deserve that…” she said. “Would you like to stay home today? Or would you like to work, to put your mind off it?” “I… want to apologize to his friends… and then, maybe, I’ll….” Twilight paused “I don’t know Rarity. Why is death so hard?” “Immortality would so suit you, dear.” came a soft reply. “Come on, you two, let’s go into town.” Pinks and Dash nodded, and hugged Twilight before the three set off towards town. When they came to the crossroads in town, the four paused. Twilight wondered again if it was even worth apologizing. She voiced her thoughts. “Rarity, do you think I should even apologize to his friends?” Dash smirked, and Rarity slapped the pegasus on the back of the head, before replying “now, that isn’t quite my question to answer, is it my dear? Why would you want to not apologize?” Twilight scrunched her eyes in thought. “Well, I certainly didn’t like his friends, and never had any ties to them. I just feel slightly obliged to comfort them, you know? Something about honoring the dead, maybe…” Pinkie pounced at Twilight, hugging her tightly. “You’re an awesome person TwiTwi. You can honor him by remembering him! That’s what we do! He won’t care anymore, because he’s dead, but he still exists as a memory to you.” She pulled back, grinning “Unless you plan to forget him, you’re already giving him more honor than he could ask for- and, plus, when you become one of us, you’ll remember him for all eternity!” Twilight was stunned at such wisdom coming from such an aloof mare. She pulled Pinkie back into the hug, to disapproving murmurs of the few passers-by. She felt tears well up inside anew, finally coming to terms with the fact of his death. “Thank you, Pinkie,” she sobbed “That means a lot to me…” she turned to the others, continuing “I think I’m alright from here, girls. I’m going to work, and I kinda need some alone time to think about stuff.” Rarity nodded, and blew a kiss at Twilight, before turning with the others and walking away. Dash turned around, and called out to Twilight “Don’t you go getting lost on the way home, dork!” Twilight smiled in reply “I won’t, mom.” “WOOOOT” cried Pinkie “Dashie got BURNED!” The four mares parted, each content and a little happier than they had set out. Twilight went on autopilot, and walked her usual route to the shop, when she bumped into someone. “Oops, I’m sorry, I wasn’t watching where I was-” she began, before looking at who she had collided with. “Fluttershy! I haven’t seen you in ages!” The yellow pegasus smiled happily “Twilight, hey! I’m glad you remembered me. How are you? I heard you knew thunderlane…” she trailed off. “Yeah…” Twi said, sadly “But I think I’m alright with it, as cold as that sounds?” Fluttershy shook her head. “Not at all, lingering on what was will only cause pain, I find. Don’t you think? I mean, having seen the poor stallion in that state, I could hardly bare to hold on to the thought…” Twilight’s interest was piqued. As she was vaguely aware of, Fluttershy was the only one in town that could’ve really identified the body as a dreadstalker attack. But the fact that such a seemingly delicate mare could be this cheery after seeing- well, Fluttershy had already described to her the graphic nature of a dreastalker’s killing. Slightly concerned, she asked “Are you ok, Fluttershy? You saw him dead?” Fluttershy’s expression darkened. “I was the one that found him actually. You remember how I told you dreadstalkers kill?” Twilight nodded. “His ribs were ripped open, and the autopsy determined they were broken outwards. That, and the blood was drained from his body. Typical traits of a dreadstalker attack.” her expression became more dutiful, and her tone shifted to confidence. “I’m going to redouble my efforts to find it. As unfortunate as this death was, it confirms that the dreadstalker is still here.” Twilight was baffled, but in awe of Fluttershy’s determination. “I’ll leave you to it then?” Flutters smiled “Leave it to me!” she said with conviction, and started to walk away. Twilight smiled to herself, and continued to walk to work. With someone as smart as Fluttershy on the case, she was sure that the dreadstalker would be found and dealt with in not time at all. It was slightly curious that Fluttershy was walking around at night, but it was getting close to dawn, and the poor mare had probably been up all night investigating the body. Thunderlane’s body, she corrected herself. Always remember him, and honor the life that he had. That was all she could really do, after all. Before long, she was at the shop, and saw a panicked Applejack waiting outside, the usual boxes of apples in tow. What could have gotten her this worked up? Twilight wondered briefly before she was hit with a dark realization, the puzzle pieces becoming one in her mind. The drained blood. How AJ insisted there simply was no dreadstalker. How it was only seen at night, and killed violently and cruelly. The vampire serial killer; the melodious lady. She paled, and froze in place. She opened her mouth, as if to speak to Applejack, but thought better of it. She turned tail and bolted back the way she had come. “Twilight!” called out the southern voice. “Wait! Ah need ta talk to ya!” Twilight ignored her, and pushed herself to run onwards faster than she had ever thought she could. Her muscles screamed at her, and her lungs burned, but still she ran. She ran and ran and ran and- And Twilight screeched to a halt outside her old apartment. Panting, she decided to take a breather in there. The dots connected, there was no way she could rest. Her mind raced through ways this killing could have, in fact, been a murder. Brute force? No, that wouldn’t explain the direction the ribs were broken. No, this left only… “Magic!” Twilight exclaimed, and pulled a box over to herself with her magic, and lifted them all into the air around herself, looking for the right book. “No, no, no… maybe? ...no. AHA!” The other books fell to the ground in a vaguely stack-shaped mess. “Here we go!” she said “Octus the mad’s journals on bones and their properties!” she chuckled to herself before adding “They never did find that crazy mare.” She flipped to the index, until she found the appropriate section, ‘ribs’. Ignoring various potion uses, and recipes for foodstuffs, Twilight found what she was looking for, a table detailing the resistance of ribs against forces. “Male stallion, adult…” she mused “... roughly 220 megapascals.” While this was quite far out of the range of a normal unicorn’s telekinesis, there was still the wild-card factor of magic strength increasing with the age of the vampire… which she would do some research on when she became one herself. At this thought she glowed. She was going to do this, and she loved the thought- to be with her friends and her marefriend, forever. “Oh!” she said, in realization “I’ll just ask Rarity how much stronger she is!” Running some numbers in her head, she packed away her books, and locked the door behind herself. It was time to do some bucking math. Part 20: Honesty IISomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Part 17: Honesty ITwilight had barely finished her breakfast when she heard a knock at the door. She looked across the table at the others, who were not in any hurry to move. “1-2-3, not it!” Said Pinkie Pie. “Not it” came 2 simultaneous responses from Dash and Rarity. Grumbling slightly, twi got up, and answered the door. Much to her surprise, Applejack was waiting outside for her. “So ya know now, huh? Ah told you they were vampires!” Twilight was too tired for AJ’s nonsense. “Oh? All I know is that they’re better friends than you could ever be.” “They’re manipulatin’ ya, twi! Why can’t you see that?” Applejack insisted. The commotion caused the door to open a second time, Rarity walking outside, standing besides Twilight, briefly nuzzling her. “Applejack, you talk a lot about manipulation, now why could that be? Is there perhaps something you want to tell my Twilight? Something about vampires that you’ve neglected to mention?” Twilight nodded in agreement. “Why are you here, dork?” AJ started stuttering, then stomped a hoof on the ground decisively. She inhaled deeply, and then said “I’m here to come clean to yall Twilight. Ah used to be a part of Rarity here’s little gang.” “You?!” said Twilight, incredulously “but- you-” she stared at AJ, mouth agape “ It’s a long story, alright? Just- hear me out until the end? Wouldya?” a nod prompted AJ to start. “A long, long time ago, I was selling apples for mah family at a concert in canterlot. The mare on stage, well, she was beautiful. I asked after her when the show was done, ‘n she agreed to meet me. And don’tcha know it, she shows her fangs to me, says she likes me a lot.” AJ blushed hotly “Anywho, the morning after-” twilight looked at the floor, embarrassed “- she tells me about her kin. Says she’d make me like her. And you know, twilight, I wanted to do every little thing she said. They get in your head, twilight.” “But I don’t see what this has to do with rarity.” twilight rebuked “She doesn’t mind control me, or the others! -I think.” she added at the end, sheepishly “Nah, that’s not rarity’s style, but My Lady, no, she loved to do it. She’d bend ponies to her will until they snapped, and further. After the transformation, ah loved her even more than ah did before. And ah loved her so much that I wanted to be with her f’rever.” She grimaced. “The next bits are a blur. ah don’t remember much other than ecstasy and adrenaline, but when ah came to, ah was lyin’ in mah barn, alone. Ah called out for My Lady over an’ over, but she didn’t answer, so I went a-lookin’. I saw what we had done together, what she had made me do. We had eaten the entire crop of apples in mah family’s orchard. Ah ran as fast as ah could to the house, but…” she began to tear up “they were dead, twi. They must’a been dead a few weeks. The bodies were all drained’a blood.” “AJ… I’m so sorry… I didn’t- I couldn’t have-” Twilight said apologetically “Don’t worry for it, dear, Applejack here isn’t finished with her story, and I’ve a mind to tell it myself. You’d like that, Applejack.” Rarity stated, coolly Applejack’s face ran through many emotions very quickly, from struggle to sadness, to anger, to a grimace, as she nodded. Rarity smiled. “This is where I come in. I found Applejack wandering the everfree soon afterwards. She was so lonely, and so depressed, and I took it upon myself to help her, as often I do with ponies that catch my eye. She told me her tale, and I was heartbroken for her. Me, and my companion at the time, took her in, and showed her that eternity didn’t have to be a nightmare. We even managed to get her to move on from, as she calls her ‘Her Lady’. For a time, Applejack was my closest confidant, and my lover.” Twilight’s eyes bulged in shock at this, but rarity continued, nonplussed. “But it was too good to last, was it not, Applejack, dear? Do tell us what happened when your musician friend came back to town, looking for you.” Applejack gulped. “Ah met her in the tavern one day, where ah worked at the time. She told me why she had done what she had.” Rarity took control of the story again to continue. “You see, Applejack’s melodious friend was after revenge. She knew about Granny Smith’s murder spree as a wannabe vampire hunter, and set up the perfect, most poetic revenge for that. She requested Applejack specifically sell at her show, and charmed the girl into loving her. Then, she took her new toy back to Granny Smith’s prized orchards, and consumed everything she had spent her life building. She killed her family in her trademarked style: drinking all of the blood from their body. But that wasn’t enough for her, no, she wanted more. So, instead of killing her now useless toy, she decided upon the ultimate revenge for the apple family: to leave the last member alive, forever, so that they would always know what they had brought upon themselves.” Twilight began to tear up. Was this really what had been eating away at applejack for all these years? It was understandable why she had turned out this way, why she had done what she did. But rarity had not finished. “And, then, dear Applejack fell into a depression. She could never forgive herself for what had happened, and began to hate us for who we were. But more than that, she hated herself. And so, out of a place of pure love for her, I offered to make it all go away. I offered to bring her true death. But she saw it as malice, and she ran away from the town, not to be seen for nearly a century. Does that cover it, Applejack?” AJ nodded, a look of shame on her face. “Yes it does, and… Ah- Ah’m here to say sorry…” Rarity gave a look of bemusement “To who, dear?” AJ began to tear up, but wiped her eyes “Ah can’t forgive ya’ll yet, Rarity… But ah’ll try, and ah’ll start by apologising to Twilight.” Twilight felt sorrow and empathy for Applejack, knowing the whole truth. She didn’t forgive her, but it wouldn’t hurt to try, would it? “I accept your apology, AJ. But I can’t just forget what you’ve done. You tried to bucking kill my friends, and-” she blushed “and you hurt my marefriend.” Rarity’s smile radiated pride. AJ simply nodded, and walked away. There was a long pause as she walked out of sight. “So, that was a surprise.” commented Rarity “Yeah, who’d have thought that, um, bucking dork would be here this early? And wait, don’t vampires lose their powers in the sunlight? How did she walk around in the light all this time? Wouldn’t she age?” “I was talking about the fact that you called me your marefriend, but alright, I can answer those questions too I suppose.” Twilight turned a shade of pink, and mumbled something awkwardly Chuckling, Rarity continued. “She’s a bit of a special case, you see. Earth vamponies age slower in the light. As for us unicorns, we grow far more magically powerful, and pegasi gain more agility and speed.” she paused for a moment before adding “And, if you’d be willing to, after that long talk, I feel like having a good meal, and at someplace fancy.” “Would it be a d-date?” Twilight stuttered, hopefully. She felt a butterfly feeling in her stomach. “Mmm, was that a question, or a request?” Rarity teased, walking back inside, and beckoning Twilight to follow. “Ooh ooh!” came an excited voice from inside “twitwi’s going on a date!” “It’s not a d-” she started, before getting a smug look from Dash, and stopping herself. “Yeah ok it’s a date.” “I never said that, now, did I?” Rarity said. It didn’t exactly make Twilight happy, being teased by Rarity, but, in a strange way, it made her feel loved. It was strange, really, how much Rarity could push and pull her. “Aww, the dork’s growing up!” teased Dash, ruffling Twilight’s mane “Just don’t be out too late, I hear there are dangerous ponies about these parts.” “Oh, be quiet you two,” said Rarity, walking right up to Twilight, almost muzzle to muzzle. She put her mouth right to Twilight’s ear and whispered “now, Twilight, where would you like to go, hmm?” Twilight felt chills down her spine, and her mind blanked for a second. Rarity chuckled dryly. “I know some places, I was just enjoying teasing you a little, my Twilight.” She embraced the purple unicorn, and started towards the door, Twilight in tow. A moment passed in silence, until Dash spoke up. “Pinks, do you… do you think mistress still loves AJ?” Pinkie deflated a little, and thought for a moment. “I think a part of her will always love AJ,” she said, sadly, before regaining some of her usual vigor “but she has us now, and we’re way more fun than that dork!” Rainbow Dash smiled. “I guess so! I mean, she’s not so hung up over another certain somepony, so…” They sat in silence for a while, musing over the past. They were at last interrupted by a knocking at the door. “1-2-3-” began Pinkie, before being interrupted. “Ugh, I’ll get it.” said Dash “I bet it’s another group of mystery-solving ponies with a bucking talking dog, or something.” “Oooooor maybe it’s a dreadstalker here to ask politely if he can eat you up! Rawr!” “Pff, shut up Pinkie,” said Rainbow, opening the door “I bet it’s just.... Oh.” “It’s what? Who?” called back Pinkie. “Pinkie! We’ve got a Guest. Get her something sweet!” Rainbow shouted in reply. Fluttershy smiled happily. “I’m glad my little Rarity has taught you some manners, Rainbow Dash. May I come in?” Author's Note Sssssssssssssssssssssssssssss. Buck, this took me a long time. I think. How long is a chapter meant to take anyway? Regardless, welcome yall to my take on the classic au fic, corruption! Enjoy! or dont that works too but Ill be sad so you know whatever
Part 18: Dinner for 1; Dessert for 2Author's Note I hope all of you [3] readers enjoy the newest chapter, it features a cute date! I think? Gosh, if only I left my basement, I'd know. Thanks as always to Epsilon-Delta and PixelMoon for a brilliant story foundation! Check out their stuff, it's good! Part 18: Dinner for 1; Dessert for 2 Twilight and Rarity walked through the everfree slowly, enjoying the night air. Twilight glowed with happiness- she was finally going on a date! With Rarity no less! She had wanted this more than she cared to admit. Rarity seemed rather calm about this, but, to be fair, Twilight had melted before her the previous night. Did that make this weird for Rarity? “Mm, are you wondering about last night, my Twilight?” “H-how did you?” Twilight stuttered “I didn’t,” Rarity teased “but that just confirmed it. Don’t worry about such things, Twilight. Think back before, you still thought I was pretty then, did you not?” She had. She had thought Rarity’s beautiful eyes and soft hair were pretty, she had thought her lips looked soft, and her flank- Twilight blushed and shook her head, dismissing the thoughts. “Oh? Did you not think I was pretty?” asked Rarity in mock surprise. “I- I did think you were pretty, Rarity, I’ve always thought so…” she mumbled. Rarity laughed, and nuzzled Twi. “I wasn’t looking for a serious answer dear, but thank you. And you should know that you yourself are quite beautiful.” Twilight wasn’t sure how to react to that, as always. “Thank you? That’s what you say in response to that, right? I’ve ne-” Rarity shushed Twilight, and stroked her mane gently. They walked a little closer together for the rest of the way, in near silence, enjoying the silent company of one another. They were just about in ponyville when Twilight asked “So, where are we going, anyway? Somewhere fancy, like, what the buck does that mean?” “Well, dear, it means that the food will cost more than you could earn in a month, and will taste better than anything you’ve eaten before.” Rarity said matter-of-factly. Twilight stopped, and her mouth dropped open “But- is- why-” Rarity turned back to face her, and smiled. “What is money for, if not to indulge in the finer things?” To that, Twilight had no response, and so Rarity continued “and, since you asked, we’re going to ‘La Botte De Foin’. How is your Prench, by the way?” “It’s... “ Twilight briefly considered lying in a vain attempt to impress her- and she positively glowed at the thought -new marefriend “Yeah, it’s pretty bucking awful” she said, laughing. “Ah, mon chere…” Rarity whispered softly, sending tingles down Twilight’s spine “I will have to order for you then, non?” They arrived shortly after, and Twilight was surprised to see a bouncer at the door. “Table for two, please.” said Rarity “There is no table, for you at least.” he said with a rough Prench accent, scowling at the two mares. Did he know they were on a date? Was he one of those ponies? It was true that Twilight had never considered the social consequences of being a lesbian, not that she wasn’t already a pariah. But it dampened her mood somewhat to consider that it might be like this any time she and Rarity were on a date, and gave her a new appreciation for Rarity and the others. Almost sensing Twilight’s mood, Rarity spoke. “Now, now. Call the manager if you must. Tell him it’s the LandLady.” she said, losing no composure. The bouncer scowled again, but went inside. “I think Gaston’s quality control may be going down hill if he thinks this is any way to treat his favourite customer.” rarity muttered. “Do you come here often?” asked Twilight “you said LandLady…?” Rarity grinned a shark-like grin. “I won this establishment a long while ago in a game of poker against the current manager’s great-grandfather. I’ve been leasing them the place ever since. One of the many benefits of eternal life, you understand.” Twilight did a double take, and looked at the building more closely. It wasn’t ornate, but looked immaculate “YOU own this place? And you play poker?!” Rarity burst out laughing. “Ah, I will never cease to be entertained by you, darling. Go on, do tell me why gambling is wrong.” “Because it’s lame and, um, my parents told me that in las pegasus people can lose thousands of bits in a single night!” Clearly amused, Rarity said “oh? So how is that any different from what we’re doing now? Spending a few thousand bits to have a good time?” “How many bits!?” Twilight squeaked, but Rarity didn’t have time to reply, as a sheepish looking bouncer, and a very angry looking chef emerged from the building. “Very sorry, miss…” said the bouncer, looking at the floor shamefully. “My apologies too, miss. Today is on the house.” said Gaston apologetically. Rarity’s smile melted away the two’s tension. “It is no problem, Gaston, and I’m sure he won’t make that mistake ever again.” Presumably choosing to ignore the thinly veiled threat, Gaston lead them inside, and Twilight was amazed by the decor. It was red velvet and chandeliers, mahogany tables and gold leaf. She absorbed all of this while following Gaston and Rarity to a little booth in the back. It was closed off from the rest of the restaurant, and was set with rather genuine-looking silverware, and a rose scented candle. He motioned for them to sit, and they did so. Rarity took the menu in her magic, and after a brief glance, said: “I will be having a double cherry pie, and my Twilight will be having a salad. Thank you Gaston.” Gaston bowed and began to walk away. “Wait a minute,” said Twilight, confused “I thought you said we needed to speak Prench here?” “Hmm? I said no such thing,” Rarity said softly “I just asked how well you could speak it. Gaston’s family hasn’t spoken Prench themselves for a few generations. I named this place myself. What do you think of the place, by the way…” she slipped into a whisper to add “...mon chere?” The candles around the room sent flickering shadows across Rarity’s beautiful face, and reflected hypnotizingly in her eyes. “It’s beautiful…” Twilight whispered. “You’re beautiful, Rarity…” Rarity leaned forwards, as if to kiss Twilight, before whispering seductively in her ear “perhaps after the meal, dear?” Twilight made a whining noise for a second, but nodded, face bright red. There was a cough from behind Twilight, and she was embarrassed to see that Gaston was still standing there. “I was going to ask if you two would like something to drink…..?” he said, and Twilight cringed a little. Buck buck buck buck buck he’d seen that whole thing hadn’t he! Unfazed, Rarity ordered them a glass of something in Prench, and Gaston left again, Twilight watching his exit this time. “Don’t worry about Gaston, his family has been… turning a blind eye, let’s say, to my particular condition, and to my choice of company.” Rarity said, petting Twilight, who groaned, the most embarrassed she had been in her life. “You take the others here?” Twilight asked, feeling a Twinge of jealousy, which Rarity must have picked up on, because she merely smirked in reply. Gaston came back silently with two wine glasses and a bottle, before bowing, and returning to the kitchens. Rarity took the bottle in her magic, and poured a glass of the red liquid for each of them. “A toast,” Rarity proposed, lifting her glass, and Twilight followed suit “to love, new and old” “Cheers!” said Twilight happily, and the glasses klinked lightly together. She took a gulp of the liquid, it was sweet and dry, and burned her throat on the way down. She took another big gulp, and looked over at Rarity, who was sipping at her own drink. “Pace yourself, dear.” she said “If you were drunk, who knows how I’d take advantage of you…” After a while of ignoring Rarity’s advice, and drinking at her own thirsty pace, there was a fire in her belly, and she felt hot and flush. This buzz was similar to something she had felt before, but she couldn’t quite put her hoof on what it was. Gaston had arrived a few minutes ago with their food, a large cherry pie, which Rarity was tucking in to, and a salad that Twilight was picking at absentmindedly between mouthfuls of her drink. She had to admit, it was delicious, but it was lacking a certain something. Or was that just her? And why had the room started to wobble? Twilight was about to ask Rarity when she felt a bop on the head. “Twilight, dear, while I think you’re quite a cute drunk, I think it’s best we headed home now, hmm?” Twilight giggled, and booped Rarity on the nose “but we’re having lotsa fun!” Rarity sighed exasperatedly “You’re a lightweight, Miss Sparkle. Come on, let’s get you to bed.” Twilight stood up, and was hit with vertigo. “I wanna take you to bed too, Rarityyyyy…..” she whined, being lead to the door by her escort. Despite the younger unicorn’s protests, they were on the trail to the everfree in no time at all. Twilight swayed back and forth, giggling, until she fell over. “Uwahhh, everything’s sideways-y Rarity, wha’s up with that?” Rarity tried, and failed, to help Twilight up, and decided instead to pick her up in her magic. Twilight groaned at this, and Rarity shushed her softly, and started the walk back to their house. “Oh, Twilight,” Rarity whispered to herself. “I want you to be mine forever…” Twilight mumbled something unintelligible to herself, and, looking back, Rarity found that the mare was softly sleeping. Shaking her head, and chucking, Rarity walked the way home, her Twilight in tow.
Part 19: Dread and BreakfastTwilight woke up, and sat herself up. She immediately regretted this as she was hit with a wave of nausea, and a pounding headache. “Ughhhh...” she groaned “Rarity… I feel awful…” she looked around, and saw she was in the second bedroom, and that the others were nowhere to be found. Begrudgingly, she made her way to the kitchen, regretting moving with every step. Was this how a hangover felt? She couldn’t remember drinking that much, but- wait, come to think of it, her memories were pretty fuzzy from the dinner onwards. She vaguely remembered throwing up, and Rarity saying something about… something. Shrugging, Twi walked into the kitchen to find the three vampires eating breakfast, or maybe dinner? Eating pancakes, with a generous helping of syrup, in silence. “Morning, dork. Sun’s gonna be up in a few.” said Rainbow Dash, yawning. “What time is it...” mumbled Twilight, taking a seat, and giving herself a pancake. “You’ve been out for hoooooours, TwiTwi!” said Pinkie cheerfully. “Rarity said you got super duper drunk on that sweet wine. I love sweet wine, but gosh, I never have that much!” “Pinkie dear, you can’t metabolise alcohol, it wouldn’t matter how much you had.” said Rarity, tiredly. “Uhm,” said Twilight “what’s up, everyone? You seem kinda on edge.” The atmosphere in the room changed, as if everyone shrank away from Twilight at that. Twilight began to seriously worry. “What’s wrong?” she queried. “Twilight, darling…” Rarity began, grimacing “Do you know the mare that controls dangerous creatures?” “Yeah, Fluttershy, I met her on the train here.” Twilight was puzzled “why do you ask?” “Well…” Rarity said, slowly. “Ugh, let’s just tell her already!” said Dash exasperatedly. “Twilight, the dreastalker got Thunderlane.” Twilight went pale. There was a moment of silence as she processed this. How could Thunderlane be dead? He did normal boring things and led a normal boring life, how could he have- She had hated him, but she had also liked dancing with him, and- and- Twilight started to sob. Rarity stroked Twilight’s mane. “He didn’t deserve that…” she said. “Would you like to stay home today? Or would you like to work, to put your mind off it?” “I… want to apologize to his friends… and then, maybe, I’ll….” Twilight paused “I don’t know Rarity. Why is death so hard?” “Immortality would so suit you, dear.” came a soft reply. “Come on, you two, let’s go into town.” Pinks and Dash nodded, and hugged Twilight before the three set off towards town. When they came to the crossroads in town, the four paused. Twilight wondered again if it was even worth apologizing. She voiced her thoughts. “Rarity, do you think I should even apologize to his friends?” Dash smirked, and Rarity slapped the pegasus on the back of the head, before replying “now, that isn’t quite my question to answer, is it my dear? Why would you want to not apologize?” Twilight scrunched her eyes in thought. “Well, I certainly didn’t like his friends, and never had any ties to them. I just feel slightly obliged to comfort them, you know? Something about honoring the dead, maybe…” Pinkie pounced at Twilight, hugging her tightly. “You’re an awesome person TwiTwi. You can honor him by remembering him! That’s what we do! He won’t care anymore, because he’s dead, but he still exists as a memory to you.” She pulled back, grinning “Unless you plan to forget him, you’re already giving him more honor than he could ask for- and, plus, when you become one of us, you’ll remember him for all eternity!” Twilight was stunned at such wisdom coming from such an aloof mare. She pulled Pinkie back into the hug, to disapproving murmurs of the few passers-by. She felt tears well up inside anew, finally coming to terms with the fact of his death. “Thank you, Pinkie,” she sobbed “That means a lot to me…” she turned to the others, continuing “I think I’m alright from here, girls. I’m going to work, and I kinda need some alone time to think about stuff.” Rarity nodded, and blew a kiss at Twilight, before turning with the others and walking away. Dash turned around, and called out to Twilight “Don’t you go getting lost on the way home, dork!” Twilight smiled in reply “I won’t, mom.” “WOOOOT” cried Pinkie “Dashie got BURNED!” The four mares parted, each content and a little happier than they had set out. Twilight went on autopilot, and walked her usual route to the shop, when she bumped into someone. “Oops, I’m sorry, I wasn’t watching where I was-” she began, before looking at who she had collided with. “Fluttershy! I haven’t seen you in ages!” The yellow pegasus smiled happily “Twilight, hey! I’m glad you remembered me. How are you? I heard you knew thunderlane…” she trailed off. “Yeah…” Twi said, sadly “But I think I’m alright with it, as cold as that sounds?” Fluttershy shook her head. “Not at all, lingering on what was will only cause pain, I find. Don’t you think? I mean, having seen the poor stallion in that state, I could hardly bare to hold on to the thought…” Twilight’s interest was piqued. As she was vaguely aware of, Fluttershy was the only one in town that could’ve really identified the body as a dreadstalker attack. But the fact that such a seemingly delicate mare could be this cheery after seeing- well, Fluttershy had already described to her the graphic nature of a dreastalker’s killing. Slightly concerned, she asked “Are you ok, Fluttershy? You saw him dead?” Fluttershy’s expression darkened. “I was the one that found him actually. You remember how I told you dreadstalkers kill?” Twilight nodded. “His ribs were ripped open, and the autopsy determined they were broken outwards. That, and the blood was drained from his body. Typical traits of a dreadstalker attack.” her expression became more dutiful, and her tone shifted to confidence. “I’m going to redouble my efforts to find it. As unfortunate as this death was, it confirms that the dreadstalker is still here.” Twilight was baffled, but in awe of Fluttershy’s determination. “I’ll leave you to it then?” Flutters smiled “Leave it to me!” she said with conviction, and started to walk away. Twilight smiled to herself, and continued to walk to work. With someone as smart as Fluttershy on the case, she was sure that the dreadstalker would be found and dealt with in not time at all. It was slightly curious that Fluttershy was walking around at night, but it was getting close to dawn, and the poor mare had probably been up all night investigating the body. Thunderlane’s body, she corrected herself. Always remember him, and honor the life that he had. That was all she could really do, after all. Before long, she was at the shop, and saw a panicked Applejack waiting outside, the usual boxes of apples in tow. What could have gotten her this worked up? Twilight wondered briefly before she was hit with a dark realization, the puzzle pieces becoming one in her mind. The drained blood. How AJ insisted there simply was no dreadstalker. How it was only seen at night, and killed violently and cruelly. The vampire serial killer; the melodious lady. She paled, and froze in place. She opened her mouth, as if to speak to Applejack, but thought better of it. She turned tail and bolted back the way she had come. “Twilight!” called out the southern voice. “Wait! Ah need ta talk to ya!” Twilight ignored her, and pushed herself to run onwards faster than she had ever thought she could. Her muscles screamed at her, and her lungs burned, but still she ran. She ran and ran and ran and- And Twilight screeched to a halt outside her old apartment. Panting, she decided to take a breather in there. The dots connected, there was no way she could rest. Her mind raced through ways this killing could have, in fact, been a murder. Brute force? No, that wouldn’t explain the direction the ribs were broken. No, this left only… “Magic!” Twilight exclaimed, and pulled a box over to herself with her magic, and lifted them all into the air around herself, looking for the right book. “No, no, no… maybe? ...no. AHA!” The other books fell to the ground in a vaguely stack-shaped mess. “Here we go!” she said “Octus the mad’s journals on bones and their properties!” she chuckled to herself before adding “They never did find that crazy mare.” She flipped to the index, until she found the appropriate section, ‘ribs’. Ignoring various potion uses, and recipes for foodstuffs, Twilight found what she was looking for, a table detailing the resistance of ribs against forces. “Male stallion, adult…” she mused “... roughly 220 megapascals.” While this was quite far out of the range of a normal unicorn’s telekinesis, there was still the wild-card factor of magic strength increasing with the age of the vampire… which she would do some research on when she became one herself. At this thought she glowed. She was going to do this, and she loved the thought- to be with her friends and her marefriend, forever. “Oh!” she said, in realization “I’ll just ask Rarity how much stronger she is!” Running some numbers in her head, she packed away her books, and locked the door behind herself. It was time to do some bucking math.
Part 17: Honesty ITwilight had barely finished her breakfast when she heard a knock at the door. She looked across the table at the others, who were not in any hurry to move. “1-2-3, not it!” Said Pinkie Pie. “Not it” came 2 simultaneous responses from Dash and Rarity. Grumbling slightly, twi got up, and answered the door. Much to her surprise, Applejack was waiting outside for her. “So ya know now, huh? Ah told you they were vampires!” Twilight was too tired for AJ’s nonsense. “Oh? All I know is that they’re better friends than you could ever be.” “They’re manipulatin’ ya, twi! Why can’t you see that?” Applejack insisted. The commotion caused the door to open a second time, Rarity walking outside, standing besides Twilight, briefly nuzzling her. “Applejack, you talk a lot about manipulation, now why could that be? Is there perhaps something you want to tell my Twilight? Something about vampires that you’ve neglected to mention?” Twilight nodded in agreement. “Why are you here, dork?” AJ started stuttering, then stomped a hoof on the ground decisively. She inhaled deeply, and then said “I’m here to come clean to yall Twilight. Ah used to be a part of Rarity here’s little gang.” “You?!” said Twilight, incredulously “but- you-” she stared at AJ, mouth agape “ It’s a long story, alright? Just- hear me out until the end? Wouldya?” a nod prompted AJ to start. “A long, long time ago, I was selling apples for mah family at a concert in canterlot. The mare on stage, well, she was beautiful. I asked after her when the show was done, ‘n she agreed to meet me. And don’tcha know it, she shows her fangs to me, says she likes me a lot.” AJ blushed hotly “Anywho, the morning after-” twilight looked at the floor, embarrassed “- she tells me about her kin. Says she’d make me like her. And you know, twilight, I wanted to do every little thing she said. They get in your head, twilight.” “But I don’t see what this has to do with rarity.” twilight rebuked “She doesn’t mind control me, or the others! -I think.” she added at the end, sheepishly “Nah, that’s not rarity’s style, but My Lady, no, she loved to do it. She’d bend ponies to her will until they snapped, and further. After the transformation, ah loved her even more than ah did before. And ah loved her so much that I wanted to be with her f’rever.” She grimaced. “The next bits are a blur. ah don’t remember much other than ecstasy and adrenaline, but when ah came to, ah was lyin’ in mah barn, alone. Ah called out for My Lady over an’ over, but she didn’t answer, so I went a-lookin’. I saw what we had done together, what she had made me do. We had eaten the entire crop of apples in mah family’s orchard. Ah ran as fast as ah could to the house, but…” she began to tear up “they were dead, twi. They must’a been dead a few weeks. The bodies were all drained’a blood.” “AJ… I’m so sorry… I didn’t- I couldn’t have-” Twilight said apologetically “Don’t worry for it, dear, Applejack here isn’t finished with her story, and I’ve a mind to tell it myself. You’d like that, Applejack.” Rarity stated, coolly Applejack’s face ran through many emotions very quickly, from struggle to sadness, to anger, to a grimace, as she nodded. Rarity smiled. “This is where I come in. I found Applejack wandering the everfree soon afterwards. She was so lonely, and so depressed, and I took it upon myself to help her, as often I do with ponies that catch my eye. She told me her tale, and I was heartbroken for her. Me, and my companion at the time, took her in, and showed her that eternity didn’t have to be a nightmare. We even managed to get her to move on from, as she calls her ‘Her Lady’. For a time, Applejack was my closest confidant, and my lover.” Twilight’s eyes bulged in shock at this, but rarity continued, nonplussed. “But it was too good to last, was it not, Applejack, dear? Do tell us what happened when your musician friend came back to town, looking for you.” Applejack gulped. “Ah met her in the tavern one day, where ah worked at the time. She told me why she had done what she had.” Rarity took control of the story again to continue. “You see, Applejack’s melodious friend was after revenge. She knew about Granny Smith’s murder spree as a wannabe vampire hunter, and set up the perfect, most poetic revenge for that. She requested Applejack specifically sell at her show, and charmed the girl into loving her. Then, she took her new toy back to Granny Smith’s prized orchards, and consumed everything she had spent her life building. She killed her family in her trademarked style: drinking all of the blood from their body. But that wasn’t enough for her, no, she wanted more. So, instead of killing her now useless toy, she decided upon the ultimate revenge for the apple family: to leave the last member alive, forever, so that they would always know what they had brought upon themselves.” Twilight began to tear up. Was this really what had been eating away at applejack for all these years? It was understandable why she had turned out this way, why she had done what she did. But rarity had not finished. “And, then, dear Applejack fell into a depression. She could never forgive herself for what had happened, and began to hate us for who we were. But more than that, she hated herself. And so, out of a place of pure love for her, I offered to make it all go away. I offered to bring her true death. But she saw it as malice, and she ran away from the town, not to be seen for nearly a century. Does that cover it, Applejack?” AJ nodded, a look of shame on her face. “Yes it does, and… Ah- Ah’m here to say sorry…” Rarity gave a look of bemusement “To who, dear?” AJ began to tear up, but wiped her eyes “Ah can’t forgive ya’ll yet, Rarity… But ah’ll try, and ah’ll start by apologising to Twilight.” Twilight felt sorrow and empathy for Applejack, knowing the whole truth. She didn’t forgive her, but it wouldn’t hurt to try, would it? “I accept your apology, AJ. But I can’t just forget what you’ve done. You tried to bucking kill my friends, and-” she blushed “and you hurt my marefriend.” Rarity’s smile radiated pride. AJ simply nodded, and walked away. There was a long pause as she walked out of sight. “So, that was a surprise.” commented Rarity “Yeah, who’d have thought that, um, bucking dork would be here this early? And wait, don’t vampires lose their powers in the sunlight? How did she walk around in the light all this time? Wouldn’t she age?” “I was talking about the fact that you called me your marefriend, but alright, I can answer those questions too I suppose.” Twilight turned a shade of pink, and mumbled something awkwardly Chuckling, Rarity continued. “She’s a bit of a special case, you see. Earth vamponies age slower in the light. As for us unicorns, we grow far more magically powerful, and pegasi gain more agility and speed.” she paused for a moment before adding “And, if you’d be willing to, after that long talk, I feel like having a good meal, and at someplace fancy.” “Would it be a d-date?” Twilight stuttered, hopefully. She felt a butterfly feeling in her stomach. “Mmm, was that a question, or a request?” Rarity teased, walking back inside, and beckoning Twilight to follow. “Ooh ooh!” came an excited voice from inside “twitwi’s going on a date!” “It’s not a d-” she started, before getting a smug look from Dash, and stopping herself. “Yeah ok it’s a date.” “I never said that, now, did I?” Rarity said. It didn’t exactly make Twilight happy, being teased by Rarity, but, in a strange way, it made her feel loved. It was strange, really, how much Rarity could push and pull her. “Aww, the dork’s growing up!” teased Dash, ruffling Twilight’s mane “Just don’t be out too late, I hear there are dangerous ponies about these parts.” “Oh, be quiet you two,” said Rarity, walking right up to Twilight, almost muzzle to muzzle. She put her mouth right to Twilight’s ear and whispered “now, Twilight, where would you like to go, hmm?” Twilight felt chills down her spine, and her mind blanked for a second. Rarity chuckled dryly. “I know some places, I was just enjoying teasing you a little, my Twilight.” She embraced the purple unicorn, and started towards the door, Twilight in tow. A moment passed in silence, until Dash spoke up. “Pinks, do you… do you think mistress still loves AJ?” Pinkie deflated a little, and thought for a moment. “I think a part of her will always love AJ,” she said, sadly, before regaining some of her usual vigor “but she has us now, and we’re way more fun than that dork!” Rainbow Dash smiled. “I guess so! I mean, she’s not so hung up over another certain somepony, so…” They sat in silence for a while, musing over the past. They were at last interrupted by a knocking at the door. “1-2-3-” began Pinkie, before being interrupted. “Ugh, I’ll get it.” said Dash “I bet it’s another group of mystery-solving ponies with a bucking talking dog, or something.” “Oooooor maybe it’s a dreadstalker here to ask politely if he can eat you up! Rawr!” “Pff, shut up Pinkie,” said Rainbow, opening the door “I bet it’s just.... Oh.” “It’s what? Who?” called back Pinkie. “Pinkie! We’ve got a Guest. Get her something sweet!” Rainbow shouted in reply. Fluttershy smiled happily. “I’m glad my little Rarity has taught you some manners, Rainbow Dash. May I come in?” Author's Note Sssssssssssssssssssssssssssss. Buck, this took me a long time. I think. How long is a chapter meant to take anyway? Regardless, welcome yall to my take on the classic au fic, corruption! Enjoy! or dont that works too but Ill be sad so you know whatever