The Parasite

A few hours later, Sunset and Carnage were back in Canterlot and changing back into human form. They headed back to campus at a leisurely pace, discussing future plans in their thoughts. Maybe the topic of discussion was violent, but Sunset preferred it to bickering.

Sunset picked up her phone once she was back in her dorm, checking to see if she had any calls or texts. There were a couple memes from Zinnia, and a request from Fluttershy for one of her friends to help her with some studying. Twi had already jumped on that, so that was good. Sunset picked out a cute cat photo from her phone gallery to send back to Zinnia, hoping it brightened her day a little.

With that done, she went to her laptop and sat while Carnage stretched out of her to grab a can of soda from the fridge and start making popcorn.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“I figured you'd like a snack. Popcorn is traditional when being entertained, correct?” He gestured to the news site she had already opened.

Sunset laughed and looked back at the screen. Couldn't argue with that. It was easy finding an article about the attack under the breaking news section. Their race through downtown and their entrance to the office was well-documented by witnesses and security cameras. There was also footage of them talking to Mr. Whistle, though the article used an edited video that blacked out the actual act of Carnage eating the man, as it was likely too graphic for the site to host. But the screaming was very much audible.

Police were investigating and anyone with information was being asked to come forward. The event has already been linked to what happened at the Canterlot prison and people were beginning to discuss the apparent vigilante motives of the 'red monster.'

Carnage brought Sunset a bowl of popcorn and the can of soda. She thanked him and scrolled down to the comment section. There were many different reactions. Some people were scared. There was talk of it being the dawn of the apocalypse, people comparing the monster to a demon. And there were those calling it a hoax. A publicity stunt, all actors, just a show put on because why would a monster have an environmentalist agenda?

“Comment sections are a cesspool,” Sunset said as she scrolled past a religious post demanding people repent before things get worse.

“Yes, it seems like all the dumbest of humanity are on display here.”

A notification popped up at the top of the page, saying the story was updated and to refresh. Sunset tapped F5 and went back to the article, scanning to see what changed. The update was at the bottom, listing statements from employees who saw the attack and also linking to a video of a reporter talking to Mrs. Shade. Sunset clicked it.

The video opened and Sunset could immediately tell it was taken shortly after she and Carnage left. The entrance to the office was in the background, police and other officials going in and out, and there were civilians hanging around watching the proceedings curiously. The reporter was holding out a microphone to Mrs. Shade, who looked sick to her stomach.

“So what happened here today?” the reporter asked.

“I'm still trying to figure that out myself,” Mrs. Shade replied quietly, glancing over her shoulder. “It was just a normal day, I was in my office checking emails, and suddenly there was all this noise. I heard the front door get broken downstairs, and went to the window to see what was going on. And then that thing, the red monster, it attacked Mr. Whistle, I didn't even know until he started yelling, and I ran to help, but then I saw it and I... I was frozen, I couldn't move, it was so scary...”

“But then you evacuated with the other employees, yes?”

“Yes, when that monster started eating him, I ran. It was horrible, there was so much blood and... the screaming...” Mrs. Shade covered her mouth.

“So you came out here, and the monster came down too?”

“It did. It said that Mr. Whistle was dead, and that this all was a warning. I guess to other companies like ours? And then it asked for me by name. And grabbed me.” Mrs. Shade's hand went to her chest, right where Carnage had grabbed her suit and lifted her. “It told me to change things. To improve the company. What else could I do but say yes? I wasn't going to say no, not with it spitting blood in my face, ready to eat me too. Then it put me down quietly and left! It pushed the cop cars out of the way like it was nothing and ran off! It was just so bizarre and terrifying, like... did that really just happen? I almost wouldn't believe it if everyone else hadn't seen it too...”

“Well, thank you so much for telling us the story.” The reporter turned back to the camera, though she kept a comforting hand on Mrs. Shade's shoulder. “This has been Lens Flare with an exclusive report from-”

Sunset clicked away as she finished the sign off, going back to the article and just taking it all in. “Okay. We definitely made an impression on her.”

“Of course we did! Look at how much she was shaking!”

According to the report, Mrs. Shade has gone on to say she would be implementing several changes to the company's practices at once, and she recommended that other similar companies review their policies as well.

“There, exactly what we wanted,” Sunset said.

“Exactly what you wanted. I couldn't care less.”

“...Yeah. Well, what would be your idea of making this world better?”

He fixed her with an unnerving stare. “You don't want to know my answer.”

“Oh come on, you've been going along with what I want to do, but we're a team. Who would you target?”

“When I worked for Riot, our team's goal was to take over worlds and bond with the strongest inhabitants left. So we would kill the weak. The old, the sick, the disabled. We'd kill the ones who were too rebellious. We only wanted the healthiest and strongest individuals to survive so we could use them to make ourselves stronger. So, Sunset. If it were me calling the shots? I would turn every hospital on this planet into my buffet.”

Dread crept down Sunset's spine. “Oh. We... have very different ideas of who's weak, then.”

“We do.”

“But that wouldn't make anything better, in fact that's just going to make people miserable and make the world worse! Evil people will keep on doing evil regardless of what's happening in hospitals, and so many good people will suffer instead.”

“Yes. This is where we differ, Sunset. Both of us desire power. But I desire power over the weak. You desire power over the evil. Your morality drives your decisions in who to cull. I am far more practical. But don't you worry.” Carnage rubbed a tendril up under her chin. “Continue to bring me to whoever you've deemed unworthy of life. I will gladly eat them.”

Sunset nodded, leaning her head back from his touch. “I will. After all, things aren't like they were before. You're not with Riot anymore. Things have changed. We can use our power for good, like Twilight and Venom do. So, we'll go after criminals only. There's no way I'm letting you attack people just because they can't fight back or won't make a good host or something.”

“Whatever you say.”

Sunset looked back at her computer, trying to shake off the chills from that conversation. She briefly rested her hand on her magical journal, yet again wanting to talk to Twilight about this. But she decided against it, and just decided to check her friend chatroom instead.

Conversation seemed slow today. Rarity had shared some songs in the music channel, Fluttershy sent some cute photos of rabbits in the animal channel, and Rainbow was in their general chat talking smack about a rival college's soccer team. The others didn't seem to have much to say on the subject. Sunset typed, What's up?

Her friends all acknowledged her with various hellos and emojis, and Rainbow once again insulted the rival team and swore that she would shun anyone who said something nice about them. Sunset simply wished her luck in the upcoming game against them.

Then Twi's username popped up as typing a message. Then it paused for a few moments, before Twi simply wrote, Sorry to interrupt, but please check the news channel.

Sunset clicked over to that one and saw that Twi was typing there. Then she sent the article Sunset had been looking at earlier, along with a second article from a different news company, but it seemed to be the same story.

That red monster that attacked the prison? It attacked someone again, and this time had a message.

Sunset pulled up the other article. It had most of the same information as the first, but was written differently. It focused a lot more on the recordings from various phones and cameras, discussing everything the 'red monster' had said. The author was astounded that such a beast apparently had a vigilante agenda.

She returned to the chat and simply wrote, Wild.

That thing attacked again? Rainbow demanded. What the hell is going on?

How scary, Fluttershy commented.

Rarity wrote, It's a vigilante? Why would it pick a businessman, there are far worse people out there...

Maybe it's just got a list and picks at random, Pinkie suggested.

“Surprisingly acute observation,” Carnage said.

“Pinkie's pretty sharp,” Sunset said. She tossed some popcorn into her mouth as she considered what to say, and Carnage scooped a piece up, inspecting it closely before giving it a taste. Sunset watched the conversation for a bit, then said, Did you hear the way that thing talked? I bet it really is an alien like Flutters said.

“Are you trying to give us away?”

“Of course not.” Sunset gave him a small nudge. “If I was involved in the attacks, I wouldn't just give away information like that, would I?”

“You- oh, I see. Plausible deniability. Though I doubt they'd suspect you anyway. You're such a good friend and a model student. So kind. You would never eat a man alive.”

“Yeah, that's... probably what's gonna keep me safe more than anything. They have no reason to think I'm involved. And we're not going to give them a reason.”

“Good! And to think you wanted to tell them about me at first. Good thing you didn't. They'd ask too many questions. They wouldn't understand what we're doing. They'd get in your way.”

“You're probably right.”

“I am right. It would disgust them. They would try to separate us. Maybe some of them would understand what we're doing. But not all. Their loyalty to you is strong, but they would try to stop you. May even tell the authorities the attacks are your doing. This needs to stay our secret. From your friends here and your friends in Equestria. Otherwise they will come between us. And I don't want to lose you.” Carnage ran a tendril slowly against Sunset's cheek, gazing intently into her eyes. “We deserve each other.”

She felt a fierce sort of protectiveness from him. She reached up to rest her hand over the tendril, eyes briefly staring off into nothing as he showed her fantasies of everything they would accomplish together. Things that they would never be able to do if her friends separated them. He was right. This needed to stay between them. Being a vigilante was a lonely path, but it was one she was willing to walk. At least she wasn't completely alone.

Sunset pulled the tendril down and away, nodding. “Yeah. This is our secret. Our mission to carry out together.”

“Perhaps one day, when this world has been improved, we can reveal ourselves. We will be applauded. All will see that we did what had to be done. Until then, we carry out our work as the nameless, terrifying 'red monster' these humans already fear.”

“Mhm. In that case...” Sunset ran through their list of targets and began thinking of even more. “We have a lot of work to do.”