The Parasite

Sunset couldn’t stop thinking about how foolish she was. She had spent all this time trying to see the best in Carnage, compromising with him and hoping he was changing for the better, but she was wrong.

He was as cruel and malicious as he’s always been, he still wanted to conquer the planet and infest humans with his kind, and he never had any intention of turning good like his kind back in Equestria did.

He used her. Saw her trusting nature and used it to quietly gather strength before seizing full control of their body.

Though now, it might as well just be Carnage’s body. Sunset couldn’t move any of it, and she tried despite Carnage’s warnings not to. She would choose something like an eye, or a finger, and just strain and will it to move as hard as she could… with nothing happening. Her nerves simply didn’t respond to her. Even as she grew stressed over the reality of what had happened to her, she felt no natural speeding of her heart or increase in her breathing. Her body just didn’t obey her anymore. Yet despite her inability to move it, she could still sense everything happening. Her eyes were seeing, ears hearing, she was completely conscious.

And she was trapped.

Carnage finished out the vacation days at the hotel, but didn’t bother with swimming or anything else Sunset had planned on doing. He spent hours every day traveling and killing. He didn’t care about the sorts of people Sunset had targeted. He went after anyone he considered to be worthless. Sunset could do nothing to stop him as he slaughtered hundreds of innocents, not even eating most of them, just reveling in the death itself.

This will truly make the world better, he gloated to her. Her notions of greatness were childish. Concepts like good and evil didn’t matter. What mattered was strength. Ambition. A willingness to take what you want and the power to actually do so. So he let the strong, motivated, dominant humans live. Those he didn’t see as worthy future hosts were killed.

Sunset spent each day living in horror as she was forced to watch his actions, having to feel flesh split under his claws and blood spray them, taste the organs he feasted on… it was a nightmare.

But she didn’t try to argue with him or hold him back. He was serious about killing her friends if she did, and she wanted to keep them safe. So she let him rampage, instead trying desperately to think of a way out of this. How could she shake his control long enough to perhaps call for help? Or could she use her magic in any way to save herself?

She has practiced before using her empathy magic in a reverse manner. Rather than seeing other people’s memories and hearing their thoughts, she has been teaching herself to project her own thoughts and memories to others. Progress was slow, as despite her magic being Equestrian, it manifested in strange ways here. But she was figuring it out. It took physical contact, but she has been successful before in touching one of her friends and communicating to them with telepathy.

She may be able to use that even now. Magic didn’t require the use of her nerves. As long as she could think, she should be able to do it. But she would have to wait for Carnage to touch one of her friends. Though it pained her, she would have to get him to shake one of their hands or hug them, and she would only have that one shot to use her magic. He would never give her another opportunity. Had to make the one time count.

She shielded these thoughts carefully from him as she planned what she wanted to do. If Carnage made one mistake, it was teaching her how to think privately. He was unaware of her plan and seemed uninterested in monitoring her thoughts anyway. He was often caught up in his own imagination, which she unfortunately had to watch as well.

But she told herself to stay optimistic and just bear it. She would get out of this.

Carnage made no effort to keep up Sunset’s relationship with her friends, unfortunately. He largely ignored her laptop except to research places to visit or listen to music, so she couldn’t see what was happening in any of her chatrooms.

He would check her phone whenever a text or email came through, though. Twi was still trying to find out if Sunset was Red, even more desperately now that the killings have taken such a savage turn. Their other friends have also started taking part in questioning her. Carnage responded the same thing to all of them. Of course Sunset Shimmer wasn’t going around killing people. Everyone needed to stop accusing her. They were all being ridiculous.

It made Sunset so scared for them. She knew Carnage wouldn’t hesitate to kill any of them if they bothered him too much. It was something she would have to communicate if she managed to make contact with one of her friends. They needed to keep their heads down and contact Princess Twilight using her journal. She would tell them where it was hidden and to steal it while she was in class. Break in if they have to.

Luckily, her friends soon just left her alone about the subject, only sending casual texts and memes. Sunset appreciated seeing them, even if Carnage’s responses were often short and neutral. He only put in minimal effort to sound like Sunset when he replied and she hoped it didn’t make her friends even more suspicious.

Before long, the break was over and it was time to head back to Canterlot. Carnage packed all of Sunset’s stuff back up and paid for the room, then headed out. She hoped he would at least allow her some freedom to drive, but he didn’t even do that much. He seemed set on keeping her as a passenger in her own body.

When they got back to Canterlot University, Carnage wasted no time in taking everything back to the dorm room, wanting to get right back to his work. But as soon as he stepped inside, he sensed something off.

“Hm.” He looked around, mumbling out loud as he set the bags down. “Something feels wrong.”

We haven’t been here in a while, sometimes places can seem weird if you take a break from them… Sunset thought idly.

“No, that’s not it.” Carnage inspected the room closely. “Things are… ever so slightly out of place. Can’t you see it? The bedcovers have moved. Your backpack was not laying like that when we left. And your books are in different places!”

How do you even notice things like that-

“Someone was in here!”

So I probably got robbed while we were gone, great, just one more shitty event in my life.

Carnage went over to check the doorknob and the lock. It didn’t seem like the door had been forced open at any point. But he knew someone had been in the room.

Gleaning from Sunset’s memories what she considered most valuable, he checked for anything missing. The TV was left alone and when he opened the desk drawer, he found the magical journal still right where it should be. He opened it to the most recent entry. There was no new writing.

He snorted and kept checking the area, but nothing was gone. All the expensive textbooks were here, along with Sunset’s games and movies, her guitar and clothes. Things had simply been searched and that was it.

Who was here then? Sunset wondered. There’s all kinds of stuff they could have taken.

“Maybe one of those friends of yours was looking for evidence you’re a serial killer. That or a random frat boy just came in to steal some underwear and found nothing worth keeping.”

Sunset wanted to roll her eyes at that. Please, I have some frilly stuff. You know, just in case.

“I didn’t need to know that. Whatever.” Carnage unpacked their bags just so Sunset wouldn’t annoy him about it, then placed the laptop back in its place on the desk and plugged it in.

Sunset’s phone dinged as Carnage was preparing to go back outside. He growled and took it out. “Now what?”

It was a text from Zinnia. You’re coming back from vacation today, right?

Carnage grumbled but typed, Yes. Just got back.

The typing icon popped up and Carnage sighed impatiently. Zinnia didn’t take long though, a new message soon appearing. Cool, I hope you had fun! Also, wanna come over?

Carnage had zero interest in doing that. But Sunset reminded him that it would be very unlike her to just blow off a friend, so he relented and agreed to meet with the other. Zinnia's apartment was within walking distance but Carnage chose to drive so he could listen to music along the way. He drove with the top down and the bass turned up high, loud enough that several pedestrians winced and shot the car dirty looks as it passed.

Sunset sighed internally. Great, now he was making her look like the kind of asshole she always complained about. She liked some good bass music herself but she didn't like bothering other people with it. She fretted about how the meeting with Zinnia was going to go, hoping Carnage didn't do anything suspicious. On the one hand, she wanted someone to realize something was off and get her help. On the other hand, she wasn't sure if she could be helped and didn't want Zinnia to get hurt or killed for trying.

As long as you don't fight back, I won't harm your friend, Carnage thought to her. But even then, if she seems to be a threat... she'll make a nice snack.

Sunset hoped Zinnia wouldn't pick up on anything, then. She briefly considered if she wanted to attempt to communicate with her via telepathy, before deciding it would be better to choose one of the Elements for that. Zinnia likely wouldn't be able to assist her like the others could. So she would hold off on that plan for now.

The drive was quick enough but it took a while to find decent parking. Eventually Carnage just pulled into one of the empty spaces marked for apartment residents only, growling that he doubted the entire building was occupied and he wouldn't be here long enough for anyone to notice anyway.

Zinnia was waiting for them at the door to her apartment and smiled as she invited them in, and Carnage exchanged pleasantries with her in a manner perfectly identical to how Sunset would have. She understood now why he always paid such close attention to how she talked to people. He's been planning on taking over their body for a long time now.

Zinnia led the way over to her couch and sank onto it, gesturing to the coffee table where she had laid out some snacks. “I have some chips and stuff if you're hungry. And help yourself to whatever drink you want from the fridge.”

“Don't mind if I do.” Carnage went to check out the kitchen. It was fairly small and had a bar that overlooked the living room. A few pots of succulents sat near the sink and Carnage ran a finger over a few of them out of curiosity before turning to the fridge, tossing open the door and examining the contents. There wasn't a lot, speaking to Zinnia's low budget, but there was an assortment of drinks ranging from bottled water to milk to soda.

Sunset offered no input on what to drink. She was too nervous to think about that, feeling sick as she thought about how Zinnia had no idea that her friend wasn't truly herself and was merely the puppet to an alien parasite.

So now I'm a parasite? Carnage thought to her.

Yes, you are! This isn't mutual anymore, it's not a symbiosis... you have me enslaved! You are just a disgusting parasite and I can't believe I ever trusted you!

That's the problem with your kind, isn't it? You're too trusting and forgiving. You saw my past. You lived with me in your head and body and knew my methods. And yet, you still believed I would never turn against you. You may think yourself smart, but you're just a sentimental, weak-willed fool. Carnage finally just grabbed a can of V8 juice and returned to the couch, sitting next to Zinnia.

“Ooh, good choice, I love those,” Zinnia said. “I'll admit I don't eat vegetables as often as I should, so those are a good substitute.”

“Yeah but you gotta be careful,” Carnage replied, turning the can around a bit to glance at the nutrition facts and then looking at Zinnia. “They're loaded with sodium and that can be pretty bad for you too.”

“That's true but the low sodium ones just aren't very good at all. It's okay, I just eat less salty food if I have one of those.”

It was bizarre listening to Carnage carry on a normal conversation with Zinnia. He was copying all her mannerisms, her tone of voice... Sunset could almost believe she was the one talking. But none of it was her and she didn't even have the control to close their mouth or move their tongue.

They shared chips as they chatted, Carnage telling Zinnia how the vacation went and Zinnia in turn talking about what she's been up to. Sunset waited the whole time for Carnage to say or do something out of character for her, but it never happened. Though he did soon grow bored with the conversation and began glancing toward the window or at other things in the apartment, not fully paying attention to Zinnia. Sunset could feel his desire to do some local hunting.

Zinnia didn't seem to notice the lack of interest, caught up in telling an animated tale about how she went out to a park full of wildflowers and got to hang out with the dozens of bees who were flitting between the flowers. She had no fear of the creatures and had actually sat among them for a while, occasionally reaching out to give one a pet but mostly just watching them go about their business.

“Bees are pretty cute, it's sad how misunderstood they are,” Carnage remarked, before sliding Sunset's phone out to check the time. “Ah. I just realized, classes start back up tomorrow and I have some work I had put off.”

“Oh man, I did that a few times back in high school,” Zinnia said sympathetically. “Can you believe some teachers actually give people big assignments before breaks? Like, what the heck. It's supposed to be a break! Having to work on a break kinda ruins it, don'tcha think?”

“Yeah, I always hated that, but it is what it is.” Carnage stood, crumpling the V8 can in his fist and going toward the trash can.

“Oh, ah, I have a recycling bin,” Zinnia said, getting up and going into the kitchen to open a cabinet, taking out a small blue bin filled with assorted glass and plastic bottles, along with aluminum cans.

Carnage tossed the can into there instead. “Right. Didn't know, sorry.”

“It's no problem, I really should leave this out somewhere but like, there's not much room.”

“Understandable. This is still a nice place though. I'd like to come over again but unfortunately I need to get back home.” Carnage was growing impatient now but wasn't showing it yet.

“Okay, no problem! You're always welcome! Maybe next time we can watch a movie or something.” Zinnia shifted a bit and Sunset could see in her eyes that she wanted a hug, but Carnage ignored that, just going to the door.

“Yeah, sounds good. See ya.”

Sunset could sense the other's disappointment. “Bye.”

Then they were outside and as soon as the door closed, Carnage was breaking into a jog back toward the parking lot.

Well that was rude, Sunset remarked. She obviously wanted me to hug her.

She'll get over it. She barely knows you, perhaps you just aren't really the hugging type.

Sunset was absolutely a hugger. But there was nothing to be done about it now. Maybe Zinnia would just think she was really in a hurry. There was no actual work to be done though and as soon as they got in the car, Sunset felt Carnage's true intentions. Classes may resume tomorrow but he still had plenty of time to entertain himself and absolutely nothing to hold him back. As he began planning out the rest of his evening, she redoubled her efforts to think of a way out of this. She had to get him back under control at any cost. The fate of the entire world was at stake.