The Parasite

Sunset spent the better part of the day working with Carnage to find a suitable list of targets she felt the world would be better off without. He was right when he said she had the power to change the world. Maybe it won't be easy, and her actions would no doubt weigh on her conscience, but if it was for the good of billions of other people, she would do what had to be done.

They didn't physically write any of the names down. Carnage committed them all to his memory. If Sunset wanted to glance back at who they had so far, the information just easily drifted into her thoughts from his. Once she was satisfied with the list, she asked Carnage's help in thoroughly erasing her search history. He commented that she was being paranoid, but assisted anyway. It took him several minutes, as he had to research the finer workings of human computers that differed from symbiote tech, but once he figured it out he was able to clear all the data relating to their research.

“I doubt any suspicion will fall upon you,” Carnage said as he worked. “No doubt countless people have looked up information on all our targets, they seem well-known. But nonetheless, this will prevent any investigators from finding evidence you searched for them before their deaths. Now there are means by which the data can still be retrieved, but it would take a lot of work and they'd have to have probable cause for a warrant to begin searching your equipment. We aren't going to let that happen though, are we?”

“No, we won't,” Sunset said confidently. She could admit, she didn't know all the details when it came to criminal investigation, but she was sure she could cover her tracks well enough that suspicion wouldn't fall on her specifically. There was a good chance Canterlot would be investigated even when she and Carnage widen their attack range, since that was the location of the first massacre. But it was a big city. Tens of thousands of people lived here and in the surrounding suburbs. She was just a drop in the pool. No one was going to suspect her.

Deciding to get some fresh air, she pushed back from the computer and stood up. She changed into clean clothes and grabbed her keys, phone, and wallet before heading out. She felt the distinct tingling of Carnage hiding back under her skin. It was strange how used to it she was now.

Her stomach rumbled as she walked outside, and she sighed, wrapping her arms around her middle. The hunger, she wasn't quite used to yet.

I'm telling you, Carnage whispered in her mind. There are fellow students here that would do quite nicely...

“No,” she said firmly. Looking around, she saw another student giving her a confused look, and she gave him a sheepish grin and quickly walked away. She switched to thought. No, definitely not eating anyone here. We don't need to give the authorities reason to narrow their search from the entirety of Canterlot to Canterlot University.

Fine. What are we eating, then?

There's a little cafe over this way, she replied. I know you said it's not quite enough for you, but they have these really good chocolate muffins, I figured I'd get one of those and some sort of salad...

Salad? Bleh. You still have so much equine in you.

I was gonna get a chicken caesar salad.

Oh? That'll do.

Glad that he had stopped complaining, Sunset went into the building. The cafe was near a shop where she got most of her textbooks and other supplies from, and there was a lounge area with several tables, chairs, and couches. It was a fairly popular area, and being the afternoon on a Saturday, she saw plenty of her fellow students hanging out in the area eating and chatting.

She waved to a few people she knew from her trigonometry class and entered the cafe. She hummed quietly as she browsed the shelves, grabbing one of the muffins but also looking to see if there was anything new. It all seemed like the usual items, but her hunger made everything suddenly much more appealing. She picked up a small bag of cheddar and sour cream chips before going over to the fridges, hunting through them before finding the salad she wanted and picking out a bowl.

Want to pick a drink? she asked Carnage.

The only thing I enjoy drinking is blood.

Okay, Mr. Edgy. Sunset sighed and grabbed a strawberry soda before heading to the counter. She heard him laughing in her head, and wondered if that was his idea of a joke. Or maybe he really was just that bloodthirsty. She didn't ask though, just paying for the food and walking out.

She decided to sit at a nearby table to eat, and as she took her phone out to set on the table next to her, it buzzed. “Hm?” She checked it and saw a text from Twi.

Hey. Turn around.

She looked over her shoulder and saw Twi jogging toward her, grinning and waving. She had a laptop bag slung over her shoulder and a large textbook under an arm. “Sunset!”

“Hey!” Sunset got up to greet her, and they exchanged a hug. Then Sunset stepped back and looked at the book Twi was carrying. “Wow, you could knock someone out with that thing.”

“Haha, yeah...” Twi held it up so she could see the title. “This is for my physics class! It mostly just goes over the basics but well, there are a lot of basics when it comes to physics. There are chapters in here about electricity, magnetism, heat, radiation, Newtonian mechanics, you know. Just the basics.”

“Just the basics,” Sunset agreed with a laugh. “So what are you doing over here?”

“Well I was about to head back to my dorm after studying at the library, but I haven't eaten since breakfast so I decided to come grab something here.” Twi looked at Sunset's table. “I see you're having dinner here too!”

“Heh, yep, dinner of champions.” Sunset went back to her seat, moving some of her stuff around to make room. “Wanna join me?”

“Sure! Let me just run over to the cafe real quick.” Twi pushed the textbook into her bag and ran into the store.

Sunset chuckled and pulled the lid off her salad, mixing everything and pouring the dressing on.

Does it ever get strange, having to keep that Twilight separate from that pony princess one? Carnage asked.

Sometimes, but they're just different enough that I can keep them apart pretty easily. Like, I tend to just call her Twi, and she wears her hair completely different and she has glasses and her personality is a little different too, but that makes sense, she grew up in quite a different environment from the pony Twilight.

Yes, nature versus nurture, quite simple. So, which one do you like more?

What? I don't think about my friends like that, I like all of them. They're all unique, I can't compare them, it's apples and oranges.

Yes but you have an obvious preference between apples and oranges.

That's not what I meant. Anyway, I like both Twilights the same, they're both wonderful friends and I wouldn't be the person I am today without them. Sunset crammed salad in her mouth, watching Twi through the glass door to the cafe. She was at the counter already paying, and when she turned to leave, she tried to push the pull door and just ran right into it. Sunset burst into giggles, coughing on her food.

Twi hastily pulled the door open and walked out, blushing as she adjusted her glasses. Seeing that her friend had seen everything, she blushed harder and covered her face.

“Are you okay?” Sunset called.

“Y-yeah. Man, I'm just really distracted today.” Twi sat down across from her and set her grocery bag on the table, taking out her food.

Noticing that some of Twi's hair was messed up, Sunset reached out to fix it. “Oh here, your bangs, let me just...” She ran her fingers through it, and Twi froze, watching her curiously. Then she smiled, eyelids lowering slightly.

Sunset's face heated up at the way the other smiled at her, and she let go, sitting back. “There, I think I got it.”

“Thank you.” Twi held her gaze for just a moment too long, then quickly looked back down at her food.

Sunset got to eating too, glancing across the room as she did.

What was that? Carnage demanded.

What was what?

Why did our face get so hot? What is... wait. You're attracted to her!

The bluntness made Sunset briefly choke on her food again, and she needed several moments to clear her throat, during which Twi stared at her with concern. When Sunset began hitting her chest, Twi stood, lifting a hand. “Are you okay? Do you need help?”

Sunset shook her head, finally managing to dislodge the offending chunk of lettuce from her throat. Once she was able to safely swallow it again, she rubbed her throat and said, “I'm okay, just... breathed and swallowed at the same time I guess, haha.”

“I can't tell you how many times I've done that.” Twi sat down again, popping open a bottle of water and taking a swig. “But that's what happens when your trachea and your esophagus join into the same tube.”

“Right?” Sunset decided to put the salad aside for now and drink some soda, admonishing Carnage in thought as she did. I'm not attracted to her! I mean sure, she's a good friend, and of course I think she's pretty, but...

But you desire more than friendship from her. Don't deny it, I can feel everything you do. You're quite attached to this particular friend of yours. Carnage made note of that. He knew Sunset was close to all her friends, but Twi may be an especially useful vulnerability one day.

We have grown very close. And well, I wouldn't mind maybe, you know... going out with her. But we're both way too busy with school to do that.

Oh, of course. But you might as well be honest with yourself.

Sunset started picking at her salad again. She was pretty honest with herself. If Twi wasn't so busy with her classes and homework and projects and everything else she had to work on, she would love to date her. But right now, that just wasn't happening, and she was okay with that. She was happy to have her as a friend.

She and Twi talked about their classes while they ate, but Twi soon changed subject to the attack on the prison that they had spoken about that morning.

“I can't tell you how many times I watched the footage,” Twi said. “I really want to know what that monster was. In a way it looked almost like a human, at least in the shape, but it was so tall, and then there were all those tendrils it was whipping around... Are you sure there's nothing like that in Equestria?”

“Very sure,” Sunset replied.

“Hm. Well, either it's an unknown being from your world... or an unknown being from ours. It didn't seem magical like some of the creatures we've fought. Maybe Fluttershy was right, maybe it is an alien. Imagine that, first contact and it's with some giant monster that wants to eat people.” Twi sighed and picked up her phone, opening the browser. “Let me see if there are any more updates...”

“Whatever it is, I hope it's gone for good,” Sunset said. She really wished she could share Carnage's existence with someone, but she absolutely couldn't tell her human friends now. There was no way they would trust him or her after what happened. Maybe she could use her journal to talk about it with Princess Twilight. There was a good chance she would need to vent about what she was going through soon.

You can vent to me, Carnage said.

Sometimes it's not enough to just vent to one person. I really would just rather be able to talk to a friend about stuff. A friend who isn't sharing my body.

Whatever.

Twi shook her head at whatever she was reading and looked over her phone at Sunset. “Just as I thought. They don't know much more than they did this morning. The attack was so fast and savage. The local police department is asking anyone with information to come forward. All they can really do now is keep trying to review security footage and track down where the monster went.”

Which Sunset knew they'd be unable to do. She and Carnage had moved too swiftly upon leaving the prison. They had escaped into the city and only changed back once away from any cameras. There was nothing for the police to go on.

“It's just so sad,” Twi said quietly. “Thinking about all those people who died. Such a cruel, painful way to go... not to mention the people in there for victimless crimes, or who could have been wrongly convicted... such a tragedy.”

Sunset nodded, stomach twisting. There was no doubt she went too far. She hoped she didn't ever lose herself to her symbiote's blood lust again. “Yeah. I've been trying not to think about it. No point obsessing over things we can't change, right?”

“I guess so.” Twi was done with her food, but she idly picked at the wrappers, seemingly lost in thought. Then she said, “Well, I should probably get back to my room. It was nice hanging out though.”

“Yeah. We could get together tomorrow, if you want? I finished all my homework, so...”

Twi frowned. “Oh, I'm so sorry, I would but I have a lot I need to get done tomorrow before class on Monday.”

“That's okay, we can hang out some other time.” Sunset stood, and they hugged tightly. Sunset briefly rested her face against her friend's neck, just enjoying the feel of her arms around her and the warmth of her body. But then the moment was over and they were separating, Twi giving her an apologetic smile before gathering her trash and walking away.

Sunset sank back into her seat, looking at what she had left to eat. She had finished off the salad and chips, but she still had half a bottle of soda and the muffin was still wrapped, as she wanted to save it for last. After some thought, she decided to go back to her room as well. She threw away her trash and grabbed the muffin and soda, going outside. She opened the muffin to eat on the way, and noted with some interest that Carnage seemed to like the flavor.

She spent most of the walk thinking about Twi, worrying that she was working herself too hard, it was only her second semester yet she already had so much to do. But then, she always did have high standards for herself. It was something Sunset admired about her, but hopefully she didn't burn herself out.

Sunset was done with the muffin by the time she got back to her dorm. Carnage admitted to her that it was quite satisfying, though he preferred live prey. She wasn't hungry anymore though, which she was thankful for.

With nothing else to do for the rest of the afternoon, Sunset decided to spend some time just relaxing and watching some movies. An idea that her partner seemed quite alright with, claiming that he had a lot on his mind and could use the downtime. Finally, it felt like the two of them were getting along.