The Parasite

Sunset planned to have an uneventful Sunday. Just one more day to relax before getting back to her classes on Monday. She was just going to hang out in the dorm, maybe take a walk, but whatever she did, it was going to be chill.

Carnage had no strong feelings about her plan one way or another, just stating that as long as she ate something, he didn’t care what she did.

So Sunset spent a good few hours in the morning sitting with her laptop on the couch, chatting with her friends while somewhat watching an anime she had put on.

When she mentioned this in the chat, Pinkie immediately asked, Subs or dubs?

Dubs, I’m barely looking at the screen and I don’t know Japanese.

Lame! Pinkie reacted to her message with a custom emoji their server had, featuring a llama with its tongue sticking out. Subs r superior.

Not all of us are weebs, Ponk, Rainbow replied, using the chat nickname that Pinkie has boasted since she decided to change her username to PrettyInPink but accidentally wrote PrettyInPonk instead. Her friends refused to let her live it down, but luckily she found it as hilarious as they did.

You don’t have to be a weaboo to appreciate the Japanese language, Twi wrote. I wouldn’t mind learning how to speak it.

Weeb, Rainbow said.

Sunset chuckled. She chatted for a while longer, but things died down within the hour as Twi left to do work and Rainbow headed out to exercise. Pinkie said she was going to lurk but was mostly going to be gaming. Fluttershy and Applejack weren’t even online, which really only left Rarity.

She didn’t seem to have much going on, but also didn’t have too much to talk about. She and Sunset discussed classes for a while, then talked about news and politics, before finally getting into a playful argument about fashion. Rarity was certain that bedazzling was going to be back in style and while Sunset liked a good shiny outfit herself, she still disagreed and made jabs about bedazzling never being in style.

It was all in good fun, and then Rarity said she had to go, as she had promised to hang out with her little sister.

Which left Sunset as the only active member of the server. She had other servers she visited, but wasn’t in the mood to check them out right now. She put on her headphones and played dubstep as she browsed some of her favorite websites.

This occupied her for about an hour, but once she was caught up on everything, she sat back and sighed, staring at the ceiling.

You’re bored, Carnage thought to her.

What gave it away?

We don’t have to sit here. We can go for that walk. Explore the city.

Maybe. But then again… Sunset slid open the desk drawer and took out her magical journal. She set her hand on the cover, smiling as she thought about all the talks she’s had with Twilight using it.

Carnage groaned. You just spoke to her not too long ago. I’m sure a princess like her is quite busy.

No matter how busy she is, she always makes time for her friends. Sunset flipped the journal open to a blank page. She looked back at the last conversation she had with Twilight, and then at the empty page again. She reached for a pencil, but hesitated. What should she talk about? Her bonding with Carnage was big, of course, but she felt something like that was better said in person.

You don’t need to do that. You tell her, and Venom will know I’m here. And he and I-

Yeah, you have some kind of bad blood you won’t tell me about, I get it. But I can’t keep you secret from everyone. Twilight trusted me enough to tell me about her symbiote, I should show I trust her as much by telling her about you. I’m sure she’s been wondering about you. They must know you’re missing.

I’m hoping they assume I’m dead so they don’t look for me.

Why are you so keen on hiding your identity?

That’s personal. Tell the princess I’m with you if you wish. But I don’t like it.

Sunset looked at the page. She wanted to write about it. But she found herself unable. She didn’t want to do it through what was basically an interdimensional text. No, this news really did need to be said face to face. She’ll wait for her next visit to Equestria, or Twilight’s next visit here. Then she’ll tell her. She’ll tell her everything.

Instead, all she wrote was a brief greeting asking if things were going well, and letting Twilight know everything was good for her and her friends. It wasn’t much, but Twilight always appreciated updates that let her know her student was okay.

After a few minutes, a reply came.

That’s good to hear! Not much has changed here. Spike went and played Ogres & Oubliettes with Discord and Big Mac as usual, but he of course took his symbiote Lasher along and apparently they had a lot of fun. Lasher really got into it. Venom and I might go to their next game.

Carnage popped his head out of Sunset’s side to look at the page with his own eyes. “Of course Lasher would be into silly games.”

The reply continued, Phage and Scorn, they’re bonded to Applejack and Celestia, have been working on repairing the ship the symbiotes came in and they said they’re making good progress. I sometimes go with Venom to help out too. But other than some of us being bonded to aliens now, things are normal. Nothing too exciting so far but I think Scream and Discord are going to get into a fight any day now. Scream’s with Fluttershy and they’re quite the duo.

“What’s Scream like?” Sunset asked Carnage.

“Highly entertaining. Loud, vicious, takes no shit. A joy to battle alongside.”

“Oh wow. To think someone like that matched with Fluttershy…” Sunset wrote to ask Twilight what Discord and Scream were going to fight about.

The answer didn’t take long to appear. Scream likes to butt heads a lot. She’s easily riled up and you know how Discord picks on everypony. He needled her about something she apparently took personal, because she started cussing him out. He thought it was hilarious and poked at her more and she was about ready to tear right out of Fluttershy to go after him. We all told her it wouldn’t end well but she keeps threatening him anyway.

Carnage burst into wild laughter. “That’s the Scream I remember!”

A different hornwriting- handwriting, perhaps? appeared on the page. The ink was used heavily, running slightly, and Sunset instinctively knew it was Venom writing to her. Scream liked to settle things with fights. She refuses to understand that Discord could end her immediately. It’s been tense. He said he’ll stop picking on her but he’ll gladly start again if she ever grows a spine. It was all fun and games. Until she threatened to beat him with Fluttershy’s. Then he got pissed.

Sunset sighed and Carnage laughed harder. Sunset wrote, Scream is bonded to Fluttershy, she has to know how protective he is of her.

She knows. She disregarded it. Scream is quite hotheaded.

Twilight’s familiar writing appeared on the page under Venom’s. But that drama aside, things are good. We have to go, but you take care of yourself.

I will. Thank you, I’ll write to you later. Sunset set the journal down and stood. “Wow. Sweet Fluttershy bonded to the craziest-sounding symbiote. Poor thing.”

“Scream isn’t crazy. Scream is proud. She defends her honor no matter what. Even against cocky reality warpers.”

“That’s fine but I hope she’s willing to face the consequences of trying to fight cocky reality warpers.”

“Bah, he won’t harm her if it would make Twilight mad. And she seems quite protective of the other symbiotes.”

“Maybe. But if one of them starts threatening her friends? I think she’d stand up to them. Even if that means letting Discord teach them a lesson. That’s the thing about Discord. He doesn’t have to hurt you physically to get a message across.”

“Ah, he prefers psychological torment, does he? Mm, delightful.”

Sunset didn’t like the clear pleasure Carnage felt at the thought. “Uh, yeah. So, I hope Scream and Discord settle things peacefully. Fluttershy will probably be able to help them with that, she’s good with conflict.” She went to get a granola bar out of the cabinet. “Alright, I think I do want to walk around outside for a bit.”

“Good, let’s go.” Carnage gave her back a hard pat and disappeared under her skin.

Once she finished the granola bar and collected her stuff, Sunset headed out. She made sure she locked the door behind her, then went downstairs and outside.

The temperature was moderate, the sky cloudy but still letting sunshine through. It would likely rain tomorrow.

She walked around the campus for a while, occasionally jogging to stretch her legs, but mostly just listening to music with her headphones on and people watching.

At Carnage’s suggestion, she decided to leave the campus, going into the city. It was a quiet day. But then, maybe people were unsure about being outside after what happened on Friday evening.

Already we’ve made an impact, Carnage whispered. Imagine what else we can do together. People are afraid now. But one day they’ll walk without fear. Knowing they’re protected. That if they behave right, they’ll be allowed to live.

Okay, that’s pretty authoritarian…

Call it what you want. It’s justice. The strong, us, will form this world to our liking. Those who are left alive, are left by our mercy.

I guess, but it sounds so bad when you say it like that.

It’s how things have always been. Your people just like to sugarcoat it. But those with power have always controlled the weak one way or another. We’re just going to be direct about it. And things will be good. His voice was brimming with so much confidence that Sunset found herself nodding along. We will have a prosperous society here. You want that, I know you do. Trust me.

An absolute utopia would be impossible. But Sunset wanted to get as close as she could. If sacrificing some could protect more… someone had to do it. She could do it. She was strong enough to handle it. It would be a thankless job, but it would be worth it. The road may be bumpy at first. But it will smooth out as she and Carnage acclimate to each other. Things will be good.

Carnage was practically grinning to himself as he fed these thoughts to her, feeling her accept them without even thinking if they were truly hers. Finally, she understood him. Maybe he wouldn’t have to take full control. Maybe they could be perfectly, mutually bonded. A symbiotic force of pure, unfettered power. No hang ups based on those pesky morals. Just their strength, the deaths of those who opposed them, and the respect of those who accepted their might.

There will be plenty of dissenters to feast on. Plenty of blood and meat. They’ll conquer this world. They’ll conquer Equus and kill the traitors. Everything was working out better than he-

Carnage abruptly grew alarmed and started to take control of Sunset to make them leap to the side, but didn’t get control fast enough to keep them from suddenly being slammed against a nearby building by a large man wearing a leather jacket.

Sunset yelped, wrenched from her thoughts as her back collided with the brick wall. She fumbled to get her headphones off. “Wh- hey!”

The man who pinned her flashed her a grin. He was much taller than her and bulky with muscle, his face badly scarred. “Don’t make this difficult, sweetheart.”

Sunset’s breathing grew shallow as she took in the situation, seeing a second guy right next to the first, shorter but still quite tough-looking.

The big man began groping at her pockets, squeezing her ass as he did, and she gathered up all her strength to grab his arm and swing her legs up, kicking him in the gut.

He swore and briefly loosened his grip, and she was sure she would be able to break away. Then he gripped her harder and slammed her back to the wall, this time flinging her sideways and grabbing her by the wrists while the other man got hold of her ankles, the two carrying her off the sidewalk and down an alleyway.

Sunset struggled, silently yelling at Carnage to do something, wondering why he seemed to be dormant. But she was still able to draw on his strength as she fought back, kicking until her legs were free and landing a solid hit into the shorter man’s face.

He dropped her, but the bigger one didn’t until they were further in the shadow of the buildings. He threw her against the ground, knocking the breath out of her and making her gasp as she sprained her wrist breaking the fall.

And still Carnage was silent. Was he expecting her to deal with this? After all those visions of working together and he was letting her get attacked?

“You coulda just let us have what we wanted, but you had to fight back,” the big man muttered, shaking his head. “Now we’re really gonna take what we want.”

His buddy had a bloody nose, but he nodded, taking out a switchblade and popping the blade out.

Sunset pushed through her fear, narrowing her eyes and sitting up. “No, you’re not.” She knew she was stronger than them. At last, she felt Carnage’s mind, his power flowing through her as they stood up together. The pain vanished from her wrist. Their stature grew, until they towered over the assailants, bright red flesh covering them and hooked tendrils sliding from their back, ready to fight.

Sunset sighed deeply, not expecting to find the sensations so comforting now. One with her symbiote, she fixed her gaze on the men.

The two were horrified, backing away.

“The fuck…”

“Ain’t you that thing from-”

Carnage didn’t even wait for them to finish speaking. They lunged forward, one hand going to each man’s throat, yanking them together and then tearing their heads off with one bite.

Two distinct pops, two screams immediately cut short, and then familiar, savory bone and brains sliding down their throat. Soft and crunchy. A delectable combo they couldn’t get enough of. Not yet satisfied, they dropped their hands to their victims' torsos, tearing open their abdomens so their guts spilled out. Continuing to hold the bodies upright, Carnage ate ravenously from their insides, pleased with how easy it was to tear all the good bits out. Hearts, livers, intestines... all so soft, so delectable.

Only once they had cleaned out the abdominal cavities did they leave the bodies behind, watching them crumple pathetically to the ground before walking calmly away. They licked their lips off as their minds separated, followed by Carnage removing his skin from over Sunset’s and letting them shrink back down.

She shook herself slightly as he hid himself away, and stepped back onto the sidewalk, rubbing her arms and looking around. She should have paid attention to where she was walking. This wasn’t a good part of town. She hastily headed back toward the college.

She was shaken from what just happened, and demanded, Why didn’t you help me fight back sooner?

We were never in any real danger. I was waiting to see what those humans were up to.

Trying to rob me, what else? You let them put their hands all over me- us! What happened to your reflexes? You didn’t notice them?

I noticed them a moment too late. Your thoughts were distracting me at the time. We were deep in discussion after all. And you seem to get so upset when I take control of your body from you.

Yeah but I think it would have been justified that time. They could have really hurt me.

But they didn’t. You had me. And you realized that. You knew that together, we were stronger. I was waiting for that. You told them they weren’t going to take anything from you, and we rose up against them. Together. You see? It was good you had me. I’ll protect you. You know I’ve got your back.

Yeah. Yeah, I guess so, but I still would have wanted you to help me quicker, that was really scary.

I know it was. I felt your fear. Then I felt you conquer your fear. It’s exactly as I told you. You’re great. And we just killed two people who don’t belong in your world. How do you feel about that?

Sunset wasn’t too bothered by their deaths. Not after the way they assaulted her. She wasn’t sure what all they were going to do to her in that alleyway, but there was no doubt in her mind it was going to be violent. Those people have likely done it before several times. And now they were dead. She was a little grossed out by how quickly she had gone with Carnage's urge to eat their insides out, but she felt no remorse. Now they would never harm anyone else. I feel good. Maybe their bodies will serve as a warning.

That’s the spirit. You’re well on your way to becoming the hero you know you can be. The one you need to be, who’s willing to get her hands dirty to make the world better. Don’t ever forget what you’ve learned today.

I won’t. As long as you don’t forget we were attacked because you were paying more attention to our talk than our surroundings. Keep us safe. And I’ll keep us fed.

Whatever you say. Now, do you really want to go back to your dorm already? Or would you like to go back to that bad part of town and lure in more criminals to take care of?

Sunset paused. Gazed into the distance toward the college, then looked over her shoulder at where they just came from. She certainly couldn’t ignore her outrage over the attack, and she’s heard plenty of horror stories of college students being mugged and assaulted out this way… and now she was in a position to do something about it.

After some thought, she turned on her heel and went right back the way she came. Why not. She had a whole afternoon to waste and plenty of rage to exhaust.