Spike sighed in defeat as the rest of the Mane 6, as Pinkie had come to call the group of friends, entered the Main Reading Room of the Golden Oaks Library. "Still nothing about Twilight?"
Everypony shook their heads. "I don't get it. It's like she vanished off the face of the planet," Rainbow grumbled.
Applejack shook her head. "It's a big forest, Rainbow. Maybe she got lost?"
Rarity shot the farmer a pointed look. "For an entire month, Applejack? That seems out of place for Twilight."
That put an end to that line of thought. Even Applejack knew what she had said sounded hollow, but what else did they have to go on?
One month ago, Twilight had gone into the Everfree Forest, saying she was heading for the Castle of the Two Sisters for some alone time. She had declined all offers of company, saying she just needed to be alone for a while.
Nopony had liked it, especially Spike, but Twilight had made them all Pinkie Promise not to go after her. So, while they didn't have to like the idea, they had acquiesced in the end, forcing Twilight to promise to be back in Ponyville before the sunset.
She hadn't come back. Spike hadn't been too worried. Having grown up with Twilight, he knew better than anyone that she was prone to losing track of time. Maybe she had just forgotten?
The idea seemed to hold, but after two whole days and no sign of her, all of Ponyville had become worried. So much so that most of the town had gone looking for her. But even in groups, the Everfree Forest was dangerous.
In fact, the danger level seemed to have increased tenfold. The forest had never been one to let ponies explore it unhindered. But now the Everfree was actively attacking ponies, forcing more and more to stay away from the forest entirely.
Like it was protecting something, almost. Applejack had confessed that she could feel more and more of the area's magic being drawn toward a single source. She didn't know what it was. But it was becoming apparent day by day.
Something was growing in the Everfree Forest, and the forest didn't want anyone to find it. Some ponies had already been sent to the hospital when the forest had attacked them.
Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, of course, knew of what was happening, but they were as much at a loss as Twilight's friends were. Celestia was beside herself in grief, worried about what could have happened to Twilight.
All they knew was that Twilight was still alive, for none had felt the stinging heartbreak that could mean her death. But they were no closer to finding her now than they had been when this had all started.
A sudden knocking at the door got everyone's hopes up, as Fluttershy rushed to open it. But it was a false alarm, as her ears dropped. "Oh. High Rose."
Sadly, it wasn't Twilight indeed, as Rose stepped into the library, her own expression as worried as the others. "Still nothing?"
Everyone nodded. Pinkie though looked at the flower pot Rose was holding. "So did you find anything out about those strange flowers?"
Rose shook her head as she looked at the flower in question. While in all aspects it looked like a rose, something just seemed to be off about it. And that wasn't all. These same flowers had begun to pop up all over Ponyville, all in ways that ponies couldn't help but find them.
Almost like they were being drawn to ponies. No one would argue that they weren't beautiful, and many ponies had indeed taken one or more of the flower home. But something about them was still off to many.
"Nothing. Daisy and Lilly said the same thing. It's just a rose as far as we can tell. But nothing like we've ever seen," Rose said. "We can't even find out where they came from or why they're popping up all over Ponyville now."
"Ya think the Everfree acting up might have something to do with it?" Applejack asked.
Rose shrugged. "Maybe. Ponies don't know much about that place anyway. Maybe the plant came from there. But why come here? Why are they drawn to ponies so much?"
No one could answer her. They were as lost as the Flower Trio were on the subject. And if Rose, Daisey, and Lilly, didn't know what was going on with the flowers, very few others would.
Before anyone could say more though, a tremor ran through the entire library and across Ponyville. It wasn't enough to cause damage, but it was more than enough to worry about everyone.
"What was that?" Spike asked.
Applejack frowned. "Earthquake. But there ain't no fault line anywhere near here. Why the hay are we feeling one?"
No one had an answer. At that moment though, Applebloom came running up, excited about something. "Applejack! Ya gotta see this!"
AJ gave her sister a look. "See what, 'Bloom?"
But Applebloom shook her head. "Just follow me. It's in Town Square. Ya won't believe it till ya see it!" Before she ran off.
Worried now, and not a little curious, the rest of the group soon followed her.
***
By the time they had all made it to the Main Square, a fair size group of ponies had gathered, looking at something with shocked expressions. Making their way to the front, the Mane 5 and Spike soon saw why.
A garden of roses had bloomed all over the square, covering every square foot of it in fact. Vines worked their way up and around the statue in the center. The vines themselves were black with green thorns. Nothing about them screamed friendly.
"My word. Where did all of these beautiful flowers come from?" Rarity asked as she admired the bed of roses.
Mayor Mare shook her head. "We don't know. They just suddenly began to bloom all over the square. We can't get near them to find out more."
As if to prove her point. a wall of vines shot up just as Rainbow tried to fly over the bed. Nothing she could do could get past them, and they only lowered themselves when she finally gave up and backed off.
"Since when do plants do that?" The Pegasus huffed as she landed next to the girls.
"Those aren't normal plants though," Fluttershy said, as she studied the vines, who seemed to be watching them. "It's almost like." She paused, unsure of what to say next.
"Like what?" Pinkie asked.
Fluttershy shook her head. "It's like they're protecting something. Like they're waiting for something to be born, and they're defending the site of that birth. Animals do the same. But I've never heard of plants doing that."
That seemed to be the case though. Even as the crowd watched, the vines began to pull back, showing the rose garden had changed. Several of the flowers had grown to a huge size and had even blossomed into full bloom.
But one stood out among all the others. Where once there had been a barren spot of ground, now an enormous flower bud stood, taller than the statue itself. It petals seemed to be even more vibrant and luscious than those around them.
Spike looked closer at that one in particular. "There's someone in there!"
Sure enough, ponies could make out a shape curled up inside the flower. It almost looked like a pony. But that couldn't be right. Could it?
Before anyone could say something though, the figure seemed to stand up, spreading their hooves. As they did, the bud began to blossom, each petal unfolding slowly, as if whoever was inside wanted to enjoy her first blossoming. Soon the figure was revealed in all her glory.
All mouths dropped in shock. "Twilight?!"
Sure enough, it was Twilight Sparkle inside. Her legs vanished down into the stem, seemingly merging with the flower itself below her cutie mark. Her tail her wrapped around her left leg, and around her waist was some kind of girdle.
But it was Twilight's body itself that was new in some way. To Spike, it looked like her human form in the way she stood. Her front legs now bent and moved in a way her arms had at Canterlot High. Her chest was flat, but they could see it was now more filled out in a way stallions, and not a few mares, found rather sexy. Around Twilight's neck was what looked like a pearl necklace.
Twilight stretched her legs, spreading her wings like she hadn't used them in a long time, the flower she was attached to adjusting itself to move as Twilight did. "Oh. This feels so good! I didn't think it would feel so good." She finally noticed everyone's shocked looks. "Oh. Hi, everypony! Miss me?"
Rarity took a tentative step forward. "Twilight, darling. Is that you?"
Twilight giggled. "Yes, Rarity. It's me."
That finally broke the dam, as her friends rushed forward to embrace, none faster than Spike. But before they reach her, a wall of vines shot up, blocking their path.
Twilight smiled, leaning her entire form down so she could touch the vines. "It's okay. They can pass. They won't hurt me."
The vines, to the shock of all watching, seemingly obeyed Twilight's command, and retracted, allowing her friends through, though the vines watched them wearily.
Applejack was the first to ask what they were all thinking. "Where the hay have ya been sugarcube? Don't ya know how worried sick about you we were?"
Twilight nodded, smiling sheepishly. "Sorry girls. I never planned to be away from everyone this long. But I found what I was looking for while I was gone?"
"What was that?" Pinkie asked.
Twilight stroked her flower lovingly, which seemed to shiver in delight as she did. "My purpose. I was wondering what my purpose as a Princess of Equestria was to be. I found it."
"What is it? Um. If you don't mind me asking that is?" Fluttershy said meekly.
Twilight giggled. "I don't mind at all Fluttershy. In fact, I'm glad you're all here. It saves me a lot of trouble."
Spike looked at the flower with a frown. He didn't like this one bit. Something about all of this wasn't right to him. "Well, can you at least get out of the flower, Twilight? It's freaking me out."
Twilight frowned for a second, but it soon passed. "I'm fine where I am, Spike. I happen to like this spot. But first." She pulled herself up to her full height, the rose lifting her above the crowd. "My babies are starving. They haven't eaten in so long. What kind of mother would I be if I didn't feed them?"
Pinkie gasped happily. "I didn't know you had kids, Twilight?! Why didn't you say so earlier?! Where are they?! What do we feed them?!"
Twilight giggled happily. "Oh, Pinkie. You're looking at them. And we feed them," she said, her smile becoming predatory. "With your blood."
Quickly, and without warning, a mass of vines shot out of the ground, aimed squarely at everypony around Twilight. Too stunned by what she had just said, few had a chance to run.
And then the screaming started, as the vines forced their way down pony's throats and began to suck them dry. Some didn't bother going this route and stabbed themselves through a pony's midsection, the blood that flowed from the wounds, soon being consumed as well.
The Mane 6, being the closest to Twilight, didn't have a chance, as the vines targeted them from the beginning. Rainbow managed to at least get into the air and make a break for it. But she didn't get very far, as she felt Twilight's magic grab a hold of her.
Twilight's smile grew as she pulled the Pegasus to her level. "Oh, Rainbow. Did you honestly think you could escape? There's no place you could have run that I wouldn't have found you."
Rainbow fought against the magic holding her, but it was like fighting a mountain. When did Twilight get so strong? "Twilight, why are you doing this? We're your friends."
Twilight nodded. "You wouldn't understand why I'm doing this, Rainbow. You were never that smart. You're right though. You and the girls are my friends."
Rainbow relaxed, as she felt Twilight's magic loosen around her. Right before she felt a vine stab itself through her, all the way out her spine. She was alive long enough to hear Twilight's voice one last time. There was a love there that she had never heard from the egghead before.
"And friends help each other. You're all more useful now to my babies than you ever were alive and to me."
***
Twilight watched the life drain out of Rainbow's eyes. A part of her felt bad for doing that to the Pegasus. But the feeling was quickly crushed and discarded.
Looking down, she could see the rest of her friends. They were all dead now, their bodies held up by the vines down their throats or stabbed into them. All bore the same shocked and horrified look on their face. It made her giggle like a little school filly.
Who knew this would be so fun?
Around them, a fair few numbers of ponies were in the same way. But it was not all of Ponyville's residents though. A fair few had escaped or hadn't been in the crowd at all. Among them was Spike. Somehow, he had managed to escape in all of the commotion.
Twilight grinned. "No matter. In the end, they can't hide from me forever. And fear always makes the blood taste better."
Several of her vines, having fully drained the ponies they had attacked, dropped the lifeless carcasses and looked up at her, awaiting her approval.
Twilight nodded. "Find them. Let none escape. There will be no survivors." Her smile softened. "And tell Willow she can join in on the fun. I'm sure they're hungry by now."
***
Spike wasn't sure how long he had stayed hidden in Golden Oaks. His mad dash through town, trying to avoid all the vines that were after him, had left little time to think. Somehow, he'd managed to get back to the library, and now here he was.
From outside, he could still hear the screams as ponies were found, and eventually drunk dry by those things. But they were becoming less and less constant. Spike didn't want to think about what that meant.
He chocked back a sob. Why was Twilight doing this? To her friends, and all of Ponyville? What possessed her to even think about it? He didn't know, and at this point, did it really matter?
He knew he had to get a letter to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. They would know what to do. They always knew what to do! But he risked being seen by those damn plants if walked by a window, and Spike was in no rush to see if his scales could be pierced.
A sudden knocking at a nearby window, caused him to jump up. But looking up, Spike sighed as he saw that it was only a mare at the window, looking as frantic as he was.
"Please, let me in," she begged. "I've been looking for any place to hide, and I don't know where else to go. They're everywhere."
As if to prove a point, a vine shot up behind the mare, but she was able to deflect it with a hoof. That was enough for Spike as he jumped up and ran for the front door. "Head for the front door. I'll let you in," he said, gesturing to where the door was.
The mare nodded and disappeared from the window. Spike waited a moment at the door, and when she knocked again at it, he breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank Celestia. I thought I was the only one..." He stopped, staring in shock at what was behind the door.
The mare giggled, swaying her snake-like body back and forth. "Twilight was right. Ponies in this town are idiots. They fall for the mare in distress gag every time."
Spike didn't say anything, still shocked at what he was looking at.
The mare herself only consisted of her upper body. From her waist down was a snake-like body. But that wasn't what broke Spike's mind. The snake-like body connected to a monstrous creature, like nothing he had ever seen before. Four legs and a large, slavering set of jaws were all he could see, but that was enough.
Before Spike could even think to run once more, the mare spat a fireball into the library behind him, cutting off his retreat that way. She smiled. "Don't even think about it. We're still hungry, and Twilight said we could have you especially."
Spike stood there, paralyzed with fear, even as Golden Oaks Library began to burn behind him. He could only think to say one thing, as the jaws of the monster closed in around him. "Why?"
The mare smiled. "Twilight was searching for what she was meant to do as a princess. We helped her find it. It was far more than you lot ever did for her. Same with Celestia. Take comfort in that Twilight is in a better place now, as you die. Or don't. It doesn't matter to me."
That was the last thing Spike ever heard, as the jaws bit down around him, and he finally learned something that he wished he had never learned.
Dragon scales could be pieced, and it hurt like no tomorrow.
***
By the time Willow made her way to the Town Square, all of Ponyville had gone quiet. Her smile grew, for she knew what it meant, and she couldn't be happier.
Twilight herself was all but glowing from all the blood that she had fed on. She was humming some wordless tune, as Willow came up to her. Both smiled at each other, as Twilight leaned down and took Willow's hooves with her own. The two shared a passionate kiss for a time before separating.
Twilight looked around at the sea of dead bodies around her. "Did you find Spike?"
Willow nodded, as her monstrous companion licked its lips. "I found him. Tasted like chicken of all things. Didn't expect that."
Twilight nodded. A part of her hurt for doing that to her Number One Assistant. But she had long since grown out of petty concerns like that. The world was her garden. Sacrifices had to be made. She could just make out the smoke rising from Golden Oaks. "Did you have to do that, though?"
Willow shrugged. "I had to do something to keep him from running away. Plus the look on his face was just too good to pass up."
They both broke out into helpless giggles at that. Twilight couldn't really argue with that. And besides, she owed Willow so much now. She could indulge her a little.
Willow patted her monstrous companion, her smile becoming a smirk. "So, what now?"
Twilight grinned as she stroked her flower petals, sending a shudder of delight through them. "Now? Now we begin to think about the rest of Equestria. Ponyville was just the beginning. I want to spread my children across the land."
Her expression darkened as she looked at Canterlot. "And nothing will stop me."
Author's Note
Just to be clear. This is set pre Season 4 but after Equestria Girls 1. In case it wasn't clear. And yes, Twilight is now an Alura Une from the Castlevania franchise and has complete and total control over Discord's Plundervines. But Twilight is different in a big way from her inspiration.
She is in no way a lure. In fact, Twilight is the brains behind the Alura itself, not just bait to lure in a meal.
A lot of things weren't explained here, and there's a reason for that. I plan to have a prequel that shows what happened to Twilight, and her relationship with Willow.
Speaking of Willow though, here she is.
Cover art was done by DiscordTheGE.
In hindsight, Twilight thought with a sigh as she retracted herself into her rose lower body, the rose's petal closing protectively and lovingly around and above her, she really wished she hadn't killed her friends.
Once the rush of what she could do and what she was had worn off, she realized how much of a waste it had been. She had been gorged on all of the blood she had consumed. There was no reason to do that.
Despite what she had become, and her new outlook, Twilight had still loved the girls. But she had been too high. Too overwhelmed with what she could now do, that she hadn't been able to think properly.
Could her friends have become like her? Maybe. Twilight didn't know. And now there was no way to know for sure. Ponyville was a ghost town now. Only she and Willow still remained alive.
Spike though... Twilight crossed her hooves. As much as she had loved the drake, he had been more of a pain in her backside ever since coming back from the Crystal Empire. While she wouldn't argue that he had helped quite a bit, he acted like he had done literally all of the work.
Ungrateful welp.
Twilight shook her head, her ears dropping. Ever since she had come to that clearing, her anger had been roused more and more often than it had ever been before. Why? She still didn't know, and it was driving her nuts.
At least Willow was more than happy to let her vent when she needed to. The mare was more patient than Twilight had ever thought possible. Though the same couldn't always be said for the creature she was merged with.
But she was letting her mind wander. Again. It was something that hadn't changed at all about her it seemed. And Twilight was grateful for that small bit of her old life. She would never trade all of this, as she lovingly stroked the petals around her, for what she had once been. But there were still parts of her old self that she missed.
Being able to read normally was one of them. She couldn't fit in the Golden Oaks Library now. Which put a damper on her reading time. Twilight wasn't even sure if she could still teleport as she was now.
Would she take the flower with her? Or would it separate the two of them? And what happened to her if it did? She didn't know, and Twilight was afraid of what might happen if she tried.
Luckily, Golden Oaks was fireproof (a precaution she had put in place after she and Spike had moved in). Willow's fireball wouldn't do more than scorch the wood. It would just look like the library was on fire.
Twilight giggled at the thought, as she closed her eyes, and allowed her whole body to relax. Today had been a long day, and there was still so much she had to do. Sleep sounded like a good idea at the moment.
***
Outside, Willow was exploring the rest of Ponyville, her companion grumbling the entire time, trying to drag her away from her explorations.
Willow gave him a rather pointed look at one point. "Quit complaining, will you? This used to be my hometown. I'm allowed to look around. I want to see what I missed around here. What changed after I saved your life."
That shut him up, as he gave her a sorrowful look. Her own annoyance melted away at the look. As much as they drove each other nuts sometimes, Willow wouldn't change what had happened to her since that fateful day.
She smiled, as she kissed him on top of the head. "I'm sorry. I know this is a pain for you. But I have to know. My home is around here. I have to know what happened to my parents."
His protests died away, as she drove them on toward a little-used part of Ponyville. After a few more minutes, Willow came around a corner, and stopped dead in her tracks, her ears falling at what was before her.
It was her home. Now abandoned and boarded up. From the looks of things, the house had been abandoned and empty for a long time. The boards on the windows hung loose, and the door was sagging on its hinges.
Willow bit her lip as she came closer. Uncoiling to her full length, she slithered through the open front door.
Dust and cobwebs hung thick on everything. The furniture was cracked, the fireplace cold and dead. The kitchen was home now to nothing more than mice, rats, and spiders. The cupboards were all empty, the doors hanging loose.
Climbing the stairs, Willow came to her parent's bedroom. Their bed was as made and well kept as she remembered. Except for all the dust and cobwebs on everything, it looked like her mom and dad had just stepped out for the day.
Fighting back her tears, Willow turned to the room across the hallway. Her room. Going in, she found it just the way she had left it that morning so long ago. Her parents had never touched it, and the thought made her heart sink. They left it for her. Hoping that she would come back.
But she never had.
Her eyes welling up even more now, Willow turned to her dresser and the picture that sat there, undisturbed ever since that morning. Her tears fell now, no longer caring, as she looked at the photo therein. It showed her and her parents, all three of them happier than any other pony in Ponyville that day, for it had been taken the day Willow had gotten her cutie mark.
Blowing off the dust, Willow grabbed the frame and held it close to her heart, no longer caring if Twilight found her like this, as her tears came in rivers now.
"Mom. Dad. I am so, so, sorry. I never should have left. I never should have gone into the Everfree as I did," she sobbed, falling onto her bed and letting all of her pain out, holding her photo tightly to her heart.
Down below, her companion let out a sad moan, feeling Willow's pain and heartbreak as much as his own.
***
Willow wasn't sure how long she lay in her old bed. At some point, her tears had dried up, leaving her looking around her old room with a forlorn expression. How long had it been since she had left? It hadn't seemed that long to her. But time and her home told her otherwise.
With a forlorn sigh, she began to retract herself from the house, taking one last long look at her parents' bedroom. She had hoped that, whatever had happened in her absence, her mom and dad had stayed together. They were so happy that way.
Pulling herself back down the stairs, Willow thought for just a split second of burning her old home to the ground. She crushed the thought almost as fast as it had come to her. This was still her home. It would stand, and damn anypony who said otherwise. Twilight included.
As she came back out of the front door, her family photo still tightly clutched to her heart, Willow allowed herself to become the passenger. To the obvious delight of her friend, who was more than happy to leave the sad, old house, behind.
With noplace in mind, they wandered around Ponyville aimlessly. As they did, Willow wondered what Twilight was up to at that moment?
***
For her part, Twilight slept rather peacefully. Who knew sleeping in a flower like this was so relaxing? She sure didn't. This beat out the best beds in Canterlot by a long shot.
But as she slept, Twilight couldn't help but feel that something was happening to her. Her whole body tingled. Like she was changing into something new. Again. Was that normal? It felt like her body was becoming more pony again, rather than her more human form. Why? Whatever was going on, it felt amazing, however.
***
With a start, Twilight awoke to the sound of somepony tapping on her flower petals. "Twilight. Are you alright in there? You're glowing," Willow said from outside, worry clear in her voice.
Twilight didn't respond, for heat was growing in her nether regions. It felt like she was in heat. But this was something else. She moaned in delight as a feeling beyond anything she could describe washed over her. If this was what sex felt like, Twilight never wanted it to end. Her whole body shivered in delight, as the feeling grew more and more intense. "Willow. What's happening to me? Why does it feel so good?" Twilight purred in a sensual way.
"Why are you asking me?" Willow shot back. "I don't have any bucking idea of what's going on."
Twilight rolled her eyes, as a new sensation took hold of her. "Stand back. I'm flowering!"
***
Outside, Willow was quick to step back as much as she could, as Twilight's whole body began to shiver and shake. All around her, the flowers transformed into roses, all of them pushing close to touch Twilight's own rose.
One by one, the smaller roses began to wither and die, as they transferred their energy to Twilight. As the final one withered away, Twilight herself began to glow even brighter, before the light died away.
After a moment, the rose began to flower and unwrap its petals from around the mare inside. Twilight leaned out, a sensual smile on her face, her body once again in her alicorn form. Her waist was still merged with the stamen of the rose. Her eyes seemed to be seeing something a million miles away, for though she and Willow were looking at each other, the alicorn didn't respond as Willow waived a hoof in her face.
Willow and her friend shared a concerned look. "Twilight?" She asked as the necklace around Twilight's neck began to blow in an unseen breeze only it seemed to feel.
All at once, though, Twilight's eyes began to glow. At once, her whole body stood upright, her skeleton reforming to accommodate her new permanent change. Her front legs bent into shapes and in ways that a normal pony's legs could never do. Her whole body became more human, her head becoming more angular and her mane wilder in appearance.
But it was her chest that changed the most. Twilight watched with delight as a pair of breasts, bigger even than those she'd had when at Canterlot High, formed, her normal teets disappearing altogether. But she could still feel everything that would allow her to be a mother if she so wished.
After a moment, the changes ended, and Twilight's eyes returned to normal, running a hoof over her new form. "Oh, yeah. I can get used to this."
Willow gulped as she came closer once more. "Um. Twilight? Is that you? Are you alright?"
Twilight giggled, as she took Willow's hooves in her own. "Oh, Willow. I'm fine." Her smile grew. "I'm better than fine, actually. I feel amazing!" She looked down at her new, permanent body. "I don't know what happened. But it feels right all the same."
Willow breathed a sigh of relief, as she looked closer at the new Twilight. She was more beautiful now than when they had first met if it was possible. "So why do you still have hooves? You look human almost if I remember what you showed me of the Other World was right. Shouldn't you have hands?"
Twilight rolled her eyes, as she looked at her arms, which did indeed still in hooves. "I have no idea. Maybe I should have hands. But I can still make this work."
Willow rolled her eyes. "Yeah. How? It's gonna be long before ponies notice something is up with Ponyville. And then what? Take on all of Equestria?"
Twilight shook her head. "No. Even I know that won't end well for us. I overreacted when I did that to my friends. I could have made them like me. I know I could have." She sighed. "But what's done is done."
Willow looked toward Canterlot. She had a bad feeling about all of this. "And what are you going to tell Princess Celestia and Princess Luna about this? I doubt they'll be happy to know what you did. Though everypony totally deserved it if you ask me."
Twilight giggled, as she pets Willow's companion. "Maybe. But we will worry about Celestia and Luna when the time comes. I don't have a plan yet. But I will. I always do."
Author's Note
First off, I need to thank TheHereticLocomotive for the awesome cover art. And for putting up with my strange request. Yes. I didn't give Twilight hands like it would make more sense too.
In fact, I had a chance to change it from hooves to hands, before the artist started adding all the colors and details. But I kept it like this. In hindsight, I should've gone for hands instead. Oh well.
Edit: Finally got out of the Moderation Que. I blame the cover art for it taking till March 23 to be Published, when it was finished on March 21. Thanks to Eldorado for letting me know.
Edit 2: Decided to merge this story as the second chapter of Venus Weed in Twilight. It didn't feel right leaving it as its own separate story. So here it is.
