“The whole ‘Magic from the Other World’ situation is not resolved”, I thought. At least, it’s what I thought last, while I was still caring about understanding the why of my predicament.
It all started some weeks ago, subtle as can be. I simply started noticing that apple juice tasted better than I remembered. And that apple fritter at the cafeteria looked especially inviting. While I’m buying groceries, I might as well pick up some fruit, like an apple or two... or twenty.
New diet aside, my day to day life went on as usual until Applejack came back to school. She’d been on a short family trip and we hadn’t seen her in a few days. She must have had a great time with her relatives, because she seemed to practically glow. I didn’t notice at first, but I caught myself staring and following her around with my eyes most the time. I’ve always known she’s a looker and has a gentle yet commanding demeanor you couldn’t miss, but ever since she’d been back, I couldn’t keep my eyes off her from the moment she entered the room.
During one of our lunch breaks, I managed to pull Rarity aside for a minute, and asked her if she’d noticed anything different, if she thought she’d been sprucing herself extra, or changed shampoo or something.
“Not that I can tell, darling. What makes you think so? If you don’t mind me asking,” she told me.
I really had no reason, other than “She just looks beautiful... even more so than usual.”
That certainly got a reaction out of Rarity, and she promised she’d look into it. And to her defense, for the next few days she was definitely paying closer attention, but I couldn’t help but notice she was spending much more time observing how I looked at Applejack rather than helping me understand what was going on.
Since Rarity and her coy smirk weren’t being helpful enough, I decided to just spend more time with Applejack, and maybe learn if anything had changed. I could have just asked her directly, couldn’t I? It isn’t strange for one to ask a friend if they changed something about their routine, and most friends would be happy to hear another say they looked nicer than usual. But for some reason, I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. Something about telling Applejack just how pretty I thought she was made me feel... nervous.
The more time I spent with her, the more I started feeling like nothing had changed, and I was simply now consciously noticing something I’d known all along. Applejack was beautiful. Applejack was strong and committed. Applejack was friendly, dependable and supportive. She was really loving and helpful and cared a ton about her friends and family. She’d been with me for years, always by my side, helping me get over my fears and pushing me to achieve what she knew I could. She brought out the best of me and made me grow into a better person. She’s someone I look up to and admire, and I totally have a crush on her and Oh goodness I am just now realizing it.
At first, I panicked and felt it’d only end up badly, my ever-present anxiety told me she probably never noticed me or would ever care for someone as meek as me. But we’d started spending more time together, and she certainly didn’t seem to mind. We’d been meeting after school for some drinks or just walks and chats, and she seemed more than happy with them.
Then it started... the hunger. Whenever I was with her, I could feel a strong need, a powerful desire that I couldn’t quite satiate. Looking at her, feeling her close to me, or even just smelling the scent of apples that faintly trails wherever she goes made me feel something I couldn’t quite place, but it often left me licking my lips.
My daily consumption of apples grew even more than at the start, and at moments it felt I was going through them so fast I was more consuming them than really eating them. But I just couldn’t get enough of that juice, and the cravings only grew with every minute I spent with Applejack.
Today, it was different. The whole day felt like a blur of actions I can’t quite remember doing consciously. All I can remember feeling through most of it was that I felt different, and it only grew stronger during the evening. I decided to change clothes and put on some make up, and before I could stop myself, I was out of the house.
Halloween, a night I often hate and would spend at home, completely enveloped in blankets. Yet here I was, confidently walking out, as the pale full moon shone brightly. I don’t know why or how, but before I could realize it, I was nearing Applejack’s house. I was here so fast I felt I must have flown here somehow, as ridiculous as that sounds. All I knew was that I was feeling it again... the hunger. It was driving me, and I was just along for the ride.
There she was, leaving the barn they use for storage. She was probably doing some organizing in there, even this late at night, hard working as ever. My feet started closing the distance between us before I could stop myself. She must have noticed the movement out of the edge of her vision, because she turned to look at me.
“Whoa! Fluttershy? Ya startled me, hun,” she said, looking at me surprisedly. “Ya goin’ to costume party? Ya look uh... different.” Even from this distance I could notice the blush adorably spreading across her cheeks. I liked it. “N-not that it’s anything bad! Ya’re jes’ wearing sumthin’ more... eye-catchin’ than usual.”
I wanted to giggle, to smile and tell her it was ok, that she didn’t offend me or anything. As I got closer and closer to her, I opened my mouth and “Applejack... I’m sorry, but...” That was not what I wanted to say, but it’s what came out of my mouth. I also didn’t want to lift my hands towards her body, but I did, nonetheless.
“Shy? What are ya doin’? W-what’s with the bat wings and the ears?”
Bat wings? She said bat wings and ears. The whole ‘Magic from the Other World’ situation is not resolved. That must be what’s going on, I must be picking up on something that happened on the other side. I should probably stop, head back home or go to Sunset for some help. I should probably get to the bottom of this, but I can’t. The hunger... the desire within me grows.
“S-Shy, what’s goin’ on?”
“Applejack... I need to taste you~”
Ah... that blush is back, stronger than before. I definitely like it. I want her to blush more, now and in the future. I can’t help my tongue from licking my lips.
“W-what!? D-don’t ya think that’s a bit forward? M-maybe after a few dates or...” Oh? That sounds interesting. It seems my interest was mutual after all.
“Please, Applejack... I can’t help it.”
I just noticed, reflected in her eyes I can see my open mouth, sporting two large fangs, like the vampires you see in movies and TV. She seems to have noticed too, because she’s against the barn now, looking at me apprehensively.
“Shy, are ya there? W-what are ya gonna do to me?”
“I don’t want to hurt you, but I need it, Applejack. I just want... a little lick~”
She relaxed a bit. She’s still afraid, but she’s fighting it. The house is right there, she could scream for help. She’s strong, and she could easily push me away, but she’s not. I can sense her fear, but desire too. She wants this too, just like I do.
I don’t know what is happening to me, and I don’t know if I’ll even stay like this by tomorrow, but I can’t think about that now. All I know is I hunger, and my prey is willingly offering me a taste, who am I to refuse?
Author's Note
This was originally going to be much shorter, just a description for the drawing in the cover. But before I knew it, I had about a thousand words written, so I decided to post it here as a story. It's short and hastily written, but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless 
