The Path to Transcendence

The Zoo, better known as Fluttershy’s personal collection of the dangerous animals that lurk in the Everfree forest was for the most part relatively packed. Manticores, cockatrices, timberwolves, even a hydra was held captive in the semi-translucent magical barriers Twilight herself had set up. This was a personal request of Fluttershy because she didn’t want like the idea of mechanical augmentations for her patients. Rust, corrosion, and constant maintenance made those works of molded metals useless and more of a burden to take care of.

She preferred to use what was already available. It was no problem at all to splice off limbs from the captive animals and reattach them to her patients. After all, a zombie’s body has no possibility of rejecting the new limbs because they are already dead. Just in animation from Twilight’s magic.

Fluttershy smiled as she cooed the manticore to a sleeping beast. The ferocious animal had no idea what the cruel doctor had in store for it. A special combination of heaving tranquilizers was slipped into the beast’s food and soon he was on the ground in a peaceful slumber. Next came the cockatrice. The devilish little bird almost killed her on her last encounter with such a creature. And turning her love Twilight into stone only caused resentment that left to stew and boil inside the Pegasus.

She stared down the arrogant little bird until it retreated into a corner unable to escape the Pegasus. She snickered audibly. The Element of Kindness had a sick sadistic side as well.

Fluttershy entered the barrier with the special charm around her neck allowing safe passage in and out of the magical prisons. It was hoof crafted by none other than Twilight herself. The mare took special care to make sure Fluttershy had no chance of being harmed by the savage beasts. Fluttershy was ordered to be accompanied by either Dirt or Sky when retrieving ‘test subjects’ just for extra precaution. The zombies were incapable of pain making them fearless until death.

“Dirt.” Said the yellow pony flatly.

The orange earth pony approached Fluttershy standing stall and awaiting further orders.

Fluttershy put the charm Twilight gave her around Dirt’s neck, “get in there kill the subject then retrieve it.”

The walking corpse passed through the barrier effortlessly and the cockatrice popped out of its corner. Thinking it could defeat the earth pony was a foolish idea. Dirt’s eyes were no longer capable of seeing. Only her sense of smell and sound remained which proved the cockatrice’s attempts useless as it tried and failed to turn the pony to stone.

The towering pony loomed over the bird ominiously before its hoof came down stomping the bird in the chest repeatedly. It had no comprehension of death making Fluttershy the only pony who could call of the attack.

Fluttershy grinned from ear-to-ear with glee as the bird was no more than a mutilated mess of feathers and blood.

“Stop Dirt, now bring the subject to me.” Said the mare.

The earth pony followed her orders dragging the corpse between its teeth like a dog bringing its ‘trophy kill’ to its master.

Dirt’s mouth opened agape as the bird fell out of its mouth flopping onto the ground with a disgusting noise that made the Pegasus happier than before.

The animal’s head was the only thing in tack, but that was the only thing she needed. More importantly, its eyes. The eyes of a cockatrice still held its power long after death.

“Good, now put the subject on the operating table next to the other one then return at once.”

Dirt picked the corpse back up between her teeth and exited the zoo momentarily dropping the mangled body on the spare table next to Shining Armor.

“Dirt!” The undead pony moaned as it trotted back into the zoo and stood in front of Fluttershy.

Fluttershy turned around and bucked the mare in the jaw as hard as she could. Several teeth fell out of the mare’s mouth as she stood there as if nothing had happened.

“You got blood on my coat you fucking idiot!” Berated the Pegasus. Her temper was starting to get the best of her before she realized it was pointless. She could eviscerate Dirt and the earth pony would only attempt to stand to follow her masters’ next orders.

Fluttershy sighed, “just get in there and retrieve the other subject.” Fluttershy had led Dirt in front of the Manticore’s prison and the earth pony entered and dragged the massive animal by its tail out of the magical barrier.

“Follow me Dirt.” Said Fluttershy as she retreated from the zoo and into the operating room.

“Now drop it.”

The earth pony released the manticore’s tail from its vice-like grip it held in its mouth.

Fluttershy walked over to the slumbering animal and picked up its head with both her hooves. She grinned maliciously and with a single twist a bone snapping crack rang inside the room. The Manticore was now dead.

The yellow pony walked over to Dirt and retrieved the charm from around her neck.

“Get out of here Dirt. I have a lot of work to do and I don’t need a worthless mudpony like you in my way.” A single groan came from the undead pony as it left the pony’s presence.

……………

The duo snuck from building to building searching each one for supplies. Food and water. Luckily, it took little time to find what they needed. They had stumbled upon Berry Punch’s sister house, the famous wine and cider connoisseur, Cherry Cocktail. The mare’s astute taste buds landed her the noble job of critiquing the various imported wines and ciders from Zebrica and Gazelland.

Rarity’s eyes lit aglow as she saw the rows and rows of finely fermented fruit beverages. Some were dry, others were sweet and left your mouth watering for more. It was so much to take in the mare could hardly believe herself.

Spike had almost the same luck. He had found Cherry Cocktail’s jewelry. Diamonds, sapphires, rubies, emeralds, it was a dragon’s dream come true. His mouth was savoring with the thought of gorging himself on the precious stones. The dragon gathered as much as he could in his arms and walked back to find Rarity to show her the delicious loot he had found.

Rarity had done the same, but in a more eloquent way. Two crystal clear wine glasses sat perfecting symmetrical from each other. Both filled with a red liquid and a green bottle next to it. Rarity grinned as she saw Spike enter.

“Rarity look what-“ the dragon cut himself off as he saw the mare of his dreams lying on some cushy pillows in a seductive manner that tempted his primal urges of reproduction.

“Come over here daarling and have a *hiccup* drink.”
It was obvious Rarity was intoxicated and Spike’s mind was in turmoil pondering his next actions. He didn’t want to sleep with a drunk mare, but he knew this would probably be the only time he’d be able to be as close as this to his lover. The very thought of sex during these times was almost unimaginable. There was no place safe to do such a thing and the constant fear of Twilight’s zombified guards always left them sleeping with one eye open.

Temptation however, got the best of dragon as he lift the wine glass and gulped the red liquid in one go. His throat burned like fire which ironically he could exhale.

The alcohol hit his stomach hard as a warm sensation filled his body. Unable to eat for so long left him guzzling the rest of the bottle in hurry. The sweet fermented fruit juice left a pleasant after taste as he noticed himself becoming happier and a lot more lax. The worries of the world around him wash away in a sea of dopamine that flooded his brain and clouded his judgment.

He could only see the lovely Rarity beckoning him to her.

“Come’re Sspike. I know you wanna fuck me soo do it.” She said slurring her words together.
The dragon could only comply as he made his way to Rarity stumbling and swaying until his lied on top of the white unicorn. He pressed his lips against the mares and slid his reptilian tongue inside her mouth. His vision became doubled and his next actions were nothing more than blur as he could only feel an unfathomable pleasure from his beloved Rarity.

…………