Ponycraft: The Maw of Insanity

“We are we out here in a GRAVEYARD again, Rubes?” asked Berry Punch, two nights after Ruby and Carees' date.

“Aye, may I ask the same? I feel like it be Duskwood...” Cannon said, unnervingly. Cuddles hopped to him, cuddling against him.

“You'll see soon enough. Carees has a spell he'd like to show you. Now where is that grave...?”

“Oh, I know where this be goin'.” Cannon said, realizing what they were up to.

Berry spoke up. “Well, I dunno what'cha trying to do, but if you're looking for Flutty's grave, it's over by her statue.”

“Ah, thanks, Berr.”

As they walked to the ginormous statue of rock, it towered over them, but strangely enough, the statue cowered instead of them.

“She is right under here. I miss her, you know that? Poor girl.” Berry closed her eyes.

Carees looked over at Cannonbolt's pet raptor. “Cuddles... you know what to do. Find and dig.”

Cuddles nodded and sniffed around near the statue and jumped when he found the buried body.

Berry opened her eyes. “H-hey! What are ya doin'?”

Carees looked back at her. “If you want to see Fluttershy again, stand back.”

Berry misinterpreted and got angry. “I don't want to see a dead body again!”

Carees replied with a sigh. “That's not what I meant. How about this. Do you want to talk with her again? Hug her? Comfort her?”

Berry gasped. “Wait, WHAT?”

With a grunt, a coffin was pushed out of a hole cuddles had made. Carees peeked into the coffin.

“Hmmph. This shall be easy. If you wish not to see your dead friend, stand back. This might also attract residents in the city. There's a lot of visuals and sounds involved.”

Berry squinted. “You mean you're going to...”

Carees nodded at her. He signaled for the 4 to stand back. Cuddles jumped and roared in excitement. He opened the coffin, there lied a yellow pony with a scorched pink mane

Carees closed his eyes and concentrated. “I send this message to Arthas himself...” Carees hands started to glow with a light blue color. “...See through to this girl's soul...” Carees was lifted off the ground, his  mane flying up. “...See her innocence... see her grace!...” A blue light shot onto the open coffin with a freezing sound affect. Lights of houses and apartments lit up. “...Her warm heart had been extinguished!...” The light grew stronger. Ponies were headed toward the graveyard in a rush to see what was happening. Rarity was among that crowd. “Make her your icy, deathly servant!...” The body started to be lifted up, as the ponies who were arriving watched with awe at this new stallion preforming such an act. “See that she does not deserve death!... and make her your pawn! Your bishop!...” The body's condition started to rejuvenate, and the ponies were anxious. Ruby's eyes were bulgier than ever. Was he truly telling the truth!? “Make her your knight! Your gracious Death Knight!! Make this poor body live once more in harmony with us!! GRANT HER YOUR ICY GIFT!” The light made a booming sound affect, and the body couldn't even be seen in such a light. Such a beautiful, living, light blue light. The light started to fade, and both Carees and the now life-filled body of Fluttershy fell gently to the ground.

Carees, breathing harshly, and the other 3 ponies and a raptor rushed to the body. Ruby put her heart to the mare's chest. She jumped and backed away with a frightened face.

“I... I don't believe it! Oh my lord!” Ruby shouted. She started to cry.

Berry gave her a skeptical look. “You... you don't mean... you CAN'T mean!...”

“Nngh...”

Gasps and screams of fear, but also hope, came from the crowd. Rarity rushed through to see it for herself.

The life-filled corpse groaned once more, and moved the muscles in her face. Her huge eyes slowly opened. The first thing she saw was a stallion, dark blue skin and black, short mane. Along side him was a black skinned pony with a blood red mane. The living death tried to speak.

“R-- Ru.. by.... Be...rry? Hi... Who... are... you?” The corpse asked.

Carees shook his head. “I can explain later, Fluttershy. Your brain needs to recuperate. It's been “off” for quite a while. You'll remember everything with time.”

Fluttershy spoke again. “Why... did you... bring me... back?”

Carees hugged her. “Because you didn't deserve your fate. You are innocent... too innocent. No pony should deserve anything like that.”

Fluttershy nodded. “Hooves... cold... feel... sick... so... tired...”

Carees was still hugging her. “It's all in time you will learn the potential of the new you.”

“FLUTTERSHY!!!!!!” Rarity yelled as she ran past all the other ponies. “You're alive! Again! How is this possible...?” Rarity looked over to Carees. “You! You made this possible! How can we ever repay you for this deed, however you did it?”

The genuine smile returned. “Nothing more than a simple thank you shall do. Be warned, though. She has new powers that she must learn to use by my teachings yet. We must let her rest at her home. Is this home still available?”

Rarity nodded in excitement. Her heart was beating. “Oh, yes! We've preserved it! Come, everypony! We must take care of this relived hero!”

Berry was motionless. “This is a good dream, a really, really good dream.”

Everypony was rushing to Fluttershy's house, Rarity carrying Fluttershy with extra care.

Ruby yelled at Berry. “Well don't just stand there! C'mon, dummy!”

“Alright! Cannon! Pack!” She shouted at the stallion to her left.

“Aye, sweetheart! Aspect of the Pack, commence!” Suddenly, the 4 ponies and a raptor felt a burst of energy and sprinted to Fluttershy's cozy cottage.

________________________________________________________________________

Half of Maneside City was surrounding the cottage. When they saw Ruby and co., they quickly made room for the heroes. “MAKE WAY FOR THE BLESSED HEROES!” Some called. Fluttershy was laying in her bed, somewhat able to move. Signs of recovery were already obvious. When Fluttershy saw them, she smiled. Everypony left the room for them to talk privately.

“So, I've been resurrected, have I?” Fluttershy said softly.

“Indeed you have been. The tale of Fluttershy shall not end on a note of sadness as that as long as I live.” Carees said, boastfully.

“I see. Wait, does this make me a zombie!?” Fluttershy gasped.

“In definition, yes. But it really doesn't. When you think zombie you think mindless ghouls. You are a resurrected, frost blessed creature. You have as much life and love as anything else. I am the same as you.”

Fluttershy thought about it for a second. “So I'm a good zombie?”

Carees hesitated. “Eh... if you like to think about it in that way, yes. You're a good zombie. You harm nobody unless your conscience tells you to. You're just as you were, except you died once.”

Fluttershy squeaked. “O-- Ok... is feeling sick normal and being cold normal?”

Carees sighed. “Yes... yes it is. Your body has to succumb to the new powers given to you. I preformed the only resurrection I know, which gives you the powers of frost and disease at will. I shall teach you to control these powers once your mind is stable enough. As scary as it may seem, you will get used to being a Death Knight soon enough.”

“A Death Knight!? Eep!” Fluttershy hid under her pillow.

“Do not be scared, miss. The name is only thing frightening. I can see why your friends say you out of every pony shouldn't have deserved their fate. You're too sweet. It's okay, now just rest up, your brain will recover, and be calm, everything will turn out okay, alright?” Carees patted her on the shoulder.

“A-- alright... just as long as nopony tries to hurt me again...”

“We'll make sure they won't, dear. Come on, let's get out of here, everyone. She needs her sleep. We'll check up on her tomorrow.”

As they walked out of the cottage, they locked it up and signaled for everypony to get a good nights rest, and Fluttershy will be fully recovered by maybe even the next day. They stayed for a while to make sure they had all gone home.

Berry cheered. “Woohoo! Slick job, Kreese! Let's go home and call it a good night!”

Cannonbolt put his arm around Berry. “Couldn't agree more with ye, lass!”

Ruby, however, was not on the same page. “Uhhh... Guys? I'm gonna be home a tad later. I want to talk with Carees 'bout something.”

Berry tried to get at her. “And just what is this 'something'?”

Ruby got nervous. “I... I'd rather not say.”

Berry laughed. “Ohoho! Secret, eh? Well, I ain't intrudin' on THAT business. Let's go home, Cannon! I got a surprise for YOU when we get home.”

Cannon's heart stopped. “Oh, no. Not again...”

“Come on...” Berry grabbed his hoof and started to drag him back home. Cuddles hopped up and down and roared. “See you two back at the house!”

“Come behind the house, Carees.” Ruby grabbed his hoof.

Carees acted confused, but in his mind, he was pretty sure he knew what was coming. Once they were behind the house, Ruby looked at him.

“So what is it you wanted to talk about, my dear?” Carees asked.

“I... umm... about today... I don't think I can repay you for any of it... I... Mmph...” Ruby couldn't say it.

“There is no need to repay. You want to say something else, say it.”

Ruby had tears in her eyes. “I... I... I just...” She was about to drop dead. She couldn't believe she was about to do this.

“You what? Say it, for goodness sake! I'm your boyfriend, aren't I? You can tell me anything!”

“I... I...” Ruby closed her eyes. She was so close. She was trying so hard, and then, all of a sudden, Snap.

“I LOVE YOU!”

She jumped on him and experienced an action that has been brought to neither of them before. It was so different from anything that had ever happened to them. The feeling shifted from surprise to pleasure. They kept it there, tears pouring from Ruby's eyes. That moment forever changed both of their lives. However, such as every good moment, it had to end. Finally, after maybe a minute or two, they let go. Carees wiped the tears from Ruby's face.

“An experience such as that had never happened to me before. I'm unaware of just what that feeling was... however, I enjoyed it immensely.”

Ruby smiled, still somewhat crying. “You don't know what a kiss is? How can you not?”

Carees huffed. “I know what a kiss is, my dear. I just didn't know how much more it meant. I guess it just... shocked me, I suppose.”

Ruby blushed as she said with a rather seductive voice, or at least as good as she could make one “Well, it ain't the only one you're getting tonight, mister.”

Carees blushed, for a rare occurrence. “This can only end well... heheh...”

Ruby shushed him. “Ah, ah, ah! It's not beginning yet. Let's go home first... honey.”

Carees gave his genuine smile and moved to the side. “After you... sweetheart.”

With that, they headed home, and Carees was in for the night of his life. They heard nothing upstairs and guessed they were asleep, so they crashed on the couch downstairs. The rest of the night was theirs for the taking, and oh did they take it.