Soon (tm)

From Chapter 11: Ponyville Gothic

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As the other mare reached an intersection, she stopped to look around at her choices. Rainbow swooped up and out of the lamplight before her prey could get a clean look, yet the pony on the ground remained transfixed on the road she had left behind.

“Wh-who’s there?” she asked, voice trembling.

There was something familiar about the voice, but Rainbow couldn’t quite place it. It was like a fleeting memory from days gone by, or perhaps just a voice she had heard in a dream. She shook her head, and the thought was gone.

As a breeze passed through her mane, the terrified young mare slowly backed away from the fog around her. “This isn’t funny!” she whimpered. “Please, I’m just trying to go home…”

In the distance, the slightest movement against the moonlight caught Rainbow’s attention. It was one of those damned agents! They turned the corner just a few blocks up ahead, and were coming straight for the scared young mare.

Then something clicked in Rainbow’s mind. She could pull this off, this ‘stunt’, but only if she acted right now.

The young filly gasped as a stronger gust of wind whipped up behind her. She frantically looked around, then tried to yell for help. When she did, she found a leathery wing covering her snout and a pair of glowing, reddish eyes staring her down.

“Shh,” said Rainbow Dash. “Don’t scream. Actually, you know what? Don’t even speak.”

The young mare entered a trance-like state upon hearing the command. Her body relaxed, and she sat back on her haunches. Rainbow removed her wing to find the other mare’s mouth stayed shut tight.

As the light of the nearby streetlamps reflected in the terrified yet helpless mare’s eyes, Rainbow felt a chill pass over her. It was as if she had been the one in a trance, and only now had she awoken.

“Wait, you’re…”

— Child, you are so close. Take her to a quiet place and you can finally feed upon- — 

“Fae?! Where were- ugh, nevermind. Look, I know this filly! I couldn’t possibly hurt her!”

— If you know her, then she likely knows you. If you feed now, her memories may blacken, much as yours did when you were first turned. — 

“B-but…”

— She’s seen too much! At this point, your only other option would be… well, you said you didn’t want to be a murderer, right? — 

The silhouette of the agent turned sharply to face them. They said something, though at this point Rainbow couldn’t make it out. Her ears were filled with telepathic shouting and the frantic heartbeat of the filly before her.

In a flash, Rainbow took hold of the young mare and swooped away into the night. The agent missed the two by mere feet, stomping their hoof in frustration as they lost sight of them against the inky dark.

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