//------------------------------// // Family bonding time // Story: Predator: Bad Blood // by VampDash //------------------------------// “HELLO! WELCOME TO SUGAR CUBE COR- OH HI RAINBOW!” Pinkie shouted at the top of her lungs when Rainbow, Firefly, and Applejack entered the sweet store. “Hey Pinks. Love what you did with the place but um…. could you turn down the oven heat please? I still see it burning.” Rainbow told her as she squinted. Ever since Yeyinde saved her last year from serpent blood spilling on her Rainbow has been able to see in infrared as well as normal but sometimes the two still collided with each other at times. “Of course! Be right back!” Pinkie said happily as she zoomed off into the kitchen. After a second, Rainbow’s heat vision dulled a bit as Pinkie came back. “Thanks Pinkie. So what’s the special for today?” Rainbow asked. “Well… we’ve got super duper caramelt fudge brownies with almonds, blueberry cupcakes with extra blueberries, and my favorite, sweet apple cake with honey drizzle!” Pinkie said, making Rainbow’s and Firefly’s mouth water. Applejack just giggled as she ordered the apple cake for herself and watched the two pegasi order the caramelt. A few seconds after they all ordered the desserts were in front of them in all their glory. The caramelt was a large chuck of chocolate fudge, drizzled with a caramel glaze and filled with almonds, the blueberry cupcakes were just… blue cupcakes, and the apple cake was cake with apples mixed in and was lightly drizzled with sweet and fresh honey. Applejack smacked her lips as she devoured the cake in about four bites while Firefly and Rainbow ate theirs in about two or three. The farm mare couldn’t help but giggle at this. “So… how has my favorite changeling be-” Pinkie started before Rainbow put a hoof in her mouth and glared at her. “Don’t. Call. Her. That.” The cyan pegasus growled. After the death of Queen Chrysalis Rainbow adopted the last normal Changeling who became Firefly a moment later. The rest of her friends knew who she was and decided to give her a chance. They all grew to like her but they didn’t want the rest of the town to know who she was so they tried to hide her other self the best they could. “Oops. Sorry. So how’s my favorite filly been?” Pinkie asked her as she rubbed the filly’s head. “Good. School’s a pain in the flank though.” Firefly replied. “Well don’t worry. Soon you’ll get used to it. And the little extra ingredient I’ve added to the sweets.” Pinkie said, causing Rainbow and Applejack to give her a look of fear. “What did you add to these?” Rainbow asked. Pinkie smiled a little at this. “Oh you know how some crystals from the empire can store some things like magic? Well for Firefly I asked Twilight if she could add some love magic into them so when I baked them into Firefly’s food to make it sweeter for her! There’s none in yours or Applejack’s but I just thought it’d be nice!” She told them. “Whew. For a second I thought you were about to say you’ve added more sugar to the sweets.” Rainbow said in relief. “Oh! You mean the extra three bags of sugar I placed into them?!” Pinkie asked, causing the two mare’s eyes to widen in shock. “PINKAMENA DIANE PIE!” Applejack and Rainbow shouted. Pinkie’s eyes shrank to pinpricks in fear at her two friends raised their voices to her. “I-I thought you’d l-like them more… I’m sorry.” She said with tears in her eyes. Applejack took a deep breath and calmed down a little at this. “It’s alright Pinkie yah didn’t know but it’s fine.” She told Pinkie while Rainbow started to growl a little. “I was hoping to keep my little Firefly calm. But now… SHE’S GOING TO BE WACKY LIKE YOU! DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG IT TAKES TO MAKE HER TIRED WHEN SHE EATS SUGAR PINKIE?! DO YOU?!” Rainbow roared at the mare, who backed away in a scurry. “Rainbow… I d-didn’t mean to-” “TO DO WHAT?! MAKE MY LITTLE GIRL BOUNCE OFF THE WALLS?!” Rainbow snarled. She soon felt a slap go across her face and found that it was from “F-Firefly?” Rainbow stammered as she tried to register who it was that slapped her. “Mom you need to calm down. I think Aunt Pinkie didn’t add anything to my caramelt at all but you are over reacting for no reason and it…. tastes like burned rubber.” Firefly said as she scrunched up her face and made a sound like she swallowed something bad that she didn’t want to eat but had to. Rainbow couldn’t help but feel guilt overtake her. She yelled at her friend for no reason. “Gee… Pinkie I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to yell at you.” Rainbow said sadly. “It’s fine silly. It’s what friends are for. But what’s weird is that Firefly is the fifth customer who says her sweets are bad.” Pinkie said as she rubbed her chin. Rainbow gave Pinkie a concerned look. Pinkie’s sweets were the best in all of Ponyville, possibly all of Equestria, so to hear that they might be bad was very alarming indeed. “What’s wrong with them do you think Pinkie?” Rainbow asked her. “Don’t know. Maybe the oven is just dying. It’s been here for a while. Or somepony’s messing with the oven.” Pinkie suggested. “Ah don’t know who’d mess with yer’ oven Pinkie. Ah know a repairstallion who’d fix it fer a small price.” Applejack said to the pink mare. “Thanks Applejack. I can sure use his number. Leave it on a napkin before you leave.” Pinkie said as she bounced away. Applejack and Firefly started to leave when they notice Rainbow wasn’t with them. “That mare is goin’ tah be the death of the two of us. Come on Firefly Ah think yer ma is workin’ tonight.” Applejack told her with a small smile. “Alright. Guess I’m staying with you again.” Firefly said sadly. Applejack wondered what was up and decided to get it out of the little filly. “Firefly, what’s wrong?” She asked, making her sigh. “It’s just….. when is momma gonna spend time with me? I mean real time together. She only spends a few minutes and then leaves for work. I’m tired of it Auntie Applejack. Why doesn’t she stay with me?” Firefly asked. Applejack couldn’t help but give a sad face as she looked at the sad filly. She and the others knew that Rainbow’s work usually included the death of a pony or some other creature but they always just told Firefly it was just work so they could cover her tracks. “Well Firefly it’s not that she doesn’t want tah spend time with ya it’s just that this is really important work she’s doin’. Believe me when Ah say she would really want tah spend time with ya sugarcube.” Applejack lied through her teeth which caused something in her to seemingly die. It wasn’t a total lie as Rainbow did want to spend more time with Firefly but the rest of it…. was a major lie. “Oh…. so when will she have a day off?” The filly asked. “Ah don’t know sugarcube. Ah’ll see if Ah can get her to take a day off just fer’ you.” Applejack said to the filly, making her smile. “T-Thanks Auntie Applejack. I’d like that.” Firefly said happily as a tear fell from her cheek. “Anythin’ for mah little niece.” Applejack said as she gave Firefly a big hug. Meanwhile, somewhere in the Everfree Forest, things seemed to have been peaceful for once. The animals were minding their own business, the plants weren’t attacking Ponyville, it was nice. Until… there was the roaring of a machine. In that moment all of Tartarus broke loose as they all tried to escape the hot flames from the ship. Some were lucky but most weren’t, such as one Cragadile who accidentally wandered into it’s flames. When the ship was completely on the ground, a door opened, allowing three creatures to walk onto the forest floor. They were bipedal and large, about 6’00”, and were heavily muscled. They were wearing masks that were decorated with bones of the creatures they hunted. “Sir, it seems that this forest is heavy with wildlife.” One of the creatures said as he observed the heat signatures through his mask. The leader walked out, a full 8’00”, and stepped on the head of the burned Cragadile which turned to dust instantly. He scanned the area and saw that his scout was correct. “Very impressive Sound Wave. Now take a small group and scout ahead. I want to know exactly where he is.” He ordered the smaller creature. It nodded as three more creatures came out of the ship and followed him into the forest. Yeyinde. Soon, the battle that began on Yautja Prime…. will be ended here. With me holding your skull in my claws.