“We have to move quickly, Rainbow Dash can really hurt somepony!” Twilight didn’t want to say it but she knew it was true. Rainbow Dash may kill somepony if they didn’t locate her.
“But how do we find her? She could be anywhere in Ponyville.”
Rarity was correct, Rainbow could be anywhere from the library to Fluttershy’s Cottage. The three walked back upstairs as Pinkie rose to her hooves. Her mane was messed, not the usual cotton candy look they were used to. It was mangy and muttered, quite like a birds nest. A very messy bird’s nest. “Twilight, what is happening now!” The pink pony asked in her excited voice.
“Pinkie, Rainbow Dash is loose. She has turned into a monster!”
Applejack stood into the conversation. “She could really hurt somepony and we need to prevent that from happenin’.”
Fluttershy’s softly moans as she lay on the wooden floor. She twitched slightly, quivering from the cursed magic flowing through her. Rarity felt a sadness seeing the kindest of ponies broken and in pain. She had to help her; she galloped to her side to comfort her and to keep her with them. “I’ll take care of Fluttershy, you should find the monster which did this to her.”
Twilight didn’t know if the marewolf was actually Rainbow. Did it only shed its mortal disguise to wreak havoc on the world? or is it really Rainbow, having her anger released like some ravage beast. Brushing off Rarity’s comment, she continued to speak. “Rarity’s right, we have to find our friend.”
“I’m right behind you Twi.”
Yippee, let’s go!”
***
The glow of Luna’s moon lighted up the dark streets of Ponyville There was something eerie about the marketplace at night. Was it the lack of life or the silence which filled the streets? “No wonder Luna became such a meanie pants.” Pinkie stated to the other two.
“Pinkie, it would be better to be quiet so we can sneak around. We don’t know where Rainbow is, she could be hunting us for all we know.”
“But I thought we were finding her.”
Twilight facehoofed at Pinkies response, ‘Doesn’t she know the gravity of the situation!’
“Hold it Twi...” Applejack stopped and peered into the darkness, “I think I see somepony.”
The unicorn stepped to her side, “Any idea who?” whispering into her ear.
“Looks like a stallion in a hood.”
Twilight froze at her answer. She knew exactly who it was and knew what he was doing. The hunter was tracking Dash as well. “I don’t know who he is, do you Twilight?”
“I do Applejack, and he is trouble.”
*CRASH*
The sudden crash was followed by a distant scream. It rang through the cold, empty night chilling and startling everypony. When a wolf howl came from the same direction, they knew where they were going... and so did the hunter. He galloped into the darkness towards the disturbance with his crossbow with his magic. They had to get to get there before he could kill their friend.
“We have to move now!”
Galloping after the stallion they followed to where their friend was also hopefully. They were tailing the hunter close behind trying also to minimize noise and not to be spotted as well. It seemed a bit hard with a bright pink pony following them. As long as they stayed behind him they should be alright. As they approached the house where the calamity occurred, they could see that it was Lyra and Bon-Bon’s house. The door was torn from its hinges and splintered over the ground out front the house. With a broken window on the second floor also ruined the seemingly nice looking home.
The three lost track of the hunter as well, he seemed too had just vanished into thin air. “I hope those two are ok.”
Silently approaching the house in single file, they slowly made it into the humble home. It was a mess; the front room had been trashed. The table, chairs and other bits of furniture were overturned which cascaded around the building. “Rainbow has defiantly been here.” Twilight said breaking the silence.
With a sudden noise in response from upstairs, they knew someone else was inside the building. Everypony looked at each other, having a worried look about themselves.
“Somepony is up there...”
“Oooh. Who is it-wait don’t tell me, it’s the mayor no-“
“Pinkie!” Twilight whispered loudly.
“Oh, sorry.” She smiled sheepishly at the unicorn.
“Why would the Mayor be up there anyway?” Applejack questioned Pinkie.
“Can we get back to the task on hand here?!”
They all looked up, they could hear something but they couldn’t make it out. Applejack offered to go up; well actually she voluntarily walked upstairs. She made her way up the steps, sending out a wooden creak which made everypony cringe slightly. When her head peered over the wooden floor, only horrors waited her. She looked in utter disgust and shock. The disembodied remains of a pony covered the floor. The blood pooled below the carcass and splattered over the walls. The sickening look of the mangled organs and innards spilt onto the floor giving off a repulsive smell.
She glanced over to the right where she saw some shape in the blackness. It looked to be a pony; it was crouched over and looked to be eating something. When Applejack went to step back, a loud creak gave her position away. The shadow stopped whatever it was doing and turned slowly. Then it stepped into the light her light blue coat was seen. Her lyre cutie mark was next; Applejack was horrified at the sight. It was Lyra. Her muzzle was covered in blood which soaked her mane and sharp teeth. Her eyes glowed the unnatural bright yellow which signalled she was infected. She growled aggressively at Applejack, slowly making her way towards her.
“Ah, Twilight...we have a problem.”
When Twilight heard Applejack, she half expected Rainbow to come barging down the stairs and start attacking somepony. She was half right. Applejack quickly fled down the stairs followed by Lyra.
“Lyra?”
“She’s infected!”
Lyra glanced at the unicorn; she saw the bright yellow which engulfed her normal iris colour. She snarled viciously at the three before she stopped. Her body began to rupture and crack, it quivered and broke. The blue pony yelped in pain and growled in anger. “The moon, she’s turning!”
Twilight charged the creature grabbing the wolfsbane from her saddlebag. This was her chance to stop the change here and now. Lyra peaked her head; the unicorn took the opportunity and forced the plant into her mouth. She fought it at first, but her body quickly shutdown as she collapsed to the floor.
They dragged her quickly out of the light and into the darkness. She was in the sort of comatose state that Fluttershy was in. Twilight sat back onto the floor, “This is a nightmare, first Fluttershy now Lyra.”
Applejack looked to Twilight, she was still horrified by the images she saw moments ago. “Not only that Twilight, but there is somepony else up there...I can only guess its Bon-Bon.”
“What!?”
“Twilight, she’s dead...”
That was it; Rainbow Dash had actively killed another pony. It was hard to realise the gravity of the situation, how bad this actually is. “What’s happened to Bon-Bon!?” Pinkie asked, completely scared out of her wits.
“She has been ripped into pieces.”
“How can Rainbow Dash do that to somepony!?”
“Because it isn’t Rainbow at all, only a... monster.”
“And this is why I hunt them.”
Everypony looked to the door to see the hunter, his cloak concealing his face again. “You see the damage that your ‘Friend’ has caused. She is nothing but a monster now.”
Twilight became teary, she felt the truth in his words but she didn’t want to believe it. She holds on that she can still be saved. “NO! She can be saved, just give us time.”
“Oh but I did, and now the situation is out of your hooves.”
“What are you to say, you’re the one who kills others.” Applejack sprouted out from under her crying.
“But I do it to save ponies and I have done so and kept this place safe.”
He stepped forward, crossbow loaded and ready to fire, aiming it directly at Lyra’s head. Twilight leapt in front of it, she couldn’t let this happen, “NO!”
“Stand aside Twilight! She is a killer and needs to be put down!”
She sniffed, trying to hold the tears back, “I won’t let you harm Lyra, she is fine now anyway.”
“So you gave her some Wolfsbane, but that doesn’t stop it. Once it wears off, she will be actively killing others just like Rainbow Dash has done.”
He persisted. He threatened Twilight with the crossbow if she didn’t move. She couldn’t let this happen, no more death tonight. “Well I’m sorry Twilight, you leave me no-OOF-“
“Not on ma watch!”
With a mighty kick she smacked the stallion out the door. With his magic broken and the crossbow falling to the floor, they had to think fast. “Applejack, grab Lyra and let’s get out of here!” Twilight ordered taking the initiative.
The earth pony did so pulling Lyra onto her back. Pinkie’s tail started to twitch suddenly. “DUCK!”
The unicorn heard Pinkies yell, instinctively she dropped her head. An arrow whispered passed her ear and impaled into the wall behind her. “Time to go!”
They ran towards the window and jumped through it. With the window shattering around them and the hunter reloading a shot behind them, it was a time to panic. They ran as fast as their hooves can carry them away from the house and into the night. The hunter on the other hoof stood back in the house, patiently waiting. “You’ll soon understand Twilight...” he scowled, “That some monsters can’t be saved.”