//------------------------------//
// Invasion of the Killer Apples 
// Story: Immortal Blood and Tears 
// by Robipony 
//------------------------------//

	"Often times our worst secrets are those that can harm others. However, does holding onto such secrets keep our friends safe or merely make those secrets deadlier?" -Time Turner. 

Wondering Wind and Crystal Clover sat in the movie theater watching a B-horror movie called, "Invasion of the Killer Apples." The movie was about how interstellar radiation corrupted apples on an apple farm, turning them into giant carnivorous... apples. The effects were of moderate quality and the death scenes were hilariously made. This was definitely the kind of movie that Discord would enjoy. 

The apples in the movie bounced around bearing their large, razor sharp teeth at any pony they came across. Their red skin reminded Wondering Wind of blood. This thought made some sense to Wind as apple juice did have a tendency to temporarily satisfy a vampony's thirst but that was temporary and the vampony would still need to feast on blood. 

Before the movie had started Wind had bought a bucket of popcorn and a drink for the two of them to share. Wind had also made sure to have a drink of some powdered blood in the bathroom in order to insure that his hunger wouldn't affect him during the movie. The popcorn itself felt like sand going down his throat but he ate it in order to prevent Clover from growing suspicious of his true nature. 

Both of them laughed as the main protagonist, Ash Coldmane, who had recently had his hoof bitten off by one of the apples, had it replaced with a flamethrower. Spoofy.

As the two then sat there, Clover began to nuzzle her head on Wind's shoulder. Glancing over to her, Wind noticed one of the veins along her neck. The blood within seemed to be calling out to him like a temptress. The sensation was so distracting that Wind accidentally knocked over some popcorn. 

"Oh... I'm sorry," Wind said nervously, "how about I go grab a refill." 

Crystal Clover raised her head letting Wind leave. As Wind left various other ponies gave him annoyed looks as he obstructed their view of the movie. Leaving the movie room, Wind walked out to the cashier. Upon arriving he notices that both of the stallion and the mare who are supposed to be tending to the counter are kissing each other rather ferociously. 

"Ummm... can I have a refill on my popcorn?" Wondering Wind asked placing the bucket down on the counter. 

The two theater cashiers pulled themselves away from one another, a little annoyed at the interruption. As the young mare went to the back room to gather supplies the young stallion walked to the counter and roughly took the bucket over to the popcorn maker. 

"Do you want butter on your popcorn?" The clerk asked in an annoyed tone. 

"Uhh... yes please." 

As the cashier refilled his popcorn, Wind remembered back to the events that had happened earlier that day. 





Wondering Wind awoke with a crick in his back and found himself lying on the couch. Out of the generosity of his heart, Wind had given Fluttershy his bed while he slept out on the coach. 

"Hello."

The sound of Discord speaking made Wind jump. Now that he was wide awake he noticed that both Discord and Fluttershy were in the living room. Both them seemed to be looking at something in Fluttershy's hoof.

"Wha... What is he doing here?" 

Discord gave Wind an annoyed look, "I'm here solving a little problem you have. Of course seeing as my presence isn't appreciated I could always leave." 

"Please don't." Fluttershy said giving Discord a bright smile, "I really do need your help with this."

Fluttershy wore a small red dress that covered her small frame. From what Wind could tell her body was gradually returning to its original shape, something which made Wind feel a bit uneasy. Next to Fluttershy's seat was what appeared to be the stuffed doll of a white rabbit. 

"Oh alright," Discord signed, "but only because you ask me nicely."

This strange sequence of events puzzled Wind, "What are you two doing exactly?" 

"We are addressing your gorgony problem," Discord said taking a small necklace from Fluttershy's hoof, "or more specifically preventing one."

Fluttershy turned her attention to Wondering Wind, "You remember what we discussed last night?"

Wind nodded, "That Crystal Clover and I had meet a gorgony last night." 

"Yes," Fluttershy looked at the necklace, "and if what that gorgony said is true it is possible that Crystal Clover may be in grave danger of becoming one herself." 

"So you have a means of keeping her normal?" Wind spoke. 

"Sort of," Discord said giving the necklace back to Fluttershy, "I have created this talisman using my chaotic energy that will absorb the transformation magic used by that Gorgon's artifact."

Fluttershy stood up and brought the necklace over to Wondering Wind. Closer examination showed that the necklace consisted of a large serpentine fang with various markings etched into it. 

"All you need to do is have Crystal Clover wear this talisman, once she has worn it, it will absorb the gorgony magic that is inside her." Fluttershy spoke, "As long as the talisman remains unharmed she will remain the same, however as time goes on if the talisman is destroyed the transformation magic will return to her body and she will become a gorgony." 

"So what are you suggesting I do?" Wind asked. 

"Why give it to her of course." Discord said with a humph, "Were you not paying attention?" 

"No, I figured that," Wind replied, "the question is how do I go about doing that? I took her out for a date last night." 

"Why not take her out on another date," Fluttershy said while putting the talisman in his hoof, "it doesn't have to be anything too fancy. Just go out to a movie and then afterwards give her the amulet. Just tell her that you saw it somewhere and you thought she would like it." 

Another date would be nice. However, what if she were to say no. As the thought echoed through Wind's mind, Fluttershy sighed. 

"Look Wind," Fluttershy spoke as she sat back down in her chair, "even if Clover wasn't going to turn into a gorgony, the fact of the matter is that you will never know what will happen if you never ask. Then you'll look back and wish you had." 	

The statement was true. Time was running out and soon Crystal Clover would be returning home to the Crystal Empire. If he wanted to spend time with her it was now or never. On top of that it would probably be really bad if Clover work up one day only to discover that her hair had changed to snake only to discover that Wind had the means of preventing such a thing but didn't. That would definitely put a dampener on any relationship they were having. 

"Very well," Wondering Wind said walking over to the wall mounted phone, "I'll give her a phone call and see if she will come." 

As Wind began dialing Clover's phone number, Discord began gathering his things, "I guess I will be leaving." 

"Take care." Fluttershy said as Discord created a door in the middle of the room and walked through it. Once the door slammed shut it disappeared in the blink of an eye. 

The phone rang twice before a familiar voice answered the call, "Hello, Crystal Clover speaking." 

"Hey Clover its me, Wondering Wind." A smile crossed his face as Clover answered the phone.

"Oh hey Wind," Clover answered, "so what is going on?" 

There was a moment of silence as Wind dealt with the frog in his throat. 

"Wind?" 

Looking over, Wind saw Fluttershy sitting on her chair giving him an expectant look while she held the bunny doll against her chest. 

"I'm sorry," Wind coughed, "I was just wondering if you would be willing to go out on another date with me?" 

"Well, what did you have in mind?" Clover asked. 

"What about a movie," Wind suggested, "I heard there was some goofy B-movie in the north town mall at around five." 

"Sound like fun." Clover answered, "I guess I can meet you there." 

"Uh... yes, I guess I'll see you there." 

With the plans finished, both of them hung up the phone. 

"It is done." Wind spoke, "We'll be going to see a movie tonight. After the movie is over I will try to give her the talisman." 

Wind walked into the bathroom and began to prepare for the date. After locking the door and turning on the fan, Wind walked into the shower and turned on the water. At first it was frigid but gradually it heated up as Wind scrubbed his body with a bar of soap. After all the sweat and grime was removed he rinsed his body clean. Turning off the shower, Wind stepped out and dried himself off before applying some deodorant. 

Now that his body was clean, Wondering Wind stepped out of the shower and walked back into the main room. 

"So who's the box from?" Fluttershy asked pointing at the package among Wind's mail. That was right, when Wind had opened the door to let Fluttershy in there had been a package by the door. 

"I don't know." Curious, Wondering Wind walked over to the mail and picked up the package and examined it. His heart nearly froze when he saw who it was from. However, soon his shock was replaced with anger and Wind dropped the package. The sound of the box hitting the floor drew Fluttershy's attention. 

"What is it?" Fluttershy asked noticing Wind's bad mood. 

"It's just a useless package from somepony I once knew," Wind answered, "I'll throw it away when I return."

Fluttershy eyed the box, "Would you mind if I took a look at it first?"

Wind picked up the package and lightly tossed it so Fluttershy could catch it, "Just make sure to destroy it when your done. I don't care how you do it, so long as I never see it again." 

With his statement finished, Wind put on his coat and walked out the door, slammed it behind him. 

Looking at the box, Fluttershy examined the name of the pony who sent it. 

Whispering Wind. 





"Hey dude!" 

Wind was brought back to the present with a grumpy looking cashier holding his popcorn bucket, "Your popcorn is finished."

"Thank you." 

As Wondering Wind returned to his seat a purple mare with a red mane walked past in order to refill her popcorn as well. The sound of blood pumping through her veins filled Wind's ears. There was something else he would have to do first.

Carefully Wondering Wind walked back into the main room and walked down some steps toward the stallion's room. Once inside he found an empty stall. Setting the popcorn bucket down on the floor, Wind felt around one of his coat pockets for some powdered blood packets. There were none left. He must have forgotten to refill his pocket. 

An exasperated sigh left Wondering Wind's lips. What was he going to do? 





Crystal Clover sat in her seat feeling very a bit worried. Wind had been gone for a while now. Clover hoped she hadn't actually scared him off when she had nuzzled against him earlier. 

The scene of a giant apple biting it's way through a building with its dreadful teeth rolled across the screen. Little did the apple know, that a bomb had been placed within the building so that the giant apple would swallow it. It might have been a humorous scene if it wasn't for the nervous feeling that Clover was happening. 

Had taking advice from Peach been such a good idea? 





"So going out for another date I see." Puzzling Peach remarked as Clover put the phone back on its stand. 

"That is the plan." Clover said walking down toward her room to put on something nice. Peach followed a wide smile on her face. 

"You really like him don't you?" Peach said teasingly. Clover blushed a little in response to Peach's statement.

"Well... He is nice and he is kind of cute," Clover replied picking a nice casual jacket out of her closet, "so yeah I guess you could say that I like him." 

Peach smiled, "As long as he treats you well, I have no objection to you seeing him." 

"I don't think you have much control over the matter." Crystal Clover giggled. 

"Hey that's not fair!" 

A chuckle escaped Clover's lips, "Oh come on you know I'm only teasing you. You should know that by now. We've been friends for over eight years." 

"Eight years, three months and seven days." Peach said with a smile.

Clover arched her brow, "I am not sure if I should be impressed or concerned." 

Peach shook her head, "That doesn't matter. What matters is I am your friend and I want what is best for you. So if you like this stallion then I want him to be the best stallion you find." 

"Thank you." Clover replied, "I appreciate it."

"So you really like this guy." Puzzling Peach spoke as Clover combed her mane. 

"I do." As Clover combed away her smile began to fade, "However, I'm not sure if he really knows how much I like him." 

"Perhaps you just need to show him." Puzzled Peach said, "Do something to let him know how much you care about him." 

"Like what?" Clover asked placing her comb down on the bathroom table. 

"Well, your going to a movie right?" Peach spoke, "Perhaps you could nuzzle up against him during the movie. Or maybe you can give him a peck on the cheek later." 

"You think that would actually work?" Said Crystal Clover blushing at the thought.

"Why not?" Peach asked, "You'll never know if you don't try."

"I... I suppose your right." 





Wondering Wind stood up from the seat, he only had two options and only one option was really a good one. Either he abandoned Clover here at the movie and look like a total jerk or he worked hard to maintain control of his instincts and return to the movie and give her the talisman. 

Opening the door, Wind left the restroom and returned to his seat with the bucket of popcorn.

"What took you so long?" Crystal Clover whispered. Wind could smell her scent and could still hear the sound of her blood pumping through her veins. 

"I'm sorry," Wind replied, "I had to make a quick stop at the restroom." 

With that issue resolved the two of them resumed watching, however Wind was still uncomfortable due to his heightened senses being fully aware of Clover's blood. Once the movie had ended the two of them stood up from their seats and started to head toward the exit. 

"So what did you think of the movie?" Wind asked. 

"Well, it was a little goofy," Clover said putting a hoof to her chin, "but I kind of liked that about the movie. Even the scarier scenes weren't too bad. Personally I really enjoyed it." 

"I'm glad," Wind said smiling before his features returned to that of some pony deep in thought. This made Clover feel nervous. Had she said something wrong? 

The two of them continued walking before they reached Clover's home. 

"Thank you for the video." Clover said before turning to go up the steps. 

"Wait," Wind spoke causing Crystal Clover to stand still, "before you go I have a gift for you." 

Clover turned around, "You do?" 

Wondering Wind pulled out the necklace, Fluttershy and Discord had constructed and presented it to Clover. 

"I happened to walk by a store earlier," Wind said, "and I thought it would great on you." 

While he knew it was a lie, that he had seen it in a store, it was much more believable then that it had been created from the tooth of a Gorgony and had been enchanted by the lord of chaos himself. It also wasn't a lie that he thought it might look nice on her. 

"Well, then how about you go ahead and put it on." Clover smiled before raising her neck so Wind could put on the necklace. 

Hearing the sound of her blood pumping through Clover's veins, it took all of Wind's strength to ignore the urge to feast and gently place the necklace around her neck and lock the clasp. Once the necklace sat firmly against her neck, Crystal Clover looked down to examine the necklace. Stepping back a shocked gasp escaped Wondering Wind's lips.

"Is something wrong?" Asked Crystal Clover a look of concern on her face. 

"No, no," Wind apologized, "I was just rather surprised by how beautiful it looked on you." 

Clover smiled, "Well, thank you Wind." 

The two of them looked at each other for a long time. Clover felt as if she should try to kiss him or something cheesy like that, however she wasn't sure how wise that would be. 

"I guess I best be going." Wind said nervously before turning to walk away. 

"WAIT!" 

Clover's outburst caused Wind to stop walking and to turn back around. Was something wrong? 

"Before you go," Clover stepped forward the distance between the two of them shrank as she drew closer, "I just wanted you to know that I really do like you." 

Upon finishing the statement, Clover planted a little kiss on Wind's cheek. The kiss caused Wind's cheeks to turn a bright red in response.

"Well, ummm... that was really nice." Wind said with a nervous smile. 

"Yeah, I guess it was." Clover said blushing a little. 

"Ummm... good night."

"Good night."

Still nervous from what had happened, Crystal Clover walked back into her house and Wondering Wind began to make his way home. A small smile crossed Wind's muzzle on his walk.





Applejack sat at her desk, sipping a red liquid from a glass. As the director of Blood Source it was her duty to insure that the blood flowed to where it was needed most. Yet there were other secretive tasks that had been passed down to her by the previous director. Tasks that some vampony factions would seek to sabotage if they knew. 

Setting the glass down on the table, Applejack turned around an looked through the observation window into the laboratory below. Numerous vampony scientist were examining various chemicals and compounds relating to the subject of apples and their effects on vamponies. 

Years ago Applejack and Fluttershy had come in contact with the first director of Blood Source. His name was Kind Heart and he sought to make it so that one day vamponies could receive nourishment from something other then the blood of ponies. Due to Fluttershy's past of once having similar properties to a vampony after Twilight had cast a spell improperly resorting in Fluttershy taking on the characteristics of a vampire fruit bat, Kind Heart had grown interested in Fluttershy's tale. Perhaps there was a way that apples could be modified to provide vamponies the nourishment they would need. 

As a result Kind Heart had been eager to recruit both Applejack and Fluttershy's help on the matter. However, after Kind Heart's death Fluttershy had abandoned the project. Applejack on the other hoof embraced it, seeking to create a strain of apple that vamponies could feed on. 

Sadly despite multiple years of working on the project, the success rate was still low and very unfruitful. Still Applejack could feel that she was getting closer to a breakthrough. All it would take was patience. 

In an effort to make Kind Heart's dream a reality, Applejack had recruited various researchers and scientist to assist her. Including the Slim Slap sisters, the two twin daughters of Flim one of the Flim Flam twins. 

As Applejack contemplated this matter there was a knocking at the door, "Come in." 

What appeared to be a zebra entered the room. Applejack knew him all to well as Nekoran, a vampony zebra who had been assigned to investigate the various abductions that had been going on as of late. 

"What have you found?" Applejack asked returning to her seat. 

Nekoran placed a folder down on Applejack's desk, "After some investigation we have reason to believe that the Black Rose Society may be the ones abducting ponies from blood harvesting."

"That isn't too surprising." Applejack answered leaning back in her chair, "Them Black Rose Society grunts have riled up everyone quite a bit with their talk about bringin' a dead vampony lord back from the dead." 

"There is something else," Nekoran said opening the folder and presenting a photograph to Applejack, "recently this figure has been seen around the abduction sites. She has been given many names but we have started to refer to her as the Umbrella Mare." 

Applejack took the photograph and examined it. In the photo stood what appeared to be a mare standing in the middle of an alleyway. She wore a tight yellow raincoat and her face was covered with a full faced gas mask. With her right hoof she held a black umbrella over her frame. 

"Have you shared this information with the hunters?" Applejack asked. 

"Not yet," Nekoran answered, "I wanted to show this before doing so."

Applejack nodded, "I suggest we give this to the hunters. They always like it when their given a bone." 

It was actually a lot more then just that. Applejack knew all to well about the rivalry that Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash were having. If Applejack could give Rainbow Dash something to distract her from Fluttershy then perhaps a solution could be discovered. 

"As you wish." Nekoran said before leaving Applejack's office. 





Upon arriving home, Wind immediately walked over to the cabinet and pulled out one of the remaining packets. Wind could hear his heartbeat as tore the packet open and pored its contents into a glass. His mouth seemed to water as the glass was filled with water and merged with the powdered blood. 

The scent of the mixture, wafted its way into Wind's nostrils. 

As Wondering Wind mixed the drink, he heard some pony knocking on his door. Taking a quick sip of his drink, Wind tried to hide the glass next the refrigerator before walking over to the door. Looking through the peephole, Wind could see that it was Shot Glass waiting in front of the door. Slowly Wind opened the door. 

"Hey Shot Glass," Wind said nervously, "what are you doing here?" 

Lifting a hoof, Shot Glass revealed a white plastic bag containing various contents. 

"I just thought that it would be nice to celebrate my best friends departure from the life of being single." Shot Glass spoke, "So I brought some video games and a case of beer so that we could celebrate." 

"I'm not sure how accurate that statement is." Wind answered, "Are you sure you want to play here."

Shot Glass shrugged, "Why not? We used to hang out like this all the time. Besides you deserve some sort of reward for taking a mare out and not having her kick you in the face." 

Wondering Wind sighed. While this wasn't something he expected, Wind was certain he could work around it. 

"Very well," Wind replied, "give me the beer and I can put it into the refrigerator to cool while you set up the game console." 

A large smile crossed Shot Glasses face as he pulled the six pack of beer out of the bank and gave it to Wind, "Deal!" 

Taking the beer with him into the kitchen, Wind watched Shot Glass walk into the living room out of the corner of his eye, in order to make sure that he wasn't being watched. With the coast clear, Wind finished his glass of blood and after placing it in the sink, turned on the tap to clean the glass, while he grabbed a couple glasses for the beers. Taking the ice tray out of the freezer, Wondering Wind added a few ice cubes to two glasses before pouring a can of beer into each one. 

Once the glasses were full, Wind picked up the beer and brought them out to the living room, where Shot Glass had finished setting up the game console. It was a X-Pon 3 game system that Shot Glass had purchased during a Hearth's Warming sales event, last year. The game that Shot Glass brought over was Elements of War, a futuristic third person, shooter where ponies that had colonized other planets had to deal with the treat of large, insectile monsters that intended to whip out all pony-kind. In the game the ponies would use some unique weapons including guns with circular saws attached. 

"You didn't spend all the money from your intuition for this game did you?" Wind asked as he shot one of the aliens in the game with some sort of liquid shotgun. 

"Of course not!" Shot Glass answered, "If I did, I wouldn't have enough money to buy any equipment for the gadgets I like to make." 

Wind let out a deep sigh, "You do know the whole reason you have a tuition is so you can pass through college and survive. Not so you can build bizarre gadgets, hack into cellphone apps and play video games." 

"Well, at least I have hobbies." Shot Glass grinned, "Speaking of which I am surprised that you have abandoned some of yours." 

Shot Glass was right. After becoming a vampony, Wondering Wind had quite some of his usual hobbies like martial arts, buckball and even video games. Mostly due to the fact that he no longer needed to maintain his physique and the fear that during one of these events he might accidentally bite some pony. 

"I'm thinking of trying some new things." Wind answered as another alien splattered across the screen. 

"Like what?" Shot Glass asked. Clearly he was asking only to annoy Wind, however instead of letting Shot Glass win, Wind decided to think over it. What hobbies could he take up that would work with his new life as a vampony?

"I'm not sure." Wind replied, "Maybe writing perhaps." 

"What do you mean?" Inquired Shot Glass, "Like a novel?"

"Perhaps." Writing a novel would indeed be an interesting task. 

"Well, your already one step of the way there." Shot Glass chuckled.

"How so." 

Shot Glass held up a beer can, "You already drink." 





The atmosphere in the Underdepths was dark and dismal with only the green light of the strange underground moss providing any sort of light. As Madam Scales moved toward the central cavern where all her fellow gorgonies resided a familiar shape stepped out of the darkness toward her. 

"What do you want Scarlet Coral?" Madam Scales sneered. 

The gorgony possessed colored scales that went in unique pattern. Red, yellow, black, yellow, red, etc... Much like the old nursery rhythm about the color patterns of some seaside serpents, Scarlet Coral's bite was deadly. Blind in one eye, Scarlet focuses her remaining eye on Madam Scales.

"Might I guess that you disobeyed the Blind Counsels orders and tried to go hunting on the surface again?" Scarlet asked seemingly oblivious to Scale's distaste for her. 

"What of it?" Scales growled. 

The two of them continued to walk toward the central chamber, the light growing brighter as the drew near. 

"You know there is going to come a day that they will punish you for your disobedience." Scarlet Coral spoke, "They have made it boldly clear that it isn't time for our war against the vamponies to start. The Blind Council has strict plans to insure our victory and they don't need your impatience ruining it." 

The two gorgony began to walk along the wall as Madam Scales headed toward her alcove. 

"Whatever!" Madam Scales snarled before coming to the alcove that was her home. Stepping inside she slammed the door shut and walked over to her chair. It was composed of a few statues that had been combined. One was of a female earth pony with mid length swirly mane with zig zag endings and her tail was wavy. She stood next to another statue of a stallion that had a petrified chipmunk on his shoulder. Both were oriented so that they were holding a seat cushion for Scales to sit on. 

The chair was a gift from another gorgony named Modeling Clay, who had made the chair by having some blinded diamond dogs hold the two ponies in place before turning them into stone. 

Sitting down on the chair, Madam Scales picked up a glass jar of pickle juice and with some difficulty removed the cap. With the cap removed, Scales slowly began to drink the contents of the jar. The pickle juice moved smoothly down her throat, its sour vinegar taste resting upon her tongue. The gorgony found pickle juice to be a very tasty beverage as she contemplated over what she would do next. 

Scales almost screamed as some pickle juice splashed into the cavity where he fang had once been. A loud hiss escaped the gorgony's lips. 

"One of these days I'm going to make that vampony bitch pay!" 





"Thank you for coming." Wind spoke as Shot Glass began to leave, "I enjoyed the game tonight."

"No sweat." Shot Glass said with a wide grin, "I had fun. Maybe we should do this again sometime."

"I suppose so." Wind said before closing the door. 

Walking away from Wind's apartment, Shot Glass was careful not to let his excitement show. While Wondering Wind had been preparing the beers in the kitchen, Shot Glass had managed to plant the bug in Wind's residence. Now that the bug was planted it would be easy for him to discover what was really going on with Wondering Wind. 

"Have a good night." The apartment manager said as Shot Glass left the building. 

"Good night." Shot Glass called back before stepping out into the rain. 

Now it was time to return home and listen to what ever the channel had to offer. As he walked home Shot Glass was oblivious to the hooded pony watching from atop another building.