//------------------------------// // Prelude: Dance in the Vampire Pony Bund // Story: Art of War Dresses // by Fullmetal Pony //------------------------------// Fog snaked through the Sweet Apple Acres’ orchards. Rarity tread through her row of trees, scanning the branches above and the roots by the ground with both magic and flashlight. Her hoof squished into something and she shuddered. She pulled her hoof out of the mushy remains of an apple and sighed. “Oh, I just want this night to be over with,” she said while scrapping the mushed apple off on a nearby root. One of the triangular patterns on the dress moved around to gaze up at her. “As do I. This is taking time away from work.” “I know, dear,” Rarity groaned. “Hopefully we put all this awful bat business to be—” Something rustled the branches above them. Belle Sang’s “eyes” shot up and caught a glimpse of something darting through the trees. The moonlight and the branches twisted its form but the shadow it cast betrayed its size. “That is not a bat,” Sang muttered. He looked up at Rarity. “We should follow it.” “Before it gets to the girls.” Rarity felt goosebumps run up her legs. She took a breath and pricked up her ears. The rustling was faint now, but still audible when Rarity concentrated. Twigs snapped every couple of seconds and branches creaked as something caused them to bend and crack. Rarity spun around and sharpened her eyes. Most of the trees around her lacked most of their leaves, as if an early frost had taken hold of them, so whatever was up there should have been easy to spot. Yet, there were just barren limbs. The further the trees were from Rarity to her right, the more leaves and apples remained on them. The girls had used this somewhat organized decimation when they had split up: Rarity had taken the most desolate row since it was the easiest to navigate at night while Applejack had taken the most untouched row due to her familiarity with the land. A desire to protect the crop had likely been a contributing factor as well. Rarity’s eyes locked onto a distortion in the sky where no stars shown. It dashed through the air and soared deeper into the thicker trees where the apples remained. Rarity lifted her flashlight up towards the sky and broke into a gallop. “We should change,” said Sang. “We need to wait!” Rarity replied. She cast a glance down at the end of her left sleeve. A metallic circle that meshed with the fabric held the sleeve firm against her leg. Rarity looked forward. A beam of orange light drew her attention upward. She came to a halt and gulped. Applejack’s cutie mark wavered within the orange light. The signal shook back and forth. Rarity shot her right hoof toward the circle on her left sleeve and flicked the switch built into it. Tiny needles shot out of the device and into her leg, just deep enough to draw blood. The blood flowed up and into the Sang’s fibers. An array of ruby sparkles rushed over Rarity and Sang. Sang’s sleeves receded, leaving Rarity’s front legs bare, save for the straps that connected to the angular boots that materialized around her hooves. Her skirt shrank down and tightened until it resembled a thong that curved around her tail and connected to the rest of Sang through another strap that ran along Rarity’s spine. Sang’s torso morphed from a flowing blouse to a skimpy set of frills and fabric that formed a v-line that plunged down Rarity’s chest until it connected with the Sang’s bottom piece in the front. The only part of Sang that grew were his “eyes” that went from decorations on Rarity’s chest to massive shoulder guards that dwarfed Rarity’s head. The light of the transformation faded. Rarity crouched and then exploded off of the ground, leaving a crater in her wake. As she flew past the trees, she drew one of the crimson scissor halves she kept tucked in her mane. It grew in size until its length was as long as Rarity herself. Another kick into the ground rocketed Rarity into the small clearing. Applejack stood still gaping up at a tree. Pinkie was up in the tree and prodding a large leathery mass that had attached itself to a branch. Rarity spotted Twilight and Rainbow Dash galloping and flying into the clearing through the corner of her eye. All of them advanced on the tree just as Pinkie’s prodding forced the mass to open up. Everypony gasped seeing Fluttershy reveal herself from behind the leathery wings. The fire in her now-crimson eyes and the way her newly-grown fangs glistened with apple juice sent a chill down everypony’s spine. “That’s not Fluttershy.” Rarity raised her scissor blade. “That’s Flutterbat!” Flutterbat glared down and hissed, causing Pinkie to fall to the ground. “We’ve got to get her down from there!” said Twilight. “Fluttershy, sweetness,” Rarity pleaded. “Please come down… and do stop being a vampire bat.” Flutterbat hissed again. “She's hungry,” said Sang. “We should take her out fast.” “I know, but…” Rarity glanced at her blade and spun it around so the blunt side faced outward. She then looked to Twilight. “Please tell me you have a non-violent way of solving this.” “I think I do, bu—” Another hiss cut Twilight off. Flutterbat swooped down. Everypony ducked. “Flutterbat on the loose!” Pinkie screamed and jumped up. Her legs flailed beneath her, creating a small hole that she fell into. “She’s gonna eat us!” “Calm down, Pinkie!” said Applejack. She glanced up to see that Flutterbat was back on her branch. “She’s not gonna eat us! Even regular vampire bats don’t eat ponies.” “But what about vampire ponies?” Pinkie squealed. “I’m not taking any chances!” Pinkie turned her head down. Her mane twisted around itself and then spun into a blur. It whirled until it met the dirt and then cleared it out of the way. Pinkie burrowed away and disappeared into her tunnel. Everypony was silent for a moment. Sang had the feeling at the back of his stitching there was something familiar about the whole scene, but he brought his attention back to Flutterbat, as did everypony else. “Twilight, you were saying?” A bead of sweat rolled down Rarity’s face. “And please say it quick before I have to get forceful with Fluttershy.” “I think the spell we used jumbled Fluttershy’s Stare with the bat’s desire for apples. I can undo the spell, but I need to hold Fluttershy still.” “Hit the deck!” Dash called out. Flutterbat buzzed them again and then took to another branch. “Okay, so we just gotta hold her down, right?” “Yeah…” Twilight’s eyes fogged up. Dash took to the air and smacked her front hooves together. “Alright, nothing to it. She may be looking a little rougher than normal, but I can take Fluttershy any day!” “You just need to keep her still while I charge up the spell.” Twilight gulped and looked up at her horn. “For five minutes.” “Oh…” Dash’s wings drooped. A hiss forced them up again. Dash bolted upwards. Bits of rainbow tail hair now dangled from Flutterbat’s fangs. She hissed again and then took off. “After her!” Applejack shouted. “On it!” Dash bolted off in Flutterbat’s direction. She glanced back when she heard the roar of rockets. Rarity zoomed by Dash. Twilight followed close behind. “I really hate that dress sometime,” Dash muttered. “But it and Rarity have the best shot at catching up with Fluttershy!” said Twilight. Ahead of them, the wind whipped around Rarity and Sang. Flutterbat was just a few yards ahead now. Her sharpened ears twitched at the sound of the flames blazing out of Sang. She twisted around and snarled at Rarity. “Fluttershy!” Rarity bent her blade back. “This is no way for a proper mare to act!” Flutterbat hissed and barreled toward Rarity. “And neither is this,” Rarity sighed and closed her eyes. Her horn blazed with magic and sent the blade straight at Flutterbat. A sharp twang echoed throughout Ponyville. Flutterbat glared down at the blade caught between her fangs and then up at Rarity. “Oh,” Rarity and Sang both said. Flutterbat snapped her head around and flung Rarity towards the ground. The air distorted around Rarity and grew hot. In the downspin, she managed to find her bearings and shifted her hindlegs toward the ground. Sang’s rockets sprung to life, scorching the ground below and halting Rarity’s fall. Rarity looked up to see Dash send out of hoof that nicked Flutterbat’s cheek. A leathery wing smacked into Dash and sent her flying across the sky. Twilight floated a good distance back with her eyes closed while magic coalesced around her horn. Rarity pulled out the other scissor half from her mane and enlarged it. She pulled both blades to her sides and then raced back into the fray. Flutterbat’s ears twitched and she threw herself at Rarity. One blade flew up and smacked Flutterbat on the jaw while the other dug into her torso. Flutterbat let out a pained gasp and faltered for a moment. Then, the fire returned to her eyes and she knocked the wind out of Rarity with a swift kick. The force of the blow spiraled Rarity down a few feet but she managed to stay airborne. “To think she was hiding this much power,” said Sang. “Never…” Rarity gulped down some air. “... underestimate the quiet ones.” Flutterbat dove at Rarity. Her hooves clashed against the blades’ dull edges while the sharpened sides glistened and pushed a little closer to Rarity. “First rule of Flight School…” Rainbow Dash rammed into Flutterbat’s side, sending her in a spiral away from Rarity. “Always be aware of your surroundings.” Dash grinned at Rarity. “Second rule of Flight School, I’m the be—” Flutterbat rose up behind Dash and let out a bloodcurdling screech. She lifted her front legs high and then brought then down on Dash. Dash turned into a blue blur and careened toward the ground. She barreled into one of Rarity’s blades and sent it flying off into the distance. Her downspin sent her arcing behind some trees before a loud crash rang through Sweet Apple Acres. “That’s enough, Fluttershy!” Rarity shouted. She leveled her blade at Flutterbat. She glanced down at Sang. “We need a plan.” “I might have something.” Sang looked over at Flutterbat and then down at the orchards below. “But I’ll need a little bit more of your blood.” “Fine, if it can put an end to this!” Flutterbat surged forward and slammed her hooves against Rarity’s blade. It quivered within Rarity’s grasp. “Sang…” Sweat trickled down Rarity’s face. “That plan?” “Working on it!  Just have to.... There!” Rarity’s left shoulder twitched. Her skin in that area grew hot while the muscles underneath turned cold. Parts of Sang’s fibers shot up for its design, twisted, and coalesced into a deep crimson apple. Flutterbat’s eyes widened, her mouth gaped open and she twisted toward the apple. Her fangs dug into the fruit, which then exploded into a mesh of fibers. They flew out around Flutterbat and then curved back into Sang. For a brief moment, they floated in the air around Flutterbat and Rarity and then snapped back. Flutterbat found herself enclosed in a thick cocoon with only her head and the tips of legs sticking out. She struggled against the fibers and snapped at Rarity, but the entrapment held. “Twilight!” Rarity called out. “Almost there,” Twilight muttered. Sweat poured down her face. A great orb of magic swirled above her head. The orb pulsated and Twilight’s eyes flared open. “Now!” she shouted and sent the magic straight at Flutterbat. The magic flew into Flutterbat and spiraled up her form, encasing her in a second cocoon. When the magic fully covered her, it flashed bright and then dispersed into a cloud of ethereal bats. When Rarity’s eyes cleared, she could see Fluttershy was still in Sang’s grasp but now unconscious. Rarity let out a sigh, drifted to the ground, and put Fluttershy down. Twilight joined them and looked down at Fluttershy. Fluttershy’s wings, ears, and cutie mark were back to normal. It was difficult to tell if her fangs were gone due to the blood smeared over her muzzle. “Okay,” Twilight sighed, looking over the various bruises and swollen areas that riddled Fluttershy’s body. Her horn lit up. “I can treat the minor stuff here, but we’ll probably have to get her to the hospital to deal with whatever blood vessels we broke in her jaw. “Oh, Fluttershy, I am so so—” “That’s actually mine,” Rarity stated. She lifted a hoof and pointed at one of Sang’s eyes. “I’m a little lightheaded, but I’m sure that was a bloody good apple.” Rarity giggled at her own pun while Twilight groaned. Their attention then shifted to a nearby rustle. Pinkie Pie, Spike, and Applejack raced out of a thick row of trees and came to a halt before the others. Applejack’s face went white seeing the blood and bruises Fluttershy was covered in. “Oh, what have I done? I should have just put up with those bats.” She took a breath. “Well, I’ll make sure Fluttershy gets the best care she can imagine.” “It’s really not that bad,” Twilight explained. She glanced down at the blood covering Fluttershy’s muzzle. “A bit macabre though. I’ll have to add that ability to my notes though.” Applejack shifted her hat around. “So… she’s just a little roughed up then?” Twilight nodded. Applejack fell to her knees and let out a sniffle. “Thank Equestria. I’ll take a million vampire bats over ever doing something this stupid again.” Fluttershy murmured and twisted her head around. She smacked her lips, lapping up some of the blood. She managed to raise her upper body off the ground, blinked, and looked at everypony gathered around her. “What happened?” she asked. “You turned into a vampire pony!” Pinkie exclaimed. “Oh dear,” Fluttershy gasped. “Um… why do I taste iron?” “Well…” Rarity glanced to the side. “You see, dear…” “Did… did we fight?” Fluttershy turned pale. “A bit,” Rarity said, drawing out the two words and avoiding looking directly at Fluttershy. “We, uh, should probably find Dash and my other blade though, hopefully they aren't too far away. Oh, and we should definitely get you cleaned up.” “I’ll say,” said Pinkie. She pulled out a mirror in front of Fluttershy. “You look like you’ve eaten the world’s ickiest cherry pi—” Fluttershy’s eyes rolled to the back of her head at the sight of seeing her face drenched in blood. She collapsed back to the ground. A jittery smile spread across Pinkie’s face and some sweat collected on her brow. “Oopsie.” “Well, let’s find Dash and then get Fluttershy back to the barn. We can get everypony cleaned up there,” said Applejack. “Think in the morning it’ll be nice to put the big apple to use.” “I’ll pass. With all this vampire apple pony bat stuff, I could go a while without apples.” Spike rubbed an eye. “For now though, there’s a nice bed waiting back at the library with my name on it.” “It has been quite a night.” Twilight smiled. “Okay, Spike, you get off to bed. I’ll be back as soon as we’re sure Rainbow Dash is fine and we get everyone cleaned up.” “Is it too late to second Spike on not having apples for a while?” Dash croaked. Everyone spun around to see Dash wobble out of the trees. Apple juice and mush slopped off of her. Her cheeks flushed red when she turned toward Applejack. “You, uh, want the good news or the bad news first?” “Do I really want to know either?” Applejack asked. “Well, I at least found out giant apples are kinda good at breaking a fall.” A wide shaky grin spread across Dash’s face. Pinkie giggled, then Spike chuckled, Rarity was unable to hide a grin and neither could Twilight while Sang snickered. Applejack readjusted her hat and gave a hearty laugh. Anypony that had been awoken by the disturbance had to wonder if Discord was up to something nefarious at Sweet Apple Acres or if Applejack was just on another one of her sleep deprivation benders. ~~~ Spike stared at his bed. The bottom half of it was cleaved in two while the upper half was slowly being torn apart by a giant scissor blade. He nabbed the partially split blanket from off the bed and sighed. “Well, at least I get Twilight’s bed to myself until she gets back.”