//------------------------------// // Telltale Love // Story: A Duo of Fangs // by Bro Dash //------------------------------// "What are you doing?" Sombra picked his head up gingerly, his eyes barely adjusting to the light. He stareda t Rainbow Dash silently, then engulfed Fluttershy in a field of magic, lifting her off the ground and onto his back. "Bringing Fluttershy home. Or the closest possible building to that which she calls home. Where is she staying?" "In the hotel down the street. We're here on business. Ya know, elements of the magic of friendship and all. So, watch yaself, Sombra! If anything, we'll do to you exactly the same thing we did to discord.", she squinted at him, pushing her hoof into his chest. With a burst of magic, she were sent flying backwards and tumbled on the ground. "Don't ever take me lightly. that fool of a draconequus can't conjure aflame so much as he could convince a spark to burna forest! That damn anarchist is going to get a beating if he ever corsses me, I don't see why Celestia didn't do the same! Now! I'm not in the mood for being trifled or angry! You said Fluttershy lives in the hotel down the street, thent hat is my destination!", Sombra began the short trek to said location... Fluttershy were well asleep. Her dream weren't straightforward, and everything were blurry and hazy. As if she were barely there in that world. Yet, some images and sounds stuck like vibrantly colored glue. Perfect pictures of those exactly. One was...a handsome, dark stallion with an air of regality, well-dressed and groomed. It made Fluttershy's chest feel warm. Next to him, though...there sat a darker colored stallion. Like shadow made up his mane and pitch black were his coat's color. A jagged horn extended from his forehead, and his teeth, all of them were pointed. His eyes were white, slitted, and looked angry as all get out. These two visages simply sat next to one another. they didn't fight, didn't move, either, didn't even talk. They just existed next to one another. And then they disappeared as fluttershy woke up. To the sound of thunder and the grey light of clouds rolling far above. Rain ebgan to fall on her, as well as her transport. that moment, she found herself on someone's back, and it both feared and relaxed her both as she spotted the dark color of Sombra's coat. Ultimately, she jsut relaxed. He were carrying her gently. Fluttershy tried her best, but ultimately failed as she tried to move. Sombra's magic fixed that, repositioning her on his back to a more comfortable position. "Better?" "Y....yeah...", fluttershy said softly. "I used you. By repeating what I had said, you offered your well of magic over my own to cast the spell. I willed it, and it happened. All worries I had, which were provided by teh very touch of malice himself, were whisked away. And ti would have taken an alicorn's magical affinity to make that happen. You ahve that magical affinity and more. But you are not used to using magic, so it killed you for a moment. I kept you alive." "Why...." "Because, Fluttershy. I am evil. I barely care about others' safety and well being." "Why would you....do that to me....?" "Because...I wanted your gentle touch to make my fears go away..." Fluttershy laid her head on his neck, slowly drifting back to sleep. Sombra erected an umbrella overhead to deter the rain. The next moment Fluttershy woke up, rain were still pouring overhead. Just not on her. She were in her own hotel bed, and the sound of rain were still strong, which meant...someone had the window open. Sure enough, as Fluttershy turned her head, she found sombra int he windowsill, lounging, not on the balcony, but the railing of the balcony instead. He were soaked from mane to hoof. Where Sombra lie, he kept a regal-looking appearance and position, as if sleeping. He opened his eyes to glance at Fluttershy, then closed them again. "You've been asleep for two hours. Which is impressive. Draining Twilight of her amgical reserves the same way I had done to you, should've left her asleep for half a day. Are you tired?" "Mmm...", fluttershy shifted under the covers. "No.", she closed ehr eyes, letting the last tidbits of sleep ebb away. "Are you content where you are?" Fluttershy opened her eyes, gazing upon Zombra. She nodded. "Good.", he smiled. "Why are you on the blacony?" "More so, te railing, some people ask." "You do this frequently?" "More often than you'd think. Everyone has their personal preference for a seat or place to lounge. Mine is upon the railing of a balcony. On the brink. Death on one side, life on the other. If you were to take it to the extremes....", Zombra stood up on said railing, hopping down. He shook himself violently, sluffing off most of the water, then witha bit of magic, dried himself completely, approaching Fluttershy. "Can I have a smile?", he smiled at the vanilla mare. Fluttershy shied away. "You are namesake. I'll fetch something to eat. You must be famished." As if on cue, Fluttershy's own stomach groaned. Nonsense! Se ate shortly before meeting with Rarity, two hours couldn't have....Then again, Sombra did use her like a magic battery.... "Something sweet.", Fluttershy pulled the covers closer. "Fruit it is.", Sombra marched off. Took him but a few minutes to return. When he did, Sombra found fluttershy...on the edge of the balcony. Where he were but moments before. She were looking out on the Canterlot proper, watching the rain pour down from overhead like a massive deluge. Her mane were soaked, and trailed down her sides, pooling on the balcony like a pink river. "Sampling the danger of living on the edge?", Sombra asked as he approached. Fluttershy gasped, then stepped down quickly, shaking herself free of the water that soaked her coat. Sombra set the tray of uncut fruits on the nigthstand, approaching the drenched vanilla mare with a soft expression of happiness. She shied away once she parted her mane to see. "My dear fluttershy, what would you have to fear?" "Y-you!", she backed up to the edge of the rain. Lightning struck behind her, and she jumped, training her eyes on sombra. She began to shiver. It mayhaps be out of fear more than the cold of the rain. Sombra sighed. "Then I have a choice to make.", he pulled one of the towels from it's place by the door, magicking it to Fluttershy. He dried her mane first, then began drying her coat. "Why are you doing this?", Fluttershy asked. "You don't want to catch a cold, do you? Many a pegasi has gotten sick from ignoring the age old saying. Especially when flying through the rain. If it wasn't evident now, then I should admit it. I have an affection for you, Fluttershy. And I care about your well being. Thats much more to say for you than the remainder of this world. Porbably including myself...", he finished drying her coat and tail. Next, he balsted her coat with a hot magical wind, giving her a once down to completely dry her. And she looked so fluffy, now. It brought a smile to Sombra's features. "I hada d ream last night...About you...", Fluttershy moved away from Sombra, cautiously walking around him. "Go on.", Sombra enticed. "There were...two of you. A handsome young stallion that I...I-I...", she blushed. "He were next to...another you. A demon." "Stop right there. Please. I've had this nightmare too many times to relive it anymore than I have to." "You...you've had this dream before?" "Hopefully you didn't dream that which I did. I always found that demonic version of myself tearing my innocent half to bloody shreds, feasting on his heart, tearing out his...", Sombra halted. Fluttershy had a hoof over her mouth. "I'm sorry, I went too far. I did bring fruit. Nothing which I will tease you over.", He levitated a peach over to fluttershy, and she grabbed it, biting into it greedily. Fluttershy damn near attacked the fruit, taking hungry bites of it until nothing remained. When she were finished, she were breathing raggedly, her eyes were red, and those fangs Sombra loves so much...as pronounced as they've ever been. "May I interest you in more?", Sombra levitated the full tray closer. "I would rather you feed me.", Fluttershy crawled onto the bed, lounging ont he pillows. Her mane were still partially soaked, and her coat, freshyl dried. She looekd fluffy and unkempt. With a small smile, Sombra stepped onto the ebd as well, lying on th opposite end as he set teh tray between them. And fed her as she requested. Bar none to the vampiric fruit loving half of herself that Sombra craved so much. Sombra gave her every bit of what she wanted. Whent he tray were empty, he set it aside. Only tidbits of fruit left. Fluttershy didn't look like she were finished, though. "Is there more?", she asked. "It would be best not to feed the animal inside you. You ahve two minds melding into one. If not eased into this, you will lose who you are. The magic holding you as...well, you, is waning. Twilight was never able to fix it int he first place, it would eventually lead to the same outcome, and that would be you slowly turning into a...vampire bat mare. Granted, her first attempt would have taken years, if not, half a decade, and you would slowly change. But since my meddling, it has made things....unstable. You have to work with me if you want to stay who you are." fluttershy eyed him vigilantly. "You...look so beautiful, I would love for you to never change...but I can't be selfish. Tell em your name." "Fluttershy." "Yet, you don't feel shy, do you?" "No." "You feel instead...confident, or rather, agitated." "Agitated. There is no more fruit." "Allow me to refine my previously made spell. Like putting a costume on a costume.", Sombra's horn glowed a dim red as he began piecing the spell together. "And if I don't want to change?", she sat up. "Who you are is determined by what you were, not what you will be. Whom you decide you become should never be influenced by anything other than you. In this case, it is a backfired spell warping your mind." "Backfired? I'm rather upset that it was cast in the frist palce!" "Oh, it seems the spell is breaking down rather swiftly." "Why would you try to suppress me? You have an affection for me.", she said in a smooth tone. "Yous aid so yourself!", she said in a much harsher tone. "I have an affection for the gentle, pretty mare you are. Not this beast you are hiding." Her expression softened. "You're the element of kindness...the gentle touch of care and forgiveness. I think that's what I need now more than ever. I think...I think it's time to give up the dark arts." Fluttershy's features dimmed back a little, seemign softer. "You...you would do that?" "For me...and for you.", he admitted. "For me?", she blushed. Sombra smiled. "There she is." Fluttershy giggled slightly, blushing deeper as she faux stole away. "This conversation must hold more weight to you than usual.", Sombra's horn dimmed down further until it fixled out. "The spell needed to rewrap your mind is ready, but only necessary if we both fail. Fluttershy, if you want to be who you are, then you need to accept what you are turning into, and must come to even terms with this new mindset forcing it's way into your own. Believe me when I say, you are going to speak to this other version of yourself. Mayhaps in a mirror more often than any way else." "Why?" "It's because magic cannot fix everything. A mare who knew nothign of th esubject....ruined any opportunity to fix the problem compltely. A stallion with pride that he coudl do better...unraveled the first cast and weaved his own over it, making the subject as a whole, unstable. Magical instability isn't uncommon or rare. It is an every day thing. For everyone. And exhausting your reservoir of magic has probably made the spells used even that much more unstable.", Sombra sighed. "If we fail, I'm going to ask Celestia for help. If Twilight gives it a second attempt, it will probably permanently lock you in a state of vampiric hunger, and none of us will be able to return you to what you once were." "I forgive you.", Fluttershy sighed. "Forgive me?" "For making a mistake.", she smiled. "We can't allb e perfect. Plus, you're the only stallion who's ever gotten close to me long enough...to...uhm...", she blushed. "I won't press, but I think I understand." "I've just...never...had a stallion be so nice to me, before..." "Really? With that beautiful mane, perfect coat, that cute smile, I'm baffled that I'm the first to give you the time of day." "It...doesn't help that I live so far away from everyone." "Well, I will vist every day. How's that sound?" "I think I'd like that.", fluttershy beamed. "Remember, that mare can show up out of nowhere. Even right when I leave this room. If you ever ened help, I can be there in but a moment." Fluttershy nodded. Sombra picked up the tray in his magic, and hopped down off the bed. "I will be back with more fruit." As sombra left, Twilight took his place in the room, bounding in swiftly. "Fluttershy! there you are! Rainbow Dash told me he took you here!" 'It's ok, Twilight, I'm fine.", Fluttershy smiled. "But you're as batty as you've ever looked! The only thing that hasn't changed is your wings!" "It's ok!", fluttershy assured her. "Sombra is helping me. I think I'm starting to like him..." Twilight felt a chil run down her spine. Or rather...not a chill, but a discomfort. This feeling is foreign. "Fluttershy, he's a danger to anyone around him, especially with his connection to the dark arts." Fluttershy still smiled. "He told me he would give up black magic." "What?! But I still don't- I can't let this- No, I just found the damend Door! I've been trying to study this subject of magic for years!" "And it will end before we make the next contract. I'm writing a new one presently.", Sombra entered the room. A quill and parchment were behind him, dipping itself in and out of his shoulder repeatedly to continue writing. "No! You can't just dngle this in front of me, and then take it away, you sick....bastard!!!", Twilight barked. A round of silence entered the room as Sombra finished the contract, rolled it up, then healed his small shoulder wound. "The forces of light and dark have ever fought one another. It's never stopped. Let me ask you something. Why? What practical use would you ahve of black magic, a dangerous art, in this day and age of the friendship of amgic?" "Magic of friendship!", Twilight corrected. "And-" "I don't care what it's called." "I could use it for-" "Nothing that which could be done by regular magic or even whit emagic! Villains get power so much more easily, and quicker, too, but here's some information for you, lil filly. Playing the villain sucks. Why in Equestria would you want to be hated, when you can be loved and revered?" "I-I wouldn't be hated! I wouldn't use this magic-" "For evil purposes? Guess what. The dark masters themselves take up the age old saying, 'Never expect a fair fight', and they take it to the extreme. Everything that gives them the edge against the light, anything that gives them the advantage or winning ticket, they take it without hesitation, or make it come to them that much swifter! The onyl dark master whom does not have evil motives is Dark Master Grim himself! And he is but a simple neutral aprty. He doesn't act for the greater good! Now stop pestering me about black magic, give up this foalish idea of lernign all arts of magic just for the sake of having all magic at your disposal, and grow up! You want to start a war over Equestria between ligth and dark, the go ahed! The door is right there!", Sombra's horn sparked to life, slamming and openign the door tot he room, leading not to the hall outside, but the dark abyss. Twilight didn't budge. "The Dark Masters will find a way to take over your mind and body. They don't always honor their contracts. They twist each contract as best they can so that they may benefit from it, wheres your benefits are but something of a sideffect. If anything, Master Syphon would eat you, consume your magic, then start a war on his own, starting with devouring as many ponies as he could, beginning with the most powerful. You're an alicorn, and so is Celestia. All it would take is thirty seconds, and an illusory spell to make him look like you. Equestria would fall.", he slammed the Door. Twilight turned her gaze down. "The people who yell at you the most want the best for you. Believe me when I say, I am as good as you are, I was, and will still be. My mind was simpyl warped by the masters of darkness. Why they brought me back to life is beyond me. It may actually have been my own black magic resurrecting me, or Celestia herself, I do not know, I do not care. I watched an entire kingdom fall before me, watching helplessly as something which controlled my body took said kingdom over and made every pony he could make, suffer. I'm done with evil, I'm done with suffering, I'm done with being alone. I have a chance to live a normal life, and this is me seizing it by the reigns. Don't EVER ask me anything about the dark arts. And I'm going to steel myself to confront Celestia herself to let her know exactly what you've been getting into." Twilight's gaze snapped to Sombra. "What better way to discipline a foal than to tell their teacher?" "Sombra, that is enough.", fluttershy piped. Sombra turned his gaze to the batty mare, lockign himself within her fierce gaze. "Leave." Sombra didn't retort, or make a comment. He simply listened, turned, and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him. "Fluttershy...", Twilight turned to the manilla mare. She simply laid down, curled herself up comfortably, then rested where she were. On a bed of pillows, feral as she had ever looked. Twilight bolted out the door.