The Nightmare Blessing (Rewritten)
Chapter 10: Disaster in the Forest
Written by PixelMoon
My friends' voices were only getting closer to where Luna and I stood. I felt my eyes dilate and my breathing got heavy.
I turned my head to my mom. "What are we going to do?!" I said in a whispered shout.
Luna frowned and glanced in the direction that their voices were coming from. She sighed and looked down. "They're far enough to just be able to hear us if we talked normally, do they're almost here. The least we can do on such short notice is to try to hide."
"Hide?! Hide where?!" I almost shrieked.
Luna glanced up at the trees above us and looked back down at me. I immediately looked paler. "You've got to be kidding."
Luna shook her head sadly. "They will find us easily on the ground. I know you don't know how to fly yet, but your wings can hold you up there."
I grunted and walked up to the closest tree and jumped. Luna went to a tree parallel of mine.
I reached the branches of the tree and tried to hook onto a branch with the talons of my bat wings. I luckily had luck on my side, and hooked on, though just barely.
I could see upside down while like this. I could see Luna staring at me, and just made out a proud smile before she looked at the ground.
My ears twitched as I heard a voice again. I looked down as well to see Pinkie Pie happily bouncing along. She looked behind her and shouted at the rest of the group.
"Come on, guys! My Pinkie Sense is really tingling now! I think Twilight is around here!"
My heart dropped. It took everything I had not to freak out again.
Eventually, Applejack, Rarity, and Spike came into view. Rainbow Dash flew down and landed in front of the group as Fluttershy slowly walked up to the rest of the group.
"Spread out, gals. If Pinkie's weird magical sense is goin' off, then Twi has got to be 'ere somewhere," Applejack stated.
I silently gulped and prayed that they would not find us. All of my friends began to search through the bushes and holes in the trees for any sign of me.
I froze when Pinkie walked up to the tree I was in. As if she was a dog, she began to sniff around the tree and eyes it thoughtfully before shrugging and turning away.
My friends kept searching before Rainbow eyed the top of the trees. "Do you guys think Twilight somehow got on top of the trees?"
Rarity looked at the tree next to Luna. "Hmm, it could be a possibility, but how could she get up there?"
"I kinda doubt it, girls. I mean, she's a unicorn, I think she would be on the ground," Applejack said.
Rainbow nodded and continued to look in a hole on a tree.
After some time, Spike spoke. "Do you guys think this is a lost cause? We still haven't found her. Maybe Pinkie's Pinkie Sense was wrong."
I sighed in relief silently. However, that relief was quickly turned into alarm when I felt my wing talon slip.
My eyes widened and my heart threatened to beat out of my chest. Luna stared at me alarmingly, having heard me gasp when I started to slip.
This was my first time hanging upside down, and I was hanging there for a long time. Of course I was going to fall! Damn it! I should have known!
One of my talons completely slipped, which made me jump in surprise and cause the other one to slip. I tried to grab back onto the branch, but missed it narrowly.
I screeched as I fell from the tree, catching everypony's attention. I could see and hear Luna gasp from her tree.
I hit the ground headfirst with a painful thud. I heard immediate silence afterwards as I just laid on the forest floor, my black wings hanging from my sides.
I heard hoofsteps come towards me. Soon enough, I felt a hoof on my back.
"Twilight?"
I squeaked and shut my eyes while covering my face with my wings.
"Twilight, look at me."
I felt my wings move unwillingly by magic. My chin was gently lifted with a hoof. I slowly opened my red eyes to meet Rarity staring at me with concern.
"Darling, are you okay?"
I couldn't find my voice and could only shudder. Rarity waited patiently for me to speak.
"It's okay, Twilight. None of us would hurt you. We just want our friend back."
"R -Rarity..." I croaked out before yelping in pain as I tried to move.
Suddenly, a blue blur filled my vision as I was tackled. I yelped in more pain.
"Are you okay, Twilight? I'm so sorry you fell!" I was thrown into a hug by Luna, who had flown down at the speed of light when I had yelped.
Rarity had jumped back when Luna dove down onto me. Everyone looked even more confused than before.
"Princess Luna?! Where did you come from?! And why do you care so much about Twilight?" I heard Rainbow yell.
I only snuggled into my mother's fur and closed my eyes in pain. Luna examined my head and body for injuries before I felt Luna nuzzle me.
"My star... I'm so sorry you got hurt."
That only made everyone else even more confused. I smiled weakly and spoke. "Thanks, mom."
I heard everyone gasp. A few of my friends mumbled words like, "mother!? Since when?!" I tried to chuckle, but hissed in pain instead.
I whimpered into Luna as a tear rolled down my cheek. "It hurts, mom..."
Luna's eyes got watery and she had a look of concern on her face. She looked at my neck and gasped.
Since I came down headfirst, my neck had gotton slammed onto the ground. There was blood flowing freely and cuts everywhere. If I wasn't a vampony, I probably wouldn't have survived.
All of my friends gasped and I heard someone run towards me. I opened my eyes to see Fluttershy, looking over my neck.
"Oh no! Princess Luna, we need to get her to a hospital! No wonder it was hurting her to speak, her vocal cords had been ripped and some bones, along with her esophagus had been severely damaged!"
Luna stared at Fluttershy with a shocked expression. She looked back at me and a sad expression.
"Twilight, you need blood. You need it now. We don't have time to hunt down an animal. I'm sorry, bit you have to drink from one of your friends."
I opened my mouth to gasp, but no sound came out. Luna stared at me with concern for the hundredth time that night.
My mother spoke gently. "Would anyone here be willing to give blood to Twilight?"
Spike immediately ran forward. Luna frowned slightly. "A baby dragon?"
" I vowed to take care of Twilight with her blood issue since I knew. How could I not give blood now? Vampire or pony, she's still my sister somehow. "
Luna smiled at Spike, and I couldn't help but do the same. My mother turned to me. "Do you mind?"
I thought about it, but in the end, nodded. "I owe him."
Luna nodded and gestured for Spike to follow her. They both walked up to my bleeding form with the content of healing me.
"This is going to hurt, dragon. I'm sorry in advance."
Spike nodded hesitantly and held out his neck. Luna levitated him onto my stomach.
I instinctively opened my mouth, fangs in all of their glory. Spike winced, which caused me to be filled with guilt. "I'm so sorry, Spike." I whispered before slowly pulling my dragon brother closer.
"J -just do it," he murmured.
I felt my teeth on his scales. I tried to pierce through his scales, but since they were tougher than any other creature, I was unable to.
I pulled back and couldn't help but growl. I pulled Spike forcefully into my mouth and bit down on his neck. Hard.
Spike yelped as I pierced through his scales and into his flesh. Warm blood filled my mouth. I swallowed the blood and already felt better.
I let myself get lost in Spike's blood. It was just so good! After a minute or so, I heard someone say my name.
I lazily opened an eye to see my mother looking concerned. I suddenly remembered who I was drinking from.
I threw Spike off of me and into Luna's arms. I felt a little woozy from the quick motion, and fell back onto the ground in a heap.
Luna gave Spike to Fluttershy and went to check back on me. She smiled for a moment, before frowning again.
"The dragon's blood helped tremendously, but it isn't enough. She needs more."
" And Spike isn't in any condition to give more... " Fluttershy said quietly.
"I can't give her any, I'm a vampony too. Can somepony else give any blood?" Luna asked.
It was silent for a few moments before someone cleared their throat.
"I will."
Rarity trotted towards me, much to my surprise. She was the one pony who was scared of me still. Yet, here she was, volunteering to be bitten by me.
"R-rarity... No..." I said with a hoarse voice.
Rarity gently put a hoof to my lips. "We have to face our fears somehow."
In that moment, something stirred inside of me. A bubbly warm feeling. My mind was numb, and all I could feel was my heart beating.
Beautiful.
"Are you ready, Twilight?"
I shook my head and blinked a few times. "Y-yes."
Rarity leaned over and carefully moved her hair out of the way of her neck. When she settled, she spoke again.
"I am ready, Twilight ."
I breathed in slowly, then breathed out, wincing at the pain. I gently pulled Rarity towards my mouth, shaking in the process.
My first pony prey, and it was Rarity.
I almost had an anxiety attack.
"Just do it, darling," Rarity said .
I nodded and bit down. Rarity gasped, causing me to almost pull back. Rarity would not let me, however, and placed her hoof over mine.
Rarity's blood flowed into my mouth, filling my tastebuds with a new sensation.
I could practically taste Rarity's magic, and it was intoxicating.
I could taste the beauty, the magic, and I could feel myself take some of Rarity's self away.
It was amazing. I wanted more.
I NEEDED more.
You know, if you drink more from Rarity, she'll bend to your will easier.
What? Did I just think that?
Kind of. I am your anxiety, Twilight. I influence a lot of your thinking, and I want you to do several things. Don't even think of me as your anxiety. Think of me as.... Your best friend in the world!
R-right... Friend... What are you doing here?
Oh nothing much, just saying hello. Carry on...
Huh. That was weird. Did I space out? What was I doing last? It's... So... Hard... To remember...
"T-twilight..."
Oh, right! Rarity!
I released Rarity from my grasp, licking the access blood away. Rarity collapsed into my arms.
I was suddenly feeling a lot better. I got off the ground without shaky legs, which made everypony present gasp in awe, aside from Luna.
I looked up, my eyes glowing a bright healthy red. I grinned at everyone, fangs showing.
"I feel SO much better! But help Rarity! And Spike, they both need it." I stated before giving Rarity to Fluttershy.
Luna rose an eyebrow at my slightly unusual perky attitude. I started the walk to the castle, and gestured for everypony to follow.
We all began the walk to my home.
I galloped though the doors of the castle, Spike on my back, while Rarity was being carried by Fluttershy and Rainbow.
"Quickly! They need to rest!" I exclaimed as I ran to my room. Everyone followed quickly behind, and once everyone was in, I levitated Spike and Rarity to my bed with easy ease.
They slept soundly, and I left them to rest.
I was reading a book in the library when Pinkie Pie slammed the door open.
"TWILIGHT! RARITY AND SPIKE ARE AWAKE!" she shouted.
I smiled with glee. I couldn't wait to thank them for helping me! I nodded at Pinkie, and we both ran to my room.
I opened the door, getting everypony's attention. Rarity was grinning at me with the utmost enthusiasm, while Spike smiled widely.
Rarity tried to get out of bed, but failed. She instead spoke to me.
"Hello, Mistress! Thank you for greeting me this fine night! I hope you are having a great night as well! "
...
W-WHAT?!