Rainbow Dash blinked her still red eyes open to find herself on Starlight Glimmer's bed in Twilight's castle. Chrysalis stared at her with a neutral expression before smiling. "Master, you're awake," she greeted, in her default golden form. The changeling friend noticed that there was no automatic enchantment from the vampire, taking that as a good sign.
"Chryssy?" asked a confused Rainbow Dash, as she began to sit up. "What are you doing here?" She rubbed her head, then felt the gold crown. "Oh, my crown is still on me."
"Yes," Chrysalis answered. "It is still day. Night and the next genuine sunrise have not yet transpired since your berserk triggered. So—"
"Time?" Rainbow demanded though Chrysalis knew to expect this shortness from what Starlight predicted. The mev now sat fully upright in the bed.
"Three o'clock in the afternoon," Chrysalis replied.
"Oh," Rainbow remarked. "Well, what are you doing here in Starlight's room?"
"Everyone, myself included, deemed me the safest creature to greet you since I am your present client and friend," Chrysalis explained. "We weren't sure how your mood would be once you awoke. Starlight suspects you'll be more aggressive and snippy until your berserk would truly be over. Your crown is simply containing it to help you think more clearly, be in more control. As I'm told, Jin relayed this plan to Sweetie Belle at some point, upon her request."
Rainbow stared down thoughtfully. "Good job, Rhezenda," she muttered." She tapped her forehooves together, staring at them, and then looked up to ask sincerely, "Can I eat your magic?"
Before Chrysalis could answer with a good-humored smile, Starlight Glimmer teleported into the room in a flash, with Sweetie Belle at her side. "Master!" Starlight greeted with a huge smile. She embraced Rainbow tightly in a hug. "How are you feeling? Are you okay? We didn't hurt you at all, did we?" She fired off the questions rapid, worried succession.
Rainbow Dash chuckled and fluttered herself up out of the bed, then landed on the floor. She put a hoof to Starlight's withers. "I am pleased to see you, Primeva. You did well." The master mev placed the hoof down and then looked at Sweetie Belle with an approving gaze. "You too, Rhezenda."
Sweetie Belle smiled up sweetly and in relief. "I just figured I should ask him," she replied modestly. "Thanks, Master." Rainbow Dash reached out her forelimb, and they hugged.
Starlight herself breathed a huge sigh of relief too. That was enough. "How hungry are you?"
"Hungry enough to ask," Chrysalis informed Starlight in a low voice. Her tone was a dry, knowing one though not meant in anger.
"Master, she is a client and already told you 'no' weeks ago," Starlight lectured Rainbow.
"Yeah, but she's my friend too, and we were having a moment," Rainbow defended.
Both Starlight and Chrysalis chortled. Sweetie Belle smiled silently at the scene.
"I'll turn into a dragon, and you can say my title. It should feel amazing since I'm still sort of berserk," Rainbow offered.
Chrysalis smiled at that. "That is rather tempting. I'll think about it, alright?"
The master mev grinned. "Alright."
"I believe I shall take my leave," the changeling announced, immediately shifting to her past, darker default. She left the room to give the others some time together. Sweetie Belle looked to the mevs to see if she would be dismissed, and she was not.
"Status report," Rainbow commanded, intended to Starlight no doubt.
Starlight answered, "You ate magic from ten unicorns and Princess Celestia. All ten unicorns were from the berserk reserve, thankfully. We were able to activate them in time. Since it was technically day when you ate from them, we expect them all to awaken soon."
Sweetie Belle pulled out a paper and pen with her magic to quietly write notes on the state of things.
"I haven't even been out for an hour?" Rainbow asked in surprise.
"No. You weren't berserk long, and just like in the Dragon Lands, you woke up after the same amount of time your berserk lasted," Starlight explained.
"Wow," Rainbow muttered in quiet surprise.
"You expected differently?" Starlight prodded.
"Yeah, thought I'd be out until sunrise," Rainbow admitted. "Not the one for the end of my berserk, the one after that...or maybe a whole week."
"That long? Really?" Starlight was surprised to hear this line of thinking and becoming concerned.
"Well, I mean, yeah. If I'm awake, can't we just give the unicorns I ate from their magic back from the reserve?" Rainbow Dash wondered aloud, almost arguing the point.
"I just assumed they would be blocked off due to the circumstances," Starlight replied.
Rainbow nodded thoughtfully. "Hmm. Makes sense. Maybe we should try…" She began to step forward, as if about to do exactly that then and there.
Starlight stopped her. "They can manage a day or two based on the times you just told me. Let's try then. Right now, you need to rest and wait for this berserk thing to finish."
Rainbow Dash scowled, gesturing a forelimb back at the bed. "And just sit here?" She began to hover as she sometimes did when anxious or restless.
"No, just….not that, okay?" Starlight pleaded. "You might get knocked out or go full berserk again from feedback. I really don't want to chance anything there."
"Okay," Rainbow conceded reluctantly as she landed. She sat and folded her forelimbs in annoyance but trusting her Primeva nonetheless.
"Master, what happened to Cozy Glow?" Starlight asked in a concerned and serious tone.
"Oh, she's in the void with Blitz," Rainbow answered casually, in a complete mismatch to Starlight's concern.
"You can do that?!" Starlight asked in shock and alarm.
Sweetie Belle kept taking notes, but looked up to watch them in slight concern too.
"Uh, usually, no, but the circumstances kinda demanded it. I couldn't leave her alone because of what she did but still needed to eat. We need to figure out what to do with her," Rainbow admitted.
"....Shouldn't you get her out of the void now?" Starlight suggested.
Rainbow Dash nodded in neutral compliance. A red circle appeared on the floor to Starlight's room, and Cozy Glow emerged out of a gray mist.
Starlight cast a magic a shield around the pegasus filly, like she had done earlier underground that afternoon.
"What's happening? What's going on? Counselor Starlight, Sweetie Belle, is that really you?" Cozy asked, clearly unsettled from her time in the void. At the sight of Rainbow Dash, the filly backed away into the shield.
Rainbow smiled at the frightened Cozy Glow and licked her lips. "I suppose you'll have to do for now."
Sweetie Belle gulped but said nothing and focused on her notes.
Rainbow glanced over to the young white unicorn and snickered. "And you too then, Rhezenda."
Rhezenda blushed. "If it pleases you, Master," she replied with a modest nod.
Rainbow closed her eyes, taking in a satisfied breath. "It does."
To that, Sweetie Belle could not help smiling anyway. She did still like Rainbow's vampiric nature after all.
Starlight lowered her head to meet Cozy Glow at eye level. "Master can think a little more clearly now but still isn't entirely herself. I'll have to take you into custody in Canterlot for the time being. Your parents will be notified and disciplinary action decided in a few days." The first fledgling raised her head back up and looked at Rainbow Dash. "I'll be back soon, Master. Everyone else is in the throne room. I'm sure Chrysalis has told them you're up. Go ahead and see them."
"Will do, Primeva. Thanks," Rainbow replied. "Come along, Rhezenda."
"As you wish, Master," Sweetie Belle said, putting her away notes. It felt good and right to be with Rainbow Dash in the moment.
With that, the master mev found her way to the throne room and was surprised to find that everyone included not just her fledglings but Discord, Luna, Spike, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and the Student Six. Celestia must have been sleeping in one of the other rooms.
Fluttershy rushed over and embraced Rainbow Dash, soon followed by all the other fledglings. After that, the other two Crusaders hugged her, then Discord, then the Student Six, then Chrysalis, then Spike.
Luna approached, hugging her last. "Master, I hope you are in better control of your faculties," the night alicorn said as she pulled away.
"Princess Luna, my apologies for my actions," Rainbow Dash stated with a bow. "I had some control but not enough, as you saw. I am aware we exchanged words and what we said."
"And we are aware it wasn't entirely your fault. Speaking of which, where is the one at fault?" Luna asked.
"My Primeva took her into custody. They were going to Canterlot, but if you're here…" Rainbow started to trail off.
"We have made the proper arrangements for that. Starlight knows where to go. I am simply confirming that is what happened," Luna assured the master mev.
"I see. Then yes. My Primeva believes it is best to wait for this berserk, even contained, to fully pass before we cast judgment on what to do with her. I'm more inclined to be rather hard on a child in this form," Rainbow Dash admitted.
"She drained the magic out of Equestria and summoned a soul-sucking amulet for power!" Gallus exclaimed. "Maybe you should be hard on her, huh?"
To that, the red-eyed mev smiled wickedly but said nothing.
Luna raised a forelimb to halt that line of discussion any further. "While I understand and relate to your feelings, that will be left to us when the time is right. Rainbow Dash is given specific powers in response to these matters, as you yourself know and have done with her guidance."
Gallus reluctantly backed down at that.
"Not up to you," Rainbow told him in a whisper with a sly smile. She seemed to be enjoying this exchange. She bowed her head as if about to tip her her hat but made sure the crown remained on her head.
The young griffon soon figured out she must have been feeding off his fear, but he didn't really mind. He said nothing further and considered the matter closed.
Luna turned to Rainbow Dash. "Please accept my thanks and my sympathy for what transpired today."
"I thank you too. Do you uh...have any more reserves willing to give up their magic?" Rainbow asked with an imploring and embarrassed smile.
Luna chuckled at the hopeful red eyes. "We are all sorry that you are so hungry, but we must ask you refrain from taking any more. That includes asking nicely though the gesture is appreciated."
Rainbow Dash half-frowned, but she understood. Then an idea struck her. "Can I go to Tartarus and ask Tirek?" she suggested.
Luna couldn't help smiling and conceded on that idea. With a nod, she replied, "Yes, that is permissible, Master."
"I'd like to go with you," Fluttershy offered in a soft voice.
"I'll be the teleport escort since Starlight's busy," Twilight volunteered.
"Very well. Make it so, Rexa," the master mev ordered, in a pleased hurry.
With a flash of teleport magic, the three of them were gone.
Once in Tartarus, Tirek stood with his back to the group and hands folded behind that back. He slowly turned around as he spoke. "Master? Back already? And what an interesting head piece," he greeted with a smile. He took note of her red eyes and the red aura on the crown. "That's a seal, isn't it?"
"Oh, right. I'm berserk right now, sorta," Rainbow told him, touching the red bolt gem for a moment herself, feeling a sense of security.
"Cozy Glow's doing?" Tirek asked plainly.
"Not on purpose, I am sure, but yes," Rainbow answered him.
"Then what are you doing here?" Tirek wondered with genuine interest.
"I have come to request your magic," Rainbow answered with a polite bow. She stood up and looked at him with a plain gaze. "May I please have it?"
Tirek could tell she was sincere. The seal was helping her stop herself from outright attacking others, himself included, but it had not removed the urge to eat. He supposed he was a good candidate, given the circumstances. "You know, you could just take off that crown and let the berserk still run its course. It sounds like Equestria is plenty prepared for you."
Rainbow Dash chuckled. "I do know." She looked at him in a way that made Tirek suddenly feel quite vulnerable despite her red eyes not having an active enchantment. "You have not answered my request."
Tirek swallowed. He could deny her quite easily, he reminded himself. He was not truly in danger here with her. They had it all under control. "And what would you give me in return, Master Rainbow Dash?" he wondered.
"Nada," Rainbow answered sharply. "I'm hungry, and you're food. I want you to feed me. It is that simple."
Tirek couldn't help smiling at that. He rather liked this partially berserk Rainbow Dash. She was more stern mixed in with her usual aggression. "Aren't you afraid I'll remove your crown and set you loose here in the depths of Tartarus?"
"I'm hungry. You're food," Rainbow repeated, clearly not afraid of his subtle threat.
"Master, he does have a point," Twilight said uneasily. She was afraid.
Fluttershy nodded. "Please Master. Maybe you shouldn't…"
"You two are hereby ordered to put the crown back on if it comes to that," Rainbow told them, keeping her eyes locked onto Tirek. "That should suffice."
"Yes, of course, Master," they replied in unison, both recognizing the loophole. This would allow Twilight to use magic and easily put the crown back in place, if it came to that.
Tirek tapped his chin thoughtfully. It wasn't like he was even using his magic, being trapped in Tartarus for eternity, and she did feed him herself twice before without his asking. He tried and failed to shove the notion aside that he was perhaps helping out a friend. He did manage to convince himself that "perhaps" was far enough removed confirmation that he could give her an answer. He sighed. "I suppose it's not like I'm using it. Very well...you may," he replied with a polite bow.
Rainbow teleported herself into his cage and locked eyes with him, activating her enchantment instantly. She said nothing and bit right in. After that, the three mevs stayed the full hour to ensure Tirek recovered. Twilight used her cell phone to explain that plan to Sweetie Belle.
"When will I see you again?" Tirek asked from behind the metal bars of his cage after he awoke. His voice bordered on hope with a tinge of fear.
Rainbow stood with her back to him, slightly turning her head in his direction. "Thanks for the food, Lord Tirek, but I must be off. I'm in no condition to answer such questions from you right now. Until next time, if there is one." She turned to look straight ahead. "Rexa, let's get out of here," she instructed.
Twilight nodded and teleported the entire group away.
They returned to find the throne room emptied of students, Chrysalis, Spike, and Discord. Only the other fledglings and the Crusaders waited. Each one of them wanted to be ready for whatever their master needed.
Fluttershy pulled Rainbow aside to talk to her in a low voice. "Master, I think it is best if we act as though you are sick, and I be with you in your cloud house until sunrise tomorrow."
"Chryssy said she might be my dinner," Rainbow told Fluttershy, nearly pouting.
Fluttershy considered the time and how far away sunset was. It would be only another two hours. "I'll head home to check on my animals and pick you up later tonight. I know you won't remove the crown, Master, but none of us want you alone in this state of mind. Please."
Rainbow nodded. "Okay. I can stay with Rexa and read in the library."
"Right....Master," Fluttershy said with a sincere, imploring gaze.
"Yes, Segunda?" Rainbow asked.
"Do you only call us by our titles when you are berserk?" the second fledgling wondered. "I couldn't help noticing you haven't used our pony names to address us once this entire time."
"Hmm, yes, Segunda. This is sort of a peak vampire status in me, you might say. That urge causes no harm to anyone, so I assume that is why Jin isn't mitigating it," Rainbow explained.
"Oh okay," Fluttershy replied with a satisfied and sweet smile, finding it a minor point of interest in a fascinating creature. "And I was wondering...if you don't mind...just why did you turn into your dragon form when berserk?"
Rainbow Dash blushed. "I like the form. So long as I'm in an aggressive, hungry state like that, it's the form I wanted. Simply put, I thought it would be cool. That tail helped too."
Fluttershy giggled. "I actually do understand that. I'll be back for you soon, Master."
Rainbow waved at her second fledgling. "Until then, Segunda."
She did as she told Fluttershy she would, and once the sunset fully passed, Rainbow made her way, escorted by Twilight, to Chrysalis' room where she knocked.
"Master," Chrysalis greeted in mild surprise, still in her past, darker default form.
"Might we do what we discussed earlier?" Rainbow asked hopefully.
Chrysalis smiled and laughed lightly. She bowed her head. "Yes, we may." She held the door open for Rainbow to enter, and Twilight stood off to the side outside the room to act as a sentry for when her master would be finished.
Inside Chrysalis' room, the tall changeling waited and watched as Rainbow shifted into her dragon form.
"You might not be able to shift even to that form for a week, you know," Rainbow said.
Chrysalis sighed. "I know...but I will do it for you, my friend...and for me too," she said with a friendly wink.
Rainbow grinned a fanged grin.
Chrysalis sat on her haunches to feel the clawed hands cusp both sides of her face. She smiled down at the figure and said, "Master," right before Rainbow silently bit in. True to Rainbow's suggestion, the sensation was amazing—and well worth its cost. Chrysalis herself felt a small pang of guilt that she was happy this berserk happened since no other circumstance would allow for this particular feeling in such a feeding otherwise.
She collapsed, her body automatically shifting to her new default, golden form. Rainbow picked up that form to place Chrysalis in bed before leaving.
Not long after, Fluttershy arrived to escort her master home and stay there to look after Rainbow Dash until sunrise.