//------------------------------// // The Hunger Within // Story: Friendship Bites // by Serina //------------------------------// Hungry… So hungry… Fluttershy turned over on the couch, strands of her mane hung in front of her face. Her eyes flashed red as she scanned the living room, shattered glass, and broken furniture littered the floor. She would have to go shopping, again. She sighed and clenched her stomach, She couldn't keep blaming the beavers, that was just rude. The cottage was silent except for all but the occasional grumble of her stomach. All her furry friends had retreated to the outside, even her little Angel Bunny. They were used to it by now, staying outside for some nights didn’t bother them that much. Her eyes looked towards the window, now covered with a rather large board, blocking the sunlight from entering. She groaned and bit her lip, her fang causing a drop of blood to trail down her chin. Fluttershy licked up the stray blood and dug her hooves into her sides. She closed her eyes and tried to steady her breathing. It’ll be over soon... Meanwhile, Applejack stood in the bustling heart of Ponyville, a frown creasing her brow. The annual cider-tasting event at Sweet Apple Acres was a cherished tradition throughout all of Ponyville and amongst their group of friends, and Fluttershy never missed it. Yet, this year, she was conspicuously absent. Applejack had tried to reach her through the usual means, but there had been no response to her messages or knocks on the door. She even tried getting through to her through Angel, but even the little bunny was suspiciously quiet. Her concern grew with each passing moment. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. After finishing the cider-tasting event, Applejack decided she couldn't wait any longer. She left her family at the farm and set off towards Fluttershy's cottage, determination in her eyes. The walk was peaceful, but a sense of unease gnawed at her. When she finally reached Fluttershy's cottage, she noticed the boarded-up windows immediately. "Buckin' beavers," Applejack muttered under her breath as she approached the door. Fluttershy had been trying to get those beavers to quit building their dam out of her cottage. She knocked gently against the redwood door, but there was still no response. She knocked louder, calling out, "Fluttershy? Y'all in there?" Silence. Worry now turned into genuine fear as Applejack bucked the door open with her back hooves, slamming against the inside of the cottage’s wall. The sight that greeted her was nothing short of shocking. The living room was a disaster as if a wild storm had torn through it. Broken furniture, shattered glass, and a thick layer of dust covered everything. But what sent a chill down Applejack's spine was the sight of Fluttershy on the couch. Once filled with kindness and warmth, Fluttershy's eyes now shone an eerie shade of red. Her mane, normally well-kept, hung disheveled over her face. Applejack's heart sank as she noticed the trickle of red on Fluttershy's chin and the peculiar fang poking out. "Fluttershy!" Applejack cried, rushing to her friend's side. She gently shook Fluttershy, trying to rouse her from whatever trance she seemed to be in. "Can ya hear me, sugar cube?" Fluttershy's eyes slowly focused on Applejack, and she let out a low, guttural growl. It sent shivers down Applejack's spine, but she didn't back away. "Fluttershy, it's me, Applejack. What happened here?" she asked, trying to keep her voice calm and reassuring. Fluttershy's response was unexpected. She clenched her stomach and whimpered softly, "H-Hungry..." Applejack's brow furrowed in concern. Fluttershy was always gentle and kind, but this behavior she hadn’t seen since the bat incident moons ago. Applejack looked at her disheveled friend, But Fluttershy had gotten better, had been cured… Hadn’t she? She glanced around the room, trying to make sense of the chaos. The boarded-up window suggested that Fluttershy had been trying to block out the sunlight. Had things gotten this bad without anypony knowing? Applejack's instincts kicked in, and she knew she had to get her friend some help. She gently lifted Fluttershy and carried her outside, placing her on a nearby bench. Fluttershy's animal friends gathered around, eyeing her with a mix of curiosity and concern. "Y'all stay with her," Applejack instructed the animals before rushing back into the cottage to gather any clues she could find. Inside, Applejack noticed that there were no signs of a struggle or break-in. It seemed like whatever had happened to Fluttershy had originated from within her own home. As she scoured the wreckage, she found an old journal amidst the chaos. It was worn and dusty, but Applejack could make out the words "Journal" on the cover. With trembling hooves, Applejack carefully opened the dusty diary and began to read, her eyes scanning the pages for any clues that could shed light on Fluttershy's mysterious condition. The journal's pages were filled with Fluttershy's elegant script, detailing her experiences and emotions in a way that only she could convey. "The first entry?" Applejack said aloud as she reached the passage that mentioned the fruit bat incident on the night of Apple Bucking Day. She cleared her throat and continued reading, her voice steady. “I don't know what's happening to me. Tonight, during Apple Bucking Day, I couldn't control myself. I was overcome with an insatiable hunger for something... different. As the evening sun dipped below the horizon, I felt a strange sensation coursing through me. My wings twitched, and I found myself drawn to the apple orchard. I saw the fruit bats hanging from the trees, and I couldn't resist. I flew towards them, and before I knew it, I was feasting on apples with them. I couldn't stop. I tried to pull away, but it was like I was in a trance. The bats scattered in fear, and I couldn't even recognize myself. When it was over, I felt ashamed and confused. What have I become? I need to find answers. Tomorrow, I will begin my research on this transformation, and I hope to find a solution before it gets worse." Applejack lowered the diary, her expression a mix of sympathy and concern. "Fluttershy's been strugglin' with this for a while," Applejack said, her voice heavy with worry. "She didn't know what was happenin' to her, and she's been tryin' to deal with it all on her own." As Applejack turned the pages, the journal entries continued to reveal Fluttershy's increasingly desperate attempts to understand and control her condition. She described how her aversion to sunlight had intensified, and how her cravings for something more than just apples had grown stronger. Fluttershy's kindness and compassion were evident in every word she wrote, but so was her fear. "I tried to stay indoors, away from the sunlight, but it's getting harder. My skin feels like it's burning, and my eyes are so sensitive to the light. I've taken to covering the windows, but I can't live like this forever. My hunger is getting worse, too. I've been sneaking out at night to feed, but I don't even know what I'm looking for anymore. All I know is that I can't control it. I'm scared. I'm scared of what I might become and what it might mean for my friends. They don't deserve to be near me if I can't even control myself. But I can't bear to leave them either. I need their help, and I need answers." Applejack’s brow furrowed. It was clear that Fluttershy was in dire need of her support, and she couldn't let her face this alone. However, she couldn't help but feel a growing sense of frustration and unease. Her thoughts kept drifting to another question that had been gnawing at her since the beginning of their investigation: Why hadn't Discord said anything to the ponies? The chaos-loving spirit, Discord, was known for his unpredictable antics and his occasional reluctance to assist in serious matters. But when it came to their friend Fluttershy, he had always shown a deep sense of concern and affection. He had been there for her in the past, even when his chaotic nature clashed with their harmony-seeking values. Applejack couldn't understand why Discord had remained silent about Fluttershy's condition. She knew he had a habit of being cryptic and evasive, but this situation was different. It involved their dear friend's well-being, and his silence was deafening. Muttering under her breath, Applejack couldn't contain her frustration any longer. "Why in tarnation hasn't Discord said a word about this? He's always got somethin' to say, especially when it comes to Fluttershy." Applejack shook her head, closed the journal, and carefully stowed it in her satchel. She knew she had to return to Fluttershy, who had been resting on the bench outside. However, as Applejack stepped back into the open, the sun setting behind the hills, her eyes widened with alarm. Fluttershy was nowhere to be seen. Applejack's heart pounded in her chest as she stepped back outside and scanned the area. The bench where Fluttershy had been resting just moments ago was now empty. Panic surged through her as she called out, "Fluttershy? Fluttershy, where are you?" She called out for her friend, but there was no response. Fluttershy had vanished without a trace, leaving behind a sense of unease that hung in the air like an ominous cloud. Applejack's voice quivered as she spoke, "This doesn't add up. Fluttershy wouldn't leave like this, not when I was tryin' to help her. Something's wrong and I need to find her!” She galloped into the nearby forest, not knowing where to look next. Crimson eyes shone above the treeline. Applejack wasn’t alone. Her friend was watching her.