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// A Past Hidden (aka The Plot Thickens) 
// Story: Angel and Devil 
// by Shaq-of-All-Trades 
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Angel stared at the ceiling, his mind drifting frequently between conscious and unconscious. Fluttershy's gentle breaths were all that helped him stay awake. He didn't want to risk falling asleep and leaving her open to Devil's plans. But lo and behold, call the Devil and she shall arrive. She rested a paw on his shoulder, and he froze up. He had let his own guard down.

I haven't come to harm you, she assured. His body remained rigid, and he waited for something to happen. Her words meant nothing to him. There was nothing she could possibly say to convince him otherwise-

I swear on Father's grave.

Angel's body relaxed, and he turned to her with sleep in his eyes. What do you want? It has to be important for you to use that vow. Even you aren't heartless enough to take his name in vain.

I want to know why you left. The tribe was in an uproar. Do you know how things have become since you left? Devil looked him in the eye, and he saw genuine sadness. He had to avert his own.

I had my reasons... I know it was wrong, but I couldn't stay. You shouldn't have come after me. Angel tried to turn back to Fluttershy, but Devil held his head and forced him to look at her. She held up her paw and placed it against his. Their paws began to glow, as a symbol formed. It intertwined, only making sense if viewed together. Angel snatched it away, but not before feeling Devil's emotions. Don't do that! I still can't believe I haven't found a way to get rid of it...

Are you sure you tried? Devil tried to argue. I know you; you're too tenacious to give up so easily. You wanted me to find you.

No, I didn't, because I knew how you would act. I just... I was close to finding out how to get rid of it, but I couldn't. This is the only thing I have left of the tribe. I know I abandoned you all physically, but I couldn't make myself do it emotionally. This helps me remember what I gave up... but it also reminds me of the reason I had to leave.

Devil looked at Fluttershy, her expression hardening. I could get rid of her so easily... She's so weak, so stupid. It can't be easy for you here. Angel took a moment before saying anything.

It's not easy for me... but it's not easy for her either. But we make it work. He smiled. We make it work because she loves me and I love her. That's why we've been together so long. We fit each other. She takes care of me, feeds me, gives me a home. I keep her out of trouble, I protect her, I'm there to comfort her when she's hurting. I will never allow anyone to hurt her.

Devil lowered her head. I remember when you told me that.... Angel turned quickly, but Devil had turned her back on him. Get some sleep. I won't do anything to her tonight. But be warned, I will not lose to some pony weakling. It's going to be either me or her, and I refuse to lose without a fight. And I don't play nice-nice. She hopped off, leaving Angel once again alone in the dark, with Fluttershy snoring softly, oblivious to the situation she had become entangled in. Angel hopped over to her and patted her mane.

I am so, so sorry I got you into this... he said, more to himself than to her. He hopped to his usual sleeping spot, and curled up into a ball. He fell asleep as soon as his eyelids closed, and he began to dream about the past the days when he had been part of a tribe. The days before he had left forever. The days when he still had a sister...


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Angel woke up in a small tunnel. Sunlight peeks through the hole, nudging his mind into wakefulness. He yawned, and looked to his right. A familiar black bundle greeted him.

'Wake up, sleepy head,' he said. The black bundle twitched, then extended into a little bunny, the same as him. It was his sister, Devil. Wait... that wasn't right. Her name was Black Briar. Why had he thought her name was Devil? He shook his head and looked out the hole. His sister would get out and about on her own soon. He started to make his way out of their cubby when Briar tugged at his tail.

'Brother....' she let out a yawn. 'Don't forget about the ceremony later. Father said to not be late.' He rubbed noses with his sleepy sister. He scrambled out of the cubby, and looked at the little village. The bunny village was a series of cubby holes situated on a small plateau. Angel breathed in deeply. 

...

Why was he calling himself Angel? His name was Snow Heart. He shook his head again. It was weird, as if his memory was being slightly confused. Snow hopped down the slope where he and his sister were staying. Since they were twins, their parents had insisted they share a space. Their father was especially adamant, and as the Tribal Chief, he had final say.

'You need to be ready for when it's your turn, son' he had said. 'Taking care of your sister is a great place to start. Watch over her, and never let danger befall her. She looks up to you, you know.'

Snow had been so proud. He still was. That had been a month ago, and in that time he and Black Briar had decided to go through with the bonding ceremony. It was an ancient rite that bunnies could perform only twice in their lives, so the decision for them to bond with each other was a big one. But their love for one another was so great, they never wanted to be separated forever.

Snow examined the village with a trained eye. He was destined to be the next Tribal Chief, and he was determined to be just as great, if not greater than his father. He was greeted by many of the other bunnies whom he had known all his life. He waved, not a care in the world. Eventually, he met with some of his friends. Something about them was off though... and why couldn't he remember their names? He tried to look at them closer, when suddenly things began to shift. What was going on?

Snow was at the bonding ceremony. He rubbed at his head. Wasn't he just doing something else? His head was throbbing so badly... Then he turned to his sister and all the confusion faded away. It didn't matter. All that matters was that he and his sister would be connected. The village Spiritual Chief held their paws in his own. He began to chant softly, the air filling with the sound of the ancient words. Magic as old as the planet itself fizzled and cracked all around them. The Spiritual Chief's eyes glowed brightly, and he turned on them. 'Speak now thy vows of the heart.'

Black Briar went first. 'No matter what happens, even if you grow to hate me, even if we're separated by nature itself, I will find you and bring you home, brother.' Tears were forming in her eyes. Snow could feel them in his as well.

'No matter what happens to me, no matter how difficult it is, I will never allow anyone to hurt you, sister.' The Spiritual Chief closed his eyes, and a burning traveled across the young bunnies' paws. They held in their cries of pain, and just as quickly as it arrived, the pain was gone. They looked at their paws, both of which had fur singed in a haphazardly manner. They removed their paws from the Spiritual Leaders, and placed them together. Suddenly the lines formed a beautiful pattern, and began to glow softly. They were bonded, forever linked.

Suddenly, the scene shifted again. It was as if his mind had suddenly blinked out, and he was in the forest near the village. The sky had faded from the bright springy afternoon to a cool night. Why was he out here? As if to reply to his question, a mysterious form appeared. It hopped to him slowly, as if it was injured. He crossed to it.

'Father!' he cried. His father was bleeding from his side, his white fur pink. His paw was to the wound, but blood still poured out profusely. Snow put his paw alongside it, and pushed. 'Father, what happened?!'

'You... must run... my son,' the words come from the Tribal Chief in fits. 'Run... and don't look back. There are things I wish I could tell you... so much you need to know... but I have not the time.'

'Don't say that! We can make it back to the village, we can get you healed!' Snow refused to believe his father, the strong bunny whom he had seen wrestle with a timberwolf and win, would die like this. He was destined to live a long, happy life. He was going to die at a crisp old age. He was going to die with his family by his side.

'Foolish Snow... you always were too kind...' Snow's Father's ears perked up, and he turned back towards where he came. 'You must go, now! This wound... can't be healed. They saw to it... that the poison spread quickly and kept.... the blood flowing.'

'Who, who did this?' Snow asked desperately trying to get his father to follow him to the village. There was so much blood everywhere, it was all over him now.

'Snow... I beg of you... run. If you die... all hope is lost for us. The bunny tribes shall fall... and in their place shall rise something terrifying. An ancient evil... sealed away by our forefathers. Only our blood can open the seal... but they have tainted mine. Your sister... should be spared. They cannot use the blood of a female. You are the key they seek. Now... run child. Run!'

As the final 'run' left his mouth, Snow's father died in his arms. Snow held him for a moment, then unleashed a fierce cry of pain. His tears mingled with the blood on his fur, making it even pinker. From deeper in the forest, he heard a strange sound which cut through his heartbroken sobs. Clearly whatever had done this to his father was coming after him next. He had to lead it away from the village. Then, he remembered what his father said. It was only looking for him. The others were safe; only he was in any danger.

Taking a final look, Snow laid down his father's corpse. He prepared to hop away, when a voice called to him.

'Brother?'

Black Briar looked at her blood-stained twin, and saw the corpse lying on the ground. Her heart skipped a beat, and she collapsed. Snow wanted to run to her, to comfort her, to explain what had happened, but the sound was getting closer. He could hear something clawing at trees at an alarming rate. He hopped away, leaving his sister, his dead father, and all he had ever known behind him. And at the same time, he could feel that he had left his innocence behind; the sweet bunny who would rather sit in a field than get in a fight was dead. He had died alongside his father. There was no more Snow Heart.

There was only a sad, broken little bunny.


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Angel woke up sweating. He held his head, and looked over at Fluttershy. He hadn't dreamt about that day in a long time. He stretched, and hopped over to the window. Looking outside, he saw that the blizzard was beginning to let up some. Hopefully, the sunshine would appear in a day or two, and he could get help getting rid of Devil.

"Angel Bunny... please help me."

He turned on the spot, and saw Devil holding Fluttershy by her mane. The pony had been bound, and was lying with a needle pressed to the side of her head. A bead of blood was dripping down her fur. Devil looked at Angel, and gave him a chilling smile.

I told you, I'd do nothing to her during the night, Devil said, licking the blood. But I never said anything about the morning....