//------------------------------//
// 14: Putting Her Up 
// Story: Seeing Sanguine 
// by Winged Cat 
//------------------------------//

The next morning, Sanguine was leisurely strolling through Ponyville, again taking in the sights, sounds, and scents but keeping a tight lid on her extra sense, when suddenly she was abducted.  She felt the ground leave her hooves before her eyes processed a sudden gain in altitude.  "Hey!"  She tried to struggle but it was no use: judging by the position of hooves and legs on her, whoever had picked her up had had practice lifting potentially-recalcitrant ponies.

"Hey," Rainbow Dash's voice came from just behind her.  "I got the story from Rarity, and Twilight asked me to help her train you today.  So I just wanted to get something clear before we go see the egghead."

"Put!  Me!  Down!"  Sanguine continued to struggle in vain.

They continued to ascend, presumably propelled by Rainbow Dash's wings.  "Nuh-uh!  See, you've got something cool.  Something you should take pride in.  Bein' a monster slayer is awesome.  So I will NOT put you down."

Sanguine was suddenly dropped - planted, more like - on a cloud.

"I'm gonna put you UP.  'Cause you've got no business being down on yourself," Rainbow Dash finished.

"..."

Rainbow Dash hovered around until she was in view, then sat down in front of her.  "Well?"

"That...is the cheesiest...I have ever..."  Sanguine found herself unable to banish a smile from her face.  "Thank you."

"You're welcome!  But anyway, listen.  I know most ponies hate what you do, but that's just because hating it's all they know.  When there's a bad guy, you can beat him up!"  Rainbow Dash punched the air.

Sanguine blinked.  "No I can't."

"Sure you can.  You're good at fighting and stuff."  Rainbow Dash punched again, then gestured for Sanguine to do the same.

Sanguine refused.  "Nope!  Just killing."

Rainbow Dash blinked.  "That includes fighting, right?"

Sanguine shook her head.  "I've never actually been in any fights.  When I want to kill, I just..."  She drew a hoof across her neck.

"Oh."  Rainbow Dash sat down.  "Well, you can stop the bad guys, right?"

Sanguine narrowed her eyes at Rainbow Dash, who apparently would not take a hint.  She gestured to the ground as she felt her gratitude of just moments ago beginning to sour.  "So, who should I kill?"

Rainbow Dash tilted her head.  "Huh?"

"There are bad ponies down there."  Sanguine pointed at one pony below them, then another, then another.  "Ponyville is not a perfect paragon of pure pony principles.  Some of its residents are bad, no doubt.  So, who should I kill?"

"How should I know?"

"Well, let's say..."  She jabbed a hoof toward a random pony.  "That one.  Oooh, he gives me the creeps.  He's..."  Sanguine dropped to a whisper as if speaking of scandal.  "...JAYWALKING!"

Rainbow Dash frowned.  "Uhh.  Well, first, there's nothing against jaywalking in Ponyville.  Second..."

Sanguine grinned, clapping her forehooves together.

"...you're creeping me out."  Rainbow Dash leaned away, expression mirroring her words.

"Good!"  Sanguine relaxed.  Pretending to be happy about killing had been an effort, but it appeared to have accomplished her goal.  "Do you want to know the last time I wanted to kill just about every pony in Ponyville?"

Rainbow Dash scooted a bit away so she could sit upright again.  "When?"

Sanguine checked the direction and length of the shadow she cast on her cloud, confirming that it was still morning.  "Yesterday afternoon."

"You're bluffing."

Sanguine shook her head.  "Nope!  Applejack and Fluttershy were right there next to me; they saw my reaction.  You heard that I DID almost end those two salesponies' careers permanently, right?"

Rainbow Dash smiled.  "Heh.  I heard you gave Flim and Flam a good scare.  Like you really would have ripped their heads off if Fluttershy hadn't been there."

"I would have," Sanguine stated matter-of-factly.

"..."  Rainbow Dash blinked.  "Okay, kid, the joke's over.  Ha, ha, good one.  But they're gone now, you don't need to keep-"

"No joke.  I would have."  Sanguine put on her best neutral face.

Rainbow Dash's eyes widened.  "...you're serious."

"Yep."  Sanguine frowned.  "So please don't make light of my ability.  I really don't want to flip out at you."

Rainbow Dash stumbled backward.

"I slay monsters, Rainbow Dash."  Sanguine leaned over the bowled-over pegasus, her anger at Rainbow Dash's suggestions and attitude finally breaking through into her voice.  "I do NOT kill for fun or entertainment.  I regret every pony I have killed, even if Applejack says they had it coming."  She breathed in and out once, attempting to relax, but her fury just seemed to build as she stared into Rainbow Dash's eyes.  "Is.  That.  Absolutely.  Clear?!?"

Rainbow Dash, though she would be loath to admit it, cowered on her back.  "Err.  Uh, y-yes ma'am!  Sorry ma'am!"

Appeased for the moment, Sanguine went back to sitting normally.  "'Ma'am'?  I'm younger than you are!"  For a moment she wondered why it had been so easy to get angry at Rainbow Dash just then.  She considered opening up her extra sense, then dismissed the notion: surely it was too early for anyone to have been up to mischief or worse.

"Err.  Aheh."  Rainbow Dash sat up, then hopped off her cloud.  "Uhh, let's, let's go find Twilight, I'm sure she's up by now."  Without waiting for Sanguine, she dove away.  By the time Sanguine looked over the side of the cloud, Rainbow Dash was nowhere to be seen.