//------------------------------//
// Chapter two: Are you hungry? 
// Story: Return of the Kezzerdrix. 
// by inum76 
//------------------------------//

Chapter two: Are you hungry?

As the hunger-driven, out of place creature trudged on, he could smell an odd combination of animals ahead. Something like a farm, but full of wild animal smells.

With his mouth in a sneer, thought it could be worth a look. Raiding a farm might not be all too easy at the moment with him feeling as weekend as is. But with such food that could be found in in a farm, he felt would be well worth the trouble.

Chickens, sheep, a goat, anything he could just grab and run with would be fair game. Anything else too much bigger would take too long to kill and drag away. He intended to make a kill and run with it before seen. At least until his strength returned. Then he could do as he wished without too much worry. 

First task was to get a good meal or two in. He felt two weeks or more of this and he should regain most to all of what he lost.

While following the smell across the clearing, he came to what looked like a cottage sitting alone right on the other side of a small stream. Some fence work was put up. Seemed to be more for decoration than to keep anything out or in. The nearby trees were littered with an assortment of bird houses. 

The sun was up, showing a full sunny morning. No overcast. Just the slightest scattering of clouds. Movement and sounds of small critters could be heard on the other side of the structure. A very possible easy meal he wondered.

As he approached, he moved to circle around. As he did the door to this modest dwelling filled with so many smells all around it creaked open. What surprised him was seeing a pony walk out of it as if the pony owned the place. A bright yellow winged pony with a long draped pink mane and tail. It moved with grace. She, as he could tell, is looking about as if searching for something.

Even though his first intentions was to remain inconspicuous, he did not feel the need to hide from this new pony, but did, just so he could observe her without her knowing.

She looked like the furthest thing from threatening to him. Plus she was a pegasus, not a unicorn, so she did not have the same power as the one that attacked him and collapsed the cave. Though he knew she could fly away if she did see him. He did not want that to happen either.

He just could not bring himself to do much more but stare at her for the moment. Just to see what she could be up to. The Kezzerdrix found himself curious about her, despite his hunger. He could not get over that she lived in that small home. Ponies as he knew them did not live like that. Nor did any look like her or had wings. None, other than those he found in this world so far.

He questioned to himself, was she by herself? Did she live there alone? 

He felt, if so, he could kill her easy, and feast as he pleased without being disturbed. She was big enough to make a good first meal. The longer he looked at her though, the more he felt watching her and thinking of her as pleasant, even if just eating her is currently on his mind.

As she made herself known to those outside, a small assortment of critters and birds gathered around her. He now could not believe what he was seeing. He further questions as to what was going on. 

He was more curious and confused about her then ever. Animals of this assortment did not flock together like this. To him it seemed she had some power over them.

He felt there may be more to her than he first thought. If she did possess powers, this could prove troublesome.

He wondered more on if she is really even a pony? Was she something else that took this form? Was she a pet to something else? He now felt the need to investigate.

The tall slender beast moved in to have a closer look. Not only to serve his need to find out what would happen if he showed himself to her, but hunger was driving him towards her, seeing so much food all at once in one place. 

The thought of just grabbing anything and everything there was too much to resist. There was nothing in the gathering that looked like it could stop him. Not even the pony. She looked to be as much of food to him as the rest of the critters. 

Something about her kept him from just rushing in and attacking right away. An unusual calming feeling fell over him in time as if not wanting to disturb her, but at the same time wanting to get closer. Part of his actions had little to do with hunger now, though he could not understand why, nor thought much about it.

The moment he stepped out into the clearing enough that Fluttershy had taken notice of him, she got up. She moved to face this unknown interloper. 

At the sight of this lanky, muscular, monstrous form, all the other critters and birds scattered. It was big. 

To her what she saw is a big bunny. A far contrast to her little Angel, who has yet to come out. A little gruesome with its big front teeth, and long claws. Big claws, rather than the small padded paws with much shorter and modest claws in comparison by other wild rabbits or hares.

Still she noted to herself that it approached to reveal itself rather than rushing in and attacking. It looked starving to her rather empathetic view of most any animal or creature. She could not bring herself to turn away something so willing to come to her in such a state, even something like this large creature.

She felt sorry for it, as well as interested in what it is, despite its clearly predatory features.

This thing was not the first predator she had encountered, and her eliciting its calm, docile, friendly side towards her. Nor the biggest.

Having about tamed a dragon before, something she had once felt was impossible for her to do, has given her more confidence in approaching, and being approached by something predatory and as dangerous as this big bunny looked to her. 

With enough gumption to have a look at this imposing figure, she smoothly hovered into the air, then practically floated over to the unknown.  "Oh, my just look at you. You poor thing. You look starving."

This floating pony is now fluttering about looking him all over. The Kezzerdrix felt fixated on her at first. He wondered even more about her. The need to observe her filled him, as though she was some kind of enchantress.

Fluttershy finished with her observation of him. And decided to help him. "Why, you're just a big hare! A rather unusual one. But no matter." 

He saw there was no fear of him from her, even though this frail looking yellow pegasus had every right to be frightened by him. He questioned to himself, why was she not scared? He felt most things with enough intelligence would usually run, just like the the rest of the critters that gathered around her had done.

He also wondered why he did not right away feel the need to snatch her right out of the air when she came near, instead of observing her actions. He was more then hungry enough to have done so.

She seemed oddly captivating to watch. Her lack of fear was humorously charming. He felt amused by this exhibition of interest in him by such an innocent, benign, gentle presence displayed before his eyes. 

In his current state, the show was enough to make him almost giddy from her rather swift and comical movements as she had looked him over with a show of interest in him.

For him, having lived in a world of war, survival, and pain. This yellow flying pony, was a momentary pleasure to behold. Caught in a moment of delight he next to never felt before. He was temporarily content just to look at her while his gut was slowly reminding him why he was drawn here in the first place.

Fluttershy finally settled down onto the ground in front of him. The big hare's stomach growled.

Fluttershy's eyes widened, and her ears drooped back. "I think I got something for you in the large pantry storage room."

She turned to leave. As she did, one not so happy little bunny that had been woken up by the commotion hopped up to the big one to have a look at him.

Fluttershy continued to speak to the big bunny as she walked back to her home. "Just wait right there. I will be back shortly," 

After, as she nearly stepped through the front door, she heard the sound of Angel screeching in distress.
Hunger finally took over the Kezzerdrix, and this irate, testy, and tasty looking little furball was just looking to have its head chewed off.

~~~~~~

Over at Flower's home, Flower was having to deal with two frightened little ones. For reasons, she did not know.

Flower rushed to the two bewildered and shaking fillies. "Dazzle! Plunk! What happened?"  

Holding the two fillies close, while rubbing their backs hoping to ease them out of their state.  "Please talk to me!"  The two of them grabbed hold of her as they came too.

Dazzle in a frightened panic spoke to her mother. "Oh, mom it was here! I made it appear!"  Dazzle was panting heavily after getting that out.

Turning to her daughter while looking at her with a confused distress of her own, Flower asked, "What do you mean? What was here? That big rabbit that has been scaring you in your dreams?"

Dazzle and Plunk nodded their heads while still sniffling.

Flower felt surprised and further confused about what Dazzle told her. "How, darling? Where did it go? What exactly happened?"

Dazzle calmed herself enough to tell her mother. "I was showing Plunk one of my new light tricks. The one I showed you, where I can project a simple shape with light. I attempted to do more. Somehow I formed that thing in my dreams. It was not only here, but it moved and came after us! Then it disappeared, right before it got to us. It looked just like it did in my dreams. Mom I was so scared. I forgot it was just made up of light. But it looked so real."

Flower coddled her daughter. As an earth pony, she never really understood her own daughter's magic, nor any other unicorn's magic for that matter. She felt lost as to what to do about this situation all together. "Oh, sweetie. Why is this happening to you? This nightmare of yours is more than bad dreams. I can see that. And how could you have formed it like that? I did not think you were able to do such a thing yet."

With tears flowing still, Dazzle did her best to answer. "I don't know. It is like my fears just took over me or something. I had no control over it after. The light, it just started to move on its own, and that is when I knew I lost control over it, and my magic. I didn't make it happen. It was if it was trying to come out and after us all on its own."

Plunk nodded in agreement. Flower turned her attention to Plunk as she spoke. "It was real scary Mrs. Flower. After seeing that thing. I can't blame Dazzle for waking up the way she does these past few nights. I had no idea what she saw in them till now. It bothers me that such a thing might be out there."

Plunk paused for a moment. She shivered, then held her friend once more. "I know I was told the same thing as you at the cave. And I know you saved me then. I can't- I just can't thank you enough for that. I am so sorry you keep having these bad dreams of that thing. I never want to see that thing again either. I wish I could help you more in return for what you did for me. More than just being here."

Dazzle shook her head. "You are helping a lot by being here with me. I need you to know how much it means to me that you are here for me now." Dazzle hugged Plunk tightly in return.

Flower stepped back a bit, with some serious contemplation. She turned her attention to Plunk again. "I am grateful you stayed the past few nights, to be here for my daughter. You have shown to be a very good friend. Dazzle and I are going to take care of this now. Right after we take you home Plunk."

She moved her attention back to Dazzle. "You and I will go to see Twilight, seeing you wish to see her first. I am not sure what the librarian can tell us, or how she can help us, but we are going to find out."

Dazzle while still feeling upset about all of this addressed her mother again.  "Mom. I think it is more than bad dreams as you said. I have a real bad feeling it has gotten out, or it is going to be getting out soon. And that something horrible is going to happen as well when it does. 

"It is much as I felt at the park is coming back to me. Only this time I can't tell too who, or when something bad is going to happen. Somepony is going to get hurt or killed. I just know it. It's what I feel, and I am so scared for whoever it is. I don't want anypony to get hurt."

Flower sighed then turned her focus on the door, as she headed towards it. "Right! Well, we best be off then, as soon as possible. If any of what you said is true, and I don't doubt your isight, we should go to see Twilight."

The other two hopped off the bed to follow Fower out of the room and out of the house.

~~~~~~

Back at Fluttershy's home.

Fluttershy glared at the trespasser she was at first willing to help. Taking a few steps towards him, enticing this monster gripping Angel to bring his full attention to her. "Let go of him you brute! You do this!? After I was willing to help you? Put him down now!" She finished stating this as she stomped a hoof down.

The Kezzerdrix was taken back by her forceful demeanor. She somehow now looked intimidating. Though he did not know how, as small as she is to him. He stared at her, right into those demanding eyes, unable to move at first. Just lost, transfixed by her stern glare.

This action taken by her was unnerving him. Momentarily demoralized, the bewildered beast did as she commanded. Dropping the little bunny in his grip, he waited for her next move or orders. Unable to do much else while trapped by her fearless, relentless gaze.

With her voice low and clear, filled with spite, contempt, and prejudice she gave her last orders to him. "I don't know who or what you are, but you are no longer welcome here. You are to leave! Go back to where you came. Don't ever return. Got it!?" She scowled at the thing to press her point she meant business.

Her hard pressed eyes burrowed deeper into the hungry creature's will completely overpowering him. He could not shake the embedded fear and control she now had over him. With a wish to get away from her, he did his best to obey. He quickly turned and ran off, back in the direction of the cave.

Fluttershy watched and waited as the intruder left the vicinity, Her anger died down as the little sanctuary was rid of this growing threat. Fluttershy relaxed and turned her attention to a very shaken Angel.

She laid down in front of Angel for a short moment. "Oh, Angel Bunny. Did that big meany hurt you?" 

She scooped up the little white bundle and flew him back to their home. "You seem fine. Just a little startled. Well, a lot startled. Don't worry that monster is gone now. How would you like some warm vegetable soup to help settle your nerves?"

Entering the cottage Fluttershy closed the door behind her. She placed Angel down on the couch with a blanket, then went about collecting what she needed in the kitchen to prepare for Angel his and her fresh homemade soup.

Fluttershy felt this should help calm them both down from their previous ordeal.

~~~~~~

Coming to the area where the cave entrance was the Kezzerdrix stopped. Finally taking stalk of his situation, he mentally scolded himself for being taken over like that.

He felt she truly was some kind of enchantress. Of that he was now sure. He did not know of what other tricks she may have.

If that was her only trick, he felt he could take her. He needed to keep her from casting any other spell on him like before, or from taking flight. He may need surprise on his side, this next time.

Turning to go back to the cottage he was determined to get what he went there for. He readied himself mentally. He was hungry and was not going to leave this time without some meat. For this, that yellow flying pony would do just fine. 

He wanted to repay her for her trickery. His anger grew due to feeling he let himself be taken in by her. He knew he was weak from lack of food and not thinking straight. He would not let the same thing happen twice. Now he knows what she is capable of.

~~~~~~

Trooper felt wide awake, as he thought about the time he is going to spend with his father. He was up much more early than he usually would be due to this.

His thoughts turned to his training he would get from Dazzle's father Lance. He already could not wait for that either. 

Thinking about Lance made Trooper's thought change again, but to Dazzle. Dazzle and Plunk. 

Plunk had not been around for all that long to him, but long enough to get to know her some. Still, he was having a hard time deciding on how he felt about her. On one side she had been a pain. A pain to others. He did not like her one bit for that. 

Over the past two months she has been around. She changed during that time as well. Though this reason for her change was affecting his relationship with Dazzle, as far as he could tell.

Dazzle has been so insistent on trying to stick with Plunk, Dazzle and him has had no time together without Plunk around. Not like they use to.

Though, Trooper had to admit to himself that having Plunk around has not been all bad. He thought back during some of those times all three of them had spent time together. He tried to remember one of those moments. One of those moments he thought was a good one.

~~~~~~


A moment only three weeks ago in an early afternoon, right after school, Trooper went to go look for Dazzle. He saw her take off with Plunk shortly after the last bell of the day rang. Trooper felt left behind as the two took off without him.

As he had a look around he was surprised not to see either one around at all. He expected to at least see them leaving the school yard together. But they were nowhere to be seen.

After felling he lost his chance to catch up to them. He decided to walk home alone again, or find something else to do on his own before getting hime.

Moving along at a slow pace on the trail back into Ponyville he heard a voice call his name. "Hay Tropper!" It was Dazzle. Though he did not know where she had called from.

He looked about as he wondered as to where she could be. He did not hear her voice again, only the one time. So he wondered if he only imagined it. Though he felt sure she did call him.

He continued walking. As he did he heard Plunk now call him. "Trooper! where you think you are going?" Now Trooper felt the two are playing some kind of game with him. 

He looked about again and still did not see either one. Trooper was tossing it around in his head whether or not he is going to be frustrated about this. He talked to himself in a low voice. "What are those two up to?"

He thought he would play along and see how this will turn out. He made himself look straight ahead along the path into Ponyville as he walked slowly along it again. Only this time he kept his ears open for when either of them called him again. 

He did not have to wait long as he heard Dazzle call again. "Trooper! Over here!"

This time he knew what direction she called him from. He raced quickly to find her. He moved off the path into some short overgrowth. He went around a small hillside. But again, Dazzle was not around.

He heard in another direction Plunk now calling him again. "Hey! Slowpoke! We are not over there!"

Trooper was not to sure what is going on, but it seemed to him like a game of hide and seek, possibly. He had one big question for himself. How can I find them if Plunk can fly, and if Dazzle has learned to teleport, and didn't tell me she can?

He felt this was just the sort of trick Plunk may play on him, but not Dazzle. Though with the time she has spent with Plunk, he was no longer sure what Dazzle could have been talked into doing by Plunk.

He sighed and quickly headed in the direction he heard Plunk call from. As he did he though he caught sight of Plunk's blue tail rounding another hill. He moved even faster to try and gain on her.

Trooper made it around this other hill, but didn't see Plunk. Now he was starting to get frustrated. He stomped his right front hoof as he vented his frustration.

He heard Plunk again, but her voice came from up the hill some. "Say Trooper, don't be like that. We were just having some fun."

Trooper looked up the hill to see Plunk laying down on the grass, overhanging his position. "You know, it's not fair when you can fly."

Plunk looked at him as if confused. "I didn't fly up here. You just didn't get to me before I got up here."

Trooper looked at her sternly. Plunk took this as though he didn't believe her. "Oh' come on Trooper! I know how you feel about fair play."

Dazzle's voice came from right behind him as she walked up to him. "Plunk is right. We haven't been using any tricks on you. I promase."

With Dazzle telling this was so, he could not help but believe her. He turned to face Dazzle. "OK' I give. So what now?"

Plunk hopped down, and with ease, glided to Trooper's side. "Now we continue with what we started. But you have to give us a head start." 

Plunk gave Trooper a light nuge. "We will keep to this area between the school and Ponyville's main housing area. And no tricks by me. I want to have a challenge, and I can't have that if I cheat and fly."

Dazzle next came up to Trooper and gave him a light kiss on his cheek. "Sorry if you feel we were tricking you."

Plunk smirked at the two of them. "OK! Enough of that you two. Let's go. We're burning daylight."

Plunk didn't want to admit it, but she was getting envious each time Dazzle showed such affection to Trooper, or Trooper did so for Dazzle. And it made her feel out of place. And that was a feeling she liked less.

Seeing the two like this at times also made her develop such feelings of her own for Trooper. She didn't understand her attraction, not her attraction to him or some of the love stories she has been getting from the library. All she did know is the more she thought about it, the more she wanted a colt friend of her own. Though for the moment Trooper was the only colt in Ponyville she knew all that well.

Plunk turned to head off. "You coming Dazzle!"

Dazzle without much more encouragement followed Plunk into the distance. As she did she called out to Trooper. "Count to twenty, then come find us!"

Trooper did as told and hid his head, then started counting.

He looked about after he was done with his count. Knowing it would have been too easy to have found them this early, he took off in the direction he though they may have gone.

After some more searching he heard Dazzle scream in the distance. He went into panic mode and raced as fast as he could in her direction. Trooper knows Dazzle is not a filly who is easy to scare, and she is not shy about using her magic if she needs it, so this made him wonder as to what would have made her scream.

He got to where he felt she should be and found Plunk there looking around too.

Trooper called out. "Dazzle! Where are you?"

He heard her voice behind a tree. He went over to it and found her looking at what looked like a small dead racoon.

Dazzle was not happy at all. She turned to Trooper as he approached. "I just wanted to hide over here and found him here being attacked by a fox. I think he is dead. The fox ran off after it saw me and heard me scream."

Plunk showed up. She too got a look at the small racoon on the ground. "Oh' What do we do about this?" 

Dazzle shook her head. "I don't know."

Plunk suggested. "There is that pegasus Fluttershy. Maybe we can bring it to her. I don't know her all too well, but my parents say they did when she was little. I was told by them and by some here she is good with animals."

Trooper shook his head. "No, That would not be good. It looks dead already. You are right, we have been told she is good with animals as well. She is not only good with them, she loves them. She spends most of her time with them. I don't think she can do anything for a dead one. And if we were to bring one to her dead. I think it would only upset her. I mean, it would upset her real bad."

Dazzle stood between Trooper and Plunk. "He is right. We can't do that to her. It's best she doesn't know anything about this."

Plunk shrugged. "OK, but what do we do? Just leave it here? I mean this is part of the natural order of things. It happens. Not that I like to see it much myself." 

Dazzle spoke up. "It is common among us to bury our dead. We do it for many reasons."

Plunk interrupted. "I know all of that. But that is something we do about our own. So tell me, what are we going to do about this?"

Trooper sighed. "I guess we could do the same for this little guy." 

Dazzle nodded. "Yes, we could."

Plunk thought about this. "So we dig with our hooves, or should we get us some shovels? We are not to far from Apple Bloom's farm. We could possibly get at least one or more from them."

Tooper put a hoof on Plunk's shoulder. "I think that is a plan."

Dazzle added, "I wonder if we should let who we ask as to why we need them. I mean it would be one thing if we asked Applejack or Big Mac. It would be another if we told Apple Bloom why we wanted them."

Plunk suggested, "We might not have to tell them."

Trooper grimaced. "I don't like deceiving any pony."

Plunk nudged Trooper. "Is it deceiving Fluttershy by not telling her about this, or doing her a favor?"

Dazzle spoke up. "I get your point. I am with Trooper though, I don't like deceiving anypony either, but I think we can keep open the option of not telling as to why we need them. Only if they don't ask, or if it is Apple Bloom that asks. Much like Fluttershy, I don't think it to be a good idea if she knows about this."

Trooper nodded. "OK, I can live with that. So let's go."

The three of them headed over to the Apple Family Farm.

As they walked Dazzle walked right between Trooper and Plunk. Plunk for the moment had her thoughts turn towards Trooper who is on the other side of Dazzle. Plunk remembered in jest calling Trooper a slowpoke, but saw him move real fast when they both heard Dazzle scream.

She was impressed with seeing him run as fast as he did. She admired his determination to get to her so quickly, as she passed him by in the air, and as they reached the area they both thought Dazzle was.

She thought to herself, wow, he really cares for her. Must be nice to have someone around that cares that much for you. They are both lucky to have each other. I know I tease them both for it, but, they really have something special with each other. 

She questioned herself being with them. They are both too nice to be spending time with a pony like me. Should I just leave them both alone? It might be the right thing to do, and the best thing for them.

She didn't like at all what she was thinking, and changed some of her thoughts about it. But I just don't want to go. I like them both too much. They have both been good to me so far, and I don't want to be alone. Besided, Dazzle won't leave me. And I happen to like that. I don't want that to change.

She thought about the little dead racoon next. That is so sad. I don't want to end up like that one day. That fox Dazzle said got to it, did so because the raccoon was alone.

Plunk shivered. These new thoughts about the raccoon were only making her feel depressed. 

They made it to the farm. They saw Applejack come out of the field of apple trees as they entered the farm.

Applejack walked right up to them. "So what can I do for you three. Come to find Apple Bloom? She is around here somewhere."

Dazzle was the first to answer. "Well, no. Not today. We came to ask if we can borrow some shovels."

Applejack smiled over Dazzle's request. "Well shucks, you sure can. We have two in the barn not being used. So what you want them for, any how?"

Dazzle was pleased Applejack is letting them use the shovels, but didn't like that last question. She was about to answer when something else happened. Something she liked even less for at this moment.

Apple Bloom came running over. "Oh! Hi, you all. What yea here for?"

Dazzle quickly turned to Tooper and Plunk. She tried to whisper to them. "What do I say now? We agreed to tell Applejack if she asked, but not Apple Bloom."

The three of them thought about this to together. Applejack was getting impatient and did not like the idea that they are keeping something from her. She gave them the ultimatum. "OK' Out with it. If you want the shovels, you got to tell me what you need them for."

Trooper took it upon himself to speak, but did so to Dazzle and Plunk fist. He said to them in a whisper. "OK you two take Apple Bloom off somewhere, and talk to her about something. I don't care what, just distract her while I talk to AJ." 

The two girls nodded and walked over on either side of Apple Bloom. Plunk leaned over to Apple Bloom. "Say how about we go over there for a moment? - as she pointed - I got something to tell you."

Apple Bloom knew a distraction when she saw one. Her and the other two CMC have used them enough times themselfs. But she went along with it just the same. "Sure Plunk."

As the three fillies walked together, Apple Bloom spoke up to Plunk. "Plunk, That was real nice of you to have given that banner back to Scootaloo. I know you took it and all. Scootts told me all about it. And we just don't keep such secrets from each other, just to let you know. 

"It wasn't right of you to have taken it in the first place, but you made her real happy in giving it back. She thought she was never going to ever see it again. So, what is this something you needed to distract me to come here, soze you can be tellin me?"

Plunk smiled, then gave a short laugh. "Ok you got me. I did just want to bring you over her to distract you. But I will say I am very sorry for taking that banner. I am just glad Scootaloo is no  longer upset about it."

While that conversation was going on Trooper moved close to Applejack to tell her what she wanted to know. He kept his voice low. "OK, we found a little dead racoon. We intended to bury it. That is all. We just didn't want Apple Bloom to know what we found."

Applejack nodded. "Thank you for tellin me Tropper, and thank you kindly for trying to keep this from my little sister. It would not have been the first time she has know of a dead critter, or even the first time she has saw one. But you are right, it's still nothing she would want to know of, or needs to know. You are free to use them Tropper."

Trooper smiled. "Thank you AJ."

Trooper left to join the three fillies, and to gather up Dazzle and Plunk.

He saw them laughing about something he missed. He decided to inquire about it. "So did I miss something good?"

Apple Bloom was still laughing as she tried to answer him. "Plunk was just tellin me as to why she moved to Ponyville in the first place. OK, it shouldn't be funny, but it is."

Trooper snickered a bit. "Gotta agree with you on that one. It's not funny, but it is. Stealing is no joke. But to think of what she wanted spectra for though. I would never have thought of that. Than again, I am not too fond of spicy foods either."

Plunk leaned over to Tropper "Not into the hot stuff, are you? You don't know what you are missing." She finished with a grin.

Dazzle walked around to the other side of Trooper and as Plunk did she to leaned over too him, but spoke to Plunk. "I know my Trooper, and he prefers something sweet. And I make sure he doesn't miss out on having what he likes."

At this Trooper was visibly blushing. "Do we have to do this? I- I mean, we have something else to think about. Right? Like why we are here."

Apple Bloom felt amused over Trooper's embarrassment, but was also curious as to why they were here. "So why are you all here for? Or you not tellin?"

Trooper was glad of the change in subject. "Well, we just came to borrow some shovels. That is all. Nothing too important. We should be returning them soon after though."

Apple Bloom felt if she pushed for more answers, she might just be given the runaround, so she let it go. "OK, well, I guess I will be seeing you all, when you get back."

Apple Bloom let them depart as she joined her big sister in the house.

The other three got what they came for and headed back to the dead racoon. Only when they got there they found it was gone. They each figured that something else came and took it, and it was possibly the same fox that killed it.

Plunk was the first to speak about it. "Well, that seemed to be a waste of time."

The other two agreed. But Dazzle had her opinions about it. "That may be, but it was not a total waste of time. You shown us you do care enough about something like this to try and do something about it with us. You didn't just gaff it off like it didn't matter to you, or have anything to do with you."

Plunk though about this for a moment. "You know I had wondered if it was right of me to be your and Trooper's friend. I was not sure if I am worth that much to you both. I mean the two of you are real nice. You are both good to each other, and good for each other. But me? I at times feel like I am just getting in the way. But I don't want to go. Nor do I not want to stop being your friend. 

"That is, I like having you both as my friends. Do you really think I am not such a bad pony?"

This time Trooper stepped in with his words. "You are questioning yourself and us about this. It matters to you. I know what Dazzle thinks of you. But I can tell by my self now, that you, yourself wish to be better than some town brat that causes everyone truble. You do care how others think of you, and you do care on how others feel while being around you. Look how you were with Apple Bloom. You made her laugh."

Dazzle added, "Yes, and you remember what she told you. She was grateful, that you undid a bad mistake with one of her friends and made her friend very happy. You see Plunk, this is the type of pony I know you are. You just have to see it for yourself. Trooper and I will be here to help make sure that you do. However long that it takes."

~~~~~~

Trooper sat in bed still as he finished that memory. 

Trooper wondered to himself if he should stop worrying about how much time Plunk and Dazzle do spend together without him. He figured no matter what he felt, or how long he has been with Dazzle before Plunk came to Ponyville, Dazzle has a fixation on Plunk now that just will not go away.

He knows Dazzle has been right about Plunk all along, but he wonders as to why Dazzle felt she can't do without Plunk in the first place. He just didn't understand on why Dazzle has latched onto Plunk so quickly after her first time seeing this new pony in town. 

Dazzle never told him. And this did frustrate him some.

He tried to let that though drift as he wished to think more on his time he is going to spend with his father this morning, after they each get up.

~~~~~~

After having gotten the soup reddy, Fluttershy had spent some time relaxing next to Angel, she shared some of the soup with him. She was doing her best to calm herself and Angle, after what she thought was such a frightful event for the both of them.

She heard some commotion outside. "What is it now? Could that thing be back again?" 

She shivered a bit. "Oh, I hope not. Seeing it once was enough." She got up and went to the door. 

With some trepidation, she sneaked a peek out. Looking around she did not see anything. The birds and other critters were making a fuss just the same. 

Wanting to calm the animals down, and see what got them worked up in the first place, she ventured out the door a short distance. She froze as she realized that the animals were making a fuss to give her a warning!

With a moment of glee over having some success so far, the patient stalker leered down from his vantage point on the roof. He managed to climb with slow, careful movements, maintaining a level of stealth. 

As the pony walked out some distance from the door, He saw the pony is out in the open and seemed unaware of his presence or position at the moment.

He felt his time is now!

Leaping off his perch he came down fast. Holding an arm out as he did. The muscular monster grabbed hold on the back of her head, and slammed her face down on the ground hard, with full force.

The stunned and dazed yellow mare's nose was broken. Blood oozed from around her muzzle and out of her nose and mouth. Her head throbbed hard and was unable to think strait. More blood came from a small gash on her forehead. She could feel something strong tugging at her body causing her more pain. A chill ran down her spine as she came to realize she is being attacked!

Fluttershy knowing she was in very real danger moved to run away. The Kezzerdrix though she would try this and dug his claws in deeper to prevent her escape. Fluttershy's senses came back to her more. She screamed.

She had been scratched and scraped by a sacred animal in pain before. One that she was only trying to help. This happened a few times, and she did not mind, and she never blamed the animal for it. She could handle that, but not this. With each growing intensity, she panicked all the more over her situation with this beast.

Struggling to free herself, his grip seemed to do nothing but hold tighter each time she pulled away. This gripping with his claws made her efforts more painful. It was too much. Her being scared was an understatement, she was terrified. This thing was digging into her sides without any remorse.

He enjoied feeling her struggle. In an attempt to play with her more he was now releasing one claw at a time while still gripping with the other to dig in on another spot with his free claw. He was like a cat playing with a mouse. Blood seeped out of each new gash he made in her.

She screamed out for anyone to help. At that moment, Angel rushed out the door and bit the offending pony vandal right on the leg. The one who dared to abuse his beloved benefactor, caretaker, and friend.

This little pain in the leg was more than a nuisance. So the busy and irritated beast trying to work over this mare he enjoyed torturing, turned to grab hold of the little ankle biter. Not wanting to waste time on this little furball and get himself distracted. He gripped the little bunny tightly. 

He wished to continue toying with the one who had used her trickery and controlled him with it. His anger for her doing so was still fresh in his mind.

With a snap of his arm, he whipped the squirming small white body against the outside wall of the house. There was a crunch, causing it to leave a blood smear before falling to the ground. The body now nothing more than a clump of broken bones, mashed bloody fur, and meat.

Fluttershy had seen Angel get smacked on the wall hard enough to kill him. She lost her mind while filled with grief at the loss of her closest friend and loved pet.

She was still being distracted by the continual vigorous violation to her tender ravaged body he returned to working over. This repeated pounding of his claws penetrating forcefully through her flesh made her back, and flanks bleed all over. This thing was having his way with her. She had enough of this thing abusing her. She intended to fight back.

Rage came full tilt as Fluttershy wanted to make this atrocious intruder ravaging her body with gusto, to be in as much pain as possible in return. She thought back to her lessons Iron Will gave her. If ever there was a time for her to be assertive, now was that time.

She pulled again and again to yank away with much more effort, but the Kezzerdrix's grip never wavered. She couldn't drop to the ground. He just held her up to him as if her efforts meant nothing to him.

She didn't like how this was going but still felt the need to make sure he paid for his actions to her and Angel. She had a thought. In an continual effort to do something, she lurched forward with all she had, then gave him a swift kick to his nuts.

The Kezzerdrix groaned in pain from this sudden attack that caught him off guard and shot pain throughout his groin and midsection, rendering him unable to continue.

While falling onto Fluttershy's back he winced in agony for a short moment. An instant later he changed his grip and grabbed at her rump and shoved her forward with all his might.

Fluttershy having been shoved too fast and hard for her to respond had landed face first again, smacking her already broken nose on the ground for the second time, and leaving another blood spot in the dirt.

Getting back up while dazed for a short moment, she wobbled around focusing on regaining her footing.

Due to how forcefully he shoved her and how he screamed when she kicked him, Fluttershy was aware just how badly she hurt him. She normally would have felt very sorry for doing such a thing to anyone, but she felt he had it coming to him.

While Fluttershy noticed his wild and eminence strength catching her off guard as much as she did to him, she was back to being scared once again, like that of a trapped animal. Fear gripped her once more. 

She knew she could not handle such a monster on her own. She felt she had no choice but to get away. A space was open before her. In a panic, she moved to run and fly away.

The Kezzerdrix had been denied by her once again. This time in a very painful manner. He was more furious with her than ever, building to a rage of his own. No more play time with her, he thought. She was no longer any fun for him. He decided it was time to just to tear her apart so he could eat.

He lunged at her with his right claws raised high. Moving in quickly from behind too fast for her to get far. The enraged beast slammed his claws down hard right below her shoulders, digging them in deep. 

Fluttershy screamed and twisted in pain, then shortly coughed up blood from her pierced lungs. She now gasped and choked as her lungs contracted to expel the blood slowly draining into them. 

In a desperate act for her life, Fluttershy did as best she could to kick back with her left rear leg again. It landed against his abs this time sending him back some.

The Kezzerdrix took the blow hard. He was forced a step backwards and raked his claws embedded in the impaled pony's back. It took her left wing off at the base while just mangling the other to completely unusable. 

As the claws continued down her back one of them scraped against her spine splitting the flesh over it, exposing the scraped spine slightly.

Fluttershy fell to the ground as he kicked her from behind hard enough to snap her lower spine. She screamed a gurgly muffled scream as she fell. A section of where the spine shaped protruded up and out of her back.

Sobbing and choking even more, while having much trouble breathing due to the blood still filling her lungs. She gave another effort to crawl away with little success. 

Blood was now covering all over her. Some spraying from the new and larger gash in her back. All while flowing and dripping down her sides making a bloody mess on the ground and all over herself. She continued to drag her body in the blood made mud she was creating in hopes of getting away.

Her body quaked and convulsed as shock was setting in due to blood loss. Pain ran through her back as she moved. Her back legs useless. 

Hope drained from her mind as she succumbed to the inevitable. Her broken heart and will gave out. She was going to die, and she knew it. Laying on the ground crying with despair, having little success in that as well as she choked on her blood more, she felt utterly defeated. The continuing of blood loss made her body cold as well now. She could feel herself slipping away.

Hurt once again for the second time by this defiant yellow pony, made him pleased to see her struggle for her life, and then seemingly give up. 

The smell of so much warm fresh blood and the sight of a helpless victim made his stomach growl ever more. His hunger hit with much more force than before. 

He bounded once high into the air than onto her back. Upon landing, the force made Fluttershy's body break in several places. Bone and tendons were crushed and snapped, as well as her internal organs mashed under the weight and broken bones. 

He turned his head to enable him to snap his jaws around the back of her neck.

The Kezzerdrix chewed ravenously at her exposed neck, as more blood gushed between his teeth, filling his mouth with the delicious thick warm red liquid. This taste of blood set him to a full-on feeding frenzy.

He twisted and yanked on her limp neck, till he finally snapped it. She was gone quickly after. He did not even stop to consider his victory. Filling his demanding gut for food is all that is on his mind now. He feasted till there was little left of her but some bones and a few scattered remains of flesh, hair, and feathers.

Before leaving with himself covered in a caked on mess, he felt he would need to wash off. After returning from the stream, he turned to one other broken body ripe for the taking. One last morsel for the road. 

He thought staying in one place for too long after this, did not seem like a good idea to him. For now, he had his meal. He decided it is time to go while he digested it.