//------------------------------// // The Night's bride // Story: Fangs and Wings and other Things // by Kinetic Heat //------------------------------// Not a single animal dared to pear through the bushes, vines and lines of trees as the group of sullen ponies walked by in silence, Applejack leading the way with a firm look set forward and the other three following in single file behind her like ducklings following their mother. The leaves were frozen in time as the four companions strode towards Ponyville, where their friends and family were surely already awaiting their return. They longed for the familiarity of their friends and the usual comfort that the homely atmosphere brought. Now, however, there was only dim light, and practically no sound aside from their clopping hooves. The same quiet that had kept them company when they had been searching for Hazel was now following them every meter on their way. Like a wet cloth, the silence hung over them and unsettled their moods greatly. From time to time, Twilight shot first Hazel, then Applejack a look, trying to make sense of the situation. As far as she knew, the source of the conflict had been the sudden appearance of Hazel's lost half-brother, who had attacked him and afterward Applejack. This had then triggered Hazel to snap and go all out berserk on Amaimon. The fierceness of the attack had forced him to retreat, and as a result, something must have happened to Celestia, affecting the diurnal rhythm. In addition Hazel's state had caused him to believe that Granny Smith had tried to harm Applejack, which was the reason he killed her. After regaining his senses, Hazel had realized what he had done and fled. He seemed to have gotten control of him self again and was therefore ready to rejoin with their group. Applejack however seemed more furious about the fact that he had run away than about the loss of a family member, which quite frankly surprised Twilight, as she had thought there was nothing that mattered more to her orange friend than her family. That much she could observe, although it still lead her to no possible solution she could contribute. Since then Applejack had not done so much as look at Hazel, which obviously plagued him. It was heartbreaking to watch him trot, his sight wandering from side to side, never focused, the corners of his mouth hanging lower than his mane, and his steps a dragging over the ground. The fact that Hazel Eyes, a pony, well vampire-incubus-hybrid in the shape of a pony, who had not only played a major role in Sombra's fall, but was also far older than the princesses combined, lurched behind an ordinary earth pony was a curious sight. Although, ordinary was not quite the word Applejack could be described with. She was a bearer of one Element of Harmony, notably the Element of Honesty, a hard working mare who always put herself back in favor for others, and furthermore one of the most reliable ponies Twilight had ever had the pleasure to meet. Still, the conflict gnawed their nerves raw. Twilight had thought once they found Hazel and took him back, the awkwardness and tension would simply dissipate, but that was not the case. Unspoken words of hurt and remorse threatened their companionship to shatter like a dropped mirror, making the very air frizzle with electricity. They marched on, uncomfortableness in every move, until Rainbow closed up to Twilight and tried to whisper. “Actually it doesn't matter how loudly Imma tell you this, Hazel will be able to hear me anyway-” she looked at the stallion up front, noting that his mouth twitched slightly in a weak attempt of a smirk, “- but when do you think any of those two will make the first move?” she asked, syncing in with Twilight's pace. Twilight shot her an annoyed side glance, but answered nonetheless. “It's not my business and neither should it be yours. They'll make amends when they think the time is ripe.” She kept marching, noticing that her reply hasn't satisfied Rainbow in the least. Rainbow's grimacing didn't help her ignoring the tense mood either, so she turned to her and whispered in the same manner: “if you are so keen on knowing, why don't you ask them yourself?” Pulling her mouth to one side in a way of deliberating about Twilight's proposition, Rainbow tilted her head from one side to the other, until she finally shrugged and cantered past and towards Hazel. ”Hey, big guy,” she nudged his shoulder, “You know, I was wondering.” ”You were?” came the weak response. “I never thought you were able to do that.” Rainbow pulled her forehead in a frown. “Hey, no need to get snappy!” They walked a few steps further. “As I was saying,” Rainbow tried to pick up the conversation again, “what is it with you two? I thought you were like peas in a pod, but you're like cat and dog now.” Rainbow awaited Hazel's reply that wouldn't come. She sighed. “Geez, I thought you understood mares, with the demon powers and stuff...” At that, Hazel snorted. The sound took Rainbow unaware and she raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Don't make a fool of yourself, my dear Rainbow Dash, no stallion could ever dare say he understood mares. I can manipulate them, make them think and do what I want them to, but never was I able to understand them, that is a thing of the utmost impossibility.” Rainbow let that thought pass through her mind and shrugged. “Anyway...” she drew the word out as long as possible. “Can't you and AJ just get along again? I know it's not that easy, but you two are meant for each other, even I can see that.” She paused, then added, “And I'm so totally not into that romance stuff!” Hazel nodded and padded on, looking serenely at Applejack's swaying behind. She had kept her head up high for a long time already, and Hazel could easily make out the tense muscles on the back of her neck. Her steps were firm, determined, and the way she sternly looked forward made clear that she would never look back as long as they were on the road. ”I would have to apologize for everything that I've done wrong, including my lacking self-control, cowardice, and something else,” Hazel whispered back at Rainbow, who leaned in closer. ”Uh hu, so ya need some space? I mean for talking under four eyes and stuff?” Rainbow suggested. Her reward was a sly one-sided smirk from the stallion beside her. She tilted her head of the rare sight. “Something funny?” ”I was merely thinking the same thing,” he responded, some of his old charisma back. ”Hehe, great minds think alike, huh? So, you think you can do it soon?” ”Actually, I was considering doing it right now.” ”Um, right now, like in now right now?” One fang peeked out from under Hazel's lip and he drew so close to Rainbow's ear, she could feel his warm breath on the hairs inside her ear cup. “Do take care of Twilight while Applejack and I are gone. Head for Ponyville, Twilight knows the way. Do not worry, we will catch up in time.” ”What do you mean-” Before Rainbow was able to complete her question, Hazel had already bolted towards Applejack, dove under her, and lifted off the ground. Applejack nearly fell off his back from the suddenness of the assault, but quickly enough clutched onto Hazel, wrapping her front hooves around his neck, and hind legs around his waist. With strong, eager flaps, Hazel climbed ever higher, leaving Twilight and Rainbow out of sight whilst barely feeling the weight of Applejack. It was so good to be in contact with her again after so long. Feeling her warmth, the sensation of her body on his, her scent of fresh ripe apples, it all seemed gone for far too long and the security of knowing it- her- back was incomparable to anything. When the first moment of shock had passed by, Applejack dared to risk a glimpse, regretted her decision immediately, though. Traveling beneath her was an endless carped of green dots with widely varying shades, as was the tree population, reaching from embers to pines, oaks and birches, and linden to yews. Growing up right next to the Everfree Forest, Applejack had learned to pay the wildness its well deserved respect, though she had never dreamed it could hold such a floral diversity. However, the height was taking its toll, and Applejack's belly began rumbling in displeasure. She leaned forward, as near to Hazel's ear as she could, which still left her mouth almost all of his neck's length away from it, and shouted against the wind, “Hazel, might you wanna bring us down? Ah ain't feelin' so well!” Hazel shot her a blank look, saw the urgency in her expression and immediately decreased his speed, starting a descend in wide circles. The wind still twirled her mane hard, but she was too afraid to lose her hold if she reached up now to secure her hat. Also, she trusted Hazel enough to know how much that hat meant to her, and which speed was the best for them to reach their destination while keeping her hat safe on her head. The closer they got to the ground, the more details Applejack could make out. A town left to the wilderness with rigged slate roofs, classic earth pony building style, and several ricks with nearby barns. The whole complex was overrun with greens, bushes and vines. It seemed to be a settlement of days long past, when the three tribes warred over the land that was now called Equestria. Today, all that was left were the mouldering arbors and rotting walls of wood, broken windows, and an atmosphere that sent shivers down anypony's spine. Overgrown with vines, roots and young trees that emerged from the remains of other, long dead once green companions, the village was magnificent to look at, but at the same time an example for the power nature held. Not a single roof could be found that had not caved in, from time that had dissolved most of the beams that secured it, or the weight of the flora on top of it. The two ponies landed where the market place had most likely been, an open square, encircled by large collapsed buildings, two or four throws of a stone apart, that must have been the town's hall and maybe a bank. It was hard to tell now, first because of the terrible state these buildings were in, and second because of the darkness the night brought with it. They could tell easily though, this village was much like Ponyville, only not quite as bright maybe. Applejack climbed off Hazel's back and tapped a hoof to the ground, reassuring herself that she stood on solid ground again. With a few wide gazes, Applejack scanned her environment for any immediate danger, more out of habit then of actual necessity. Hazel would have sensed any living creature within miles, and Applejack highly doubted there was something in these woods that could present a serious problem for them, unless Amaimon had decided to go search for his half brother all on his own. That was just as unlikely, since Hazel would have to show up to rescue Celestia sooner or later, bound by his oath. After her overview, Applejack focused on the white stallion in front of her, looking him over from hoof to head. His stance was loose, almost relaxed, and his look was firmly focused on herself, eyes of the same warm, strong brown they always were when he was looking at her. Hazel's tail swayed from one side to the other behind him, bored, as was his mane. He stood there with not a care in the world. Applejack had thought a long time how she would approach this moment, all the time on her search. How should she put in words what she felt? How could she make him understand what was truly the source of her dismay? Would he be able to understand? All this, her mind was rambling about, re-phrasing, re-considering, re-writing it all over and over again. It was like she was caught in a maze of word and meaning, where the paths of those two entwined at one point, but as soon as she thought she had found the exit, the two could not be further apart. There had been things she couldn't tell her friends, not because of a distrust; Applejack would lay her life into the hooves of her girls. But for the way how they would look at her afterwards, she was uncertain. Hazel was a child of darkness, and dark topics were to be discussed with dark ponies. All this thinking had gotten to her. Applejack had grown frustrated and angry. She wanted to get it all off, to let it break loose, throw it all at him, and pray for all of Celestia's love that he understood. When he stood there in the moonlight so casually, gaze still locked on her, the last straw had ripped. Like a storm contained in a glass bottle where someone pulled the cork, all the crammed up aggression broke free and unloaded in a hurricane of ferocity, and rolled over her lover, threatening to wash him away and swallow him down until nothing remained of him. ”Hazel Eyes, how dare ya!” Applejack screamed at him, making his sensitive ears fold backwards. She set her stance a good few steps away from him and shouted her lungs out. “Ya know 'xactly that Ah ain't no friend friend of that flying business! Earth ponies shoulda be remainin' on the ground!” Hazel underwent it with not so much as a light cringe of the noise Applejack was producing. ”Ah've held mahself back 'cause Ah didn't want Twalight and Rainbow to hear all this now. It ain't none of their business,” she yelled, quickly looking away, then back at Hazel. “And now this! After what you've done, what'n Equestria were ya thinking, comin' back like that, 'Oh, don'tcha worry, Ah've got it all figured out, it won't happen no more'! ”Listen up, Sucky, it don't work that way, you've gotta take responsibility for what ya do. You have a lot of compensation ta do.” Applejack sighed and took a short moment to collect her self, and started off with a sad tone in her voice. ”When Ah first met ya, ya had just come to Ponyville and ya were figurin' out what ta make of your new situation. The moment ya went through the door of the barn, Ah knew there was something about yer, though Ah couldn't quite put mah hoof on it. Ya were quiet and moody, and the we were excited and all ta know what ya would be like, since ya got from Canterlot. Honestly, Ah thought you'd be one of those stuck up, good-fer-nothin' royals. But you weren't. ”You had something about yer that made think, and then you told- showed- us, what and who ya really were. This story about yer past, where ya grew up, yer kin and all... that scared me. Ah was afraid when Ah went to bed at night. But then, Big Mac got that awful injury. I was so eaten up in bucking apples, that Ah only noticed when it was already too late. When Ah heard, though, ya were already there, lending a hoof. Ya helped mah brother, despite knowing him for so little time only, and because of that, Ah still have a brother to speak of. ”When ya... transferred mah blood to him, ya let me feel this warmth. Ya said that was what it had felt like being with this Victoria girl. That was love, right?” Applejack raised a hoof dismissively when Hazel opened his mouth for a response. “It was then that a was thinking about yer,the way ya acted, how ya moved. ”Applebloom liked you instantly, she has a good sense for these things, and Ah was beginnin' ta trust yer. Ah noticed how ya tried to get things rollin' again, with the salary from the apple sales in the market, the little reparations around the barn, and your work in the orchard. ”Although Ah was still a little scared, Ah saw that ya had a good heart, now matter what yer were. Ya were different from the other colts,” she snorted a halfhearted chuckle, “wonder why that is. Anyway, Ah was intrigued by you, and wanted to give it a chance, though Ah knew Ah most likely wouldn't have a chance, 'cause of your... duties... for the princesses, and your gone partner from before yer slumber.” Applejack bit her lip, she couldn't look Hazel directly in the eye. Applejack chewed her lip in deliberation, mentally bracing herself for the next part. Piece by piece the memory of that one dreadful night came back like a macabre blood-seeped jigsaw puzzle, making her force her breath to stay slow and calm. The pictures that appeared before her inner eye still scared her to the point of trembling, but that was not for what had almost happened to her, but rather for a side of Hazel she was so terrified existed. “And then, that night in the hay rick. Celestia dang it, Ah can still hear the backbone of that one colt snappin'. It all happened so fast. One second, Ah hold on to that hay bale, an' the next, Ah see a bunch o' corpses layin' around on the floor, and you were holding a poor guy 'gainst his throat. Ah was so scared, Hazel, so scared. That wasn't you, you are kind 'n gentle, that beast was a slaughtering animal with a mindset to kill, kill, and kill again. ”But Ah knew that there still must've been some part o' you in there, and thank Celestia Ah was right. That night, we shared a bed for tha first time, remember?” Applejack asked, feeling tears welling up, but she forced them back again. This of all times was by far the worst to cry. Her voice took on a bitter-sweet tone as she spoke on. “Ya shooed away tha bed dreams. Ah felt like tha time was right, so Ah confessed. Ah was so nervous, but Ah felt so confused, so helpless, and you were there, you were strong. Ah knew ya kept yer charm in check, but Ah felt drawn to you nonetheless. "Ah would've never guessed there was something that felt as good as the love of yer famly, but now Ah know there is something equal. Havin' someone ya knew since the beginnin' of yer life, growin' up with yer kin an' all is the greatest luck in the whole world. But having somepony to know your most inner feelings, doing smoochy stuff in public without givin' a damn, and when ya see him it makes yer heart start jumpin'-” Applejack stopped abruptly. She stared into open space, miles beyond Hazel's face into the night sky, the with a fierce shake of her head resumed, collected. ”After only such a rather short time, Ah already had fallen in love with yer, cause Ah saw that you tried to be part of mah famly, regardless what the princess had told ya ta do. It was a whole new feelin' fer me, Hazel. Ah've had a crush or two already, like every lil' filly does, but Ah could've never imagined what havin' a real partner felt like. Ah trusted yer with all of mah heart, Ah would've done anything ta see the Hazel before the war an' before the stasis an' all that.” All of Applejack's sorrow had flown out with her speech. What was left were the dull aches that a hurt heart caused, and she found herself willing to let the ears flow freely. It had all gone so wrong for the both of them. If she really was the reincarnation of Victoria, then why didn't things work out in their favor? Had so much gone lost over the generations, that the brightly shining light of faith Hazel had shared with Victoria faded to a dull glow? Why, only why had he fled her when they were supposed to overcome this new situation at each others side? And still, Applejack did not allow herself the comfort of crying out, wallowing in self-pity has never helped anypony. With a look that could have torn apart anyone's heart, she asked Hazel, voice trembling of the strain to hold the hot tears back, “what do ya have ta say in yer defense?” ”I love you.” That took the wind out of Applejack's sails. In complete bafflement, the orange farm mare stood with her jaws nearly hitting the ground and gazed at Hazel. It was like he had slapped her square across the face, and the only motion she was able to perform was a shocked opening and closing of her mouth. Applejack blinked, twice, thrice, and then what seemed like another dozen times in quick succession, her ears meanwhile flapping around like a sparrow flapped its wings when it got caught in a stiff breeze. Finally, she inhaled, exhaled and repeated breathing slowly, carefully in and out, not too fast lest Applejack was going to hyperventilate. At one point though, something caught in her throat which caused Applejack to cough wildly, jabbing her own chest a few times in the process, until she finally managed to cough something out that could have sounded like, “say what now?” Hazel approached with a slowness like he had all the time in the world, giving Applejack chance to take note of every motion of his body. Only when he was a couple of meters away from her did little by little activate his charm. The subtle impression on her mind and perception made her lose her tension by a small degree, but just enough so to sooth her rioting mind and help her get her breath under control. The way the moonlight shimmered off Hazel's coat pulled her in and mesmerized her until all the world around her blurred but for the shape of the beautiful destrier in front of her, who advanced oh so slowly towards her. In the back of her mind she had a feeling what he was trying to do, but right now, that didn't bother her so much at all. Applejack stood her ground and waited patiently for him to close the last few steps, and only when they were an arm's length apart did she give in and let him pull her into a warm embrace, shutting them both away from the rest of Equestria. His wide frost-white wings wrapped around her as she pressed against him, resting her head on his shoulder, while Hazel lay his chin on top of her head, nestling in her mane after he had carefully brushed her hat off. There they sat, engulfed in each others warmth, excluded from the flow of time, and their minds connected into one, unifying them like no physical could ever manage. At the slightest shift of Applejack, Hazel retracted his wings and exposed her to the coldness of the night. Shuddering, Applejack nestled a tiny bit closer to him, although soon enough she had accustomed to the chilly temperature. Applejack drew her head back from Hazel's shoulder and took a moment to take a look into the depth of his brown, deeply comforting, eyes in which lay so much affection for her, paired with shame, hope and affliction. Hazel lowered his head and took in the scent of fresh ripe apples that always surrounded her like an aura. How much he had missed it. He hadn't been gone for that long of a time, but only a day apart from her, after he had allegedly believed that she was gone forever over a thousand years in wake, was making his heart ache. Having her back, even if she was infuriated and an irate Valkyrie, filled the gaping whole inside him when he had seen her cry as he left. Caressing one cheek with his hoof, he pressed a tender kiss on her mouth, only for a second before he pulled back, feeling Applejack's intermittent breath on his lips, and kissed her another time. Another precious moment was spent where they indulged in each others arms, holding close their dearest, savoring every passing second, cursing whenever another went by. Eventually, they parted, though only staying a hoofs stretch away from each other, too precious was the time together. ”Ya said it.” ”I did, and I mean it.” ”How can Ah be sure that you don't leave me again? Yer promised me once you'd stay by mah side, and we both now what turned outta be.” Hazel looked down for a moment, then he fixated his look on Applejack. His chestnut brown eyes drank the entirety out of her emerald ones and formed an inseparable bond. With a voice so firm that not the least pint of doubt, insecurity or reluctance could find a way to slip in he spoke, “Because I want you to be my beloved for ever.” When she remained silent, expecting him to elaborate further, Hazel continued. “I want to turn you into one of my kind. I want us to go through the ages side by side, with no one telling us what we can and cannot do. I want to spend the rest of the eternity with you, Applejack, and therefore you need to drink from me.” Applejack's eyebrows shot upwards, she was beginning to understand. “Ya want me ta become a vampire?” A determined nod was her answer. “With all the stuff? Immortality, lust fer blood, sun allergy?” Another nod was given to her. When Applejack did not continue interrogating him, Hazel spoke on. “Applejack, I have known you only for such a brief time, but in that few weeks I have lived more than in four thousand years before. It's bad luck that just now events are playing against us, but I will do my best and more if need be, so you and I can live together in peace.” He stopped, thought about what to say next and resumed. “Right now, your life and that of everypony else is in great danger. I don't want to lose you again, and therefore you need to become a child of the darkness. ”I showed you once what wonders the darkness holds, and with your new you would be able to enjoy them even more. More importantly, I would know you safer than now, because all your physical and mental treats would be enhanced, and with enough training your chances of survival would rise greatly. Be certain of it, Amaimon will without a doubt try to get to me in every way possible,” here he stopped, drawing Applejack's full attention on him, “which means he will try to hurt me through you.” Applejack considered the arguments said, turning away from Hazel. A few heartbeats passed, the she turned around. “Ah'd have to watch how mah famly dies member by member,” she said, the emotional commotion not completely suppressed in her voice. ”Eventually.” ”Ah'd have to drink ponies' blood to not fall sleep?” ”Not if you do not want to, you can always drink from me.” ”Would Ah have yer other part, too?” ”I am not sure. Most probably.” ”And Ah'd live ferever? “ ”You can still die by accident, a lightning stroke, drowning, or you could get killed. But your body will become way more resistant to most challenges you will encounter.” ”But if Ah keep it safe and cool, Ah'm gonna live ferever?” ”Yes.” Applejack inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. Her ongoing silence made Hazel queasy, he sensed that he was losing her, an emergency plan was in order. “You know,” he started, “you could see it as a kind of marriage, only without death of natural cause parting us.” That struck Applejack. “Are yer... Are yer proposin' ta me?” The surprise was plainly written all over her face and Applejack stared at Hazel in disbelief, unable to cope. This suddenness threw her off guard, and for a moment she forgot to breath. ”In a way,” Hazel replied quickly. He walked over to Applejack and fixated her look on him. “I know these are dire times, even more for you than for me, and if I were to lose you, I don't know if I was going to be able to fulfill my oath-bound duties. So please,” Hazel pleaded. He grabbed Applejack by her shoulders and shut out the world once again with his wings, “become my bride. Don't put me through all of this pain again.” He pulled his front hooves and wings back and planted a kiss on her lips, as tender as a snowflake. “I love you, Applejack.” Just when he wanted to withdraw his muzzle, Applejack bolted forward and threw herself at Hazel, toppling him over and landing on him. The kiss she returned was wild and passionate, as Applejack nestled her body against Hazel's and caused them both to pant heavily when they ultimately parted. Applejack's eyes shimmered, whether from the moonlight or from potential tears Hazel was not able to tell doubtlessly, as she looked at Hazel and her mouth formed the words which were all he wanted to hear so badly. “Ah love yer too, Hazel Eyes.” The two of them shared in another moment of closeness, but eventually, Hazel sat up and parted from Applejack. With a stiffness in his composure that had not been there a second ago, he spoke to her, solemnity in his voice, “You have made your decision? You are certain you are not going to regret in a few hours, days, or weeks what you have done?” Applejack did not flinch one bit. “Ah'm as sure as can be. Ah want this 'cause Ah love ya, and also Ah'm really getting' sick of this darkness all the while. Ah am sure, now do it.” ”Are you really, completely and utterly sure?” Applejack shot him a dead panning look. “Hazel, sugarcube, if ya go on like that, AH might r-consider. You gonna do it now or what?” Hazel gulped down awkwardly.”Of course, sure.” He looked from left to right, screening what parts of his body he could see and pondered the possibilities. ”What're you waitin' for? Bite me already.” Shooting her a side glance, Hazel continued his search. “Biting you won't result in your transformation.” ”Then what will?” Hazel looked up. “Drinking my blood.” With a shrug, Hazel let his fangs snap out and bit down on his right front hoof, piercing the first layers of his skin and then the first few, thin capillaries which dismissed the first drop of blood into his mouth. Tasting his own blood was something entirely new for Hazel. He had imagined it would be rather tasteless to him, since a reflection in a mirror only shows what falls upon it too, but the overwhelming flavor in his mouth almost let him gasp. It was like every drop of blood he had ever drunk had left a shade of a nuance in his body, fusing together into a unique mixture of taste. A flood of memories from all the times he had fed rushed towards him, and only with great effort was Hazel able to push it back and suppress it to concentrate on what he had to do. When Hazel felt his vein punctuated, he retreated his fangs and gestured Applejack to come over. The smell that wafted towards her made her stop dead in her track. A slow, yet steady crimson flow was coming from Hazel's foreleg, carmine droplets rolled along the downside and began to dribble down to the ground. The sight had something deeply unsettling, as drop after drop hit the grass and colored it red. Step by step, Applejack forced herself to advance to him, yet she could hardly bear to look at it, let alone drink. Her stomach let out a rumbling sound that showed its displeasure, and Applejack once again halted, trying to chase her disgust away. Like so often, she did not succeed. ”Applejack, dear, I know this is very difficult for you,” Hazel said in the most soothing tone he could utter. “But would you kindly hurry up a little, the less blood goes to waste, the better.” Applejack swallowed dryly and finally sat up before him. Carefully, she took the wounded leg into her own and tried to ignore the stench. A last help-seeking look into his deep eyes, and with a quick motion, Applejack sunk her mouth down on the blood stream. She had thought the smell to be bad, but it was nothing in comparison to the taste. An awful metallic flavor spread through her entire mouth, covering her tongue and taste buds with a mask of salt and iron. The first few drops she gulped down were the worst. Her stomach rebelled and threatened to throw it all up again, but she willed it down, kept it there and took another lick at the slit in Hazel's arm. After her first two mouthful of blood, she almost got used to it in a degree that allowed her to think the taste away. Lick after lick, Applejack tried her best to swallow as much as possible, until the overwhelming instinct of her guts was too much to withstand. With a cough, she drew away from Hazel's foreleg and swiped the leftover blood from her lips and chin. On the verge of vomiting, Applejack scowled and then shook her head as if to shoo a nasty fly away. Hazel pulled her to his chest and tenderly stroked her head, neck and back, while whispering softly to her, “Good, very good, Applejack. It's OK now, everything is alright. No, do not throw up, keep it in, keep it in. Just like that, yes, you are very strong.” With every moment, the dreadful feeling subsided until the only thing that remained was the salty flavor the blood had left in her mouth. She tried to swallow it down along the rest, but the taste just persisted. She would be going to have to accustom to it. ”What,” she began weakly, “What am Ah gonna have ta do now?” ”First off, you will be needing rest, a lot of rest actually. The process will take two weeks, maybe three. It depends on the amount of blood you were able to swallow.” Hazel tucked her head tighter into his shoulder and kissed her crown, taking in the scent of her mane one more time. ”Second, your body will change drastically, as I have told you. Because of that, you will need tuition.” He could feel how she nodded. After they had spent some time in each others company, Applejack motioned and Hazel released her. Inspecting her stature with a thorough look, Hazel sat up by himself- And immediately, the world closed in around him. Just before he hit the ground Hazel snapped a wing open and caught himself. In the blink of an eye, Applejack was by his side and made him sit down again. ”Whoa there, boy,you ain't tellin' me ya're alright,” she scolded, worried. Turning his head from side to side, Hazel tried to shake the dizziness off. “I,” he started, then was interrupted by a wave of goosebumps. “I must have lost more blood than I had thought.” His eyes shot up. “Oh for the love of... I cannot bring us home at this rate.” Applejack slapped the back of his head. “Darn right ya don't!” She followed up the smack with a kiss to his cheek. “You're almost like Dash, ya know? She stumbles into any kind of danger heads over heels without thinkin', too.” Hazel smirked. “Yeah, she does that sometimes.” Applejack shot him an incredulous look, that Hazel met with a heartfelt laughter. Soon, Applejack joined in and they just laughed until they both were panting. Applejack lay down and gestured Hazel to do the same beside her. When he did as he was told, Applejack drew his head onto her side, letting him hear her breath, her heartbeat. ”Ya know, Hazel, Ah think that was th' first time Ah ever heard yer laugh like that.” Hazel thought about it for a while then answered, “You know, I think that was the first time I laughed like that since Luna's banishment.” Applejack nuzzled his snout with her own. “Yer have a kind heart.” Suppressing a snort, he replied, “Although I might have the lives of the whole population of Equestria on my shoulders? Twice?” ”Are you seriously throwin' in yer kill count at a time like this?” She rolled her eyes. ”Sorry,” Hazel apologized. “Wrong comment.” A consensual kiss was exchanged. “No, yer have a kind heart alright. Ah knew when yer helped Big Mac. Ah mean, ya didn't know him at all, and still yer saved his life.” She quieted down for a moment. “Now that Ah think about it, ya were pretty late that day, weren't yer? Ya came back an hour before sunset, but that day, yer were at Sweet AA by sundown. Was there anythin' happening that day?” Hazel chuckled awkwardly as he recalled he events. “What did you just say about wrong comments?” At her incomprehensible look, he added, “Let me say it like that: I was in no need of Sugarcube Corner's baked goods to taste the Rainbow.” When understanding dawned on her, Applejack's face swapped to amusement, and a second later, she burst into a fit of laughter. The rupture caused Hazel to withdraw his head from Applejack's heaving side. As her laughter had died down to a mild snicker, she raised herself and patted Hazel on the shoulder. ”That was a good one. Celestia, it feels so good laughing again.” Laugh and smile as much as you like, Applejack, Hazel thought. Keep the light in your heart, just like that. I don't want you to ever cry again, and I promise that I will make you smile like this to the end of time, so I can see it everyday. Hazel felt the strength return to his limbs, and he had taken on Applejack to fly them both back to Ponyville, back home, but she refused and insisted they walked. Unwilling to steer up another argument, Hazel fell in a casual trot beside her, as the light of the moon guided their path.