//------------------------------//
// Catching the Vampires 
// Story: Hidden Spark 
// by EbonyDanger 
//------------------------------//

For the markets the period before the Summer Sun Celebration was a true gold mine. Everypony came to buy some things. Food, water, clothes. Around the well of Ponyville the stands were trying to outsmart each other. Stallions and flower mares were screaming themselves hoarse to get the attention of the customers.
The market was full. Many ponies were walking around and looked at the stands. And in this whole mess two Earth Ponies and an unicorn were making their way around the other customers. “So what are we looking for?”, asked Pinkie Pie curiously. She was hopping around Applejack and Rarity and looked around with huge eyes. Every now and then she pointed at something she found entertaining and funny.
Applejack explained: “I have spoken with Fluttershy, before we left. She said, Vampire Fruit Bats eat many different fruits. Although they prefer apples, they can also get the juice out of any other fruit.” 
Pinkie called: “How about we are taking a melon? They have much juice, because they are so big!”
“Pinkie”, interrupted Rarity and rolled her eyes, “A melon is way too heavy to carry it to the farm. Besides, I doubt those beasts eat such exotic fruits.” 
“But they could be useful”, answered the pink mare, “You are an unicorn. Can not you carry them just with your magic to the farm?” 
Rarity snorted and stopped. “This is ridiculous, Pinkie Pie!”, she called, “My magic is sensible and not made for such a task. I am not as good in magic as Twilight is.”
While the two of them kept discussing, if it was useful to choose a melon, Applejack was scanning the stands. She finally trotted to one, where several fruits were selled: Pears, peaches, oranges, strawberries, bluebarries. Her eyes were narrow. She carefully lifted several fruits with her hoof and turned them around. Which fruit had the texture and juiciness a Vampire Fruit Bat found attractive? It had to be something almost similar to an apple!
“Can I help you, young missy?” The seller, Lychee Rain, was a good friend and trade partner of the Apple Family. 
“Eyyupp”, replied Applejack, “Ah've got a problem, Lychee. A pack of Vampire Fruit Bats is rampaging my orchard and Ah need something to distract those beasts. Do ya have a fruit, which is almost similar to an apple?”
Lychee whistled and his eyes glittered worriedley. “This sounds bad, Applejack. If I were you, I would take those pears. They may not be apples, but I have heard that some Vampire Fruit Bats like them.” 
“Alright”, replied Applejack and shouted: “Pinkie Pie, Rarity! I found the fruit, we are looking for.”
They stopped their argument and walked to the farmer. “So we are not taking melons?”, asked Pinkie Pie disappointed.
“Nope”, replied Applejack, “We are taking pears.” She dropped the fruits in the saddle back. “How much do I owe ya, Lychee?”
“One kilo pears? That is twenty bits.” Applejack rummaged around in her back for the coins and handed them over.
“Let's go.” The three were making their way back to the farm. Pinkie Pie was hopping forwards, singing a silly melody. Applejack and Rarity walked side by side behind her. As they came across the library, the farmer stopped and turned her face. Spike was sitting in the entrance and eyed a window solicitously. When he spotted them, he quickly waved his arms to make them go away. Yet there was a glipsle of fear in the dragon's eyes.
“Applejack, darling, what is it?”, asked Rarity symphatetically. She had already taken a few steps and now turned around. “You are looking very uncomfortable and sad.” 
Applejack sighted. “It's because of Twilight”, she responded, “I am just wondering, what she is doing now. She has not showed up, when I rang the bell for an emergancy.” 
Rarity shot a short glimpsel at the library. She answered: “My dear, you can not worry about that now! It is your farm, that is in danger. I am sure, Twilight is doing fine. You can check on her, when your farm is safe again.”
Applejack slowly started walking again. Once more she turned her head and stared at the library. I really hope, everything is alright. A low sight escaped her lips and her ears turned down. She then galloped behind Rarity the way up to the farm.

***

Fluttershy and Big Macintosh had staid on the farm to build the cages. The dark red stallion was hammering one last nail in the wood. Fluttershy flew around this last cage and examined it. It had the form of an ashlar and between the wooden baulks a net, made out of netting wire, was spanned. The cage was very light, so one could easily throw it. There was a small door, so the ponies could put food in it and several branches, so the bats had a resting place. Fluttershy nodded. The cages were neither to small nor to big. 
“They are perfect”, she said and landed, “Thank you, Big Macintosh.”
“No problem”, he replied.
At that moment Applejack, Pinkie Pie and Rarity were slowly coming towards them. The orange mare was carrying a saddle back. 
“Ahh, so ya're done?”, she asked. 
“Eeyupp”, replied her older brother proudly.
“Alright”, Applejack replied and eyed the cages. She dropped her saddlebacks and opened them. They were filled to the top with the pears. “Now we only need Rainbow Dash to tell us where the Vampire Fruit Bats are.” As if this sentence had been a signal the sharp flapping of wings could be heard. Rainbow Dash shot out of the next pair of clouds, her mane and tail danced in the strong wind.
“At your service, AJ”, she joked, stopped in mid-air and saluted, “I have found the colonie. They are just eating their way through this place of the orchard.” She pointed with her hoof at the fields to the west. Good! Applejack furrowed her brow. It was time to get this job done. The bats should no longer rampage in her precious gold mine.
Applejack picked up her saddlebacks and grunted: “We have got enough pears for all of them. Now we just have to get them into the cages.” She looked at her friends, one by one. “Rainbow Dash, you, Pinkie Pie and Big Mac will get the cages. Rarity, you and me will lure them towards the oaks over there. Fluttershy, you will wait at this particular tree. When the bats are all there, you will use your Stare on them and then we imprison them.”
“Got it”, whispered Fluttershy and gulped. 
Pinkie Pie seemed rather excited and danced around. She jumped on the cages and said: “Now we go on safari.” 
Rarity stared at Applejack with a Why-do-I-have-to-be-near-this-ugly-vermin-look. The farmer smiled weakly. “Sorry, sugarcube. But we have to get it done.”

***

The bats were all soaring around the tops of the trees. They shot towards the branches, where the thickest, reddest apples stuck and sank their fangs into them, sucking out the last drop of juice. Then they spat the muddy and dry fruit on the ground.
Applejack stood there and watched all this, listening to the slurping and smacking. The sounds made her shiver. Those bats simply don't know how to act. She had always disliked them, but thanks to Fluttershy the mare finally had come to accept their use. But this...it was beyond her imagination. The bats were using their long, bluish tongues to get every single fruit in the trees. Within tree minutes one tree was empty and they took the next one. Their hunger seemed to be quenchless.
“Alright...” Applejack slowly pushed her hat backwards. She was carrying several pears on it. A small look to her left side. Rarity was standing there, shuddering in disgust. She was completely dressed up in a white uniform with a mask on her face to avoid being touched by the animals. 
“Alright”, she said shivering.
Applejack took a deep breath and started sprinting towards the orchard. Come, come, come, she thought, come, come come. Her hooves were thundering over the ground. The pears filled the air with their aroma. She could only hope it was attractive to the bats and would make them follow her.
At this certain moment the animals were hanging in the branches, their eyes closed. At the sound of the sprinting farmer one of them opened its redish eyes. Its nose twitched. Finalley it opened leather wings and flew after Applejack. Good, boy, girl, whatever. She turned her head backwards. The bat was a large female, her black coat was enforced with silver. And behind her thousands of those dark animals swarmed behind her. Good, Ah've got the attention of its leader.
Applejack rushed around the next tree. Some of the pears were falling down and immediatley a black mass of bats formed around them as they argued who should get the fruits. But as soon as they had sucked it dry, they turned their angular heads and with a hiss followed the farmer once more.
Applejack shot out of the orchard. She now was racing down a hill, her green eyes rested on a tree. The old oak, around which the orchard had grown over the period of generations. Fluttershy was sitting between its roots, frozen to the spot. Big Macintosh and the others were hiding with the cages. From the other side of the hill Rarity sprinted towards the orchard. She was making some weird grimaces, perhabs complaining about the swarm of bats, following behind her.
Applejack stopped a few inches before the oak, rose to her frontlegs and slingshoted the pears right in the tree. The bats hissed in their eagerness and swarmed around the oak, before they nestled on its branches and used their long tongues to snag the fruits. 
Rarity too had reached the oak and now the whole place was full of large, grey and black bodies. Applejack looked at Fluttershy. “Your turn in the plan”, she said and tried to smile caringly. Fluttershy first seemed to hesiated, but then she shot upwards and flew on the spot. Her eyes rested on the bats. She hang her ears.
“I am very sorry that I have to do this to you once more”, she whispered, “I can only hope, you won't be too angry.” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Fluttershy's lids shot open. Her brow went down and her eyes became wide. The glance, which rested on the bats, was terrifying, determinded and firm.
The bats looked up. They hissed, before they fell oddly silence and simply answered Fluttershy's Stare with wide, red eyes, closed maws and hang ears. Applejack waited until every animal was caught in the glance and then nodded towards Big Macintosh and the others, who were hiding.
They came out of the bushes and behind the nearby trees. Quickly and precisely they threw the cages on the bats. The animals screamed and their wings rustled in the air. For a short moment they flew in their prisons, without orientation, like blind men in a large room. They stumbled through the air and hit the walls. The Vampire Fruit Bats shrieked angrily. They clenched at the net and bared their fangs, but they soon realized they could not escape the cage. So they simply hang down from the branches, that stucked in their prisons and closed their eyes with misfortune in their glance.
“Oh, I really do not like it that we have to do this to them”, whimpered Fluttershy. Her eyes shimmered in symphatie as they rested on the bats. Applejack used her hat as a disguise for her rolling eyes. Not this problem again! Ah told her, it would be temporary and she still.... The farmer stopped her thought and walked over to the yellow pegasus.
“It is only tenporary, Fluttershy”, she reminded her kindly and gently, “Soon they can go back to their reservation. I promise.” Fluttershy nodded weakly. Applejack turned around. Pinkie Pie, Big Mac, Rarity and Rainbow Dash had formed a circle around them. The farmer called: “I am very pleased, how this turned out. Thank yah for the help.”
“No problem.” “Eyyupp.” The group started to spread. The sky had become darker. Luna was raising the moon to bring dusk among Equestria. 
Rarity yawned politley with a hoof before her opened maw. “Well, now I will go back to Ponyville”, she said, “Blimley, I've got to start to work on Twilight's dress tonight. Otherwise I won't get it done for the Summer Sun Celebration.”
Twilight! Applejack touched her chin. During her work and the fight with the Vampire Fruit Bats she had kept thinking about the alicorn. Twilight's outbrust of anger and this green glow in her eyes stood clear in her mind. Also Pinkie Pie's describtion of her rage-shift. This rare appearance only showed up when a strong emotion like anger, frustration, hate or fear connected itself with the magic of the unicorn or alicorn. Twilight had only rage-shifted once before and this also had been while Pinkie Pie was around.
I really hope, she is alright. Why would Twilight behave like this? A lack of sleep? No. Applejack did not believed this. Her friend had complained about nightmares. It was as if somepony was haunting her. Or something. I should better check on her. Maybe I can help her somehow. A cub of hot chocolate even makes Big Mac sleep like a foal after all.
Applejack adressed Rarity: “If you do not mind, I would like to go to Ponyville as well. I need to check on Twilight.” 
The white unicorn blinked. “Sure”, she stammered, “Why not, darling? Follow me.” 

***

Applejack trotted behind her. Ponyville laid in its valley, the lights of the houses shone golden in the darkness. It felt like a warm welcome. The whole town laid in silence, holding its breath for the next day.
Rarity was chattering quietly: “Blimely, Applejack, you cannot believe what I have to do, darling. I have just finished and corrected the dresses of the Princesses. I added a few small details here and there. I also did the uniform for the ministers and Shining Armour. I almost used all of my magenta velvet for it. I just hope, it is alright.”
Applejack responded: “It will surely be alright, sugarcube. Ya've done everything and Ah've learnt to trust yar instincts as a designer. After all, you are a professional.” 
Rarity stamped on the ground. “Oh, but Twilight's dress just has to be perfect. After all I am not just making it for a Princess, I am making it for a friend. And therefore it has to be glorious, beautiful and fabulous.” 
Applejack replied: “I am sure, you will do just fine.”
“Well, I saved the best fabric just for her.” Rarity stopped. They were in the path, which leaded the one way to her boutique and the other way to the library. The white mare turned around. “Well, Applejack, darling, I must leave you now”, she said, “I have to make Twilight's dress. Can you check on her and tell me, how she is feeling?”
Applejack nodded. “Sure, Rarity.” 
“Oh, then I can put my mind at rest”, Rarity said and smiled, “Good night, Applejack.” And she walked towards her boutique. The farmer watched her, until she disappeared in the distance. I just hope I can say the same thing about mah.
The orange mare turned around and made her way towards the library. The old tree in which it was placed stood there, the long branches wore thick on their leaves. Applejack took a deep breath. Good, there is light in the windows. So it means Twilight must be at home. Reliefed she trotted towards the building – and stopped.
Close by the entrance stood a mare. Her wings were closed and she was ducked down. Like a predator, who had sneaked out to start a crime. The ears were pulled back. Applejack swallowed. She could not tell what was wrong but something made this mare ugly. Maybe a deformation in her body, although Applejack could not find any.
Fear rose in her hearth and her coat started to get wet from sweat. Applejack clutched the mane on her neck. She swallowed. “Twilight?”, she called. The mare turned around. She looked partly like Twilight. Her fur had the same purple tone, but her mane was darker. There also was a reddish glow in her eyes and she smirked in such a mean way.
“I beg you pardon?”, asked the mare politley. 
Applejack took a few steps towards the mare. She said: “Ah was mistaking yah for a friend of mine. Twilight Sparkle, yah must have heard of her.” 
“Positive”, replied the purple stranger, “What has she told you?” 
“Nothing”, said Applejack, “She just told me, that she is not feeling well. My name is Applejack by the way. I am one of her friends.”
The farmer forced a weak, weary smile on her face. “What is your name?”, she asked the mare. 
“Hidden Spark or Hyde for short”, replied the stranger.” She looked at Applejack with her reddish eyes and narrowed them. Hidden Spark stood in a way she blocked the orange mare's path. “What do you want?”
Applejack tried a different approach. This mare was a bit fishy in her eyes. Only her glance makes mah wanna shiver. Where did this fear come from? There was no reason for it. No threat. No threat? Her thought was full of doubt. Applejack swallowed. Her throat felt sore. She felt more and more uncomfortable, Hidden Spark laid her eyes on her.
“I see you are going in.” Applejack nodded towards the door. “Would you mind assisting me?” 
Hidden Spark made a surprised sound and shot a fast look at the entrance. “What?”, she asked, as she turned her attention to the farmer once more. 
Applejack repeated her question: “I'd like to check on Twilight. Could you open the door for me please?”
Hidden Spark showed her theet with a sharp intake of her breath. “You will not find Twilight Sparkle”, she barked, “She is from home!” And with a fast movement that stranger opened the door with ease and slided through the slit. With a sharp bang the door clunked shut straight before Applejack's eyes.
Alright, this is weird. Applejack kept staring at the closed door for like fifty seconds, before she shook her head and trotted away. Every now and then the mare hesitated and stopped. Applejack looked back at the library. Something made her shiver.
This is not just weird, it is...strange, but in a very negative way. Hidden Spark had acted in a terrifying way. Why did Twilight never mentioned her? Besides, who was she? A friend? A foe? A relative? In what had Twilight gotten there? Applejack shivered and pressed her ears on her head. “Oh no”, she whispered and took her hat down from her mane. She clunched it against her chest. What if Twilight had made a pact with someone really dark?
Could this be the reason why she was hiding and acted so tired? That she met with someone in the darkness and made plans? Evil plots? No, this is impossible! Applejack shook her head and stamped on the ground. Twilight was completely loyal towards the princesses, Celestia especially. She would never plot against her.
But still...this rejecting behaviour. It felt like a thorn in her hearth. Applejack swallowed and started to ran back to Sweet Apple Acres. We better watch out! First the Vampire Bats and now this stranger, who just looked like Twilight. It was horrible. Somepony was working against them. I can only hope, it is not too late. And please, Twilight, tell me, you are not plotting against us. This would be fatal.