Big Macintosh's ears flicked. "Hrmm...?" He looked up from where Applejack cradled a limp Apple Bloom. His eyes reflected two figures gliding in over the orchards.
"What is it, fella?" Granny Smith turned around—immediately flinching. "Aaaaaie!" She held a limp forelimb over her wrinkled brow. "Celestia have mercy! First snakes, now bat ponies!"
"Granny, it's okay," Applejack managed, lifting her head up. "It's Zecora's friend. From the forest." She sniffled, rubbed her cheek, and looked over. "Rainbow? I... I-I thought you were gonna go get—"
"Trust me, AJ," Rainbow said, touching down. "You'll get no better help than this. Zecora's coming as soon as she can." Noir trotted briskly past her.
The sarosian adjusted his cloak and knelt before Applejack. He raised a hoof, pressing it to Apple Bloom's forehead. His dark brow furrowed. Leaning in, he used is leathery wing tips to pry one of the filly's eye open. Pink mucus leaked from the bloodshot edges. Nostrils flaring, he leaned back and looked at Applejack.
"How long ago did this happen?" he asked.
"Uhm..." Applejack sniffled, shivering. "Couldn't have b-been more than half-an-hour ago. Please tell me you can save my baby sis, Mister..."
"Noir," he exhaled. "And that remains to be seen." He ran his hooves down her leg, then turned it about so he could study the two fang marks. "Hrmmmm... twelve millimeters apart... definitely looking like Tartarunan adflavi. The phlegm discharge matches known records..."
"Known records?" Applejack's teary eyes twitched. "Known records of what?!"
"One thing at a time, madame." Noir adjusted Apple Bloom in the mare's grip. "Keep her wounded leg below the rest of her body."
"O-okay..."
"I need somepony else to hold her steady," he said, reaching underneath his cloak. He produced a tube that ejected a tiny sterilized blade. "Right now."
Rainbow reached in, squatting beside Applejack. She gripped Apple Bloom's shoulders while Big Mac and Granny Smith looked on. "Like this?"
"Now... remain absolutely quiet," Noir said, lowering his hood. He winced slightly as his ear lobes were exposed to the sunlight. "I have to be able to hear her reaction."
"Reaction?" Applejack stammered. "Reaction to what?" She observed Noir bringing the blade closer to Apple Bloom's upper fetlock. "Ya ain't gonna hurt her, are you?"
"Please... silence..." Noir said. "I need to know if I can ellicit a reaction." That said, he concentrated, then pricked the filly lightly.
"...glkkkt..." Apple Bloom's ears twitched and her tail flicked slightly.
"Oh Celestia..." Granny Smith gasped.
"Good..." Noir exhaled. "Paralysis hasn't set in. There may still be time." He gulped hard, leaned in, and pressed his tongue to the cut he had just made.
Applejack opened her mouth to say something but Rainbow Dash gave her a look. Nervously, the mare chewed her lip and watched.
After a few seconds, the sarosian leaned back. He swirled his tongue around in his mouth, slitted eyes darting left and right, then spat into the grass. "Mmmf... no venom I've ever tasted before..." He reached into his satchel, rummaged for a few seconds, then produced a tablet. "Water. Now."
Big Macintosh bounded off. Within seconds, the heavy stallion returned with an enormous horse trough. Granny Smith scooped some water up in a canteen then hoofed it over to Noir.
The sarosian took it. He placed the tablet into the filly's foaming mouth, then poured water between her lips. He then forced her mouth shut and looked at Applejack. "Keep her mouth shut. Make sure she swallows."
"What... what did you j-just give her?"
"Something to slow her heart rate," Noir explained. "Zecora will be here shortly, and she might be able to sustain her further."
"Might?!" Applejack's teeth showed. "But... b-but our little Apple Bloom is dyin'! We need to save her life! Not sustain her!"
"That depends on whether or not we can make an antidote." Noir stood up. "Where is this snake?"
"Ya mean what's left of it?"
"Please." Noir nodded. "It is very important that I take a sample from what's left."
"It's over by the barn," Granny Smith said, pointing. "Thattaways... but..." She glanced over at Big Macintosh. "Macky done showed it what's for..."
"Excuse me." Noir stood up, galloping towards the barn. "Big Mac. Rainbow Dash. Your assistance."
Both ponies darted over, joining Noir.
"I need to see the snake," Noir said. "Can you find it for me?"
"Where'd you stomp it last, big guy?" Rainbow asked.
With a heavy snort, Big Mac glared towards the edge of the barn. He pointed at a disturbed patch of dirt. However, as soon as he glanced, he made an awkward expression.
"What's the matter?" Rainbow asked. She turned to see that Noir was already there.
"It didn't die quite so quickly," Noir said. He hovered directly above the dirt, flapping his wings slowly enough to not disturb the swishing tracks. "Looks like it slithered on towards some destination. Good. If it's still freshly bleeding..." He turned the corner of the barn, his slitted eyes darting about. "...a burrower." He lifted his head back, exposed his fangs, and darted straight into the ground.
Rainbow and Big Macintosh winced. As the dust cleared, they leaned forward for a better view.
Noir's skull was embedded deep in the ground. He wriggled and shook, then finally lunged backwards—yanking loose a lengthy strip of scaled meat. The snake fell onto the ground between them, limp as a noodle. Noir immediately shook the dirt off and trotted over.
"Hmmmmmf..." He sneered, "Nightmare's Helm... There's barely anything left of him." Schiiing! He unsheathed a sudden dagger emblazoned with lunar etchings. "I have to see if I can salvage even a scant bit of his venom glands."
"You want more venom?" Rainbow exclaimed. "What for?"
"An antidote, of course," Noir said, already starting to carve the reptile open. "Though, such will be a difficult task, as I suspect I am the first living pony in centuries to dissect such a creature."
"Why?" Rainbow's voice cracked. "What the heck is it?!"
"A Tartarusian Venomancer," Noir said. "You can tell that to Zecora." He suddenly lifted his head and produced a loud chirp in the direction of the barn. His head stood still while his leafy ears stuck straight up. A blink or two later, he said, "She's about twenty meters away right now. I'll bring what I can to her. Tend to the filly."
Just then, Rainbow could hear Applejack's shouting voice: "Zecora! Zecora, over here!"
Rainbow Dash bit her lip, then flew back towards the house. She arrived just as the sweating zebra galloped up, dragging a wooden cart full of potions and medicinal tools.
"Forgive me for being late," Zecora wheezed. "How is the filly's fate?"
"I... I wish I knew!" Applejack whimpered. "Yer night flyin' friend... he gave her somethin' to slow her heart beat. Said she wasn't paralyzed yet. Is that a good thing?"
"That depends, my friends." Zecora unhitched herself from the wagon and trotted over. "Just what kind of bite has put us into this plight?"
"Zecchy," Rainbow said, landing next to her. "Noir told me to tell you it's a 'Tartarusian Venomancer.'"
Zecora gasped. She stood stock still, and for a moment it looked like she had lost all of her black stripes.
Rainbow bit her lip at that. "That's... that's super bad, huh?"
"We must get her inside," Zecora firmly said. "And by all my skills we will abide." She gestured. "Quickly, we must make haste. There is no time to waste."