Apples as Red as Blood
Fluttershy pushed back the heavy velvet curtains of the carriage to look out the window at the townsponies they passed by. All of them were caught up in the hustle and bustle of their own daily lives. Fluttershy wished she could join them, but sadly, that would be a great risk that her father had warned her not to take. Instead, she watched them from afar, and imagined herself being apart of their lives. When really, she had no affect on them whatsoever. "It's for the best." her father had said. Though, now that she was older, Fluttershy no longer believed in those words. Still, she knew how important it was that she remained hidden. What would happen if anypony found out what she really was. The carriage finally came to a halt. Fluttershy remained seated until the coach stallion opened the door for her and helped her out.
"Thank you." she told him. The coach stallion gave a nod and remained positioned to look after the carriage until she was ready to leave. Fluttershy looked up at the sign of the place she'd visited the most often in the quaint little town. A tavern called The Golden Apple. The tavern was a modest little wooden building and it was in need of some repair, especially where the roof was concerned. But this was by far the best place for Fluttershy to quench her burning thirst. Fluttershy trotted into the establishment, her bright dress standing out against the dull decorum. An orange earth pony mare looked up and smiled when she saw who it was.
"Howdy there Fluttershy. Come back for the new shipment?" she asked.
"Yes Applejack, I heard that this year's crop was the best yet." said Fluttershy as she made her way to the counter. Applejack set down a mug she'd been cleaning out.
"They're right in the back, I'll help you load them onto your carriage." said Applejack.
"Thank you, that would be very helpful." In the back room of the tavern were caskets of fresh pressed cider, and crates of ripe apples. Applejack showed the large crate she had reserved for Fluttershy, the apples inside were practically spilling out. Oh the apples. So plump. Filled with juices. And their color, it was the perfect and tantalizing shade of red Fluttershy had ever seen. Fluttershy had to hold back the urge she had to grab one of the apples and start feeding on it. She deeply inhaled their scent and let out a sigh.
"Your family's apples are the best that I've ever tasted." Fluttershy said. Applejack smiled at the compliment.
"Aw, they're nothing. I used to harvest them all the time with my big brother Big Macintosh, now I only help some of the time and mostly try to sell them."
"Speaking of Big Mac, how's he been?"
"Just dandy. In fact, he wrote to me not too long ago about meeting a nice mare, a school teacher who adores our homemade apple butter and apple jam."
"How wonderful. I hope they become good friends."
"Yeah, well, I haven't actually met the school teacher, but for her sake she better treat my brother right. My little sister Apple Bloom also wrote that she'd be giving me updates on the two and how things are going for them. Fluttershy cocked her head to the side.
"Isn't that a little..."
"Obsessive" Applejack finished. "Maybe a smidge, but I wanna make sure that whoever my big brother ends up with, she's at least a decent mare who cares for him." Applejack let out an embarrassed laugh. "Here I am jabbering away when I should be working. I'll get these loaded and be out of your way."
"Your not in my way." said Fluttershy. "In fact, it's good to talk to somepony. Papa has been gone for a while, and it gets terribly lonely being in the villa without him." Her eyes fell down to the ground, a sad expression on her face. Applejack patted Fluttershy on the back and smiled warmly.
"Hey, cheer up now. I'm sure he'll be back in no time." she said. A small smile found its way onto Fluttershy's face.
"Thank you Applejack." Applejack was a good hard worker, yet it amazed Fluttershy just how easily she could carry heavy loads as if they were nothing. She watched as the coach stallion and Applejack secured the apple crates onto the carriage.
"There we go, that about does it." said Applejack to herself. Fluttershy reached into her purse and dropped the payment into Applejack's open hoof.
"Wow. That's a bit much sugarcube." said Applejack as she looked at the large amount she was holding with wide eyes.
"Take it. You've supplied my family with such high quality apples and cider, it's only fair that I repay you somehow." said Fluttershy kindly.
"Well...alright. If you're sure." said Applejack. "Thank you kindly Fluttershy. I hope you and your family enjoy the apples."
"We always do." The coach stallion helped Fluttershy get into the carriage. She waved a hoof at Applejack. "Goodbye." Applejack waved goodbye as well, watching as the carriage pulled out of sight.
The ride back home was a lengthy one, and Fluttershy was beginning to feel thirsty. Luckily, she'd grabbed an apple to snack on from the crate. Her eyes looked at the apple with hunger, her hooves brushed the smooth, red skin. She opened her mouth and two sharp fangs extended out as she bit into the apple. In a single slurp, she drained it of all its juice. She let out a sigh, savoring the sweet yet tart taste of the apple.
"My compliments to you Applejack." said Fluttershy. "Another fine crop." Yes, Fluttershy wasn't an ordinary pegasus, she was a vampire hybrid. She posses the strengths and weaknesses of both, yet she was neither one or the other. Some of the most notable traits she had were her thirst, her stare and her fangs. Most vampires lived by drinking the blood of animals, while she on the other hoof drank from apples. Her retractable fangs were something that all vampires had, yet she didn't think they were of much use considering she only used them on apples. And of course, there was her stare. Her father had told her that pure blood vampires possessed the power of hypnosis and manipulation, a power channeled through their eyes. Fluttershy had only inherited a fraction of this power, only able to have an intimidating hold over anypony she used her stare on. Of course, this was a power she didn't use unless it was absolutely necessary.
And yet, it was because of these powers, because she'd been born this way, that her father kept her hidden away. "If anypony were to find out about you." her father had said. "They will surely seek to destroy you. Something that I will not allow to happen." Fluttershy looked down at the remains of the apple, it was now withered and dry. Would ponies really want to kill her for sucking a few apples dry? Would she...really be so horrible in their eyes? Fluttershy turned away from the apple husk and to the the carriage window. The passing landscape calmed her down, as looked at the fields, the trees, and the brilliant sky. Soon, her family villa came into view. Her father had commissioned it shortly after she'd been born, and it had been her home ever since. It was a white building, made with marble, a large a stately place. Though a little too stately for Fluttershy's taste, she made the most of it.
Fluttershy's eyes widened when she saw what she'd been waiting for for what seemed like forever. When the carriage stopped, Fluttershy didn't wait for the coach stallion to help her out, instead, she threw open the door herself and rushed to the villa doors. She galloped eagerly through the hall and into the study.
"Papa!" Fluttershy cried happily, throwing her arms around him. Alistair laughed as he spun Fluttershy around in his arms.
"I've missed you too my little angel." he said. "Let's have a look at you." Fluttershy smiled as Alistair lifted her chin up and looked into her face.
"You've gotten more and more beautiful since last I saw you. Just like your mother." he said. Fluttershy pushed her father's chest playfully.
"Papa! Stop teasing me. You know I'm not that beautiful." she said.
"Don't be so modest Fluttershy. You share much with your mother, not just her beauty, but her heart as well." Fluttershy couldn't help but smile. Her sweet and caring father, she loved him dearly. Even if he could be a bit embarrassing with his compliments. Despite his age, her father looked no older than 22, and held such youth and handsome features about him. Or at least, that's what everypony said when they saw her father. His chiseled features, light complexion, and those dark and mysterious eyes. He could've chosen any mare, yet he chose her mother, saying that he never regretted his decision and was glad to have met such a mare.
"How was your business trip?" asked Fluttershy, hoping that he would say that it went well and that he'd be staying with her for a while. Alistair sat down in his armchair and sighed.
"It went about as well you'd expect with those vampires. It's always some argument over food or territory, I'm afraid I'm gonna have to return tomorrow before things get worse." Fluttershy's smile fell.
"Oh." she said.
"I'm sorry Fluttershy, but try to understand, that I have duties that protect the peace of not just the vampires but the ponies as well."
"I know, I know papa. But that still doesn't make it any less lonely when you're gone."
"And I'm truly sorry for that Fluttershy. But, unless times change, I'm afraid that there'll be no place for us to freely go among the ponies." Fluttershy lowered her head.
"I understand papa."
"Good. But, in the meantime, why don't you tell me how things have been around here without me?" Fluttershy's smile returned and she told her father about all the thing's she been learning about from her books and the stories she'd heard.
At dinner, Fluttershy listened with great interest as her father recounted what he'd seen on his trip to the distant vampire coven he'd just returned from. How it was a merger of three different sides, each one competing over which should be the coven's leader and over any food that came their way.
"A lot of vampires have been stalking ponies, something that is strictly forbidden to all who come here to the New World to find peace." said Alistair, drinking from his goblet. "I may have no choice but to send them back to the Old World if the problem escalates any further." Fluttershy munched on her salad of rampion and arugula, and said, "Why do you suppose they started going after ponies?"
"I honestly don't know, I'll have to arrange a meeting with the other pure bloods to discuss this matter. It is most troubling to say the least."
"I'm sure everything will work out papa." Fluttershy said reassuringly. "After all, you always find a solution to these problems."
"Hopefully you're right Fluttershy." said Alistair. "Let's move onto a different topic, shall we? All this talk is starting to spoil my appetite."
"Alright." said Fluttershy. And the rest of dinner passed by quickly, by the time the table had been cleared, Fluttershy was ready for bed. Her father kissed her on the forehead as she was heading into her bedroom.
"Good night my little angel." he said. "Sleep well."
"I will papa." Fluttershy closed the bedroom door gently, and curled underneath the covers of her bed. She fell asleep almost instantly, and began to dream of being free to go among the other ponies, and eating all the apples she could want out in the open. Free to show off her fangs, and to make friends. If only that were to be true outside her dreams. Then maybe, she wouldn't be so lonely anymore.