Twilight's spell succeeded in stopping Fluttershy from sucking apples dry. However, it did not change the fact that she'll forever be a vampire.
Fruit bats don’t drink blood. However, when Twilight reversed the spell that turned Fluttershy’s usually timid nature into that of a vampire fruit bat, the transformation was already complete. The reversal caused Fluttershy to lose interest in the apples the fruit bats craved. Now, instead of sucking apples dry, she craves the blood of live ponies.
Fluttershy awoke in a dark forest. Confused and cold, she opened her eyes. Looking up from her muddy hooves she could make out five shadowy figures. Not knowing whether these ‘things’ were friendly or a nightmare incarnate, her heart sank. As the figures closed in around her, the darkness began to fade. She began to recognize the faces.
Fluttershy’s friends surrounded the frightened pony, all their faces painted with a combination of bewilderment and relief. Fluttershy stared at them, confused as to where she was and as to what just happened.
“Where am I?” she managed to murmur. As she spoke her ears rang and her head pulsed with pain. Applejack trotted over to help the fatigued pegasi off the ground.
“Thank goodness you’re alright!”
Fluttershy took another glance around, “What happened?”
Pinkie pie seemingly appeared out of nowhere, “You turned into a vampire pony!”
. . . . .
Fluttershy lied in bed the following night, unable to fall asleep. She no longer felt tired, just hungry. The spell worked. Why do I still feel different? The thought lingered in her mind for a few hours. Time ticked by. Midnight struck. The hunger in Fluttershy’s stomach grew out of control. She moaned in agony as her insides began to tear themselves apart and her physical form began to change.
Fluttershy’s eyes opened. Once, a beautiful ocean blue, her eyes were now stained a crimson red. She brought a hoof up to her mouth as a searing pain began to tear through her gums. She could feel fangs beginning to form.
Shocked, Fluttershy jumped back, tumbling off of her bed. Her wings began to ache. The once soft feathers molded together to form a rough leathery surface. She stretched them out, extending them further than she ever has before. She glanced to either side of her as she witnessed her gorgeous wings transform into those of a bat.
Fluttershy threw herself to the ground, shrieking in pain, as she pressed her hooves against each side of her head. Her ears stretched out and disfigured themselves, simulating the same properties of bat ears. The pain suddenly stopped as the hunger took over. Never before had Fluttershy felt a craving so intense. She had to feed.
She leapt off the ground, using her new wings as propulsion, thrusting herself through her bedroom window, shattering the glass, and dashing off into the night sky. Fluttershy tore through the sky, wind whipping through her tattered mane, flying at speeds even Rainbow Dash would struggle to keep up with. For the first time in her mundane life, Fluttershy finally felt alive.
As Fluttershy raced through the sky, her eyes darted around the ground searching for something to prey on. Finally she spotted just the place she was looking for, Applejack’s orchard. Fluttershy torpedoed herself toward the nearest apple tree, ripping through the air and plummeting to the ground. Not bothering to slow down, Fluttershy knew her new body could handle the fall. She crashed into the ground without as much as a scratch.
. . . . .
Applejack was awoken by the sound of an earthshattering crash in her apple orchard. “What in tarnation?” She muttered as she picked herself up off of her bed. Applejack grabbed her trusty hat off of the hat rack next to her bed and headed downstairs.
Applejack was greeted by a rather sleepy Applebloom in the kitchen once she made it downstairs. “Did ya hear that crash too?” Applebloom mumbled as she rubbed her eye sleepily.
“You should get back to bed Applebloom, ah’ll check it out.”
Applebloom nodded as she stumbled off back to her bedroom. Applejack turned to look out one of the back windows overlooking her orchard. Darkness stretched out as far as the eye could see. Looking to her left, Applejack spotted a flashlight sitting upright on the kitchen counter. She grabbed the back end with her mouth and proceeded to head out the back door.
She trotted to the tree line, not sure of what awaited her in the darkness. Applejack panned the flashlight around the trees in search of whatever made that sound, but the trees were thick and she couldn’t make anything out. At this hour of night, Applejack’s beautiful orchard somewhat resembled the Everfree Forest.
“Hello? Anypony out there?” Applejack shouted hesitantly. Her heart began to beat a little faster and a bead of sweat dripped down her temple. At first there was no answer. Then, a loud hiss erupted out of the trees as something flew right over the top of Applejack’s head, knocking her hat off.
The dark figure landed behind Applejack, preventing her to retreat back to her house. She had no choice. Applejack bolted for the trees in hopes she would lose her assailant amongst the dense foliage. Flashlight still steady in her mouth she dodged trees left and right as she continued to fly through the forest of apple trees.
“Leave me alone!” Applejack shouted out as she heard the hissing getting closer and closer. Suddenly, a thought came to mind. Applejack had no other choice but to face her attacker head on.
Applejack rammed her forelegs into the ground mid sprint, digging deep into the soil. The momentum lifted her rear legs up in a bucking position and sank right into the gut of her assailant, launching the creature back. Applejack whipped around pointing her flashlight directly at the shadowy figure in hopes of getting a look as to what she was dealing with. Her jaw dropped. The flashlight rolled out of her mouth crashing to the ground and shattering the bulb.
. . . . .
Fluttershy dusted herself off from the fall. Feeling like she could take on the world she launched herself up into the nearest apple tree, and sank her fangs into the juiciest apple she could find. The apple was repulsive. She spat out the juice from the apple as her stomach began to churn. Fluttershy fell from the tree and hit the ground as she tried to get that awful taste out of her mouth. I thought vampire ponies ate apples? Why are they so disgusting?
“Hello? Anypony out there?” Fluttershy’s ears twitched at the sound of a faint voice coming from beyond the tree line. The hunger returned as her mouth began to water at the sound. Her wings stretched out as if from muscle memory and launched Fluttershy into the night sky. She tore through the trees as she drew closer to her true prey. The aroma grew stronger and stronger the closer she came. The smell of blood was in the air.
. . . . .
Applejack stared into the darkness with horror painted on her face. She couldn’t believe what she had just seen. “Fluttershy?” Applejack stuttered. Had Fluttershy tried to attack her? She instinctively ran to the aid of her friend knowing that the real Fluttershy would never do such a thing.
As Applejack closed in on the wounded Pegasus, she noticed something was different about her. Fluttershy’s wings had grown, and were no longer fluffy with feathers and the ears on her head had stretched out and resembled those of a bat. Oh no! Applejack thought to herself. The spell didn’t work!
Applejack began to slowly back away as her former friend began to stand back up. Fluttershy cracked her neck before turning to stare the earth pony dead in the eyes. Applejack froze, unable to move a muscle. Her eyes stared directly into the creatures blood red eyes. Fluttershy drew closer and closer, never once letting her prey escape the deadly stare.
Fluttershy was face to face with a terrified Applejack. Her fangs glistened in the moonlight and a string of saliva dripped from her tongue. Applejack knew this was she end. She tried to close her eyes but was unable to peel away from the penetrating stare of this vampire. Their muzzles touched as Applejack’s heart began to beat out of control, Fluttershy’s cold dead eyes still piercing into her very soul. Then, as if struck by a bolt of lightning, Fluttershy plunged her fangs deep within the soft neck of the earth pony.
Applejack grew cold as she could feel the life being sucked out of her. She tried to struggle but Fluttershy was much too strong. Applejack knew there was no hope for her now. Her eyes shut. Slowly drifting away and losing consciousness.
Fluttershy’s eyes opened, slowly panning around the room. She was back in her cottage. She hopped out of bed and quickly trotted towards the full body mirror Rarity had given her as a gift a few years back. To her surprise, Fluttershy’s wings were back to their former glory. They were no longer large, leathery extensions of her body, but instead they were beautiful and full of feathers once more. Her eyes had returned to their normal color, fading from a blood red to an ocean blue. She smiled with glee at the thought of what happened last night was just a dream. However, her smile was quickly diminished as she noticed the faint fangs jutting out of her mouth. They’re still there. Last night may have just been a horrible nightmare but the fact remains. Fluttershy was no longer the pony she once knew.
During Fluttershy’s daily routine, she noticed her animals acting differently around her. They were more cautious, hesitant to be anywhere within 6 yards of here. As Fluttershy drew closer to her furry friends to give them their morning meals, they backed away. Even her most trusted friend, one who was with her from the moment she sat one hoof on land, Angel, was wary of her.
Fluttershy figured a nice a quiet trip to visit her friends in Ponyville would ease her troubled mind. Too many thoughts about what has been happening to her haunted her every waking moment. Maybe a trip to the library will do her some good. Twilight has always had a knack of making things better.
Trotting into town, everypony seemed normal. Rose was watering her flowers as she set up shop, Lyra and Bon Bon were enjoying a lovely stroll through town square, even a certain grey coated mailmare was soaring peacefully through the sky as she made her morning deliveries. Everypony seemed as if nothing had ever happened. As if Fluttershy hadn’t… Enough of that, Fluttershy needed to find her friends, she needed to put her mind at ease, she needed to know that Applejack was still alive.
* * *
Arriving at Twilights library, Fluttershy was hesitant. She wanted to believe that everything was going to be fine. However, deep down in the back of her mind she knew something was wrong. She knew that something horrible did happen last night. If only she knew the truth.
Suddenly, the door swung open.
“Fluttershy?” Twilight began, “What are you doing out here?”
“Oh, um, I was just stopping by for a visit.” Fluttershy could feel her face begin to heat up. What if she knew? What is she going to do to you when she finds out? You killed her!
Fluttershy’s mind began to race. Her pale blue eyes darted around frantically looking for an exit. Her hooves began to shake. She had to get out, now.
“Uhh, Fluttershy, are you feeling ok?” Twilight asked, staring blankly at the frantic pegasus.
“I - I have to go!” Fluttershy darted off without saying another word, leaving the purple alicorn standing alone in the doorway.
* * *
Stopping to catch her breath, Fluttershy finally took her surroundings into account. She was behind Sugarcube Corner, just out of view of the library. She took a moment to collect her thoughts. Try to pull herself together. Why did she panic like that? Did Fluttershy subconsciously know what really happened to Applejack? She needed answers, and she wasn’t going to get them by sitting here.
“There you are!” Fluttershy turned towards the familiar voice, “I have been looking everywhere for you!”
“Pinkie Pie?”
“Well duhh. Who else would it be?”
“Why have you been looking for me?” Fluttershy asked.
“Well I bumped into Twilight and she asked if I’ve seen you and I said no and then she said that you were acting all loco in the cocoa and that she was worried about you and I told her not to worry that I would find you and I did!”
Fluttershy stared at her blankly.
“So what’s up?” Pinkie asked as bubbly and cheerful as ever.
“Well I-“ Fluttershy thought for a moment. What did Twilight tell her? Does Pinkie know? They both know you killed her!
Fluttershy’s face began to burn again as the panic set in. Her hooves started shaking. She could barely breathe. She needed an exit. She couldn’t stand this any longer.
“- I have to go!” Fluttershy dashed off before Pinkie had any time to retaliate.
“Was it something I said?” Pinkie said to herself as she watched her pegasus friend fly off into the distance.
* * *
Fluttershy flew as hard and as fast as she could. Wind whipping through her mane, her mind still ran faster. No more distractions! I need to get to Sweet Apple Acres! I need to know what really happened!
Fluttershy tore through the sky as fast as her wings could take her. Only slowing down as she drew upon the outskirts of the farm. She decided it was best to slow down as to not raise any more suspicions. All this time she could have been panicking over nothing, worrying her friends over a silly old nightmare. Still there was a part of her that believes there was some truth to her dream.
Approaching Applejack’s home, Fluttershy noticed something out of the ordinary. No pony was out doing they’re morning chores. She walked up to the door. Face burning a bright red, hooves shaking, shortness of breath, needing an exit. No. Fluttershy had to push through it. She needed to know that her friend was alright.
Just as Fluttershy reached out to knock on the door, some pony opened it. Fluttershy took one look at the pony and immediately recognized her. She met her back when Rainbow Dash broke her wing. It was Nurse Redheart.
Fluttershy’s heart stopped. She couldn’t breathe. Her mind was flooded with emotions. Nurse Redheart looked into the distraught pegasus’ eyes and then down to the floor.
“Applejack was attacked last night.” She began empathetically, “She’s in critical condition. There’s nothing we can do for her. We decided it would be more peaceful for her to be at home with her family than in the hospital. I was just going out to inform you and your other friends.”
Fluttershy broke down. She crumpled to the floor, flooded with emotions. She couldn’t hold back the tears. She sobbed into her hooves. Unable to speak, barely able to breathe, Fluttershy lost her sense of reality.
Nurse Redheart put a caring hoof on Fluttershy’s shoulder. She looked into Fluttershy’s eyes, tears still flowing freely down her face. “I am truly sorry.”
Fluttershy sobbed into her hooves, unsure of how to handle the news. She knew something was wrong the moment she awoke. She watched it happen. She was the one that did it. Fluttershy didn’t want to believe her nightmares. Though, turns out, her nightmares had become her reality. Applejack was going to die. Fluttershy had killed her.
Fluttershy had to see her. She struggled to stand up. Her legs were weak. The motivation to move no longer flowed through them. She had to get up. Fluttershy had to see Applejack. Her legs were shaking, but she stood. She shambled through the house, more zombielike than anything. Her mind was blank, numbing the pain of losing her friend. She wasn’t gone yet, there was still time. Fluttershy stumbled to Applejack’s closed bedroom door. She stopped and stared at it for several moments unsure of whether or not to go inside.
“It’s ok,” Nurse Redheart began, “you can go inside.” The nurse had followed Fluttershy inside from the porch. Fluttershy hadn’t noticed. The guilt blocked out everything but what was right in front of her. Now all that was in front of her was a large, red door.
Fluttershy reached out a hoof in front of her to knock on the door, still uncertain whether she truly wanted to see what was on the other side. There was only a brief moment or two of hesitation before she knocked, but to Fluttershy it felt like a lifetime. She wondered how twisted and mangled her friend was going to be, whether she was even going to be recognizable as Applejack, one of Fluttershy’s best friends, one of the six Elements of Harmony, the Element of Honesty. Would Applejack remember that it was Fluttershy that attacked her? More importantly, would Applejack live up to her element and tell her friends that it was Fluttershy that had almost killed her? Fluttershy’s heart nearly stopped, she had to stop thinking of the worst possible scenario. She reached forward and knocked on the door.
“Come in.” a voice called from behind the door. It was female, though it was muffled and unrecognizable. Fluttershy opened the door. In the middle of the room was a bed. Surrounding the bed were three ponies and various pieces of medical equipment. Fluttershy’s vision was blurred, though it began to clear. She recognized the ponies in the room, Granny Smith, Big Mac, and Applebloom. They all had the same miserable expression on their faces as they stared at Fluttershy. Granny Smith was on the right of the bed; Big Mac on the left and Applebloom sat at the foot of the bed, the fur under Applebloom’s eyes were still wet and matted. Fluttershy faced the left side of the bed, unable to see its occupant due to Big Mac’s size and position. She knew who was in the bed. She just didn’t want to see.
“Its ok dearie,” it was the voice from earlier, it belonged to Granny Smith. “We can give you two some space.” She motioned to the others to leave the room.
“No,” Fluttershy began. Granny Smith stopped, a confused look glued to her face. The others had similar expressions. “You’re visiting her now. You are her family, not me. You need more time with her than I do.” A tear ran down her face dripping to the floor as she fought the urge to completely break down.
“We’ve spent all mornin’ with her, she would like to spend some time with her friends too.” A caring smile spread across Granny Smith’s face as she led the others out of the room.
“Thank you.” Fluttershy whispered staring at the floor as the grieving family passed by. Big Mac acknowledged her with a gentle pat on her shoulder. Another tear fell to the floor.
“I’ll inform your other friends of the news,” Nurse Redheart began, “It will only be a few moments.” The nurse tried to bring any sort of comfort to the pegasus, but to no avail. She shut the door behind her and began to trot out of the house to find the other Elements of Harmony, leaving Fluttershy and Applejack in the room alone.
Fluttershy stared at the ground, unable to lift the weight of her own head, the guilt weighed her down. Another tear fell to the ground, and another. The tears began to flow freely down her face like opening a floodgate. She stood there and wept quietly to herself. Unsure of what to do or say, she decided to lift her head. She stared blankly at the bed. Applejack lied there, unmoving. She wasn’t mangled or mutilated. She was just lying there, lifelessly. Her color had faded slightly to more of a greyish orange. There was a heart monitor hooked up to her that beeped slowly, slower than it should. Applejack was weak. There didn’t seem to be any actual damage to her body, there was only a bandage that covered the left side of her neck.
Fluttershy’s eyes welled up again. She approached her incapacitated friend, tears flowing freely down her face again as the guilt smashed through the dam Fluttershy so desperately held up. She buried her face into Applejack’s unbandaged shoulder and continued to weep, sobbing uncontrollably into the greyish orange coat of the motionless pony. Applejack’s warmth brought a sense of calm to Fluttershy. It reminded her of better times, happier times. Fluttershy smelt apples on the earth pony’s coat. The orange fur dried the eyes of the yellow pegasus. All Fluttershy wanted was to lie by her friend for the rest of her life. She didn’t want to leave Applejack’s side. Fluttershy wanted to stay by the warmth, the smell of apples, the soft fur, the memories of Applejack she never wanted to forget, and the one from last night she desperately tried to forget.
The warmth grew stronger. Fluttershy buried her face deeper into the soft, orange fur. Her friend brought comfort to her even when she wasn’t awake. Fluttershy took a deep breath, the smell of apples filling her lungs. That was always her favorite smell. She should’ve spent more time at the farm helping Applejack with her chores. She should’ve spent more time at the farm. She should’ve been with Applejack more while she was still here. Fluttershy took another breath, filling her lungs with the warm scent of apples once again. Calm washed over her. She thought for a moment she could actually taste apples. Her heart fluttered slightly. A smile slowly crept onto her face. Fluttershy’s entire body was warm, deep down into her stomach. She was so entranced with the warmth her friend provided her she didn’t notice the heart monitor slowing until it became a steady hum. She didn’t notice the door open behind her. She didn’t even notice the shrieks of terror coming from her friends or how they tried to pry her off of the helpless earth pony. The warmth just tasted so good.
