Clawing it's way up from the depths of Fluttershy's being, it made itself known to her. She longed to again taste the sweet nectar on her tongue.
It had been almost a week now since the sanctuary had been finished. Fluttershy had found herself out there more than once to ensure the vampire fruit bats were adjusting to their new habitat and not running amok all over Sweet Apple Acres. The butter yellow pegasus felt a sense of calm serenity there in the shade of the apple trees. She stopped occasionally to munch on the blood red treasures that hung from the branches there. It seemed now that she was eating more apples than she used to. Confident that her new friends would grow to love their home Fluttershy had spent the last couple days at her cottage tending to her animals and keeping mostly to herself.
It seemed like her desires were strongest under Luna's moonlight. Laying there; cold sweat covering her quivering form, she again lost herself. The tortured mare felt like she was surrounded by darkness. Plagued by the snap of a fresh ripe apple being bitten into or the sound of juice being coaxed from it's delicate prison she could find no rest.
Reaching once more from under her covers to the wooden bucket that lay next to her bed she searched frantically. 'One more would do it' she thought to herself as her hoof claimed it's prize. 'I'll just drink this last one tonight and then I won't be thirsty anymore.' She was lying to herself and she knew it. The thought of what Applejack would think of her now briefly flashed through her mind as she held up the juice box. The world around her faded away bringing the object of her desire into impossibly sharp focus. With a speed that would have surprised her days ago she could feel her head lurch forward new fangs puncturing the sturdy paper wrapping of her drink. The taste in her mouth one of bliss as she eagerly drew the sweet amber liquid into her mouth swallowing eagerly. Finding the box quickly emptied of it's contents she dejectedly tossed it on the other side of her bed listening to it clatter against the dozen or so similar drink boxes that already littered the floor.
Her thirst sated for now, Fluttershy turned onto her side wrapping herself tightly in a blanket. Letting out a contented sigh she tried to find a comfortable position. The only thing the exhausted pegasus wanted now was sleep.
Celestia's dawn was cruel that morning.
No longer able to sleep with sunlight making it's way into her room, the still exhausted mare pulled back her covers lethargically and rolled out of bed with a thump. Getting up she made her way toward her door intent on beginning another busy day. Sidestepping a errant beam of sunlight Fluttershy let out a sigh that sounded a little like an annoyed hiss and opened her door making her way into the kitchen.
Looking out the window, the tired pony could tell it was already a bright sunny day. The weather team had outdone themselves as there was nary a wisp of cloud left in the sky. Opening the icebox Fluttershy removed a couple of fresh looking vegetables setting them in Angel's bowl on the floor. Sitting down at the kitchen table Fluttershy moved to bite into a large ripe looking apple when she saw something that startled her.
Gasping in surprise she jumped up from the table, knocking her chair over in the process. "D-discord, what are you doing here?"
Folding a newspaper the draconequus revealed himself to be seated at the surprised mare's breakfast table. "Why Fluttershy, I thought I was welcome here. To think that you would be that surprised to see me wounds me greatly." Discord took this opportunity to clutch his chest in a dramatic fashion feigning injury. With the beginning of a disingenuous tear in his eye he uttered pathetically "I thought we were friends."
Moving her pink mane out of her face Fluttershy frowned. "Of course we're friends, and of course you're welcome here. You just startled me is all." Righting her chair the hungry pegasus sat back down at the table as Discord took a obnoxious slurp of coffee from his mug.
"You ponies always seem so mercilessly perky and yet there's a dark cloud hanging over you this morning. What's wrong Fluttershy?" Discord asked as he waved a claw dispelling the dark cloud he had conjured a moment ago.
Fluttershy looked up seeing genuine concern on the trickster's face for once. "I haven't been sleeping well since Twilight turned me into that...thing."
Discord stroked his short beard for a moment taking it all in. "That's a shame, I'm sure Princess know-it-all got the spell right the second time. I may have a way to help you get some sleep though."
Fluttershy perked up immediately. "Really, how?"
Discord chuckled softly for a moment. "Oh I think there's a spell I can use to help you get all the sleep you ever wanted, there's something I'll need for you to get for me first though.
Taking a first bite into her breakfast, Fluttershy considered Discord's offer. "That's very kind of you Discord. What exactly is it that you need?"
The draconequus yawned and stretched. "Oh just a bit of red crystal you'll find in a cave at the edge of the Everfree Forest."
Hesitation crept up in the meek mare's mind. 'Oh I don't know that I want to go to a spooky sounding cave all by myself. But I also don't want to worry my friends anymore than I already have.' "Is it d-dangerous?"
Discord placed a paw on his chest defensively. "Oh not at all Fluttershy, Why, you'll find nothing lives there at all."
Fluttershy let out a sigh of relief. "Alright, I'll go get the crystal you need right after breakfast." Fluttershy went back to eating her apple entertaining thoughts of a good night's rest.
Not far away a swarm of bats flew from an ancient cave near the Everfree Forest where something waited in the darkness...
Fluttershy's earlier impression of the weather was confirmed as she trotted down the path leading away from her home. Walking in this heat would be exhausting. Fluttershy squinted in the presence of the intense brightness cursing her forgetfulness in not bringing her sunglasses.
Continuing on, Fluttershy found herself making her way toward Ponyville. Stepping off the path she changed direction seeking the edge of the Everfree Forest where; according to Discord, the cave she was looking for would be found.
Having walked for some time already, Fluttershy felt compelled to take stock of her supplies. Briefly coming to a stop she lifted the saddle bags off of her delicate frame and set them down in front of herself. "Let's see. Flint and steel, a torch, a length of rope and a couple apples for when I get hungry." Fluttershy smiled feeling well prepared.
A short time later Fluttershy spotted a rocky outcropping near the treeline and hurried over to investigate. The smooth grey stone had an opening on the other side that descended steeply into the ground. There were no tracks near the entrance to the cave, the local animals must have been avoiding it..
Beginning to move into the cave Fluttershy suddenly came to a stop. A chill ran up her spine as she considered what she was doing. "This cave is so dark and spooky" thought Fluttershy. Opening her saddlebag Fluttershy retrieved her flint steel and torch. Expertly striking a spark onto the torch it roared to life causing the shadows at the edge of the cave to dance eerily. Having some light bolstered Fluttershy's spirits.
Taking the torch in her mouth, Fluttershy made her way into the cave. Extending her wings a little for balance Fluttershy carefully stepped down the slope. As she descended Fluttershy drew further and further away from the oppressive sunlight finding herself surrounded by walls of stone and blackness.
The torch in Fluttershy's mouth sizzled and popped as she took in her new environment. Aside from the noise being made by her light source, the cave was deathly silent. Stalagmites jutted up from the ground all around punctuating the darkness that seemed intent on swallowing up the flickering light and the pony holding it. Fluttershy pressed on deeper into the cave.
Keeping track of time was difficult in this sunless place. Fluttershy had been exploring the cave for what seemed like ages when suddenly her ear twitched picking up a new sound off in the distance. The faint noise appeared to be water dripping from the celing. Hearing this reminded Fluttershy of the terrible thirst that still gripped her, stealing some of her focus and leaving her feeling weak and helpless.
Listening more closely as she continued on, Fluttershy heard the sound of dripping water change. Following the sound she came across a formation of rock holding a natural pool of water. The pool was being fed by a formation of three stalactites, drop by drop. Drawing closer Fluttershy could see the water was perfectly clear as reflections of torchlight shimmered on it's surface.
Fluttershy considered continuing on but she decided to stop, remembering she had forgotten to pack something to drink . Setting down her torch for a moment she leaned forward to smell the water. Satisfied that the water was not tainted, Fluttershy lowered her muzzle into the pool and began to drink. The water was cool and pure but she could find no refreshment in it. Holding her breath, Fluttershy dipped her face into the water and then shook herself dry before picking up her torch and proceeding deeper into the cave.
Navigating this subterranean labyrinth was becoming difficult as Fluttershy no longer had a clear sense of direction. One stretch of cave melded into another. A scraping sound broke the relative silence. Fluttershy gulped audibly. Hadn't discord assured her that this places wasn't dangerous, that nothing lived here? "Better to finish doing what I came her for and leave. The sooner the better" Fluttershy thought.
Distracted by the scraping noise, Fluttershy failed to notice that the flame of her torch was starting to dim. No longer able to see well enough to navigate, one of Fluttershy's hooves glanced against an exposed rock almost causing her to trip. Confused about why she couldn't see very well, Fluttershy looked at her quickly dimming torch. Real fear began to build in Fluttershy. "No, no no no" she whined as the torch flickered and extinguished. Tears were beginning to form distorting her vision. "Wait a second. Why can I still see" Fluttershy asked herself. Looking forward again Fluttershy noticed a dim red glow illuminating the cavern walls.
Following the dim slowly pulsating red light to it's source, Fluttershy found herself in a part of the cave where the ceiling was not visible in the soft glow. Nearby, a deep crimson crystal sat attached to a rock. Fluttershy could feel the crystal's presence in the air as she moved closer.
Remembering the noise from earlier, Fluttershy wasted no time reaching out to claim her prize only to find it was firmly affixed to the rock. When tugging at the crystal yielded no results Fluttershy weighed her options. Deciding on a course of action Fluttershy turned and walked away from the crystal for a step or two before looking back over her shoulder and giving a mighty kick with her rear leg. Her hoof smashed against the crystal with enough force to break it off from the rock it was attached to. Shadows moved as the crystal was thrown in an arc skittering across the cavern floor and leaving Fluttershy in near darkness. Moving in the direction the crystal had traveled, Fluttershy found it in a small crevice. Reaching out a hoof, Fluttershy found the crevice was small and difficult to reach through. Forcing her hoof deeper into the crevice pain shot though her leg like a lightning bolt but she managed to get a hold on the crystal. Pulling her hoof from the crevice was equally as difficult and painful. Fluttershy could see even in the softly glowing light she had cut her hoof badly, blood flowing from the wound and spattering on the cavern floor.
Gingerly taking a step, Fluttershy found she could still walk on her injured hoof. Moving back in the direction she had come proved difficult but not impossible as some parts of the cavern began to look familiar. As Fluttershy neared the enterance to the cavern she heard a loud cry from the direction she had found the crystal. Not wanting to run across whatever had made that sound Fluttershy hurried from the cave into the waning daylight.
Finally outside once more, Fluttershy took another look at her wound. Blood still oozed from the injury indicating that it would need attention as soon as she returned. Wasting no more time Fluttershy hurried home hoping her errand would prove fruitful.
As Fluttershy was making her way home the sun began to set sending streaks of red and orange across the sky. Back at the cave another figure was emerging into the fading light. Bending down and examining the blood stained dirt, the the mysterious entity snarled setting off after it's prey...
Finally arriving home, Fluttershy pushed her way through her cottage door walking unsteadily on her three remaining uninjured hooves. Reaching into her saddle bags to discard the apple cores that remained within, her hoof glanced across the glowing red crystal she had found in the cave. Fluttershy took the red crystal out of her saddle bags and set it on the kitchen table before seeing to her injured hoof. In a shadowy corner, yellow eyes glowed as a wide toothy grin quietly chuckled.
Fluttershy made her way into the bathroom of her cottage. Her medicine cabinet creaked quietly as she opened it. After she retrieved some gauze and medical tape Fluttershy sat down to treat her injury. Fluttershy wrapped the laceration in gauze and winced as pressure was applied to the wound. After the gauze was taped firmly into place, Fluttershy made her way into the kitchen.
"Ahh, I see you've retrieved the crystal I asked for" said Discord. "Are you ready to begin? You're looking a little tired and we really should get started. The sooner the better."
Fluttershy looked up at discord with a nervous gulp. "Yes, that would be great. Thanks again for all your help Discord."
"Oh it's no trouble at all for such a good friend." Discord thoughtfully stroked his goatee with his lion's paw. "You might want to retire to your room, dear Fluttershy. I think you'll find the spell to be quite exhausting." Delicately lifting the red crystal in his slender claw, Discord snaps his fingers and instantly vanishes no trace of him remaining in the kitchen.
Opening the door to her bedroom, Fluttershy was surprised to see Discord standing at the foot of her bed observing her pile of discarded juice boxes with a raised eyebrow. Chuckling nervously, Fluttershy got into bed. "I get so thirsty when I'm tired" Fluttershy offered meekly as she pulled her top-sheet around herself.
With a grin on his face, Discord held up the glowing blood-red crystal and snapped with his slender claw. As the glow of the crystal intensified the sound of wind picking up could be heard outside the cottage. Chimes rang as leaves danced frantically in the whipping wind. Red lines of magical power began to form slowly around Fluttershy's bed casting the room in a growing hellish light. Streaks of lightning and peals of thunder began as the gale outside grew stronger. The magical lines on the floor around the bed continued to fill in forming arcane and eldritch symbols from a time lost civilization, contained inside an elaborate circular pattern. The crystal held high above the bed had continued to glow brighter as dark lines covered it's surface. Discord had begun chanting increasing in volume as the spell continued. "Through dusty hall and shadow tomb, graveyard lit by light of moon. When all of these and more have gone your journey will continue on. As all the winged fiends take flight unto this pony bestow night!" and with that the crystal shattered leaving a single drop of scarlet hanging there in the remaining madness. "Open your mouth Fluttershy."
"Why whatever fo-" but it was too late. The bead of liquid that hung in the air descended as Fluttershy spoke, landing on her tongue. Fluttershy could feel it having some effect on her fragile and strained body immediately. The taste in her mouth could only be described as intense, as if all the bits that had ever been minted has been placed in her mouth for her to savor. Her lungs convulsed, forcing all the air out of her in a ragged wheeze. Her body twitched violently and started stiffening as fire and agony raced through her body. Fluttershy's eyes were forced open wide as she could feel her body changing, the last sensation being the bones in her slender wings snapping with a series of sickening cracking sounds. The last thing she heard was the beat of her own heart slowing; and struggling, finally ceasing all together. Then the darkness came, pulled over her vision like a sheet. Finally the noise outside became less and less until there was nothing but utter silence. Fluttershy was nothing now, she lay there with a solemn look on her otherwise expressionless face.
"Your time is done now Fluttershy, rest now in darkness...forever." Discord stood there motionless, his job was done now. There was only waiting and observing and he needent be present for it. Snapping his fingers again he vanished leaving the yellow pegasus to lay there in slumber.
Life outside the cottage continued without Fluttershy, The market set up for the day, goods services and coin trading hooves like usual. The flowers, trees and grass stoicly pulled in the sunlight until it was no longer there. and night once again fell on Ponyville.
In the cottage near the Everfree Forest, something stirred.
The thirst was gone.
Fluttershy had no compulsion to move. She finally felt at peace, a serenity absent from her since her transformation at the hooves of her friend Twilight. She didn't feel like herself but she didn't care, she simply felt nothing and it was everything she had wanted. Feeling nothing could not last though; her body searched for something to feel, to drive it forward and in time it found that drive. She hungered. It was not in her stomach that she felt this hunger but far deeper. The tattered remnants of her soul longed for sustenance. It would not do to simply lay here, she would need to quell this terrible hunger.
Opening her eyes, Fluttershy found she could see with impossible clarity, no detail escaping her notice. She knew the room was dark as pitch but it didn't matter, everything in the room stood out plain as day. Gliding from her bed with a grace uncharacteristic of the often clumsy pegasus, Fluttershy took in the night around her opening up all her senses. She could hear animals moving about some distance from herself beyond the walls of her bedroom. She felt the grain of the wood beneath her hooves and the gentle movement of air across her fur. She could smell blood. Immediately her hunger deepened. Making her way over to a mirror that stood in her bedroom she was surprised by what she saw.
Fluttershy's eyes were now red and had a sharpness they previously lacked. The feathers present in her wings were gone replaced by leathery skin stretched taught over delicate bone. Even in the darkness she could see that some of the once vibrant color in her fur had dulled, butter yellow giving way to pastel. Her hoof was still draped in loose bandages. Removing them she could see that her wound had healed completely no trace but the gauze soaked in her blood remaining. Opening her mouth was the biggest shock of all, she had gotten used to having fangs but these were different, Slender, curved and ending in needle-like tips. she closed her mouth with a snap no longer wishing to observe at it's contents.
Breaking the silence, Fluttershy could hear a knock on her door. Moving from her bedroom she approached the noise as it continued. Reaching the front door, Fluttershy couldn't help but wonder what lay beyond, not expecting company of any sort. Opening the door Fluttershy could see a dark form. Illuminated from behind for a moment as lightning tore across the sky the silhouette spoke. "Master, I presume?" was all the dark figure said...