Chapter 1
Fluttershy ran as fast as her legs could take her between the dark trees surrounding her. The cold moon overhead offered no comfort as its light gave life to the frightening images that crawled from her imagination, threatening to pounce out at the pegasus from every shadow. Behind her, Fluttershy heard the gentle sound of the air gliding over wing. As she focused, the sound grew more distant with each beat of her heart until its rapid tattoo was all that remained.
Fluttershy slowed her pace and slipped behind a tree to catch her breath. She did not know how long she had been running, but her whole body ached in exhaustion. Fluttershy closed her eyes and took a deep breath to help regain her composure. “There must be a way out of here,” she thought. “I'll just get a little peek over the trees and figure out where I am.”
The pegasus exhaled, her nerves now steeled, and opened her eyes to the sky. Her scream mixed with the piercing screech of the monster swooping down from above. Fangs flashed and glistened in the pale light; it's eyes burned red with a terrible hellfire. As the monster spread its wings wide, blotting out the distant, uncaring stars and wrapping the pony in shadow most black, it struck.
Fluttershy screamed, kicking and flapping wildly as she tumbled from her bed. She scrambled across the floor, kicking of the blankets that had wrapped their selves about her hind legs and hid herself under a table.
Next to the table in a shallow basket, Fluttershy's bunny, Angel, awoke in an irritable mood. He glanced over at the clock and soured at what he saw. Angel turned to scold Fluttershy for causing such a din so late in the night, but paused himself when he saw his friend wide eyed and shivering, hiding her face beneath her wings. Angel hopped over and placed a paw on Fluttershy's side. She flinched away, but upon seeing it was only a friend, Fluttershy put an arm around the bunny and drew him close to her chest.
“I'm sorry I woke you, Angel,” Fluttershy said to her friend. “I was having the most awful dream.” Angel looked at the pegasus with concern. “It's about that whole vampire fruit bat thing from last month. I just keep seeing this monster chasing me and, well... I guess it caught me tonight.”
Angel gave some squeaks of assurance. Fluttershy was glad she could talk to someone about her fears tonight. She didn't want to try and make to morning shaken as she was.
“Come on, Angel. We can share the bed tonight,” Fluttershy offered with a smile. The two of them walked back to the bed and snuggled in to finish their rest. “Good night, Angel Bunny,” Fluttershy said.
“Good night, Fluttershy,” said a voice from beside her.
With a yelp and a flap of her her wings, Fluttershy leaped to the ceiling. Hanging from a rafter she looked down and saw that the draconequus, Discord, had curled up into the bed with Angel and herself. Fluttershy glared at her roommate.
“What?” Discord said with a thin farce bewilderment. “I thought we were all snuggling tonight?”
Fluttershy rolled her eyes. She was glad it was only Discord, but she was not willing to put up with his shenanigans tonight. “I suppose you can stay,” Fluttershy told her friend, “but Angel and I-”
“Great!” cried Discord as he made a lamp and book appear with a snap of his claws. Fluttershy fluttered to the ground and scooped Angel back up to the bed. The bunny hopped over Discord's serpentine body and turned off the lamp while Fluttershy retrieved the blanket from the floor.
“Discord,” Fluttershy said sternly, “I haven't slept well all week, and Angel needs his rest too. You know how grumpy he gets when he's tired.”
Discord glanced to the side table where a saggy eyed Angel stood tapping his foot impatiently. “Yes, I've noticed. You've been tossing and talking to yourself too, Fluttershy. It's been a wreck on my beauty sleep.”
“All the more reason to close your eyes,” chastised Fluttershy as she pulled the blankets over her shoulder and lay down as Angel slipped in next to her. Discord lay in silence, his tail hanging from the bed across the floor. It was quiet for a moment, then Fluttershy asked, “What kind of stuff do I say in my sleep?”
“Oh, you know, the usual things you ponies say during nightmares; help, it's going to get me, so sweet...”
“So sweet?” ask Fluttershy. “That doesn't sound like it's part of a nightmare.”
“No, I suppose it doesn't,” agreed Discord. “Of course, you weren't so panicky during those parts.”
“I don't remember having any pleasant dreams this week. When did I say that part?”
“That was just last night actually. It was right after you – oof!“ Discord was interrupted by a sharp jab to his side delivered by a very agitated bunny. “Alright, alright... Goodnight, Angel. Goodnight, Fluttershy.”
Fluttershy covered a yawn with a hoof. “Goodnight, Discord,” she whispered, and curled up to sleep.
The next day, Fluttershy was out for a walk to pick up some groceries when she spotted a blue pegasus sitting outside the entrance to Sweet Apple Acres. It was her Rainbow Dash, relaxing in the shade of a fence post. “Hello, Rainbow,” Fluttershy called. Rainbow looked over to her friend and began to fly over to greet her, but suddenly stopped and planted herself firmly on the ground.
“Uh, hey, Fluttershy,” Rainbow said with a nervous laugh. She glanced around and whispered, “Are you alone?”
“Um...” Fluttershy looked around confused. “I think so. Why, are you hiding from someone?”
Rainbow gave a laugh as she rubbed her hooves together. “I outsmarted Pinkie for sure this year! I'm definitely going to be first in line for cider season this year.”
“Oh!” exclaimed Fluttershy. “But, isn't that not for another two days?”
“Yeah. You remember last year how Pinkie got the whole town camping out here a day early? Well, I'm going to do one better and wait here two days early! Ha ha!”
“Oh, that is a good idea!” Fluttershy said, smiling at her friend's dedication, but her smile faded as she realized a flaw with Rainbow Dash's plan “But you'll be starving by the time the cider's ready!”
“Way ahead of you,” Said Rainbow smugly. She reached behind the fence and pulled out a box. Popping open the lid, Rainbow revealed a store of dried food and a large canteen of water. “I got these from the academy after I promised to bring back a whole barrel for everypony. So, you see, this isn't just about me this time, but it's a mission for all of the Wonderbolt Academy!” Rainbow reached a hoof into the box and, after fishing around for a moment, pulled out a small juice box. “Here you go,” she said, tossing the juice to her friend. “It's still a way to town and it's kinda hot today.”
“Oh, thank you, Rainbow Dash,” Fluttershy said as she put the box in a saddlebag. “Well, I better get going. I don't want to be late getting back for lunch. So you around.”
“Later!” Rainbow called out as Fluttershy walked away, and went back to guarding her spot.
As Fluttershy neared town, the sun beat down harshly upon her head. Sighing from the heat, the pegasus sauntered to the shade of a nearby tree, settling down to enjoy the gift Rainbow Dash had given her. She pulled out the juice box and pierced it with the straw. The box was unlabeled, so she took a sniff to try and figure out the flavour. It smelled strongly of banana hint of orange and apple. Putting the drink to her lips, Fluttershy gave a small sip to appreciate the cocktail of flavours that awaited her.
To her surprise, the taste of banana was not as overbearing as the smell, and she hardly detected the orange at all. What stood out most was an almost overpowering taste of apple. Were the other fruits not mixed in to taint it, Fluttershy would swear it the best she had ever drank. A dainty sip gave way to ravenous guzzling, and, in a flash, the box was empty. Yet Fluttershy was not satisfied. She wanted more!
Pulling out the straw, Fluttershy licked it clean and sucked every drop from within until her lungs hurt. She then attacked the box, tearing at the packaging with her teeth. Fluttershy's hooves fumbled in her excitement, and as the box was ripped apart the last dregs of pulp fell upon the grass. Fluttershy shoved her face to the ground, searching desperately for any trace of that wonderful flavour.
Then, all at once, Fluttershy realized what she was doing. She bolted upright and wiped the stray blades of grass from her lips as she glanced around, her face bright with embarrassment. Assured she was alone, Fluttershy picked up her bags and continued on into Ponyville.
Fluttershy returned quickly home from her shopping, still mortified by her earlier actions. The whole morning she had been lost in her thoughts mulling over what had happened under that tree, and all she could produce was a blurry memory. Fluttershy carried her bags over to the kitchen, wondering if the memory was even true. She was so lost in thought that she hardly noticed Discord already in the room.
“Why, hello there, Fluttershy,”greeted Discord. Noticing something was off, the draconequus gave Fluttershy a quick glance over as he glided through the air. “You're back awfully early. Did something happen in Ponyville? Did you run into a friend, hm?”
“Oh,”said Fluttershy with a start. “I did run into Rainbow Dash outside of Applejack's farm on my way in. Then that means...” Fluttershy said, her voice shrinking as her worry grew, but her thoughts were interrupted by the clattering of glass. Angel had gone rooting through Fluttershy's saddlebags to try and sneak off with a carrot only to discover the bags were full of bottles of apple juice. Angel glared scornfully at Fluttershy, tapping a foot as he awaited an explanation.
“Thirsty?” enquired Discord mockingly as he slithered over. “It is rather hot today, isn't it? Perhaps you need something to cool you down.” No sooner had Discord finished speaking than it began to gently snow in the kitchen.
Fluttershy did not care at the moment for Discord's playing. Darker thoughts were on her mind and she ran upstairs for some privacy. Shutting herself in her bedroom, Fluttershy went to a full length mirror to get a good look at herself. Fluttershy's friends had told her of the transformation Twilight's spell had put her through when the magic went awry causing her to take on a bat-like aspect, and Fluttershy set to carefully examining every bit of herself for signs of a relapse. She looked deep into her eyes for any redness, but was only met with her aqua pools. She then opened her mouth wide, and, while she did still have a pair of slightly elongated teeth left over from the spell, the sight of them no longer startled her. Fluttershy flicked her ears to see them from all angles and turned her wings over in a similar fashion. Satisfied with what she saw, Fluttershy twisted off the top of a bottle of juice and took a swig.
She threw the bottle across the room where it sailed out her window. Fluttershy did not remember picking the bottle up when she went upstairs, and wondered if Discord was playing a trick on her. “Yes,” she thought. “It's only a trick, and not a very nice one!” Fluttershy stomped back downstairs to confront the draconequus, finding him still in the kitchen building snowponies.
“Discord!” scolded Fluttershy. “Did you sneak that bottle upstairs?”
“Oh, please...” Discord replied dismissively. “You grabbed that as you ran upstairs.”
“But, I... I don't remember doing that.... Angel?” Fluttershy turned to the bunny who was digging through the pantry in vain. He gave a quick look to Fluttershy and nodded before returning to his search. The pony stood stunned by worry and confusion, unsure of what to do with this strange behaviour of hers.
“Now don't you worry your pretty little head, my dear. I'll fix us something for lunch. After that you can go see one of your friends for whatever it is that's bothering you today.”
“Thanks, but I think I just need some rest. I might still be tired from last night.”
Fluttershy soared through the moon kissed trees, the branches hissing as she passed by. She did not know for where she was headed but felt that it was urgent she get there as fast as she could. The excitement welled inside her, and the pegasus felt like her heart would burst! She could hear it beating in her ear keeping in rhythm with the beat of her wings. Up ahead Fluttershy sensed her goal and gained some altitude for a dive. Down she came like a falling star; silent and gone in a flash. Fluttershy only saw what she sought in for an instant; long enough to see her monstrous visage reflected back in her own frightened eyes.
Fluttershy awoke with a start, her fur matted with sweat. It was the middle of the night, but the heat of the day still clung to the air. Fluttershy stepped from her bed and to her window, opening it in hope of a breeze of fresh air to calm herself. She looked longingly out the window at the night sky. Clouded as it was, the moon still shone brightly through making a halo in it's misty veil.
A sickeningly sweet stench, sharpened by the passing night air, tickled at Fluttershy's nose. It was familiar and enticing to the pegasus, urging her to seek out the source. She peered into the dark world outside her window for a clue as to what had enticed her senses so. Then, glancing downward, Fluttershy saw a bottle on her yard. It's smooth curves were outlined brilliantly in the pale light. The rich fluids the bottle once contained had spilled out onto the path leading to Fluttershy's cottage, pooling in places were the glittered like strange stars.
As Fluttershy looked upon the scene she felt some primal urge growing rapidly stronger in her heart. Every fibre of her body was drawn to the enticing lights that glistened below and ravenous sensation threatened to take hold. Fluttershy did not fight back, licking her lips in craven desire as she leaped from the window onto her prey.
“Fluttershy? Oh, Fluttershy? Wakey wakey...” Fluttershy blinked, trying to focus her blurred vision. The brown blob before her slowly formed into Discord's face. “Did you have a party and not invite me? I'm hurt!” Discord said with a dramatic pout.
“Party?” Fluttershy asked, slowly picking herself up off the ground. The mare looked about herself once on her hooves and gasped aloud. Fluttershy stood in the midst of a pile of empty bottles with more strewn about the kitchen. The entire floor was tacky with dried apple juice, it's sweet stench filling the air. “W-what happened?! Discord?”
“You started a terrible ruckus in the middle of the night. First you were outside doing some yard work; nice job on the lawn by the way. Then you came inside and drank all that juice you had bought.” Discord gave a chuckle. “You must have been very thirsty.”
“This isn't funny!” Fluttershy yelled, making Discord flinch. She ran out of her cottage, past the torn up lawn and down the road to Ponyville.
Discord took a quick survey of the room, making disapproving sounds. “Someone's going to have to clean this up,” he muttered. “Where's that rabbit?”
Twilight Sparkle was in her library, taking a break from her royal duties to enjoy a new novel, when she was disturbed by a vicious banging at her door. “Spike!” Twilight called, hardly lifting her eyes from the page. “Could you answer the door?” A small purple dragon, Twilight's assistant, came down the stairs, muttering something under his breath and went over to see who was knocking. He hardly had the door ajar when Fluttershy shoved it open and bounded into the room. Twilight forgot about her book at the sight of her friend so dishevelled and rushed to the pegasus' side.
“Fluttershy! What happened to you?” Twilight ask as she stepped over Spike. Fluttershy, exhausted from her run, couldn't reply and waved her forelegs in a frustrated charade. Twilight watched closely, trying to decipher her friend's wild gestures. “You went for a walk? You have a headache? You're thirsty?”
“You're going bonkers?” quipped Spike from the floor.
“Yes!” gasped Fluttershy.
Twilight set to calming Fluttershy as Spike prepared them some tea. Fluttershy told her friend of all the strange things that had happened to her during the week and voiced her concerns that the vampirism Twilight's magic had cause was resurging. Twilight sat in silence, mulling over the ideas forming in her head to help Fluttershy.
Twilight took a final sip of her tea and closed her eyes in thought. “Well, it sounds like there is still some residual magic flowing through you that's being amplified by something from outside. Has anything changed in your life since last month?” Fluttershy shook her head silently. “Okay, well, I don't want to use any more magic on you until we have a better understanding of what's causing this, and I think the answer to that may be in your dreams.”
“Do you really think so?” asked Fluttershy.
“When you were telling me about your dreams you never mentioned how they ended. I think that if you manage to confront the bat essence inside you then you can rid yourself of the problems it's causing!”
“But the last dream I had made me sleepwalk and drink all the juice I had bought. What if I can't finish the dream and wander off again?”
“I've already got that covered!” Twilight said proudly.
Fluttershy lay on the examining table in Twilight's basement lab as the purple alicorn tightened the last strap holding her friend down.
“Comfy?” Twilight asked.
“Um, I suppose,” responded Fluttershy.
“Great,” said Twilight as she pulled a soft blanket to Fluttershy's chin. “Spike and I will stay here and make sure you're alright tonight. If there's anything you need, just ask.”
Fluttershy laid her head back and starred at the roots poking through the ceiling. She thought of a few things she could use at the moment; a comfier pillow, a message home to let Angel know where she was. However, Fluttershy did not want to be any more of a bother and kept silent as she tried letting herself sleep.
Hours passed without incident, yet Twilight sat scribbling notes into a little paper pad. Spike had long since fell into a boredom induced nap, and Fluttershy slept peacefully. As Twilight kept busy noting the time and writing about breathing patterns, she felt an uncomfortable pressure growing inside her. “Must be the tea,” she thought, giving Spike a nudge. “Spike,” She whispered. “Spike! I need to step upstairs for a minute. Keep an eye on Fluttershy for me, okay?”
Spike reluctantly awoke and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, sure. I got this,” he mumbled still half in a daze. He watched as Twilight disappeared up the stairs and then turned his attention to the sleeping Fluttershy. Her steady and quiet breathing were like a soft lullaby in the dragon's ears, and the soft glow of the machines in the dark room caused his vision to blur once more. Spike felt his lids close and his head begin to dip.
Spike was just beginning to feel relaxed when he snapped back to his senses. He blinked and gave his head a shake, trying to stay awake. He then looked back to Fluttershy, but the table was empty. Spike, feeling very confused, rushed over to get a better look. “Where did she go?” he wondered aloud as he through off the blanket. “She couldn't have just up and disappeared!” Clutching the piece of fabric, Spike raced about the lab searching for any sign of the missing pegasus. Fearing the trouble he would be in if Twilight found he had failed in his task, his heart quickened twofold as he heard the tap of hoofsteps overhead approach the lab door.
Twilight gently opened the way into the lab, trying not to let in too much light that could disturb her friend. “Spike,” she whispered. “Did anything happen?”
Spike squirmed as he stood in the shadows at a loss for words. “Um, well, you see, Twilight,” he started to say. “Fluttershy...”
Before Spike could think of what to tell Twilight, the was a shrill hiss from overhead as a dark yellow streak slithered across the black ceiling. It headed straight for Twilight who shrieked a a pair of fangs lunged at her from the shadows. There was a flash of violet as Twilight teleported out of the way of her assailant and reappeared beside Spike.
From upstairs, Twilight and Spike heard things fall and break as Fluttershy rampaged through the main floor. “Come on!” Twilight yelled as she ran up the stairs. “We've got to stop her before she escapes!” As they entered back into the library, they saw entire rows of books knocked off the shelves where Fluttershy plowed into them mid flight. The trail curved around the room leading into the kitchen
where the sounds of carnage continued. Carefully, Twilight and Spike tiptoed there way over to get a look inside.
Fluttershy, feral as a wild dog, was crouched atop of the refrigerator gnawing angrily on a pear. Frustrated, she threw it against the wall and glided across the kitchen to the pantry. While Fluttershy was busy raiding the cupboards, Twilight quietly sneaked into the kitchen as she warmed up a spell to contain the rampant pony. Inch by inch, Twilight moved closer to her target, unaware of the disturbed teacup slowly rolling towards the edge of the counter top.
As the cup crashed to the floor, Fluttershy spun around and saw Twilight's advance. The alicorn, also startled, hopped in surprise and fired her spell into the wall. Fluttershy growled furiously, her eyes darkening into a bloody crimson, and pounced across the kitchen at her attacker. The two mares tumbled across the tiled floor as Spike watched in horror from the doorway.
Twilight, unable to focus her magic and unwilling to hurt her friend, struggled to shove Fluttershy off of her, but the pegasus had no such qualms. Fluttershy reared back and came down hard on Twilight's wings, pinning her to the floor. Twilight yelped in pain as Fluttershy leaned in close, starring deep into her captive's eyes. Twilight stopped her struggling as she fell under the captivating gaze. The princess felt small before the intensity of those red, angry eyes that seemed to touch on every secret and guilt she hid, quenching any spark of courage, and dismissing any love.
The crack of a frying pan to Fluttershy's face broke the spell, and Spike dragged Twilight to safety behind him. The dragon brandished his makeshift weapon at the dazed Fluttershy, daring her to attack again, but the stunned pony only managed two steps before fainting on the floor. With the danger now passed, Spike let himself feel bad about hurting a friend, then turned to check on Twilight. “Are you okay?” he asked, ready to assist.
Twilight gave her wings a stretch, making sure they were unharmed. “Yes, thank you, Spike,” Twilight answered and turned her attention to the unconscious Fluttershy. “But what are we going to do about her?”
Fluttershy stood alone among the dark trees. The sky was black save for the solitary moon, it's brilliance burning through the thick clouds. Fluttershy gazed upon it, admiring it's beauty, when a soft thump nearby caught her attention.
Nearby, at the base of one of the trees, was an apple glimmering in the chill light. Fluttershy approached the fruit curiously, pangs of hunger growing in her gut, when someone stepped from the dark. Half hidden in the shadows, the stranger scooped up the apple and took a large bite from it. Fluttershy watched in disappointment as her meal was taken from her, but the feeling was soon replaced when the stranger threw the core at her. Fluttershy dodge the leftovers, angry at such unwarranted rudeness.”Hey!” she called. “You can't just throw things at ponies.”
There was another thump of an apple falling to the ground nearby, and, as Fluttershy turned to look, several more of the fruit began to rain down from the trees. Hunger swelled once more in the pegasus, and she reached for a nearby fruit, but as Fluttershy's hoof neared her prize, another shadowy figure dashed in a stole it. The dark creature crunched down on it's ill gotten goods, chuckling to itself.
Fluttershy approached another apple, but the same thing happened time and again, each time the strange pony growing fatter, it's laugh more piercing.
Fluttershy lay exhausted on the ground, glaring at the bloated figure that danced about her. It rolled in circles around the tree line, it's laughter only ceasing when it's head disappeared beneath it's own girth. The moon's light began to change to a harsh red, bathing the world in violent hues. Fluttershy forced herself to her feet, her anger rising with her small frame. The stranger continued to roll about, squashing the remaining cores under it, juice leaking from it's mouth with each deep guffaw.
“Fine! Laugh all you like!” yelled Fluttershy. “I hope you're happy now that you look just like a big, fat apple too!” As Fluttershy looked closer at her tormentor, she realized that it did look like a giant apple. The great red ball rolled about hypnotically through the sweet and pungent air as the rest of the world seemed to disappear. Fluttershy licked her lips as her eyes grew wide with anticipation. She crouched low, waiting for the perfect moment as time began to pass is slow motion. The apple slowly rolled back into view, dark under the harsh light, the laughter fading into a low grumble. Then, she struck.
As Fluttershy prepared to land teeth first on her prey, she fell into the fruit's shadow and continued to tumble through the air. All was black around her, and though she flapped as hard as she could, the pegasus could not right herself. Fluttershy hit the unseen ground hard, and she lay there with only the pain in her stomach and on her face.
After a moment of rest, Fluttershy tried to stand, but found herself bound to the ground. Though she strained, Fluttershy found she could not break whatever was holding her, and so she fell still in the dark silence. “Hello?” she called quietly. “Can anyone hear me?” but only the echo of her voice answered back.
Fluttershy did not know how long she lay there alone in the dark. As her eyes adjusted to the blackness, she discovered a faint crack of light high above her, but it offered little but meager illumination. Minutes and hours blurred together, and with every second her hunger grew sharper, more painful.
Then, through the darkness, a familiar and powerful scent crept through Fluttershy's nose. It was a warm and rich memory of autumns passed and the mare strained against her bounds to be closer to it. She saw were the smell was coming from; a slim light high above. Thoughts of feasting and freedom clashed together in Fluttershy's mind and she tried with all her might to wrest her head free. She felt that her muscles would snap when, to her joy, Fluttershy managed to free her head from it's prison. She set to work, biting her bonds apart. The moment she felt the last one fall from her, Fluttershy leaped to her feet and shot off like a rocket towards the light.
With a crash, Fluttershy burst through the barrier and into the brilliant night sky. The crisp air filled her lungs, and Fluttershy looked to the town below, awash in the gentle starlight. However, Fluttershy had no time to enjoy the view; she was starving, and her hunger needed to be sated. Turning her nose to the air, Fluttershy seeked out the scent that inspired her escape. It was an easy hunt with the gentle breeze, and Fluttershy dove silently towards a nearby alley.
Perching on a rooftop, Fluttershy peered into the dark path. A lone mare sat on her back step, a mug in wrapped around her hoof. The stink of fresh apple cider hung heavy in the air about her. Fluttershy watch closely for an opportunity to take some of the drink for herself, but, to her horror, saw the mare take a final gulp of the cider and pass out flat on her back.
Fluttershy glided down beside the mare and sniffed the mug closely. She reached her tongue inside, hoping to find some drops that had escaped the mulberry pony's gullet, but was unlucky. Still Fluttershy search in hope of sampling some of the sweet nectar. She looked back at the mare, her mouth open and snoring like a saw. Fluttershy could still smell the overwhelming scent of cider on the sleeping pony's breath. “She must have been drinking the stuff all day,” thought Fluttershy as she stared at the mare, her lips glistening in the night with the touch of drink. They looked enticing to Fluttershy who licked her own at the thought of their taste.
She stepped closer, eyes transfixed on the slow swell of the pony's breathing. Fluttershy thought she could almost sense the powerful drink flowing through the slumbering pony's body, and her mind began to go wild at the thought of all the cider that must be inside. She leaned in close to the mare's face, her breath making Flutershy's head swim, and she took a taste.
What a taste it was! Fluttershy felt energize as a thunder cloud, and her heart rushed with the excitement of such flavour, but no sooner had the rush come than it was taken as the mare shoved Fluttershy aside. “Not tonight...” the mare mumbled with a hiccup as she rolled over and continued snoring. Fluttershy stood in shock. “How dare she!” thought Fluttershy. “It was bad enough having those apple stolen from me, but you will not keep me from that cider!” Fluttershy spread her wings wide and loomed over the snoring mare, bathing her in shadow. The pegasus' senses lit up the rich cider inside the body of the the creature so blissfully unaware of the world around her. Each breath pulled at Fluttershy's heart, begging her to feast, and her mind, starving, yielded.
The mare hardly managed a gurgled scream as the fluids left her body. Her body weakened, her mind intoxicated; the poor creature could not fight back. After drinking deeply, Fluttershy rose up and wiped her mouth clean. It had been a long time since she had tasted cider, and she thirsted for more. She took to the sky once more and turned her gaze to the hills where lay Sweet Apple Acres. As she flew off into the night, Fluttershy could not hear the sounds of Twilight and Spike searching for her far below.
Sweet Apple Acres was vast and over flowing with freshly ripened apples, but Fluttershy paid them no heed. She sought a greater prize and headed straight for the farmstead, hoping that the Apple family had a personal store of the precious drink hidden somewhere inside.
On silent wings, Fluttershy drifted to the shed attached to the house. She gave the door a pull, but found it locked from the inside. Undaunted, Fluttershy slunk to the front of the house to try the door there as well, but it too was locked. Fluttershy looked upwards and saw that the window on the second floor was open a bit. Excited, she gently flapped upwards and slid the window the rest of the way open.
When Fluttershy entered the dark room she was almost overwhelmed by the array of different apple scents that assailed her senses. Rubbing her nose against the onslaught, Fluttershy looked about her for a way downstairs when her eyes fell on one of the biggest apples she had ever seen. It was a great green fruit almost as big as she was, sitting on a bed. Fluttershy thought that she had found where the Apple family hid their prize crops and floated over for a closer look. She was entranced by the meal before her, and, to her delight, the scent of fermented apple cider wafted from it like a warm aura.
Fluttershy bared her fangs and bit down hard on her prize, drinking greedily of it's juices. In an instant it was over, and, though delicious, Fluttershy couldn't help but feel underwhelm at how little there actually was in her meal. She spied a door and made her way out of the room, seeking more cider to drink.
Into the hall Fluttershy went and downstairs to the den. The pale light from outside crept between the curtains and reflected brightly off the hanging photographs adorning the room. The kitchen was just the next room over; the birthplace of so many of Granny Smith's famous apple dishes and where Fluttershy expected a way into the cellar would be. She paced about the kitchen seeking out a way into the storeroom. Fluttershy tasted the air for the distinct flavour of the precious cider, and her senses led her to a pile of bagged potatoes in the corner of the room. Moving the sacks, Fluttershy discovered the door she sought, and flung her wings wide in delight.
Her joyous actions disturbed some of the cooking implements that hung from the walls, and Fluttershy knocked a heavy frying pan to the ground. No sooner had the din subsided than there come the sound of voices from upstairs. Something heavy began to move above her, and Fluttershy, not wanting to be seen nor wanting to abandon the hunt, rose to the ceiling and clung tightly to it's surface.
Fluttershy carefully lowered her head to peer through the doorway. The slow, heavy approach of an enemy was steady in the mare's ears, and she braced herself for an encounter. As the looming shadow descended the stairs and into the light, Fluttershy's eyes widened in awe at the sight before her. A giant red apple, twice the size of the last, slowly rolled down the stairs. It made a gentle thump with each step it crossed with it's firm flesh, and Fluttershy drooled with desire. A stray drop of saliva escaped from her mouth to the floor. The patter was nearly inaudible, but still the apple paused. Slowly it rotated towards the kitchen, stopping suddenly as it seemed to face the door. The apple paused only momentarily, then suddenly turned right around and began to roll back up the stairs.
Not wanting to lose such a prize, Fluttershy sprang from her hiding spot. The apple hadn't made it three steps when she was upon it. The two rolled down the stairs, crashing to the floor. Fluttershy struggled to grip such a large fruit, and tried to find purchase for her teeth. Twice her teeth slide across the hard skin of her prey, but on the third try she sunk her fangs deep. There was a distant sound like a kettle forgotten on the fire, but Fluttershy paid it no mind. She was in ecstasy, holding tightly to her prize as he gorged on it's nectar.
Fluttershy remembered the voices she heard, and, leaving the husk of her meal on the floor, quietly made her way upstairs. Back in the hall, she looked down the length of it and noticed a single closed door. Creeping low with her ears perked high, Fluttershy approached to door and gave it a gentle nudge. The room beyond was dark, but the green floral wallpaper was still visible in the dim light. Sniffing the air, Fluttershy cautiously entered the room, and the tang of cider nearby caught her attention. Then, her ears picked up a sudden rush of air to the right. Fluttershy leaped out of the way as another large apple nearly fell upon her. The rust coloured orb was about to bump the door shut once more, but Fluttershy charged at it, knocking door and apple aside together.
Fluttershy was focused, full of energy from her last meal, and did not want to miss her chance with this fruit. As the apple rolled away, Fluttershy was already on her hooves and pounced with a hiss. She latched onto the orange flesh and drained it in seconds. The withered core keeled over and hit the floorboards with a dull splat.
As she licked the stray drops of juice from her hooves, content with a full belly, Fluttershy smiled. Her fast had been too long, and now she felt relaxed. After a moment's rest, she turned to head home to spend the rest of the night getting some much needed rest, when a soft sound entered her ears. Fearing another attack, Fluttershy sprang atop the poster bed. To her surprise, she heard the noise again, this time clearly from below.
Fluttershy carefully slide from the canopy onto the mattress and lay flat on her belly. Slowly, she lowered her head over the side and lifted the edge of the quilt. Hiding in the shadows was a plump golden delicious. Fluttershy stared for a moment, wondering if she had room for another bite.
“There's always room for dessert,” Fluttershy thought.
The crow of a rooster stirred Fluttershy from her sleep. With a smile she rose, stretching her stiff limbs. “That was the best I've slept in forever!” Fluttershy said to herself and she slipped out from beneath her sheets.
Fluttershy practically skipped to her mirror, a brush in her wing and a song in her heart, to get herself ready for another day. She put the bristles to her mane and began to stroke, but the sight of her reflection made her freeze. The sound of the brush hitting the floor was lost in the scream that came from Fluttershy's red mouth. She tried to wipe the stains away, but her hooves were painted with the same bright hue.
As her mind raced, trying to piece together what had happened, her mind was flooded with the memories of a horrid nightmare. Visions of violence, shadows and strange creatures spun around in her head. As the puzzle of the images harshly came together, Fluttershy prayed that it was not true.
“Just a dream, only a dream, Discord is just being mean...” Fluttershy stammered in a rapid whisper. “...Discord, Discord, Discord, DISCORD!” Fluttershy yelled again. “Discord, get in here!”
There was a brief flash of light and Discord appeared in Fluttershy's room. “And where have you been these last couple of -” he began to say, but stopped, taken aback by the strange and frightening visage. “Fluttershy?”
Fluttershy's vision began to blur as her heart sank. She knew that her memories were true, and wondered who she could turn to now. The room spun about her, making the crying mare dizzy and claustrophobic. Desperate to escape, Fluttershy dove through her window and fled into to the sky.
Rainbow Dash stumbled into her home. The news of what had happened the night before had quickly reached her at the academy, and, after a brief toast in Applejack's honour, Rainbow had been relieved for a few extra days to grieve. The academy had given Rainbow what remained of the cider in a large bottle, and she curled onto her bed to drown her sorrows.
Rainbow looked at the last dregs of cider swirling at the bottom of the bottles, torn between drinking and saving it. She sniffed as she wiped a tear from her eye, and, to her surprise heard her sobs mixed with her those of another. Rainbow lifted herself from her bed and saw Fluttershy crouching beneath a window; her back turned and her head covered by her wings.
“Fluttershy?” Rainbow said with a slight slur. Fluttershy flinched at Rainbow's voice.
“I-I didn't know w-who else to turn to...” Fluttershy gasped.
Rainbow fluttered from her bed over to her friend. Twilight mentioned in her letter her suspicions of how dangerous Fluttershy was, but seeing the yellow pegasus, Rainbow's oldest friend, so frightened, Rainbow couldn't help but be by her side. “Easy there, Fluttershy. I'm here for ya,” Rainbow said reassuringly.
Fluttershy pulled in close to her friend, trying hard to regain her composure. She took deep, broken breaths to calm herself down. As the mare gave a deep sniff, something in the air caught her attention. The fear began to wash away, and Fluttershy began to quiver violently with excitement.
Rainbow gave a little laugh. “What's this? You got the hiccups now? I can get you some water,” said Rainbow.
Rainbow smiled warmly and looked down at her friend, and Fluttershy raised her head to met the blue pegasus' gaze. Rainbow Dash's smile quickly faded when their eyes met, and the two stared deep into one another. Rainbow's heart began to race, unnerved by the unnatural calm before her, as Fluttershy stared unblinkingly with wide crimson eyes. The only movement between the two mares was the rapid rise and fall of Fluttershy's chest as her breath grew quicker and louder. Rainbow, seeing the monster before her, hoped that Fluttershy's mind was not yet too far gone.
“Flutter-”