> Career Change
>  by Cosmonaut
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> I.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“REJECTED!?"
The rolled-up parchment fell from Cloudchaser's hoof and drifted to the floor, ending up halfway underneath the refrigerator as if the offending article was attempting to escape from the furious pegasus. 
“C’mon sis, forget those guys,” said Flitter, extending a wing around her sister’s shoulder. “It’s not like you can’t go ahead and try again next year!”
“NO!” shouted Cloudchaser, standing up from her seat. “This was supposed to be my big break! I was going to get out of Ponyville, and make lots of money and really make a name for myself!”
Flitter withdrew her wing. It was no secret to her just how important this goal was for her sister. Day in and day out it was all Cloudchaser talked about, thought about, fantasized about. Occasionally Flitter would catch Cloudchaser languishing by the window with her nose in a fashion magazine, her eyes obviously peeled to the mailbox. Flitter was genuinely happy for her sister, but, despite herself, a pang of disapointment hit her whenever she lingered on her own failure.
“I know…” sighed Flitter. “I wish I could have gotten a shot too.”
The comment caught Cloudchaser off guard. She occasionally forgot that they had both signed up and that Flitter had been dismissed outright for her less than impressive wingpower. It wasn't something she often brought up either, having moved on to a promising career as a model for Photo Finish in Manehatten. The ache in Cloudchaser’s heart grew; her sister was achieving her dream already… and she was still at the starting gate.
Cloudchaser cleared her throat, and unsteadily got off the chair.
“I’m sorry Flit… but I wanted to do this so badly. It’s been my dream… our dream,” said Cloudchaser, her voice softening.
“Not anymore. I’m over it. Really.” Flitter smiled, her voice honest and clear. “It’s just a job. Finding another shouldn’t be too difficult! I can help! We can power through this together! Come on sis...”
For a moment Flitter’s words rung true. Cloudchaser walked over to the window, her thoughts drifting as she watched the yellow sun setting in the distance. 
This wasn’t the end of the world. There were other things out there to do. Just because she wasn't Wonderbolt material didn’t mean it was over. She just wasn’t as good as the ones who passed. She was athletic, did yoga, stretches, ate healthy, worked hard for her looks and yet her best was just not good enough.  Rainbow Dash passed, but that pegasus always had it easy. Thunderlane had even passed, getting his letter just yesterday. The partying and celebrations held were fresh in her memory, coupled with the comments of her surefire success re-ignited the feelings of self pity and disparaging inner comments. Not good enough. Not up to par.
Nothing special.
“Cloudchaser… are you crying?” gasped Flitter, her voice filled with sympathy.
“I’m staring at the sun, Flitter. Of course my eyes are crying,” Cloudchaser said flatly, but she could barely hide the tremble in her voice, and the tightness in her chest was only getting worse. “I need to fly for a bit. I’ll see you later.”
Before anything could be said further of the situation, Cloudchaser spread her wings and flew out the window.


***


Cloudchaser's eyes were squeezed tight, tears streaming down her cheeks. Although she was still flying at her top speed, it wasn’t like she had much to worry about running into at this altitude. The cool night air burned her lungs as she pumped her wings hard as possible. Even though Flitter had tried to console her, she still felt the sting of failure with every wingflap.
Opening the letter had closed the door on her future prospects of being a famous flier. Riches and Respect? Gone. This failure consumed her thoughts. All she was doing was running from them. Unable to escape the crushing finality of an oppurtunity lost. 
A strong gust of wing blew her off her trajectory and into a raincloud; packed with moisture but not enough to drop its watery payload. Condensation chilled her to the core as she blasted through. It was like she just came out of an icy shower. At that moment she found clarity.
This wasn’t the end. Flitter was right.
It did kind of feel like the end of the world. But it wouldn’t for long. Things could still change. 
She could change. Somehow.
Eventually the adrenaline coursing through her veins wore out and with her energy depleted, Cloudchaser collapsed on a comfy cumulus cloud coasting close by. Sweat mixed with the water droplets ran down her coat and pattered on the soft fluff supporting her tired body. The sky was painted a deep violet, the sun slipping below the horizon. Sleep began to overtake her. Cloudchaser yawned, her tired eyes searching for the moon rise. 
A dark figure shot across the full moon and her eyes snapped open. That didn’t sound like a pegasus. Those wingflaps were identifiable from miles away. These ones sounded… different. 
Two more dark figures creased the sky and Cloudchaser's interest was sufficiently piqued, spurring the pegasus upright and in pursuit. It made her heart pound like a jackhammer. In all honesty she wasn’t sure why she was interested. What was the point? How come she didn’t just brush it off and fly back home? All these questions were moved to the backburner as she quickly caught pace with the three dark figures flapping ahead of her. Even with her naturally excellent eyesight she could barely make them out in the dark of the night.
Apparantly the trio ahead noticed they were being tailed and kicked their speed up a notch. Cloudchaser grinned, easily matching the new pace.
The ponies she was pursuing seemed to realize this, beggining to swerve and sway, before resorting to loops and quick changes in direction. Even this new tactic couldn’t dissuade Cloudchaser. Despite the changes she adapted and continued tailing them right up until the three ponies split, the middle one diving into a particularly shadowy grove of maple trees. Excitement surged through Cloudchaser's as she landed on the ground a few yards away from her target.  Enough time had passed for her eyes to begin adjusting to the dark, letting her catch sight of the pony she’d been pursuing. It was a mare, dark coat, darker, spikier hair, big leathery wings tipped with a claw at each end and slitted eyes staring straght at her. 
A batpony.
“Okay, why are you chasing us?” the voice belonging to the mare was sharp, spiky, and insistent.
“I… I don’t know. I just wanted to see who you were. Ponies don’t often fly at night.” Cloudchaser took a step back in guilt.
“Oh sure. It’s typical for pegasus ponies to not fly at night,” the batmare snorted, trotting towards Cloudchaser at a brisk pace. “We’re a different breed.”
Out of nowhere the batmare was joined by her other two compatriots, another mare and stallion, flanking her on both sides. The trio marched right up to Cloudchaser until they were only a few feet away. A feeling of dread seeped into the cold night air. Cloudchaser suddenly felt cornered and very uncomfortable.
“So… I ask again, why are you chasing us? Give us a better answer than ‘I don’t know’ this time,” repeated the mare, her tone of voice less than pleased.
Cloudchaser looked the trio up and down. Their leader with the light grey coat had a two tone style of hair, dark blue with a lighter stripe running through the top, and dark, piercing amber eyes. On the left was another mare with similar colorings, except her eyes were a brilliant gold and her hair and mane were a solid subdued grey. The lone stallion was more a less a stallion example of the other two, a white stripe in his hair and built solidly, with dull golden eyes. Each of them were clad in ornate armor. Just their leader wore without. 
The question ringing through her head and their collective stares still boring down on her, Cloudchaser finished eyeing the trio and suddenly, in an abrupt moment of clarity, had an answer for them. She wasn't sure it was the right answer, both as a reason for herself and them, but all at once she decided in her head that it was the best one, and it would suit her problems and issues all at once.
“I’m following you because… I wanted to ask if I could join your ranks,” said Cloudchaser, with the utmost sincerity she could muster.
It was an answer she herself didn't expect to leave her lips. It certainly had quite the effect on the three batponies given their silent reaction. Bracing herself for another outright rejection at her silly response, Cloudchaser held her breath, and…
They burst into laughter.
“Is she kidding?”
“What a joke!’
“You overtired, little pony? The sun’s down, maybe you need to take a nap.”
Typical. Teasing and jeering.  She should have expected this response. Cloudchaser growled and felt her ears pin back.
“I want to join your ranks.” Cloudchaser narrowed her eyes.
The armored mare snorted. “Why should we care what you want?”
Spurred on by his compatriots continued berating, the stallion cantered towards Cloudchaser. “You look like a crying little wreck! Some loser pegasus you are. I’ll give you a minute to collect yourself before you fly home to fix your mascara, or maybe you’ll just-”
*THWACK*
Before another word could escape his lips, Cloudchaser struck him in the muzzle with her hoof. The stallion whinnied and stumbled backwards, landing on his ass with a resounding thud. One hoof supporting his body, and the other rubbing his cheek, he stared up at Cloudchaser with a bewildered look on his face.
The other two mares were rendered speechless. They stared dumbfounded at each other, their wounded companion, and back to Cloudchaser, who still had her hoof raised.
“Weren’t you saying something?” Cloudchaser said icily, “or were you finished?” she punctuated the last word with a stomp, and stepped toward the stallion.
“One moment,” said the leader, and the three backed away, lifting their dark leather wings around their heads in a circle and whispering urgently. Cloudchaser allowed herself to exhale. They were considering it? Discussing it?! She couldn’t believe her luck! Or perhaps they were going over the various ways to kill her and hide the body. No matter. Keeping her composure was something she’d gotten good at over the years and kept her face straight. As the three batponies finished their private talk the butterflies in Cloudchaser's stomach threatened to fly out her mouth.
“You truly wish to join the ranks and become a member of Luna’s royal guard?” asked the armored mare, her voice unwavering and official.
“Yes,” Cloudchaser replied with all honesty.
The unarmored mare stared hard at Cloudchaser, as if looking for a glimmer of doubt or jest on her face, and seeing no signs of deceit, nodded her head and dismissed her two compatriots. Even though the stallion was nursing a bruise, he looked back at her for a moment with an expression on his face that Cloudchaser couldn't make out. 
Then two armor-clad batponies took off into the night, the mare looking over her shoulder.
“I’ll see you in an hour, Echo. We’ll rendezvous by the old castle.” she barked after them.
“Duly noted. See you in an hour, Midnight.”
So that’s what her name was!
“Alright, tell my why I shouldn't just dismiss you right now and finish my rounds,” Echo’s response style didn't deviate from her earlier ones, but the tone of voice did, switching from militaristic to a sort of languid curiosity.
“I try my very best, I have a strong will, with plenty of heart, and a relentless attitude for self improvement, and-”
        “Enough with the horseshit,” interrupted Echo.
        Cloudchaser scrunched up her nose. “I’m sorry what?”
        “I’m not repeating myself. Why are you really asking to join our ranks? You’ve got a beef with sunbutt or something else? What were you crying about earlier? Why’d you slug Morsemere?” Echo assaulted the pegasus with every question possible.
        “Uhhh, that’s not- I mean-” Cloudchaser stammered, her wings drooping in shame from her appearance. Echo wasn’t having any of it, and pressed her nose right up against Cloudchaser's own, those amber eyes boring into her shrinking violets.
“Tell. Me.” she seethed, baring her fangs.
The proximity sent a chill up her spine. Cloudchaser made a mental note that Echo was slightly taller than her. Swallowing hard, Cloudchaser fessed up. “I-I screwed everything for myself. Got rejected from the Wonderbolts. My life's goal is dead and I don’t want to spend years trying to work up to a place that might not let me back in. I just got the letter this morning.”
        Satisfied with the explanation, Echo pulled away and folded her leathery wings.
“At least you’re honest. Want to guess how many ponies approach us because they want to look cool? As if serving under Luna was just a boring side thing tacked on.?
“I uh… I dunno,” admitted Cloudchaser, shaking her head.
Echo sighed, “It’s a lot less than the ones who approach us as a joke, or are too pussy-whipped to even take thirty seconds of rejection. A lot of them fold pretty quick,” she smirked, shooting Cloudchaser a toothy grin, “but wow, you really blew us away. Especially poor Morsemere.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah you saw his face, right?” 
“Kind of,” Cloudchaser winced, “it’s hard to see right now. Is he okay? Or did I hurt him bad?”
Echo broke into a cute, airy little laugh, “You hurt his feelings more than his face. He’ll shrug off the smack, and, odds are with that swing he did feel some pain. Morsey is really sweet... unless we’re hazing the likes of you. Plus, he never liked doing it anyway. We make him because he’s intimidating.”
“Really?” Cloudchaser was aghast, filled with regret at her action.
“He’s probably crying over it right now,” added Echo with a light giggle.
“Oh my gosh I’m so-”
“Don’t be,” interrupted Echo again, turning around and strutting away. “By all rights it was the best thing you did. That impressed Midnight enough to give you a run through with me. My boss digs attitude like that.”
“Midnight’s your-? I thought you were in charge!”
“Why? Because I forgot my uniform?” Echo turned and snickered, “They were actually stationing me out somewhere as punishment for not remembering to suit up. Probably with that lame old gargoyle in White Tail Woods. Thanks for rescuing some of my evening. You’re a lifesaver!”
Cloudchaser blinked. “You’re welcome?”
Echo grinned, and began circling Cloudchaser like a shark, occasionally slowing her trot to study some feature of the pegasus’ body. Cloudchaser felt as though she were back in Wonderbolts Academy; Spitfire had made her feel like a weak-kneed little filly, but Echo didn’t put her down to check her attitude. This physical inspection lasted about three minutes. Cloudchaser coughed, unnerved by the silence.
“Alright, now because I had to memorize all this crap, I get to recite you the fun stuff, then we can move on to initiation rites. Sound good?” asked Echo, finishing her inspection.
“Yes?”
“It’s not,” was Echo’s flat reply. “But you need an earful before we begin initiation. So sit tight, pay attention, and remember key facts so if Midnight asks you stuff then you can give right answers and prove that I did it.”
Cloudchaser nodded, and Echo began her speech. It began all the way with the abolishment of Discord, the recruitment of Celestia’s Guard, the magical alteration of four hundred Pegasi to be the first members of Luna’s Guard, her subsequent banishment, where the batponies stayed for the duration of her imprisonment. This certainly was a glut of information. Cloudchaser hoped her eventual quizzing on it wouldn’t be filled with too many specificities. Not that the information wasn’t kind of interesting. Right as Cloudchaser began to zone out, Echo cleared her throat and lashed her tail at the air with a loud crack.
“And that’s it. Got it?” smirked Echo, unfurling her dark wings.
“Think so, yeah.”
“Good, now it’s time to join us. Are you ready?” The batpony walked right up to Cloudchaser with a predatory look in her eyes.
“Yes.” Cloudchaser flashed Echo a winning smile. “I am totally ready.”
“Awesome,” Echo said with a sly smile, leaning very close to the pegasus mare.
“Eheh, uhhh,” Cloudchaser leaned away, tilting her head backwards, “so, Echo, how’s this work?”
“You stay like that and let me do the work,” Echo said, with a curious softness to her voice. “Try to enjoy it.”
Before Cloudchaser had a chance to respond, she felt Echo latch onto her throat, sinking her fangs into her coat.
“AAH!” 
It hurt! There was pain in her neck, and Cloudchaser's wings flared out in preparation for her escape. Then, Echo’s large, leathery wings wrapped around her back and neck. The two clawed appendages hooked into her skin. Cloudchaser was sweating, panicked, and she could feel the peculiar sensation of blood draining from her neck as Echo drank deeply. It happened so fast. So suddenly. Cloudchaser opened up her mouth to scream and-
Didn’t.
The gulp of fresh air seemed to sharpen her senses momentarily. Or she was suddenly lightheaded from the blood loss. Either way, a scream didn’t leave her throat, and when Echo pulled another gulp of her blood, a quiet moan escaped her lips. With the immediate pain dulled it did feel rather nice being enveloped like this. Cloudchaser sighed, and without consciously thinking, lifted her hoof up and began to absentmindedly stroke the back of Echo’s neck. All she could think was that it felt very relaxing now. Some strange serenity overtook her senses; she didn’t even notice when the fangs parted from her neck. The cool air kissed her fur and nearly brought her back to lucidity, but before that could happen those fangs were at her neck again, and Cloudchaser moaned once more, her eyes screwing up, as she felt the sensation of warmth flowing back into her body.
All these overwhelming sensations compounded; a true sensory overload as the warm feeling in her neck spread its way through her entire body, seeping into her very core. Cloudchaser crouched on the ground, gasping at the wet grass on her coat. When did she get released from Echo’s grasp? Cloudchaser's stomach lurched, her brain thinking there was an imminent departure exiting the throat, but all she did was pant even faster, practically hyperventilating.
Then everything stopped. It was over.
Cloudchaser blinked, shook her head, and blinked again. Her eyes were watery. The grass she was staring at was covered in dew. Everything felt unfocused. Fish probably had better eyesight than she did now.
“Damn, you’ve got nerve, Cloudchaser,” said Echo’s voice from somewhere close by. “Usually a pony faints from all that. Wow.”
“Did… did it work?” Cloudchaser finally found her voice.
“Sure did.” Echo’s lips widened into a grin.
“What happens now?” asked Cloudchaser.
“Stand straight.”
     Cloudchaser did so, feeling her hind legs buckle slightly. There was Echo, right in front of her, looking prouder than Rainbow Dash on an average day.
“Congratulations. You did it,” said Echo, nuzzling Cloudchaser affectionately. It felt nice. One of the more welcome sensations in the past twenty or however minutes. “Your body needs rest. Go home, eat a BIG meal, and get some sleep.”
“That’s it? Eat and sleep?” Cloudchaser’s voice carried an air of incredulousity.
“Your body needs fuel for your transformation and it also needs to rest to make up for energy spent up to this point. I heard it takes a full day to fully transform if you aren’t a pegasus,” Echo caressed her neck with a hoof, “so you’ll probably take half a day. C’mon gorgeous, I’ll fly you back home. Just in case you faint on the way or something.”
Echo spread her wings and took off, leaving a blushing, pale violet pegasus shivering in the darkness. 
“Hey! Wait up!”
> II.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

 The house was quiet. Odds were good that Flitter was asleep in her own room. Echo had navigated quite well back to her place, even though Cloudchaser had barely managed to garble out coherent directions. Honestly, the only thing Cloudchaser had been able to focus on was her body. The sensations under her skin were uncomfortable; it felt as there were dozens of centipedes writhing inside her. Upon telling her this, Echo said to push the sensations out of her mind. To focus on something else. In her state she had not much else to focus on that didn't involve flying straight or staring at her guide’s rump.
        Usually the refrigerator was bare. Two days ago Flitter bought groceries and now the shelves were plentifully stocked. No time was wasted as Cloudchaser prepared her feast. Bags of sliced fruit, bread, bagels, butter, jam, margarine, almonds, peanuts, cranberries, banana pudding, blueberry pie, pastries, cupcakes, crackers, granola bars, regular cakes, canned somethings. Anything that looked edible she placed on the table. A gallon of grape juice and whole milk accompanied as liquid nourishment. With the feast prepared, Cloudchaser dug in.
        Normally she wasn’t much of an eater. In fact, her sister would lament how picky she usually was on their restaurant excursions. All previous notions of being choosy were gone. Cloudchaser ate and ate and ate her fill, polishing off one dish to quickly move on to the next. Even though she was stuffed a compulsion in the back of her head urged her to keep eating more.
        “Augh, ooh,” Cloudchaser burped, leaning back into her chair. Both hooves drew across her bulging belly. That was one hell of a binge. Wisely, she had neglected to eat anything with too much caffeine. Walking to her room took longer than usual after that meal. Cloudchaser crawled into bed and wormed under the covers, heaving a heavy sigh and snuggling in. Right before sleep came she felt a vague tingling in her wings, and then blackness.
        
       
 ***


        Rest didn’t come for Cloudchaser. Every fiber of her body was alive, twisting sinews of nerve and vein funneling under her skin and reforming itself into something different. Pain gnawed at her wings. They felt like they were on fire; each uncontrollable twitch sent a bolt of pain down her spine as both wings convulsed, bending, and then straightening on their own. It was like the pair of appendages were being torn apart from inside, and the horribly foreign sensation begged her to scream and jolt. Something she would have done if her mouth wasn’t clenched shut and undergoing its own series of changes. 
        This went on for hours, and Cloudchaser drifted in and out of consciousness. Sometimes she would be wide awake, eyes burning as she stared at the interwoven cotton of her blanket. Other times she’d be half asleep, the electric sensations coursing through her body taking on a muted characteristic. Sweat poured from her body in rivers; it was like she’d been dipped in lava.
         The fire in her belly kept pumping into her wings. Shuddering and shaking, those two limbs were in a state of turmoil. Cloudchaser could hear them changing. She could feel them cracking, re-shaping themselves. Feathers fell onto her body as the new wings forming from the old ones shed them. They raised her blanket, arcing in unfamiliar shapes, twisting and changing. Cloudchaser thought it wouldn’t end.
        Finally sleep overtook her completely as dawn broke. Body still amidst its transformation, Cloudchaser fell into a deep sleep as the first beam of sunlight struck the window.


***


        “What a pig… I know you’re upset but I didn’t think you’d be that upset to eat and sleep in all day.”
        Flitter tutted at the huge pile of empty cartons and plates sitting on the table. Half the food she’d bought was eaten. The screen door clanged noisily as a younger pegasus trotted in behind her.
        “Is she okay?” asked Rumble, leaning up on the table to look at the mountain of discarded food byproducts, “because I didn’t see Cloudchaser all day.”
        Flitter sighed. “I assume she’s asleep in her bed. That’s where I left her this morning. I also assumed Cloudchaser would wake up and clean her mess. Apparently she was more tired than I thought.”
        “And way hungry,” added Rumble, poking an empty cupcake carton.
        Flitter nosed open the refrigerator. “Well, I can’t bake a good dinner with all that food she’s scarfed down. I need to make a run to the grocery store. Be a good boy and stay here with Cloudchaser. I’m sure she’ll be up soon.” She looked outside to the window and eyed the setting sun. “Her sleep cycle is going to be totally screwy.” Flitter turned back to Rumble. “Be good, kay?”
        “Kay,” said Rumble. 
        Flitter kissed his forehead and tousled his hair. With a wave goodbye and a cheeky smile, Flitter exited the front door. The screen door banged loudly against the door frame.
        There was still a huge mess on the kitchen table. Rumble decided he’d help out and started cleaning it up. In fifteen minutes the counters were clear and the table half done. Rumble tied up the garbage bag. It was stuffed full. Some of the trash was even sticking out the top. Had he known where the spare trash bags were he would have finished cleaning, but three drawers in, he still couldn’t find the roll. It looked decent enough. Rumble was satisfied with how it looked. 
        The bag almost ripped on its drag to the porch. Rumble flicked the outdoor light on with his tail and trotted his way down the hallway. It was very quiet in the house. Usually it was filled with idle chatter from one or both of the twins. The poster laden door to Cloudchaser’s room was cracked open. Rumble peeked inside. There was a bundle of blankets on the bed. Two pillows were on the floor.
        The pile of blankets shifted and Rumble gasped, hearing a groan come from it.
        “Issat you Flit?” asked the unmistakably smooth voice of Cloudchaser.
        “No. It’s me Rumble. You an’ Flitter are sitting for me tonight because it’s Thursday again.”
        Cloudchaser sighed. “Oh yeah...”
        There wasn’t any light on in the room save for the beam entering via the hallway. Rumble walked closer to the bed, then stopped. There were purple feathers littering the mattress, covers, and even some of the floor.
        “Are you okay, Cloudchaser? How do you feel?” he asked, taking a cautious step backwards. Last thing he needed was to catch feather flu.
“I feel… great, actually.” Cloudchaser shifted around under her blankets, as if trying to unwind herself from the cotton cocoon. “Like a million bits. Also a bit tingly all over. I can’t quite figure why. I’m also really hungry now that ya mention it.”
Rumble flicked his ear. The sound of Cloudchaser's stomach growling was audible from where he stood. 
“Flitter left to get some food from the store,” said Rumble. “You ate a whole lot of it.”
“I had a big appetite,” said Cloudchaser, who was now trying to get into a crouching position. 
The hairs on Rumble’s coat were standing up for some reason. “Do you want some help out of there? I can help,” he flew up to Cloudchaser’s head and tugged at the blanket with his teeth. It felt damp. Like she’d been sweating it through all night. It was though she spent the night tossing around so much the blanket practically mummified her. Finally he pulled the blanket around her face free.
Rumble’s jaw dropped.
“C-Cloudchaser? Wha-”
“Yeah I bet my hair is a total mess. I need some salon time,” she smirked, then at the shock on Rumble’s face, remembered what conspired through her body all night and day. 
“Your face… your coat… it’s…” Cloudchaser watched his bright violets studying her. “Your eyes! They have slits!”
Cloudchaser didn’t answer. Instead she focused on continuing her escape from the blanket prison she’d wrapped herself in. 
It was a nerve-wracking sight to see Cloudchaser so different looking. Rumble half thought it was a trick to freak him out, so with a little trepidation, continued to wiggle her out of the blanket. One foreleg escaped, then the other.
Another growl tore through he air. Cloudchaser was hungry, starving, and her gaze wasn’t breaking from Rumble. Or specifically, his neck. That soft, grey furred neck. Cloudchaser felt her mouth watering. The memory of Echo’s teeth at her throat was still fresh. A new sort of instinctual instruction made demands in her head. Her body craved sustenance and proximity was spurring her forwards.
“AAH!” Rumble yelled, falling backwards off the bed in shock. Halfway down her torso he’d touched Cloudchaser's wing, only to feel leathery skin and bone instead of feather.
Explanations were in order for sure. Not right now. Cloudchaser’s stomach was roaring right now and she needed to feed. She licked her chops, taking note of her brand new set of fangs, and stepped into the center of the room. Purple feathers fell like dead leaves all around her. Cloudchaser spread her new wings out full, relishing at finally freeing and stretching them out as far as she could. It was impossible for her to withhold a pleased moan. They felt so much larger compared to her old wings.
“What, who, how did-” Rumble was on his back, gawking at the sight of her huge bat wings flexing out of her body. It was so real and unnatural. Rumble was frozen on the spot.
“Rumble, listen kid, I need something from you, kay?” Cloudchaser stepped closer to the petrified colt.
“What… what do you...” he trailed off again, staring up at Cloudchaser as if in a trance. It was probably just the angle, but Rumble felt like Cloudchaser was towering over him as she sauntered over. Her dark purple coat was even darker, and the the flashy mane and tail of hers was messy and spiked way more than usual. Those huge leathery wings sprouting from her body cast a frightening shadow on the wall behind her. The dresser drawers pinned his wings; he didn’t even realize he’d been scooting backwards.
“Just try to enjoy it,” cooed Cloudchaser, now practically drooling at this point. Rumble flinched as she bent her head down and he reflexively tilted his chin to look up at her. 
Before he could ask what the nature of ‘it’ was, she sank her teeth into his throat.
“AH! AHH!” he gasped, feeling her hoof on the back of his mane. Cloudchaser drank deeply, relishing the flavorful fluid. The blood was sweet, delicious, like a tasty fruit punch, and the consistency reminded her of the whole milk she had finished last night.
As she drank, filling her belly more and more the little voice in the back of her head grew louder, trying to reason with this starving beast that was her appetite for fresh blood. It was so good. So warm, and exactly what she needed. But it was also wrong, and gradually she slowed the slurping at her neck as realization creeped over her and exactly what she was doing to the little colt wrapped in this morbid embrace.
Cloudchaser drew back from Rumble’s neck.
“Oh my gosh Rumble! I’m sorry! I don’t know what came over me! I was so hungry and you are right there and-” she cut herself off, noting Rumble’s lack of a response. “Are you okay Rumble?!”
Shaking the pegasus illicited no response. Another shake and she got a groan out of him. Cloudchaser breathed a sigh of relief and licked her lips. So she hadn’t killed him. That was good. But Rumble’s normally grey face was white as a sheet. Blood dribbled from the twin holes in his neck. Cloudchaser bent down and licked at the punctures until the blood stopped leaking through his coat, wide-eyed at just what it was she was doing.
Grabbing the pillows, she placed them behind Rumble’s back and propped him up. The little colt followed her with half lidded eyes, unfocused, as she paced back and forth the room. His head was spinning and he didn’t want to peel away.
“Damnit I can’t let Flitter see you like this, or me! At least not yet,” she flicked her ear, hearing gentle wingflaps outside. Her sister’s no doubt. That was startling. She could hear them quite distinctly and she was indoors. Cloudchaser bit her lip, looking at the dazed Rumble on the floor, and trotted over to the window, opening it quietly.
“Clow,” murmured Rumble, listlessly tilting his head towards her.
“I’m sorry kiddo,” she whispered, “I’ll try to make it up to you,” she darted to his side, and Rumble visibly recoiled at her touch. “Just forgive me some day for this? Please?”
Rumble said nothing, breathing in short, steady breaths as she pressed her forehead against his. Then as quick as she flew to his side, Cloudchaser had flown out the window into the night.


***


It was pitch black outside, yet Cloudchaser could see just fine. Better than fine. In fact, her eyesight was phenomenal. Everything was in super detail. Nooks in tree-bark were visible from far below. There was ivy growing along a cracked wall she didn’t even notice on her fly-bys beforehand. Cloudchaser flapped her way towards the clearing she was at last night. It’s not like she was told to go there. Right now, she just felt like that’s where she had to be. 
Of course the fresh memories of what took place were replaying over and over in her head as well. What the hay did she just do? How could she just do that? Poor Rumble must be completely traumatized at her doing. Was being a senseless monster part of the transformation?
Cloudchaser paused on a wispy cloud to think. No, she had been lucid during her… feeding. It was only during the act that she had come to her senses as to what she was doing. But when she met the other batponies they didn’t pounce on her like a lion catching prey. Did she lack self control?
Question upon question poured into her thoughts concerning her actions. This was something she’d have to face eventually but, she wasn’t sure if she’d be able to ever face him again. Or his brother. Or her sister. Heck, they treated Rumble like their own little brother. That kid would probably be unable to look at her ever again. Cloudchaser hung her head, completely wracked by thoughts of her transgression.
Yet… the other batponies had answers. Echo would explain everything she didn’t know. The cirrus cloud was breaking apart in the wind. Cloudchaser stood up and spread her wings, heading quickly over to the small field.
The clearing came into view. Without even having to squint she could make out the two figures standing around the middle as Echo and Morsemere. Cloudchaser descended a little unsteadily. Bat wings weren’t quite the same as a pegasi’s.
“Well look who’s back,” said Echo as Cloudchaser landed. “Hey gorgeous, had a good flight?”
“Hi Echo.” Cloudchaser glanced at Morsemere, and instead of the glare she had mentally prepared, smiled warmly, “and hello...Morsey.”
“Hi.” He waved a short little wave. Cloudchaser noted the bruise on his face.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“Weird, y’know? Not weird weird. I feel better than I’ve ever felt in my life,” Cloudchaser stretched out her limbs, revelling how much better her muscles felt. “This other feeling though, ugh, I can’t seem to place it.”
“Hmm,” Echo stepped towards the newly transformed batmare. “You grew an inch or two. That’s typical. Extra tufts of fur on your ear. Good. Your coat deepened in color. It suits you. Looks like your wings are in order. Move your claw for me.”
“My what?”
Echo extended her wing and rotated the clawed hook at the mid-bridge. Mimicking with her own wing was harder than it looked. Cloudchaser waved the flappy appendage around in wide motions and furrowed her brow. Finally, she tensed a muscle she didn’t even know she had and copied Echo’s claw.
“Neat,” muttered Cloudchaser, moving the hook back and forth.
“These come in handy sometimes for gripping and holding on to things. Other stuff too,” chimed in Morsemere, scratching behind his tufted ear with one claw.
“It’s important you get accustomed to some of the new physical… characteristics of this new body of yours. To be honest, it functions sort of like your old one. Except for some things.”
Morsemere stepped over to her and brushed his tail against her side. “All your senses are heightened. Especially at night. You’ll see better, hear better than ever, feel things along your coat much more acutely, and even detect things with an enhanced sense of smell.”
That earned a nod from Echo. “How was your last meal by the way?”
“I ate a lot,” replied Cloudchaser. She felt distracted, that odd feeling she noted earlier to Rumble was bubbling up back inside her. Her entire body was tingling again. It felt nice. A weird, disconcerting sort of nice. Cloudchaser sniffed the air and caught a whiff of Morsemere’s scent.
“You smell good,” Cloudchaser said to him, her eyes widening immediately. She felt her cheeks burn red. What the hay was she saying?
“Thanks,” replied Morsemere, running a hoof through his mane.
Echo slinked over to Cloudchaser's side. “Judging by how calm you are, I take it you’ve had your first true meal before arriving. Wanna talk about it?”
“I guess maybe,” Cloudchaser’s heart was beating a little quicker. “It ended up being this cute kid I foalsit for. I couldn’t stop myself. I didn’t want to stop myself. Like, I was just sooo starved and I just knew I could get my stomach filled. I hope he’s okay...”
“Was he dead?” asked Echo, as Morsemere walked strutted past. Cloudchaser got another whiff of his musk and shuddered. What was going on? It was like she couldn’t get enough of him. The tingling in her belly grew stronger, and she started to feel antsy.
Cloudchaser coughed into her hoof. “No, not dead. Is he going to be okay? I’m worried and… like. I dunno. I feel horrible about it. Echo, am I going to only suck blood from now?”
“Depends if you prefer blood or meat. I enjoy both. The younger they are, the fresher their blood. It’s important not to just go around ravaging children. They also have less blood available so don't be draining them dry. Regular adults taste fine. Steer clear of the elderly… besides, it’s not like we aren’t served our meals at the castle anyway.” Echo shrugged, “Our barracks' kitchen fetches us tasty helpings of both meat and blood. We’re generally dissuaded from enjoying ponyblood fresh unless they consent.”
“Do they?” asked Cloudchaser. Morsemere was standing next to her and fiddling with his mane. But that’s not what she was paying attention to. The scent coming off of him was incredibly captivating. All she was really thinking about was burying her nose in his chest and rubbing her face-
“Sure do!” Echo laughed, breaking Cloudchaser out of her daze. “Some of them regularly enjoy a visit from us,” Echo laughed, “it’s their fetish or something. Bit of a rare find. Those ponies usually wear clothes to hide the bite marks.”
Echo ceased asking questions, instead choosing to eye Cloudchaser as the mare seemed to struggle with… something. Echo had a hunch as to what it was.
“How do you feel right now?” Echo purred the words like a minx, getting closer to Cloudchaser.
“I don’t know. I can’t place it. I don’t understand it,” whined Cloudchaser, feeling helpless.
Echo draped her wings around Cloudchaser's neck. “I’ll make you understand.”
Cloudchaser’s eye’s shot wide open as soon as Echo’s lips touched hers, and the little gasp she let out allowed that mare’s tongue to dart inside and find hers. It wasn’t her first kiss, but the intensity and force behind it was enough for Cloudchaser to recall it, and she responded in kind, letting out a light moan. They wrestled their tongues together, sucking, nibbling on each other’s lower lips and tracing tongues across their fangs. The make-out session increased in intenstity and Cloudchaser gasped, feeling that tingly feeling from before concentrating into one warm, hot spot between her haunches. 
That’s what that feeling was. 
She was horny. And she knew what she desired.
Cloudchaser broke the make out session, a thin strand of drool bridging their lips. Echo was panting, and grinning like a madmare. “Another reason you got in… is because… you are the hottest piece of tail I’ve seen yet… and I really like you.”
“I like you too.” Cloudchaser kissed her again, unsure yet if she did for real or it was just her raging hormones clouding her mind. “But I don’t need you right now.” She backed up, turned to Morsemere, and buried her face in his chest.
“Ohhhh... you smell amazing,” moaned Clouchaser, inhaling the strong scent of his musk and rubbing her face all around. It felt like her brain was on fire, and her instincts were taking control. Reason went into auto-pilot. The stallion above nipped and played with her ear, drawing out another moan from the former pegasus. Now the heat in her loins was really burning and Cloudchaser needed relief that only this stallion could provide right now.
Leaning up, she kissed him hard on the lips, then stared straight into his golden eyes. “I need you to rut me, now.”
Morsemere nodded, and Cloudchaser turned around, bent over, and flagged her tail out of the way. Stars above, she needed to be fucked right now. To have this big stallion inside and fucking her hard. Perhaps later she’d reflect upon her action but that was taking a backseat. 
The weight of Morsemere’s hooves rested on her back, and she moaned even loader, feeling him lining up against her pussy and probing to make sure he was in position. Cloudchaser felt the warm pressure from the tip of his cock against her entrance. The pressure increased, Morsemere began pushing past her slick lips and she sucked in a gasp. 
“OOOH!” Cloudchaser cried out in pleasure at just the first few inches pushing inside her. He felt huge! Immediately she stretched out her hind legs even further to accommodate his girthy cock, which was still sinking into her pussy, filling her up slow and steady. It was like she was being rutted for the first time. Every inch of his pride was squeezing neatly in her tunnel, which was already soaked with her own juices. When his medial ring bumped into her clit she squeaked out from the electric shock that shot up her spine. She hoped it would never end.
Ten seconds later he bottomed out and Cloudchaser moaned into the grass; she felt utterly stuffed by this stallion, his full balls nestled against her plush ass. On reflex she gave a rippling squeeze with her internal muscles, which provoked a grunt from the stallion above.
Morsemere drew his cock about halfway from inside her pussy and plunged back in. Cloudchaser whinnied, trying to grinding backwards to keep more of his length inside of her. Then Morsemere repeated the thrust with a little more strength. Finding a good rhythm wasn’t too hard. Every thrust got a chorus of sweet moans from the lithe mare beneath him. It was orgasmic. Absolute heaven. Even better when he got his next request.
“Rut me harder!” demanded Cloudchaser mid thrust. Morsemere was all too happy to oblige. His next thrust was so hard when his balls slapped against her ass the smack reverberated around the clearing.
Cloudchaser’s tongue lolled out of her mouth. Holy fuck did this feel amazing. There was nowhere she wanted to be right now but here. It was pure ecstasy and Morsemere was a pro. Wind rushed past her ear as his wings reached up to settle at her sides. Then, she felt his hooks on her shoulders, digging in and holding her firm and providing another intoxicating level of pleasure. Cloudchaser wondered if it could get any better.
“Want to put that tongue to better use?”
Echo was two feet away, propped up on one hoof and rubbing her marehood with the other. Getting fucked like this had completely absorbed her attention. Suffice to say, she had kind of forgotten about the mare that initiated the whole thing with that lovely kiss. Cloudchaser wouldn’t think to ignore her now.
“Yesss,” hissed Cloudchaser in between her moans. Echo scooted up and planted her dripping wetness right at Cloudchaser's nose. 
“YAH! OH! HOLY SHiiahhh,” Echo’s shriek ended in dribbling nonsense. Cloudchaser buried her whole snout inside Echo’s warm snatch. Then her tongue was just everywhere. Right between her slit and attacking her folds. The last thing she expected was for Cloudchaser to know exactly what parts to flick, to suck, to linger on…
“Holy shit I’m going to cum already,” Echo grasped Cloudchaser’s flashy mane, and a few well-placed licks later arched her back and screeched her orgasm to the heavens, completely unable to hold back the tidal wave of pleasure crashing through her body. It lasted for what felt like hours and by the time she came down from it another one was already building. Cloudchaser’s came a minute later from the expert rutting she was receiving, the muffled shouting and spasms from her mouth sending shockwaves through Echo’s body and before she could collect herself another orgasm wracked her senses.
The trio continued like this for another twenty minutes. The two mares both going through multiple orgasms, buckets of sweat and screeching to the stars in turn. Cloudchaser couldn’t believe the stallion above her, now pounding into her pussy in wild, erratic thrusts, had still managed to contain himself from blowing his load. Not that he wasn’t close. Cloudchaser could feel the tip of his meaty cock flaring, prompting him to thrust even harder to get his dick all the way inside. His grip on her shoulders increased; the hooks nearly breaking the skin, fucking her harder and faster all the way to his climax. Morsemere tilted his head back and joined the musical chorus of the two mares with his own cry signaling his orgasm, slamming his hips back into Cloudchaser with a lewd smack and unloaded.
Cloudchaser felt his throbbing shaft before he shouted, and squealed blissfully as the first hot pulse of cum flowed down his shaft and into her pussy. It was so much so fast that the overstimulated mare came as well, her pussy kneading and sucking the cock that was pumping every ounce of semen inside her womb it could muster. There was so much cum funneling into her body that Cloudchaser felt like a water balloon being overfilled to bursting. Any coherent thought exited her body as she panted happily into Echo’s pussy.
Silence.
The wind briefly picked up again, the three ponies remaining still in the clearing.
Reality ebbed back to Cloudchaser after a brief interim and she flicked a tufted ear. Nopony was talking. Tensing her inner muscles elicited a groan from Morsemere. The stallion was still on top of her, his shaft buried inside her stuffed pussy. Squeezing him again confirmed that he was still hard. Both of Morsemere’s wings hung loosely from his side, no longer gripping Cloudchaser's shoulders. Teeth nipped at her ear again, and he unceremoniously pulled out.
“Ahhhhhh…” Cloudchaser exhaled, feeling immense satisfaction rush over her. Warm, sticky cum flowed down her inner thighs. The cool night air picked up and she moved her tail in front of her leaking exit. This was a sensation she didn’t want to part with. Though her burning leg muscles demanded rest. Cloudchaser flopped onto the grass and glanced at Morsemere.
“Oh my gosh,” she exclaimed, getting an eyeful of Moresemere’s pride. That huge thing was stuffed inside of her? All of it? No wonder she was having the time of her life. It looked a lot longer than Thunderlane’s. Felt like it too. Plus, the stallion was still hard. Morsemere fell onto his side, staring at Cloudchaser ogling his dick.
“Uh, well?” coughed Morsemere.
“Sorry.” Cloudchaser bit her lip, turning her attention to Morsemere. They stared at each other for a minute, just basking in the after glow of their mutual orgasms, chests rising and falling in tune. Cloudchaser sat up, scooching over to Morsemere, and looked him right in the eyes.
“Sorry about socking you in the face like that.”
Morsemere flinched. “It’s alright. I kinda deserved it.”
“Yeah you did,” affirmed Cloudchaser. “I hit you way harder than I should have. It really ticked me off.”
“Apology accepted?” Morsemere let his head fall back to the ground, feeling a little confused. That feeling increased when he felt Cloudchaser peck him on the lips.
“Also, yeah, thanks for uh, rutting me. I really needed that,” she blushed, although not from what she said, but from the kiss itself. “So Echo…” Cloudchaser turned to the quietly panting mare, who was in front of her and laying flat on her back with a huge grin plastered on her face. “Why did I really need a good rutting right then and there? Seriously, it felt like if I didn’t get cock in me at that moment I was going to find some in town. Am I in heat?”
“No,” said Echo, moving herself into a seated position. “You don’t get heats anymore. Not like a normal pony anyway. When we were altered all the way back over a thousand years ago there weren’t that many of us. Because of that we needed to breed more than regular ponies. So instead of going into heat, all of us batponies have a jacked up libido like you just found out.”
“Expect lots of sex in your future,” noted Morsemere, stretching out his limbs.
“Okay then,” said Cloudchaser, running a hoof over her belly. That huge burst of cum had caused it to swell slightly under her coat. “Did Morsemere just get me pregnant?”
Echo smirked. “Nah, us mares are only receptive like that during the full moon. As long as we don’t get laid on that specific day… no baby batfillies for you in the future. Every other day is fair game. Trust me Cloudchaser, I don’t know how you feel about sex in the past, but you’re going to be doing a lot of it from now on.”
"Wait... hold on, why is our libido like, jacked up, but we only get pregnant during the full moon?" asked Cloudchaser.
Morsemere snorted. "Luna cast that spell first to increase our numbers through mating when she discovered that volunteers through the blood biting wasn't very popular. Our population started increasing steadily and just before she planned on removing the spell.
"PSHEW!" Echo threw her hooves up. "Our Princess Luna was banished to the moon. Courtesy of Celestia."
Cloudchaser dwelled on that. "Soo... the moon spell was just a recent thing?"
"Yep," said Morsemere. "Makes everything a bit better. That libido spells practically ingrained in our race now. There was no undoing that.
"How did you all deal with that for a thousand years?"
"Condoms!" said Echo and Morsemere in unison. They grinned at each other, breaking into laughter when Cloudchaser failed to stop herself from chuckling.
Cloudchaser exhaled. So she wasn’t pregnant. That was a relief. Now that her mind was clear and her carnal needs sated she could focus her thoughts. There was something she needed to attend to. No doubt Flitter was home having a major freak-out. Arriving would either spur her on to another or make the current one even worse. Either way she had to tend to her sister before making any future trips out of town.
And also think up an apology to her victim.
“Hey big boy, think you got it in you for another round?” asked Echo nonchalantly. “Cloudchaser was pretty good but I could use a good rutting right about now.”
“Nah, I’m spent,” was Morsemere’s half-hearted reply.
“Ugh, fine… later?”
“Later.”
“Okay.”
Cloudchaser cleared her throat and stood up. “Excuse me, but I have to fly home. I need to see my sister before we head out to-”
Echo and Morsemere sat up straight so fast that Cloudchaser recoiled. 
“You have a sister?” gasped Echo, wings tensing up.
“Oh, er, yeah,” Cloudchaser lowered her ears, “we’re twins.”
Another gasp from the two batponies. “What?” asked Cloudchaser. “Is that a bad thing?”
“No that’s uh, well, this might just be the uh, hormones talking but…” Morsemere trailed off.
“Is she hot?” blurted out Echo.
“Excuse me?”
“Is she hot?” Echo repeated, standing up straight.
Cloudchaser shifted on her hooves. “I think she is but Flitter’s always doubting her looks.”
“Can we meet her?” asked Morsemere.
“Yeah I guess... But, not tonight.”
“Why not?” pressed Echo, her ears pinning back.
“It’s kinda personal, alright…? Look, I’ll be back here in thirty. It shouldn’t take too long.” Cloudchaser cringed. “I hope.”
Echo growled, seemingly on the verge of saying something, but stopped herself. “Alright, we’ll remain here. I recommend you find a raincloud or pond to wash up in first. You look like you've pulled an all nighter.”
"Smell like it too," added Morsemere with a toothy grin.
Cloudchaser laughed and took off to her home. Hopefully things would go over okay, despite what she’d done.
> III.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	
“Don’t worry kiddo, you’re gonna be alright. When your brother gets back with his first aid kit you’ll be fine, I promise,” assured Flitter, petting Rumble’s head. 
“I’m alright, honest Flit. Just a little woozy.” Rumble swiped at Flitters hoof, and almost lost his balance on the chair. The compassionate pegasus immediately steadied the chair with her hoof.
“No, you’re not alright. Not until we get a better band aid on those bites,” said Flitter with absolute finality.
Rumble groaned. “It’s not even bleeding.”
Flitter tutted and paced around the kitchen. Thunderlane had departed back to his home to find the first aid kit there. Not that the one she and her sister kept around wasn’t fine, but the items she wanted weren’t there. Odds were that Thunderlane never even touched his own kit. Rumble had two bandaids on his neck fit for a light scratch and that wouldn’t sit right with Flitter. Especially when she came home to find him white as a sheet and reeling from blood loss.
“Cloudchaser,” she whispered, looking back at Rumble again. To think she had assaulted him. Bit him. Drained his blood. It had sounded absurd after hearing the story straight from the horse’s mouth. The evidence; Rumble himself, and the pile of purple feathers, seemed to fit.
“Finally!” exclaimed Flitter, the sound of wingflaps drawing near. “I swear Rumble your brother couldn’t find his way out of a paper bag. Good thing he’s here. It’s soooo late.”
Hoofsteps landed on the porch. Flitter swung open the door. For a brief moment her heart stopped. 
Cloudchaser… or, what looked like her, stood opposite the mare. Flitter wanted to say something but she was too floored by the sight. The dark hued coat, the slitted purple eyes, the hint of fangs under her lip, those large leather wings tucked at her sides; it was like looking at a complete stranger and lifelong companion at the same time. 
The crickets droned on in the background.
“You… what. I-” Flitter found her voice, shaking her head a few times. “What did you do to yourself?”
“I… went for a career change.” Cloudchaser gulped. This was much harder to talk about than she thought. “The wonderbolts wasn’t happening. I ran into these guards. There was an opportunity with them and I took it. So I chose to become one of them.”
Cloudchaser took a step forward. The new difference in height was evident.
“I am one of them.”
Flitter’s wings drooped. “What… why? Why did you do what you did to Rumble?” she pointed at the young colt, who shrank from the attention.
Cloudchaser trotted over to Rumble. There was fear in his violet eyes, but he didn’t flee, even when Cloudchaser got right up to his face.
“Rumble, I’m sorry for what I did to you. I was starving and couldn’t help myself. Like, really starving starving,” she looked him square in the eye. “Could you ever forgive me?”
The question didn’t seem to weigh heavy on his mind. Rumble bit his lip, rubbed his neck where the bandager were, and nodded his head.
Cloudchaser beamed, and hugged him tightly. “Thanks kid, you’re tough. Be good, kay?”
“Kay,” replied Rumble, with a slight smile. Cloudchaser cantered over to the porch, to face her sister.
The batmare spread her wings. “I have to go soon. I don’t know when I’ll be back, Flit.”
“WAIT!” shouted Flitter. She put herself in front of Cloudchaser, feeling small in front of her now taller twin. “Wait… sis, you can’t just leave… what about us?”
“We’ll be fine, Flit,” assured Cloudchaser. “It’s just a job. I’ll be back here on my days off. I’m going to still see you, Thunderlane, everyone!”
Flitter cast her eyes to the ground. “I feel like you’re not the sister I grew up with anymore.”
Cloudchaser pulled Flitter into a hug once more, and this time the smaller twin shared the embrace, throwing her forelegs around Cloudchaser’s mane and pulling tightly.
“You’re sure you want this? It’s not too late to say no. Have one of the princesses undo it...” whispered Flitter.
“I’ll be fine. I mean it. This job, it’s going to work out for me. Honest. I’ve never felt more confident over it - I look different on the outside sure, but like, I’m still your sister, Flitter. That’s not going to change. Even if my appearance did.” Cloudchaser gave her sister a reasurring pat on the back. “C’mon, I’ll be around. Now chin up. You were always better at handling things than I was.”
Flitter sighed, and pulled away. Cloudchaser spread her large bat-like wings and turned around.
“Remember to write, ‘kay sis?” asked Flitter, stepping back.
“Of course,” laughed Cloudchaser, flipping her silvery hair out of her eyes. “I’ve got to get to work. Goodbye! See ya soon!”
Cloudchaser flew off into the night, disapearing quietly into a patch of cloud. Soon the porch was quiet once more, the cacaphony of buzzing insects in the air drowning out Flitter’s sniffles.
“Hey! I found the first aid kit!” Thunderlane abruptly landed on the porch, a small bright red box in his grip. “You would not believe where I left it uh,” he looked to his brother, then back to Flitter. “Did I miss something?”


***


It was weird how much of her life had changed in the small clearing where she first met Echo and Morsemere. The return flight was much easier thanks to the improved eyesight she’d been gifted. Seven minutes later she touched down in front of her comrades. They were stretching their limbs and yawning.
“How’d it go?” asked Echo, folding her wings.
“I think it went well. Everything’s chill, actually. I’m a little surprised to be honest.” Cloudchaser rubbed her leg. “I thought they’d cast me out over this.”
“Naaah,” piped up Morsemere. “We’re not a bunch of wild animals. We serve royalty. Guard the castle. Take care of security for other important ponies. Get paid weekly…” he trailed off, losing his place.
“We even get dental,” finished Echo.
“Yeah, that too.” Morsemere stood up and spread his wings. “So, Cloudchaser, you ready to get your suit of armor and schedule?”
“Also, you’re probably going to meet the Princess.” the shocked look on Cloudchaser’s face drew a giggle from Echo. “Calm down gorgeous, she doesn’t bite.”
Morsemere nodded sagely. “Expect an earful out of her though. The Princess is kind of loud. Even though initiatiates are welcome because it’s good for diversifying our gene pool… we really were supposed to write in a formal notification request.”
Cloudchaser balked. “Are you sure she doesn’t bite?”
“Morsey!” said Echo sharply. “Quit trying to freak her out. After handling all what’s happened to her so far is that really cool of you?”
Morsemere whinnied. “I’m just saying!”
“Alright,” Echo snapped, spreading her wings. “Are we ready?”
“Yeah, we’re good. Let’s go!”
On that prompt they took off towards Canterlot Castle for their meeting with Princess Luna. Cloudchaser banked left and right, enjoying the cool night air on her face. There was no feeling of hopelessness gnawing at her heart now, only the security and confidence of the new life she had ahead of her. Blasting through a cumulus cloud and spotting the spires of Canterlot Castle ahead, Cloudchaser grinned to herself, and pumped her wings even harder.
Life was back on track.