Fluttershy is a very kind pureblood vampony, far too peaceful for her own good. Will she persevere in a world that sees her as threat? Will she find friendship and acceptance, or will she face fear and hostility?
Equestria. On the surface, it is a kingdom of harmony where pegasi, unicorns, and earth ponies live together in peace; a place where griffons, minotaurs, and many other creatures are welcome. However, few know that another race lives among them in hiding.
Fluttershy, the decades old pureblood thestral known as Mistress Flutterbat, was living with her family in Cloudsdale where her parents had done their best to lead the local clan of vamponies in peace for centuries.
While the Princess of the Sun kept a watchful eye on her kingdom, pureblood thestral clans across Equestria went into hiding, disguised as common ponies, for none had the power to challenge the alicorn’s might.
Will a vampony with a good heart and kind nature survive in a world that sees her as a threat?
This story takes place years before Nightmare Moon’s return. The story itself went through restructuring alongside many improvements to increase its quality.
Special thanks to MykeGreywolf for permission to use his art as cover for this story.
This story takes place years before Nightmare Moon’s return. The story itself went through restructurization alongside many improvements to increase it’s quality. Special thanks to MykeGreywolf for permission to use his art as cover for this story.
“Here you go,” said the yellow pegasus with three bats as a cutie mark. A falcon with a bandaged wing was standing on her head. “This poor dear is feeling much better. He should be ready to fly again tomorrow morning, but I would advise against difficult stunts.” She pointed at the falcon’s wing. “A gentle massage on this point and at least twenty wing flaps each hour should help him get back into shape.”
“Thank you very much, Miss Flutterbat. My son has been very depressed ever since the accident. I’m sure he will be overjoyed when his favorite pet returns healthy,” the mare pegasus said with a thankful smile. She exposed her shoulder and pointed at it. “Let's go, Leaf, I’ll give you a ride for today.”
“Leaf is such a cute name,” Flutterbat said as she lowered her head, letting the bird walk onto his owner’s shoulder.
“Cute? I suppose it’s a cute name, but a bit odd for a falcon. Way too cheesy.” The falcon nodded in agreement before making a loud shriek.
“If you say so. Anyway, I wish your pet to be at his best soon,” the veterinarian said before lowering her head again as her eyes dropped. “Farewell.”
The moment the door closed, the facade disappeared from Flutterbat’s face and was replaced by a frown. She turned towards the door for working personnel and whimpered. “So it’s finally today… I hoped this day would never come. ”As she opened the door and entered the room, many welcoming noises reached her ears. Bats flew over and sat on her head, an eagle nuzzled her foreleg, and several birds started singing. She looked around at the large room, cages, pillows, and tables with medical equipment scattered about. Despite the cheerful atmosphere, she didn’t smile, and in turn caused the birds to discontinue their melody.
“I’m sorry, I really am, but I… I don’t feel like celebrating.” Noticing several curious and confused stares, she continued, “From tomorrow morning, this clinic will have a new owner.” She turned her head to the side and bit her lips. “Don’t… don’t look at me like that. I don’t like it as much as you. I would love to run this place much longer. Healing animals is like a dream come true, but the ponies will start to get suspicious.” She knelt and gently hugged the eagle, careful not to aggravate it’s injuries. “I’ll miss you all. Maybe I’ll lead this clinic again as a new pony. I may very soon be turned into a filly by an age altering spell, but my love for you will never change.”
After finishing the last check up on every animal and saying individual good-byes, she waved towards them with her hoof and approached the door, only for an eagle to get in the way. “Is something wrong, Mr. Claw?” Seeing as the eagle exposed his neck and pointed at it with his wing, Flutterbat blushed and rubbed her neck. “Oh, I am not sure I should…” After receiving a few more gestures for her to feed, she said, “Well…if you insist… maybe a tiny little sip won’t hurt.”
Flutterbat opened her mouth as two sharp fangs grew from her teeth. She approached and gently pushed them into the eagle’s neck, but whatever pain it would cause was neutralized by the painkilling magic she used as her eyes flashed in red. After three seconds of drinking, she pulled her fangs and licked the wound before hugging the large bird. “Thank you very much, Mr. Claw.” She released the eagle and asked with worry, “I didn’t drink too much… are you feeling alright?” A nod from the eagle calmed her worries as she continued, “That’s good. Once again thank you, and stay healthy.”
Flutterbat approached the exit and opened the door as she licked her lips. She raised her foreleg protectively as the rays of the sun assaulted her eyes. While she could resist the sun for many hours before it would cause any significant damage to her body, it was still very unpleasant and canceled most of her powers. With her wings spread, she leapt into the air and turned around, looking at the big letters ‘CLOUDSDALE VETERINARY CENTER,’ a place she loved to work in.
“Farewell, my dear animals,” she murmured to herself before noticing three old pegasi who flew towards her, most likely worried ever since they heard that she was retiring.
One more time, Flutterbat examined herself, making sure that her illusion spell would fool her friends this last time. She looked at her pink mane, which was much longer thanks to her illusion, had a few traces of grey, and was purposely messy. She looked at the blurry reflection in a window of her own face, noticing age bags under her eyes and visible marks of cheekbones. She quickly examined her fur, which was mix of yellow and grey, while her forelegs seemed very thin and fragile.
Flutterbat took a deep tired breath and half closed her eyes, faking a stressed and tired look.
“Is that so?” asked a yellow pegasus with three sunflowers as a cutie mark, her voice tired and depressed. Grey was somewhat visible on the tips of her feathers.
“I am sorry,” Flutterbat apologized as she looked to the side, her flank perched atop a soft cloud. Her friends lowered their heads as they were sitting in a circle on some sort of balcony attached to a restaurant. None said a word for several seconds as they contemplated their situation. “I suppose it is a goodbye… Sunflower,” Flutterbat said before looking at her other friend, a tall and old pegasus with a bowl full of birdfood for a cutie mark. “Farewell to you as well, Little Seed.”
The elderly pegasus stallion poked a half eaten salad on the table that separated him from his friend, suddenly losing his appetite. Little Seed raised his head slowly and rubbed the small beard on his chin as he spoke, “Are you feeling blue? I know you loved working in that clinic…” He chuckled weakly before it turned into coughing. “I still remember how I had to stop you from feeding that pidgeon… and Sunflower had to come up with special exercises to help him lose weight. In terms of birdfood, you were always my best customer.”
Flutterbat sighed as she hesitantly looked into the eyes of her friend with exhaustion. “I do… but there’s nothing I can…” she paused to take a slow breath, “...do about it… Everypony needs to go into retirement sooner or later.”
Sunflower raised her shaking forehoof and pointed at the bypassing mail-pony. “Not really. I met a few ponies who were still working in the mailing service... despite their sight problem and memory issues that came from old age.” She frowned. “One of them mixed up my packages to Canterlot with the ones to Manehattan and Ponyville.”
She cleared her throat before continuing, “I got a few complaints from a noble family that instead of solar panels to heat up the water in their swimming pool they got two containers, one with apples, and another with oranges.” Sunflower chuckled. “The stallion even called it offensive that he should lose a few kilograms. He could use losing a bit of weight in my opinion though, which makes me wonder if he even used the swimming pool in the first place.”
Flutterbat giggled a little as she advanced a forehoof up to her face slowly, trying her best to not appear too energetic for her age. She shot Sunflower an honest smile. Thestrals can’t stand the sunlight, and one of my friends teaches me the wonders of sun-powered devices. Oh the irony, Flutterbat thought as she looked up at the sky as another drop of sweat went down her face. As unpleasant and weakening it was to bask in the rays of the sun, she endured it to spend time with her friends.
The talk between Flutterbat and the others lasted for at least an hour before carefully pressing themselves into one another’s embrace while hugging eachother, with both hooves and wings. They shared a few tears of both sadness and joy before saying their final goodbyes.
As Flutterbat waved her hoof at them and was about to head for home, one more sentence struck her like a hammer. “It’s such a pity that you will have to move away from Cloudsdale to your cousins,” Little Seed said as he rubbed his own foreleg, “but no matter the distance, we will still have letters.”
Flutterbat turned around as she grit her teeth. Even after starting a new life, she would still try to stay in contact with her old friends, forced to come up with various lies about her life as an elderly pony while using fake addresses. The worst, however, would be when, instead of a letter, she would receive an invitation for their funerals. Such was the price she had to pay for who she was. With a deep breath, she said with a weak voice, “Yes, we will… even the distance won’t separate us.”
She flew back home while fighting back tears from her watery eyes, barely flying as she felt her wings burning from long exposure to the sun. As she struggled to flap her wings, a thought crossed her mind.
But time will.
“Mom, Dad, I’m back,” a calm voice echoed through a midnight blue room. Its walls were covered with various works of art, while the ceiling was supported by four solid pillars with bat insignias decorating them. In the middle of the room sat a long table set with food and glass cups filled with red liquid on a violet tablecloth decorated with various constellations and moons.
On the right side of the table was waiting a tall white-gray batpony with his big blue wings folded on his sides, almost large enough to cover his cutie mark, a test tube filled with blood. The stallion's eyes focused on his daughter who approached the table and sat at the end of the table. Noticing a grimace on his daughter’s face the moment he took a bite of the half eaten fish, he slowly raised his head and spoke in gentle but firm tone, “Now, now, dear. I know how you don’t like eating meat, and we respect that, but surely you can forgive us for eating fish once a month.”
“Sample Taker’s right. A little meat once in a while is both tasty and healthy for our kind. You should try one as well,” a dark-gray female batpony said from her spot on the left side of the table. Her wings were a medley of violet and black and her cutie mark was a set of tweezers. With the help of her magic she levitated the blood towards her fangs in a thin stream, before a servant batpony wiped her mouth with a napkin.
Flutterbat shook her head. “I understand… “
“Is something wrong?” her mother asked with concern.
“I… I just wanted to ask,” she said before her long ears dropped down. “Do I really have to… you know…”
The mother cleared her throat with a cough. “We’ve already talked about this, my dear daughter. Our presence among ponies must remain a secret. If somepony found out that we are thestrals, pureblood no less, our well being would be put in jeopardy. Do I need to mention the panic that would raise in Cloudsdale?”
“Clean Mouth is right,” Sample Taker added. “We have to hide our age by using illusions and age spells, change our names, jobs and locations. It is necessary. I know you may miss your peaceful life as a vet, but while seventy three years is most of a pony lifespan, for purebloods like us, it is not even considered maturity.”
Flutterbat placed her head on the table and let out a quiet frown. “Yes, Mom, Dad…”
“Please, cheer up,” Clean Mouth said with a smile. “The age spell will just temporarily take away your maturity and experience, so you can fit in with the other colts and fillies. It will return over time. While we will need to cast an illusion on you to hide your cutie mark whenever you are in pony form, we will even let you keep your wonderful yellow fur.” Hearing that, Flutterbat raised her head and looked at Clean Mouth who scratched her chin in contemplation. “Now all there is left is to find you an alternative name...”
“I…” Flutterbat said with a raised foreleg before she shrank from the sudden attention, her eyes looking up at the ceiling. After several seconds of silence, she looked between her parents with a smile. “I would like to replace the ‘bat’ with… with ‘shy’.”
Both parents chuckled with hoof on their mouths. “Fluttershy... such a charming and suitable name,” Sample Taker said as his wife nodded.
Fluttershy, back when she was still called Flutterbat, once asked her parents if it would be difficult to cast. The answer was short and simple: “very hard.” Only the most powerful unicorns, the princess, and pureblood thestrals, were capable of using it.
Following her parents’ instructions, Fluttershy stood in the middle of a darkened and sealed bedchamber, a secret room with a large bed and two comfortable coffins, while a large red rune flashed under her hooves. Nearly a half hundred candles burst into dark flames as Fluttershy felt a tickling spreading from her legs up to her head, affecting both her mind and body.
The room grew in front of her very eyes, and so did her parents. The young pureblood thestral slowly raised her head, looking up at her mom and dad as her body shrank to the size of a six years old filly. She could feel her bones becoming thinner and shorter, her skin reducing in size, and the weirdest of all, unnecessary blood disappearing into nothingness, as if a hole into a pocket dimension was draining her mass from the inside.
The changes in one’s body that a common pony wouldn’t even feel, an experience she found very disturbing as her cheeks turned green. She gulped and closed her eyes, no longer looking at her struggling parents who were covered in sweat and forced to their knees.
Finally, the unpleasant feeling left her body, and Fluttershy sighed in relief. With soft steps, she approached her parents who were lying on the floor, panting from over-exertion. As she was getting closer, a new experience overtook her.
She felt tiny.
For the first time since she was a filly, she felt vulnerable and weak.
Her father raised his head and stroked her mane gently as Fluttershy jumped into his forelegs, pressing her head tightly against his chest.
Before a year passed, Fluttershy wondered if it would be hard to maintain the age spell. Her questions were answered when two, four-centuries-old, powerful purebloods always ended their day lying on the floor, exhausted to their very limits.
Now barely reaching her father’s chest, Fluttershy looked up into her father’s eyes with worry, who just stared down at her with a reassuring smile.
“Are you nervous?” Sample Taker asked as he placed a hoof on his daughter’s shoulder.
“I am,” she responded with her squeaky voice and curled ears, her eyes reminding the ones of a scolded puppy. “I know I shouldn’t be since I already attended a school before, but…” She stopped and looked down while rubbing a cloud with a hoof. The white puffy fragments danced around it with her every move.
The disguised thestral knelt to his daughter’s face and said encouragingly, “It is just a side effect from the strong exposure to an age altering spell. Your body will adapt over the years, long enough for you to fit in without causing any suspicions.”
Fluttershy sighed as she looked at the school and back to her father. "But why flight school?"
With a quick move, the disguised stallion pushed Fluttershy gently with his muzzle. “Flying is very important, especially for our kind.” As Fluttershy walked towards the school grounds, her father followed. “While your knowledge from your previous life is impressive, your physical condition is somewhat lacking.”
Fluttershy gulped at the idea of learning how to be an athlete in her second foalhood. Think positive Fluttershy. A bit of exercise won’t hurt. Maybe it won’t be so bad after all.
Or maybe it will.
“Now’s your turn, Fluttershy,” the coach’s voice reached her ears as she wiped sweat from her forehead. Her muscles were tense and her wings heavy as she felt strength slowly leaving her fragile body.
Fluttershy looked around nervously; the several eyes staring at her didn’t make this experience any less stressful.
She gulped and spread her wings while covering her eyes from the sunlight. The moment a whistling sound reached her ears, she jumped and flew… for ten seconds.
Fluttershy yelped before crashing into a cloud as the puffy surface softened her fall. Her ears and forelegs curled at the sound of laughter and pointed hooves.
“Calm down, everypony. It was just her first try after all,” said a tall bronze stallion with a whistle both on his neck and as cutie mark. His voice was filled with intimidating strength but also with understanding.
Noticing the outstretched hoof, Fluttershy grabbed it as the coach helped her stand. “Please don’t worry too much. Just keep trying and you’ll become a flight champion in no time.”
Fluttershy nodded hesitantly at the encouraging words before rays of the sun forced her to blink. She looked down at her hooves, which were sinking slightly into the cloudy surface. This isn’t good. There are no hiding spots outside of the school I could use to protect myself from the sunlight. I can’t recover my strength like that… but my parents wouldn’t have placed me here if they didn’t had faith that I could overcome my weakness… A short whimpering left her mouth. But can I really fulfil their expectations?
With a lowered head, she climbed up the staircase made of clouds until she was on the top. Once again a center of attention as several pairs of eyes observed her every move. Just like before, she repeated the process, this time lasting eight seconds at best.
***
“Fluttershy! Fluttershy! Fluttershy can hardly fly!” were the last words the disguised vampony heard before the coach whistled, announcing the end of outdoor exercises. As he lead the class towards the school, he shot her a look of pity and disappointment.
Stupid sunlight… I’m a laughing stock, Fluttershy thought as she slammed her forehoof against the puffy surface of the cloud, somewhat annoyed by the heat she felt on her back. She took a slow, relaxing breath. Calm down Fluttershy, remember what mom and dad told you. Keep your anger in check. She sighed in disappointment. Who needs a reputation anyway?
“Are you okay?”
Fluttershy’s ears perked up as she flinched, startled by the sudden voice. She pressed a hoof against her chest and looked to the side and noticed a young blue filly with a rainbow mane. After waiting a moment for her heart to slow down, Fluttershy whimpered quietly. Now even my senses are starting to fail me. Seeing how the filly pegasus still waited for an answer, she responded, “Y-yes…”
“Don’t lie to me,” the filly said as she touched Fluttershy’s head. “You’re covered in sweat, and you can barely stand.”
Fluttershy nodded. “I’m… just a little tired, that’s all.”
“Don’t give me that, Fluttershy,” the filly responded before grabbing Fluttershy’s wing, for closer examination.
“W-what are you doing? And how do you remember my name?” Fluttershy asked as she didn’t resist, but found it slightly annoying to have her wing pulled against her will.
“Well, duuh, everypony was shouting your name over and over. It’s hard not to memorize it,” the pegasus responded with roll of her eyes. “My name’s Rainbow Dash, by the way.”
Fluttershy took a deep breath as she gathered her determination, “Would you release my wing, please? Also, why weren’t you laughing like the rest of the class?”
Dash’s eyes opened widely. She shook her head and spoke with bits of anger, “Laugh? Why should I laugh at a pony that has trouble flying? I’m not a jerk, you know.” She released Fluttershy’s wings and pointed at her own while flapping them. “I can’t imagine anything worse than having problems using these. It must be horrible.”
“Oh…” Fluttershy responded, somewhat speechless. From what she remembered about the pegasi, they are a very competitive and athletic race. It was in their nature to laugh and make jokes about weaker and less skilled ones, especially the fillies and colts. It was really unexpected to be shown kindness and understanding from the most talented and athletic filly in the school.
Class!
Fluttershy quickly got up to her hooves and pointed towards the school. “We have to hurry. The class will–”
“On it,” the filly responded as she grabbed Fluttershy and flew towards the school building. Before the vampony could respond, a pleasant cold overtook her. It felt great to no longer have the rays of the sun assaulting her shrunken body, like eating ice cream after spending several hours in a hot desert. Little by little, the strength returned to her. “By the way, If we’re going to be pals from now on, I’ll need to come up with a nickname for you. How about Flutters?”
“Pals? Nickname? What? Why?”
“And once we are done with all the boring lectures, I’ll help you get those wings of yours going! Whaddaya say?”
Fluttershy rolled her eyes as she was swiftly placed on a random cloud inside the classroom, once again the center of attention. She is so kind and friendly, even if a bit impulsive, but why? Why would the best flier in the school want to befriend me when everypony else laughs at my weakness? As the class started, and everypony was told to read about wing's structure, Fluttershy looked at Dash who was now sitting right behind her.
Feeling somewhat refreshed, Fluttershy quickly picked up the fast heartbeat and increased temperature of Rainbow Dash, who was poking the table with a pen. If she’s so nervous while reading, I can hardly imagine how she will react to exams.
As another memory from her previous life suddenly surfaced in her mind, Fluttershy smiled. Maybe I can help her learn about basics of aerodynamics? This is the least I can do for not laughing at me.
“Oh, come on!” Rainbow Dash said before slamming her face into the opened book. “It’s supposed to be a lunchbreak. I need to fill my tummy and stretch my wings.”
Fluttershy shook her head as she held Dash’s notebook, pen perched between feathers of her left wing. “I’m sorry, but I can’t let you show this to Miss Snow. You were in such hurry to do your homework, that you may upset her with what you, umm... wrote.”
Rainbow looked around the lunchroom, focusing on several fillies and colts sitting on clouds while eating hay sandwiches, tiny pieces of their food falling onto the long tables in front of them. Dash’s stomach rumbled as she looked back at her friend and spoke with a pleading tone, “I’m sure she will pass me, and if not, no biggy. It can’t be that bad.”
Fluttershy pointed with her hoof at a mathematical equation. “If a pegasus is flying at a speed of two hundred kilometers per hour, and the distance between point A and point B is a thousand kilometers, the answer is anything but; ‘two days.’”
Rainbow Dash frowned. “And what about a break for lunch and sleep? We can’t fly all the time, ya’ know.”
Fluttershy resisted the urge to facehoof while her mouth released a weak cheerful giggle. After taking few slow breaths while restraining her laughter, she spoke slowly, "If you fly at a speed of two hundred kilometers per hour, in one hour you will pass...?"
Dash sighed before saying with annoyance, “Two hundred kilometers?”
“Very good,” she said while giving her friend a warm smile. “And how how many you will pass in two hours? Without break for sleep or ice cream.”
Dash rubbed her chin. “Four hundred… I guess…”
Fluttershy nodded and asked, “And in three hours?”
“Six…” Noticing a nod while a notepad and pen was given to her, Rainbow Dash grabbed it carefully and held the pen with her mouth. After several seconds of thinking, she scratched out her previous answer and wrote ‘five hours.’”
“Good job,” Fluttershy said, once again with a warm smile before continuing, “Now for the next task. How many meters per hour is a thousand kilometers per hour?”
Dash dropped pen from her mouth and looked at the ceiling. “Uugh, why can’t you just let me copy your homework? It will be sooo much faster.”
“That would be cheating,” Fluttershy said firmly before adding in a more caring tone. “At least try, pleeease…”
Rainbow Dash looked away form the pleading eyes of her friend, when suddenly a bag of flour hauled by a cook captured her attention. An idea for a prank on Miss Snow surfaced in her mind. She bit her lips and looked back at Fluttershy, who still stared at her with faith radiating from her sea-blue eyes.
After a moment of resisting the temptation as drops of sweat formed on her forehead, she lowered her head and said in a bored tone, “Fiiine…” She slowly took away the notepad and started writing with a bore expression, her head supported against her forehoof. “You always keep your word and do fifty wing-ups after school, I guess it’s only fair I put more effort into my homework.” Her stomach rumbled again as she shook her head. “Focus, Dash, focus.”
Fluttershy looked at her little wings, already expecting a burning sensation she will have to endure after going through Dash’s training under the merciless sun. But a promise is a promise, and she was going to keep her word. She smiled at her friend’s effort, but it vanished the moment her ears perked upward as she heard whispering between fillies.
With an apologetic look, she observed her at her athletic friend who was busy brainstorming to fix her homework. Poor Dash. Being lectured and convinced by me is doing nothing but ruin her reputation. She sighed. But it is for her own good. I hope she can forgive me..
“See, just like I told you. If you put a little effort into it, you can get a good grade. I’m sure your parents will be very proud,” Fluttershy said as she followed her friend. She waved to the teacher who returned the gesture while looking at her as if she was a miracle maker.
“Yeah, proud,” Dash said while trotting in place. “I… I need to do something. Can you wait once I’m done, Flutters?” Seeing a nod, she flew outside through an opened window.
Fluttershy looked for the least lit area. Seeing a mostly dark corner available, she approached and sat down into the wonderfully cool shade. Ignoring the playful fillies flying or running through the hallway, she picked up a book from her saddlebag and began reading.
Second after second, minute after minute, she sank into the fascinating lecture about the wonders of pony’s heart as she was already halfway done with all possible sickness and how to cure them, when suddenly a noise of thunder captured her attention.
Not wasting a moment, she packed the book and followed others, before arriving at some sort of scene.
“R-rainbow?” she said hesitantly as she saw her friend being held by her ear, and one of the teachers with smoke coming from his flank, right above cutie mark that looked like a wing drawn on a scroll. The fillies laughed at the scene, but were quickly silenced by his firm stomp.
“Step aside, students,” he said with strong, angered voice before pushing Rainbow Dash ahead. “To the director’s room, now!”
“E-excuse me,” Fluttershy said, capturing teacher’s attention. “M-may I ask what happened?” She curled slightly, still not used to pegasus stallions intimidating size.
Upon recognizing the filly, his glare softened as he responded with calmer tone. “Rainbow Dash thought that it would be funny to place a miniature storm cloud into the teacher’s bathroom.” He raised his head and added, “Such behaviour won’t be tolerated.”
Fluttershy facehooved before looking her friend in the eyes as she asked, “Why would you do this?”
Dash looked around at the gathered crowd and crossed her forearms, her muzzle raised. “For fun.” She pointed at the now slightly calmer teacher and said with smug on her face, “Thanks to me, using bathroom is now a very shocking experience.” The returning anger on the stallion’s face did little to discourage the echoing sounds of laughter.
“I’m sure your parents will be more than happy to hear that,” the stallion responded before pushing Dash with his wing. “Let's go.”
Fluttershy watched the scene with curled ears. It wasn’t the first time her friend pulled a prank on a teacher, despite her attempts to discourage her. She saw as the other fillies and colts gossiped on how daring of a pony Rainbow was – even to the extent of getting into trouble with the teachers. If she will seek attention that way... I fear for her future, Fluttershy thought while considering her next course of action. With a surge of determination and a plan formulating in her mind, she followed the teacher. I know you are a good pony. As a friend, I can’t let you walk this path.
Fluttershy quickened her pace, and upon seeing a space between the surrounding crowds and the teacher, she sped through to catch up with the group. “Sorry,” she squeaked as she lightly rubbed against another filly.
She halted her movement the moment she was in front of the teacher, causing him to give her a cursory glance. “I-I’m sorry for what Rainbow did, she-“
“There’s no need to apologize for your friend’s actions, Fluttershy. She causes problems, but she owns up to them, though it doesn’t seem like she’s willing to cooperate at the moment.”
The disguised vampony shook her head and continued, “But I should have known… I could have stopped her… I’m really sorry. I promise she won’t do it again! Will you give her a chance, please?”
Dash looked between the group behind her and next at Fluttershy and frowned. “Don’t put words in my mouth. I do what I want.”
“Wooo…” echoed through the hallway as everypony now looked between Dash and the teacher with rapt attention.
Fluttershy blushed as she pleaded, “If… if you must… can I receive half of her punishment?”
Rainbow Dash’s jaw dropped at the notion of Fluttershy being punished for her wrongdoings.
“I can clean up the trash, detention after school… just please, don’t be too harsh to her.”
“F-Flutters…” Dash responded, her mouth agape.
After a moment of contemplation, while murmurs between students became louder, the teacher nodded and made the final decision. “Alright.”
“Thank you,” Fluttershy responded as she lowered her head after giving the teacher a thankful smile, when suddenly her friend walked between her and the stallion.
“Flutters had nothing to do with it, you can’t punish her,” she said with a stomp while looking up at the towering stallion with determination. “I messed up!”
Fluttershy was about to respond, but the teacher beat her to it. “You should be happy that you have a friend who want to take responsibility for your foolishness. You could learn a thing or two from her.” With firm steps, he passed both fillies and said, “Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, follow me please.”
As the crowd lost interest and spread out, both fillies followed the teacher at a steady pace. Fluttershy looked at her friend, but her mouth refused to open.
Dash looked back at Fluttershy with angered glare and said, “Why are you putting your nose into my pranks?”
“I just… I didn’t want you to get in trouble.”
“And now we’re both in the same boat. I didn’t ask you to help me.”
Fluttershy’s ears and wings drooped. “But it’s what friends do… I couldn’t leave you…”
“Like I care,” Dash responded before looking to the other side. “I prank the teachers and get punished. You should stick to the books.”
The sun had nearly descended behind the horizon when Fluttershy went outside, some hours after the others. Leftovers of chalk from cleaning several blackboards were still visible on her fur. She shook the chalk from herself for the third time in the past hour, and focused her attention on finding the waiting servant. Note to myself: Make an apology gift for Mister Cold Drink for wasting his time. Maybe a hoof-made necklace… or a cape with red illuminating marks in the shape of bats… I’ll need to think about it.
Despite spending most of the day doing various tasks set up by the teachers alongside her friend, she didn’t feel tired or sad as she felt nothing but pride for her actions today. I hope that she will forgive me someday, but I couldn’t let her seek attention like that, she thought while walking towards the servant. Even if she refuses to talk with me for weeks or months, I have to help her avoid mistakes that may haunt her future.
“Flutters, wait!”
Fluttershy stopped in her tracks and looked towards the source of the voice, quickly noticing her friend flying towards her. She turned back to the servant sent by her parents, who had spread his wings as if ready to attack. She calmed the vampony with a gesture of her hoof before turning towards the filly.
“I’m sorry!”
Fluttershy tilted her head in confusion. “S-sorry?”
“For not talking with you!” Dash responded, the strength of her voice forcing Fluttershy to take a step back. After taking a few quick breaths, Dash landed on the cloudy surface and added, “You tried to stick up for me to the teacher and take half of the punishment, and I responded by yelling and just being... a jerk." She slammed her hoof against the puffy surface and said in depressed tone, “But you… you just… I’m sorry.”
Fluttershy took few steps forward and placed forehoof on her friend’s shoulder. “I’m glad that you’re not angry.”
“Angry? I was angry… but now I see that I shouldn’t. You got my back and I didn’t know what to say.” Rainbow Dash shook her head. “I just didn’t want you to get punished because of me. I wanted attention, and ended up getting my friend into my mess. Can you forgive me?”
Fluttershy retreated her hoof and smiled warmly. “There’s nothing to forgive. Just don’t get into trouble too often. It really worries me when you make teachers and your parents angry. Would you not do it anymore… please?”
Dash took a step back and looked to the side as the silence lasted for several seconds.
“I make no promises…” Rainbow Dash started before rubbing back of her neck. “But I can at least try.”
Fluttershy nodded as she sat next to Dash and placed her wing on her back. “That’s more than enough for me.” She giggled. “Before I go, would like me to do the wing-ups as I promised?”
“Nah,” Dash said as she waved her hoof dismissively. “You did more than enough already.”
“I suppose you’re right,” Fluttershy responded before looking once again at her servant, who was gesturing for her to come. “My parents must be really worried about me. I better not keep them waiting any longer.”
“Mine too,” Dash responded as she spread her wings and started to hover in mid air. “I know it may come out of the blue, but can I sometime, maybe... visit your home? You never told me where you live.”
Fluttershy raised forehoof to her mouth as realization struck her. With awkward smile, she looked up at her friend and responded, “I… I’m unsure they will agree. They don’t like visitors.”
“Are you embarrassed of me?” Dash asked with crossed forelegs.
“N-no, of course not.”
“Whatever, how about you visit my parents instead. I’m sure they’ll like to meet you.”
Fluttershy nodded hesitantly. “I would like to meet them, but I need to ask my mom and dad first.”
“Fair enough, and once again, sorry,” Dash responded before flying away.
Fluttershy sighed as she saw her friend fade away into the distance. She has a lot of growing up to do. But I’m glad we’re still friends.
With that thought, Fluttershy felt a warm feeling in her chest as she made her way home.
“...And that’s why our bones bend when we impact a solid object,” Fluttershy explained as she was gesturing her forehoof at the large picture of pegasus’ anatomy. I can’t believe it has been three years since I attended school. With biology lessons available this year; I’m finally within my element, Fluttershy thought, grinning all the while. After years of struggling under the sunlight while making herself a laughing stock, it was refreshing to study something she loved.
“Very good, Fluttershy. Your next question is: why is our anatomy so different from earth ponies and unicorns?” asked a tall mare with glasses on her muzzle and a tome with wings for a cutie mark. Her smile filled with satisfaction while her wings held a pen and notepad, ready to add another high evaluation on Fluttershy’s account.
Some classmates whispered to each other, and while the teacher didn’t hear any of it, Fluttershy’s keen ears detected every word. Words like ‘egghead’ and ‘teacher’s pet’ delivering weak blows to her self confidence. Doing her best to ignore the unpleasant whispers, Fluttershy answered, “It is just an adaptation that is passing from generation to generation.” She took a quick breath and continued, “While our inner magic allow us to fly at great speeds, increase and decrease in temperatures of clouds, can cause an electric discharge–”
“Her inner magic must be really weak. Even my younger brother can fly better,” a whisper reached her ear.
“I bet she doesn’t have any magic at all.”
Unnoticed by the teacher, Fluttershy rolled her eyes. If only you knew, she thought while speaking, “Our bones can endure dangerous crashes that would hospitalize or maybe even kill other races.”
“I wonder how long her bones will last when there won’t be a teacher nearby to save her every time?” another whisper followed.
“I think she will be fine. It’s not that she can even fly high enough for that to happen.”
“This speciality comes with a price,” Fluttershy stated. “While we can endure contact with solid obstacles at great speed, in return, we are more vulnerable to sharp objects and projectiles.” Caught up in her own lecture, she continued without a second thought, “Before the three tribes made a peaceful agreements with each other, earth ponies and unicorns often used spears and arrows against pegasi. They used pegasus’s natural speciality against them, taking advantage of...”
Fluttershy took a step back and raised her forehoof up to her mouth. She looked at the teacher who stared back with curiosity and small hint of confusion. That was close. I need be careful what I say.
“That’s quite interesting fact you just pointed out, Fluttershy. Pre-equestrian warfare is a topic that you will start learning about for five years.” The teacher asked, “Who taught you that?”
Fluttershy looked around in panic while searching for correct words to respond. After a few seconds, she laughed awkwardly and rubbed back of her neck. “I… read it in a book…”
“A book?”
“Y-yes… in a library… when I studied about anatomy.”
The teacher chuckled. “I see. I didn’t know you liked history so much.”
“J-just a small hobby of mine,” Fluttershy responded, sheepishly smiling, while massive numbers of comments about her being the teacher’s pet reached her ears. More and more memories and knowledge from my previous life are coming back to me. I need to be even more careful now with what I say.
After giving Fluttershy a high grade, the teacher looked at the watch and slowly turned to the class. “It seems the school is over for today. Do not forget to do your homework after the weekend break.”
The class murmured in annoyance at the reminder of homework as they grabbed their saddlebags and went for the exit. Fluttershy sat and waited for most of her classmates to leave before following. As she walked through the hallway, she noticed a few fillies and colts already waiting for her at the exit.
Fluttershy sighed, ready to face her usual dose of teasing and humiliation, when suddenly Rainbow Dash passed her and shot the group a hostile glare. It didn’t take more than a few seconds before they scattered while giving them annoyed stares.
“Spears and arrows, heh, Flutters? I didn’t know you were into that kind of stuff.”
Fluttershy blushed at her friend’s comment. Not that she was afraid that Dash would suspect anything, but their talks usually ended up one-sided, the energetic pegasus being the dominant one.
“You know… you don’t have to escort me all the time.”
The pegasus frowned. “And leave you to face the bullies alone? Not a chance.”
As the pegasi walked towards the exit with saddlebags across their backs, fluttershy pointed out, “Umm…you call me egghead from time to time too…”
Dash flinched and shook her head, “But… but… but that’s different! They call you an egghead to laugh at you… I call you that because… umm…” She walked backward while not taking her eyes from Fluttershy. After a moment of brainstorming, she responded, “Because you’re smart… that’s all.”
“Oh… and what about that time you called me a dodo?” Fluttershy asked as her friend’s panicked reaction made her laugh inside.
“It… it was an accident. You were talking about birds and stuff… I didn’t mean it that way. You have to believe me!”
A weak, innocent giggle escaped Fluttershy’s mouth. Ever since they met a few years ago, Dash saw her as a fragile and shy pegasus with a flying disability. I have to give Rainbow Dash some credit. For a self centered pony who loves to show off and pull pranks on the teachers, she can be very considerate of me.
Fluttershy looked around at the whispering ponies while her ears twitched, and next back to the somewhat tense pegasus. “I believe you, Dash. Would you mind if I ask you a question, though?”
“Shoot,” Rainbow responded as her wings flapped, now hovering above the floor. She pushed the double door open and flew outside.
Fluttershy followed hesitantly, ignoring the returning weakness she felt for hours almost everyday.
“Why are you my friend?”
Noticing the growing confusion on her friend’s face, she added, “You’re the most athletic pony in this entire school, and while I disagree with your idea of… entertainment,” She stopped at the memory of flour falling over Miss Snow’s head the moment she entered the classroom. Dash would probably have avoided punishment if not for placing a carrot against the teacher’s muzzle and calling her ‘Miss Snowpony’.
“You could be the star of your classmates,” Fluttershy said as with a quick action of her hoof, she pointed at a group of whispering fillies. It didn’t require the sharp hearing of a pureblood thestral to know that the topic of their discussion was Rainbow Dash. “Your reputation has been suffering over the years because of me. I heard that some even started calling you Rainbow Crash.” With lowered head, she continued, “Why go through all of this trouble for an uncool pony such as me?”
The hovering filly wanted to respond, to tell Fluttershy that she was cool and all, but her mouth failed to produce any words. Why was she friends with such a poor flier? She had friends in school and sports, she could even hang up more with the very cool griffin from the student exchange.
Fluttershy looked to the side and rubbed her own hoof. “Is this pity? If you’re forcing yourself to spend time with me, teach me how to fly and waste your time, than just stop. I won’t think any less of you.” Suddenly, she felt a hoof under her chin gently raising her head. She could see her friend flying in front of her with look of concern. “I may not look like it, but I can take care of myself. You don’t have to pretend you like me.” Sweat started to fall down Fluttershy’s forehead as rays of the sun weakened her. She could no longer sense her friend's heart beating and breathing speed. Nothing she could use to read her emotions.
“Listen Flutters. We don’t have much in common, I’ll give you that. Hay, I could hang up with Gilda or Surprise if I wanted.” Before the disguised vampony could retreat her head or nod in agreement, Dash added, “But I can assure you, I’m not pretending to be your friend. It’s true, I tried to help because I felt pity towards you.” She grabbed Fluttershy and flew upward, now holding her in mid air. “But after a while, I started to like you. You may not be a cool pony, but you are a nice one.”
“What?” Fluttershy asked as she tilted her head backwards a little and blinked in confusion.
“You helped me learn the boring stuff and with the homework. I got fifty-five percent on the last test thanks to you, and you stood up for me to the teachers,” Rainbow Dash said with excitement. She looked down and added in a more serious tone. “If it wasn’t for you, I would do a lot more stupid things, like locking a teacher in a bathroom, or flooding it!”
“Oh… that… Yes, it was a close one. Would you put me down… If that’s okay with you,” Fluttershy asked while wondering if she should ask her friend to learn about importance of personal space. “But what about your reputation? I know how much you want attention, to be admired.”
“Pffftt…” Dash frowned as she slowly descended and gently placed Fluttershy on soft cloudy surface. “Sure, I want to be admired, but if you think I will give up our friendship for a bit of spotlight, then you don’t know me at all.” Fluttershy took a step back and sat as her ears flattened. Rainbow Dash shook her head before perching her back against the cloudy surface and looked at the sky, forelegs under her head. “Until I met you, I never realized what kind of a jerk I was to the teachers and my parents. Thanks for that.”
“You’re... welcome,” Fluttershy responded hesitantly before standing up.
Rainbow Dash started to trot in place, her small wings spread and ready for action. “How about some flight lessons?”
Fluttershy sighed in an instant. While training with her friend was less humiliating than practicing flying in front of the entire class, she still remembered the burning sensation after pushups and weight lifting with her wings.
Noticing the hesitation, Dash resumed, “We can eat some ice cream during a break in our training. I got some allowance from Dad this morning.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t want to be a burden,” Fluttershy responded with a defensively raised foreleg. My family possesses quite considerable fortune gathered over centuries. It would be unfair of me to let my friend buy me somethi-
“Let's go, Flutters!”
Suddenly pulled by her friend and forced to fly under the rays of the sun, Fluttershy responded, “But… I didn’t agree yet.” Struggling to flap her wings as she hovered above the cloud cover.
“But you didn’t say no. Come on, it’ll be fun!”
Fluttershy rolled her eyes. Yes, fun. I wish we could practice at night, she thought while looking at the sun on the horizon, still a few hours away from disappearing behind the mountains. I must admit, the Princess is very punctual.
Rainbow Dash quickly flew back to catch her friend in mid air before pushing upward slightly. “You are doing fine, just put a little more effort into it.” Upon hearing a whimper, she asked, “Out of curiosity, why did your parents send you to flight school in the first place? From what I can see, you really like the egghead stuff… sorry.”
Fluttershy grit her teeth as she did her best to stay in mid air a little while longer. After gaining a few more seconds thanks to her willpower, she landed on the cloud and gasped for breath. No matter how many times she faced the day, the rays of the sun weren’t getting any less exhausting. On the other hoof, she was getting used to her weakness while fighting against it with all her strength.
The moment Rainbow Dash landed next to her, Fluttershy answered her question, “They know that I’m smart, but they are worried about my condition and flying skills. My dad hopes that I can get better at it in here, while mom told me that I should keep both my mind and body in shape.”
“Makes sense,” Dash responded as she once again walked by her friend's side. “But you prefer studying about pegasus anata… something over flying. Right?”
Fluttershy nodded as her attention focused on one of her mother’s servants, who was walking with an umbrella under his wing. “Well… when I learn about pegasus anatomy or about biology, I feel like a fish in a river… but when I fly…” Under the sunlight, she thought before continuing, “I feel as if walking in the middle of a hot desert.” Fluttershy ran ahead of her friend and turned around, now waving at her. “My mom and dad are waiting for me. I need to go, but we can hang out more tomorrow… if that’s okay with you.” If that’s okay with you… I am starting to use this line a lot when around Dash. I hope it won’t become a habit of mine.
Rainbow Dash waved her hoof as well. “See you tomorrow, Flutters. Now with some free time, we can hang out together much longer.”
“Or I can help you understand what we have been learning for the past week so you can do the homework by yourself,” Fluttershy suggested before running off to the servant who was sent to take her home.
“S-sure, whatever you say, Flutters,” Dash responded with a fake smile, waiting for her friend to climb up onto a servant’s back, who spread an umbrella above her head. The moment the elegantly clothed pegasus flew away with his passenger, Rainbow Dash kicked the cloud under her hoof and said with annoyance. “Stupid homework.”
After a refreshing ride on the thestral’s back under a protective umbrella, Fluttershy didn’t bother to wait until they arrived at the mansion. Her eyes flashed red the moment they were close enough, and her short pegasus wings bursted into red flames, transforming to their original, bat-like form. With a swift jump, she dove towards the mountain villa before landing on on the balcony with great speed, and just in time before the sun would exhaust her stamina.
Taking a glance at her short and thin, though strong, wings, she thought, I have to admit, my parents were right. Noticing that her mother and father already waited for her inside, she walked with firm steps and a proud smile. For Rainbow Dash or the coach, it seems like I barely made any progress over the years, but flying in such extreme conditions really works in my favour. She giggled. I wish I could show Dash what I’m truly capable of when I’m not completely drained.
“Welcome back, Fluttershy,” Clean Mouth said as she knelt and embraced her daughter. Before the hug lasted long, however, Fluttershy pushed against Clean Mouth, repelling her from the hug.
Fluttershy blushed as she looked into her mother’s eyes. “Mom… I’m not a filly.” Her forelegs trembled as she held her ground. The moment she was released, Fluttershy sat and took few quick breaths.
“I am sorry,” Clean Mouth responded as she stood back to her hooves and looked to the side. Her husband approached and placed forehoof on her shoulder.
“You need to forgive your mother, Fluttershy. It is easy to forget your real age when you look so young,” Sample Taker said before chuckling. He approached his daughter and rubbed the top of her head.
“Dad… stop embarrassing me,” Fluttershy said in annoyance as she gently pushed away her father’s foreleg. While she was still trapped in a young body, the returning memories from her previous life made her feel more and more like an adult. She sighed.
Both parents looked at each other before examining her daughter’s heartbeating and breathing alongside curled and obvious sadness. Clean Mouth spoke first, “Is something wrong, dear?”
Upon hearing a rumbling sound from Fluttershy’s stomach, her parents lead her to the dining room, escorting her from both sides and looking down at their daughter with worry. After several steps through a darkened hallway, Fluttershy asked, “Do I really need to lie?”
Sample Taker lowered his head and responded hesitantly, “We talked about this many times before… Fluttershy. You know we are doing this because we have to, not because we want too.”
“I know, I know.” Fluttershy frowned. “But it’s not making it any less difficult. I had to lie and hide my true self from others in my previous life, and now I’m doing it all over again,” She whimpered. “What would Rainbow Dash think of me if she found out that I’m not as fragile as she thinks, that I don’t have any disabilities?”
“My dear Fluttershy,” Clean Mouth said as she nuzzled her daughter’s cheek with her muzzle. “You are not lying as much as you think you are. You are a shy and fragile sweetheart in our eyes. You are not as helpless as you pretend to be, but in the end, your true self is not so far off.”
Fluttershy closed her eyes and waited for the nuzzling to end as she wondered if she should take her mother’s words as a complement, or feel even more depressed? Maybe my parents are right… maybe I don’t have issues with pretending because my persona is not so far off from my true self… She smiled slightly. Maybe the only thing I pretend to be is a filly. Still, I wish I could share my secret with my old friends or my new friends, maybe they would understand… should I trust them?
As the silence persisted for several seconds, Clean Mouth asked, “How was your time in school today?”
Broken from her thoughts, the young pureblood sighed. “They teased me again and laughed at me. I could hear their whispers. “Fluttershy, Fluttershy, Fluttershy can hardly fly.” is what they’d sing at every practice.”
“I am sorry you have to go through this. I knew from the start that you would have a hard time in flight school, but we are doing it with the best of intentions,” Sample Taker said with apologetic tone. “One day you will need to lead your own clan of thestrals and have more responsibilities than just a normal job.” He stopped Fluttershy with a hoof and pointed towards the window. The huge city made of clouds was clearly visible on the horizon.
Sample Taker cleared his threat and continued. “Peace is not something granted, it is something we must strive for. While our clan is very small, it is a shining example for others. An example of thestrals living among ponies without fighting for power, killing for food, and giving in to the corruption of dark magic. Four centuries of peace.”
Fluttershy nodded. “I understand. I need to be strong to protect peace, but also stay kind and understanding to maintain it… I think I can remember some of your teachings.”
Clean Mouth nodded. “And you will remember them all. Never hurt…” she paused and poked Fluttershy’s forehoof lightly.
“...never retaliate, never lose control.” Fluttershy finished.
“You once grew into a very kind, intelligent, caring veterinarian with a lot of love for animals,” Sample Taker started. “Your knowledge about ponies and medicine alongside your returning powers will make you a great healer one day, but to lead a clan and hold territory you need strength and skills too.”
Clean Mouth knelt to Fluttershy’s face level and added with sad tone, “We know that you struggle to fly under the sun, but it will make you stronger and help prepare you for the challenges ahead.” Seeing her daughter looking at her with uncertainty, she pleaded, “Can you forgive us?”
Fluttershy considered her parents words as more memories returned to her. She got used to constant teasing and didn’t mind it. She could restrain herself no matter how much others would provoke her. She was enduring the burning and draining effect of the sun, slowly reaching a point where she would ignore it and focus on the task at hoof. But there was one thing she couldn’t stand for. “What about Rainbow Dash? She is ruining her own reputation among her classmates by protecting me.” She looked to the side and took a quick breath before continuing, “I can ignore being a laughing stock, but she deserves better than that.”
“If she is willing to sacrifice so much for you, than she must be a great friend,” Clean Mouth stated.
“She is,” Fluttershy responded.
“And she must think the same about you,” Clean Mouth said while winking one of her eyes. “Just be happy that she is there for you, and if she ever gets in trouble, be there for her.”
In an instant, Fluttershy pressed herself into Clean Mouth’s chest, who embraced her in return, pulling her daughter deeper into the soft fur. Sample Taker joined in as the trio of pureblood thestrals stayed in a hug in silence for nearly a minute.
After they finally broke it, Sample Taker said, “Now allow me to remind you of another one of my important lessons.” Seeing that he had his daughter’s full attention, he went on, “Unlike many other clans, we never turn ponies into thestrals against their will.”
Fluttershy nodded. “I remember that one. Our clan is very small because of that. When other purebloods have hundreds of servants, our clan has thirty members in the mansion and forty over the entire Cloudsdale.”
“Correct,” Sample Taker said with a nod. “Once you prove yourself capable of leading your own clan and learn a memory erasing spell. You can…”
“Really?” Fluttershy took a step back as she placed the pieces of the puzzle together.
“Really. One day you will lead your friend into a dark sealed room and tell him... or her about your secret, and then offer her a place in your clan. Should she refuse, one quick spell and it will be like the meeting never happened. Should she accept, your clan will gain its first member.”
Fluttershy nodded as she knew exactly who her dad had in mind. It was still too early to consider this possibility as she was still young, unable to judge the consequences of offering her friend a chance for a long life and appetite for blood. In the end, it would be her friend’s decision, and she would respect it. With a shake of her head, she looked up at her father and asked, “What about Sunflower and Little Seed?”
Sample Taker took a step back, “Well… you are too young to turn them… but we can give them a choice to join our clan if you really want too…”
“No dad, that’s not what I meant. What I want to know is if they sent any letters yet,” Fluttershy interrupted while shaking her head. “I may not remember them all too well yet, but I am more than sure that they would never accept such an offer anyway. Sunflower will not want to be weakened by the sun she cherishes so much while Little Seed, who knows the rules of nature, will refuse to expand her own lifespan and go against natural order. Besides, we will always have eachother, right dad?”
“Why, of course, dear! Ponies around us will vanish into the sand of time, but we will be here together for centuries, maybe even millennia, this will never change.” Noticing his daughter’s nod and a cheerful smile, Sample Taker added, “Also, the letters from your friends arrived today, they are waiting for you in your bedroom.”
Fluttershy jumped and hugged her father’s neck, “Love you dad.” She did the same with her mother before running away.
The young thestral once again heard rumbling coming from her stomach and felt the desire for some blood, as she needed it in order to recover the damage done to her by sun as it crippled her reserves. She ignored it though and reached her own room before grabbing the mail from her friends.
She sat on the bed and unrolled them one at a time while several scrolls and a pen were lying on the table, prepared in advance. Each was already started with following sentences;
“Leave her alone!” yelled a rainbow-maned filly with her young, raspy voice, standing defensively in front of Fluttershy.
“Ooo… what are you gonna do, Rainbow Crash?”
“Keep making fun of her, and you’ll find out!” Dash responded with challenging glare.
“It’s okay… y-you don’t have to–” Fluttershy said.
“You think you’re such a big shot? Why don't you prove it?” the bully responded.
“Umm, Rainbow...” Fluttershy whispered.
“What do you have in mind?”
Fluttershy sighed, her body feeble from being under the sunlight for most of the day. Never hurt, never retaliate, never lose control, she thought about the teachings from her parents before looking at her friend.
As much as she was grateful to Dash for standing up for her for the past two years, she found the pegasus reckless and far too easy to provoke. Poor Dash, daring ponies like her don’t live very long. She slowly followed her friend and the two bullies to the racing wing of the school, as she looked between the clouds that served as obstacles… and the rather long distance between them and the ground with worry. Maybe I should inform a teacher about this… but Rainbow Dash will be very angry at me if I do...
Fluttershy turned towards the school, her wings spread. No, I can’t let my friend take such risk without teacher’s supervision.
“Go!”
Fluttershy’s thoughts were interrupted by the noise of cheering fillies. She closed her tired wings and shook her head. So much for calling a teacher in time.
***
This isn’t good, Fluttershy thought in panic as she watched the race. One of the bullies just a moment ago pushed Dash off the course and she was now trying to catch up with them, flying down with alarming speed. Suddenly a colorful bright spectrum of light covered the sky as everypony could do nothing but stare with amazement.
Fluttershy didn’t have time to admire it as she peeked from behind the cloud she sat on, noticing a small forest in distance. She grit her teeth and closed her eyes as she jumped, her wings flapping rapidly, barely slowing down her fall.
Her legs bent under the impact with the grass as she opened her eyes, breathing heavily. Not wasting a moment, Fluttershy ran into the sea of trees, its leaves blocking rays of the sun as she regained her strength with every step. After several seconds of galloping, she flew with increasing speed, fearing the worst. Please be okay, please be okay…
Several tracks of unsettled dirt did little to calm her fears as Fluttershy continued flying between trees, observing the opened area until she found the pegasus filly. She walked towards the pegasus as far as the trees provided protection from sunlight and examined the situation from a distance. Dash’s face was pressed against the ground, her wings one big mess with cyan feathers littering the ground.
“R-Rainbow…” she said hesitantly as her eyes flashed in weak red as some of her powers returned to her. “Rainbow Dash, please say something!” she shouted before sniffing, a strong scent of blood reaching her nose. She could hear the rapidly beating heart of her friend. Fluttershy used her power and scanned for any internal injuries as if her eyes were X-rays, not noticing any broken bones or blocked veins as blood flow was quick and uninterrupted.
“H-hey… F-F-Flutters…” Dash said with weak voice as she struggled to lift her head of the ground. She coughed. “I’m… f-fine…” she added before gritting her teeth, putting on a brave face despite the pain.
Fluttershy sighed and wiped sweat from her forehead as a weak smile grew across her lips. As a pureblood thestral, especially with parents who worked in medicine, she learned a lot about pony physiology. But never was she so grateful for the pliable bones that every pegasus had, a specialization that prevented them from breaking whenever a pegasus would crash into something at high speed. Fluttershy’s smile didn’t last long as she caught the scent of blood, only now noticing huge blood loss.
Have my senses failed me? My powers must still be weak, she thought. Think Fluttershy, think. While pegasus bone structure would bend to absorb the shock in the event of a crash, it will not, however, help with collisions against sharp objects. It means… oh no!
“Don’t move!” Fluttershy shouted. “No matter what you do, don’t move!”
Dash looked to the side in confusion, her mouth sealed but eyes screamed in pain. “W-why?” she forced a word as her forelegs pushed against the ground.
“No!” Fluttershy shouted as Dash screamed, revealing a hole in her chest that was stuck against a sharp rock, covered in blood. With nothing to block the wound, the bleeding became rapid and uncontrollable.
Fluttershy’s heart tried to escape her chest as she looked at the school in the clouds. The ponies who moments ago raced against Dash were almost at the finish line, but by the time they would alert the teacher that something was wrong, it would be too late. In an instant, Fluttershy’s wings turned batlike while her ears grew in size, two sharp fangs rising in her little mouth.
Without a second to waste, she dashed towards Rainbow and grabbed her friend before flying back to the line of trees, away from the weakening rays of the sun. She carefully placed Dash on her back against soft grass and focused on hole in the chest. Sweat started to cover the batwinged filly as she concentrated her power on the blood covered rock. The red liquid heard her call and started levitating back into Dash’s chest, who looked at this sight with fear and confusion. Any dirt and contamination swiftly separated itself from the blood that returned into Dash’s veins before the young vampony started to lick the wound.
The sudden silence replaced the painful screams as Fluttershy breathed heavily, smiling at her work. Even if she was nearly a hundred years old, she was still trapped in a filly’s body and being exposed to the sun for most of the day had worsened her condition. The fatigue from using her powers whilst spending time under the sun caused her to collapse. She fell forward onto the other filly, her head pressing against Rainbows chest. Panting, Fluttershy looked up into the magenta eyes that were cast upon her.
Both fillies stared at each other for several seconds as none of them said a word before Fluttershy closed her eyes. She felt so powerless, unable to escape the grave she dug herself in. In desperation to save her friend, she exposed her true nature. Her secret was out and it wouldn’t be long before Dash told everypony about her true form, about a monster with sharp fangs who can command blood at will. She would no doubt need to change her name and color before starting over in another school. I can still play innocent and accuse Dash of lying, surely no pony would believe her that I’m a blood sucking monste-
“Wooow,” a long noise of amazement left Dash’s mouth as Fluttershy opened her eyes. “H-how did you do that?”
“Huh?” The vampony raised her head from Dash’s chest as she sat, though barely maintaining balance.
Rainbow Dash stood to her hooves and grabbed Fluttershy between her forelegs, her smile and eyes wide. “That was amazing! I never thought you were so cool Fluttershy!”
“You’re not… afraid?” asked the vampony. She was immediately brought into a tight embrace.
“You kidding? You just saved my life,” Dash added with excitement before releasing her friend. She pointed at the ears and next grabbed the wing as she admired from many angles. “I’ve never seen anything like that, but it looks awesome. Are you some sort of super pegasus or batpony?”
Fluttershy was speechless, when suddenly her ears twitched, capturing the sound of ponies flying through the forest. She looked around in panic before closing her eyes as her forehead crinkled.
“Is everything okay, Fluttershy?” Dash asked, but didn’t receive any response as the vampony concentrated. Fluttershy’s ears and wings slowly returned to normal, while fangs reverted into normal teeth.
Dash observed the spectacle with growing confusion as she noticed three red bats as cutie mark that slowly vanished in front of her very eyes. Fluttershy released a deep tired sigh before collapsing as Dash caught her. “You okay, Flutters?”
“Don’t tell anypony, please,” she said as her face pressed against Dash’s chest for support.
“What, but why? You just saved me. Think of how popular you would be in class!”
“Please…” she added before retreating behind the nearest tree.
“You!” the loud voice of an angered teacher echoed through the forest. From behind the bush emerged a tall bronze stallion with a whistle both on his neck and as cutie mark. The two pegasi, who minutes ago participated in the race, now stood by his side. The coach looked at Dash and stomped. “Rainbow Dash, I should’ve known!” He looked at two colts by his side. “Luckily there are students smart enough to tell me when a troublemaker like you is showing off in front of the class, without my supervision.” He looked at Dash’s features in search for any sort of damage, quickly noticing messy wings and bruises on her face. “Your reckless performances end here and now.”
Dash looked at the two smirking ponies who showed her their tongues when the teacher wasn’t looking. “You liars!” she said before looking at the coach’s angered face and pointed her foreleg accusingly at both colts. “That’s not how it happened! They are lying!”
“I won’t hear any more of your excuses, Dash. Your streak of pranks and troublemaking speaks for itself. I will have to inform your parents about this incident. Hopefully staying for an extra hour after school for a week or two will teach you some discipline. Be glad you aren’t badly injured.”
Dash frowned and crossed her forelegs. Meanwhile the stallion's angered glare softened upon noticing another figure, a young curled pegasus peeking from behind a tree. “Fluttershy?”
“Y-yes…”
The coach gestured with his foreleg for the filly to come closer while both bullies looked at her in confusion. “What are you doing here?” he asked with mix of confusion and worry. “I told you to never leave the school ground without your parents or my company. Did you fly here on your own?”
Fluttershy was silent for a moment as she looked at Dash and next back to the teacher. She started, “I ummm…” and tapped her hooves together before continuing, “After Dash crashed during the race… I flew down to the forest to give her first aid… I was worried that she was hurt.”
“Race?” the teacher said as he knelt to filly’s face level while looking at her for any signs of injury. “Care to explain.”
Fluttershy took a step back and nodded, ignoring the two hostile glares she received from both colts. Dash noticed it and said, “Flutters, you don’t have to. I get into trouble all the time, I'll be fine.” One glare from the teacher silenced her quickly.
Fluttershy ignored her friend’s words and pointed at two angered colts. “I was being teased by Hoops and Dumb-Bell about my flying. Dash wanted to protect me.” She sighed. “They started provoking each other, and Dumb-Bell suggested a race. I was really scared when Hoops pushed Dash off-course.” The colt growled at her, but was silenced by intimidating glare the coach gave him. “When Rainbow Dash crashed into the ground, I panicked…”
The stallion sighed, his voice more disappointed than angry. “I would have expected better from you, Fluttershy. You could have injured yourself. Why didn’t you inform me when the accident happened… or even before the race even began?
Fluttershy looked to the side in silence, but the teacher’s next words took her aback. “Furthermore, how can I be sure you’re not lying so that your friend won’t be punished?”
“Yea. She’s blaming us so Rainbow Crash wouldn’t get in trouble,” Dumb-Bell added as he once again shoot Fluttershy an angered glare, a clear message that he will bully her even harder if she won’t back down now.
Fluttershy raised her head and looked teacher in the eyes without blinking. “I’m telling the truth, and I’m really sorry for not telling you about the race.” She bit her lips and lied, “ I was worried that Dash and others would get angry at me if I did.”
The stallion stood back on his hooves before placing both Dash and Fluttershy on his back. “I believe you, but I’m still disappointed. I will need to tell your parents about your reckless behaviour for your own good. A pity considering your clear record.” He looked at two bullies with a sharp glare as they curled and laughed awkwardly. “And you both will be staying after school for the next two weeks! Not only for not informing me about this race you organized, but also for bullying Fluttershy. Your parents will be informed as well.”
Both colts frowned as Dash said from the teacher’s back, “Serves you right!”
“Rainbow Dash, while I understand that you tried to protect your friend, you still agreed to this race. While your punishment won’t be too severe, I will still have a talk with your parents.” He flew back to the school grounds while Dumb-Bell and Hoops followed. “I think I’ll invite all of your parents together to discuss this issue.”
Noticing Dash’s worried stare, Fluttershy smiled back at her. While she expected the amount of bullying and harsh words to increase for the next years, she didn’t regret her decision. And now she even had a friend who knew her secret and was okay with it.
“This-is-so-awesome!” Rainbow Dash said as she flew from armor to armor. “It’s like some sort of epic dungeon filled with monsters and pony armor ready to come back to life at any moment. Umm... no offense.”
“Please compose yourself, Miss Dash,” A vampony butler with a glass of blood as cutie mark said professionally, his black wings fidgeting from aggravation, but his stoic face didn’t show any sign of emotions. “You may be a guest of Mistress Flutterbat with her parent's blessing, however, it doesn’t permit you to be so disrespectful.”
Dash landed in front of her friend and smirked. “Mistress Flutterbat? Wow! You’re still a young mare, and you literally run this place already,” she said before patting Fluttershy who looked back with annoyance.
“I’m a lot older than you.”
“Really, how much older?” Dash asked.
“Many decades,” she said calmly, causing Dash’s mouth to hang agape. “Tomorrow’s my 81st birthday.”
“But… how?”
The servant walked between his ‘young’ master and her guest. “Mistress Flutterbat is under a powerful age-altering spell that hides her true age. We thestrals can live very long, so changing our appearances and names is necessary for our survival.” He walked closer to the young cyan mare and towered over her, his stare stern and serious as he fixed his bow tie. “Mistress Flutterbat may look like a fourteen year-old filly, but she is much older than you and deserves the proper respect!”
“Seriously?” Dash asked before rounding the servant as she looked into eyes of her friend. “And you must go to the school over and over?
Fluttershy nodded. “By our standards, I am still very young. I am currently attending my second school, though before my education focused on medicine and biology, and now it focus more on my flying skills,” she said before squealing as Dash captured her in a hug.
“That’s horrible!” she started as the hug strengthened with every word. “To go into boring schools over and over for decades, maybe even centuries. Being a vampony must be a nightmare!”
“It’s not so bad,” Fluttershy responded as she pushed herself free from the embrace before the growling servant could separate them. She shot the butler a disapproving look, forcing him to hide his exposed fangs. Much to Dash’s ignorance, pureblood thestrals were treated like royalty by common ones, and Fluttershy had a very hard time keeping them from tearing her friend apart for countless acts of what they would consider disrespect. Just today, she had to stop the mansion’s cook from turning Dash into a dish, just because she took a taste of vegetable soup that was prepared for both of her parents.
As Fluttershy played both role of tutor and teacher about thestral culture, Dash decided to confess. “You know what, Flutters? Since you’re pureblood, you can turn ponies into vamponies, right? I was kinda… considering to become one.”
Fluttershy was about to respond, but the butler spoke first. “Mistress Clean Mouth’s and Master Sample Taker’s wish is for their daughter to not turn common ponies until she is ready to handle the responsibility of leading a clan on her own. Futhermore, not everypony deserves the privilege to become one.”
Dash frowned at the butler, but was pulled away by her friend who whispered into her ear, “Mom and Dad don’t like to turn others into thestrals, and they made me promise not to do that until I’m ready, or in case of huge emergency.”
“Really? And why they don’t like to turn ponies?”
Fluttershy frowned and her wings dropped slightly as she lowered her head. Her friend looked at her with concern, waiting for the answer. “Those who know about our existence fear pureblood thestrals for what we can do. My parents wish to live peacefully and not abuse their powers. Unlike their parents, they never turn anypony against their will.”
“Oh. They must be really great pon… parents, especially if they raised you into the cool pony you are now.”
Fluttershy blushed while hiding her reddening cheeks behind her bat-like wing. After one quick look at the butler who kept following them, she whispered. “You really think I’m cool?” Noticing a nod and warmness in Dash’s eyes, she added, “Since you know about us and swore to keep it a secret, would you like to watch how I cast a… umm… a spell?”
“Yeah!” Dash responded excitedly, while receiving a suspicious glare from the butler.
Fluttershy nodded before her wings spread and her eyes started to flash in red. A dark aura started to form around her like smoke. Dash knelt to examine the black substance, only to jump back as it shot upward, quickly enveloping both mares.
Dash opened her eyes and looked around before focusing on Fluttershy. The rapidly breathing vampony wiped sweat from her forehead and looked back at the pegasus with satisfaction written on her lips. “Done.” Before Rainbow Dash could say a word, she was grabbed up by Fluttershy, who then started to fly through hallway.
“What’re you doing, Flutters?” She asked. While she trusted her friend enough to not question the weird things which started to happen around her, she never expected Fluttershy to make such a bold move.
“Look behind you. Is mister Cold Drink following us?”
The pegasus turned her head to look back, which was difficult as two forelegs were holding her belly. Much to her surprise, the servant batpony was looking around in panic, checking behind columns and armors, but didn’t follow them.
“What I just cast was a ‘Veil of Darkness’. While we can see what’s happening around us, no pony can see or hear us.”
“Really?” Dash asked, before a large smirk formed on her lips. Her attention focused on Angel Bunny, an annoying little pet that Fluttershy's parents summoned for their daughter a long time ago, who was now running through the hallway. Why they kept this walking annoyance was beyond her, but there was no way to waste such opportunity. With a weak struggle, she pushed Fluttershy’s forelegs to the side and poked the bunny with her hoof. Her laughter didn’t last long however as the pet bit her foreleg. “What? Why?” she asked while trying to push the bunny away, but it just rounded her and jumped onto her back.
Fluttershy approached the rolling pegasus while Angel was jumping and running around Dash, biting left and right. Fluttershy sighed before grabbing her familiar. “What was this all about? Why did you provoke Angel?”
“Provoke? I wanted to scare him by playing a ghost. How did he see me?”
Fluttershy rolled her eyes. “First, I cast it on myself. You need to be close to me to stay hidden. Furthermore, the veil I formed is two meters long and two meters high, but every living creature or object can pass it. Think of it as an umbrella.”
Dash examined bite marks on her fur before asking, “In other words, if you come closer to others, instead of being hidden from them, they will be hidden with you?” Noticing a firm nod, she frowned. “So much for the pranks I came up with.”
Fluttershy giggled when suddenly a familiar voice captured her attention. Not wasting a moment, she pulled Dash and Angel as she hid behind a pillar. She peeked from behind it and quickly recognized her parents. In any other circumstances, they would hear or notice her, but with the Veil of Darkness in the way, she was hidden even from their sharpened senses.
“The monster hunters are very close to tracking down our location. What do we do?” asked Clean Mouth, her voice filled with worry. Her husband followed besides her with firm steps.
“For now, we can only wait. The reason why they’re nearby is because of a few rumours and unclear clues,” Sample Taker answered with calm tone. “If they don't find any significant proof of our activity, they will assume that the rumours were false.” He smiled warmly and nuzzled his wife who gladly returned the gesture. “We didn’t have trouble with them for centuries, and for next few days it will be as always. We stay hidden and wait patiently.”
Clean Mouth nodded and calmed her trembling legs. “You’re right. Maybe I’m worrying over nothing. Our clan may be small and weak, but it’s well hidden.”
“Yes. And the guild is an illegal organization anyway, their members cannot just go into others’ mansions and do investigations without the risk of being arrested by officials.” He shook his forehoof dismissively, “Enough of this gloomy atmosphere, would you care for some ice cream?”
“Of course I do. I have always wondered how vanilla ice cream with blood icing would taste,” she responded a glee. “It is never too late to try out.”
As both centuries old pureblood vamponies trotted cheerfully to eat some ice-cream, Dash poked Fluttershy and shot her a panicked look. “Did you hear that? I didn’t know Equestria had monster hunters.”
“That’s because they stay hidden,” she responded with her ears flattening to the side of her head. “From what my dad told me, they work in secret, hunting terrifying beasts, dangerous monsters... and also thestrals apparently.”
Dash took a step back and pointed at Fluttershy, her eyes opened wide and pupils shrunk. “What about you? Do they want you and your parents as well?” Much to Dash’s surprise, her friend just laughed. “Why are you laughing, this is serious!”
Fluttershy put her hoof on her own mouth and restrained her laughter. “Don’t worry about it. My parents never had trouble with the hunters. They hunt evil thestrals. My parents are very good and kind. We never hurt anypony, never turn anypony against their will, and even use our powers secretly to help.” She pointed at Dash’s chest who shivered at the memory. Being pierced by a sharp rock wasn’t something she would forget easily after all. “Since we don’t do bad things, they have no reason to hurt us.”
Dash shot her friend an uncertain glare. Fluttershy was always very naive and trusting, and it seemed that her parents were trying to shelter her from the cruel reality.
“Where are you taking us, Dash?” Fluttershy asked as she was being pulled by her friend. Their wings flapped rapidly as they flew through another hallway while Angel held Fluttershy's tail.
“To the kitchen, duh,” she responded as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “With your dark vol… vo… something–”
“Veil of darkness,” Fluttershy corrected.
“Yeah, that. As long as we keep at least two meters distance from others, they won’t see or hear us. We can eat some ice cream and get away with it.”
The vampony responded with firm tone, “Rainbow Dash! The Veil of Darkness is an ancient technique developed by pureblood thestrals to ensure the survival of our race and to spy on those who wish us harm.” She took a quick breath and continued, “It is one of most important spells from the field of dark magic, and you want to use it to steal ice cream?”
“Pretty much,” the filly pegasus responded with smugness.
Both Fluttershy and Angel facehooved and face-pawed respectively.
Upon noticing two patrolling vamponies, Dash quickly pulled her friend close to the wall.
“We are going to get into trouble," Fluttershy pointed out. "We should just ask my mom and dad for permission.”
As both guards passed without touching the Veil of Darkness that Fluttershy kept around herself, Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and said, “Flutters, I really don’t get you. Sometimes you act like a filly that listens to mommy’s and daddy’s every word,” Fluttershy looked to the side and frowned quietly, ”-or like a ninety year-old lady who follows rules to the letter without any excitement in your life.”
“... I’ll be ninety in ten years...”
“That’s not the point!” Dash flew up and spread her forelegs, her wings flapped rapidly. “Live up a little. Break some rules and have fun. You have so much power and never make use of it, even for your own entertainment.” Noticing that her friend mumbled something to herself, she flew closer and exposed her ear. “Huh? Speak louder please.”
Fluttershy sighed and spoke up, “Those who abuse power… often get corrupted by it.”
Dash rubbed her neck as the awkward silence lasted for few seconds.
Suddenly a loud explosion reached her ears.
“Did you hear that?” asked a nearby guard as he and his partner approached the closest window. Their wings and ears shot upward in surprise. “We have to warn mast–” the thestral guard said, before being cut off by an arrow striking his neck.
Drops of blood splattered onto the floor as Dash looked to the side and covered her eyes while Fluttershy could do nothing but stare in disbelief, her mouths agape.
Both guards ran with their wings spread as their violet horseshoes struck against the marble floor. The metallic sound echoed through the hallway while the wounded guard left behind a trail of blood. The moment they took to the air, the noise of broken glass followed right behind them.
Both young mares yelped as multiple figures with masks and crossbows flew through the broken windows and shot at the escaping guards.
With at least ten arrows piercing their wings, legs and backs, both of the thestrals crawled through their own blood in an attempt to escape. Two attackers ran at them and sliced their throats with silver blades.
“What do we do with the trash, sir?” one of the attackers asked before taking his mask off. His foreleg stomped on a motionless bat-like wing.
“Toss them outside the window,” said a tall gray pegasus wearing an armored vest with a chain as a cutie mark. “This mansion lies on a mountain, the sun will burn what is left of their bodies after they crash to the ground."
As ordered, both vamponies were thrown outside before the attackers spread out in two directions.
Rainbow Dash trembled, barely standing as her eyes couldn’t look away from pool of blood in the hallway. Fluttershy shivered as well, but a quick slap from Angel Bunny brought her back to her senses. She turned to her friend and said, “Snap out of it Dash, we have to warn my parents.”
The pegasus shook her head and stared back with wide eyes, her foreleg pointed at the blood on the floor. “Are you crazy? Just look what they did to the guards. Do you want to end up like them?” She pointed towards the broken window. “We should bail now while we still have a chance.”
“No, no, no, I cannot leave my parents. You can go, but I’m staying,” Fluttershy responded with determination, her fangs exposed. Not waiting for Dash's response, she spread her wings and flew away, only for her friend to follow.
“Okay, you’re not crazy,” Dash started, flying side to side with her friend. She spread her legs in all directions and added, “You’re completely insane!”
Fluttershy hissed at her friend and her eyes flashed, causing Dash to slow down a little. She passed hallway after hallway, corpses of fellow servants with pierced hearts and slit throats alongside a few of the attackers becoming a common sight. She quickly noticed a broken door, which lead to her parent's bedroom. The magical runes camouflaging the entrance were broken, and a butler alongside two maids dodged arrows and knives, unable to reach it to assist their masters.
Still under the spell that hid her presence, Fluttershy flew inside without hesitation, her hooves pressing against the floor in a forced a full stop while Dash followed her lead.
The bedroom itself was spacious. In the middle was a long poster bed with a canopy, two large violet pillows and blue eiderdown decorated with yellow stars. On the walls were paintings of pureblood ancestors and those dear to them. However all the tables, candles, flowers, and vases now lied all over the room, some in pieces. Two decorative polished proud coffins that once were positioned next to the bed were now nothing but pieces of very expensive wood.
In the middle of this mess next to the bed stood Sample Taker, facing his attackers. His posture was strong and filled with confidence, his fangs exposed and wings spread, but his eyes were full of sorrow. Unbeknownst to everyone present in this room, Fluttershy and her friend both retreated to the corner and observed the scene unfold.
“So you are the master of this mansion?” asked a tall pegasus with chains attached to metal boots on his forelegs. His associates armed with crossbows waited for his signal.
“Yes I am,” he responded with a polite bow. He continued with a forcefully calm tone, “My name is Sample Taker and I am the master of this mansion you have just raided. How can I be of service?”
The attackers laughed before their leader spoke, “My name is Unbreakable Chain, and just as my name suggests, you can’t escape my grasp.”
The vampony forced a chuckle. “I take it that you gentlemen are not here to seek my medical knowledge and expertise?”
“Not really. To be honest, we’re here to offer our services instead,” Chain started with a smug on his face, “as a cleaning service, free of charge.”
“Cleaning, you say… well, it looks to me like you are doing a terrible job.” He pointed at the stained carpet covered in fragments of shattered vase.
“Oh, it’s because we are dealing with a special kind of garbage, a trash staining our mighty kingdom, trash like you.”
The vampony released a deep sigh as a barrage of arrows flew in his direction. Two were deflected by a swift hoof strike while the rest pierced his body. Two struck his hind legs, one hit his torso, another was embedded in his foreleg, and a last one dug into his forehead while failing to penetrate his skull.
The hunters observed the stream of blood coming from their foe's wounds with satisfaction. Their smugness didn't last long, as the dark aura started to spread around the vampony's hooves.
The hunters took a few steps back, their crossbows aimed at the pool as several dark hooves emerged from it. A few of those hooves disintegrated on contact with the magically enhanced arrows, at least two managed to pull the crossbows from a pair of hunters before sinking back into the dark liquid while the rest pulled the arrows from the vampony's body. Blood that was not covering the arrows returned back to its owner and closed the wounds.
“T-that’s… impossible. Unless…” said the leader as his face became pale. He pointed at his foe. “You’re a pureblood!” He grit his teeth in anger. “Shoot it, shoot it!”
The hunters did as they were ordered, while the ones who lost their crossbows took out daggers from their belts and flew at their foe. The shadow hooves emerged once again, parrying the projectiles and forcing the attackers to evade.
“Damn you, pureblood!” Unbreakable Chain swung his chain at the hooves emerging from the floor, the lengthy weapon quickly covering the entire floor, shattering them. Sample Taker jumped and flew upwards to avoid the attack while the sharp, enhanced silver edge of the chain struck the floor, quickly dissipating the pool of dark magic.
The hunters once again focused on their foe, who flew right at them. Some shots missed while others hit their attacker, but they barely slowed him down, as he grabbed one silver arrow with his forehoof. Sample Taker ducked to avoid being kicked in the head and quickly swung the arrow at his attacker’s forelegs, striking the muscles around the elbow. The hunter dropped to the floor like a ragdoll with arrow stuck in his knee.
With one opponent immobile, Sample Taker went from one to the other, taking hit after hit, while striking the most vulnerable locations on his enemies legs.
A swift swing of a chain threw the vampony against the wall, where a pony shaped mark formed from the impact alongside spreading cracks. The pureblood thestral breathed heavily as he pulled arrows and daggers from his body, his wounds quickly recovering.
Five hunters were lying immobile on the floor, barely containing their groans as their legs refused to work. The remaining five gathered behind their leader with crossbows trembling in their hooves.
Unbreakable Chain stared back at the vampony and analyzed the situation. Think, how can I dispose of a pureblood? The silver cancels their healing abilities upon contact with their blood, so every successful strike drains some of his power, he thought before scanning the floor, where several silver arrows and daggers coated in blood captured his attention. He took a quick look at his five remaining pegasi and then back at his foe. If only we had known that purebloods lived here, we would have prepared better. Much to his surprise, the pureblood managed to relax in the middle of combat, his expression changing to a pleading smile.
“You cannot win this fight. Take your fellow hunters and leave my mansion at once,” he pleaded with sorrow.
The hunters looked at each other while their leader grit his teeth. “Yeah right, like we would listen to you. When I turn my back, your teeth will sink right into my neck. I won't be falling for that, monster.”
The vampony shook his head in disappointment. “You came to my mansion and slaughtered my servants…” He paused as his tone sharpened. “No, they were more than servants, you murdered my friends.” He stomped against the floor, sinking his forehoof into it, shooting several small stones and torn fragments of carpet in all directions.
“But revenge won’t bring them back, it will do nothing but spread suffering and create a cycle of vengeance and pain.” He wiped tears that now covered his face. “Stop this fight and break the cycle of hatred and death. If you won’t accept my mercy and leave, the blood of your followers will be on your hooves, not mine.”
“Save your lies!” Unbreakable Chain performed a long range attack, but the vampony jumped to the side to avoid it. With pull of his foreleg, he swung the chain to the side and struck the agile foe. His power and regeneration seems unmatched, and he certainly knows the weak points on a pony’s body, Unbreakable Chain thought as he looked at the bleeding wounds of a nearby immobilized comrade, somewhat impressed by the perception and accuracy of his foe. His agility and fighting skills, on the other hoof, seem to be lacking, considering how many attack we managed to hit.
With a smirk, Unbreakable Chain tested his theory as he signaled his pegasi to surround the target. He pulled the chain and pushed at the target once again, forcing it to dodge, “Now!” he yelled as arrows were shot from all sides. Noticing a flash in Sample Taker’s eyes and a pool of darkness forming on the floor, he flew up and spin in mid air, his chain pulled back as it struck the wall right behind the pegasus. The chain pressed against the ceiling, leaving a track on it before it was pulled down with full force, slamming the vampony right into the pool of his own creation.
Dark hooves, now motionless without their master’s concentration, were taken out by arrows while Sample Taker received a few wounds as his endurance was pushed to it’s limits.
The pegasi took out daggers and went for the kill at full speed. “No, don’t charge him!” Chain warned, but before he could ready his weapon for another strike, his followers were already captured by the dark hooves emerging from the floor. Sample Taker pulled an arrow from his chest and struck the legs of his immobilized foes with it, while his magic kept their leader at bay.
Unbreakable Chain’s eyes opened wide as all of his pegasi were lying motionlessly on the floor. He tried to swing the chain again, but his foe reached him before his weapon made a half turn, and he got tackled towards the wall. After coughing a bit of blood from his mouth, an arrow struck his left foreleg, disabling it so he no longer could use his weapon. He still refused to show any fear and glared back at the pureblood with determination. “You may have defeated me, but after my death, others will come, and they won’t rest until your kind is eradicated!”
Sample Taker ignored his words and looked into his eyes, his voice not betraying any emotions, “Where’s my daughter?”
“Beats me!” Chain shouted before spitting at his foe.
Sample Taker stared at the pegasus while studying his heartbeat and body language, quickly reaching a satisfying conclusion. He smiled lightly and walked towards the door. “Take your pegasi or call for medical assistance, their legs can be saved if aided in few hours.”
“What?”
The vampony was about to go outside, when the chain passed in front of his muzzle right towards the wall, blocking his path. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“To find my daughter,” he responded firmly.
***
Rainbow Dash noticed that her friend was about to foolishly run towards her dad, unintentionally blowing their cover. Not wasting a moment, she restrained Fluttershy. Upon seeing, from the corner of her eye, that enemy reinforcements had arrived, she pulled Fluttershy and pressed against the wall. The last thing she wanted was for her friend to be used as hostage or even killed.
Fluttershy wrestled against her friend’s trembling legs while pressed against the wall, but stopped upon seeing the terrified expression on her friend’s face. She sensed Dash’s fear, recognizing the strong smell of sweat and her heavy breathing. Fluttershy sensed Dash’s heartbeat increasing rapidly, and could see terror in her eyes. It became obvious for the young pureblood that her friend had just witnessed carnage that no pony her age should. With a burst of strength, she broke her friend’s hold and hugged her tightly as they both cried on each other’s shoulders.
***
“I don’t think so,” Chain said before pulling back his weapon with his working foreleg. Reinforcements already? I would have expected a pureblood vampony’s mansion to be a fortress filled with army of servants, not so few, he thought as several arrows flew into the room, forcing Sample Taker to jump back onto top of his bed. The fact that the rest of his squad had arrived here so fast meant that most, if not all residents of this mansion had been eliminated. Now he had a fighting chance.
“I said it before and I will say it again: take your pegasi and leave or more blood will be spilled.”
“Big words coming from vermin with a knife at its throat. The only blood spilled will be yours!”
The vampony took a deep breath and exposed his fangs. “Funny that you say that. Just a moment before, you and your fellow hunters had my fangs on your throats, and yet they are not pierced.” With those words, he dived at the hunters.
***
Sample Taker’s POV
***
Sample Taker repeated the strategy from before. As the fierce battle went on, more arrows struck him and were now soaked with his blood while he pierced more legs of his foes in return. He took a few short sips from his foes before another attack forced him to retreat.
The large room and hallway were filled with unconscious hunters, all struck in the same location, alive but immobile. The leader proved the hardest to deal with as his experience and solid defense kept Taker at bay. With one final push, Unbreakable Chain was slammed against a wall, his ribs cracking. With one quick swing, another silver arrow struck another one of his forelegs.
The hunter looked back at Sample Taker with something he recognized: fear. He received a similar look from the two remaining hunters who kept their crossbows armed and aimed, but were too afraid to shoot. He gazed at them and pressed his hoof against Chain’s neck.
“Leave us alone!" He shouted, causing both pegasi to take a step back before flying out of the room. He released his hold and let his choking foe fall to the floor.
Unable to stand, Chain raised his head and asked with a tired voice, “Why… why are you letting… letting us live? Twice you spared my life.”
Sample Taker smiled sadly as more tears streaked down his bloody face. “It’s not the time or place for you to die. You and your followers have the skills and experience to fight monsters and evil that could threaten Equestria. Today you killed many innocent thestrals, and it cannot be taken back.” He grit his teeth and half closed his draconic eyes, his tone suddenly cold and angered, “The part of me I’ve been resisting this whole battle wanted nothing but to shred you all to pieces, to cause to you the pain my friends were forced to endure, but what would revenge accomplish?”
Sample Taker pointed his foreleg towards the lying pegasi, most of them unconscious. “They have families to be with and the defenseless to protect. All I wish is for my family to live in peace.” Suddenly his ears perked up at the noise of hoofsteps. He turned to the source that was far closer than he expected, the lack of blood greatly weakening his senses.
“I will grant you everlasting peace,” the masked figure responded before charging at him.
The pureblood thestral tried to dodge, but his speed was greatly reduced from the previous fight, unable to prevent his foe from placing shackles on his hooves. Before he could understand what was happening, his hind legs were shackled as well, and finally a large collar made of enhanced silver was put on his neck. “What are you doing?”
The pegasus pulled the imprisoned vampony away form his brother, nearly tripping, and took off his mask, smirking. “My name is Unbreakable Shackles.” He turned to Unbreakable Chain and added, “I see you defeated my younger brother. I believe I owe you my thanks.”
Sample Taker struggled against the shackles, but in his weakened stage was unable to break free. The battle was lost. “Really? It is very rare for a hunter to thank a thestral.” He chuckled to hide his fear. “You're welcome. Though I would suggest you to aid your brother and his comrades before they lose too much blood.”
“Oh, I wasn’t thanking you for sparing their lives, though I am somewhat grateful for that,” shackles responded as he pressed some sort of switch on the collar. Blood splat out from vampony’s mouth as spikes shot into his neck. “Do you know how much the guild offered me for killing a pureblood? Up to ten million based on their age. You’ve made me a very rich pony.” Shackles laughed hysterically. “This is too good to be true. A mansion with barely any vamponies to defend it, two purebloods who barely know how to fight. I feel like fortune is shining on me. Bits, reputation, a promotion, this one mission is giving me everything I ever wanted!”
After a few more seconds of laughter, Shackles composed himself and wiped tears of joy from his eyes. “My squad outside of this mansion is already softening up your wife as we speak, and reinforcements are on their way. All that’s left for me to do is wait until she’s tired and finish the job.”
Unbreakable Chain stood up, maintaining his balance on his rear hooves while his forelegs were paralyzed and bleeding. “Brother, did you call for medical assistance? We didn’t bring enough supplies to aid everypony.”
“Relax,” Chain responded. “They will arrive alongside reinforcements.” He passed his brother and entered the room, his attention focused on the paintings, specifically a damaged family portrait. The names of the ponies under the frame were damaged by an arrow, but birthdate wasn’t. “Terbat… hmn.”
“L-l-l-v… d-ugh-er… al-ne…” Words barely escaped Sample Taker’s bleeding throat as he looked at the hunter with mix of anger and plead for mercy.
Shackles responded with a sing-song. “Happy birthday to your daughter, happy birthday to her.”
Sample Taker’s mouth was agape as he collapsed on his shackled hooves.
The cheerful hunter took out his dagger and cut off a fragment of the family portrait, which contained the image of a young mare followed by a birth date, and burned it with his forehoof. He blew the hot ash from his hoof and smirked, surely turning clouds into steam wasn’t the only thing pegasus magic was good for.
Unbreakable Chains next examined the birth date of the older vamponies before placing the picture into his saddlebag. “You’re over four centuries old?” He said as he trotted towards his prisoner. “Considering that your daughter has her birthday tomorrow, and since you earned me a four million bits bounty, I’m willing her go.” He looked to the side at a wall and smirked again. “She’s not worth much anyway, not worth my time.“ He took out a small blade and asked, “Any last words before I cash in your head and end your misery?”
Sample Taker closed his eyes, a weak smile formed on his bleeding lips. We lived a long happy life. As long as my daughter is safe. I have no regrets. He felt his heart being pierced, its beating slowing down, and then… nothing.
***
Dash’s POV
***
Dash put her foreleg on her friend’s eyes and turned her own head away from what was about to come. It still didn’t stop the noise of a falling head from reaching Fluttershy’s ears. Suddenly the young pegasus felt a pain in her foreleg as two sharp teeth pierced it. Regardless, Dash steeled her nerves and didn't let Fluttershy go.
“Drain me all you want, I won’t let you die!” Dash responded. She knew that her friend wouldn’t hesitate to hurt her for standing between her and her headless father, but she had to be strong for both of them.
After several seconds of pain and blood draining, the fangs slowly left her foreleg, following with two licks to close the wound. Fluttershy turned her face and looked back at Rainbow with empty draconic eyes filled with tears. Despair, sadness, guilt, anger, hopelessness, so many emotions in those red eyes. Despite being nearly a century old, Fluttershy pressed herself into Dash’s chest like a scared filly and whimpered.
The four hunters slowly went outside, leaving at least thirty of their unconscious comrades behind as they took only Sample Taker’s body, most likely to serve as proof for killing a pureblood.
Fluttershy pushed herself from the warm embrace and turned around, sobbing.
Rainbow Dash wished she could cheer her friend up, to let her cry out her sadness, but they didn’t have the luxury of time. Feeling slightly sick after looking at the blood covering the floor, she rounded Fluttershy and sat in front of her lowered head. “Listen. I don’t know how you feel. I can’t even imagine your pain, but we can’t stay here.” Not receiving any reaction, she raised Fluttershy’s head with a hoof and added, “Your veil is shattering and medics will be here to attend the wounded. We have to run or else they’ll find us.”
Angel nodded and started to kick the young vampony’s leg.
Fluttershy gulped and wiped her face. She had to find and warn her mother before she lost her too. Fluttershy took a quick look at the unconscious pegasi whose legs weren’t bleeding any longer but still had severe injuries. Her parent’s teachings and good nature told her to help, after all, their lives were speared by her father. Another part of her, however, whispered to her to let them rot, and wished they were conscious and in deep pain. She bit her lips and turned to Dash before nodding in agreement.
Time wasn’t on their side.
***
Fluttershy’s POV
***
Why, why is this happening to me, to my family? We aren’t the bad thestrals they describe in novels. We aren’t power hungry monsters who enslave the free willed and turn innocent ponies into armies of slaves. We were doing our best not to abuse our power, no matter how tempting it was. So why? Fluttershy thought as she followed Dash, who looked back at her every five seconds while Angel Bunny held her tail. They were flying outside of the mansion, scanning the area for Clean Mouth’s whereabouts while Fluttershy sent leftovers of her power to keep the veil up a little longer. Why… why did they do this to us? Mom and Dad always said that monster hunters kill only evil beasts and bad thestrals, they said to be good and they won’t hurt us.
“You hanging in there?” Dash asked with concern, her voice more gentle than usual.
“Y-yes,” Fluttershy responded weakly as she looked back at Dash, quickly noticing ruffled wings flapping nervously, heavy breathing and bags under eyes of her friend. Even in a weakened state, she could still sense change in Dash’s heart rate, stress and fear.
Who would have thought that a nearly century old, pureblood thestral would be lead and protected by a thirteen year old reckless pegasus, Fluttershy thought as she smiled weakly, her wounded heart warmed up a bit by her friend’s courage. While they both witnessed the massacre, she was used to the sight of blood and opened wounds, Dash wasn’t, yet here she was, leading the way. Dash… I underestimated you. You’re not just reckless, but also brave and strong. I am glad that you’re my friend, especially now… More tears started to slide down her face at increasing rate. When I need you the most.
“Here!” Dash shouted, pointing out at the platform on the edge of a mountain that blocked the sun’s rays, slightly down from where the mansion was positioned.
Fluttershy looked at it as well, but barely saw anything. I know that pegasi have great perception and can notice small details across long distances, but for them to rival my eyes… wiped away her tears and sweat from her forehead before blinking rapidly as her blurry vision slowly sharpened. I must be really weak.
Both Dash and Fluttershy flew towards their target, quickly landing with a light thump. The Veil of Darkness vanished a moment later.
Fluttershy ran on her shaking legs as she jumped over unconscious hunters. Unlike her Dad, who struck their legs, her mom used sleeping spells and hypnosis. A far less lethal method, but also more difficult to put in motion. Fluttershy’s ears dropped as she slowed herself, now walking with hesitation as the area was covered with arrows, daggers and blades, all covered in blood. Her mother was lying against a wall, her shoulder pierced to the stone and her eyes closed.
“Mom!” Fluttershy screamed as her steps became more hesitant. “Mom…” Getting close enough, she poked her mother in the side of her belly. “Mommy, please, wake up,” she added with watery eyes.
Much to Fluttershy’s relief, the tired eyes of her mother opened, and a smile quickly spread across Clean Mouth’s face.
“F-Flutterb-shy, you’re okay…” she said with relief while raising her hoof to touch Fluttershy’s crying face, gently stroking her cheek while wiping the falling tears. “After… after those hunters attacked, I went to look for you, but...” She pointed at the unconscious ponies. “I was forced to fight. I tried to lure them away from the mansion. I’m glad you’re alright.” She took a deep breath and tried to remove the arrow, but didn’t have enough strength to even do that. She gave her daughter a tired smile while barely keeping her head raised. “We need to get my husband and gather all who are still alive. Can you…”
Fluttershy didn’t say a word, instead she ran towards a nearby hunter and pulled him by his legs. Dash helped by grabbing his head, while her wings flapped rapidly to carry part of his weight. With his neck close enough, Clean Mouth sank her teeth into his flesh, a portion of her strength returning as she leached away his blood.
“Thank you,” Clean Mouth said before pushing the arrow away. She brushed the dust from her body and approached another hunter to take a second serving of blood, while being careful to not suck too much. Fluttershy followed her example.
“Mommy...”
“Yes dear?” she asked while turning to her child, who rubbed her foreleg nervously while Angel Bunny jumped from Fluttershy's back and ran away.
“Daddy... he... he...” More tears leaked out of Fluttershy’s eyes as she tried to say those horrible words. It was as if only now she realized that her father was dead, as if her survival instincts had suppressed her grief. She remembered every story he read to her while she was growing up, his smile and laughter, his kisses on her cheek when she felt sad. All of that was gone, and she would never again hear him say how much he loved her.
Clean Mouth didn’t need to hear the rest as her pupils shrunk in realization. In an instant she hugged her daughter as both weeped together, letting nothing hold them back from mourning their loss. Even Dash couldn’t restrain herself as she wiped her own eyes, but suddenly something struck her in the neck.
Clean Mouth’s ears perked upward as she released Fluttershy and flew to the bleeding pegasus. Her eyes flashed in red as she pulled the arrow, the blood quickly returning into Dash’s neck and sealing the wound. The pegasus dropped to the ground and choked uncontrollably, desperately grasping for air.
A hunter landed on the cliff and approached with his weapon aimed at Rainbow Dash.
“What are you doing?” Clean Mouth asked with an aggressive tone. “I can understand why you targeted us, but why her?”
The hunter looked between the pegasus filly and the vampony before responding, “Your disguises don’t fool us. And even if this filly is not yet one of your kind, you purebloods would turn her sooner or later.”
“How can you say that? Do you not care who you kill? Weren’t hunters supposed to hunt only the evil thestrals and monsters?” Fluttershy asked with desperation as she looked at the hunter with pleading eyes. “Why would you target us?”
“Pffft…” he frowned. “All vamponies are evil, corrupted by dark magic into the servitude of a pureblood.” His voice suddenly became very loud as the hunter pointed his foreleg accusingly at Fluttershy. “You all are nothing but shells filled with dark magic, and you spread like a plague. The ponies that are turned are already dead, and we merely dispose of walking corpses.”
He aimed his crossbow at Clean Mouth. “Purebloods, on the other hoof, are the source of this plague. Once they are all dead, this nightmare will be... over.”
Clean Mouth deflected the arrow with swung of her forehoof. “I put to sleep many of your comrades, why do you expect to defeat me with a single crossb–” she stopped and grabbed both Dash and Fluttershy before jumping to the side. Her rear hooves slid on the rock surface as dust spread around them.
“So much for a surprise attack,” said the pegasus with a large silver collar in his hooves. He looked at his fellow unconscious hunters and then back to Clean Mouth. “They are all alive, aren’t they?” After receiving a hiss in response, he laughed, his hoof on his mouth. “That’s just rich. First your husband shows mercy, and now you. Can this mission get any easier?”
“Sir?” asked the hunter as he looked at his squad leader with confusion. “What’s going on?”
“Tsk tsk,” Shackles responded. “Open your eyes. The owners of this mansion are two soft pureblood thestrals who rarely turned anypony into vamponies. Not only their mansion was barely defended, but they are also too innocent to kill.”
“R-really…” the hunter responded before lowering his crossbow. The glare he gave the vamponies softened.
Shackles shook his head. “You rookies are so blind,” he said before his voice shifted into a mocking tone. “We must kill monsters to protect our families. Vamponies are blood sucking walking corpses. Changelings are soul sucking demons that must be killed.” He massaged his forehead and added, “You guys are so pointless,” while the hunter growled in response.
“Wait a moment!” Fluttershy shouted as she sidestepped and walked towards the group. She challenged the officer with aggressive stare. “If you knew we’re good thestrals, why did you murder my father?” She took a deep breath and yelled, “Why didn’t you let us live in peace?” Clean Mouth quickly approached her daughter and spread her bat-like wing protectively.
Shackles rolled his eyes. “And you are just as hopeless. Lets follow the rules, lets be good vamponies and live in peace,” he sighed, “you all make me sick.”
“What?” Clean Mouth asked as Shackles shoot her a glare.
“You are all so naive. Your weakness is what will make me rich and seal your fate. Life is not lollipops and rainbows for either of us. Your kind cannot afford weakness, and bounty hunters cannot waste such good opportunities.” He flew into air and dove at the group. “It’s just business, no hard feelings!”
Fluttershy yelped as she was pushed to the side by her mother. She quickly raised her head, only to see Clean Mouth flying into the battle. With determination on her face, Fluttershy stood to her hooves and spread her wings.
Dash got in the way and warned, “Don’t do this; you can barely stand.”
The young vampony hissed before looking to the side. She is right. While the Veil of Darkness helped us survive against those hunters, it drained all of my strength. I drank some of Dash’s and hunters’ blood, but it may not be enough.
Fluttershy and Dash observed the fight that seemed to be a stalemate. While the elite hunter couldn’t capture his target with his shackles, Clean Mouth’s sleep spells and hypnosis didn’t seem to work. As the young pureblood looked at her own back, a realization struck her. “Angel… Where’s Angel?”
***
“Stupid bunny!” yelled a monster hunter as he stared at the little creature who was sitting on his crossbow, presenting his tongue.
Angel Bunny raised his paw and it started to flash red, and next delivered a punch against the weapon he stood on. Noticing that a hoof was on a collision course with his head, he jumped onto the hunter’s foreleg and ran across it before hitting his foe right beneath the eye.
The hunter screamed in pain as he dropped the crossbow which melted into flames, and the fur under the pegasus’s eye caught fire.
“Sir Shackles ordered us to assist him in an ambush. We shouldn’t waste our time here,” another hunter said, only to notice that his foreleg was also on fire. He started to jump while repeating “Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!” as his attention focused on traces of smoke on the ground. “Kill that tartarus-spawn!”
***
“You cannot win. Leave while you still can!” Clean Mouth said before hissing, her right foreleg bent from exhaustion and lack of blood.
“And lose an opportunity of a lifetime? I know that you can’t kill me, you don’t have what it takes to take a life. Pureblood vampony or not, you don’t have it in you,” Shackles responded while gesturing some sort of signal to his teammates.
“Keep provoking me, and you may be the first. You killed my husband, don’t test my mercy!”
As seconds passed, and no rain of arrows followed his gesture, he murmured to himself, “Fools. If you want something done right, you do it yourself.” The elite hunter smirked and took out a small bomb from his cloak, throwing it at the ground and creating a bright flash.
Both vamponies hissed and cowered from the blinding light. Fluttershy rubbed her eyes, only to feel a foreleg grab her by her neck. If she ever regretted to be trapped in a younger body, she did now as she struggled fruitlessly against the bigger foe. She looked to the side to see Dash struggling against the other hunter. She turned to her mother who looked back at her with despair.
"I have your dear daughter, while my associate has her friend,” Shackles said as he moved his collar around Fluttershy’s neck. “Will you try to save your dear Terbat and risk that this collar will pierce her neck?” He looked to the side. “Even if you will save your daughter by some miracle, my fellow hunter will kill her friend. Like it or not, in the end,” his smile grew as he added in a sinister tone, “somepony must die.”
“No! Don’t do it!” Fluttershy shouted, knowing full well what was going to happen.
Her mother stared at her for a what seemed like minutes. Fluttershy knew what she was going to do, but was still determined to stop her. “Please! I don’t want to be alone!”
Clean Mouth lowered her head as she whispered, “Rainbow Dash... can I trust you to watch over my daughter? To be there for her her no matter what?”
“Y-yeah...”
“Swear it.”
“I swear!” shouted Dash, leaking her own tears as she struggled against hunter’s hold.
Clean Mouth sighed and looked at her dear daughter with a smile. “Flutterbat… your father and I love you. We will be watching you always, my sweet little filly.” She closed her eyes as one more regretful word left her lips, ”Goodbye.”
“NOOOOOOO!” cried Fluttershy, but it was too late.
Her mother gave one last smile before her head was removed from her body in one quick stroke, followed by a direct hit deep into her heart.
***
Something in Fluttershy snapped. Her eyes were lifeless and her mouth closed. Just a moment ago she witnessed her mother’s death and she couldn't look away from the head rolling on the rock surface. Dash grabbed Fluttershy and flew away, the extra weight barely slowing her down.
“Sir, they’re getting away,” said the remaining hunter while pointing at the sky, his wings spread as he was ready to pursue them.
“Leave them,” Shackles responded as he held the vampony’s head like it was the most valuable thing in the world. “I may be greedy, but after the fortune I earned today, I see no need to kill her.”
“But she is a pureblood. She may turn innocents into monsters!”
“She is the innocent one, you close-minded fool. A child in a powerful, decades old body, one day before her birthday. Sparing her life is my gift to her.”
“I have had enough!” The hunter yelled and stomped in anger as he turned his back to Shackles, his attention focused on the retreating targets. “First you risk your squad’s life just so you can fill your pocket, and now you’re letting a potential threat go? Unless we–grahhh.” His legs trembled as he tried desperately to catch a breath, with little success. A chill went through his bones the moment he noticed the tip of an arrow coming from his neck.
Shackles tilted his head closer to his subordinate’s ear and whispered, “How pitiful that during a fight against a pureblood, one of my subordinates got caught in the crossfire and fell from the mountain.” The pegasus turned around to look at the smiling elite hunter, who just approached and pat him on the head.
“She will be of use to me in the future, you won't,” Shackles added before delivering a double kick against the hunter’s belly. With the arrow stuck in his throat, he could barely take a bit of air into his lungs, much less focus on using his wings to escape his demise. Images of his life and family went through his mind; pain and feeling of betrayal were the last things he experienced before hitting the ground.
“Happy birthday, Flutterbat. Happy birthday to you.”
***
Angel Bunny observed the scene from the higher ground, his attention shifting between the two retreating fillies and the headless body of his mistress.
With a deep sigh, he turned around towards an unconscious pegasus, who dared to chase him all the way up to the small road across the mountain. With his paw once again reaching an armor-melting temperature, he approached the hunter with a vengeful smile. His master and mistress may have been weak fools who didn’t have the courage to take a life. But he was never a fan of this rule. With a sinister smile, he placed his paw on a wing and watched the feathers slowly burst into flames.
Angel wondered how to execute his revenge. Would he let the pegasus burn alive slowly, or would he keep him alive for a small round of torture?
With a moment to look at the night sky, another thought crossed his mind. With his owners dead and Fluttershy being young, meak, and useless at this point, he needed to move on and find a more… worthy master to serve.
“Mom, Dad, I have something important to tell you,” Rainbow Dash said, depression clear in her voice as she refused to look into her parents eyes.
Her mother, a Pink maned violet pegasus with a rainbow for a cutie mark quickly approached and wiped the dirt from Dash’s face, her attention focused on the several bruises covering her daughter. “Whatever happened to you, Rainbow?”
The tall pegasus with a rainbow mane pointed his hoof at their guest and said, “You must be Fluttershy, one of Dash’s school friends. My name is Rainbow Blitz, do you remember me?” After a few seconds of not receiving any reaction from the filly, he continued, “I thought my daughter was having a sleepover at your mansion tonight.”
The yellow pegasus took a step back and nodded hesitantly.
“Did something happen?” asked the stallion as he knelt to Fluttershy’s level, who, in turn, hid her face behind her mane.
The female pegasus knelt as well and tried to push the pink mane to the side, but Fluttershy just flinched and curled a little. “Please don’t be afraid, my name is Rainbow Shine, we met a few times when you helped my daughter prepare for exam sessions. For how long you wish to stay?”
Dash sighed and walked between her parents and her speechless friend. “At least until she finds a new place to live. She lost both her home and her parents.” Noticing their stares of disbelief and pity as both pegasi nearly lost their balance, supporting themselves against each other, she added, “It’s a long story.”
Not a single noise echoed as the young mare walked through the fog. Despite being a pure blooded thestral whose eyes could see in the dark as if it was day, the fog was a challenge even for her sight.
Minutes seemed like an eternity as she walked by a sea of graves. Chills went through her bones and her steps became slower as three gravestones with familiar names caught her attention. As she approached, she noticed three coffins half emerged from the ground. Around them was a large open area with nopony in sight.
Her legs started shaking as the silence was broken by sobs. She looked around, but couldn’t see anything besides the fog, yet the sound of crying still reached her ears. Fluttershy bent her legs and whimpered like a puppy before approaching the coffins. She straightened her trembling foreleg and opened the left one hesitantly, terrified of what she may see. She gasped the moment the lid was removed. In the open coffin she could see her mother: a dark-gray batpony with black-violet wings who seemed to sleep peacefully, forelegs crossed on her chest.
“Mommy…” Fluttershy said as she poked her mother’s forelegs. “Mom, please, wake up. I’m scared.” She carefully lifted a foreleg, but dropped it at the sight of a pierced heart and the mark of a blade around her neck. Fluttershy ignored the wealthy and fashionable decorations on the coffins as the wounds on her mother caught all her attention.
Fluttershy screamed and withdrew her hoof immediately. She turned to the right and saw the coffin open on its own, revealing her father who had similar injuries, the very view crushing her already broken heart. Feeling a growing urge to retreat from the scene and cry, she took one quick look at the closed coffin in the middle, but didn’t dare to touch it.
Fluttershy turned around and started sobbing as memories of her parents’ death flashed in front of her, as if images of this event took physical form in front of her, unsure if they were memories or dreams? The moment her mother’s head fell and was captured by the hunter, the image disappeared, and a noise from behind made her turn around.
She turned back, only to see the lifeless corpses of her parents. Their black, empty eyes froze the vampony's blood, their calling voices filling her young mind with terror.
She lost her balance and curled up in fear, placing her forelegs on her crying eyes. Seconds passed in which she could no longer hear any noises. She peeked from behind her foreleg, and both the coffins and her parents had disappeared.
As Fluttershy stood up, all she could see was white fog, to the point that neither her own hooves or the ground were visible. Despite the fog, she could still make out the coffin in the middle, but she wasn’t planning to find out what was inside any time soon. She turned around and galloped through the mist.
Minutes passed until she sat to take a few quick breaths, before looking behind her. Her heart nearly escaped her chest as she still saw the coffin. Fluttershy tried walking backwards, but the distance didn’t seem to increase.
Unable to escape and with nowhere to go, she gulped and slowly opened the coffin. Her blood instantly froze in her veins as she saw herself without a disguise, a yellow thestral in a white dress decorated with red bats. She was smiling gracefully while holding a white lily, bouquets of red roses gracing her body. Fluttershy couldn’t tell if her copy was sleeping or... dead?
She lowered herself to take a closer look. When her foreleg was about to touch its cheek, the corpse grabbed Fluttershy’s foreleg and opened its eyes, asking, “Why are you still alive?” Starled, Fluttershy quickly lost her balance and released a scream of terror. The corpse rose and looked at her with black eyes. “Why are you not here instead of your mom and dad?”
Marks of a pierced heart and slashed neck appeared on the corpse, and black tears formed in its eyes. Fluttershy struggled to free her hoof, but couldn’t overpower it. “L-leave me alone!”
The fake Fluttershy shook her head. “You should be lying in a coffin instead of them. They stayed in the mansion just to search for you, dying so you could escape. It is all your fault!”
Fluttershy closed her eyes in fear.
After several seconds of struggling, when she no longer felt anything hold her foreleg, she opened her eyes. Fluttershy gasped, finding herself inside the casket with her parents sealing her in it despite her pleas. She struggled to move, but couldn’t as darkness overtook her.
Fluttershy fell from her cloudy bed right onto the floor, barely feeling the impact with the soft surface, her breath heavy and sweat covering her forehead. She wiped tears from her bloodshot eyes and looked around in panic, before taking a calm breath and murmuring to herself, “It… was just a dream.”
Her peace of mind didn’t last even two seconds, as a knock to the door startled her.
“Please wake up, Fluttershy,” the muffled voice of Rainbowshine talking from behind the door reached her ears. “Your parents funeral will start soon. I know it must be hard, but you won’t have a chance to say goodbye to them if you oversleep.”
The pureblood still trapped in the body of a filly scratched her head. Funeral… now I remember. I probably took a nap. Like an avalanche, the memories from her dream surfaced, making Fluttershy drop to the floor and hide under her forelegs. Those dreams had been haunting her ever since she escaped her demise two weeks ago. With slow steps, she approached a small mirror on her shelf. Her eyes were bloodshot and she had bags under her eyelids.
“Sweetheart, we are running low on time.”
Fluttershy took a deep breath. "I won't go."
The door slowly opened as Dash’s mother entered, her face filled with worry. “Would you please repeat it, dear?”
“I said… I won’t go.”
***
Fluttershy had to endure several minutes of discussion with Dash and her family, who tried to convince her to come. Eventually, she was left inside an empty room, the room that her friend’s family generously provided her.
Now deep in thought, she rubbed the soft floor with her forehoof before flying up to the window. She opened the curtains and let rays of the sun bash against her face, an unpleasant feeling she was familiar with. “Is this… really my fault? Mom, Dad? Are you dead because of me?”
The clear sky above Cloudsdale did little to calm her nerves, and her ears dropped. Ever since she witnessed the death of her parents, she could no longer close her eyes without having the same nightmare yet again, and no matter what she did in her dreams, the outcome was always the same. The vampony touched her chest, feeling the emptiness in her heart. Why was she alive? Why didn’t she die instead of everypony else in the mansion?
Besides Dash, she was alone.
Fluttershy shook her head, Stop thinking about it. You aren’t a filly, you are a nearly century old pureblood, act your age, she tried to convince herself, but her resolve burned out faster than a candle on a birthday cake.
Fluttershy sat by the window, resting her head on her forelegs and thinking. What’s the point of me living. It is nothing but misery. Kindness, compassion, empathy, the principles my parents taught me and followed themselves… they were the cause of their death. How can I survive by following them? It will only lead me to my demise. She sighed. What's the point of prolonging it?
Fluttershy raised her head and looked at the unwelcoming sun. The same sun that the princess raised and lowered for her little ponies everyday. The sun that only hurts her and her kind. I can end this, here and now… She walked away from the window and sat in the middle of the room, her forelegs spread as if welcoming the weakening light. Only a few hours, and I will see my mom and dad again. That’s all it takes.
Much to the surprise of Dash's parents, there weren’t many ponies present, as if the servants and masters themselves didn't have anypony to grieve their loss. As odd as it was sounded, Blaze and Shine ignored it and focused on showing respect to the parents of their daughter’s friend. In front of them they could see several jars of ashes, since bodies couldn’t be recovered from the burned mansion. Each jar had a name inscribed on it and lain on a pillow, which were positioned on several shelves attached to a wall.
They didn’t know why the filly wanted to stay dead in everyone’s eyes, but it was her wish, and they had no right to refuse it. Following their promise, no one corrected the speaker when Fluttershy’s name was mentioned among the dead.
After giving her respect to the jars belonging to Sample Taker and Clean Mouth, Dash walked back to her own parents and whispered, “Mom, Dad.”
“Yes, dear?” Rainbowshine asked quietly.
“Can I go home? I want to check on Flutters.”
Both parents looked at each other before nodding. “Okay dear, just don’t stop anywhere and don’t talk to strangers.”
“Mom, I’m not a filly, I can take care of myself,” Dash responded, and flew away before she could be lectured or patted on the head.
Suddenly, she was interrupted as she crashed into another pony. "Sorry," she said, before returning a now empty water bottle to its owner, and shaking her wet head and coat.
“It is quite alright,” the pegasus said. His wings flapped firmly, a cape and bronze coat covering most of his body. “Just be careful next time, child.”
“Will do,” Dash replied before flying away.
The coated pegasus looked back at the bottle of water and said to himself, “No reaction. She is clear.” His attention switched to the rest of the ponies who attended the funeral, and he smirked. "Water charged with white magic is such an useful tool. Just a mere drop, and I will find the monsters who dare to lay their hooves in those holy grounds."
“Fluttershy, I’m home!” Dash said as she knocked again against the door, but nopony answered. “Can you hear me?” After a minute of silence, she pushed the door open and entered, and what she saw knocked her from her hooves.
Her friend was lying in the middle of the room basking in the rays of the sun, a few burning marks already covering her body. Not wasting a moment, she dashed to the window, closed the curtains, and pulled her friend towards the wall. She shook Fluttershy and shouted, “What were you thinking?”
With her friend still unconscious, Dash placed her on the bed and trotted in place on her hooves in panic. “What do I do, what do I do?” She looked towards the open door and spread her wings. “Water!” Without a second thought, she dashed to the kitchen and grabbed an empty cup. She filled it by transforming some part of the cloud furniture into a rain cloud and flew back to Fluttershy.
Carefully using her foreleg to prop her friend’s head up, she tilted the cup so water could get into Fluttershy's mouth, before splashing the rest against her face. She shook her friend once again. “Please, wake up!”
Much to her relief, those bloodshot eyes slowly opened. “Rainbow… is that you?”
“Of course it’s me. How are you feeling?”
“T-tired,” Fluttershy responded, and a sad smile spread across her face. “Why did you stop me? I was about to see my parents again.”
Tears formed in Dash’s eyes, her foreleg trembling. She wanted nothing more than to slap Fluttershy for saying such a thing. Instead, she embraced Fluttershy in a strong hug and said in a whisper, “And leave me? I am your friend for Celestia’s sake. I didn’t help you escape from your mansion and bring you here so I could lose you.”
“B-but…”
“I won’t let you leave. You saved my life, and I am not going to let you lose yours.” The embrace tightened, as sobbing broke Dash’s words. “I know it must be hard… I cannot possibly put myself in your place. But I won’t let you go! Ponyfeathers… I swore to your mother to take care of you.”
“My mother…”
Dash weakened her grab and withdrew her head a bit in order to look Fluttershy in the eye. “Don’t you remember her last words? Do you think she would want you to just kill yourself like that? Do you think your parents would approve of such a decision?”
Fluttershy shook her head as her eyes watered again. With a powerful grip, she squeezed Dash and pressed her face against her chest. “I am sorry… I just wanted for the pain to end, I wasn’t thinking!”
Dash ignored the pain as her elastic bones, adapted to endure crashes from great heights, were tested by the bear hug from from her guilt ridden friend. “It’s okay, Flutters. I am here for you. It will be hard… but I won’t leave your side. We will get through this… together.”
“Dinner Time,” Rainbowshine said cheerfully as she slid four plates from her wings onto the table. “Vegetable salad for everypony,” she added before looking around the dining room for any sight of dust.
The room itself was rather small, but still large enough for six ponies to eat together. Next to a sea-blue table were six small clouds that served as seats. The floor itself was made of cloudcrete, the white, dense clouds that were used for all buildings in Cloudsdale. While she could feel the softness of the floor, her hooves didn’t sink into it. Walls and thin pillars were made of the same material and had similar color, but unlike the floor, those had rainbow-like decorations carved in them. If there was an advantage to having a house made of clouds, it was how easily one could decorate everything in it. And even if the walls themselves were rather fragile, they were also very easy to repair. On the ceiling she could see one yellow chandelier with a few illuminating gems on it.
“How long has it been since I last cleaned that chandelier?” Rainbowshine murmured to herself, making a mental note to clean it later today.
“Salad again?” asked Rainbow Blaze as he entered the room and gave his wife a kiss on the cheek. A black hat decorated his rainbow-like mane. “You should add some variety to our diet, sweetheart.”
Rainbowshine smirked. “Variety? I see. I guess I can add some liquid rainbow to our drinks. As for the salad, lemon and pepper would give it an interesting taste.”
Rainbow Blaze chuckled. “It definitely would, but I’m not sure young pegasi would appreciate it.” Noticing that the young pegasus entered the room, he added, “Speaking about our daughter...”
“Hey mom, dad.”
“Good morning Dash, you’re just in time,” Rainbowshine said as she looked at the door. “Where is Fluttershy?”
Dash rubbed the floor with a hoof. “She didn’t want to come.”
“She didn’t, why?” Rainbowshine asked with worry. “Please don’t tell me that she is not hungry. Again...”
The young mare lowered her head and added, “Yea…”
Both parents looked at each other. Rainbowshine spoke, “Poor dear, she completely shut herself off ever since that day. It has been two and half a months already!”
“True, but it just got worse. She never refused to eat before, and it’s been a week already,” Rainbow Blaze added. He looked at his daughter and said, “We cannot let it continue any longer. Dash, can you please bring Fluttershy here for a serious discussion?”
“But dear, you’ll be late to your job.”
Blaze shook his head. “I am sure my boss can forgive me being late this once. Fluttershy’s well being is way more important.”
Rainbow Dash nodded and saluted. “On it, dad.” She turned around and walked towards the exit, when suddenly her legs trembled, nearly causing her to lose her balance. She quickly reasserted herself and left the room.
“Did you see that?” Rainbowshine asked. “I fear that she isn't telling us something. I never saw her so weak as she has been for the past month.”
Blaze put his foreleg around his wife’s neck and pulled her over to nuzzle her cheek. “We will get to the bottom of this today, I promise.”
***
“Fluttershy, you have to feed,” Rainbow Dash said as she pushed her friend, her head pressed against her flank. “It’s been two weeks since you stopped drinking my blood, and now you have given up on normal food as well?”
Rainbow Dash steeled her muscles and sped up. “But I am better already. Nothing will happen if you take a sip or two.”
Fluttershy just shook her head and pressed her hooves against the cloudy floor, but while Dash felt somewhat tired from blood loss, she was completely exhausted. Unable to resist, she lowered her head and let her friend push her into the dining room.
The light from the window flashed brightly, making Fluttershy hide her face behind her mane. In her weakened stage even this little sunlight could prove very dangerous.
Dash let out a few quick breaths and said, “We’re here.”
Rainbowshine looked at they yellow filly. “Good morning, Fluttershy. How are you feeling today?”
“Morning…” the filly said before looking to the side while her forehoof poked the floor. “I’m fine.” After few seconds of silence, she asked quietly, “Can I… go back to my room?”
Rainbow Blaze shook his head and invited Fluttershy to sit with them with a gesture of his foreleg. “I am afraid I must refuse. There is something we would like to talk about with you.” He turned to his daughter. “And we have some questions for you too, Dash.”
Rainbow Dash nodded before sitting on a pillow next to her father. Fluttershy looked to the side for a moment before slowly approaching on her shaking legs. She sat next to Rainbowshine and looked down at her own forehooves.
“Now, since we are all here together,” Rainbowshine started with firm tone, “it is time to put our worries to rest.” She lowered her head to the filly’s level, who shrunk on her sitting spot. “Fluttershy, you have been with us for over two months.”
“Umm… I can leave if you want,” she said quietly. “I don’t want to be a bother...”
Rainbowshine shook her head. “Celestia help us, we would never do that. You are free to stay with us as long as you wish. It’s your health and eating habits we are worried about.”
Blaze nodded and added, “We aren't blind. While we cannot imagine the grief you are going through, something must have happened last week that made it even worse.” He looked between the poor filly and his daughter. “And you, Dash, your health and condition was also affected.”
“B-but,” Dash responded as she looked around in panic.
“No buts,” Shine interrupted. “I already made a reservation with the doctor for tomorrow for both of you. We will find the truth one way on another.”
“Doctor!?” Dash shouted as she jumped from her cussion. “Oh, nononono… we cannot see the doctor, we can’t!”
“Calm down, Dash,” Blaze interrupted, his voice sharp and firm. “We are worried about you both and we cannot stand by as your health gets worse with each day.”
Both her parents looked at Dash with firm stares as the filly searched desperately to say something. However, the moment a doctor got involved, her friend’s secret would come out into the light.
“Tell them,” Fluttershy whispered.
“Huh, what?” Dash asked as she looked at her friend, who was staring at her emotionlessly. “But if I do that…”
“It is fine, Dash. I don’t want to hide it any longer, they have the right to know.”
The filly looked at her friend as if she was crazy. “But Flutters, I can’t.”
“Please.”
“But what if my parents don’t like it? I don’t want anypony to hurt you anymore,” Dash responded, forgetting about her parents presence.
“Hurt her? Why in Equestria we would do that?” Blaze asked as he stood from his cushion to tower over his daughter. “Whatever this secret is, it hurts me deeply that you would think… think that I would raise a hoof against your friend.”
“Your dad is right. Have more faith in us,” Rainbowshine added.
Dash sighed, once again looking at her friend who nodded encouragingly. But what she saw in Fluttershy was was not the wish to stop hiding any secrets. No, what she saw in her was complete surrender. Not having much of a choice now, she spoke, “Mom, dad, what you are about to hear may be very difficult to believe. But I need you both to give Fluttershy a chance, and listen to the full story before judging her. Please.”
Both pegasi nodded, and Blaze spoke, “Whatever this secret is, you can trust us.”
“Okay, here it goes,” Dash started before pointing at her friend who lowered her head. “Fluttershy is a vampony… or thestral, or whatever they prefer to be called.”
The awkward silence overtook the room before Blaze broke it with frown. “If this was supposed to be funny, it wasn’t,” he said in an angered tone.
“Please be honest with us,” Rainbowshine added with a more passive tone. “We are really worried. It is not a time and place for jokes.”
“I am being serious. I warned you it would be difficult to believe.”
Before the parents could respond, Fluttershy raised her foreleg.
“Speak up, dear,” Rainbowshine said with an encouraging tone, but also a slightly sad smile. Even after all this time, Fluttershy still didn’t warm up to them.
“Your daughter is telling the truth. I am a thestral. Pureblood to be precise,” Fluttershy said before opening her mouth as two fangs shot from her teeth. Predicting the next question in advance, she continued, “Those are not fake, I assure you.” To dispel any doubt that may have been present in Dash's parents, she pushed her fangs into her own foreleg.
Both pegasi started in awe as drops of blood fell onto the table. They took an instinctive step back the moment her feathery wings turned into bat-like ones. “T-that’s impossible,” Blaze said, blinking in dissbelief.
Dash looked between her friend and her parents nervously while the blood on the table levitated back into the thestral’s self inflicted wound.
Fluttershy licked the mark left by her fangs and displayed her foreleg. “I trust that this proof was good enough for you.” As she expected, the heartbeats of both pegasi increased. To make matters worse, she sensed that emotion familiar to all predators: Fear.
Rainbow Blaze grabbed his daughter into a protective embrace, holding her against his chest.
“Wait a moment,” Dash’s mom said as she raised her hoof and pointed accusingly. “Vamponies drink blood. Have you been drinking it from our daughter?”
“Y-yes,” Fluttershy forced a response, which caused Rainbowshine to spread her wings and shot her an aggressive glare.
“That would explain why our daughter has been out of shape lately,” Blaze added as he grabbed a fork with his wing and walked backward. He looked at his weapon with disappointment, wishing it was at least a kitchen knife.
“I’m sorry...“ the vampony responded with her ears flattened against her head.
Rainbow Dash struggled to free herself from hers dad’s grip. “You promised…” she wriggled, but failed to gain any freedom, “to give her a chance!”
“A chance? She was making a snack out of you. How could you keep a secret that your friend is a blood sucking mon–”
“Don’t you dare!” Dash shouted as she used her wing muscles alongside her legs, and bit her dad’s foreleg to free herself. She quickly took a protective stance, standing between her parents and her friend.
“D-dash…” Blaze said in confusion as he massaged his bite mark.
“I have been letting her drink my blood willingly ever since her parents were killed!” she said hastily before taking a few quick breaths. “I begged her to feed on me, but she stopped two weeks ago!” Dash pointed at Fluttershy, who hid herself behind her mane. “She is starving herself for my sake.”
Silence overtook the dining room after Dash’s speech as the adult pegasi just stared at both fillies, unsure what to do.
“Um,” Fluttershy murmured with a tired voice as she pointed towards the window. “I can leave... if this is what you want. I don’t want to cause trouble.”
“Yes, that would be most welcome,” Blaze answered firmly. His wings were spread and ready to be used.
“No!” Dash interrupted. “I won’t let you leave and starve under the sun.” She looked at her parents with pleading eyes. “I owe Fluttershy my life. If it wasn’t for her, I would be inside a coffin rather than eating with you.”
Both parents crashed to the floor with great force while Blaze dropped his fork.
“What are you talking about?” Rainbowshine asked, terrified. Her foreleg trembled as she pointed at her daughter. “You’re lying to protect her.”
Dash shook her head before approaching her parents with determined steps. The moment they stood up and looked down at her, she looked back straight into their eyes. Not breaking eye contact, she spoke, “I am telling the truth. During a race against two of my classmates, I crashed into the ground.“ She quickly pointed towards her friend, who didn’t budge from her spot this whole time. “She closed my wounds before… before.” Dash looked to the side as she resisted urge to hug her parents. The Memory of a sharp rock piercing her chest surfaced in her mind. She had to be strong, for Fluttershy.
"And how can I be sure you're telling the truth? Do you have a proof?" the worried mother asked, glancing between her daughter and their unwanted guest.
"Would I stick up for her if she didn't? She earned my loyalty and friendship and showed her secret to help me." She took a quick breath. "I don't know how to prove it, Mom, Dad, but I am telling the truth. Please, just believe me on this."
She pointed at the silent pony. "Just look at her. Does she look like a dangerous pony to you?"
Noticing distress overtaking her daughter, Rainbowshine wasted little time before gently pressing Dash against her chest, caressing the back of her head. With her eyes now focused on Fluttershy, she asked, “Is this true? Did you really save our daughter's life?”
“Y-yes,” Fluttershy squeaked a response while awaiting judgement. She did her best to not close her tired eyes.
Blaze looked between both fillies. The moment his wife released Dash from her hug, he said, “I’m all ears. Please start from the very beginning.” His wife nodded in agreement.
Dash sat next to Fluttershy and gave her the warmest smile she could muster before turning to her parents. “It all started at flying school...”
***
“...And after we barely escaped those hunters, I brought Fluttershy here.” Dash finished the story and took a cup of water between her hooves. After satisfying her dry mouth with the refreshing liquid, she offered Fluttershy a cup, who politely refused.
“That was… quite the story,” Blaze said as he turned to Fluttershy with concern. “Umm… Miss Fluttershy, are you really over eighty years old?” The filly nodded. “For such an old lady, forgive my choice of words, you look and act like a filly.”
Fluttershy blushed. “A-age spell.” She tapped her hooves together. “This spell is very powerful and lasts a very long time, but it’s not permanent. Without my parents…” she whimpered, “I cannot recharge it. I should regain full maturity in less than a year. On a side note, for pureblood standards, I am still very young.”
“I see… I’m sorry,” Blaze answered as he looked to the side with a sad smile. “It must have been heartbreaking to witness what you did.” The filly nodded weakly before giving a sound like a scolded puppy.
Blaze looked next at Dash and placed his forehoof on her shoulder, before saying, “And you, my dear daughter. I’m impressed by the bravery you displayed by protecting your friend… However, I'm really worried about what could’ve happened to you…” He nuzzled her head. “You witnessed something no pony your age should.”
Rainbowshine struggled to calm her nerves, closing her flapping wings after taking few slow breaths. “I still find it hard to believe. They didn’t kill a single hunter… If not for their mercy, they would…”
“They would, but this would go against who they were. They chose mercy over their own lives.” Fluttershy added weakly, causing Dash’s mother to look at the floor.
Rainbowshine shook her head and stood from her seat as she approached the bat-winged filly. She could see emptiness and depression in those predatory eyes directed towards her, but felt no fear looking at those fangs on the filly’s mouth. This filly saved Dash’s life and deserved the benefit of the doubt. With one gentle move, she embraced Fluttershy and pressed the filly against her chest. “Thank you… thank you so much,” Rainbowshine said as tears formed in her eyes. “This whole time I didn’t know that our daughter would be dead, if it wasn’t for you.”
Fluttershy was speechless as she felt that pleasant warmness. A warmness she missed so much. She closed her eyes and pressed against Rainbowshine’s fur.
Seconds passed as Dash’s mother kept Fluttershy in her embrace. She slowly released the filly, only to catch her before she could fall on the floor. “Is something wrong?” she asked, but the vampony just lied motionless in her hooves. Dash and Blaze approached and looked with worry while Rainbowshine lowered her head to filly’s chest level. She could feel her heartbeat was very slow, and her breathing weak. She quickly looked at her daughter and asked, “What is happening?”
Dash rubbed her chin nervously as she got deep in thought. Her attention focused on the windows in the dining room and the rays of the sun that went inside. Slowly understanding the issue, she looked at her mom and spread her forelegs in panic. “The sun! She’s been exposed to the sun for far too long...” She started hyperventilate. “She is starving! With so little blood left, the sun must be deadly for her!”
Rainbowshine spread her wings and flew towards a door leading inward, quickly flying into the darkest part of the house, the pantry. She carefully placed Fluttershy on an old blanket and stroked her cheek. “Hang in there, please.” She wiped the tears of joy she dropped earlier and continued, “You saved our daughter. I won’t let you die in our house.”
Blaze and Dash quickly joined, barely seeing anything in the darkness, just following Rainbowshine’s voice. Blaze asked, “How can we help her?”
Rainbow Dash answered, “She needs to drink blood, but she hasn’t taken a single dose in two weeks.”
“What about regular food and water?” Blaze asked with curiosity.
“It won’t do,” Dash answered. “From what Flutters told me, blood is thestrals main food. Even if they can eat salads, cakes, and other stuff, if they don’t drink blood regularly, everything else start to taste worse and worse. For the past three days she even refused to drink a single glass of water.”
Rainbowshine’s expression saddened and her ears dropped as she rubbed filly’s belly. “This is not good. Her body must be refusing any sort of nutrition. Blood must play a very important role in her digestion system.”
“Then there’s only one option left,” Blaze said as he approached Fluttershy. His wife had the same idea.
“I may not know much about vampony physiology, but I hope that this works,” Rainbowshine said as she carefully placed Fluttershy’s unconscious head towards her neck, shivering at the thought of what she was about to do. She opened the filly’s mouth and pressed the fangs into her soft flesh. She grit her teeth to resist screaming in pain. “Now it is up to her instincts.”
Seconds passed as Fluttershy slowly opened her eyes, her nose capturing the sweet scent of blood. She pulled her fangs from whatever they were stuck in and gave a drowsy “Shmerrrr.” Her vision blurred as the room seemed to swir. The shape of a pony holding her slowly sharpened in her vision, as her attention focused on a bleeding neck. Her stomach growled and saliva started to fall from her mouth as her predatory instinct tried to take over. She was about to sink into the wound, but the memory of being hugged surfaced in her mind. With a shake of her head, she closed her mouth as her pupils shrunk, “No… what have I done!”
“It’s okay… please, drink…” Rainbowshine said as she struggled to resist the pain.
Fluttershy immediately licked the wound close and started to struggle to free herself, giving up quickly as she felt her strength leaving her. She relaxed her tired muscles and said, "W-why…? I don't want to."
“You would rather starve? Not on my watch,” Rainbowshine answered.
“Nor mine,” Blaze added, his neck in feeding range.
“B-but…” Fluttershy looked between Dash’s parents in shock, her eyes quickly adapting to the darkness of the basement. Once again her hunger caused her stomach to growl, this time even louder than before. “You won’t mind?”
“Of course not,” Blaze started and raised his muzzle proudly. ”You saved our daughter and lost your family. We have been taking care of you ever since. At this point, you’re a family member, and we don’t let our family starve.”
With a deep sigh, Fluttershy nodded in agreement. “T-thank you.” She looked at Rainbowshine and gave her serious look, “But next time, let me do the bite. Instead of putting my fangs into your veins weakly, you pushed them deeply into your neck. Please, don’t do that.”
“O-okay,” Dash’s mother responded. Somewhat surprised by the sudden change in attitude.
Fluttershy took a deep breath and gently pushed her fangs into the veins, an experience far less painful than the pegasus expected. As she took the first sip of blood, a huge satisfaction overtook her. She felt like a pony drinking fresh water after weeks spent in the desert. Blood never tasted so delicious, so filling. She sucked more and more as she closed her eyes, feeling better than ever. All the pain, starvation, the endless struggle to keep her instincts under control, all ended here and now. The drinking lasted nearly half a minute until she slowly pulled her fangs from her target's neck and licked it, only to lick her lips right after with a “mmm…” noise.
Fluttershy felt the new blood stream going through her veins, revitalizing her. Her satisfaction didn't last long, as she sensed the slowed heartbeat of the mare that held her. She looked at her with genuine concern and asked, "Are you feeling alright?"
“A little dizzy,” Rainbowshine responded as she released the filly and massaged her forehead. “The world is spinning a bit, but nothing serious.”
Fluttershy smiled warmly, but her happiness was interrupted by another growl of her stomach. She blushed before looking at Blaze with an awkward smile.
“Still hungry?” the pegasus asked as he lowered his neck.
“Y-yes… I restrained myself not to drink too much of your wife’s blood…” Understanding the gesture, she added, “I will gladly drink a little more… If that's okay with you.”
“Of course it is,” Blaze responded, somewhat glad to see a warm smile on the filly’s face. A smile he hadn’t seen for the past months.
“Thank you, thank you so much!” Fluttershy said, before pushing her fangs into the pegasus’s veins as tears of joy started to drop from her eyes. Her soul was still wounded after witnessing her parents’ death. But being so warmly accepted gave her a ray of hope for the future.
“Are you sure we should be here instead of at our daughter’s birthday party?” Rainbowshine asked as she fixed her puffy mane. “And why here of all places?” She looked around as rays of sunlight blinded her slightly. On her left side was the entrance to a restaurant. Her flank was comfortably perched on a white cloud while a hay sandwich and muffin laid on a blue table. Even after living in Cloudsdale her entire life, she was still amazed what one could make with clouds.
“Relax,” Blaze said as he gently grabbed his wife’s forehoof and stroked it. “Nothing ruins a good party faster than overprotective parents. We shouldn’t embarrass our daughter in front of her classmates.” His wife nodded, but the distress didn’t leave her face. “Is something still bothering you?”
“It does. I am worried about Fluttershy. She's still so devastated after all this time.” Rainbowshine continued with a whisper, “She can heal others’ wounds with her powers, but not the scars on her innocent heart.”
“Excuse me.”
Both pegasi turned to the source of the voice, as a familiar smiling face caught their attention. “Yes?”
“Did I overheard the name Fluttershy?”
Rainbowshine nodded. ”You heard right, miss… umm... May I ask your name?” She examined the young mare’s features, stopping at her unusual eyes.
“Oh right. My name is Ditzy Hooves, but everypony calls me Derpy. Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too, Ditzy. Do you know Fluttershy?”
She nodded. “Not personally. But I attend the same school. Because of a few issues with my flying and sight problems, I was held back a few classes. When I found out that there was another pony with similar problems, I tried to cheer her up with a– muffin!” Ditzy looked predatorily at the muffin on the table and licked her lips.
“One day I was about to deliver her a ‘have a nice day’ muffin, only to find out that her mansion was…” Her cheerful smile fell as her ears dropped. “I was devastated. I was afraid that something horrible happened to Fluttershy. Is she alright?”
“She is,” Blaze said. “Our daughter brought her to our home and told us what happened, and we’ve been taking care of her ever since. Rainbow Dash is having her birthday party today. If you want to see Fluttershy, she will be there.”
“Thank you!” Ditzy said as she spread her wings and and flapped them joyfully. She flew up, but then quickly landed back, her hooves sinking into the clouds. “Umm… where is Dash’s party taking place?”
“In our house,” Blaze responded.
Ditzy nodded. “On it.”
Dash’s parents watched as the pegasus disappeared behind cloudy buildings, only to appear again, flying back at them. Their eyes opened widely and they both flinched when the young pegasus slammed into the table. Ditzy shook fragments of wood from herself before asking, “Where is your home?”
“Come on, Fluttershy, it is just a party,” Rainbow Dash said as she tried to pull Fluttershy out of her room, a feat she found very difficult to accomplish now that her friend was at full strength. If she learned anything about Fluttershy in the past few weeks, it was to never provoke her during a hoof wrestle. Luckily, repairing the hole in the floor wasn’t too expensive.
“I… please, no,” Fluttershy squeaked as she held her ground, her hooves sunk into the floor.
“You have to lighten up a bit,” Dash responded, adding her wings into pulling her friend, but Fluttershy used her own to counter it. “Come on… it will be fun,” Dash said as he pulled with all of her strength, while her friend resisted it without dropping a sweat.
“But… there will be so many ponies watching, so many… I cannot,” Fluttershy responded before putting more effort into her resistance. Her rear hooves sank deeply into the floor as she used way too much strength, accidentally launching Dash at the wall. “S-sorry,” she said before running to help her friend, who was now stuck in a pony-shaped hole.
Dash slowly stood back up to her hooves and wiped the puffy cloud leftovers from her shoulders. Unable to force or convince her friend into participating in her birthday party, Fluttershy had left her no choice. After looking around to make sure that they were alone, Dash twisted her forehooves together and dropped her ears, while also widening her eyes. “Pleaaase…” she said with the cutest and most pleading puppy stare she could pull of.
Fluttershy just stared back at Dash. Her shy nature and fear of crowds began fighting against her guilt and desire to not disappoint her friend. She slowly looked to the side and murmured, “If… if you really want that.”
“Great, let's go,” Dash instantly said with renewed enthusiasm. She spread her wings, quickly grabbing Fluttershy’s foreleg before flying outside. While none of the rooms inside the house were big enough to hold a party, the outside platform on the second floor could fit enough ponies.
Rays of sun shone brightly over the party, forcing Fluttershy to cover her eyes with her wing. After a moment to adapt, she looked around. In the center of the platform was a long table that Dash’s parents brought from the dining room. The table itself contained a three level strawberry cake with fourteen candles decorating it. On several trays on the table were cupcakes, cookies, and muffins.
The platform itself was spacious enough for eight guests. For entertainment they had prepared slingshots aimed at small clouds to serve as a target, and a mid-air volleyball court for pegasi.
Fluttershy quickly hid her face behind her mane and shrank a little. She felt overwhelmed by the cheerful crowd as two classmates ran towards her with shocked expressions.
Rainbow Dash looked between her friend and classmates, quickly noticing Fluttershy's distress.
Dash knew Fluttershy for a long time and always viewed her as a hesitant and weak filly, a pony with a flying disability who was forced to endure the laughter and bullying of her classmates. However, ever since the race that nearly claimed her life, she met the real Fluttershy: a strong, dependable, and powerful thestral with a kind personality, who always pushed herself forward, fought against her own weaknesses, and practiced her flying day after day while enduring the weakening sun rays.
However, what she was seeing now wasn’t the facade of a weak, defenseless filly that Fluttershy displayed in the past. Neither could she see the brave and kind pony willing to help her friends. What she saw was nothing but a broken pony, way more vulnerable than the filly she once pretended to be.
Before that tragedy, Fluttershy didn’t hesitate to talk with the others. She had no trouble with ignoring their mocking remarks either. And now…
Rainbow Dash bit her lips as she thought deeply about her friend. I hardly recognize her anymore… Dash lowered her head and sighed, her ears and wings dropping. She is barely talking with Mom and Dad, refuses to go to school, the presence of other ponies terrifies her… she's even afraid of her own shadow.
Dash grit her teeth and closed her eyes tightly. Why? Why Flutters? She doesn’t deserve any of this! She slammed her forehoof against the platform before taking a few slow breaths. Slowly raising her head, she looked at her classmates who in the past were making jokes about Fluttershy, and now tried to cheer her up with words of condolence, displaying happiness over the fact that she was still alive.
It seems Fluttershy isn’t the only pony that changed… I am no longer an immature prankster who sought attention by causing trouble for the teachers. And they aren’t mean bullies anymore who like to laugh at another pony’s misery. A satisfied smile grew across her lips. We are no longer mean fillies and colts, but young mares and–
“Hey, isn’t that Rainbow Crash and Flutter Snitch?” called a familiar voice.
“So much for the maturity,” Dash murmured as she recognized the pony. “Dumb-Bell. What are you doing in my birthday party? You were not invited.”
The bronze pegasus smirked. “I borrowed an invitation. April Showers won’t be missing much anyway. As for why I am here...” He looked around before examining his raised forehoof with a bored expression. “I just wanted to see the disaster your party would turn out to be.” He looked to the side at Fluttershy. “I see you invited that loser of a pegasus who was too scared to show in class, or even leave a note to say that she’s still alive. Why am I not surprised?”
Dash spread her wings aggressively and shot him a glare. “Don’t you dare call her names!” She approached until their muzzle touched. “You’ve been bullying her without a break ever since our race. A race you couldn't even win.” He frowned and stomped at this remark before Dash continued, “You’re not welcome here.”
“She deserves it,” Dumb-Bell pointed out. “Because of her, my parents grounded me for months, and I had to say goodbye to hanging out with my buddies until my grades improved.” His wings spread as he pushed his muzzle against Dash’s. “My reputation suffered ever since. Do you have any idea how much time passed before I was invited into a cool party?”
“S-sorry,” Fluttershy said quietly, while the other guests shot their classmate disapproving glances.
“You have nothing to apologize for Fluttershy,” Dash said as she got between the bully and her friend. “And you. Didn’t you hear what happened to her? Show some respect!”
Dumb-Bell rolled his eyes. “Oh right, her parents. Tragic,” he said with mocking tone as he raised a hoof to his forehead, faking a dramatic pose. “I would care much more if she had the guts to at least tell us that she is alive. A lot of students thought she was dead.” He shrugged. “But whatever. I will give her a break for today.”
Dash felt urge to kick the insensitive bully in the flank in front of her classmates, but another familiar figure approached. “Hey Gilda!” she said, waving her foreleg at the gryphon.
“Sup Dash,” Gilda said as she approached with a relaxed posture. She raised her foreclaw and asked, “Wanna play volleyball? I will be careful with my talons this time.”
“Maybe later. Right now I need to show this unwelcomed guest the exit.”
Gilda looked at Dumb-Bell and smirked. “Say no more Dash, leave the rest to me." She grabbed the pegasus’ foreleg with her talons and pulled him. “I need to have a word with you. Do we have a minute?”
“No!” Dumb-Bell said before finding himself on the edge of platform.
“Okay, you have ten seconds to tell me why you came to ruin my buddy’s party. Then I will kick your flank,” Gilda said as she exposed her talons threateningly.
The bully frowned. “Pfff… You try to act cool and all, but you still hang out with that Dash loser.”
“Seven…”
“You think you scare me?”
“Five…”
“Fine. I came here to make fun of Dash. She cheated on that race, and after that Flutter Snitch told the coach that I was the one who challenged her. They got me into a lot of trouble. Since I still can’t attend parties with my buddies, I decided to mess Dash’s birthday party a bit to repay her. There, I said it, happy?”
“One…”
Dumb-Bell took a step back in surprise. “What? But I answered your question!”
True to her word, Gilda kicked him in the flank, pushing him off the platform onto a cloudy house below. The pegasus’ wings kept him in mid air as he massaged his flank. “Why did you do that? I answered your stupid question!”
Gilda smirked. “I never said I wouldn’t kick your flank if you answered it.” The pegasus growled and flew away, leaving Rainbow Dash with a satisfied smile.
As Gilda came back, Dash said, “Nice to see you here. This party just got a lot cooler.”
“Duh. There’s no way I would miss my buddy’s birthday party.” With a smirk, Gilda asked, “Side note, how much cooler this party became with me around?”
Dash shrugged and said, “Twenty percent, I suppose... “ A grin grew on her lips. “Twenty percent cooler… it has a nice ring to it.”
“Only twenty, and here I thought I was better than that,” Gilda joked before pointing at the other pegasi. “Are you ready to show those losers how to play volleyball in the sky?”
“Not yet,” Dash responded before pointing at Fluttershy. “I’m trying to lift my friend’s spirit and make her enjoy the party. She hasn't been herself ever since the accident.”
Gilda nodded before taking a step towards Fluttershy, who flinched in response. “Sup.”
“H-hello,” the young mare responded. She raised her forehoof towards Gilda, as the memory of her healing birds flashed in her mind, but shrunk back immediately as her inner fears won over.
“Hey, I remember you. You’re that pegasus who was poor at flying. So you didn’t hit the coffin like your parents after all,” Gilda said as she examined Fluttershy’s features, ignoring Dash’s weak punch on her shoulder.
“Y-yes,” Fluttershy responded as she shrunk even more. She looked at the floor, wishing she could sink into it without falling to the ground.
“Way to be subtle,” scolded Dash, causing Gilda to scratch the back of her own neck nervously.
“Oh...” the griffon said as she kept her eyes on the pegasus drowning in self-pity in front of her. “Sorry about that. I’m not good with this kind of stuff.”
After not receiving any response, Gilda decided to give a lecture. “Where I come from, always comes a day when a bird is thrown from the nest to learn how to fly, just like we get kicked away to live on our own.” The griffon’s words did little but make Fluttershy squeak nervously. “I will probably be kicked from my home soon to start my independent life. Just say to yourself that you were sent away to live on your own, and that your parents just don’t want to see you anymore.”
“I...” Fluttershy started as she stood shakily. “I don’t feel too well.” She went back inside slowly, as Dash facehoofed and shoot Gilda a disappointed glare.
The griffon blinked in confusion and said, “I screwed this up, didn’t I?
“You think?” Dash asked.
Both Dash and her friend started at each other, unsure of what to say. The silence was interrupted by a question from a guest. “We finished forming two teams for the game, but there is still one free spot on each team. Are you joining or not?”
Dash looked towards the entrance as her ears dropped. As much as she wished to cheer up her depressed friend and convince her to give this party a chance, she simply didn’t know how to anymore. “Sure, why not. It’s best to give Flutters some time to calm down.”
As Dash flew towards Surprise with Gilda by her side, the griffon asked curiously, “Why didn't you stop her from leaving? Maybe a game of volleyball would distract her or something.”
“I’d rather not,” Dash responded with a sheepish smile. “There is no way I can convince or force her to join us anyway.”
“Really?” the griffon raised her eyebrow. “It’s not like you to give up that easily.”
The pegasus stretched herself and massaged her foreleg. “I just think that she needs some time alone.” Dash chuckled, thinking of words that would lighten the gloomy atmosphere.
“Besides, In this case it is better to simply give up, trust me.” She pointed at the entrance to her house. “I don’t want my dad to yell at us for decorating the walls of the house with holes in my shape.” She grinned at the confusion on the griffon's face. "She is stronger than she looks."
Fluttershy locked herself in Dash’s room, a place her friend generously shared with her. The uncomfortable feeling of guilt and anxiety didn’t leave her for even a moment.
She looked at the door and raised her trembling foreleg, struggling to gather the courage to participate in her friend’s birthday party, but she couldn’t. The very concept of talking with ponies terrified her. Images haunted her mind: her secret identity slipping during a conversation, her classmates’ screams summoning hunters looking to finish what they started. “I’m sorry,” she murmured as her ears dropped.
After a quiet whimper left her mouth, Fluttershy noticed the sunrays out of the corner of her eye. She shut the curtains to block the unpleasant light and perched herself atop the cloudy bed, sinking into the soft surface. Mom, Dad… I miss you… Her eyes watered.
Fluttershy pressed her head against the cloud that served her as a pillow, seeking its comfort. She embraced it tightly, hoping against hope it could take the pain away while her tears sank into it. What should I do…?
Despite Dash and her parents’ acceptance and all the help they offered, attempting to cheer her up and even sharing their blood, Fluttershy felt as if something was amiss, a void that even they couldn’t fill. Where do I go, what do I do? Those two questions once again repeated themselves in her mind. Her confusion only grew each time she searched for the answer, and failed to attain it. Until now, her parents had always pointed the best direction. Studies of biology, animals care center, veterinary clinic, age altering spell, flight school, home teaching. Despite her old age, she was still trapped in young mare’s body, and certainly felt like one as she wished to feel mommy and daddy's embrace.
Fluttershy hugged the cloud with even greater strength, until it slowly stretched and split into two, desperately imagining her parents holding her in a tight embrace. But try as she liked, the softness of the cloud couldn’t replace the warmness of her parent's chests.
“What do I do… Mom, Dad… guide me, please,” she murmured to herself before looking towards the window, staring at curtains that blocked the light of the sun which everypony cherished so much. The sun that she had endured for hours everyday when going to flight school, now enticed her with painful road to reunite her with her parents.
Fluttershy shook her head and resisted the temptation. She knew the pain of losing somepony important, and she wouldn’t dare to inflict that on her friend.
Where should I go, what should I do? thought Fluttershy as her body shivered. The world outside this window was filled with ponies that would want to hurt her… hunters waiting for a chance to get her head as a trophy. She embraced her hind legs with her forelegs and curled into a ball.
Fluttershy closed her eyes and murmured, “I’m scared… where will my future lead me, what destination should I take?” she sobbed. I know that I cannot stay in this house forever, that I will need to leave sooner or later, but where? I do not want to leave.
Minutes passed while she heard Dash playing outside and enjoying the party with her classmates. Not that she could blame her. Her friend had tried to cheer her up and fill her with confidence so many times, and today she once again wasted her precious time.
Fluttershy’s solitude was suddenly interrupted by a knock on the door. “W-who’s there?” she asked nervously, half of the cloud that had served as a pillow now held tightly between her forelegs.
“It’s me, Ditzy!” the muffled voice came from behind the door.
Fluttershy used her senses to examine the pony behind the closed door, and while she hadn’t seen Ditzy for more than half an year, she could still recognize her unique heartbeat.
“Ditzy? C-come in.” The door opened as an enthusiastic pegasus flew inside. “No, wait,” the vampony tried to say as she stood, but was too slow to evade the bodyslam. The cloudy bed shattered over the entire room as both pegasi were stuck in the wall.
“My bad,” Ditzy said as she and Fluttershy freed themselves. Fluttershy started wiping herself from the cloud-leftovers, only to be trapped in a tight hug. “I thought you were dead. Don’t do this again, please!”
“I… I’m really sorry. I was confused and afraid.”
“Say no more,” Derpy answered before pulling out a muffin from her saddlebag. “Strawberry muffin with a special surprise, just for you.”
Fluttershy blinked in confusion as she looked at the muffin presented to her. “Thank you, but I’m not…” She trailed off at Derpy’s pleading expression, forelegs curled under her neck and pout on her face. “Well, if you ask so nicely...”
“Yaaay!”
Fluttershy took a bite and a satisfied “mmm” followed as she felt the very original flavour. A few bites later, she licked her lips and said, “I missed your blood flavoured muffins. Ditzy.”
“And I missed sharing them.”
Both mares ate their snack and talked about good times as the atmosphere became a bit less depressing.
Their somewhat cheerful reunion raised Fluttershy’s curiosity as she decided to learn more about her friend. “Umm, may I ask you a personal question, if that’s okay with you?”
“I’ll be happy to answer.”
Fluttershy nodded before gathering her confidence as she rubbed her foreleg. “I was always curious, but never had the courage to ask… How is life treating you… as a half-breed thestral?”
“Good,” Derpy responded with her never vanishing smile.
“Really? But it must be hard from time to time.”
“It is,” Derpy said. “Being under the sun makes me more clumsy than usual, and my sight problems certainly don't help, but I got used to it.”
Fluttershy scratched back of her neck nervously. “And when others laugh at you?”
“Then I’m happy that they’re happy. I may even laugh alongside them.”
“And all the accidents you have? And the need to drink blood?” Fluttershy asked as her muzzle pressed against Ditzy’s.
Derpy puffed her chest. “No biggy. My mom feeds me a few drops everyday and dad says I have a body of steel.” She grabbed her friend by the shoulder and gestured with her forehoof around the room. “No matter what challenges you will face or troubles you are in. Always face them with a smile.”
Fluttershy looked at the floor. “I’m not sure I can. I don’t even know what I should do.”
The grey pegasus placed her wing on her friend’s back and continued, “When I see others happy, it makes me happy. Do you make anypony happy?”
“Umm…” Fluttershy rubbed her chin in contemplation. “Dash’s parents… I guess.”
“Did you feel better when it happened?”
Fluttershy’s ears straightened and a weak smile appeared on her lips. “I did.”
“Than how about going through life by making everyone happy?”
With growing confidence, the pureblood thestral stomped firmly and said, “You’re right, Ditzy. If I wasn’t there to save Rainbow Dash, her family would be grieving just like I was this whole time. Maybe there are animals and ponies I can still help with my powers.”
“That’s the spirit. You can start by moving to Ponyville and help there.”
“Yes, I… wait, Ponyville? Why there?” Fluttershy asked with confusion.
Derpy smiled awkwardly and blushed. “Oh, right. I forgot to tell you. Without your family to sustain the peace, Cloudsdale will soon turn into an underground… undercloud battlefield for many young purebloods and their newly formed clans. A huge fight over this territory between thestrals.”
"Oh," only one word left Fluttershy's mouth before her ears and wings straightened, her eyes widening. "Oh my!" Feeling as if her body turned into jelly, Fluttershy fainted against the soft floor.
“How was the birthday party?” Blaze asked while helping to clean up the decorations. Much to his worry, three young mares stood in front of him with saddened smiles. “Is something wrong?”
Fluttershy went ahead of the group and spoke first, “I’m not safe here anymore. If I stay here, I'll put you all in grave danger.”
“What do you mean?” Blaze asked. His wife dropped her cleaning tools and rushed to join them.
Assured by Fluttershy that Dash’s parents could be trusted, Ditzy spent the next few minutes explaining the situation, while revealing her own secret.
***
“–My mom found a few places where we can live in Ponyville, and we were about to move there. During our search, she also found an abandoned cottage on the edge of the Everfree Forest and a vacant cloud house, both very cheap.”
Rainbowshine looked at Fluttershy. “Are you sure there is no other way?”
The thestral shook her head. “I wish there was.” She sighed. “For them, I am just a threat, yet another pureblood to remove or banish. Leaving is the most peaceful solution.”
“And I’m moving too,” Dash added with a determined stomp, causing her parents to step back and look at her with wide eyes. “I’ll help her settle down in the cottage, and I can live with her until I fix that house in the sky.”
Both parents ran to Dash and knelt as Blaze spoke first, “What? You can’t leave us just like that! And how can you two even afford those homes, even if they are cheap?”
Dash pointed at the grey pegasus, who waved at them with cheerful smile. “Derpy said that her parents owe a debt to Flutters’ family, so they will cover the cost.” She sighed. “I know it may be difficult, but I am no longer a filly. I can take care of myself, and so can Fluttershy.”
The vampony nodded with a surprising amount of determination. She approached Dash’s mother and stood on her rear hooves as she whispered into her ear, “In a few months, the effect of the age-altering spell will vanish. I will take care of Dash and keep her from trouble.”
She took a quick breath and continued, concern clear in her voice, "From what my parents told me, young purebloods prefer to turn ponies who are already athletic or skilled in combat. That, and those who wander outside late at night." She stroked Dash’s mother’s foreleg and said in a warmer tone, "Avoid standing out, and you both should be safe."
Fluttershy shot her fast flying friend a quick glance before continuing, "Your daughter, on the other hoof, will be safer away from Cloudsdale."
Rainbow Dash tilted her head in confusion, wondering what her friend was keeping a secret from her.
Rainbowshine was taken aback by Fluttershy’s promise and warning, but most of all by the strength in her voice. This wasn’t the devastated and broken filly they had taken care of for half a year, but a mature pureblood thestral filled with hope. Was this the result of Ditzy’s encouragements? Or was the age-altering spell finally giving up?
Dash’s mother rubbed her chin. Once she was at her full age, Fluttershy would be capable to look after her daughter. Suddenly, worry about Dash’s education crossed her mind. “And what about school? We can provide you both with bits and food until you find a job, but what about your studies?”
“Actually...” Derpy raised her forehoof. “There are some free spots in the weather department, at least this is what my mom told me. The age requirement is fifteen years minimum, and they provide a quick course about weather management. They tend to overlook the education so long as the pegasus can do its job.”
“See?” Dash added with a confident smile. “I’m the fastest in my class. It should be a breeze for me.”
Rainbowshine’s eyes watered as she embraced her daughter tightly enough to keep the air from reaching her lungs. ”You are growing so fast.”
Blaze joined the hug. “I am proud of you, Dash. I am sure you’ll show those ponies in Ponyville how to manage weather. After all, I taught you everything I know.”
“Thanks Dad... Mom...” the young mare said, barely catching her breath between her words as she struggled to free herself. She slowly pushed herself away from the embrace. “A little air… please.”
Released from the hug, she fell onto her flank and massaged her back. She looked up at her parents, who were on the verge of tears, and looked around, making sure there weren’t many witnesses. With a deep breath, she spoke, “I love you.”
“We love you too,” both parents responded in unison. Their attention slowly switched to Fluttershy, who sat behind Derpy and observed the situation with a warm smile.
Derpy walked to the side as both parents approached Fluttershy. Blaze spoke first, “Should I call you Miss Fluttershy from now on, or would you prefer Lady Fluttershy instead?”
“W-what?”
“You’re about to go live on your own… away from us, that is. Surely calling you a filly would be disrespectful,” Blaze continued before chuckling. “Not to mention that you are far older than me.”
“I guess...” she said before being caught in a tight hug by Dash’s mother.
“Even under our care, you never went outside and talked to anypony beside us. Are you sure you’re prepared to move away?” Rainbowshine asked with concern. “Not to mention to look after my daughter?”
“What?” Dash flinched before stomping. “I will look after Flutters, not the other way around.”
Fluttershy sighed. “I don’t have much of a choice anyway. This place is not safe for me any longer, and if I stay here, it won’t be for you.” She smiled and added cheerfully, “After all the support and acceptance you showed me, I wouldn’t dare to be a burden to you.”
“You were never a burden to us, dear. We will miss you,” Shine said. With her mouth close to the vampony’s ear, she asked, “Still, what about your feeding habits? I don’t want you to starve yourself… again.”
Not bothering to resist the warm embrace, she placed her forelegs around Rainbowshine, only to feel a pair of wings circle her own back. The gesture left her conflicted. The joy of being accepted into a loving family during times of hardship, mixed with regret of leaving them behind. “I… will think of something.”
The pegasus freed Fluttershy from her hug and exposed her neck, a farewell gift for the incoming journey. Once Fluttershy finished and licked his wound, he gave her a stern glare. "One more thing."
"Y-yes?"
"We have been taking care of you until now since you saved our daugther's life, but from now on you two will be on your own." He pointed at Fluttershy and whispered, "Keep yourself and our daughter out of trouble and away form the conflict including your race. Rainbow Dash is a bit too brave for her own good, and I wouldn't be happy if she hurt herself on your watch. Am I clear?"
Fluttershy gulped and nodded.
Rainbowshine gave her daughter a similar look. "Rainbow Dash, I'm expecting you to behave and stay out of danger. Try your best to help and take care of Fluttershy, but also listen to her since she's older and more experienced. In case of danger, use your speed to escape instead of rushing into it. I hope we have a understanding."
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. "Fiiineee..." She blushed upon getting a quick kiss in the cheek. "Mooom!"
“Hello, I have never seen you before, have I seen you before?” Those were the second words Fluttershy heard upon their arrival at the cottage, coming from a young pink mare who seemed eager to welcome her into Ponyville.
