Fool Moon, Part 29 (Love and other drugs.)

>Pony booze tasted disgusting.

>You'd never tell her that, of course.

>But to tell the truth it was COMPLETELY disgusting.

>All their drinks tasted like hay, apples, and liquor.

>You didn't need to drink it at all, not really, but you had to keep up appearances.

>For her, most of all.

>You chuckle at one of her jokes as you sip on your drink, a tasteless type of apple cider.

>She finishes laughing and grins at you.

>"Can you believe this!? An entire DAY of free drinks? This is the best coronation EVER!"

>You roll your eyes and give her a smile.

"It's your ONLY coronation."

>She snorts and takes another drink.

>"So!? Best, only, who cares! Honestly, you're such a buzzkill!"

>You blow her a raspberry, and the both of you break into laughter.

>You know she didn't mean it.

>You can FEEL she didn't, in the slow, steady stream of positive emotion that leaked from her.

>She was the meal, really. Your best friend in the entire world.

>She tasted like mint and smiles and joy and love.

>You smile sadly at her as she continues to talk about the new King Blueblood.

>She didn't know.

>Not about what her people had payed to have Blueblood enthroned.

>Not about the truth of that night.

>Not the truth about you.

>And she would never know.

>She'd been your best friend for years, before that night, before that mess with the invasion.

>You'd left the Hive to get away from all that.

>But the past has a way of catching up with creatures like you.

>The door to the Canterlot bar opens with a jingle of bells, and a purple mare walks in.

>She sees you, and her face brightens.

>"Bon-Bon! Long time no see!"

 

 

 

>It couldn't be.

>It fucking couldn't be.

>You'd payed off your debt. You were out. You'd told Blueblood all about Chrysalis, everything you knew.

>There was no reason SHE would be here. While you were with Lyra?

>He'd promised to leave you both alone. To leave HER alone.

>"Hey Bonnie, I think that pony knows you!"

>You put on an uneasy smile and wave weakly back at Amethyst Star as she approaches the two of you.

>WHY WAS SHE HERE?

>She takes a seat next to Lyra, offering you a warm smile.

>"Hi Bon-Bon! How have you been!? It's been AGES since we talked!"

"Oh! Hi...Sparkler! Sorry, I didn't recognize you for a second."

>Something flashes in her eyes, but she stays warm.

>"Oh, Bonnie, I'm hurt! After all the fun we had when you took that candy-making job at the mansion!"

>Lyra leans back from the table, her face looking hurt.

>Something dark and ugly comes through the emotional feed, and you hold back a grimace.

>Suspicion.

>Dark and oily and nasty.

>"...Bonnie? I thought I was the only pony who..."

>You flash a look of intense hatred at Sparkler, who looks oblivious.

>Lyra gets up, a riot of emotions playing on her face.

>"I'll...uh...I'll give you two some space, huh? I'll be back at the room, Bon-Bon."

>As she trots out the door, you turn a furious glare onto Sparkler's now-stoic face.

"What the BUCK was that!? I thought I was done with you and your blue-balled little-"

>"We have another job for you."

"What makes you think I'd ever work with you clowns again!?"

>Sparkler gives you a smiling so devoid of emotion it makes your teeth hurt.

>"Because we'll kill Lyra if you refuse us."

"...What do you want?"

 

 

>The words burn in your mind as you write the letter and slip it under her door.

>How could they ask that of you?

>How could they ask that of anything, let alone a pony, or a changeling?

>"We want you to help us track and kill a filly."

>You shiver as you descend the steps from your Canterlot suite.

>Amethyst Star is waiting for you at the bottom.

>She grimaces as she notes the anger in your approach.

"Why in Tartarus do you need ME for this?"

>"Your Queen insisted that one of her...creatures...be involved."

"She's not MY Queen!"

>This seems to take Sparkler by surprise.

>"Are you not...linked...to your people?"

>You snort.

"I'm not explaining changelings to you. Your boss already knows enough about us. Why me?"

>"Blueblood ordered. I obeyed. You know her, I believe. Sweetie Belle, from that town you made your nest in."

"...Nest? We don't...that's not important, how would I be any help tracking Sweetie Belle!? And you both promised to leave Lyra out of this the first time!"

>She shrugs.

>"Afraid your little food source will get hurt? You'd have to find another one, what a tragedy."

>You growl and shift shapes, a green flare revealing your true nature to the stoic purple mare.

"She's more than a...a food source, you bitch."

>Sparkler raises an eyebrow.

>"So...what, she's like a...don't tell me you beasts actually...do you care about her romantically?"

>You shrink back, blushing under your carapace.

"Well...changeling romance is...complicated?"

>"How so?"

"There are...quadrants, and-"

>"Stop, I've heard enough. Come with me. And change back, you disgusting bug."

>You grimace and comply.

>For Lyra. You're doing this for Lyra.

 

 

"Why are we...here?"

>Sparkler sighs in annoyance.

>"The filly is in Fillydelphia with her parents. So we're going to take a little train ride."

"You want us to...we have to kill her parents, too?"

>Sparkler blinks.

>"Do you have a problem with that?"

>You stare at her blankly for about a minute.

"OF COURSE I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT, YOU BASKET CASE! WHO DOESN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH-"

>Sparkler shoves a hoof in your mouth.

>"Stop shouting. You're causing a scene."

>You glance around at the other passengers before lowering your hooves and pulling Sparkler's hoof out of your mouth.

>"Why do you care, anyway? They're not your kind."

"That doesn't matter! She's still a child! With a family! What is WRONG with you!?"

>You put your hooves to your head.

"I'm...I'm not doing this. This isn't happening!"

>Sparkler blinks, then looks straight ahead.

>"You are, and it is. If you care about your little mint snack, that is."

>You growl, and Sparkler gives a tiny smile.

>A sudden realization hits you.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

>"Of course. I get to watch a mismatched, un-equine abomination suffer, and I get to kill the disgusting, common byblow of a child that's related to...Her."

>You reel at the sudden taste of emotion flowing from Sparkler. Jealousy wouldn't even begin to cover...

>Envy, green and furious, flows into you suddenly, the taste making you gag.

"You are one crazed bitch."

>"And you're the monster that's helping me."

>You don't respond to that.

>How could you?

>She and her...employer were threatening Lyra.

>Threatening the only thing in this world you cared about.

>And to save her.

>You had to kill a child.

 

Blueblood's perspective.

 

>There were many perks to being king.

>Some small.

>Some large.

>But by far, the greatest part of it was to just...

>See how BROKEN she was.

>Her white coat was wan and dim, her magnificent mane dirty and unkempt.

>There was no defiance in those eyes.

>Not anymore.

>Nothing but cold acceptance, fear, loathing, and despair.

>The despair was the best part, you decided.

>You looked on her as you stepped off the levitating elevator that led to this dismal cave she had made her home.

"Good afternoon, Celestia."

>"Is it?"

"I take it you have not had much luck with your beloved sister?"

>She closes her eyes, as if pained.

>"...You know I have not, Blueblood."

"Why, Princess, are you in this portion of the caverns? Why are you not with her?"

>She gives you a glare of such ferocious intensity that you recoil, your royal robe charring in the heat of her gaze.

>Despairing she may be, but she is still the Sun.

>"She BURNS AT MY TOUCH, BLUEBLOOD. MY VERY PRESENCE IS AGONY TO HER. IN HER DARKEST HOUR, I CANNOT BE THERE TO LIGHT HER WAY!"

>Her glare cuts off as she closes her eyes.

>"...Again."

>You smile and put a hoof on her shoulder.

"Worry not, Celestia. I still have faith in Equestria's Undimmed Sun."

>"No, you don't."

>Your smile widens.

"No, I don't."

>You start to walk past her, when she speaks again.

>"Blueblood."

"Princess?"

>"Anonymous. If Anonymous had anything to do with this...I will find him, and burn him to ashes."

>You smirk.

"Of course you wi-"

>"And Blueblood? If YOU had anything to do with this, there will not even be ashes left of you."

 

 

>Surely, she hadn't...she didn't really suspect, did she?

>It doesn't matter. Sparkler would tie up one loose end. And you'd tie up the other two.

>Now it's time to visit your second 'Aunt'.

>You walk slowly through the crystal caverns beneath Canterlot, your horn lighting the way.

>You know this path well enough.

>The past few days have seen you coming to it again and again.

>You wait until the caves get darker and darker, until your horn's light simply stops at one corner of the room.

>You hear her, her voice bouncing off the corners of the room and returning to you.

>A whisper, a hiss, a roar.

>"Blueblood...turn off the light."

>You cough as sweat forms on your forehead.

>You didn't fear her. Not really. You'd made her, after all.

"It's...King, now, Princess. King Regent, I suppose, but-"

>"Turn. Off. The Light."

>You dim your horn.

>"Better."

>You see her, huddled in the dark, her head facing the wall. This was a new...development.

"Princess? Why are you-"

>"I can't see you, now. I can still smell you. I can still hear you. Your little heart, beating so fast..."

"That still doesn't..."

>"Beating faster, now."

>You clear your throat.

"Princess Luna. I know your...condition is...severe."

>She stands up, the chains around her neck and hooves clanking as she sinuously turns to regard you with her eyes.

>"I wonder...Blueblood..."

"And your sister is working very hard to cure you..."

>"I wonder if your blood is truly blue? I'm so very, very thirsty...and that name has always been-"

"But what if I knew who did this awful thing to you?"

>You see a hint of fangs in the dark.

"What if I could deliver Anonymous to you?"

 

Music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlCwgfPqNGw

>Everything twists again.

>You are Anonymous, and nothing is real.

>Your vision warps, distorts, mutates before your eyes.

>Stone walls become marble.

>Cold air becomes soft satin.

>Rot and death and fear becomes musk, perfume, and roses.

>Everything is permitted.

>"Anonymous..."

>And her.

>She changes.

>Again.

>Beauty unimaginable, cheekbones, hips, a body out of a teenager's wet dream.

>A pale hand traces it's way up your bare chest.

>"Anonymous...won't you love me?"

>Soft flesh presses against you, and you inhale as you feel her lips on your neck.

>A soft trail of kisses chase up your neck, until she's nibbling on your ear.

>"I can be anyone. Anything...and I'm all yours..."

>You want her.

>Who wouldn't?

>She was beautiful, yes. A Queen amongst peasents.

"Get..."

>"All you have to do..."

"The fuck."

>"Is love me."

>You feel her shift, green eyes glaring at you like twin lamps.

"Off of me."

>She smiles, her mouth widening in a monstrous fashion.

>She straddles your chest, and you grimace up at her.

>"None of that, lover. No...no tonight. Tonight...you're going to love me..."

>Everything twists again.

>Your head BURNS, your thoughts rending themselves as she dives into your mind.

>You scream as you feel her, worming into your thoughts like a worm, like a plague, like a sickness.

>The twisting stops, and you gasp, panting in agony.

>She's above you, her eyes glowing, her mouth stretches in exhaustion and pain.

>"Why...can't I...make you..."

>You spit at her.

>Those green eyes widen in rage

>Everything twists...

 

 

>You're in Canterlot.

>Marble floors, finery, the room.

>The same room where you...

>Where she...

>You glance at the bed.

>Your heart stops moving.

>Rarity lies there, her eyes, those sapphire pools looking up at you.

>She's...beautiful.

>Her coat gleams, shining like a white star.

>She lies looking at you with an almost embarrassed grin, her hair let down in a waterfall of violet curls.

>Unbidden, you take a step forward.

>Then she speaks.

>"Is this what you want, then?"

>Your face twists in disgust.

>It's not her.

>How could you ever believe it was her?

>Rarity was never so...forward.

>Her voice was never so cruel.

>Her brows furrow at your disgust, and her eyes flare green.

>"Is this not what you desire? I can be anyone in your memory, Anon..."

>She shifts, into that first woman, that first love so long ago...

>"Or anyp0ny..."

>She shifts back into Rarity, crawling onto the floor towards you.

>"So why won't you love me?"

"Because you're none of them. None of those things. You're a lie. You're nothing."

>Her green eyes flare and become your world.

>You shout out in agony as she leaves your head, convulsing in the disgusting green pod they've trapped you in.

>Chrysalis rears back, shrieking at your rejection.

>You grimly chuckle in your little cocoon of fluid, and she hisses at you once more.

>"You can't resist forever...Anon. I will break you."

>You shout back at her, your words muffled by the fluid.

>"It's only a matter of time...let's begin again."

 

 

>Everything twists.

>You're home.

>Wooden walls.

>Leaky roof.

>Bottles of wine and other assorted booze rolling around on the floor.

>Half-eaten food and trash in the corners.

>You hate doing this.

>Every week, you visited her, with as much of your haul as you could spare.

>Even this week, after being mauled by that animal, you visited.

>You scowl as you kick discarded wine bottles out of the way.

>She was drunk, again, of course.

>"Anon? Izzat my boy? My beautiful, beautiful boy."

>You didn't want to relive thi-

>Wait. That's not what she said that night.

>Against your will, you enter her room.

>She's smiling up at you, sober.

>Clean, with none of the drug-shakes or the red-eye.

>"You were always so beautiful, Anon. I've always been so proud of you."

>Everything twists, and you're embracing her.

>Wrapped in her arms, in her warmth, while she lays her head on your shoulder.

>"You've done so well, Anon. Made me so proud. You rose out of this life, rose out of what I wanted for you. You've found something better."

>You feel hot tears at the corners of your eyes.

>You know what will come next. She was cruel to do this to you. To give you this, just to take it away.

>The Moon was full that night, after all.

>"No, baby, no."

>She runs an arm on your shoulder.

>"That doesn't have to happen. Not here. Not ever again. You're safe, Anon. You're safe with your mamma. I love you, Anon. I love you so much."

>Your arms come up, around her, and she moves her lips to your ears.

>"Anon, do you love me?"

>Of course you did.

>Of course you loved her.

>So why couldn't you say it?

 

Music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WgCW5J6YG0

>You feel your neck shift, and you blearily wonder at how you're moving.

>You didn't tell yourself to move.

>You just wanted to let your mamma know you love her.

>She was PROUD of you, for God's sakes.

>After what you did to her...forgiveness? Love? You'd give anything for that.

"No," the voice that isn't you says, "No, I dON'T LOVE YOU."

>Everything Twists.

>Your hands are around her throat.

>Normal, human hands, wrapped around her neck like a noose.

>She's choking, your mamma that loves you so much, the green light in her eyes glowing and sparking.

>You love your mamma. Why would you hurt her?

>"What...what are you...doing...Anon? Don't you...love me?"

>The you that isn't you only laughs.

>"Stop...please...hurts..."

"THIS IS NOT PAIN, GREENLING. NO. THIS..."

>Your hand rises, twists, until it is a monstrous amalgamation of claw and furred paw.

>You jab it into your mother's eye.

>Everything twists.

>You see it from a distance.

>You, the great, hulking beast that is the dark part of your soul, holding her, another monster.

>A twisted, black demon. The beast-you jabs it's thumbs into her eyes, and she shrieks like a banshee.

"...IS PUNISHMENT."

>Dark-you drops her, then leans over her, drool running from your fanged maw.

"AND IT IS ONLY BEGINNING."

>It slams a clawed hand into her neck, ripping out a green gobbet of flesh.

>Everything twists, and you are once again in the green cocoon.

>Chrysalis backs away from you, hoof to her throat, staring at you in naked terror.

>You look at her through the green, and you smile with a mouth that is not under your control.

>You are trapped, again. Confined.

>But this time.

>YOU.

>ARE NOT.

>ALONE.