Fool Moon, Part 14 (Sanguine Amnesia)

>"What do you MEAN she's not okay!?"
"Rarity, you've asked me that four times already, my answer hasn't changed. I'm not SURE, okay? Whining about it won't help me remember!"
>You stumble as the pair of you make your way out of the forest.
>You feel weak, sick even, like you're suffering from the mother of all hangovers.
>The dark half was NOT happy, and it didn't hesitate to let you know it. It was like the thing was loose inside your head, trying to tear you apart from the inside out.
>Rarity pouts at you. Then she raises an eyebrow.
>"You want whini-"
"Rarity, not now. My head is killing me."
>"Alright, alright, I'm sorry. I just...I'm worried, Anon. What did you see? Or...what did IT see?"
"I don't...I don't know, exactly. I can get bits and pieces of what it sees, what it does, but that's all. And what it remembers of Sweetie Belle doesn't make any sense. If a single bit of its true, there's something really, really wrong with her."
>Rarity scowls.
>"Anonymous, this is my sister we're talking about. I'm going to need more than that!"
>You sigh.
"I can't give you more. Seriously. I wish I could. But that's all I remember. A blur, a shriek, pain, and Sweetie Be-"
>A high pitched scream rings out in the morning air.
>Rarity freezes, her eyes widening.
>"That was...that was Fluttershy!"
>You forget the pain in your head. You remembered what you'd done to her wing when you were...that other thing.
>She was crippled. If some monster had attacked her and Sweetie, she'd never get away.
>"That came from near her cottage!"


>You and Rarity crash through the trees, stumbling and galloping, respectively, to get to the cottage.
"How the hell can you tell where it came from?"
>She flicks an ear at you as she runs, without bothering to answer.
>Must be a horse thing.
>As you stumble onto the pathway leading to Fluttershy's cottage, you spot Rarity already at the door, pounding on it and screaming.
>"FLUTTERSHY!? LET US IN!"
>You stumble up the path, clutching your head as you get next to Rarity.
>Even with the pain in your head from that furious side of you, you notice something immediately.
>It is WAY too quiet.
>There are no singing birds, no chattering squirrels, no clucking chickens, no screeching animals.
>Just silence.
>Something's wrong here.
>Something is very, very wrong.
>You stand up straight, glancing around as you notice the cowering squirrels, the empty chicken coop, and the silence. The ever-present silence.
>You gulp.
"Rarity..."
>"Not now, Anonymous!"
>The door creaks open as Rarity pushes it open with her front hooves.
>The door opens on a scene out of nightmare.
>Animal bodies litter the floor, drained and wan. Squirrels, chickens, a bird or two...
>And Fluttershy.
>The yellow pegasus lies sprawled on the floor, her wing and neck blocked by a dirty, white lump of fur. Quiet, wet noises sound out frequently from the place where the white thing meets Fluttershy's neck.
>Rarity screams, and you gasp in shock and disgust.
>You were right.
>There is definitely something wrong with her.
>Sweetie Belle, upon hearing the two of you, lifts her bloody face from Fluttershy's neck.
>Red eyes meet yours, and her mouth, disfigured by two long fangs, opens up in a ferocious hiss.


>Rarity gasps from her position next to you.
>"S...Sweetie?"
>The hiss dies to a rattle in Sweetie Belle's throat, and those red eyes flick over to stare at Rarity.
>Her throat works for a moment, as if she's trying to swallow something, but then she speaks.
>"S-sis?"
>"What are you...what is this, Sweetie, what's going on?"
>Sweetie Belle looks down at Fluttershy, who doesn't appear to be breathing.
>"I...I don't...I can't..."
>She closes her eyes.
>"Go away."
>Rarity brings a hoof to her mouth as she takes in the carnage.
>"Oh, Sweetie...what have you done?"
>Rarity takes a step towards her sister, and Sweetie's eyes snap open. Her voice sends a shiver down your spine.
>"Please. Please, just leave."
>"How could I do that, Sweetie? You've...you've hurt Fluttershy, and you k-killed these animals! How could you?"
>There is a shriek, and a blur, and the next moment, Sweetie Belle is in front of Rarity.
>"RUN."
>Rarity, never one to back down, shouts right back.
>"What's WRONG with you, Sweetie!? What is this!?"
>Sweetie closes her eyes.
>"I'm sick, Rarity. And I'm thirsty. Very, very thirsty."
>Her eyes open again, and this time, they're practically glowing.
>"And you smell delicious."
>Rarity gasps, then her mouth goes slack. Her eyelids lower, and her head droops.
>Sweetie's eyes keep glowing, and she trots closer to her sister.
>"Good. Sis, just hold still. This won't hurt, I promise. I've gotten better. You'll be okay. I just need a taste..."
>She opens that bloodstained, fang-filled mouth again, and you choose that moment to kick her in the stomach.


>Your foot slams into her belly, punting her away.
>Sweetie flies away from your foot, tumbling across the floor, before coming to her hooves at the opposite end of the room.
>You put your fists up, ready for her to come for you, but she's standing there and shaking.
>"A-Anon? Did you just...kick me?"
>You sneak a glance at Rarity. She hasn't moved. She's just sitting there, stunned, barely breathing, her eyes staring into open space.
>Your eyes glance back at Sweetie.
"You're damn right I did. What the hell are you?"
>She lets out a shuddering breath.
>"I don't...I'm not sure. I'm trying to stop, Anonymous. I did it...I just wanted to make everything RIGHT. I didn't want this!"
>She takes a step towards you, and you back up.
"Stay the hell away, monster!"
>She looks up at you, sharply, her eyes still that crimson red.
>"I'm not a...It's me, Anonymous! Its me, Sweetie Belle! I am NOT a monster!"
>Her voice cracks a bit, but it only takes a glance at the room to save you from the cuteness.
"Then what do you call what you did to Fluttershy!? What you did to Rarity?"
>She hisses again.
>"I can't...I knew you wouldn't get it. They said you wouldn't. But I'm not going to hurt you, Anonymous. I wouldn't hurt you."
>She's getting closer, and you scramble backwards.
>Her eyes start glowing, and the room starts to blur.
>"I'm trying, Anonymous. I'm trying to stay focused. But I need you to do something for me. I need you to help me. I need you to..."
>She trails off, and you fall on your ass as the room, the floor, the animal bodies, the ponies, all swim and dance in your vision.
>The only thing that stays constant is those eyes.
>"I need you to forget."


>Your head is fucking killing you.
>The dark half's been screaming at you for the past hour.
>You don't have time to listen to its shit, you've got to get Fluttershy to the fucking hospital.
>Something came out of the Everfree and attacked her and Sweetie on their way to the cottage, and it tore through her animals.
>Sweetie said Fluttershy tried to talk it down, using those eyes of hers, but it didn't listen. It attacked her, sucking at her blood like a...like a...
>Fuck, you can't remember the word.
>"Anonymous, hurry!"
>That's Rarity, racing alongside you.
>The pair of you found Sweetie Belle hiding under the couch, crying over Fluttershy.
>The little white pony had tearfully given you the entire story while you wrapped Fluttershy in a bloodstained blanket and lifted her out of there.
>Sweetie was behind you and Rarity, huddled under another blanket. Rarity had told her she didn't need to come and see this, but Sweetie had insisted. She wanted to make sure Fluttershy was okay.
>Your breath comes short as you run to Ponyville General, cradling the cold body of Fluttershy in your arms.
>You could feel her chest rising, slowly, way too fucking slowly, as you cradled her, but she was so COLD.
"I'm going as fast as I can! Rarity, get the door open!"
>The white pony's horn glows, and she pulls open the door to the hospital as you hustle through.
>You don't bother slowing down as you charge into the hospital's lobby.
"Help! Help! Somep0ny's been attacked! She needs help!"


>Doctors, nurses, and orderlies came out of the walls like termites, tearing Fluttershy out of your hands and whisking her away.
>A storm of activity blows up in your face as hospital ponies whisk her away, an IV already in her arm. The storm seems to ignore you completely until you make the mistake of asking what the hell's wrong with her.
>You are immediately bombarded with questions, much to your annoyance.
>"Who are you? What are you? What happened? What attacked her?"
"A friend. Human, hi, been here before. I don't know, some thing, some Everfree monster, I don't know people IS SHE GOING TO BE OKAY!?"
>You shout, causing the hospital ponies to back away in surprise.
>Rarity walks up next to you, followed by a blanket-wrapped Sweetie Belle.
>"What did they say? Will she be alright?"
>One of the doctors steps forward, an orange pony with a fluffy mane.
>"The patient is...but...something's sucked away most of her blood, almost to the point of exsanguination. She's going to need fluids and a major blood tranfusion if..."
>Rarity cuts him off.
>"But will she be alright!?"
>The Doctor looks uncomfortable.
>"We aren't...Ma'am, we're not sure. We've never encountered anything like this before. We can only act, and hope that what we do will be enough. Please, let us take care of her. Go home, get some rest. You and your...er, friend here both look like you've been through Tartarus."
>You glance at Rarity, and the both of you give each other a soft smile.
>He doesn't know the half of it.
"Are you sure there's nothing we can do to help? Anything at all?"
>He shakes his head firmly in the negative.
>"Go home. We'll contact you with any updates on her condition."


>Moments later, you, Sweetie, and Rarity leave the hospital, kindly but firmly informed that you cannot sit in on Fluttershy's operation.
>Its only as you walk halfway home that you realize you're almost entirely naked.
"Hey, Sweetie, you mind if I borrow that blanket?"
>She jumps, then draws the blanket closer to herself.
>"YES! I mean, uh, yes, Anonymous. I'm...really, really dirty."
>You feel a sudden, unexplained sense of hostility towards the little white pony.
>Whoa, where the fuck did that come from? This was Sweetie, after all. Yeah, she'd almost gotten you caught that one time, but she'd just been trying to help.
>That didn't stop you from wanting to strangle her.
>Must be the dark half talking.
>Rarity giggles, breaking you out of your silent musings.
>"I don't know, Anonymous. I think you look somewhat...dashing without all that stuffy clothing."
>Was she? Was that a?
>Before you can act on what you're pretty sure was a flirt, Rarity frowns at Sweetie Belle.
>"Sweetie, when we get home, you're going to take a long, hot bath. I know you're dirty, and I know you're worried about Fluttershy, but we can't just leave you filthy under that blanket. You're liable to catch something!"
>You're impressed with Rarity, to be honest. She's holding together pretty well, considering all the insane crap that's happened today.
>"But I-!"
>"No buts, Sweetie Belle."
>Sweetie Belle scowls and wraps her blanket a little tighter, and you resist the illogical urge to smile at her predicament.


>The second the three of you make it inside the Boutique, Sweetie Belle sighs and tosses off her blanket.
>She WAS dirty.
>Dirt and leaves covered her fur, and little splotches of...was that blood? How did you miss tha-
>A sudden flash of memories hits your mind. Hissing, your hand breaking, blood everywhere, Sweetie talking...
>"Are you alright, Anon?"
>You look down at the little white mare and smile as whatever you were trying to remember leaves your mind immediately.
"Yeah, just fine, Sweetie. Just-"
>"Sweetie! Bath time! Now!"
>Rarity's terse voice startles Sweetie, who darts upstairs immediately.
"Whoa, no need to be so...Rarity?"
>You turn and look at Rarity as the white mare sits down, her shoulders heaving.
>Rarity starts crying, great, heaving sobs, like she's having a panic attack.
>"I-I'm sorry, Anon! Its just, Fluttershy, she got hurt so BADLY, and Sweetie saw the whole THING, and I almost KILLED you last night, and, and-"
>She breaks down into more tears, falling on her fancy chaise and crying.
>You sit down next to her, and she curls away, still crying.
"Hey."
>You scoot closer, throwing an arm around her.
"Hey, Rarity, she'll be okay, alright? She's got Ponyville's best, uh, doctor ponies right there with her. They'll tell us if ANYTHING goes wrong. And Sweetie Belle's a tough kid, she'll pull through. She's got a good big sister taking care of her."
>"But s-still, I a-almost k-killed you!"
>You shrug.
"It wasn't me you shot. Or, not entirely me. It was that thing. You did the right thing. I...I kind of wish you'd finished the job."
>The crying slowly dies down into sniffles.
>And then Rarity smacks you upside the head.


>The rest of her might be soft and fuzzy and huggable, but hooves hurt.
"What the HELL was that for!?"
>You rub your nose, wincing.
>"Anonymous! Don't ever, don't EVER, think like that!"
>She's still crying, but fury chokes up her voice as she berates you.
>"How could you ever wish that on yourself? On me? How do you think I'd feel, knowing that I...that I did..."
>She trails off.
"Rarity, are you kidding me right now? Did you see what I did to Fluttershy? Do you remember Twilight and Applejack? That was me! When I'm that thing, I'm dangerous! I'm a fucking killing machine every full moon, and because this world's moon is FUCKED UP, that's EVERY night. I shouldn't be here. I shouldn't be alive."
>She hits you again, this time on the leg.
>"STOP SAYING THAT!"
"But I-"
>"Hush."
>Her voice grows deadly quiet.
>"Do you think I'm stupid, Anonymous? Do you think I hadn't realized how...unsafe you are? Or that thing you turn into is? That I didn't consider it once I learned the truth? I'm telling you that it doesn't matter to me. I'm still your...your friend, no matter WHAT you are."
>She scoots over on the chaise, throwing her arms around you and nuzzling your shoulder.
>"No more talk about this, alright? You are NOT hurting yourself, and I won't allow anyone to hurt you. We'll find a way to fix this, I swear to Celestia. We'll talk to Zecora tomorrow, I promise. She'll know what to do."
"Who's Zecora?"
>She draws back, smiling at you.
>"A very, very wise Zebra. She'll know what to do, I'm s-sure."
>She breaks off, yawning.
"Alright, alright, we'll talk to the magical zebra tomorrow. Go to bed, marshmallow. I'll make sure Sweetie Belle doesn't drown in the bathtub."


>You let out another sigh and sink beneath the bath water, leaving only your eyes above the steaming pool of water.
>You didn't need to breathe, technically, but it made you feel better.
>Made you feel normal.
>You blew out a stream of bubbles, thinking.
>You had done terrible things, this morning. You couldn't help yourself. You were so thirsty, you just...snapped.
>If Anon hadn't kicked you when he did, you might have gone after Rarity!
>And Fluttershy...you'd hurt her bad. You'd bit her, just a little, after putting her to sleep.
>But she'd tasted so good! You couldn't do anything but drink, once you'd had a taste.
>You shudder at the though of what might happen to her. Of what might have happened to Rarity, if Anon hadn't kicked you.
>And if you hadn't hypnotized them, if you hadn't made them forget, who KNOWS what they would have done?
>You dunk yourself fully under the water, still thinking furiously.
>You needed help. Serious help, not cutie mark crusader help.
>There's only one pony who might know what happened to you.
>And the only one who might be able to FIX you.
>The smartest unicorn in town.
>Twilight Sparkle.
>You break out of the water, licking at the little flakes of dried blood on your hooves and face as you scrub off dirt and leaves.
>You couldn't go out now, not with that light.
>You'd just tell Rarity and Anon that you wanted to sleep over at Applebloom's. Then you could explain everything to the Crusaders, and go to Twilight.
>You needed to get this fixed, and fast.
>Because you were still unbearably thirsty.


>You sigh as you stomp down the stairs, pulling on another pair of pants that Rarity had generously made for you.
>The white mare was asleep upstairs, after tucking herself in in the most uselessly complex fashion you could imagine.
>You had full run of the Boutique.
>To your credit, you only thought about stealing everything and running for a good ten minutes.
>But then you thought about what Rarity had said to you.
>You couldn't abandon that kind of faith in you. Come to think of it, you couldn't abandon HER, faith or no faith.
>You grimace as you sit on the couch.
>Your head was still killing you. Fluttershy was in the hospital. There's something wrong with Sw-Rarity's little sister was probably traumatized.
>You needed a fucking drink.
>You lean back on Rarity's expensive chaise, staring at the mannequins and the ceiling with an equal amount of interest.
>You lean back in the chaise, your eyes closing of their own accord as you start to drift off into a brief na-
>The doorbell rings. God damnit.
>You jump up, grumbling, and make your way to the door, glad you at least have on pants. You pull it open, scowling.
"Rarity's unavailable at the moment, you'll have to come back later."
>"Really? What a shame, I had hoped to speak with her on a few important matters."
>The stallion at the door looks you up and down.
>"You must be him, then. You'll do fine."
"Huh?"
>"The assistant, I mean. Oh yes, I've heard a lot about you. May I come in?"
>You open the door a bit wider.
"Sure, I guess. Just don't steal anything."
>He chuckles, and walks in under your arm.
"What's your name, anyway?"
>"You can call me Blueblood, my dear Anonymous. We have much to discuss."