Fool Moon, Part 10 (Bedtime)

>It's good to be back.
>You flex your left arm, tearing through rope with your claws.
>The yellow one is close.
>That's good, you've wanted to kill her ever since she tried to stop you that first night.
>You wondered if she would taste as good as her purple friend had.
>You snarl at her as you begin to break free of the ropes, anticipating her fear, her fleeing.
>The chase would be exquisite.
>There was only one problem.
>The yellow pony wasn't running.
>She was staring at you, trying to trap you in those accursed eyes of hers.
>Your eyes narrow, and as you lash out at her, several things happen at once.
>There is a flash of light from outside the cottage.
>They yellow pony flinches.
>And three hundred and fifty pounds of pissed off bear slam into your rope-trapped torso, breaking the chair you sit on and slamming your ass into the wall.


>You snarl and rip at the bear as it slams its massive paws into your chest.
>You had killed two bears before. Even with a claw tied to a plank of wood, you'd tear this creature apart before i-
>A frying pan slams into your skull, and you growl as you watch a white rabbit hop away from you.
>Your claw lashes out after it, and you manage to hook the fluffy edge of its tail.
>Your snarl twists into a sneer, and you drag it closer...
>A second bear paw comes down on your wrist.
>Your head snaps around, only to receive a bear claw to the face, tearing your eye loose and gouging three deep gashes.
>The injured flesh begins to heal itself immediately, but that doesn't absolve you of the pain.
>Your other claw comes up as you reach out to rip the bear's throat apart, but just as you act, you hear a clucking.
>Chickens.
>They come from the walls.
>An armada of chickens.
>White feathers get in your eyes as beaks peck at your face and neck.
>You roar and snag one chicken in your mouth, biting down and eating the creature.
>But that doesn't stop the feathery horde.
>You try to lift your hand to claw at your face, but to your surprise, another weight holds your arm down.
>You glance over through the flurry of chickens, and spot a family of what looks like...otters, sitting on your arms.
>You flex that arm, and get clawed in the face again for the trouble.
>You're....
>Your trapped.


>Impossible.
>You writhe under the bear, trying to shove him off you with pure force.
>But you can't get the leverage.
>You kick out with a leg, only to find a weight holding that down too.
>Impossible.
>You could not be contained.
>You could not be caged, like a common ape. You existed to kill, and to infect, and to hunt.
>It's impossible!
>You roar, startling the chicken horde and causing the otters on your arm to shift uneasily.
>"A...Anonymous?"
>Your eyes narrow and you look to the side, catching the eyes of the yellow pony.
>She'd been talking when you'd woken up, but you hadn't payed her idiot blatherings any attention.
>"Anonymous, I-I know you're in there..somewhere. I want to...ummm, try something...that Zecora said might work."
>She gets closer, and you immediately snap at her nearest hoof.
>A bear paw to nose causes you to growl and retreat.
>The yellow pony eeps and backs away.
>"Anonymous...please, I need you to hear me...you have to wake up. You have to get control of yourself! It's...it's your body. Don't let a monster control you!"
>You glare silently at the yellow pony as she talks to you.
>The use of that name, that hated name, infuriates you beyond measure.
>You stop snarling, and only glare at her in silent outrage.
>"Anonymous...can you hear me?"
>She takes a step closer, and you open your mouth, tongue lolling.
>You work furiously, your brain running at a mile a minute as you devise a way to free yourself.
>"Anonymous? Is tha-"
"Release me."


>Your howl, given voice and weak speech, sounds rough and ragged, even to your ears.
>It pains you to use speech like the weak half, but it was your only option.
>You COULD NOT stay contained.
>You had to hunt, and kill, and bite, and feed.
>Anything was acceptable.
>The yellow pony's face curls up in a rictus snarl, and her eyes seem to sparkle.
>"Anonymous?"
"Not name. Names are for prey. YOU are prey."
>The yellow pony's eyes widen in a reaction you are more practiced at recognizing: fear.
>"Y-you can talk?"
"Release me."
>"I...umm, I can't do that mister monster. You might hurt somep0ny."
>You roar at her, with enough force and fury to toss that large pink mane back over her head.
"FREE. ME."
>She squeaks and backs away.
>"I...I can't! You'll hu-"
"I WILL RIP YOUR HEART FROM YOUR CHEST! I WILL REND YOU LIMB FROM LIMB!"
>You begin to shake, nearly convulsing in fury as you struggle to get at the retreating yellow pegasus.
>This bear will not be enough to hold you. The animals will not be enough. They are food, and food gets tired. You do not.
>You roar and surge, the bear losing its footing, and the otters tumbling away.
>You bring your now free hand up and around, digging it into the floor and dragging yourself towards the yellow pegasus.
>You open your mouth and roar again as you approach.
>There is a flash of white and silver.
>Pain erupts along your snout, and you recoil, screaming in agony.
>A white rabbit, holding a large silver kitchen knife stands between you and the yellow pegasus.


>Your eyes water as they roll in their sockets and focus on the rabbit in front of you.
>Your blood, thick and black, drips from the knife he struggles to balance in his paws.
>Steam rises from the burned wound on your snout.
>You open your mouth, snarling at the tiny white animal in front of you.
>It holds its ground, brandishing the knife at you in a clumsy fashion.
>You lift your free arm, going to swipe it out of the way, but the bunny orients the knife towards your hand, and you draw it back.
>Accursed White Metal.
>The pain...
>The pain was not worth it.
>You would not be forced to sleep again.
>You let out a low growl in your throat, and lower your claw.
>Immediately, the family of otters rushes over and pins your limb again.
>You ignore them, your hatred focused on the white rabbit and its owner.
>They yellow pegasus ceases cowering, fluttering over and giving the white bunny a hug.
>"Oh, thank you Angel! When it attacked, I was just so scared!"
>She nuzzles the white rabbit, who beams at the attention, before hopping out of her grasp.
>It points at you and starts squeaking, and the yellow pegasus nods as if she can understand.
>"Okay, mister monster. I, umm, that is, if you would be ever so kind as to..."
>She trials off, and you let out an absentminded growl, keeping your eyes on the silver knife.
>"Well, would you be willing too...go back to sleep, maybe? And give Anonymous back?"
"No."


>The yellow pegasus sighs, and her wings droop.
>"That's what I thought you'd say. But, umm, it would mean so much to me and Anonymous and a friend of ours if you'd let him...umm, be him."
>You don't say anything.
>Talking hurts. It makes the weak half stirr.
>There is nothing more to say.
>You snarl and start struggling again, only to quiet when the rabbit brandishes the knife.
>"Well, mister monster, we have aallll night to convince you! Won't you please just consider it?"
"Will not sleep again."
>The yellow pegasus' eyes seem to brighten.
>"Oh, so you go to sleep? I...hmm, I have an idea. Be right back!"
>The yellow pegasus flies up to another part of the house, and you shift again, tensing yourself to pounce the second the rabbit loses his grip on the knife.
>You lie there, pinned by animals, having a staredown with a rabbit in tense silence, while Fluttershy returns, hefting a large book in her mouth.
>She sets it down in front of you, out of bite range, and flips it open.
>"Well, mister monster, if you have to SLEEP to bring Anonymous back, how about I read you a bed time story?"
>Your mind goes blank for a second.
>The weak half, watching from his position at the back of your mind, lets out a single bark of laughter.
>Surely this prey cannot be serious.
>"Once upon a time, in a forest far, far away..."
>She's...she's serious.
>No food, no hunting, no running, pinned by prey and forced to lie still while a yellow meat-animal prattles away in your ear.
>This was the worst hell.

12 HOURS LATER.
>You let out an exhausted yawn as you come back to yourself.
>Now jusOH GOD YOUR SPINE.
>You let out a groan of agony as your body lets you know there is still a giant bear sitting on your now human backbone.
>The bear shifts as you shout, rumbling and sliding off of you, to your immense relief.
>That fucking rabbit is in your face immediately, brandishing a SILVER FUCKING KNIFE right in your eyes.
"Whoa, whoa bunny whoa! Get that shit out of my fa-"
>He brings the knife closer and then brings a dewclaw to his mouth.
>Then he points over his shoulder, where Fluttershy has fallen asleep, drooling lightly into her storybook.
>Awww, that's adorable.
>You wince as you get to your feet as quietly as you can and limp over to your clothing.
>Fortunately, most of it was still intact.
>You'd been careful to take most of the stuff Rarity made you off before letting Fluttershy tie you up.
>As you put your shirt back on, you make your way over to Angel.
"Hey, hey. Rabbit."
>He glares at you, which is seemingly the only expression he is capable of.
"When she wakes up, tell her I owe her one. Whatever she did, it stopped him. And..."
>You tap your forehead and smile.
"He's pissed about it."
>You're not sure if the rabbit can understand you, but you'd swear you saw him smile.
>You give Fluttershy a gentle pat on the head as you get the rest of your clothes together.
>You waltz out of the door, feeling like you're on top of the fucking world.
>No full stomach, no memories of blood and fear, nothing but a pissed off wolf in your head and a hardy hankerin' for some white pony-made eggs.


>The only problem with your plan is that you can't whistle worth a shit.
>But you're too happy to care.
>You practically skip your way back to Rarity's Boutique, carefully opening and closing the door.
>She's waiting for you, wearing a classy pair of glasses and sipping some coffee while she floats the newspaper up to her face.
>"Good morning Anon."
"Mornin' Mashmallow. What are you doing up so early?"
>She huffs.
>"I was working on an all-nighter, a new project that I'm just SURE will put me back in the good graces of Canterlot fashion."
>You nod your head, not really understanding but glad that it makes her happy.
"Sounds, uh. Great. You made breakfast yet?"
>She gives you a wry smile.
>"Why? Are you hungry?"
"Like a wolf, Marshmallow."
>Even the dark half winced at that one.
>She hops down from her fancy couch, levitating the paper in front of her as she walks to the kitchen.
>You walk after her, sitting down, leaning back in the chair, and relaxing.
>"So how was your work at Fluttershy's house?"
"Exhausting. It feels like I got sat on by a bear."
>"Oooh, I'm sorry. Fluttershy does a lot of hard work keeping those animals of hers fed. Oh, by the way, Anon..."
"Hmmm?"
>She casually drops the newspaper on the table, giving you full view of the title story.
>You feel your heart clench.
>"It appears there was a robbery at Filthy Rich's mansion. The only sighting of the robber was a 'black five-digited claw,' and a long cloak. Sound familiar?"

In Canterlot
>Blueblood yawned luxuriously as he crawled out of his bed.
>Everything was going according to plan.
>After that DISASTROUS wedding involving Shining Armor and Cadence, public opinion of the Princesses was at an all time low.
>Many ponies did not believe the princesses were capable of protecting Equestria any longer.
>Which worked perfectly to Blueblood's advantage. What the ponies needed was a champion of the common colt, a noblep0ny of action and daring. Somep0ny willing to lead Equestria into the future.
>Somep0ny willing to wrest control of the Canterlot government out from under the hooves of those archaic princesses.
>Somep0ny like Blueblood.
>Blueblood moved to the kitchen, smiling magnanimously as the servants prepared his morning cup of coffee.
>As he set down for a drink, a servant rushed into his room, panting and out of breath.
>"Sir! A pegasus colt named Featherweight is at the door! He asks for an audience, says he has important news concering, er, 'The Element.'"
>Blueblood lifted a single eyebrow.
"By all means, send him in."
>Featherweight was one of his favorite little tools. Blueblood made it a priority to recruit all his spies from the locals, and Featherweight never missed a thing.
>The perfect tool for digging up dirt on a certain Element of Harmony.
>The Pegasus pony silently walked in, dropping a folder on Blueblood's table marked "Anonymous."
>The Prince raised an eyebrow at the folder, before opening it with his magic and lifting out a set of pictures.
>He began to shuffle through them, slowly at first, but then faster and faster, a grin growing on his face as he perused the photos.
>Photos of Rarity and her pet.
>Photos of her pet and the other elements.
>Photos of this creature...changing.
"My, my, my. Miss Rarity, what HAVE you found?"