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.