Fool Moon, Part 16 (The Wolf that you Feed)

>"What. In Tartarus. ARE you!?"
>The purple mare glares at you from behind her transparent portion of your magical prison, and you squirm uncomfortably.
>Being trapped in a wizard's prison was a feature of about half of your nightmares.
"I...uh, human. I'm human, yeah. Just a regular old human."
>Twilight's glare intensifies.
>"Do regular humans NORMALLY transform into crazy beasts and chase foals around? Do they normally maul ponies and try to eat them and then pretend to be their friend afterwards?"
"Uh. No, not really."
>Twilight raises an eyebrow.
>"Oh. Okay then. I'll ask again. What the buck are you!?"
"Well-"
>"NO LYING THIS TIME."
>Twilight's horn glows, and you wince as your prison shrinks, the bubble getting uncomfortably close around you.
"Okay, okay! I'll talk, I promise! Werewolves! That's what they called them back home!"
>The bubble shrinks closer.
>"Why did you come here, to Ponyville? Are you the only one of your kind here? An advanced scout, planning an invasion!? Why did you attack us? Why did you hurt my friends!?"
"Its not like I WANTED to!"
>The bubble touches your skin, and you hiss as it sparks on contact.
>"MORE LIES!"
"I'm not lying, you crazy purple bitch! I CAN'T HELP IT! Its not something I can control!"
>The bubble stops shrinking, and you let out a sigh of relief.
>What do you mean you can't control it?"
"I mean its not me in control when I'm that thing. It's its own monster, using my body."
>She continues to glare at you, but the bubble doesn't shrink.
>Then she speaks to the still silent baby dragon at her side.
>"Spike, take a letter."


>The purple dragon produces a pen and paper from seemingly no where, and Twilight begins to dictate the letter out to him.
>You strain to listen, but the purple bubble goes opaque before your eyes, cutting out your hearing instantly.
>You curse and bang your fist against the wall, slumping back against it.
>You're trapped. Like a filthy animal, in a cage. By a wizard, no less. Visions of being dissected, cut up and studied by this little pony fills your mind.
"LET ME OUT!"
>You jump up, slamming your fist on the wall and screaming.
>Almost immediately, the purple globe goes clear again, revealing Twilight and Sweetie Belle.
>Sweetie Belle cowers, jumping behind Twilight as she sees you, crazed, naked, and trapped, pounding on the force field.
>You calm down immediately.
"I...I'm sorry. I don't like being caged. Its a phobia."
>Twilight just glares at you, one hoof protectively in front of Sweetie Belle as the filly speaks.
>"Why...why did you do it, Anonymous? I thought we were friends! I thought you cared about me! You and Rarity were getting along really well, and then you just..."
>She breaks off, and you slump to the floor of your bubble cage.
"I keep saying, Sweetie, I didn't mean it. I didn't want to hurt you. Or anyone else. Its not me when I'm that thing. It's like blacking out, except sometimes I can catch glimpses, or sniffs, or whispers of what it's doing. I can't stop it, Sweetie."
>Twilight pipes up.
>"So when were you going to tell us you were a bucking killing machine? Hmmm!?"
"Rarity already knows."
>The room goes dead silent.
"So does Fluttershy."
>Sweetie Belle gasps, and Twilight goes running out of the room.


>You and Sweetie Belle stare at each other from across the purple cage.
>You wonder, vaguely, why she's still dressed in that fancy hood of hers that Rarity put together.
>Sweetie shuffles slowly, her hooves never touching the ground all at once, and she won't look you in the eye.
"I'm sorry, Sweetie."
>Her eyes glance up at yours before bouncing sharply away.
>"Wh...what?"
"I mean it. I'm sorry. I didn't want to hurt anyp0ny. I swear it to you. You're the sister of my best friend. Hell, my only friend. There's nothing in the world that would make me want to hurt you."
>She stops shuffling, and her eyes stare into yours. They seem...strangely colored. Like the green's a bit darker.
>"Nothing?"
>Her voice sounds thick, like she's choking on something.
>You give her your most comforting smile.
"Nothing, Sweetie."
>She looks away, as if thinking something over, and you are struck with a sudden headache. The dark half, trying to send its nonsensical whispers again.
>Things about blood and fear, and teeth in the dark, and other ancient horrors.
>"Anonymous?"
>Her voice, quiet, and afraid, snaps you out of your reverie.
>"I...I've got something to tell you. I need your help. I-"
>You hear a wooden bang upstairs, and Sweetie Belle jumps, her admission forgotten.
>"JUST HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN!?"
>That would be Twilight, fury choking up her voice.
>"No need to raise your voice, Twilight. I've only known for a day or two."
>That voice.
>You grow a genuine smile on your face as Rarity trots into your field of view.
"Rarity! Get me out of here!"
>She spots you, and she dashes to the bubble, putting a hoof on the outside of it.
>"Anonymous!? Are you alright!?



>You smile at the obvious concern on her face.
"Rarity, I'm naked, cold, and trapped in a freaky magical bubble. No, I am not okay. I'm glad you're here, though."
>The pair of you smile at each other from behind said magical bubble.
>And then Twilight Sparkle's incredibly irritating voice makes itself known.
>"Why the BUCK are you asking about how he's feeling!? He attacked your sister!"
>Rarity frowns.
>"Twilight, please. Language. And he didn't mean it, of course."
>Twilight scowls, while you shrug at her.
>"Bu-"
>"Rarity's right, he didn't mean it!"
>Twilight's jaw drops, and she whirls to look at Sweetie Belle.
>The unicorn filly smiles sheepishly at Twilight.
>"He didn't, really. We talked! He can't control it, Twilight!"
"I told you I wasn't lying."
>Twilight growls and grabs her head.
>"I can't BELIEVE you two! He attacked you! Rarity, what about the story with you two in the cave!? That was him, right!? He almost KILLED you!"
>Rarity contains her frown.
>"And I'm still upset that he lied to me about that. However, he is NOT lying about being unable to control it. Well, mostly."
>Twilight raises an eyebrow.
>"Mostly?"
>Rarity absentmindedly twirls a hoof around her mane.
>"Well...he did stop that thing from killing me the night I found out the truth."
"I still don't know how I did that."
>"But you did it, and that's what matters."
>You and Rarity smile at each other while Twilight groans.
>Riding the tails of that groan is the sound of a door slamming, and the sound of rushing wind.
>Suddenly, a pair of blue hooves slam onto your cage.
>"HERE HE IS! LEMME AT HIM, LEMME AT HIM! NOPONY HURTS FLUTTERSHY AND GETS AWAY WITH IT!"


>Oh fuck.
>You back away from the magical barrier as Rainbow Dash crashes into the bubble, screaming at you.
>"You like to mangle wings, tough guy! How about I mangle something of YOURS, huh!?"
>Rarity lets out a tiny shriek of distress.
>"Rainbow Dash, please! Calm down!"
>The blue pegasus whirls on Rarity.
>"How can you ask me to do that after what this MONSTER did to Fluttershy!? Or after what he did to you and Twilight!?"
>Twilight smiles.
>"Finally, somep0ny who sees sense!"
>Rarity is having none of that.
>"I can ask that because I've seen that MONSTER, and I've seen the real Anonymous. They are in no way the same being."
>Twilight scowls.
>"AREN'T they!? If Anonymous and that thing are so different, why didn't he warn us, hmm? Why didn't he tell us what he was!?"
>"Because he-"
"Do you all think I WANT to be this thing?"
>Your voice, quiet and angry, shuts the ponies up.
"No, I didn't tell you what I was. I lied about it, I kept it secret, I tried to hide it. I didn't tell you because I've seen what happens to...to things like me back home. They burn us at the stake. I didn't know if you'd do the same thing."
>You let out a deep breath.
"I'm sorry. I'm a stupid, greedy bastard. I put you all in danger because I was afraid for my own safety. I can't ask you to forgive that. But please, please believe me. I don't want to be that thing. I don't want to hurt anyp0ny."
>Twilight eyes you curiously.
>"You want to be cured?"
"More than anything."
>The three ponies eye each other, Rarity smiling, Rainbow scowling, and Twilight thinking. They all speak at once.
>"Zecora."


In Canterlot's Royal Courts
>Princess Celestia reclines on her throne, smiling placidly as the last members of the Day Court file out of the throne room.
>She lets out a near-silent sigh as they leave, allowing that near-eternal smile to drop down to a more neutral expression.
>Running all of Equestria was exhausting, even for an eternal being liked her.
>As she asked her aid for a new glass of tea, smiling as one of the royal guards made their way to her with her drink.
>As she moved to take it, a green light coalesced in front of her face, a sending from her most faithful student.
>She smiled, a second genuine grin lighting up her face at the prospect of another friendship letter from Twilight.
>She hummed to herself as she leaned back in her seat, casually opening up the letter.
>Her face slowly began to darken with concern as she reads.
>"Dear Princess Celestia, I have terrible and amazing news! The amazing news is that I think I've discovered a new species! It calls itself a 'hoo-man.' It's big, almost as tall as a minotaur, and hairless. Well, most of the time. The hair part comes in the terrible part of the news. Princess, there's something wrong with 'hoo-mans.' It attacked a foal last night, and I think it was the same thing that tried to attack me not too long ago. It was a big, furry beast, like a wirewolf and a minotaur mixed together, and it attacked Sweetie Belle! When I tried to capture it, it-"
>Celestia's wings stiffen in shock and surprise as the trumpets outside of her throne room blare once more.
>She looks up, her placid smile back in place, as three ponies make their way into the room.
>"Announcing his Royal Majesty, Prince Blueblood!"


>Celestia feels the mask of benevolent love begin to slip off her face as Blueblood and his aides make their way into the room.
>The white stallion, flashing that arrogant smile of his, marches right in, accompanied by his aide, the pink and purple Amethyst Star, or "Sparkler" as she preferred to be called, and the new captain of Blueblood's personal guard, the one-eyed, green-furred Razor.
>Blueblood trots up to Celestia's throne and sketches out a shallow bow before the Princess of the Sun.
>"Auntie. So good to see you."
"Prince Blueblood. Always a pleasure. What do you need, dear nephew?"
>He glances around, eyeing the servants, guardsponies, and silent petitioners with undisguised disdain.
>"I'd like a private word with you, Auntie, about a matter of utmost seriousness."
>Celestia nods sagely, still holding that frozen smile on her face.
"Please, my little ponies, will you grant me a moment with my nephew?"
>With much murmuring and confusion, the ponies file out of the audience hall, escorted by the royal guard.
>The doors to the Throne Room close with a resounding bang, and with their closing, Celestia drops her benevolent mask, adopting a dour frown at Blueblood.
"What is it you desire, DUKE Blueblood?"
>Blueblood chuckles.
>"Oh, Celestia, so harsh! Does it grate on you so much? That little title my ancestors demanded when you wrested the crown from Princess Platinum's warm corpse after you 'vanquished' Discord?"
>Celestia's frown doesn't change.
"I'd kindly ask you not to speak of things you know nothing about."
>Blueblood's smile doesn't change.
>"Fine. I will speak only of things I know very much about, then. The kingdom is in danger."
"Isn't it always?"


>Blueblood frowns, and Celestia snickers.
>"Yes, it is. Mostly because you refuse to do anything about the-"
"Foreign menace? Save it, Blueblood. I have heard this speech from you far too many times."
>Blueblood grimaces, holding a hoof to his temple to regain his composure. Beside him, Razor leers at Celestia, a strange look in his sallow yellow eye.
>"I'm not here to give this speech again. It has become clear to me that you are too set in your ways to listen. Instead, I have come to warn you of a terrible danger."
>Celestia resists the urge to roll her eyes.
"One that demands I abdicate the throne to the rightful rulers of Equestria, the royal unicorn line of Blueblood?"
>He smirks.
>"No. Not yet, at least. This danger is located in your beloved Ponyville."
>Celestia's amused smile drops off her face as her chest grows tight.
"I...I received a letter from my student, before you arrived..."
>Blueblood's face grows grave.
>"So she is already in contact with the creature? It may already be too late, then. It could have corrupted her already..."
>Celestia glares at Blueblood, aware that he was manipulating her, but too angry to care.
"Speak plainly, Duke. What is it you have come to tell me?"
>Blueblood smiles.
>"Not tell, Princess, but SHOW you. Something that might convince you to finally get off your rump and-"
>Celestia's eyes glow, and Blueblood flinches as light flares off of her.
"Do NOT speak so insolently to me, Blueblood! My patience is at its thinnest!"
>Blueblood, still holding a hoof to his eyes, smiles.
>"O...Of course not, Princess. Here, look at these."
>Blueblood's horn glows, and a set of photos float towards Celestia.


>Celestia frowns as she accepts the photos with her own magical grip.
"What are the-"
>Her voice cuts off as she looks at the first photo, of a monstrous beast tearing through Ponyville's streets.
>Of a hairless creature transforming into that monstrous beast.
>Of that beast mauling a yellow pegasus.
>Celestia looks up from the photos, her voice hoarse.
"How did you get these?"
>Blueblood smiles.
>"That's not important. Keep looking, Princess."
>She gets to the last photo.
>The photo of Rarity, an Element of Harmony, embracing the monstrous beast.
>Celestia's wings droop, falling slack at her sides as her jaw drops.
>"That's right, Princess. Whatever it is, it has turned the Element bearers on each other. That photo was taken AFTER that poor yellow peasant was attacked."
>Celestia's breath hitches in her chest at the implications. Was she dealing with another Discord?
>Blueblood keeps smiling.
>"Well, Princess? Have I finally roused you to action? Will you FINALLY take up arms in defense of your people, instead of leaving us to grope for ourselves in the dark?"
>Celestia closes her eyes.
"Two squads."
>"What was that?"
>"Two squads of royal guards. Take them. Capture this...'Anonymous.' Bring him to me, UNHARMED."
>Blueblood smirks.
>"I thought not. As for Ra-"
"Leave her be."
>Blueblood frowns again.
>"Princess, she-"
"I said leave her be. Bring me the creature, unharmed. That is my will. Now go. Get out of my sight."
>Blueblood gives a mocking bow and turns, trotting out the door, his two assistants in tow.

Blueblood's perspective.
>"She is weak."
>Sparkler jumps at Razor's voice, hissing.
>"Are you INSANE? She's right in-"
"Calm yourself, Amethyst Star. Our mutual friend is right. She would do nothing, even if she heard."
>Razor snorts.
>"You ponies continue to confound me. Why would you put such a weak creature on a pedastal? A mother who will not protect her nest for fear of offending the egg-thieves. My people would never be ruled by such a weakling."
"Enough."
>You smile as Razor shuts up.
"Careful, or you'll blow your cover, friend."
>He growls.
>"Good. This body chafes."
>Amethyst Star ignores him. She disliked Razor, but she tolerated him for your sake. The poor court magician was hopefully infatuated with you, poor girl.
>"What's your play, my lord? You riled her up more than I expected. What's the plan?"
>You smile at her.
"Why, we do what we were commanded to do, as loyal little subjects. The first squad I will send to gather up little Twilight Sparkle. I will take the second after Anonymous' trail."
>Razor speaks up.
>"Glorious. I will pluck out his eyes and eat the-"
"No, you won't. Sparkler will recast her spell on you, and the pair of you will return to your duties training my personal guard."
>They both look at you in confusion.
"Its quite simple, really. When we confront the beast, he'll change, and go on a killing spree. The guard will be decimated, and perhaps even an Element will be slain. Giving proof of Celestia's incompetence and indecision."
>Sparkler grumbles.
>"What if he doesn't change?"
"Then I arrest him, along with Rarity, and return to Canterlot the conquering hero, having captured a monster and her traitorous aid."
>Your mouth stretches in a sharp smile.

 Anonymous' Perspective
>You grimace as Rainbow Dash kicks you in the shin.
>"Oops."
>AGAIN.
"Will you stop that already?
>"I don't know what you're talkin' about, dude."
>You glower at her, and she returns the glare with one of her own.
>Rarity sighs.
>"Will the both of you please grow up?"
"Nope."
>"Uh-uh."
>You smirk, and then she kicks you again.
>You grimace, and the four of you walk in silence for a while, before Rainbow asks permission to beat you to death.
>Again.
>"I'm just sayin', you guys should let me buck this creep into next week. I don't care what he MEANT to do, what matters is what he DID. Just let me take 'im out."
"Just try it, you little blue fairy."
>"Fairy!? I'll show you fairy, you-"
>"ENOUGH!"
>Twilight shouts at the pair of you from the front, glaring as she leads you all through the Everfree Forest.
>You both fall into grudging silence.
>Rarity notices your frown, and nuzzles you quietly when Rainbow's not looking.
>"Chin up, Anon. We're almost-"
>"THERE!"
>You look up from Rarity, turning your gaze on a...
>Another tree house. Awesome.
>Twilight knocks on the door.
>"Zecora? Are you in there?"
>A muffled voice answers her query, and Twilight pushes the door open.


>You follow Twilight into the hut-liked Treehouse, marveling at the earthern walls, the masks hanging from the ceiling, and the plants everywhere.
>You...see nothing worth stealing. That was a surprise, in itself.
>Rarity notes your look and laughs quietly to herself, before speaking.
>"Hello, Zecora. I do hope we aren't intruding, but we need your help."
>You look at where Rarity's looking, and jump in surprise at the look of the striped white and black pony pouring some weird mixture into a pot.
>She also has a mohawk.
>The pony-like thing turns and sets down the small jar it held in its jaws, before turning and addressing you all.
"Just a moment, my friends, I've a potion to mix, I'll be with you soon and your problem I'll fix."
"Oh, she talks in rhymes. That's just...fantastic."
>Zecora blinks at you in confusion, and Twilight and RD both glare at you.
>Rarity hits you on the knee.
>"Ignore him, please. He's a bit of an idiot."
"It's true."
>"But he is the reason we're here, Zecora. Anonymous, you see, is, well, he's very...sick."
>You open your mouth for more snark when you feel a hoof tap you on the side of the head. You jump and glance around, only to find Zecora circling you, tapping you randomly on the leg, or stomach, or chest.
>"Tis no sickness my friends, but a curse most vile. But I can tell you the fix if you stay but a while."
>Twilight groans.
>"There's no such thing as curses!"


>You glare down at the purple horse wizard.
"I'd say being forced to turn into a best night after night and try to eat your best friends counts as a curse."
>Zecora perks up at the word beast.
>"A beast, you say? Come closer, so that your fears I might allay."
>You lean down, and she looks closely at your face, her eyes squinting into yours as one of her hooves pulls you down to eye level.
>You spend minutes like that, awkwardly staring at her eyes as she examines yours.
>A moment later, her eyes widen as she spots something.
>Then she speaks to you, low and urgent.
>Her voice is quiet, too quiet for the others.
>"Allow me to tell you a story about a squall; one that goes on inside us all. The battle is between two wolves, my child. One extreme and the other mild."
>"One is good and does no harm, if you see him there is no cause for alarm. He lives in harmony with all around him, and takes no offense when it was not your whim. He will only fight when it is right to do so, and only against a proper foe."
>Your boggle at her, before she raises a hoof and speaks again.
>"But the other wolf, ah! He is full of rage, he will lose his temper at any stage. He fights everyone, all the time, for no reason at all. He cannot think because he is hate's thrall. It is helpless anger, and all for naught, the kind of anger from which no good is wrought."
>You feel your heart clench at the zebra's words.
"Which...which wolf will succeed?"
>Zecora replies softly, her sorrowful eyes never leaving yours.
>"The one that you feed."


>You furrow your brows at the little zebra holding your chin.
"What the fuc-"
>Before you can properly respond, Zecora smiles and moves away.
>The ponies all hold various expressions of confusion on their faces, as they were unable to hear Zecora's story.
>Rarity is the first to speak.
>"Zecora? Can you cure him?"
>The zebra is already off, rummaging around her hut. She shoves her muzzle in a pot.
>"While your friend's predicament is quite dire, I've the solution right here, a plant called heart's desire."
>She pulls out a purple and pink flower, held gently between her teeth.
"A plant? How the hell will that fix me?"
>Rarity rubs your leg.
>"Trust me, Anonymous. Zecora knows her herbs."
"So I just...eat it?"
>Zecora ignores you and begins mashing up the plant, mixing it with other herbs plucked seemingly at random from her hut.
>She hums to herself as you work, and you walk over, confused.
>As she begins to stir up the mixture in one of her pots, she looks at you sharply.
>"Keep in mind all that I've said, this battle of wolves and wills. You've quite a struggle yet before this monster stills."
"Uh. Sure. So this thing you're making, it will cure me?"
>She only smiles at you.
>She mixes the elixir in moments, the flower rendering down into a thick purple liquid that Zecora bottles up in a flask.
>She hooves you the flask.
>"One sip, is all that's required, to gain all that you've ever desired."
>You look at her smiling face, and her sad, knowing eyes, and then you look at the potion.
>And then you take a drink.
>Almost instantly, everything goes black.

Sweetie Belle's perspective

>They had left you and Spike at the Library while they took Anonymous away.
>This turned out to be a good idea.
>Spike's blood was disgusting. Not to mention hard to get to.
>Once you'd FINALLY gotten past his stupid scales, you'd gotten a taste and almost spat it out. It was like mud. Thick and sluggish and room-temperature.
>But you were thankful, all the same. It took the edge off the thirst, and you felt no desire to drain him.
>You just drank enough to stay sane, and hypnotized him so that he'd forget.
>It gave you time to think. You weren't mad at Anonymous. Not anymore. He couldn't control it, just like you couldn't.
>It wasn't his fault, and he wanted to get it fixed, just like you did. He still cared about you and Rarity, so much so that you'd almost told him, before being interrupted.
>You bite down again, grimacing at the taste as you think of that interruption.
>He could have hel-
>Your ear flicked, and you withdrew from the bite wound in Spike's chest.
>"Twilight Sparkle?"
>A loud banging began on the door, and you skittered out of the front door's path, hiding near a bookshelf.
>"TWILIGHT SPARKLE, OPEN UP, BY ORDER OF THE PRINCESS. WE ARE HERE TO ESCORT YOU SAFELY OUT OF THE CLUTCHES OF THE MONSTER, ANONYMOUS."
>You narrowed your eyes. They called Anon a monster? They would hurt him, like Anon said they would...
>You wouldn't let that happen.
>The Royal Guards break open the door, letting in a thin shaft of sunlight onto the comatose Spike.
>He grumbles and turns away, but not quick enough to hide the bloody hole in his chest.
>The guards gasp.
>"What the..."
>You hiss.
>The door closes.
>Then the screaming begins.

Rarity's perspective
>Anonymous stumbles as he takes a sip.
>Then he starts foaming at the mouth.
>A scream splits the air, and it takes you a moment to realize its yours.
>You watch as Anonymous stumbles again, collapsing onto his back and convulsing, his eyes rolling back in his head.
>You turn and look at Zecora, at the placid expression on her face.
"What have you done!?"
>She doesn't answer, and you struggle between wanting to strangle her and your concern for Anon.
>The latter wins.
>You rush to his side, holding his face in your hooves as he shakes and gurgles.
>You hear harsh words, shouts and other things in the background, but its just noise to you.
>You lift a hoof and stroke his forehead.
"Anonymous? Anonymous, come back. Please, come back to me."

Anonymous' perspective.
>Were you dead?
>Was this hell?
>All you could feel was pain.
>Pain in every limb, in every single cell of your body, as if you were suddenly, constantly, in flux, your body at war with itself.
>You screamed inside your head, mad with pain and suffering.
>It takes a second, or perhaps a year, before you realize that something is screaming along with you.
>You stop, gasping, before turning to look next to you in that place that is no place.
>You stare directly into the eyes of the dark half.


>You stared into it, and it stared back at you.
>Here, in your mind, in its mind, wherever you were, you saw it as it saw itself.
>Blood and filth caked its fur, gore dripping from claws that could rend you to pieces with ease.
>It was massive, looming over you like a tower of meat and bone and teeth.
>You step back, and it steps forward.
>Its eyes are what get you.
>Eyes full of rage and hatred and hunger and greed, glowing yellow in the darkness that shrouds it like night itself.
>A killer's eyes.
>Your eyes.
"You-"
>"You fool. You weak, indecisive, imbecile."
>It speaks with your voice. Distorted with fangs and fury, but your voice nonetheless.
>"You've poisoned us."
>It flexes a claw, and you see. The inside of your mind, afire with whatever was in that potion, burning as it wages war upon the dark half.
>You smile.
"No, I poisoned you, you furry bastard. I'm gonna be free of you, finally. I found a cure."
>It snorts.
>"No. You've killed us both."


>You laugh at it as it advances on you, claws flexing.
"What are you gonna do? Kill me? I'm your ride, you stinking parasite! You don't have me, you don't have a body! You're done without me! And now with that potion, you're just done!"
>It growls and stops it's advance.
>"Still, you do not understand. I whisper to you the hidden truths, and still, you do not listen. You let a sorceress poison us with the elixir of the Unseelie, and you gloat while we burn."
>You wag a finger at him.
"No, doggy, while YOU burn. See, I might not be the brightest guy in the world, but I payed attention to that little striped horse. That flower was called heart's desire. It'd give me the thing I wanted most. And what I want most..."
>You smile at it and bring your hands together.
"Is to be free of you."
>It snorts.
>"You even lie to yourself. What you want most is her."
>A brief image of Rarity forms on your burning mindscape, and you frown at the dark half.
"That's just crazy talk. And even if it was true, I couldn't have her while YOU existed. So I'm curing myself. Cutting out the cancer. I'll finally be me, just me again, inside my head."
>It snorts again, falling to all fours in front of you, putting its massive head just below yours.
>"Your desire is to be free of me? Interesting. My desire is to rule you. To sleep no longer. Thus, the conflict. Thus, we burn."
"Why should your desire matter?"
>It snarls at you.
>"Because, you fool, I AM you.

Music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCDc3E-4gBg
>You recoil.
"No, you're just a parasite. A curse. An infection. When that wolf bit me, it-"
>"It woke us up. I am nothing that is not already in you. I am your anger. I am your hatred, and your greed, and your spite."
>A claw comes crashing down next to you, and it pushes that massive maw of teeth into your face.
>"I am vengeance. I am the flesh-tearer, the murder urge beating at the back of your skull. I am the teeth in the darkness. I am hunger, and want, and rage. And I. Want. Out."
>It pokes you in the chest, and you scramble backwards as it advances.
>The words of Zecora fill your mind.
>This thing, this dark half, wasn't some new personality forced on you by that fateful bite. It wasn't an alien thought process. It w-
>"I am you, amplified. I hunger, so I eat. I rage, so I kill. You are nothing but old weakness and watered down greed. And I will be rid of you."
>You back away as the wolf advances, drool dripping from its fangs.
"What the hell are you talking about? I was here first, pal. This is MY body, alright? My mind!"
>"Our mind. And not for much longer. The potion rages. It must fulfill one desire. Mine, or yours. If it does not, it will burn us unto death. Only one desire, Anonymous."
>It growls, and clench your fists. You know what's coming.
>"We will be on. We will be this perfect, unassailable form, until the end of days. We will eat and burn and pillage and rape until nothing remains but us and corpses."
"Not if I stop you."
>"I will take the white one first."
>You shout and jump at it.


>It roars and meets you in the air, it's massive claws slamming you into the earth.
>"YES! THAT'S IT! Struggle! Fight for dominance! Like a wolf! LIKE AN ANIMAL!"
>It screams at you, and you scream back as its massive paw closes on your throat in a chokehold.
>You wriggle and convulse under it, trying desperately to escape that grip, to free yourself.
>"Fight me! ABANDON REASON! EMBRACE YOUR HATRED. JOIN ME, AND LET US BE ONE!"
>You clench your fist. A knife, formed of your desire to be free, your desire to be you, forms in your hand.
"Shut. The fuck."
>It leans down and roars in your face, spraying you with spittle.
>You slam the knife into its eye.
"Up!"
>It howls, recoiling and pawing at the knife in its eye.
>You jump to your feet, coughing, and then you tackle the massive beast around the midsection.
>Surprisingly, despite the vast difference in size, it gives, falling backwards under your force.
>You straddle it as it falls, pummeling its face and neck with clenched fists.
>It laughs at you, seemingly recuperated from its eye injury.
>"YES! YES! MORE! HATE! KILL! SLAY!"
>You draw back, panting, and the thing is on you again, driving you into the dirt of your mindscape, its hands around your neck.
>You gurgle as it squeezes your neck and begins to speak to you.
>"The white one. You want her, do you not? You recoil at the very idea, your inhibitions and fears and doubts plaguing you. When we are one, we will have no doubts. No fears. No worries. We will take her, as you desire, and then flay her alive. And then we will eat her beating heart."
>Something flashes inside your mind. Fear. Fear of what this thing would do to Rarity if it won.
>What it would do to everyp0ny.


>New strength fills you, strength fueled by fear, fueled by friendship.
>You push it off you.
>Even as it rolls to its feet laughing, you're on it, batting away its strikes and gnashing teeth with your hands and with knives.
>You dance away from it, always away, never striking back, never fighting.
>It seems to tire as you dodge and weave around its strikes, panting.
>"Why...won't...you...fight?"
>It lazily bats a paw at you, and you duck beneath it.
>You laugh as the thing growls and charges at you, as you lazily spin aside.
>It comes to a stop once it passes you, panting.
>"I...will...get...out. When I do, she will suffer. You know she will. The potion...you'll run out...or you'll succumb...It will be my...desire...that is fulfilled...it will be my body. I will...succeed."
"No you won't."
>It pants, tongue lolling from its mouth, but does not answer.
"You won't because you care about nothing but satisfying one sick urge after another. You don't have an anchor. You don't have anything that keeps you grounded."
>The wolf pants, and eyes you with one yellow orb.
>"And what...is...your...anchor?"
>You don't answer.
>Your mindscape, the air, the dirt, it all flashes a brilliant white as your mind is filled with images of Rarity. Of her kindness. Her generosity. Her lo-her friendship.
>The wolf smiles.
>"Still...you...lie."
>You frown at it.
"Maybe. But from now on, I only lie to myself."
>It smiles even wider, and then it unravels, fading away into motes of dust.
>An image hits you. A wordless message. An image of a fanged, hissing Sweetie Belle.
>Your mind flashes with images, scenes of blood and fear, and everything goes black.


>You gasp as you come back to yourself.
>You turn on your side and cough, barely avoiding vomiting up the potion.
>A pair of white hooves come into your view as your eyes begin to clear.
>You reach out to touch them, a weak smile forming on your face.
"Ra...Rarity?"
>Something cold presses into your back.
>Six somethings, to be precise.
>An arrogant voice teases your ears.
>"Not quite."
>You look up into the face of Blueblood.
>You come up to one elbow, and the bladed edge presses hard enough to draw blood.
>"None of that, Anonymous. Down, boy. Down."
>You glance around, taking in the armored forms of a dozen white pegasi, two of them herding Zecora against the wall with spears in their mouths.
>Four more corral in Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash, who look beside themselves with rage.
>You look back around, turning your head to the left, dreading what you might see.
>There, pressed into the floor parallel to you, lies Rarity,Blueblood's spear at her neck.
>Her eyes, teary-eyed and afraid, find yours, and she smiles.
>"You're okay?"
"Still...here...yeah."
>Her smile is cut off suddenly as Blueblood lifts his spear and cuffs her across the face with the flat of it.
>"No fraternization, please. Don't make this any worse on yourselves."
>You snarl and try to surge to your feet, but the spearpoints of six other guards keep you still.
>You feel the blade tip in your back sink a little deeper, and you turn to look up at Blueblood.
"What...the hell...is this?"
>He smiles down at you.
>"By the order of Princess Celestia of Equestria, you, Anonymous, are under arrest for assault, battery, four cases of attempted murder, and the corruption of an Element."