Fool Moon, Part 9 (Revelation)

>You shift in your sleep, smiling.
>For once, it's peaceful sleep.
>No dark half whispering in your ear and howling at you or tormenting you with things it made your body do.
>No cold water or slimy stone while you caped out in an alleyway.
>Just warmth and rest and peace.
>You have to admit to yourself, even if these kids screwed up your job last night, they were adorable.
>And they made great warm, fuzzy blankets too.
>You shift and yawn as you slowly come to wakefulness, smiling at the feeling of warmth .
>It was like having a living, breathing blanket.
>They must have shifted around while you were asleep. You felt warm on your chest now, as well as your stomach.
>Oh well, time to wake the little rascals up.
>You slowly open your eyes and lean up, reaching out a hand to shake the nearest filly aw-
>You pause, and your gut turns to ice.
>That isn't a filly.
>Lying on your chest, snoring incredibly softly, was Rarity.
>Oh God this was too good to pass up.
>You reach out, grinning.
"Mornin', marshmellow."
>You tap her on the horn twice and gently shake her shoulder.
>Slowly, ever so slowly, her eyes open up.
>She blinks, yawns in an adorable manner, and then looks around.
>And then she takes note of where she's lying, or more importantly, who she's lying on.
>Then she shrieks.


>Her shrieking wakes up the Cutie Mark Crusaders, who shriek and jump off you.
>"ANONYMOUS, THEY CAUGHT US!"
>"I DUN' WANNA GO TO PRISON!"
>Their shrieking soon fades as the fleeing fillies sprint up the stairs, running away as fast as their tiny stub-legs can take them.
>Rarity, meanwhile, is having a miniature freak-out.
>"Anonymous! I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I just got home late and I was tired! I just was going to get the fillies off you and I fell asleep I'm not that kind of pony and you touched my HORN and I was just tired and..."
>You can't help it.
>You start laughing.
>You lean over, holding your gut and guffawing at the screaming fillies and the frantic white unicorn.
>Rarity, meanwhile, has let her explanation taper off, replacing it with a steely eyed glare.
>"What is so funny?"
>You manage to choke down your laughter, then you look up, take in her red face and puffed out cheeks, and start laughing again.
"I just...oh God those kids...you should...he he...see your faaaace!"
>You break out in another bout of laughter as Rarity glares at you.
>When she speaks, her voice is low and dangerous.
>"What, exactly, did Applebloom mean by 'not wanting to go to prison?"


>Oh shit.
>You stop laughing.
>Okay, Anonymous, smooth talk her, you're good at smooth.
"Uh, uh...I can explain."
>She raises an eyebrow.
>"Go ahead then, explain."
>WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU THINKING, YOU'RE AWFUL AT SMOOTH-TALKING.
"Err, well the girls told me about cutie marks, special talents, those kind of things. And they asked what my special talent was."
>Rarity's eyes narrow, and you rub the back of your head. You don't like that look.
"And I sort of, maybe, kind of implied that mine was, well, you know."
>"No, I don't know. Tell me."
"Uh...thievery."
>She rolls a hoof for you to continue.
"And they might have, er...shouted something about 'Cutie Mark Crusader Highwaymen' and ran off."
>Rarity puts a hoof to her mouth, thinking.
>"So you chased after them, correct?"
"Uh, of course! Had to make sure the little tykes didn't get in trouble, after all! Had to make sure they didn't, er, make my mistakes."
>Rarity nods her head, as if sagely considering your words.
>"I...I see. I'm glad you tried to keep them safe, Anonymous."
>Whew, dodged a bu-
>"One question, though. Where did the bits and jewelry come from?"


>Your mind goes blank.
>Rarity must be taking your horrified stare for offense, as she blushes, seemingly ashamed.
>"I mean, Anonymous, don't mistake my meaning. I'm...grateful for the money. I...we needed it, and my trip to Canterlot was...well, a disaster. But..."
>She closes her eyes, and you feel your heart squeeze in terror.
>"I just...just need to know that you obtained this money through honest means."
>Your stomach drops down somewhere in the vicinity of your legs.
>What the fuck had you been thinking?
>How could you think she'd condone this?
>This pony, who'd taken you in, fed you, given you more than you'd ever think to ask for, who gave everything she could to those she cared about, would never approve of stealing.
>Even to save herself.
>You open your mouth to tell her the truth.
"Massages."
>Rarity looks up, surprise coloring her face and stealing her disappointment.
"Yep, massages. Took the girls out for a few walks, and I saw a lot of the ponies giving me creepy looks. I didn't want to seem like a monster, so I offered to give out massages, you know, show them I wasn't threatening."
>You shrug.
"Seems weird, I know, but the next thing you know, I'm swimming in bits and donations."
>She eyes you skeptically, and you keep spinning your lie.
"Look at me, marshmellow. What kind of theft could I get away with? I'm way too recognizable."
>Her glare softens, and she trots over to you, nuzzling your arm.
>"I'm...I'm sorry I suspected you, Anonymous. I just don't want you doing THAT anymore."
>You give her an awkward pat on the back.
>You'd already lied to her about what you were.
"It's okay, Rarity. And call me Anon. All my friends do."
>What was one more lie?


>She looks up at you, frowning.
>"Still, I feel just AWFUL accusing you. It's just...my sister is QUITE impressionable. But...however you did it, thank you. This...the gems and the bits are one thing, but this...that YOU did this means a lot to me, Anon."
>You smile, and give her another pat. It feels awkward, but she isn't complaining.
"Hey, don't get all mushy on me, Marshmellow. I meant what I put in that note. You've done a lot for me. It was high time I did something for you."
>You smile at her, and she smiles back at you.
>The both of you hold that smile, just...enjoying each other's company, before she suddenly starts.
>"Oh, Anon! That gives me a WONDERFUL idea! If ponies enjoyed your massages so much, I should talk to Aloe and Lotus down at the spa about setting you up with a job there!"
>Your smile fractures a bit, threatening to turn into a grimace.
>Job. That fucking word. On second thought, though...
"That'd be great, Rarity. I'd be less of a drain on resources around here, anyway."
>Neither of you mention your job as her 'assistant' for paying off your crime.
>It seems unimportant, now that you think about it.
>She smiles again.
>"Let me go get the fillies, and we'll have some breakfast."
"Eggs?"
>She rolls her eyes.
>"If we MUST."
>Fuck yeah, white pony. You are the best.
>She makes her way upstairs, and you make your way to the kitchen, whistling to yourself and ignoring the horrible feeling you're getting in the stomach.
>The feeling you get when you know you're guilty.
>That feeling when you know you're a worthless, lying piece of shit.


>Fortunately, that feeling is easy as hell to bury when you're stuffing your face with fried eggs.
>Rarity, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Applebloom all look at you in varying states of horror as you wolf down plate after plate of eggs.
>At some point, you realize you just stole some from Scootaloo.
"'M 'orry 'bout dat Scoots. Want some?"
>You try to talk around a mouthful of eggs and offer your plate to the orange filly.
>She shakes her head very, very slowly, and makes sure to keep her hooves away from your plate.
>Smart girl.
>As the ponies watch you eat, you hear a sudden knocking at the door.
>Sweetie Belle jumps up, knocking away her glass of orange juice in her eagerness to escape the breakfast table.
>"I'LL GET IT."
>Applebloom holds out a hoof.
>"Sweetie Belle, nooooo! Don' leave me bahind!"
>The white unicorn filly ignores her friend and opens the door.
>Applebloom slowly drops a hoof and turns to look at you inhale eggs.
>"Celestia have mercy."
>Scootaloo begins to slip beneath the table to escape when Sweetie Belle pipes up from the front door.
>"Hey, Rarity, it's Twilight! She's outta the hospital!"


>Rarity sighs and gets up.She starts walking towards the door until she notices you not getting up.
>"Honestly, Anon, do you have ANY manners? We have a guest. It's proper to speak to them."
>You look up at her, confused, still chewing eggs.Then you shrug and keep eating.
>She walks away, but as you bring up your fork to swallow more fluffy deliciousness, you feel something tug your collar.
>And then drag you off your ass.
>Away from the eggs.
>NO, GOD NO!
>YOU HAVE NO REASON FOR THIS, WHITE PONY!
"WHY, RARITY!? WHYYYYYY!?"
>You hold out one arm as your beloved egg breakfast shrinks in the distance.
>"Honestly, Anon, stop acting like a baby! And walk on your own! You're heavy!"
>You freeze up.
"Are you calling me fat?"
>She blushes.
>"I...no, not at all!"
"Rarity, that's just cruel! I had weight problems as a kid!"
>"Anonymous, no, really! You're quite lean! And...well formed. I'm not exactly schooled on human body shapes, but to me, you look positively divi-"
>She pauses as she notices you snickering. Her face reddens.
>"You are a child, Anonymous. An rough, dirty, immature scoundrel!"
"And that's why ya love me!"
>Her face grows redder, and you snicker again, before a tiny cough stops you.
>"Ahem...am I...interrupting something?"
>That voice sounds vaguely familiar.
>You turn around and jump as you notice the purple pony from the hospital.
>"OH! Twilight, I'm sorry! Here, introductions are in order! Twilight, this is Anonymous..."
"Hey."
>"Err, high. I heard you were the one who tried to, uh...poison me?"
>"...Oh, and Twilight, you brought Spike! Spike, this is Ano-"
>"We've met."


>Rarity's face grows a touch paler, if that's even possible, as she remembers how you met Spike.
"Uh...yeah, sorry about that...with the rock and all. I didn't think it was that serious."
>"...I was unconscious for three days."
"Uh. Sorry."
>You shrug as the little purple lizard-dragon-baby glares at you.
>And so does the purple unicorn.
>"And according to the doctors, you poured poison down my throat! They had to pump my stomach!"
>Oh shit oh shit oh shit-
>"And they STILL couldn't get whatever it was out of me! I was sick for days!"
>Oh, crisis averted.
"Sorry about that, too. I was actually trying to help with that one. That's a kind of medicine, where I'm from. I didn't know it would affect something like you differently."
>Twilight's glare turns into a sort of half-smile.
>"Oh, well that's different then. A misunderstanding of pony physiology by a...what are you anyway?"
"Human's what we call ourselves."
>"Oooh. I've never heard of a human before? Say, how do you feel about experiments?"
>Oh.
>Oh god.
>You remember now. This is Rarity's friend the super-wizard.
"YE SHALL NOT HAVE ME, HORSE WITCH!"
>You take a heroic leap towards the kitchen, away from the purple horse, when Rarity's magic drags you back to the door.
"ET TU, MARSHMALLOW?"
>Twilight and Spike are both giving your confused and terrified stares.
>"What in Celestia's name..."
>Rarity sighs.
>"He has a...colorful history with magic-users of his kind. Doesn't trust, er...experiments."
"Let me go, Rarity! I want to keep my liver!"
>"Oh, stop being such a baby!"


>A few minutes later, the four of you are outside, walking through Ponyville towards the park.
"...I still don't see why you had to bring me along for this."
>"Anon, I havn't seen my friends in days, and Twilight and Applejack JUST got out of the hospital. We HAVE to have a little get together, it's tradition."
>Twilight mutters something.
>"Not to mention Pinkie might go insane if she doesn't host a party for us..."
>You glare at her, then stage-whisper to Rarity.
"I still don't trust the purple one."
>"My NAME is TWILIGHT."
>"I'm on to you, Twilight."
>You glare at her, and she glares back at you.
"Science-ey wizard types are nothing but trouble. One of them is how I get here in the first place."
>Twilight's eyes light up.
>"Oh, really? Where DID you come from? Was it another planet? Inter-dimensional travel? A hidden continent? Time travel?"
>She continues on this vein for a while, and for the first time, you really wish you hadn't lost your knife.
>You were going to murder this fucking horse if she didn't stop talk-
>As you make your way into the park, a pink blur rushes past you and slams into Twilight, finally shutting her the hell up.
>Thank Go-
>"TWILIGHT! IT'SSOGOODTOSEEYOUITHOUGHTYOUWEREDEADWELLNOTREALLYCUZTHEREWASNOFUNURALI'DHAVEBEENATAFUNERALSINCETHEY
'REALLYJUSTPARTIESFORDEADPONIESANDPINKIEPIENEVERMISSESAPARTYFORHERFRIENDSBUTI'MGLADYOU'REHE-"
"Oh god what the fuck is this!?"
>The pink bundle of energy looks up from Twilight and spots you.
>"Ohmygosh! You're new to Ponyville, aren't you!?"
>Before you get a chance to answer, she opens her mouth and starts singing.


>"Welcome, welcome, welcome, a fine welcome to you! Welcome, we-"
"Nope."
>You turn and walk way.
>She is already there.
>"Aw, that's not nice, you don't want to hear my welcome song! It's got cake and streamers and EVERYTHING!"
>How the-
>But she-
>You turn around.
>The pink pony is still there.
>You turn back around, and she's in front of you again, grinning.
>THERE IS NO ESCAPE.
"...Sure, finish the song."
>The pink pony launches back into her song, and you turn and look to Rarity for assistance.
>The white pony giggles at you.
>"Don't worry, Anon, that's just Pinkie. You'll get used to it."
"No I won't."
>"No, you won't."
>The next thing you know, you've been splattered with a cake, and the pink pony is in your face, holding out a hoof.
>"Hi mister I'm Pinkie Pie! We're gonna be best friends!"
>You slowly shake her hoof while wiping off cake frosting.
"Uh huh. I'm Anonymous, and I'm...sure we will be. At some point. Yeah."
>The pink pony laughs at you and then goes back to tackle-hugging Twilight.
>Rarity laughs at your expression before tugging on your shirt.
>"Come along, Anonymous. I want you to meet Rainbow Dash and Applejack. They should be setting up the picnic."
"I'm honestly not sure if I can handle more of your friends."
>She giggles again.
>"They're not all Pinkie. After all, you've met Fluttershy."
>Yes, you had.
>Speak of the devil, there comes the little butterball now.


>Fluttershy comes to a stop some distance away from you two, landing so she can trot over.
>"Oh, good afternoon, Rarity! And..umm, good afternoon Anonymous!"
>"Good afternoon, Fluttershy."
"Afternoon."
>You're still on edge about the tiny butter-horse.
>She could end whatever life you were building here with a sentence.
>Fluttershy smiles at Rarity and looks up at you, before looking back down and kicking her hoof.
>"Umm...Rarity, can I have a minute alone with Anonymous?"
>Rarity raises an eyebrow, looking up at you before looking back at Fluttershy.
>"Of course, dear. I suppose I'll...go on ahead then."
>Rarity trots off, giving one concerned look at the two of you before she vanishes over the nearby hill.
>Fluttershy watches her go, then turns back to you.
>"I...uh, I wanted to say that I'm...I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what?"
>"For...well, blaming you. That...that THING...it wasn't you. Isn't you...I mean. It's...it isn't an animal, but it isn't you...either. It was wrong of me to be so mean to you about it...and I'm sorry."
>That's a first, really.
>You smile at Fluttershy and reach out and ruffle her hair, causing her to squeak in surprise.
"Don't worry about it, Fluttershy. You did what you had to. I'm just sorry for...you know, the bears."
>You trail off, and Fluttershy blows at her ruffled mane, smiling.
>"It's...it's alright. It wasn't you...doing those things. I...I talked to Zecora, about your condition, and I have some ideas I want to try...next time, you know?"
>That perks you up instantly.
>You don't know what a Zecora is, but if it knew how to fix you, it was worth talking to.
"I'm willing to try damn near anything."


>She smiles at that, and leads you to the rest of her friends.
>You meet Rainbow Dash, who you already know damn near everything about thanks to Scootaloo.
>Including the exact type of shampoo Dash liked to use for her hair.
>Scootaloo had problems.
>An orange p0ny smiles at you and sticks out her hoof as you approach.
>"Well howdy there, pardner. Never seen one o' you before! Rarity was tellin us all aboutcha!"
"Only good things, I hope."
>You reach out and take her hoof, and she keeps smiling at you.
>"She says you're a thief."
>Uh oh.
>Applejack pulls you in close with surprising strength, her grin turning into a growl.
>"Ah don' take too kindly to thieves, mister. Don' let me catch you stealin' anything in this town, or you'll come ta regret it, hear me?"
>You swallow. This p0ny was a little over half your size and had pulled you down to eye level without exerting herself.
"I hear you."
>"Good. Welcome ta' P0nyville!"
>She smiles again and gives your hand a friendly shake before pulling her hoof back through your fingers.
>Rainbow Dash rolls her eyes from where she lies on her back (her favorite resting position, according to Scootaloo).
>"Lay off him, AJ. Rarity says he's fine, so he's fine! Besides, remember all the awesome stuff he did? Like how Rarity and him were trapped in the cave with that monster!? I still can't believe little old Rarity drove that thing off by herself!"
>"Oh, please, Rainbow Dash. I just couldn't let that dreadful beast hurt Anon, so I scared it away. Nothing 'awesome,' there. It's really not much of a tale."
>Rainbow Dash throws her arms up in the air.
>"Dude, are you KIDDING me!? That thing almost ate you!"
>You can FEEL Fluttershy stiffen next to you.


>Fluttershy turns and looks at you with unnerving calm.
>"Oh, really? That sounds...scary..."
>Her tone doesn't match the anger in her eyes at all.
>Rarity shudders.
>"Fluttershy, my dear, you can't imagine! Down in those dirty tunnels, with that monstrous beast! It was only luck that had me find Anon and escape with him before we were devoured!"
>Fluttershy's still glaring at you, and you cough.
"Yeah, luck."
>Rainbow scoffs.
>"You've gotta be kidding me! AJ told me about the time this thing attacked her farm, and even Big Mac couldn't stop it! The fact that you two got out okay, AND drove it off is almost as awesome as, well, me!"
>The other ponies scoff and roll their eyes, but Fluttershy speaks up.
>"Oh, I just remembered! I'm going to need some help with my animal friends today! Say, Rarity...can I borrow Anonymous? He's big and tall, he should be able to help with the birds."
>Rarity gets a frankly uncomfortable look, and for a moment you think she'll say no.
>You hope she says no.
>"...Of course, dear. Anything for my closest friend. Anonymous, are you alright with this?"
>You open your mouth to say no, no you are not okay with it, but one look in Fluttershy's eyes tells you that's a bad idea.
"Uh...of course. Yeah. I can't do much with animals, but I'll do what I can to help."
>Rarity smiles at you.
>"Thank you, Anon."
>You smile back at her, but your smile drops when Fluttershy wordlessly gets up and walks away.
>You follow her, the pair of you staying silent until you're out of sight of the picnic.
"Listen, Fluttershy, I swear I d-"
>Your only answer is a pair of hooves to the gut.



>You jump and rub your stomach.
>Felt like she'd just socked you with two tiny bags of cotton.
>Still, the sentiment is felt clearly.
>Fluttershy whirls on you, furious.
>"Hush. I'm...I'm sorry, but just don't talk. You put RARITY in danger? AFTER what happened to my bear friends?"
"I didn't have a choi-"
>"You KNEW what could happen! She could have been eaten, or hurt, and you LET yourself be that...THING near her?"
>The yellow pegasus stomps over to you.
>"You almost got my best friend killed."
>Her voice is as chilling and sharp as a winter wind.
>"I...Anonymous, I can't let this keep going. I have to tell her. She has to know. If you're going to be living with her, she HAS to know."
>Your chest tightens.
"Fluttershy, no. I can't...I can't tell her yet. I can't let her know."
>"Why not!?"
>Because I'm selfish, you want to say.
>Because she's the best friend I've ever had, and I can't let her go.
>Because she means a lot to me. Probably more than I want to admit.
"Because I care about her, and she cares about me too."
>Not the whole truth, but not another lie.


>Fluttershy flinches.
>You don't know what you said, but it struck home.
>"She...she does care about you. She's...umm, told me."
>Fluttershy's voice grows quiet, and you get the feeling you struck a nerve.
>For the life of you you can't figure out how.
"She talks about me?"
>Fluttershy shrugs.
>"I'm her closest friend. We...umm, go to the spa together, and you come up...sometimes."
>For some reason, that made you grin uncontrollably.
>Then Fluttershy glares at you, and you drop it.
>"But Anon, if you care about her, you have to tell her. She has to know what I know. Otherwise you're endangering her every day."
>Your smile drops.
"I can't tell her, Fluttershy. I just can't. If she knows...it won't be pretty, not for anyone."
>Fluttershy sighs and kicks at a leaf.
>"...Fine. Okay then. Alright. I'll do this. For Rarity."
"Do what?"
>"If you won't tell her, then someone has to make sure you don't hurt anyp0ny during your...ummm, nights. You're staying at my cottage at night, where I can keep an eye on you, mister."


>You raise an eyebrow at her.
"How will that stop anything? You couldn't stop...it with three bears at your back. How will you stop it now?"
>She gives you a small smile.
>"I have a lot more animal friends at home."
>She was right, of course.
>The butter yellow pegasus leads you to her house, where a literal army of creatures run out to greet you, including a familiar bear.
>And a much more familiar rabbit bastard.
>The animals all glare at you as Fluttershy leads you into her home, but you pay them no mind.
>"Okay, Anonymous. Here's what we're going to do. I'm going to tie you to a chair."
"Fluttershy, that isn't going to stop it. Not at al-"
>"And then mister bear is going to sit on you."
>You cringe, and your jimmies draw up into your body in horror.
"Oh God wh-"
>"We'll..umm, wait till you start to change for the...uh...sitting part. But we're tying you now."
>You sigh and sit down as Fluttershy comes over to you with rope in her mouth and starts tying you to the chair.
"We've still got hours, you know that right? Before it starts, I mean."
>She mumbles something through the rope, and you roll your eyes.
>"There we go! Besides, this gives us a chance to...umm..well, talk. I'm just kind of...curious."
>You eye her as she trots around to be back in your field of vision.
"Curious, about what?"
>"About the...umm, you know. It. Being an animal. What's it like?"


>You shudder.
"It's not an animal."
>"But..."
"Not really. It's as much an animal as I am a pony. It's not a person, either. It...it just is. It's me, Fluttershy, and it's not me. It's a wolf and a man and something else. Something horrifying. It's every negative thought, every bit of anger or hatred or hunger I've ever felt, distilled into the perfect killing machine and piloted by pure, feral evil. It's wrongness, Fluttershy. It's animal and man and evil, and none of those. It's a thing that SHOULD NOT BE, and knows it. And it hates everything living for that knowledge. It won't rest until everything else is either food or like it."
>Fluttershy holds a hoof up to her mouth, shocked, but you don't stop. You can't, really.
"It's not just an animal. It's smart, Fluttershy. Too smart. It thinks and plans and dreams and speaks. Only to me, always to me. It whispers to me, during the day, of the things it does when it's in control. It tells me about the green smells and the red hunt and the black fey who live in the wood, the things who take the shape of other folk. It tells me about the Moon God that it dreams of turning, and about a night without end. I think...I think it's trying to drive me crazy. I'm not sure how much of it is ranting and how much is prophecy and how much is true, but it never stops the whispering."
>You draw in a ragged breath.
"Let's...let's not talk about this."
>Fluttershy doesn't say anything for a while.
>"I'm..I'm sorry, Anonymous. I just wanted to know. I was just so curious."
>You breathe again.
"Let's talk about other things. How about you and Rarity? How long have you two been friends?"


>She smiles.
>"Not long after I moved to Ponyville. She's always been kind and smart and so, well, assertive. She's like my other half, my best friend. I'm not sure what I'd do without her."
>She rubs her hooves together.
>"It's...it's why I don't want her getting hurt."
>You smile at her, even as you struggle on the rope.
"That's...that's good of you, Fluttershy. Rarity's a good pony. She needs good friends."
>Fluttershy smiles, a little sadly.
>"She does. And I'm glad she has them."
>The hours pass in awkward silence, broken occasionally by small snippets of conversation. You can feel the time slipping by in the marrow of your bones.
>You've been awake too long, and it's the wolf's turn to play.
>The sun drops below the horizon.
>Fluttershy watches as you tense up.
>"I'm glad we had a chance to chat, Anonymous. I...I wanted to see what Rarity saw in you."
>You smile at her, even as your vision blurs.
>"I just wish..."
>Your hand flexes involuntarily, and you jerk against the bonds as your mind is blasted out completely.
>You let out a furious howl, and Fluttershy's animal friends stream into the cottage.
>"...I just wish she saw the same thing in me."