Fool Moon, part 3 (Herbway Robbery)

>"Anonymous!? My floor! Why would you do that!?"
>You aren't paying attention, and you feel your hands shaking like a leaf as you go over what she just told you.
>God above, you'd only met Rarity for a day. She'd taken you in, cleaned your clothes, FED you, for fuck's sake, and forgiven you for trying to ROB her, of all things, and how do you pay her back?
>Rob her, stain her floor, oh, and DAMNING HER FRIEND TO A LIFETIME OF SUFFERING AND INSANITY.
>NICE JOB, DIPSHIT.
>Thanks brain, I needed that.
>"ANONYMOUS!"
>You jump in your seat as Rarity advances on you, glaring. Her horn's glowing, and you note that she's already gotten rid of the stain and is sweeping up the shards of broken cup.
"Hmm!? Oh, Rarity, sorry. My mind just...went elsewhere."
>She arches an eyebrow.
>"I noticed. Would you care to fill me in? And why are you curious about whether or not my friend was bitten?"
"I...let's just say I might know what hurt your friend."
>Rarity's eyes narrow suspiciously.
>"And how could you know that?"
"Not important."
>"Well I say it IS important. Tell me."
"No."
>"Tell me tell me tell me tell me!"
>She starts stomping her hooves in front of you.
>God that's cute.
"I can't, really. Let's just say it's quite important. If your friend Twilight got bitten, she might get very sick soon."
>Understatement of the millennium.


>"Well she's in a hospital. Isn't that the best place to be when you're sick?"
"Not for this kind of sickness."
>You fall silent.
>She's still glaring at you, and you sigh, before getting up and walking towards the door.
>"Anonymous, you're not leaving until you tell me."
>Yeah, sure.
>You don't have time to explain to her.
>If your internal clock is right, Twilight doesn't have much time. She'll have gone through the fever stage already, which means you had to adminis-
>A glowing blue aura manifests on the back of your jerkin, and you are forcibly turned around.
>Right, horse wizard.
>"Tell. Me."
>Any friendliness Rarity exhibited earlier is gone.
>She was loyal to the people she cared about. You'd always admired that, even if you hadn't experienced it yourself.
>No one to care about but you, yourself, and I back home.
"The thing that bit her...if it's the same thing that knocked me out last night, I know what it is. It's a dangerous beast from my...err, homeland. It's saliva's deadly poison."
>"Again, Anonymous, she's in a hosp-"
"They won't know how to treat her. It'll just look like a normal fever to your healers. And by the time they realize something's strange, it would be too late."
>You don't add that it would be too late for the healers.
>From Rarity's gasp, it sounds like you wouldn't need to.
>"Oh dear....what do we do? Is there anything we CAN do?"
"Yes, if you let go of my shirt and tell me if this town has an alchemist."
>"Alchemist?"
"Works with herbs, tend to be recluses, that kind of thing. There's a certain plant I need."


>Rarity brings a white hoof to her chin.
>"Hmmm. Zecora fits that description, but I know Fluttershy keeps certain herbs and medicines for her animals. We could check by there first."
"Perfect, I'll-wait, we?"
>She's already got a scarf on and is headed out the door.
>"Surely, you didn't think I would just sit here waiting for you to get back while you went out to save one of my friends, did you? Do I seem that callous?"
>She gives you a wry grin, and you flash a small smile of your own.
"Truth be told...no."
>She sniffs.
>"I thought not. Speaking of the truth...I know you're lying to me about something, Anonymous. I don't know what, but you can't keep it forever. When Twilight's better, I need you to be honest with me."
>You scowl as she trots out the door in front of you, and you follow her, a bit ashamed but more annoyed.
"There are some things I just can't tell you. I barely know you, Rarity."
>She gives a mock smile.
>"And aren't you amazed already?"
>You roll your eyes, and she giggles.
>"But you don't have to lie, Anonymous. You don't have to be afraid. Whatever it is, it's not like I'll hurt you over it. I'm a civilized pony, you're a civilized....human. There's no reason we can't be honest."
>Yes there is. You don't say it, but oh God how you want to.
>You settle for a grunt in response.
>"I'll take that uncouth display as a "yes." Now come along, Fluttershy's cottage is near the Everfree."


>The cottage is probably the most normal looking building you've seen in...wherever the Hell this is.
>Rarity hums to herself as she goes up to knock on the door.
>"I do hope she's home. She might have gone ahead to the hospital without me. Say...Anonymous, what plant do you need from her, anyway?"
>You ignore her for a few moments, glancing at the windows of the small cottage.
"Wolfsbane. It's a purple flower, bell-shaped."
>Rarity's glaring at you in shock.
>"That's...Anonymous that plant's poisonous!"
"Your friend needs it, trust me. It'll cure her."
>Or kill her.
>Or she'll shake it off and she'll turn anyway, like you did.
>But you don't tell Rarity that.
>Lies upon lies, Anonymous. Lies upon lies. Either way, you weren't letting someone Rarity cared about spend the rest of their life running around cursed.
>An uneasy expression crosses Rarity's face.
>"If you say so. It doesn't seem like Fluttershy's home...."
>You aren't listening to her. You're looking in the windows. If the fucking SWARM of animals outside was any indication, Fluttershy kept medicine.
>Maybe some wolfsbane, even, for numbing or-THERE.
>Rarity's stepping away from the cottage when she hears the sound of breaking glass as you hurl a rock through the window.
>"ANONYMOUS, WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?"
>You're already halfway through the window, your legs bracing yourself as you crawl in.
"Getting your friend her medici-"
>A frying pan slams into your face.


"HRK!"
>You put your hands to your face in surprise and pain, toppling over into the cottage with a crash.
>Your FUCKING FACE.
>HOLY SHIT.
>You hiss as you touch your nose, making sure it's not broken, before looking up at a...
>Is that a fucking rabbit?
>He looks pissed, if it's even possible for rabbits to be pissed.
>You rub your nose again and sit up, looking around for whoever hit you with a frying pan.
"Well hey there, little guy. You didn't happen to see some smarmy bastard running around with a frying pan, didya?"
>The rabbit's expression doesn't change.
"Course ya didn't."
>You heave yourself to your feet and dust off bits of glass from your tumble.
>Time to find that med-
>A carrot hits you in the face.
"What the fuck?"
>You turn around, and the rabbit hefts another carrot.
"Are you shitting me?"
>Cue carrot. You duck, scowling.
"Rabbit security squad? That's cute, really, but I don't have time for this shit."
>You aim a kick at the rabbit and he scurries out of the way.
>You turn to the wolfsbane plant. Okay, snatch and grab.
>You reach out to grab it, and then yelp in pain when the frying pan hits you again.
>Right in the toes.
>You jump and grab your foot.
"SON OF A BITCH."
>You look down and see that white rabbit smiling up at you.
"Oh. Oh it's on now, motherfucker."

Music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnHmskwqCCQ
"C'mere, ya furry bastard!"
>You dive at the rabbit, and he jumps out of the way, giving you a smack on the nose with his foot as he hops away.
>You scramble to your feet, pounding after him as he hops down the hall.
>Right into a corner.
"I got ya now!"
>You cock your leg back and kick down at that smug little white bastard.
>And he dives into a hole in the floor, leaving you to slam your foot into the corner.
"AAAARGH."
>You hop backwards, clutching your aching toes and cursing.
>Unbeknownst to you, the little rat's run behind you, a rope in his teeth, and your hop carries you right across the rope.
>Sending you crashing onto your ass.
>You roll over, eyes full of murderous rage, as the rabbit hops away towards the kitchen.
"GET BACK HERE YOU FUZZY CUNT!"
>You crawl after him, not even bothering to get up so you can keep him level.
>He hops under a table, and you crawl after, only to watch him race up little paw-holds on the kitchen sink.
>Your rise, banging your head on the table.
"FUCK."
>You crawl out from under the table, only to find the rabbit above you, a cleaver held unsteadily in his white paws.
"Oh. Oh shit."
>You swear to God the rodent's grinning.
>He drops the cleaver, and you roll back as it thunks into the wood.
>Unfortunately, your roll carries you into the weak leg of the table, snapping it, and sending a table, two bowls (one empty, one full of uneaten dessert), a rolling pin, and cheap romance novel crashing down onto your back.
>You lay there, stunned, as the rabbit hops over and kicks you in the head.
>And that's how Rarity finds you, pinned under a table being kicked in the head by a rabbit.


>"A...Anonymous?"
"That rabbit....is the Devil."
>You point an accusatory finger at the rabbit, who takes the opportunity to bite said finger.
"OH THAT'S IT."
>You burst from under the table, grabbing him in both hands and grinning like a maniac.
"Got you know, you smug..."
>"ANONYMOUS!"
>You glance over at Rarity, and notice she's struggling not to giggle at you.
>"We've...hehe...got to...haha...the flower, remember?"
>Oh.
>Right.
>You glance at the rabbit one last time, who glares back at you.
"Next time, asshole. Next time."
>He blows a raspberry at you, and you drop him.
>Rarity bursts into laughter when she sees you threaten a rabbit, and you glare at her as you walk back into the room with the wolfsbane flower.
>"One...little rabbit...did all THAT to you, Anonymous? Oh my, it's a good thing I came when I did! You could have been killed!"
"Har har. Laugh it up, marshmellow."
>She bursts into a fresh bout of laughter, and you grumble to yourself as you examine the flower.
>You're not an alchemist or anything, but you know everything you need to know about THIS particular flower.
>All she needs to do is eat it, and the rest is out of your hands. She'll live, free, or die, free, or live, cursed.
>Good odds.
>You pull out your knife and cut a few stalks free, putting them in your pocket and walking towards the window.
>You hoist yourself out, grimacing, and turn back to look at Rarity.
"You coming or not, comedian?"
>She wipes her eyes, still chuckling.
>"Oh, oh dear. Fret not, Anonymous. Fluttershy never locks her door."


>Fuck this gay pony-filled world.
>Fuck it hard.
>Rarity still hasn't stopped laughing as the pair of you walk back into town.
>"It's really your fault, you know. For breaking into her house and all. All that glass, everywhere! You should have let me clean up, really you should have. Fluttershy will be so upset!"
"Tell her the story about how her demonic rabbit tried to kill me, that should cheer her up."
>Rarity giggles again.
>"Oh, it might. It might."
>You grumble, and Rarity starts laughing again.
>Eventually, the laughter dies down, leaving the two of you in an uncomfortable silence as you steam silently, and Rarity worries.
>The white mare is quick to breach the silence.
>"Anonymous..."
"I swear if it's about the demon-bunny..."
>"No, not that. I'm sorry, but it WAS funny."
>You start to scowl again.
>"It's...it's Twilight. This sickness...will that flower work? Will it make her better? What's this fever of yours DO anyway? Will it kill her? Cripple her? Talk to me, Anonymous, please. I'm worried."
>She should be.
>But you can't tell her the truth.
"I can...Rarity, remember when I said I was robbing you for a reason?"
>She raises an eyebrow.
"This is very much related to the reason."
>She huffs.
>"Is that's all you're willing to say?"
"It is."
>She scowls.
"At least until you stop talking about rabbits."
>She giggles again, and the pair of you make your way into Ponyville Medical Hospital.


>You ignore the strange stares you're getting as Rarity leads you to the receptionist.
>The mare behind the counter looks up at you, staring at you in shock and awe.
>Rarity clears her throat and taps a hoof on the desk to regain her attention.
>"Excuse me. We'd like to check in. We're visiting Twilight Sparkle and Applejack."
>The mare nods, still giving you glances.
>"Errr....of course. They're down the hall, three doors to the left.
>Rarity thanks her and leads the way.
>To your surprise, she's the one grumbling to herself this time.
"What's got your tail in a knot?"
>She gasps and looks back at her tail before glaring at you.
>"Ha ha. Funny, bunny man."
>You scowl, and she snickers.
>"Sorry Anonymous. It's just...I thought Ponyville was over this."
"Over what?"
>"Newcomers."
"Huh?"
>"I'll tell you later. A story about a zebra named Zecora."
>She leads you into the tiny hospital room, dominated by two white beds.
>An orange pony rested in one, snoring lightly, while a purple pony lay in the other, shivering and coughing.
>That must be Twilight. Still in the fever stage, that was good. She must be fighting it.
>You pull out the flower and approach, but freeze as you hear a small 'eep' from behind you.
>"Fluttershy?"


>Rarity trots up next to you, looking past you at a plant in the corner.
>"Fluttershy, come out now, it's me. It's Rarity. I've got a new friend with me, but I promise he's safe."
>Friend? When did that....screw it, you liked the sound o' that.
>You turn around, preparing your warmest greeting (the one that doesn't involve spitting in palms or picking pockets), when you freeze.
>The yellow coat. The blue eyes. The hair.
>You recognized this pony. She stuck out in the nightmares, in the dark half's memories.
>For the barest second, you and Fluttershy make eye contact.
>Furious, animalistic rage boils into your mind as the dark half tears at the corners of your mind. It recognizes her, and it hates her more than anything.
>Those cyan eyes peer into yours, and you feel ice form on your spine.
>She knows.
>She can see it.
>Wordlessly, you bring up your hand.
"Hello. I'm Anonymous."
>She keeps looking into your eyes, and your fear grows as you WATCH the steel form in her cyan orbs.
>Confidently, she lifts a hoof up to your hand.
>"Fluttershy. It's nice to meet you. Any friend of Rarities is a friend of mine."
>You were so fucking dead.
>The pair of you stay like that, hoof to hand, eye to eye, for more than a minute while Rarity gawks at you.
>"Err...ahem. Fluttershy, I told Anonymous here about the attack on Twilight and Applejack. He says he can help."
>Fluttershy rounds on Rarity, smiling, and all that steel disappears from her eyes.
>"Oh? He can? How."
>Rarity gives a nervous giggle.
>"He...er, he 'borrowed' an herb from your cottage. One he thinks Twilight needs to take."


>Fluttershy looks at you intently, and you shudder again at the look in her eyes.
>Yeah, she knows.
>"What herb?"
>You cough into your hand, suddenly afraid.
"Wolfsbane."
>Fluttershy glares at you with a frankly terrifying expression, before taking off, flying into your face.
>"Wolfsbane? That's POISON, Rarity. He's trying to-"
>You cough, loudly.
"I'm not denying what it is. Nor am I denying that she needs it. I know what she's suffering from. I know it well. The wolfsbane will help, but only if she gets it NOW."
>Fluttershy is not convinced.
>"And how are you so su-"
>You scowl at the yellow pony before pointing towards your eyes.
"I know what she's going through. I know it VERY well. One could say intimately. She needs that flower."
>Fluttershy's starting to falter.
>"Or?"
>You point at your eye again, where she's still looking. Looking at the dark half.
>Looking at the wolf.
>Fluttershy seems to deflate in front of you, fear overtaking her in waves as she works that out for herself.
>You hand her the wolfsbane, and she cradles it in a hoof, flying towards Twilight.
>"I'll...I'll give it to her. I know a little bit about nursing."
>Rarity walks over to you, eyeing you suspiciously as Fluttershy goes about force-feeding Twilight petals.
>"Care to explain all that?"
"No."
>"Some of it?"
"Maybe."


>"Anonymous, you can't do this. One of my friends, my best friends, is lying sick on their bed, you come to us knowing a miracle cure out of no where, and you tell FLUTTERSHY you know before me! I-"
>You cut her off.
"Rarity, really, I can't tell you. I understand you're worried. But you've just got to trust me. But Twilight needs my knowledge, and I'm willing to give it. Isn't that enough?"
>Rarity pouts.
>"No, of course not."
"Tough. It's all I'm giving."
>Rarity's pout deepens.
>"Oh, you are insufferable."
>You chuckle and take a seat in a hospital chair. Strangely enough, you don't have to bend too far for it to accommodate you.
>Rarity takes up a position next to you, staring at Twilight.
>"How long will it be before she's cured?"
"Could be minutes, could be an hour. We'll know when it's over."
>The two of you sit in silence while Fluttershy works. A thought creeps into your head, one you know you should have thought about earlier.
"Say, Rarity?"
>"Hmm?"
"Do you happen to have a calender? Something that shows the phases of the moon? I always liked to look at the stars back home, and-"
>"Of course I have a calender, Anonymous. What pony doesn't. As for moon 'phases,' I'm afraid I'm not sure what you mean."
>You feel your heart beat a bit faster.
>"The moon doesn't have 'phases,' at least, none that I've seen. Princess Luna raises it every night, and it's always that same shining silver orb. She reshapes the stars like an artist, but her moon is always the same."
>Always the same.
>Always full.
>You feel your mouth become very dry as Fluttershy suddenly shouts.
>"She's waking up!"